attainments, we should describe him as a clergyman well informed in the studies of his profession. He is said by his biographer to have been, to a certain degree, a Hebrew scholar, well versed in ecclesiastical history, in the evidences of religion, and in the different systems of theology; and we have no doubt that his knowledge in all these was sufficiently respectable. His apprehension seems to have been quick, his taste correct, and his memory retentive. The distinguishing and prominent feature of his mind, was a rich and exuberant imagination, which gives a peculiar warmth and colouring to his style. He did not excel in analysis or nice discrimination, nor was he remarkable for a keen penetrating sagacity. As a reasoner, he is not distinguished by a close and logical accuracy; still his arguments are generally so well conceived, and always so dressed out with expression, as forcibly to strike the attention.

Bishop Percy.

BORN A. D. 1728.-DIED A. D. 1811.

THOMAS PERCY, D. D. dean of Carlisle, and lastly bishop of Dromore, was a descendant of the family of the earls of Northumberland, or, as stated by Boswell, the heir-male of the ancient Percies. He was born at Bridgenorth, in Shropshire, in the year 1728; and educated at Christ church college, Oxford. In consequence of his connection with the family of the late duke of Northumberland he became his chaplain. In the year 1769 he was nominated one of the chaplains to his majesty; in 1778 he was promoted to the deanery of Carlisle; and in 1782 to the bishopric of Dromore, in the county of Down, where he expired, September 30th, 1811, at the advanced age of eighty-three.

He commenced his literary career in 1761, by publishing, Han Kiou Chouan, a translation from the Chinese Miscellanies,' and, in the following year, by Five Pieces of Runic Poetry,' freely paraphrased from the Icelandic. In 1764 appeared his version of the Song of Solomon, which was succeeded, in the following year, by his most popular work, Reliques of Ancient English Poetry.' He also published A Key to the New Testament;' translations of Mallett's Northern Antiquities; The Hermit of Warkworth,' a poem ; and a curious and valuable record belonging to the Percy family, entitled, The Northumberland Household Book.'

The antiquarian researches and literary effusions of Dr Percy are to be contemplated as the relaxations of an ardent mind. The first of these afforded him relief from his more serious avocations; and the latter introduced him to the friendship of scientific men, whose company gilded those hours in which it was absolutely necessary to unbend and seek those pleasures that arise from select society. In the early part of his life, Dr Percy became acquainted with most of the men of learning and genius that then adorned our literature. His Reliques of Ancient Poetry,' open to the learned new sources of investigation. While his admirable arrangement of some that were mere fragments, and his elegant mode of supplying their deficiences, systematized the whole in a manner that at once informed and delighted the

general reader. The beautiful ballad of The Friar of Orders Grey,' upon which Goldsmith founded his interesting poem of The Hermit,' was among the remains of antiquity that Dr Percy completed in the manner above-mentioned. The of Oh Nannie, wilt thou gang wi' song

me,' was also his composition.

·

Dr Johnson once praised Pennant very highly; Dr Percy, who had measured the extent of his genius, and had, from local knowledge, reason to think meanly of some parts of his travels, ventured, with rather more eagerness than was usual to him, to express his opinion; opposition roused Johnson, and humiliation seems to have fanned the flame it was intended to smother; be this as it may, this trifling dispute produced the following letter, which does the memory of both parties honour.

"TO JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.

"Sir,―The foolish debate betwixt Dr Percy and me, is one of those foolish controversies which begin upon a question of which neither party cares how it is decided, and which is, nevertheless, continued to acrimony by the vanity with which every man resists confutation. Dr Percy's warmth proceeded from a cause, which, perhaps, does him more honour than he would have derived from juster criticism. His abhorrence of Pennant proceeded from his opinion that Pennant had wantonly and indecently censured his patron. His anger made him resolve that for having been once wrong, he never should be right. Pennant has much in his notions that I do not like, but still I think him a very intelligent traveller. If Percy is really offended, I am sorry, for he is a man whom I never knew to offend any one; he is a man very willing to learn, and very able to teach; a man out of whose company I never go without having learned something. It is true that he vexes me sometimes, but I am afraid it is by making me feel my own ignorance: so much extension of mind, and so much minute accuracy of inquiry, if you survey your whole circle of acquaintance, you will find so scarce, if you find it at all, that you will value Percy by compariLord Hailes is somewhat like him: but Lord Hailes does not, perhaps, go beyond him in research, and I do not know that he equals him in elegance. Percy's attention to poetry has given grace and splendour to his studies of antiquity. A mere antiquarian is a rugged being. Upon the whole you see, that what I might say in sport or petulance to him, is very consistent with full conviction of his merit. I am, dear Sir, your most, &c.

son.

Bishop Cleaver.

"SAM. JOHNSON."

BORN A. D. 1742.-DIED A. D. 1815.

At an

THIS prelate was born in the year 1742. He received his early education under his father, at the village of Twyford, Bucks. early age he was sent to Oxford; and, in 1764, he obtained a fellowship of Brazen-nose college, which he afterwards exchanged for the living of Cottingham in Northamptonshire.

When Earl Temple became viceroy of Ireland, in 1782, Mr Cleaver accompanied him to that country in the capacity of chaplain. He returned with his patron from Ireland in the following summer, and soon after obtained the headship of his college.

In early life Dr Cleaver had acted as tutor in the Grenville family: and to this house he was indebted for his promotion in the church. In 1784 he obtained a prebend in Westminster; and in 1787 he was elevated to the see of Chester on the translation of Dr Porteous to London. In 1800 he succeeded Dr Warren in the see of Bangor; and in 1806, was translated to the see of St Asaph, on the death of Bishop Horsley. He died in 1815.

Bishop Cleaver was a good classical scholar. His edition of Homer is remarkable for its accuracy. He published a volume of sermons, from which it is abundantly obvious that he was of the most moderate school of theology.

William Vincent, D.D.

BORN A. D. 1739.-DIED A. D. 1815.

DR VINCENT was the son of a London merchant. He was educated at Westminster, and was elected to Trinity college, Cambridge, in 1757. In 1762 he was appointed a teacher of Westminster school, and in 1788 he became master of that seminary. During Mr Addington's premiership he was made dean of Westminster.

His first publications consisted of single sermons, preached on different public occasions; these were succeeded by a few tracts on classical subjects; but his great work was his dissertation on the voyage of Nearchus to the Euphrates as collected from Arrian.

Dr Vincent died on the 21st of December, 1815. The following character of him appeared in the Gentleman's Magazine:-" Those who have gone through college at Westminster, know well how to appreciate his (Dr Vincent's) services as second master; not, indeed, with reference to his exertions in the school, for they were confined to the under persons, but with respect to higher, greater, and more important duties. At Westminster school, the care of the king's scholars is confided to the vigilance and superintendence of the second master. He has the care of college; and in his hands are the preservation of its discipline, the guardianship of its morals, and the charge of its religious instruction. With a steadiness and fidelity rarely equalled, Dr Vincent discharged these difficult functions; but perhaps there never existed a man that rivalled him in the art of attracting from boys attention to his lectures. Four times a week, each year, preparatory to receiving of the sacrament, Dr Vincent explained the nature of that religious ceremony, its institution, its importance, and its benefits. And we believe such was his happy mode of imparting instruction, that there never was known an instance of any boy treating the disquisition with levity, or not showing an eagerness to be present at, and to profit by, the lesson. A clear sonorous voice; a fluent, easy, yet correct delivery; an expression at once familiar and impressive, rendered him a delightful speaker. These advantages he possessed also in common conversation; but he

displayed them more especially on public occasions, and never to greater advantage than in the pulpit. As sub-almoner, it was in the course of his duty to preach twice a-year at the chapel-royal, before their majesties; and most certainly no divine in the course of the king's long reign, more recommended himself at that place, as a forcible, eloquent, and sound preacher, than Dr. Vincent. On becoming dean of Westminster, he of course resigned the head mastership; a step highly necessary to his future health, already not a little impaired by continual confinement, and almost total abstinence from exercise. But before he relinquished this station, in which he had attached to himself all those who had had the good fortune to be under his tuition, he still more increased his popularity with Westminster-men, by the publication of his 'Defence of Public Education.' This little work owed its origin to an attack, supposed to proceed from the pen of Dr. Rennel, the master of the Temple, on the system of instruction pursued at public schools, particularly in the important matter of religion. Dr. Vincent on this occasion took up the gauntlet in support of his own seminary; and most successfully vindicated it from the charge of neglect on this great point, by detailing specifically the stated exercises of prayer and sacred instruction in use at Westminster. After this period, Dr. Vincent divided his time between his deanery and his living of Islip, to which he was presented by the church of Westminster, being always resident at either the one or the other; and during that period he frequently honoured the Gentleman's Magazine' by his valuable correspondence. There is not a doubt but that his release from the fatigues and anxiety of the school, and the ease and relaxation of mind which he enjoyed from his well-earned preferment, tended to the prolongation of his valuable life. After all, it was in the bosom of his family that Dr. Vincent was seen to the greatest advantage. His mornings were dedicated to reading; his evenings to the society of his friends. In this tranquil and peaceful circle he endeared himself to all around him by the benignity of his disposition, the affability of his demeanour, and the charms of his conversation. Here were laid open that singleness of heart, and simplicity of mind, which none could appreciate justly but those who saw and were conversant with him in the free and familiar hours of domestic privacy. With qualifications which would have conferred dignity on the highest station in the church, and with an ambition, perhaps, not wholly averse from rank and elevation, Dr. Vincent nevertheless loved quiet and retirement."

The following is a list of the dean's works;-1. 'A Letter to the Right Reverend Dr. Richard Watson, King's Professor of Divinity in the University of Cambridge,' 8vo. 1780. Anonymous. 2. Considerations on Parochial Music,' 8vo. 1787. 3. 'A Sermon preached before the Sons of the Clergy,' 4to. 1789. 4. A Sermon preached at St. Margaret's,' Westminster, for the Grey-coat School in that parish. This being a very loyal discourse, above 20,000 copies were distributed by the association at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, in the Strand; it was also reprinted at Bath, Canterbury, and Gloucester. 5. The Origination of the Greek Verb, an Hypothesis,' 8vo. This was republished, and enlarged under the title of The Greek Verb analysed.' 2d Edit. 6. De Legione Manliana, Quæstio ex Livio desumpta, et Rei Militaris Romanæ studiosis proposita, auctore

Gulielmo Vincent,' 1795. 7. The Voyage of Nearchus to the Euphrates; collected from the original journal preserved by Arrian,' 4to. 1799. 8. The Periplus of the Erythrean Sea,' 1800. Part I. 4to. 9. A Defence of Public Education,' addressed to the Most Reverend the Lord Bishop of Meath, in answer to a charge, annexed to his lordship's discourse, preached at St Paul's on the anniversary meeting of the charity children in 1799. 1801. 10. A Sermon preached before the Honourable House of Commons, at St Margaret's, Westminster, on Sunday, June 1, 1802, being the day appointed for a general thanksgiving.' 11. The Periplus of the Erythrean Sea,' Part II. 4to. 1805 12. The Voyage of Nearchus, and the Periplus of the Erythrean Sea, translated from the Greek,' 1809. 13. Observations on the Geography of Susiana' have been printed in Mr Valpy's Classical Journal,' No. xviii. The dean also reviewed several articles in the British Critic.' particularly that relative to the controversy about the Troad; and inserted many articles occasionally in the Gentleman's Magazine.'

Jeremiah Joyce.

BORN A. D. 1768.-DIED A. D. 1815.

THIS ingenious writer was indebted to his own industry alone for his education and rise in life. He was originally designed for the trade of a glazier; but having by indefatigable perseverance made himself a reputable scholar, he entered the dissenting ministry, and published several useful works of an elementary class. "He was first known to the public," says a writer in the Monthly Magazine, "in consequence of the audacious attempt made by Messrs Pitt and Dundas on the lives of several undaunted friends of parliamentary reform; and Mr Joyce was specially marked for the vengeance of those unprincipled ministers, by the circumstance of his being tutor to the sons of Earl Stanhope, then a leader among the patriotic reformers. Indeed, the arrests and the subsequent state trials were said to have arisen from Mr Joyce having written a laconic note to Mr Tooke, about a literary work then on the eve of publication, in which he asked the question, Shall you be ready by Wednesday?' This note miscarried, and on Tuesday the arrests took place. Mr Joyce has often been heard to declare, that he did not personally know more than six, and had never spoken to more than three or four of the twelve strangers, to each of whom a grand jury were induced, under the misdirection of a judge, to find a true bill against, as jointly engaged in a conspiracy of treason! After the honourable acquittals of Messrs Hardy, Tooke, and Thelwall, the lawofficers of the crown, in pure shame, dismissed Mr Joyce and the others without trial, but also without compensation for many months' false imprisonment, under charges which endangered their lives, and so deeply afflicted the feelings of the relatives of some of them, as to cause their premature deaths.

Earl Stanhope, who felt a wound through the sides of his son's preceptor, gave a splendid entertainment on the return of Mr Joyce to Chevening; but some family events soon rendering the continuance of his services unnecessary, he settled in London, and began that careet