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ing poetry as a relaxation from severer studies; but the poetry in which he alone delighted, was necessarily good; nothing could be more critically just than his taste and knowledge in this respect. He was, however, far removed from that weakness, often not unconnected with jealousy or envy, which depreciates all the attempts of modern genius, and thinks that the vestal fire of inspiration has become wholly extinct. When judging the works of his contemporaries, he held the balance, as on other occasions, with an equal hand; no faults escaped him, but it was his chief delight to praise.

Drawing was among the amusements which Mr. Portal about this time abandoned; but his early acquaintance with it, and his just conceptions of character and nature made him through life a skilful judge and warm admirer of the best works in that delightful art. In the early part of his college residence he had an unusual facility in taking caricature resemblances; with a few strokes of his pen he would sketch portraits, the singular humour of which injured not the characteristic likeness: he was aware that the exercise of this talent was somewhat dangerous; the best-tempered among his College friends were not apparently much gratified, when any peculiarities in their appearance or manners were humorously represented; and some others, who had joined in a laugh at their fellow-students, became angry when the laugh was directed against themselves. Mr. Portal had too much good sense long to indulge a habit which might give his own mind a wrong bias, and too much benevolence, causelessly to offend; and it is believed, that when he began to employ his pen in the composition of Sermons, he never af terwards allowed himself to delineate with it a grotesque resemblance of his fellow-creatures.

Mr. Portal's first clerical engagement was in a village near Ampthill, Bedfordshire: but from this he soon removed to the curacy of Aldermerston, in Berkshire, with which he served the small neighbouring rectory of Wasing, presented to bim by Mount, esq. Here, meaning to establish himself, he took two private pupils; but the domestic attention necessary to the proper management even of a small family, was irksome to him; his health too became injured by his close application; and he much regretted the Joss of that literary society, as well as of that freedom from petty cares, which a College life supplies; to College, therefore, after three or four years, he returned; there he again felt at home, and never quitted residence, except at few and short intervals of absence, till his last fatal illuess; and often would he congratulate

himself, that his lot had fallen on what be deemed "a goodly heritage," but he came not to an indolent seclusion, nor even to pursue an abstract, though indefatigable, course of study; he accepted, on the first vacancy, a share in the tutorship of his College, and his laborious attention to the duties of that office met with the reward which he most desired, in the advancement of his pupils, and the reputation of his society. As Literature was what, next to Religion, his soul chiefly panted after, he delighted in an employment, which enabled him to promote the interest of both; he began by closely considering, first, the means through which his pupils might be either allured or stimulated to exertion; and, secondly, the points in which such exertion might most avail: for the more highly spirited of those under his care, he thought it particularly requisite to find full employment. This seemed to him, not only essential to their literary improvement, but a probable safeguard against that dissipation which is often caused by vacuity. In the performance of his duty as a tutor, as in all other matters connected with College discipline, his disregard for mere forms allowed him to devote more time to essentials ;—no one better knew what it was most material to urge in the course of academical instruction; and no one could urge it more seriously;-" yet he was kind:" the gen tleness of his manners, and the liberality of his spirit, were conspicuous in all the relations of life; in the one on which we are treating, whilst these, combined with other specified qualifications, gained him the affectionate attachment of many, they secured to him the respect of all;-yet what he considered as the necessary labour of the tutorship was so great, and occupied him so much, that he found it did not leave him sufficient time, either for relaxation, or for that attention to his clerical duties, which he earnestly wished to pay. He was singular indeed in the latter opinion, since every one else knew that his parishioners had even now all the benefits resulting from an able and conscientious discharge of the pastoral care; but, as such was the estimate which he had himself formed, he acted in the true spirit of his character; and about two years before his death, resigned the tutorship, though of greater value than his small vicarage of Sandford, that he might yet more fully dedicate himself to what he deemed the peculiar work which God had given him to do: the notion which worldlyminded men so often entertain, that, if their sons have promising talents, these will be buried in the service of the Church,and that the Lawalone is the profession to bringthem forth into full use and display, is among the absurdities which Mr. Portal was wont

most

most forcibly to ridicule and confute; his studies, his attainments, and his conduct clearly shewed, that not only was there in the Christian ministry enough for the strongest minds to acquire, but for the most unremitting industry to bring into use and expend. Not only was his privacy devoted to the benefit of his parishjouers, but his money, his advice, and his personal exertions, were ever readily given, to relieve their temporal wants, or advance their interests. The endearing name "Père" given formerly by the French to the good Curé, was one most justly merited by Mr. Portal.-About the success in life of those who were educated at a school which he established, he was particularly solicitous, taking ever afterwards a kind concern in their welfare. He would interest himself to get the young women servitudes in families where he thought good examples would be set to them, and would in various ways endeavour to advance the welfare of the young men-his friends used to tell him that he kept a register. office; but, as there was nothing in the circle of art or science too high for his intellect, there was nothing in that of humanity too low for his exertion.-The good people of Sandford could not but become sensible of such worth and kindness; and they universally entertained for their excellent pastor very grateful respect.

and successful attention-yet whilst he sought to be an useful, he was by ne means desirous of the character of a popular preacher, some among whom he considered much in the same point of view as did the late excellent Paley. The writings of the English Divines who fought that good fight which led to the victory of the Reformation, Mr. Portal was intimately acquainted with; but his favourite models were rather those who used, in many respects, similar weapons about the time of Charles the Second. After all, however, no channel through which the waters of life have even most purely glided, satisfied him so entirely, as the fountain-head: to the careful study of Holy Scripture be ceased not to devote much of his time, and this he would particularly recommend to those clerical friends, with whom it was among his pleasures unreservedly to converse on the subject of the ministerial studies and work. His constant attention to these caused his mind to become more and more devotional; but the spirit in which he worshiped was alike removed from the ostentation of the Pharisee, or the transient fervour of the Enthusiast. All his habits indeed were modified by correct religious principles: abstemious, self-denying, humble, and benevolent, the pure ray of Christianity which enlightened his understanding became visible in his conduct.

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Mr. Portal was, for the usual time, one of the University-public-preachers at St. Mary's; and though his voice was too weak for him to be well heard in that large church, the accurate learning, the sterling sense, the warm and unaffected piety of his sermons, secured to him a deep attention and merited praise. His theological opinions were all brought to the sure test of the Scriptures; he examined accurately for himself, and the foundation was too carefully laid to be ever in any respect shaken; he was, strictly speaking, orthodox, giving his bona fide assent to the Articles of our Church, not merely because they were such, though in this and other respects he paid due regard to the weight of authority, but because he believed them to be strictly agreeable to the Canon of the inspired Writers. With the violent of any party he did not agree: whilst high Calvinists would call him an Arminian, Arminians would call him a Calvinist, how deeply would he deplore, that in the violent altercations between these and other sects, the essence of Christian love was frequently dissipated, and the influence of Christian example, and the sphere of Christian utility, narrowed and deteriorated! To the composition of sermons, particularly to the difficult point of addressing, in the most persuasive, yet correct manner, a village congregation, he paid very close, critical,

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Though he thought it right to live somewhat within his income, his own habits were so little expensive (the collection of: books, of which he had a large, wellchosen assortment, alone excepted), that he had much to bestow on others; and the liberality with which his private concerns were regulated was manifested likewise in all points connected with the revenue and expenditure of his College; he had no private views, and his attention to the interests of others was equalled only by a disregard about his own.

Mr. Portal's powers of conversation were of a very superior kind; yet he was somewhat averse from displaying them in large parties, or before those whom he did not know. Among such, his studious, solitary habits caused some appearance of reserve; but when surrounded by his friends, and when any important discussion arose, he could either, as the occasion required, argue with unusual acuteness, or instruct by various knowledge, or delight by the playfulness of unoffending wit. His favourite subjects were theology, literature, and politics, in the latter of which he was generally a strong Governmentman, having a thorough contempt for the seditious and crude devices of modern Anarchists. Nor was he only a good talker; he was, what all such are not, a good listener too; never being led, either

by

by mere volubility, or an impatient quickness, to interrupt those with whom he was conversing; he would hear calmly, he would reply forcibly, or, as his object was rather truth than victory, if he sometimes conceived the opinion which he had expressed to be erroneous, he would acknowledge it candidly.

In his relative connexions, Mr. Portal is believed to have been just such a Son as a father would wish for, just such a Brother, as he who looked in that character for the most ready, sincere, and affectionate of friends, would desire; and others, whom he honoured with his regard, they and only they, can fully bear witness, howkind, how steady, how truly amiable, he was as a Friend! He had, what Shakspeare calls a "noble and true conceit of godlike amity," his mind had in it no taint of suspicion, envy, or jealousy, and if in any case he permitted it to receive a bias, it was in favour of those, chiefly his schoolfellows, or College associates, who were happy enough to have gained his affectionate esteem; if such allowed themselves little indulgences which he did not, he thought these were, in their instances, proper, or at least venial; and in the absence of such, he was ever, if occasion required, their firm defender, or warm panegyrist.

But oh! the heavy change; now thou art gone!

Now thou art gone, and never must return."' The disease which proved fatal to Mr. Portal was a phrenzy-fever: he survived the paroxysm, but its effects hurried him in a short time to the grave; and who that knew him, who that had sense enough to distinguish merit, and virtue enough to love what is most amiable and most exalted in private character, will not deeply lament, that such a man should be so sorely smitten, and so awfully snatched away, when his life was in its meridian, when his utility was highly active, and his talents all fitted for exertion, and mature? But right, if sometimes inscrutable, are the ways of God! Whilst Mr. Portal's friends regret their own loss, they would act little indeed in the spirit of his example, if they did not remember, and apply, those hopes and promises which the Saviour of mankind gave to all who diligentJy, through him, seek the heavenly Father.

It is not known that any thing of Mr. Portal's remains in print, but the juvenile poems already spoken of, and two excellent numbers, 26 and 30, of the Loiterer, a periodical paper, published, about the time he took his first degree, by some members of his College. His remaining MSS. particularly in theology, must be numerous; and it is earnestly hoped, that a selection from them may be given to the world.

DEATHS.

1812. AT Rio de Janeiro, his excelJan. 26. lency Don Rodrigo De Sousa Coutinho, Conde de Linhares, and Minister for Foreign Affairs to the Prince Regent of Portugal. While assiduously employed in the labours of his office, and making up dispatches for England and Portugal, during the ardent heats of the season, he was suddenly seized with a vertigo, succeeded by a most violent fever, which in three days put a period to his life. The death of this distinguished servant of the State, and ornament of Portugal, may justly be considered as a national calamity. It was lamented by all good patriots, and will be felt wherever the Lusitanian name and throne are respected. It might be said of him, that he was not only equal, but superior to the weighty affairs entrusted to his charge, by the unlimited and deserved confidence of his Prince; and though he died in the 56th year of his age, he had lived long enough to merit the grateful recollections of his country, and to have his name honourably transmitted to future times in the annals of its literature and policy. Within the narrow limits prescribed to us on an occasion of this sort, we can only find room for remarking, that this deceased Statesman may justly be said to have been the creator of a military marine, and of public credit, in Portugal. Amidst all the embarrassments occasioned to the regular Governments of Europe by the tremendous force of the French Revolution, he maintained the commerce of Portugal, the stability of the public revenue, the dignity of the Crown. His comprehensive mind surveyed with racy the situation of Europe; his sagacity anticipated the calamities which hung over Portugal; and he was the author of that advice which saved the House and Dynasty of Braganza, by conveying the Royal Family to their Transatlantic possessions. In the Brazils he concluded the commercial treaty with Great Britain, which may be considered as unique in its kind. It has perpetuated a system alike politic and philanthropic, by which the free commerce with that Continent is secured to all friendly and pacific States; and the fine theories which men of genius have projected for the prosperity of nations, have, in this instance, been reduced to practice. These formerly unknown parts of the world will henceforward contribute to the reciprocal benefit and prosperity of every part of the human race. In short, by opening that New World to the intercourse of those powers who respect the law of nations, this distinguished Statesman has not only laid the foundations of new establishments, but increased

and

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the national resources both of revenue and defence. Investigador Portuguez.

May 2. On his passage from Barbadoes to Madera, in his 24th year, T. Lawson, esq. of Brayton nonse, Cumberland.

In

May 19. At Truxi!lo, in Spain, in his 33d year. Lieu-col. Jn. Squire, of the corps of Royal Eng neers, eldest son of Dr. Squire, Ely-place, London. His death was owing to a fever supposed to have been occasioned by excessive fatigue at the late siege of Badajoz. On his return, after the successful result of that siege, to Almendra'ejo, the head-quarters of Sir Rowland Hill, to whose division he was attached, his altered appearance was visible to all his friends. However, even after this, he superintended the repairs of the Bridge of Merida. coming back from Merida, he fell from his house. Still he would not complain, nor a low that he had any thing more than a cold; though he was, at that very time, suffering under the endemic fever of the Country. Persevering to the last in the discharge of his military duties he was proceeding to accompany Gen. Hill on his much to Almaraz; but, having more energy of mind than strength of body, the fatigue which he had endured increased bis il ne s to such an alarming degree, that it was found impossible for him to proceed beyond Truxillo, where he was left on the 16th; aud Mr. Liscombe, surgeon to the 34th regiment, was permitted to remain with him. On the 19th, about 3 o'clock in the morning. Col. Squire breathed his last in the arms of this gentleman. In this manner was closed the short but honourable life of a very brave and excellent man. Never was the loss of any Officer more deeply and sincerely lamented by his relations, his friends, and his fellow-soldiers. To the highest sense of honour, and the most undaunted courage, he added an ardent love of his profession, peculiar talents for war, and an extensive knowledge of military affairs, acquired by study and experience. He had all the qualities of a good Soldier; vigilance, activity, enterprize, industry, and the most chee ful and exemplary patience, under every species of hardship; in short, he displayed on ali occasious an ardu, alacrity, and perseverance, which shrunk from neu her difficulty nor danger. He was always esteemed and treated with the utmost confidence by the Generals under whom he served, and had received from them repeated and conspicious testimonies of distinction and good opinion; he was indeed, much distinguished throughout the whole Army; and but one universal sentiment prevails through all ranks of the profession. To be employed in fighting the battles of his Country was this Officer's ruling passion; and in this GENT. MAO. July, 1812.

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he had been amply indulged for the last 13 years. During that space of time he served on the following expeditions; viz. to the Helder, to Egypt, to South America, to Sweden (under Sir J. Moore), to Portugal and Spain under the same General, to Zealand, and a second time to the Spanish Peninsula: where he has at length finished his honourable career. In the spring of 1809 he was sent by Government on a secret mission to the Baltic. Within the last five months, his eminent merits had been rewarded by the brevet rank, first of Major, then of Lieut.colonel. The first was conferred on him in December 1811; and he was gratified by a complimentary message from Lord Mulgrave, Master-general of the Ordnance. He was made Lieut.-colonel as soon as it was known in England that Badajoz was taken; in the siege of which place he had remarkably distinguished himself. The active mind of Col. Squire did not content itself with the acquirements proper to his profession only, but was impeiled by a large and liberal cu riosity to obtain every sort of useful or interesting knowledge. In all the countries which he visited, he kept a full and accurate journal, not only of military affairs, but of every thing else which struck him as either curious or important. In Egypt he shared with Mr. Hamilton, at that time Private Secretary to Lord Elgin, and Capt. Leake, of the Artillery, in the honour of discovering, on the celebrated column near Alexandria, commonly called Pompey's Pillar, a Greek inscription, which had eluded the ingenuity of all former travellers On his return to England in 1803, he shewed a paper on this subject to the late Rev. Dr. Raine of the Charterhouse (under whose tuition he had for. merly been), who communicated it to the Society of Antiquaries. It has since been published in the Archæologia. In company with the above mentioned gentlemen, Col. Squire (having obtained leave of absence at the conclusion of the Egyptian campaign) made a tour through Syria and Greece. After their departure from Athens, their vessel, the brig Mentor, unfortunately struck upon the rocky shore of the small island of Cerigo. Those on board bad but just time to save their lives; but it is much to be regretted that their journals, plans, and other papers, were lost. If the military talents of Col. Squire gained him universal respect and applause, the virtues of his heart and his conduct in private life secured him the warm attachment of all with whom he was connected, and even prepossessed the affections of those who were but slightly acquainted with him: his merits and conduct have left an example transcendantly

worthy

worthy of remembrance. His mourning family have at least the melancholy gratification of never hearing his name mentioned by any of his numerous friends, unaccompanied by expressions of honour, esteem, and love.

June 11. At Halifax, Nova Scotia, in his 41st year, Wm. Birch Brinley, esq.

June 14. In South Cumberland-street, Dublin, Mr. George M'Allister, Professor of the Art of Painting and Staining of Glass. The premature decease of this excellent young man merits from his countrymen more than an ordinary or hasty word; and his untimely death may not improperly be termed a national misfortune, inasmuch as that, by the industrious and patriotic exertion of his uncommon talents, he, without instructor, patron, or pecuniary assistance, re-discovered and redeemed to society an Art, the secrets of which the original professors had selfishly carried with them to their graves, leaving behind them no written documents to guide posterity; and, from the remoteness of the period in which they practised, the tradition, if any, must be limited and unfaithful. Undaunted, however, by all these disadvantages, the adventurous and aspiring spirit of Mr. Geo. M'Allister prompted him to sacrifice his original profession (that of a Jeweller), his time, his health, and his little revenue, to the rescuing from oblivion an Art, of which nothing but the fading effects remained to an admiring generation. After a painful and extensive study of practical Chemistry, in the course of which his health was impaired, and his means nearly exhausted, he was blessed with a sight of the " promised land;" and a judicious publick witnessed, with wonder and delight, the revival of a long-lost art; as a proof of which, on the 3d of December 1807, the Dublin Society, after a critical examination of his performance, presented the youthful candidate (then scarcely 21) with a diploma, signifying to him, in the most flattering and honourable terms, their unlimited patronage and approbation. Stimulated by these signal stamps of favour from so distinguished a body, he pushed anxiously forward, and soon arrived at a pitch of excellence which he hi nself had at first despaired of and his indefatigable and painful pursuits promised speedily to crown him with fame and fortune when, lo! "the Spoiler came" the hand of Death arrested him in the midst of his studies; robbed the world of an Artist, whose loss is irreparable; deprived society of an object, amiable in deportment, correct and moral in all his habits; left his doating parents to deplore the most affectionate of sons, and his sisters to bewail the best of brothers. A few months since, he had fi

nished a superb window for the cathedral of Lismore, and was in the act of painting one, much larger in dimensions; for the cathedral of Tuam; after which he was led to hope to be employed to paint the Castle Chapel windows. His anxiety to finish the window for Tuam, and place it in the cathedral before the winter months set in, urged him, it is feared, to make exertions prejudicial to a habit already injured by an unwearied and ardent attention to a furnace, the heat and fumes of which, at this season, brought on him a fever and inflammation of the brain, which unexpectedly deprived him of a life, at once blame ess, benevolent, and useful. His decease is rendered still more afflictive from the consideration that he had resolved to leave such a system, and such documents of the Art behind him, that a second death of it should not be apprehended. Nor was it in that particular branch alone that the taste and judgment of this excellent young man were evident. Those who recollect the superior, brilliant, and classical style in which the front of Trinity college, Dublin, was lighted up, on the occasion of the late Jubilee in honour to our beloved Sovereign, will, no doubt, feel more than momentarily for the early loss of him who projected and conducted a display at once so elegant and splendid. He expired, with out a sigh, in the 26th year of his age, respected by his superiors, and beloved by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. It is somewhat remarkable, that from the time of Heron, who painted a window (on the subject of Paradise) in St. Paul's, London. in 1430, down to Messrs. Hand and Egginton, none ever arrived at the art of Glass Painting and Staining at so early an age, nor without the assistance of some able master or instructor: for, in 1687, Henry Giles, of York, established a school there; William Price the elder was his most able scholar and successor. Joshua Price, brother to William Price, followed the same profession, and was succeeded by William Price, jun. in 1722. William Peckitt, who painted the window in the Library of Trinity college, Cambridge, studied at Heron's school at York. Pearson is said to have studied under the younger Price; and Mr. Forrest was the pupil of that celebrated artist Thomas Jervais. Mr. Hand, it is reported, studied painting in England; and, while in Ireland, he had the assistance of a very able chemist.

Mr.

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