JOHN DUNCOMBE, Bishop of Peterborough, owes his place among classical English essayists chiefly to his contributions to the Connoisseur. His essays have a moral purpose, but it is well sugar-coated by his lively and entertaining style. He was born in London, September 29th, 1729. After graduating from Cambridge he was chosen Fellow of his college (Corpus Christi). His essays in the Connoisseur were among his earliest ventures in literature. His “Historical Description of Canterbury Cathedral” was published in 1772, and his “Antiquities of Richborough and Reculver” two years later. For twenty years he was one of the favorite contributors to the Gentleman’s Magazine, and he edited the letters of Hughes and of John Boyle, Earl of Cork. He died January 19th, 1786.