vinity. This collection confifts of pieces, many of which were become exceedingly scarce, on the most interesting subjects in facred literature, by different writers. Little elfe is wanting to form fuch a compilation, but great reading, candour, and judgment. These are sufficiently displayed in this edition; which cannot but prove an ineftimable library of divinity to every candidate for holy orders.

The Bishop took part against the miniftry during the difcuffions on the commercial treaty with France; and at the time of the King's illness, he voted with thofe Lords who confidered the Prince of Wales as having an abfolute right to an unqualified affumption of the Regency. As the fee of St. Afaph was then vacant by the death of the worthy Dr. Shipley, fome perfons were disposed to think that Bishop W. had his eye upon a translation thither. The King, however, recovered'; the Regency, of course, fell to the ground; and the bishopric of St. Afaph was filled by Dr. Halifax.

In June, 1791, the Bishop delivered a charge to his clergy, in which he took occafion to touch upon the great revolution which had recently taken place in France, and to advert to the state of things at home, chiefly with respect to the condition of the church, and the pretenfions of diffenters. Some of his hearers took notes of his lordship's difcourse, copics of which were not only circulated with great industry throughout the diocese, but spread over all parts of the principality, and even reached Lambeth. Alarmed at the intention evidently manifefted by this

mode

mode of circulation, he loft no time in publishing a faithful copy of his charge, which completely did away the evil defigns of his enemies.

In the course of the prefent eventful conteft, his lordship has exhibited himself, in general, the fteady advocate of pacific measures; and he has made fome admirable and very impreffive fpeeches in the House of Lords, on the neceffity of adopting a conciliatory fpirit.

But one of the best services which he ever rendered to the public, was by counteracting the poisonous principles of the author of "The Age of Reafon," by " An Apology for the Bible, in a Series of Letters, addreffed to the Author of that Work," in 1796. This has, doubtlefs, been of infinite service in maintaining the cause of truth; as it is written in a popular manner, and with a dignity of expreffion, and power of argument, most admirably adapted to impress the mind with that refpectful seriousness which is fo neceffary to produce a rational conviction.

However, it must be lamented, that the Bishop has given fome advantage to the infidels, by paffing over in filence certain parts of the Bible objected to by them. From that filence much has been inferred ; and it certainly would have been more noble, and in fact more prudent, to have expreffed his free opinion concerning thofe paffages.

At the beginning of the prefent year, his lordfhip printed a very feafonable and animated" Address to the People of Great Britain." In this performance, the Bishop waves difcuffing the merits or demerits of

the war, as to its origin. He confiders the nation as reduced to the alternative either of an abfolute fubmiffion to the enemy, or a vigorous prosecution of the conteft. Preferring the latter to the former, he pleads for great facrifices, and calls upon his countrymen to make very ftrenuous exertions.

Every body allowed this addrefs to poffefs great merit as a compofition; but many who have made financial politics their study, conceived that the Bishop had gone out of his depth; while others think, and doubtless with reafon, that he has departed from all his former, principles.

That fuch a tract, coming from fuch a man, should produce replies, is not to be wondered at. The weight of his lordship's character was well known. His popularity was very great; and those who were adverfe to the fentiments which he now expreffed, were fenfible that fuch fentiments would have a very extenfive influence upon the public mind.: but the profecution of two of his lordship's antagonists, has inflicted a deadly wound on the liberty of the prefs, and thus rendered controverfy fafe only on one fide of the queftion!

The Bishop is a good public fpeaker; his action is graceful, his voice full and harmonious, and his delivery chafte and correct.

As a writer he is diftinguifhed by a fiyle plain and neat, but firictly pure, nervous, and argumentative.

As a bishop his character is moft excellent; and as far as his influence extends, he hath been uniformly the patron of merit. His family confifts of fix chil

dren;

dren; and his ehief refidence is Colgarth park, delightfully fituated near the lakes in his native country.

Befides the pieces already mentioned, he hath written: "Richardi Watson, A.M. Coll. Sacr. Sanctæ Trin. Soc. et Chemiæ Profefforis in Academia Cantabrigenfi Inftitutionum Chemicarum in prelectionibus Academis explicatum Pars Metallurgica," octavo, 1766. "An Effay on the Subjects of Chymistry, and their general Divifions," octavo, 1771. “A Defence of revealed religion, in two Sermons preached in the cathedral church of Landaff." "A Charge to the Clergy of that Diocese, in June, 1795." "Sermons and Tracts," in one volume, octavo; and a "Charge to his Clergy, in 1798."

A. T.

THE HONOURABLE HENRY ERSKINE.

HENRY ERSKINE, the brother of David Earl of Buchan, is fuppofed to poffefs a large portion of his genius. He received, in early youth, the advantage of that liberal and literary education which in Scotland is rarely denied even to the meaneft yeoman; and has, till of late, been moft folicitoufly beftowed on the children of nobility. The fortune which he inherited was not fufficient to enable him to bury his talents in frivolous idlenefs, and he chofe the practice of the law for his profeffional purfuit. He was accordingly admitted, when very young, a member of the Scottish Faculty of Advocates, and diftinguished himself alike at the bar, in the focieties of his com

panions, and in thofe elegant and fashionable affemblies unto which his high birth and perfonal accomplishments introduced him, by an unrivalled sprightlinefs of fancy, and quickness of apprehenfion. When all contended in wit, and sportive humour, the fupreme praise scarcely ever failed to be beftowed on Henry Erfkine.

The elocution of the Scottish bar, even then, favoured not a little of the unction of Donald Cargill, or George Whitefield. Young Erfkine, in his first pleadings, difplayed with inimitable felicity, a certain grace, liveliness, and eafe, which needed only to be heard, to put to shame thofe vile compofitions which had been before admired. Every thing concurred to promise him a most brilliant career. But it was feared, that parts fo lively, and fuccefs fo fplendid, might prove fatal, by feducing him into that negligence, and felf-conceit, which, alas! too often blight the richest buds of opening genius. The anxiety of his friends, and invidious rivalry of his competitors, were alike ready to suggest that diffipation, frivolity, or petulant felf-applaufe, muft foon expofe him to be outftripped in his profeffional career, by the most fober-fpirited of his brother-advocates; in the fame manner as the hare in the fable is faid to have been left behind by the fnail. The event, however, proved far otherwife. He had the good fenfe to perceive that, in order to excel, he must dedicate himself with inflexible ardor and perfeverance to the attainment of profeffional excellence, and acquire, by unremitting practice, that honourable independence of fortune which was ne

ceffary