Doctor is a powerful and impassioned orator. He feels what he utters, and therefore his eloquence is natural while it is warm and vehement. In the management of his subject he possesses the most happy art, and that is not so easy an one as is generally imagined, of making it completely clear to the conception of his hearers. There is no abstract reasoning in his discourses; but one important topic is fixed upon, and kept in view throughout. Whatever is said to illustrate it, or whatever reflection or exhortation may be made, still the hearer knows the grand theme, and loses not a preceding proof in attending to a new observation. But it is in his Perorations that the Doctor seems to shine the most. Here he seizes upon the avenues of the heart at once, here he engages its principles, its fears, and its hopes on his side, and forces even the Sceptic and the Libertine to shudder at the consequences of impenitence, and to desire the death of the righteous.'-1 have felt much pleasure in transcribing the foregoing lines; and it is with no small satisfaction that I close this note by saying, that I have heard, from the Temple pulpit, a third Thomas Rennell, son of the Dean; and, sequitur patrem, I may venture to add, passibus æquis.—He too is an Etonian, and a Fellow of King's, where he has particularly distinguished himself, and taken the degrees of B. A. 1809, and of M. A. 1813, in the most creditable manner. Eton, he obtained Dr. Claudius Buchanan's Prize for a Greek Before he left Ode (printed in Gent. Mag. LXXVI. 219); and at Cambridge he gained Sir William Browne's Prize for another Greek Ode. And I shall only add, that, as a Man, a Scholar, and a Christian Divine, he is all that a Father's fondest wishes could desire. P. 165. The following particulars were communicated to Mr. Urban in 1795: "The Seminary at Bishop-Stortford, which for many years produced a succession of learned and virtuous men, some of whom have adorned clevated stations in Church and State, was, about the middle of the XVIIIth Century, suffered to fall into such a state of decay, as to furnish a pretext for pulling down the building, in order to save the trust the charge of repairing it. It was the custom of the school, for every scholar at quitting it to present the library with some book; by which means that collection was become extremely valuable, both on account of the number and elegance of its volumes. This library is at present taken care of by my worthy and learned Friend Dr. Dimsdale*, of Bishop-Stortford, who gratuitously gives it room in his house, and, but for whose pious concern for this venerable repository, it would soon, in all probability, have become a prey to avarice, and been sold by the pound to the grocers and chandlers of the town. It was founded by Mr. Thomas Leigh, as I find by the MS records of the school, where his donation is entered in the following words: "Tho. Leigh, A. M. è Coll. Christi Cant, anno * Elizabeth Dimsdale, wife of this respectable Physician, died Sept 18, 1814, æt. 75; and the Doctor died Dec. 29, 1814, æt. 82. will now be the fate of the Books and Pictures remains to be seen. What 1621, et scholæ Stortfordiensis ab eo anno ad præsentem 1664 archididascalus, non solùm propriis impensis Bibliothecam construi et ornari curavit, et libris (qui in hoc Catalogo recensentur) locupletandam tum ab alumnis tum et amicis impetravit eorum etiam libros proximè sequentes, pro suo in literas amore et ut aliis exemplo esset, largitus est."-Then follows a list of the books he gave, to the amount of several hundred volumes, many of which are extremely rare, and of early dates.-" Guil. Leigh, fil. natu max. prædicti magtri Tho. Leigh, et scholæ Stortf. alumnus, Coll. Christi Cant. Socius, & Academiæ procurator electus, donavit, Demosthenis," [&c. &c. to the number of some hundreds.] "Tho. Leigh, fil. natu proximus prædicti mtri Tho. Leigh. Jacobus Leigh, fil. tertius, scholæ hujus alumnus, &c. Johan. Leigh, fil. quartus prædicti M. Tho. Leigh." The successive benefactors, with their respective donations, then regularly follow, down to 1745.-In the same book too are entered the names of the Reverend Clergy who preached the Anniversary Sermon during a period of near a century. In Knight's Life of Dean Colet, I find the following paragraph : "Thomas Tooke, D. D. born at Dover in Kent, was bred under Dr. Thomas Gale, master of St. Paul's school; from under whose care he was removed to Corpus Christi, or Bene't College, in Cambridge; where he became fellow of that society, and continued so many years. He afterwards became Master of BishopStortford School, in Hertfordshire; which, by his great industry, and happy way of teaching and governing, he raised to very great fame: so that for many years it flourished among the very best in the kingdom, and sent out many excellent scholars. It still continues to keep up an anniversary or school-feast for the gentlemen educated therein. The present Archbishop of York [Sir William Dawes], the Rev. Dr. Røbert Moss, Dean of Ely, Dr. Nicholas Clagett, now Archdeacon of Bucks, &c. have honoured these meetings by preaching on that occasion." In the archives of the school he thus appears: "D. Thomas Tooke, S. T. P. Collegii Corporis Christi quondam socius, postea ecclesiæ parochialis de Lambourn in agro Essex rector, scholæ de Stortford Ep'i per xxx & amplius ann. archididascalus dignissimus simul ac felicissimus ; qui cum literis & moribus bonis juventutæ erudiendæ & formandæ ætatem contriverit, ut post mortem etiam rei literariæ consuleret & studiosis prodesset, decem libras ad augendum armarium scholæ suæ, & viginti solidos quotannis pro concione ad annum festum scholarium habendâ extremis testamentis legavit, quam quidem summam si quo anno nullum festum agerent scholaris libris coëmendis in usum bibliothecæ scholæ suæ impendi jussit. Quâ donatione coëmpta sunt, 1738, Phavorini Lexicon Græc. fol.; Cyrilli, Philoxeni, aliorumque Glossaria." Over the chimney in the apartment allotted to the books by the favour of Dr. Dimsdale are two Portraits in oil, which for merly merly hung up in the school; one of Mr. T. Leigh-black coif, strait hair, and broad band; under which are the following verses: “ En qualem formam, dum vixit Leighus, habebat; Pingere virtus quæ penicilla valent? Plenius has narrent, hoc qui didicere magistro Testatur laudes bibliotheca suas." The other Portrait is that of Dr. Tooke, in a large flowing wig, band, and modern clerical habit, without any inscription. The Sermon at the Annual Meeting (August 22, 1710) of the scholars at Bishop Stortford school, was preached by William Lunn, then M. A. and rector of Elsworth, in the county of Cambridge, but who had been of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and was afterwards D. D. and Archdeacon of Huntingdon. And at p. 21. he thus notices the master, Dr. Tooke: "I am afraid that I have trespassed too much upon your patience already; and therefore shall only beg leave to add a word or two, by way of application to those promising and hopeful youths upon whose accounts we are now assembled, and who are now happily improving themselves in the knowledge of the languages under one who is so complete a master of them himself, and is, and has been for many years, so diligent and successful an instructor of others in them, that I cannot help thinking that it will be too much their own faults if any of them should fail to answer the end and expectations of their kind relations in sending them hither." Gent. Mag. LXV. pp. 892, 1069. P. 181. Dr. Cogan's Publications are, 1. " Memoirs of the Society instituted at Amsterdam, in favour of Drowned Persons, for the years 1767, 1768, 1769, 1770, and 1771; translated from the original, 1773," Svo. 2. "The Rhine; or a Journey from Utrecht to Francfort, &c. 1794." In Two Volumes, 8vo. with Plates. 3. "The Works of Professor Camper, on the Connexion between Anatomy, and the Arts of Drawing, Painting, &c. Translated from the Dutch, 1794." In one volume 4to. with Plates. 4. "A Philosophical Treatise on the Passions: Second Edition, corrected, 1802," Svo. 5. "An Ethical Treatise on the Passions, founded on the Principles investigated in a Philosophical Treatise. 1807-10." 2 vols. 8vo. 6." Theological Disquisitions; or, An Enquiry into those Principles of Religion, which are most influential in directing and regulating the Passions and Affections of the Mind. First Disquisition, on Natural Religion. Second Disquisition, on the Jewish Dispensation, respecting Religion and Morals, 1812," 8vo. 7. "A Theological Disquisition, on the characteristie Excellencies of Christianity; or, an Enquiry into the superior Assistance it affords, and Motives it contains, for the Practice of Virtue, Cultivation of the best Affections of the Heart, and preparing the Moral Offspring of God for permanent Felicity, 1813," 8vo. The last five articles form one complete work, un der der the following title: 8. "A Treatise on the Passions and Affections of the Mind, Philosophical, Ethical, and Theological. In a Series of Disquisitions, in which are traced, the moral History of Man, in his Pursuits, Powers, and Motives of Action, and the Means of obtaining Permanent Well-being and Happiness, 1813," 5 vols. 8vo. 9. "Letters to William Wilberforce, Esq. M.P. on the Doctrine of Hereditary Depravity. By aLayman," 8vo. P. 183. Mr. Hopkinson's very full and accurate account of a violent storm at Morton, near Bourn, in Lincolnshire, May 6, 1800, may be seen in Gent. Mag. vol. LXX. p. 470. P. 196. Mrs. Eliza Berkeley was the eldest daughter and coheiress of the Rev. Henry Frinsham, M. A. by Eliza, youngest daughter and one of the coheiresses of the truly pious and learned Francis Cherry, Esq. of Shottesbrook, Berks. She was born in 1734; and in 1761 was married to the Rev. George Berkeley, LL. D. Prebendary of Canterbury, and son of the celebrated Bp. of Cloyne. She was left a widow* in 1795; and in 1797 published the "Poems" of her son, George Monck Berkeley, Esq. in a magnificent quarto volume.-Perhaps there cannot exist a character more difficult to draw with precision, and with justice to her real merit, than that of Mrs. Berkeley, whose portrait, however, may be best exhibited by her own extraordinary pen, in the vo luminous Preface prefixed to her Son's Poems: but the hand of Friendship wishes to bear testimony to that intrinsic worth, which many eccentricities and an exuberance of imagination frequently obscured; also, a strong propensity to satirize those who by any means provoked her spleen, was the cause that her publications oftener offended than gratified the public eye; though she assuredly possessed brilliant talents, poignant wit,, pleasant humour, and abundance of valuable knowledge. She understood French perfectly, and spoke it fluently. She likewise read Spanish and Hebrew, and always took her Spanish Prayerbook with her to Church. In conversation, as in writing, she was extremely entertaining, except to those who wished also to entertain, when she appeared too redundant in her stories and anecdotes, which she poured forth in correct and elegant language. The prominent characteristick of her mind through life, which glowed in every vein, which she wished should govern her thoughts, words, and actions, was the unvaried influence of Religion; yet it did not always preserve her from inveterate anger and severe invectives, inconsistent with the essence of Christianity, and the mild precepts of that Gospel she adored. She was sincere, constant, and zealous, in her friendships; a kind and generous mistress to her servants, whose minds she always improved by her example and precepts, with an unwearied attention to their religion and morals; and, in return, no mistress was ever more beloved by domesticks and dependants. She was regular and fervent in her devotions; always desirous to perform • Of Dr. Berkeley, see Gent. Mag. vol. LXV. pp. 87, 92, 436. what what she thought her duty in every relation of life, especially to her husband and children; and, if she erred, it was not from errors of the heart. Her mind was ever open to every charitable call; and when, by the loss of Dr. Berkeley, her income became necessarily very contracted, she lost not an exemplary activity of disposition to assist the indigent, not merely by restraining her own indulgences, and even conveniences, but by every intercession with those who had more power than herself, which betrayed her into many applications, more benevolent than prudent, which strict propriety could hardly warrant. But let the laudable motive excuse an indiscretion not likely to become too prevalent. She endured with pious resignation many mortifications and disappointments in this life; her strength of mind was stronger than her constitution; and her uncommon flow of spirits and vigorous intellectual powers never forsook her under her greatest trials, her true piety, her unshaken faith, were, to her latest breath, her comfort and support. She had long suffered much from a confirmed asthma; was perfectly sensible of her approaching dissolution, which could never assail her unprepared; which she expected,, she said, with certain hope of a blissful resurrection; and, in praise and prayer to God, resigned her soul without a sigh or groan.-Her principal publication was the Preface prefixed to her Son's Poens*; she stands there, as Editor, in a point of view which has subjected her to many sarcasms and witticisms from a multitude of Readers, to whom the enormous size of a volume swelled by what is called Preface has been thought absurd; but the Preface, had it been intituled "Memoirs," "Anecdotes," "An Apology," or had any other modern appellation been affixed, to excuse the multifarious ingredients which compose it, would have been acceptable, as it affords great entertainment, real information, and useful instruction, being replete with her peculiar species of compilation, blending toge ther the comic and the tragic, flying from subject to subject, with continual digressions, yet always so agreeable that, except when she dipped her pen in gall, where prejudice pointed the sting against particular offenders, and usurped the government over her philanthropy and discretion, her writings would have been read with pleasure and edification by the good and virtuous, and might have exhilarated many a languid hour among those readers who only seek amusement; but, in her miscellany, might be entrapped into serious reflections and affecting lessons of morality and religion. This remarkable volume will have that full justice done to it by posterity, which in the present age it has but partially received. Independent of its intrinsic merit, and the small number of copies printed, being a very beautiful book, and containing a most capital likeness of her son (who died in 1793†, from a painting by the Rev. W. Peters, R. A. this really valuable volume will only be found in the Libraries of the curious. + Ib. LXIII. 185. See Gent. Mag. vol. LXVII. p. 663. The |