of his death, which took place on March 23rd, 1861—that is to say, for fifty-four years-he was a denizen of Exeter, faithfully discharging the duties of his office of Roman Catholic priest, until old age compelled him to resign them into other hands ten years prior to his decease. His life ordinarily was a peaceful and, comparatively speaking, an uneventful one; but he came into prominent notice during the dreadful outbreak of cholera in Exeter during the year 1832, when his entire abnegation of self, and indefatigable attention to the sick and dying, gained him the esteem of all. His leisure appears to have been wholly devoted to those literary investigations and pursuits which resulted in the publication of his valuable contributions to the history, more especially to the ecclesiastical history, of this county. The literary records of this century contain no more remarkable coincidence than that there should be living as contemporaries, two clergymen, each of whom was known as "the Rev. Dr. George Oliver," and both of them of eminent literary abilities, especially with regard to parochial antiquities. From this point, however, their opinions and habits diverged, one of them being a Roman Catholic priest, the other a clergyman of the Church of England, and a Freemason. As would naturally be expected, this similarity of name has led to much confusion among book collectors and others in assigning the proper works to each author, and this has been materially increased by the serious errors committed in the two Standard Bibliographical Dictionaries of Lowndes and Allibone. In that of the former (edit. 1861) the whole of the works of both writers are assigned to the "Rev. George Oliver, D.D., of Exeter." It is, however, not difficult to separate those belonging to each in the list which follows, as of the thirty-six given in detail, the first eight are all that belong to our local antiquary. The confusion is far greater and worse in character in Allibone's work (published in 1878), where the works of both are included under the following name: "Oliver, George, D.D., formerly vicar of Clee, Lincoln, now incumbent of the Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton, Past D.G.M. for Lincolnshire, and Past D.G.M. of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, has gained celebrity by his learned works on Freemasonry, and is also well known as a zealous student of topographical antiquities." It is somewhat singular that the first work on the list is the Historic Collections of our Exeter antiquary! Of thirtytwo works enumerated by Allibone Nos. 1, 2, 3, 7, 19, and 22 are by Dr. Oliver, of Exeter; Nos. 6, 8, 10, 23, and 24 are antiquarian, &c., works by the vicar of Clee, the remainder being on Masonic subjects by the same writer. In the catalogues of more than one public library I have noticed the productions of both authors intermingled and combined under one name. In the catalogue of the Bodleian Library, Oxford, they appear under three heads: "George Oliver (D.D.), of Exeter. George Oliver (D.D.), Freemason. The pages of Notes and Queries contain the only notice I have been able to discover on the subject of this extraordinary literary coincidence, and of the confusion to which it gave rise. A Devonian (3rd S. V. 137) draws attention to the two writers bearing the same name, and enquires if they were related to each other. This is followed by the editorial remark: "Future biographers and bibliographers, it is to be feared, will be sorely puzzled in assigning to each of the above authors his own special productions." In reply F. C. H. (3rd S. V. 202), "an intimate friend and frequent correspondent" of the Exeter Doctor, states, "There was no relationship between him and the Protestant Doctor of the same name. They were of course often confounded with each other, and the Catholic D.D. has told me of amusing mistakes made, and that he often received letters intended for his namesake, as no doubt the other received some intended for him." The main object of this paper is to give a correct, succinct, and, as far as may be possible, complete bibliographical list of the various works of our Dr. Oliver, as I may properly term him, whose works relate principally to Devon and Cornwall, and in so doing I feel I am performing an act of simple justice to his memory in absolving his name from any work on Freemasonry, as his religious opinions precluded him from being a member of any secret society. To make my paper of direct practical service to lovers of books and others, and to assist in remedying the confusion that has been hitherto experienced in assigning any of the Oliverian works to its proper author, I will first enumerate those productions of the Masonic Doctor which are most likely to be confounded with those of our local worthy. * During the present year a literary friend of mine made enquiry in the shop of a leading London bookseller for a copy of Dr. Oliver's Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Devonshire, and received for reply that he had none in stock, but that he could furnish him with a copy of his Antiquities of Freemasonry. A somewhat similar answer has fallen within my own experience. George Oliver, D.D., born at Popplewick, November 5th, 1782, became Head Master of Great Grimsby Grammar School; entered holy orders in 1817, and became successively vicar of Clee, vicar of Scopwick, rector of Wolverhampton, and rector of South Hykeham. He died in 1867. In the year previous to his decease he published, Ye Bryde of Gryme; an Apologue, containing the following dedication: "At the age of 84 years the following pages are inscribed as a souvenir of friendship, and a kindly farewell to the inhabitants of Grimsby and Clee, by their former Parish Minister, with sole charge for a period of 17 years, and now their obedient servant and well-wisher, Geo. Oliver." His topographical works are confined to Wolverhampton, Lincolnshire, and Yorkshire. He was the author of all Masonic works under his name, and several of them contain his portrait. In all of them he appears in Masonic costume, as well as in a large engraved portrait published separately. 1. The Monumental Antiquities of Great Grimsby. An essay towards ascertaining its origin and ancient population. Containing also a brief account of two magnificent Churches and the five Religious Houses, which were once the grace and ornament of the town; an abstract of the Charters and privileges of the Borough; biographical notices of eminent natives of Grimsby; lists of High Stewards, Members of Parliament, &c. Hull, 1825, 8vo, pp. xvj. 123. 2 plates. 2. The History and Antiquities of the Conventual Church of St. James, Great Grimsby; and Notes illustrative and explanatory. Grimsby, 1829, 8vo, pp. 52. 3. The History and Antiquities of the Town and Minster of Beverley, in the County of York, from the most early period; with Historical and Descriptive Sketches of the Abbeys of Watton and Meaux, the Convent of Haltemprise, the Villages of Cottingham, Leckonfield, Bishop and Cherry Burton, Walkington, Risby, Scorburgh, and the Hamlets comprised within the Liberties of Beverley. Beverley, 1829, 4to, pp. xxiij. 575. 6 plates. 4. An Historical and Descriptive Account of the Collegiate Church of Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford. Wolverhampton, 1836, 8vo, ls 4, pp. 197. 3 plates. 5. History of the Holy Trinity Guild, at Sleaford, with an account of its Miracle Plays, Religious Mysteries, and Shows, as practised in the fifteenth century. And an Introduction delineating the changes that have taken place in the localities. of heath and fen, castle and mansion, convent and hall, within the district about Sleaford since that period. To which is added |