next, of Brindley. He at length obtained the prebend of Bobenhull from the Bishop of Lichfield; and, in 1763, was voluntarily advanced to that of Brampton, &c.

"His habits of life were such as became his station. In his clerical functions he was exemplarily correct, not entrusting his parochial duties at Whittington (where he resided) to another (except to the neighbouring clergy, during his excursions into Kent, &c.), till the failure of his eyesight rendered it indispensably necessary; and even that did not happen till within a few years of his death. As a preacher, his discourses from the pulpit were of the didactic and exhortatory kind, appealing rather to the understanding than the passions of his auditory, by expounding the Holy Scriptures in a plain, intelligible, and unaffected manner. He left in his closet considerably more than two hundred and thirty sermons,, composed by himself, in his own handwriting, besides a few (not exceeding twenty-six) which he had transcribed in substance only, from the printed works of eminent divines.

66

Though Dr. Pegge's life was sedentary, from his turn to studious retirement, his love of antiquities, and of literary acquirements in general, yet these applications, which he pursued with great ardour and perseverance, did not injure his health. Vigour of mind, in proportion to his bodily strength, continued unimpaired through a very extended course of life, and nearly till he had reached ultima linea rerum, for he never had any chronical disease, but gradually and quietly sunk into the grave, under the weight of years, after a fortnight's illness, February 14, 1756, in the 92d year of his age."

Samuel, the only surviving son of this celebrated antiquary, was born in 1731, and, after studying at St. John's College, Cambridge, was admitted a barrister by the society of the Middle Temple. Soon after this, the kindness of a former Duke of Devonshire, then lord chamberlain, conferred on him the office of one of the grooms of His Majesty's privy chamber, and an esquire of the King's household. He, however, survived his father only four years, during which time he published

of the English Language," which were edited and printed by his friend, Mr. Nichols, in 1803.

Besides the two biographical articles referred to above, this volume contains a very curious and interesting account of the "Revolution-house at Whittington," with a variety of particulars relative to the celebration of the Jubilee in 1788. We have also a dissertation, entitled " Hospitium Domini Regis, or, The History of the Royal Household from the time of William I. to that of Edward IV. The supporters, crests, and cognizances of the Kings of England, together with the regal titles Stammata Magnatum," &c., follow in succession. Next, we come to a dissertation on coaches and sedan chairs; an historical essay on the origin of "Thirteen-pence Halfpenny as Hangman's Wages;" the account of an old custom observed by the lords lieutenants of Ireland concludes the above volume. There is an excellent engraved portrait of Dr. Pegge, together with several prints.

No. VII.

AN ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE AND

WRITINGS OF JOHN ERSKINE, D.D. LATE ONE OF THE MINISTERS OF EDINBURGH. BY SIR HENRY MONCRIEFF WELLWOOD, BART. D.D. 1 vol. 8vo. 1818.

JOHN ERSKINE, D.D. was the elder son of an advocate at the Scottish bar, and grandson to an Earl of Buchan, by Margaret, daughter of the Hon. James Melville, of Bargarvie.

He was born in 1720 or 1721, and educated under a private tutor; after this, young Erskine was admitted as a student in the university of Edinburgh, where he happened to be a contemporary with Dr. Robertson, the historian. While there, he appears to have been extremely industrious, and to have formed those literary habits which accompanied him through life. In one of his works, he has given an eulogium on the merits of two professors of that day, Dr. Stevenson and Sir John Pringle, whose elegant prelections appear to have made a great impression on his youthful mind.

Mr. Erskine, about this time, became a member of a wellknown association, which existed for nearly half a century. To this institution Dr. Robertson, Dr. Carlyle, Mr. John Home, and other distinguished individuals, belonged. Among his immediate companions, who afterwards became the ornaments of the bar and of the bench, were the Lord President Miller, and the Lords Elliock, Alva, Kennet, Gardenston, and Braxfield; but he himself declined the profession of the law, and became a minister of the established church of Scotland; soon after which he commenced a correspondence with

of the English Language," which were edited and printed by his friend, Mr. Nichols, in 1803.

Besides the two biographical articles referred to above, this volume contains a very curious and interesting account of the "Revolution-house at Whittington," with a variety of particulars relative to the celebration of the Jubilee in 1788. We have also a dissertation, entitled "Hospitium Domini Regis, or, The History of the Royal Household from the time of William I. to that of Edward IV. The supporters, crests, and cognizances of the Kings of England, together with the regal titles Stammata Magnatum," &c., follow in succession. Next, we come to a dissertation on coaches and sedan chairs; an historical essay on the origin of "Thirteen-pence Halfpenny as Hangman's Wages;" the account of an old custom observed by the lords lieutenants of Ireland concludes the above volume. There is an excellent engraved portrait of Dr. Pegge, together with several prints.

No. VII.

AN ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF JOHN ERSKINE, D.D. LATE ONE OF THE MINISTERS OF EDINBURGH. BY SIR HENRY MONCRIEFF WELLWOOD, Bart. D.D. 1 vol. 8vo. 1818.

JOHN ERSKINE, D.D. was the elder son of an advocate at the Scottish bar, and grandson to an Earl of Buchan, by Margaret, daughter of the Hon. James Melville, of Bargarvie.

He was born in 1720 or 1721, and educated under a private tutor; after this, young Erskine was admitted as a student in the university of Edinburgh, where he happened to be a contemporary with Dr. Robertson, the historian. While there, he appears to have been extremely industrious, and to have formed those literary habits which accompanied him through life. In one of his works, he has given an eulogium on the merits of two professors of that day, Dr. Stevenson and Sir John Pringle, whose elegant prelections appear to have made a great impression on his youthful mind.

Mr. Erskine, about this time, became a member of a wellknown association, which existed for nearly half a century. To this institution Dr. Robertson, Dr. Carlyle, Mr. John Home, and other distinguished individuals, belonged. Among his immediate companions, who afterwards became the ornaments of the bar and of the bench, were the Lord President Miller, and the Lords Elliock, Alva, Kennet, Gardenston, and Braxfield; but he himself declined the profession of the law, and became a minister of the established church of Scotland; soon after which he commenced a correspondence with