Having closed the scene; it must be confessed, on the one hand, that the biographical history of an individual, however learned, or engaging to private friends, who had passed the major part of his days in secluded retreats from what is called _the world_, can afford but little entertainment to the generality of Readers. On the other hand, nevertheless, let it be allowed that every man of acknowledged literary merit, had he made no other impression, cannot but have left many to regret his death. Though Dr. Pegge had exceeded even his "_fourscore_ years and ten," and had outlived all his more early friends and acquaintance; he had the address to make new ones, who _now_ survive, and who, it is humbly hoped, will not be sorry to see a modest remembrance of him preserved by this little Memoir. Though Dr. Pegge had an early propensity to the pursuit of _Antiquarian_ knowledge, he never indulged himself materially in it, so long as more essential and _professional_ occupations had a claim upon him; for he had a due sense of the _nature_ and _importance_ of his _clerical_ function. It appears that he had read the Greek and Latin _Fathers_ diligently at his outset in life. He had also re-perused the _Classicks_ attentively before he applied much to the _Monkish_ Historians, or engaged in _Antiquarian_ researches; well knowing that a thorough knowledge of the Learning of the _Antients_, conveyed by _classical_ Authors, was the best foundation for any literary structure which had not the _Christian Religion_ for its _cornerstone_. During the early part of his incumbency at Godmersham in Kent, his reading was principally such as became a _Divine_, or which tended to the acquisition of _general knowledge_, of which he possessed a greater share than most men we ever knew. When he obtained allowable leisure to follow _unprofessional_ pursuits, he _attached_ himself more closely to the study of _Antiquities_; and was elected a Fellow of the SOCIETY of ANTIQUARIES, Feb. 14, 1751, N. S. in which year the _Charter_ of _Incorporation_ was granted (in November), wherein his name stands enrolled among those of many very respectable and eminently learned men[31]. [31] The only Member of the Society at the time of its Incorporation, who survived Dr. Pegge, was _Samuel Reynardson_, Esq. Though we will be candid enough to allow that Dr. Pegge's _style_ in general was not sufficiently terse and compact to be called elegant; yet he made ample amends by the matter, and by the accuracy with which he treated every copious subject, wherein all points were matured by close examination and sound judgment[32].