irreverence and more learning observed, in reference to their methodical manner of life, that a new sect of methodists was sprung up, alluding to the ancient School of Physicians known by that name.”

NOTE s, p. 58.

James Hervey, author of "Meditations among the Tombs," written while he held the curacy of Bedford in Devonshire. He was one of Wesley's earliest religious associates at Oxford.

NOTE t, p. 59.

Anthony Wood gives a glowing account of Sidney in his Athenæ : "The poets of his own time, especially Spencer, reverenced him not only as a patron, but a master. He was a man of a sweet nature, of excellent behaviour, of much, and withal of well digested learning; so that rarely wit, courage, breeding, and other additional accomplishments of conversation have met in so high a degree in any single person. It is to be wished that his life might be written by some judicious hand *.

"While he was very young he was sent to Christ Church to be improved in all sorts of learning. In the year 1579 he, though neither magistrate or counsellor, opposed the queen's matching with the duke of Anjou. On the 8th of January, 1582, he received the honour of knighthood from the queen, and in 1585 he designed an expedition with sir Francis Drake into America; but, being hindered by the queen, he was in October following made governor of Flushing, and general of the horse. In both which places of great trust his carriage testified to the world his wisdom and valour, with addition of honour to his country by them; and especially the more, when in July, 1586, he surprised Axil, and preserved the lives and honour of the English army at the enterprise of Gravelin. What can be said more? He was a statesman, soldier, and scholar; a complete master of matter and language, as his im

* Mr. Grey of Magdalen, a short time since, published a splendid edition of Sidney's works, with Memoirs, &c. &c.

mortal pen shews. His pen and his sword have rendered him famous enough. He died by the one, and by the other he'll ever live. Certain it is, that he was a noble and matchless gentleman; and it may be justly said without hyperbole or fiction, as it was of Cato Uticensis, that he seemed to be born to that only which he went about."

NOTE ", p. 59.

"Benjamin Jonson, a poet as soon as he was born, afterwards the father of our poetry, and most admirably well versed in classical authors, and therefore beloved of Camden, Selden, Hoskins, Martin, &c. made his first entry on the stage of this vain world within the city of Westminster, (being the son of a grave minister,) educated in the college school there, while Camden was master; thence his silly mother, who had married to her second husband, a bricklayer, took him home, and made him, as 'tis said, work at her husband's trade. At length, being pitied by some generous gentleman, Camden got him a better employment, which was to accompany a son of sir Walter Raleigh's in his adventures. After their return they parted, not, I think, in cold blood; and thereupon Ben went to Cambridge and was statutably elected into St. John's college; but what continuance he made there I find not; sure is, that his geny being most poetical, he did afterwards recede to a nursery, or obscure playhouse, called the Green Curtain. Dr. Rich Corbet of Christ Church, and other poets of the university, did in reverence to his parts, invite him to Oxon, where continuing for some time in Christ Church, writing and composing plays, he was, as a member thereof, actually created master of arts in 1619, and therefore I put him among the Oxford writers. At length, B. Jonson, after he had arrived at the sixty-third year of his age, marched off from the stage of this vain world on the 16th of August 1637." (Athenæ.)

NOTE x, p. 59.

Locke was sent to Christ Church in 1651, and was speedily distinguished among his fellow collegians. He resided partly in Exeter house, and partly at Oxford.

NOTE y, p. 60.

"In 1670, his great work, the Essay on the Understanding, was sketched out. It arose from the meeting, as the author says, of five or six friends at his chambers." (LORD KING'S Life of Locke.)

We may add to this, that in 1694 Mr. Wynne, fellow of Jesus, first recommended his Essay to the study of the university.

NOTE 2, p. 63.

From Eton Canning was removed to Christ Church, where he gained several prizes. From Oxford he went to the Temple, and studied the Law; but being patronised by Sheridan, he was brought forward into political life, and returned member of parliament for Newtown in the Isle of Wight. Canning made his first speech, equally distinguished for its modesty and eloquence, on the treaty between his Majesty and the king of Sardinia on the 31st of January, 1794.

As a statesman and a patriot, the world can do justice to Canning's fame; as the fascinating companion in private life, the memory of those who were honoured with his regard, can alone enjoy him. They may truly apply to themselves, with a slight alteration, the words of a great historian on the death of his revered friend*, "Finis vitæ ejus nobis luctuosus, patriæ tristis, extraneis etiam ignotisque non sine curâ fuit." "Quicquid ex Agricolâ amavimus, quidquid mirati sumus, manet mansurumque est in animis hominum, in æternitate tempórum, famâ rerum." The following extracts are taken from a short account of the "Early Days of Canning," which was published by Mr. Newton :

"Mr. Canning quitted Mr. Richards's school at Winchester in 1782, and in the same year, at about twelve years old, was sent to Eton. He is described to have made a considerable progress at Winchester, such as sufficiently to account for the distinguished rank which he held at Eton, where he was at once placed in the fourth form, and was never therefore in the lower school. He obtained the post of honour in the public speeches of 1787, by being made the last speaker, and he must consequently have *Tacit. in Agricol. c. 43. 46.

been very high in the school when he quitted it for the university. Mr. Robert Smith, the late representative in parliament for Lincoln, who alone, of all the Etonians at that period, rivalled Mr. Canning in abilities, delivered, in 1788, a speech antecedently spoken by his friend, and this occasioned a warm discussion among the boys on their comparative merits. These two, together with Mr. Smith's brother, and Mr. John Hookham Frere, who was during the late war our envoy at Madrid, were the authors, while at school, of the Microcosm, to which periodical work a few other Etonians contributed papers occasionally. Dr. Pett, canon of Christ Church, who lately declined a bishopric which was offered to him with circumstances of peculiar grace and favour, was Mr. Canning's tutor, as he was mine; and in our various walks of life, we have seldom found a person who united with literary acquirements qualities more amiable, more considerate, and more estimable. He would have adorned the mitre. When I heard that Mr. Canning had only left behind him a small fortune, it did not at all surprise me, for he possessed from his youth a most liberal spirit in pecuniary matters. At college his habits were uniformly studious. Enter his rooms in Peckwater when you would, you were almost sure to find him occupied with a pen or a book. Superior to all idle amusements, improvement was his continual object. He did not even keep a horse, and I have no recollection that he ever hired one.

"In the year 1787, a speaking society was established at Christ Church, the members of which were the Hon. Robert Banks Jenkinson, now lord Liverpool, George Canning, lord Henry Spencer, sir William Drummond, sometime British ambassador at Constantinople, Charles Goddard, and myself. Most of these names are well known in the world, and are connected with the history of the country.

"Mr. Goddard, soon after he quitted Oxford, was the private secretary of lord Grenville, at whose house, in St. James's square, Mr. Canning, lord Liverpool, and myself, were in the habit of visiting him. I remember him with pleasure as a very instructive and agreeable companion. He is at present archdeacon of Lincoln, and has been long distinguished for the active and zealous discharge of the arduous duties of his profession, and station in the church. This club, in which were heard the first speeches ever composed or delivered by lord Liverpool

and Mr. Canning, met every Thursday evening at the rooms of the members, who were at its first establishment limited to the number of six. Before our separation at night, or frequently at one or two o'clock in the morning, we voted and recorded the question which we were to debate on the ensuing Thursday. Sometimes we appeared at dinner in the hall, dressed in our uniform, which was a brown coat, of rather an uncommon shade, with velvet cuffs and collar. The buttons bore the initials of Demosthenes, Cicero, Pitt, and Fox.

"Thus habited, and much the object of notice to every passing observer, we pleased ourselves with the excessive curiosity which our dress excited. As secret were we as the grave on all that concerned our oratorical institution, and it would be difficult to give an idea of the anxiety evinced by our fellow collegians, to discover the meaning of this brown coat and velvet cuffs.

"These indeed were boyish feelings, nor should I have entered so much into the particulars, were it not that, whether the questions debated by us were trivial or profound, this club cannot remain in obscurity, since it is the leading subject of Mr. Canning's letter, to which these remarks are introductory. Those who have been educated at public schools, which are the world in miniature, must have observed that boys are apt to exhibit themselves there very much in the same characters which they afterwards maintain on the more important theatre of life.

"I was the lowest boy in the list at Harrow, when I first went to that school, the only one at which I ever was placed; and having gradually ascended to the highest forms, many are the instances I could recollect in support of this observation. No example, however, of an early and decisive display of character could be more peculiarly striking than that which is exhibited in Mr. Canning's letter. Dr. Cyril Jackson, at that time dean of Christ Church, entertained the most favourable opinion of Mr. Canning's abilities, and foresaw his high destiny in those glances into futurity, in which the dean was accustomed to indulge his contemplative and deeply penetrating mind, and frequently with an accuracy which was extraordinary: he had probably seated Mr. Canning on the woolsack.

"There was one member of our club at Christ Church, lord Liverpool,