Matthew Arnold, an English poet, son of Thomas Arnold, born at Laleham, Dec. 24, 1822. He was educated at Winchester, Rugby, and Oxford; won the Newdegate prize for English verse by a poem entitled "Cromwell; " in 1845 was chosen fellow of Oriel college; and from 1846 to 1851 was private secretary to Lord Lansdowne. Having married, Mr. Arnold received an appointment as one of the lay inspectors of schools under the committee of the council of education. In 1849 he published anonymously a small volume of poems under the title of " The Strayed Reveller and other Poems." In 1852 a second volume appeared, "Empedocles on Aetna, and other Poems." In 1853 a new volume was issued in his own name, followed by a second series, the two containing selections from the previous collections along with some fresh pieces. On May 5, 1857, Mr. Arnold was elected professor of poetry in the university of Oxford. His later noteworthy works are: "Balder;" " Merope, a Tragedy " (1858); " On Translating Homer" (1862); "Essays in Criticism" (1865); "Study of Celtic Literature" (1867); "Schools and Universities on the Continent" (1868;; "Culture and Anarchy" (1869); "St. Paul and Protestantism" (1870); "Friendship's Garland " (1871); " Literature and Dogma " (1873).