has not entirely abftracted himself from public affairs, for we find him at times filling fome of the moft confiderable offices in the ftate.

His Lordship connected himself early in life with the Rockingham party, and when they came into power, in 1765, he was made First Lord of Trade, and fworn of the privy-council.

He, however, does not feem to have continued ftaunch to his old friends, for although he went out with them, yet, about the year 1772, he was induced to accept the poft of Secretary of State, and foon after removed to the head of the board of trade. In this fituation he took a warm and decided part against the Americans, which recommended hiin fo much to his Majefty, that in 1775, he had the cuftody of the Privy Seal confided to him, which office he retained during the whole remaining term of Lord North's administration.

This noble Lord, who, along with the late Baron Smythe, was the chief fupport of the evangelical preaching at the Lock-chapel, is by many confidered a methodist. It is, therefore, fomewhat remarkable that a man of his retired and ferious turn of mind, fhould engage in the bufy career of politics. Soon after his difmiffion, he joined the coalition, and by them was appointed Lord Steward of the Houfchold, which place he retained about nine months; and when his friends were driven out of power, he retired with them, and has continued ever fince in the obfcurity of private life.

During the ftruggle about the regency he took the

fide of the prince, for which his Highnefs fhewed his gratitude, by appointing his fon, Lord Lewisham, Warden of the Stannaries of Cornwall.

Lord Dartmouth is esteemed a man of fenfe, and was confidered as a tolerable speaker in the House of Lords. In private life, he bears the character of a good husband, a good parent, and a kind master; and is, on the whole, one of the most inoffenfive among the nobility.

So early as the year 1755, we find the late Mr. James Hervey, author of the "Meditations," &c. one of his Lordship's intimates, and fpeaking highly of his pious difpofition.

He was also the particular friend of the late Countess of Huntingdon, Mr. George Whitefield, and all the eminent fupporters of Calviniftical Methodism. It must be allowed, that, as a private man, he has borne bimfelf with an uniform character through life; and with the profeffion of piety, has invariably connected the practice of it.

Lord Dartmouth has a numerous family no lefs than eight fons and one daughter.

THE HON. AND REV. DR. SHUTE BARRINGTON,

LORD BISHOP OF DURHAM.

JOHN SHUTE BARRINGTON, who was created an English Viscount in the year 1720, was the intimate friend of the immortal LOCKE, and, like him, a firm affertor of the liberties of mankind, an

acute

acute metaphyfician, and an able expofitor and defender of the facred fcriptures. His Lordfhip died the latter end of 1734, and left behind him fix fons, five of whom have arrived at great eminence in the profeffions of the army, the navy, the law, and the

church.

The fubject of our prefent notice was the youngest of these, and was born about the year 1732. He received his education at Eton fchool, whence he was removed to the University of Oxford, where he was entered of Merton College; but he afterwards went to Chrift-church, of which he became a student.

He entered into holy orders in 1756, and the year following took his degree of Mafter of Arts. In 1761, he was appointed Chaplain to the King, and next year was promoted to be a Canon of Chriftchurch. June 10th, 1762, the degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred upon him; and in 1766, on the death of Dr. Taylor, he was prefented to a refidentiary canonry in the cathedral of St. Paul.

In the year 1769, he was made Bishop of Landaff; and while in that station he brought a bill into the House of Lords, the object of which went to check the increasing evil of matrimonial infidelity, by preventing perfons divorced by parliament from marrying those with whom they had been criminal. His Lordship obferved, that many acts of adultery had been committed folely with the intention to obtain. feparation, in order to form new alliances; and, therefore, he was defirous of putting a legal barrier against that licentious practice. In this attempt he

was fupported by the opinion of the ableft lawyers and divines in the kingdom. His laudable defign, however, fell to the ground; though had it taken place, much good would have been effected by it, and the long catalogue of divorces would, perhaps, have been drawn within a very narrow compass.

In the year 1782, his Lordship was tranflated to the fee of Salisbury, where he diftinguifhed himself greatly by his liberality in repairing and beautifying the noble cathedral of that diocefe; and on the death of Bishop Thurlow, in 1791, he was removed to Durham, with the approbation of every well-wisher to the church and state.

In his epifcopal capacity, his Lordship has conducted himself with great dignity of manners, and with the most exemplary attention to the duties of his office.

He has been very watchful over the behaviour of his clergy; and has fhewn a inoft commendable circumfpection with refpect to the character and qualifications of candidates for holy orders.

With a laudable zeal to promote the ftudy of facred literature, he bestows premiums upon fuch as excel in the Hebrew and Greek languages. This, we believe, is quite a novel practice; and, doubtless, were it more generally followed, it would not only create a fpirit of emulation in young perfons preparing for the church, but would, moreover, render most of them afhamed of appearing before the Bishop, or Archdeacon, without a tolerable fhare of facred learning.

One

One anecdote of his Lordfhip, does high honour to his liberality and his piety. A relation of Mrs. Barrington having experienced fome embarraffinents and disappointments in life, wifhed to amend his fituation (being a military officer), by entering into the church, thinking that the Bishop would provide handsomely for him. On making the neceffary application to his kinfman, he was afked what preferment would fatisfy him?-To this home queftion he readily answered, that about 500l. a year would make him a happy man. "You fhall have it," faid his Lordship, "but not out of the patrimony of the "church. I will not deprive a worthy and regular "divine to provide for a neceffitous relation. You "fhall have the fum you mention yearly out of my own pocket."

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The Bishop has published feveral fingle fermons, and fome epifcopal charges, which have been greatly efteemed. He also contributed fome valuable notes to Mr. Bowyer's "Conjectures on the New Teftament," and he has given the world an edition of his father's "Mifcellanea Sacra," in three volumes 8vo. with many additions and corrections.

Though a fupporter of adminiftration, he has conducted himself in parliament with great moderation.

His Lordship, in 1761, married Lady Diana Beauclerk, who died in 1768; and in 1770, chofe for his fecond wife, a Mifs Gueft. By the first alliance, he obtained the intereft of a very powerful family, and by the second, a large fortune.

MR.