animati, vel propensus iste affectus indicare potest, quo nuperrimè mathematicas scientias veritati unicè charas dilectasque colere cæpistis. Macti estote, Academici, tam insigni et laudabili studio.*

We have seen that Barrow, after having introduced, and stimulated the academic world to pursue, an improved system of philosophical study, yielded his professorial chair to that friend whose occupation of it has rendered it one

those of classical and theological literature: by the list of Cambridge honors we find that the best classical scholars have invariably distinguished themselves in mathematical pursuits, and two of the most eminent prelates who now adorn the English Bench, obtained the highest honors in both departments. Besides, it is absurd to suppose that a short time, taken from the study of abstract science, and applied to other pursuits, can ever injure the talents, or diminish the acquirements of a mathematical genius: so far, otherwise, it will strengthen and increase them by operating as a species of mental relaxation, and may even prevent the bodily constitution from sinking, as it often does, under the pressure of intense application to one difficult and fatiguing study. And if it does diminish the quantity of science which has of late been acquired by the candidates for high academical honors, it will act equally and impartially, at the time, on all, nor will it prohibit any of them from ultimately arriving at the highest point of their ambi. tion it will never diminish the number of our Saundersons, our Coteses, and our Newtons; nay, even if it should have this effect, a lesser good would still be sacrificed to a greater; for an establishment like our university must look, not so much to the exhibition of a few splendid names on its annals, as to the general improvement of all the youth committed to its management: these are to be rendered, as far as possible, useful and respectable members of society; the natural bent of their studious inclinations is in a certain degree to be accommodated; and all excuses for indolence and apathy are to be removed.

Opusc. p. 126.

of the highest honors that Science can bestow on her most favored sons. With respect to himself, he devoted his powerful mind and vast acquirements to the service of religion, whilst he adorned its doctrines by the purity and holiness of his life. He soon acquired the reputation of an admirable preacher; though Dr. Pope relates some curious scenes which occurred, as well by reason of his strange attire and attenuated aspect, (for he was not only worn down by study, but slovenly in his dress,) as by the detention of his congregation, and his discourses of an unconscionable length. In one instance, when he preached for Dr. Wilkins at St. Lawrence-Jewry, so uncouth and unpromising was his appearance, that the congregation scampered out of church before he could begin his sermon: the good doctor however, taking no notice of this disturbance, proceeded, named his text, and preached away to the two or three that were gathered, or rather left together; of which number it happened that Mr. Baxter, the eminent non-conformist, was one, who afterwards declared to Dr. Wilkins that he never listened to a better discourse : amongst those also that remained was a young man who appeared like an apprentice, or the foreman of a shop, and who pleased Barrow greatly by accosting him with these words of encouragement, as he came down from the pulpit: Sir, be not dismayed, for I assure you 'twas a good sermon. When several parishioners came to expostulate with Dr. Wilkins on his suffering such an ignorant scandalous person to have the use of his pulpit, he referred them to Mr. Baxter, who candidly praised the sermon as it deserved, declaring that he could willingly have been an auditor all the day long. Confounded and put to shame by this judgment from a person whom they acknowleged

as their superior, they soon confessed that they had not heard a word of the discourse which they thus abused, and began earnestly to entreat their rector that he would procure Dr. Barrow's services again, promising to make him amends by bringing their whole families to his sermon. All persons, however, had not the patience of the worthy non-conformist, as was evident when Barrow was preaching on a certain holiday at Westminster Abbey; for the servants of that church, who were then accustomed to show the waxen effigies of the kings and queens, between services on holidays, to crowds of the lower orders, perceiving the Doctor in the pulpit long after the hour was past, and fearing to lose that time in hearing which they thought could be so much more profitably employed in receiving, became so impatient, that they caused the organ to be struck up against him, and would not cease till they had blown him down. Can Dr. Pope however be credited, when he assures us that his spittle-sermon before the Lord Mayor and Aldermen occupied three hours and a half? One is almost tempted to suppose that the customary invitation to dinner had been forgotten, and that the preacher took this ingenious method of revenging himself for the neglect. Being asked on that occasion, when he came. down from the pulpit, whether he was not tired, his reply is said to have been-"Yes indeed, I began to be weary with standing so long." He took infinite pains with his compositions, transcribing them over and over again; for he well knew the force of that Horatian precept, which says, ludentis speciem dabit et torquebitur; and that he generally pleases his readers most who has given himself the most trouble to please them. Amongst other methods which he took for infusing a spirit of eloquence into his

discourses, was that of copying out the finest passages of classical and ecclesiastical writers, particularly Demosthenes and Chrysostom; whence he formed a magazine of rich materials, from which he might draw out stores for all subjects. His manuscripts in Trinity College bear ample testimony to this practice, a very considerable portion of them being occupied by those excerpta. By such diligence he acquired that copious and majestic style which induced the illustrious Lord Chatham to recommend the study of Barrow's sermons to his still more illustrious son ;* by this he also has acquired those profound views on theological subjects, which induced Warburton himself to declare that in reading Barrow he was obliged to think. His indefatigable habits of study, and his own appreciation of the fruits of it, are thus pleasantly enough described by Dr. Pope.t "All the while he continued with the Bishop of Salisbury I was a witness of his indefatigable study. At that time he applied himself wholly to divinity, having given a divorce to mathematics, and poetry, and the rest of the belles lettres, wherein he was profoundly versed, making it his chief, if not his only business, to write in defence of the church of England, and compose sermons, whereof he had great store, and I need not say, very good.

"We were once going from Salisbury to London, he in the coach with the Bishop, and I on horseback: as he was entering the coach, I perceived his pockets strutting out near half a foot, and said to him, What have you got in your pockets? He replied, Sermons. Sermons, said I ;

He read Barrow's Sermons at the desire of Lord Chatham, who thought them admirably adapted to furnish the copia verboTomline's Life of Pitt, Vol. i. p. 13. 8vo.

rum.

+ Life of Bishop Ward, p. 143.

give them to me; my boy shall carry them in his portmanteau, and ease you of that luggage. But, said he, suppose your boy should be robbed? That's pleasant; said I do you think there are persons padding on the road for sermons?-Why, what have you? said he. It may be five or six guineas. I hold my sermons at a greater rate, for they cost me much pains and time.- Well then, said I, if you'll secure my five or six guineas against lay-padders, I'll secure your sermons against ecclesiastical highwaymen. This was agreed; he emptied his pockets, and filled my portmanteau with his divinity, and we had the good fortune to come safe to our journey's end, and to bring both our treasures to London." Dr. Pope farther informs us, "that he was unmercifully cruel to a lean carcass, not allowing it sufficient meat or sleep :" that "during the winter months, and some part of the rest, he rose before it was light, being never without a tinder-box;" and that he has known him frequently to rise after his first sleep, light and burn out his candle, and then return to bed before day.*

Soon after his resignation of the Lucasian professorship, Barrow's uncle, who had been translated to the see of St. Asaph, gave him a small sinecure in Wales, and Dr. Seth Ward, bishop of Salisbury, who highly esteemed his character, and delighted in his society, collated him to the prebend of Yatminster in his cathedral. Just before he received this piece of preferment, Dr. Pope heard him say, I wish I had five hundred pounds. He replied, That's a great sum for a philosopher to desire; what would you do with so much? I would give it, said he, to my sister for a

Mr. Hill declares that he saw written with Barrow's own hand at the end of his Apollonius, April 14. Intra hæc temporis inter_ Maii 10. valla peractum hoc opus.