1821.] REVIEW.-De Coetlogon's Sermon. 43. Universal Benificence enforced on the sublime Principles of Divine Revelation: being the Substance of a Sermon preached at the Church of the United Parishes of St. Mary at Hill and St. Andrew Hubbard, for the Benefit of the City of London School of Instruction and Industry. Accompanied with Preliminary Remarks adapted to the present National Crisis. By the Rev. C. E. De Coetlogon, A. M. Rector of Godstone, Surrey. 8vo, 48 and 35 pp. Seeley. HAVING recently paid a tribute of respect to the memory of this pious and eloquent Divine (Vol. XC. ii. p. 371) we accept the present Discourse (though preached in 1819,) as an Admonition from the Dead to the Liv ing; and are much pleased both with the energetic Sermon and the judicious prefatory Remarks. A short extract from the Advertisement in February 1820, will apply equally at present: "The peculiar aspect of the Times; the daring attempts which have been recently made, for the subversion of Christianity, civil Order, and social Subordination; together with the National Bereave. ments we have suffered; it is humbly presumed, will be received as a sufficient apology for its appearing at so great a distance from the period of its first delivery. It is now published and sold for the benefit of the said Institution; to the Funds of which, it is hoped, it will prove a considerable addition. Could any thing add to the importance of the following Prelimi naries, it is, the horrid Conspiracy, which, while we are correcting the Press, has excited a most painful and indignant sensation throughout the Country. A Conspiracy, which must provoke the utmost energies of every worthy member of the Community to hold up its atrocious features to the extreme detestation of the Lower Classes of Society, and, with increasing ardour, to inculcate on them the principles of Religion-Loyalty-and Order." "An Account of the City of London School of Instruction and Industry, for the Benefit of Children of the indigent Poor," founded by the Rev. Richard Poovah, LL.D. with a List of its Supporters, is appended to the Sermon. 241 in 1602-3, are fully detailed; and it is remarkable that the documents which gave safe conduct to the Leaders of the Rebellion, and which terminated this long-protracted and sanguinary war, in which the whole kingdom of Ireland was so deeply interested, bears date March 24, 1602-3, the precise day of the Queen's death. "After these events the multitude,' says Sir John Davis, who ever love to be followers of such as could master and defend them, admiring the power of the court of England, being brayed as it were in a mortar with the sword, famine and pestilence together, submitted themselves to the British government, received the laws and magistrates, and gladly embraced the king's pardon'." "The Roman Catholic inhabitants of this country viewed the new king with a favourable eye, not only because he deHibernian sovereigns, but because they rived his origin from the ancient Scotohoped to obtain from him the full exercise of their religion, free from all penal statutes and arbitrary restraint. Hence we find some of the most learned of their authors eulogizing the monarch in almost adulatory terms, and adjuring him in pathetic language to relieve his oppressed people. King James's popularity in Ireland was not diminished by the kindness with which he received the earl of Tyrone and Rory O Donel. O Nial was confirmed by him in his dignity and possessions, and his friend O Donel was created earl of Tirconnel." given both of the Protestant and CaBiographical Memoirs are then tholic Archbishops of Armagh, interspersed with the political events of Ireland. In the List of Primates, the name of Usher is conspicuous as a Protestant, and that of Plunket as a Catholic. Among the succeeding Protestant Primates, are many names which have attained great celebrity that of Primate Marsh deserves particular attention: "He built in Dublin, near the palace of St. Sepulchre's, a noble library, which he not only enlarged, after his promotion to the primacy, but enriched with a choice collection of valuable books, at an expense of four thousand pounds. To his own library, he superadded that of Bishop Stil 44. Stuart's History of Armagh; conti. lingfleet, a man famous in the literary nued from p. 141. THE tumultuary state of Ireland and its contending Chieftains, from the period of the Reformation to the end of the reign of Queen Elizabeth GENT. MAG. March, 1821. world; and he liberally endowed the institution, with two hundred and fifty pounds per annum, for the support of a librarian and his deputy, who are to attend at certain stated hours. It is said, that the books of Taneguy Le Fevre, Madame Da cier's cier's father, form a part of Marsh's library, which was further augmented by a collection of literary works, bequeathed to it by Dr. Smith, archbishop of Dublin, about the year 1772. For this highly useful institution, the founder obtained national protection, by procuring an act of parliament, for its final settlement and reguJation. In Armagh, he rebuilt and repaired a dwelling-house, for himself and his successors; and he formed an eleemosynary establishment, at Drogheda, for the reception and maintenance of twelve widows of decayed clergymen, who had been curates in the diocese of Armagh. To each of these widows, a comfortable residence and an annuity of twenty pounds are allowed from funds, appropriated by the Primate, at his own cost, to that benevolent purpose. He provided also, that if there should, at any time, be a deficiency of such widows, in the diocese of Armagh, the funds might be applicable to those of the whole province. and if there should yet happen to be a deficiency, then to the apprenticing or educating the children of clergymen: and he appropriated forty pounds per annum, out of the general endowments, to be paid to the dean and chapter of Armagh, for the support of the cathedral. Many decayed churches were repaired by him, in his own diocese, and many impropriations purchased at his own private expense, and restored to the church. Primate Marsh gave essential pecuniary aid, towards the propagation of the Gospel in the Indies, and was indeed a prelate of extraordinary learning, piety, and benevolence. He had applied himself to the study of Mathematics and natural Philosophy, and was deeply versed in the learned languages, particularly in the oriental tongues. He was eminently skilled in both vocal and instrumental music, comprehending the theory and principles of harmony scientifically, and displaying, as a practitioner, considerable taste and execution. Many valuable works in Golius's collection of Oriental manuscripts, were purchased by him, and presented to the Bodleian library." It is pleasing to peruse the records of piety and benevolence which are next given of this good Primate's different successors, amongst whom the munificence of Primate Robinson (Lord Rokeby) is eminently conspi cuous. After a brief biographical sketch of the Hon. Dr. William Stuart, the present Primate, Mr. Stuart observes: "It cannot be expected, that we shall enter into any minute biographical account of our present Metropolitan. Io. deed, if we were to delineate his character with the most scrupulous accuracy, we [March, should appear to those who know him not, to have descended to the meanness of adulation; whilst it would be impossible to raise him higher in the estimation of those who have witnessed the whole tenor of his life, and have made his worth the measure of their approbation." And in a Note he adds: "There are, however, a few things which we cannot, in common justice, omit mentioning.-1st. He is a resident Primate, who superintends the church committed to his care, with conscientious vigilance. His presence in Armagh, and the money which he expends in that neighbourhood, are highly beneficial to the country.-2d. He seems anxious to provide for the acting clergy of his own diocese.-3d. He has given parishes to several old curates, who possessed no other interest in the Church, than a certain consciousness in his Grace's bosom, that they merited preferment.4th. He has encouraged the building of comfortable Glebe-houses for his Clergy, and the natural consequence is, that there is scarcely a non-resident clergyman in his diocese. Indeed his own salutary example has greatly contributed to this effect.5th. He has adorned Armagh with some beautiful public buildings, which shall be mentioned in the sequel of this work.-6th, During the late famine, his pecuniary grants to the committee established in Armagh, for relieving the indigent poor, were munificent. Among the more recent Catholic Primates, were Dr. Dominick Maguire and Dr. Hugh Mac Mabon. In the account of the former occur the fol lowing particulars of Dr. Michael Moor. "To Primate Maguire and his subordinate bishops, the preservation of the valuable library, now in Trinity-College, place in the reign of James the second, is Dublin, during the commotions which took in some measure due. Father Peters had almost persuaded the king, to confer the establishment on the Jesuits. The Roman Catholic prelates, however, exerted their influence, and induced the monarch to nominate Dr. MICHAEL MOOR, a secular priest, provost of the university. This ecclesiastic, who possessed much taste, integrity, and learning, opposed the intended transfer of the college to the Jesuits, against whom he preached an animated sermon, taking as his text, If the blind ditch. In this text, he probably not only lead the blind, both shall fall into the alluded to Peters, who laboured under a deficiency of sight, but also to James, whose mental opticks were not very clear. Be this as it may, he, with the most scrupulous attention, preserved the books from injury, even when the library was converted into a military garrison, the chapel 1821.] - REVIEW. Stuart's City of Armagh. chapel into a magazine, and the students' chambers into prisons. "Peters, enraged at Moor, contrived to excite against him the king's indignation, who issued his royal orders that he should instantly depart from his dominions. Moor obeyed, but declared, as he withdrew, that he was only precursor to his majesty, who would soon be compelled to follow him. He was well received at Paris, but on the arrival of James in that city, he was obliged to fly from it, in order to escape the mean resentment of his infatuated prince. Pope Innocent the twelfth, who knew the value of the man, patronised him and, after the death of James, he was rector of the university of Paris, principal of the college of Navarre, and royal professor of philosophy, and of the Greek and Hebrew languages. This excellent man became blind, some years before his death, and was robbed of many hundred volumes of his books, by a confidential person, whom he had employed to read to him, in the hours which he had devoted to study. Thus he, who had saved the noble library of Trinity College from destruction, was ungenerously pillaged of his own books, by the villany of a pretended friend. He died on the twenty-second of August, 1726." "It may, perhaps, seem strange to some of our Readers, that the Roman Catholic prelates should have been so tenacious of ecclesiastic rights, apparently nominal, when the law of the land had transferred the efficient power to the Protestant hierarchy of the Church of Ireland. But it should be remembered, that voluntary obedience (as well as voluntary sup. port,) is tendered and paid to them, by those laymen who, through education, habit, or choice, are placed under their spiritual superintendence. They, therefore, possess a real, operative authority, not indeed derived from the law of the land, but founded on the powerful basis of public opinion, and on the respect and reverence which members of their own communion think justly due to the acknowledged pastors of what they deem a divinely-established Church." "Dr. MAC MAHON died Aug. 2, 1737, aged 77. We cannot find that he took any very active part in the political contests of the age in which he lived. It is said, that he delighted in the correct performance of his duty; that he was a strict economist, as to his pecuniary expenses; husbanding his means, that he might relieve the necessities of the indigent. Parsimonious with regard to his personal ex 243 penditures he was liberal to his friends and generous to the unfortunate. He was gifted with a pleasing poetic talent. The late Rev. Dr. Crawley, of Armagh, had in his possession, a manuscript lyric hymn to the Virgin, and a translation of the Song of Moses, into classic Latin verse, which he said were the productions of Mac Mahon's muse. The Carmen Mosaicum' was written in a genuine spirit of poetry, highly creditable to its author." "Thus far we have deduced and verified our biographical sketch of the titular or Roman Catholic archbishops of Armagh, from such authentic documents as our industry has enabled us to procure. If the narrative of their actions, which we have presented to our readers, should appear to them, in any respect, defective, we entreat them to reflect, that no former writer had expressly discussed this branch of our sub. ject. The Roman Catholic primates have been but incidentally mentioned by our historians, and it is therefore no easy task to form a well-digested and regular account of these prelates, from the scanty materials, which their pages casually afford the biographer. Of the titular arch. bishops of Armagh who succeeded Dr. Hugh Mac Mahon, little or no traces are to be found, in the publications of the last or present century. We are, however, enabled by the kindness of the learned and Right Rev. Dr. Edmund Derry, Roman Catholic bishop of Dromore, to give a succinct but correct biographical sketch of that primate's successors." The last in this list is Dr. Richard O'Reilly, who succeeded in 1786, at a time when the Diocese of Armagh was disorganized by confessed anarchy. "It was the glory of Primate O'Reilly, and the first blessing of his auspicious entry, to have tranquillized this most ancient diocese. At his presence, the demon of discord, with his horrid train of attendants, disappeared. The pious and benevolent Prelate founded then a system of concord and practical government, and was therefore emphatically called the 'Angel of Peace.' Having an independent fortune, he was the first Catholic primate, since the revolution, who had it in his power to live in a manner becoming his dignified station. The writer of this article had often the honour of dining with the late learned, liberal, and hospitable the Right Rev. Dr. Percy, Protestant Bishop of Dromore, and frequently with Doctor O'Reilly *. He could not, except * "As soon as the Catholick bishop arrived in Dromore, Doctor Percy sent him a most polite and friendly invitation with his suite, which word he always made use of; the consequence was, that the Catholic bishop, with seven or eight priests, uniformly dined with him. Having heard the character of the late Dr. O'Reilly, Dr. Percy often expressed a desire to be acquainted with him, and sent by the bishop an invitation to bim, to come (as he expressed it) and see an old blind man'." 244 REVIEW. Dyer's Biographical Sketches. [March, in the number of servants, observe any difference in their style of living. At their tables there was the same kind of rational and improving conversation, and the like sober, modest magnificence. Doctor O'Reilly was rendered agreeable to all, by the gentleness of his mind, the affability of his manners, the extent of his information, and the sweetness of his disposition. He was the delight of his flock, the honour and protection of the priesthood, and the light of pastors. Worn out by a combination of diseases, and full of merit, he gave up his precious spirit to God, January 31st, 1818." The Cathedral of Armagh, which, after reiterated destruction, had been burnt by Sir Phelim O'Neil in 1642, was finally rebuilt by the benevolent Abp. Margetson, about 1675. Among the principal monuments in it are those of William Viscount Charlemont, who died in 1671; Dr. Peter Drelincourt, Dean of Armagh, who died in 1720; Dr. Henry Jenney, Archdeacon of Armagh (the friend of Swift), who died in 1758; and the Rev. Thomas Carpendale, M. A. who for 30 years presided over the classic school of Armagh, is commemorated by an handsome monument placed there in 1818, by his grateful scholars. The Ministers of the different Dissenting Congregations are duly noticed; and of some of them are given good memoirs. The several Chapels for Religious Worship are also described; as are the various other public edifices, particularly the Observatory, with Memoirs of the successive Astronomers; the Public Library, with some account of its contents; and the Classical School, with characters of its former Masters. The modern state of the City, its civil government, population, and the longevity of its inhabitants, are properly illustrated; and the Volume is concluded by an ample Appendix and a copious Index. The Plates are not numerous, but the Views of the Archiepiscopal Palace and of the College are very satisfactory. 45. Biographical Sketches of the Lives and Characters of illustrious and eminent Men. By Charles George Dyer. Illustrated with whole-length Portraits. Published by the Author. This handsome Volume (which was announced in vol. LXXXVII. i. 252.) consists of XLVIII. Portraits of the most celebrated English Characters, and of some eminent Foreigners who have resided in this Country, and are thereby connected with its history. These whole-length Representations are particularly interesting, as they place before our eyes the eminent individuals in the very dress they may be supposed to have wore. The attitudes are easy; and the execution of the engravings spirited. "It was intended that this Work should display a faithful view of the general costume which prevailed at the period in which each of these illustrious characters flourished. For this purpose those portraits have been carefully selected that exhibited the person pourtrayed in his usual walk of life, and not placed in studied attitude, or habited in theatrical dress." "The difficulty of obtaining authentic portraits of this description must be suffi ciently obvious; but as the work proceeded, materials for its formation accumulated to such an extent, that only a portion of them form the contents of the present volume, selected from the large collection which the author has been enabled to make by the kindness of the possessors of original pictures, who have permitted drawings to be made for the use of this publication." "In the literary part of the Work, the Author is indebted to Mr. Meredith, for the life of Sir William Chambers; and to Mr. Charles Wesley, jun. for those of Lord Chatham and Erasmus: for the remaining portion of the Volume he is wholly an swerable." A proper acknowledgment to Mr. Brighty," from whose pencil all the drawings have proceeded;" to Mr. Romney, "by whom most of the engravings were executed;" to Mr. Upcott," for the favour of many of the fac-similes copied from the originals in his immense collection of autographs:" and to Messrs. Nichols and Bentley, "for their attention to the typographical part of the Work." In conclusion, thanks are given "To Edward Hogg, esq. of Hendon, Many of the lives have been written while under the shelter of his hospitable roof: where in the days of sickness and of sorrow, the skill of the physician, and the kindness of the friend, have been united and exerted in his favour." The Memoirs are correct and satisfactory; and each Portrait is accom. panied with an autograph signature. As specimens of the mode in which each Character is classed, we select an Architect, a Painter, and a Novelist. 1821.1 REVIEW.-Letter to Sir H. Davy, Bart. &c. "SIR W. CHAMBERS. "In the course of his practice as an Architect, he was appointed Surveyor-General, which procured considerable emolument, and in which situation he designed and erected Somerset House. This magnificent structure displays all the excellencies and defects of Sir W. Chambers as an architect. The general correctness of its proportion, the convenience of its internal arrangements, and the skill of its construction, deserve every praise; but the intricacy and elaborate division of its parts, and the domes and vases which deface its outline, shew that want of simplicity and correct taste which made him the patron of Chinese architecture. Sir W. Chambers died in London in 1796, in his 69th year, and was interred in Poets Corner, Westminster Abbey." "WILLIAM HOGARTH "Was an original genius, who struck out a new and untrodden path in the regions of art, and has left behind him a name which will survive, when most of his contemporary artists are enveloped in oblivion. His engravings have carried his name into every part of the world, and nothing less than a general extinction of art can destroy a reputation which will grow with time, extend with civilization, and be honoured and acknowleged by ages yet to come, and nations yet to rise. It is but recently that Hogarth's merits as a Colourist have become generally known. Before the exhibition of his works at the Royal Institution, he was only mentioned as a designer and engraver, and his great talents as a painter were entirely overlooked. The injustice his paintings excited from the critics of his own time, induced him to engrave much and paint little; but he has left behind him pictures enough to establish his claim to the honour of being the first great Colourist the English school has produced; and this high character is sanctioned by the opinion always entertained and expressed of his works by the venerable Benjamin West, esq. President of the Royal Academy." "SAMUEL RICHARDSON. "As an Author he possessed a thorough knowledge of the human heart, and an absolute power over the tender feelings. In pathetic descriptions he has never been surpassed; even his minute details and prolix narrations help the illusion of his scenes; and while reading any of his works we no more doubt the truth of the story and the reality of the personages than we do our own existence, but insensibly become intimate with all the characters, and appear to live among them as friends and companions, anxious for their welfare, and affected with the same strong emotion of sorrow for their misfortunes, and of joy for their success, as if they 245 were persons in real life, with whom we were carrying on a confidential correspondence, entrusted with all their secrets, and consulted on all their concerns. Diderot, in his eloquent eulogy on our author, observes, that the more exalted our minds, the more exquisite and pure our taste, the more we are acquainted with nature, and the more we love the truth, the higher we shall esteem the works of Richardson." 46. A Letter to Sir Humphrey Davy, Bart. &c. &c. on his being elected the President of the Royal Society; with some Observations on the Management of the British Museum. By a Fellow of the Royal Society. 8vo. pp. 24. Ridgway. THIS nervous Letter contains much friendly advice to the distinguished Philosopher to whom it is addressed some unnecessary reflections on a Rival Candidate-a well-merited eulogium on Sir Joseph Banks-and some severe animadversions (intermingled with caustic personal reflections) on the present management of the British Museum and Royal Academy. 47. Observations on the Report of the Earl of Sheffield, at the Meeting at Lewes Fair, July 26, 1820, so far as respects the Tux on Foreign Wool. By James Bischoff. 8vo. pp. 15. J. Richardson. SOME remarks of Mr. Bischoff on this important subject were given in our last Volume, p. 516. But the "Report" of Lord Sheffield having been disseminated with much industry, Mr. B. has felt it a duty incumbent on him thus to give his observations a more extended circulation. "The erroneous ground on which his Lordship's calculations and reasonings are founded, will, I trust, be apparent to every one; and I still hope that Parliament and his Majesty's Government will see the necessity, as well as the wisdom and sound policy, of withdrawing the duty on foreign wool, before the evil consequences are past remedy." The hints of one so well acquainted with the subject, deserve the mature consideration of Government. 48. Report of the Committee of the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline, and for the Reformation of Juvenile Of fenders. 8vo. pp. 171. IN p. xxxv. we find, that "In the chief prison at Munich, containing seven hundred and twenty prisoners, employment is carried on to an extent, which not only defrays all the ex penses |