temporary theological journal, of mutilating the hymns of Watts and others, in order to cover a design of suppressing the great doctrines of the gospel by the authority of their names. The charge was sufficiently absurd; and I would not, willingly, revive a forgotten controversy. But, as I find a reference to this affair in his private journal, and as the charge affects his personal integrity, and may hereafter meet the eye of those, who have not the means of knowing how unfounded it was, I feel obliged to insert the following extract. The observations, which introduce it, are very striking illustrations of his humility, and of his habitual and elevated piety.

"January 2, 1809. A new year has begun. In looking back upon the events of my life the last year, I see little or no improvement. Sure I am, that my stock of theological knowledge has not been increased, though I have some reason to hope, that my sermons, for the last year, have not been inferiour to any preceding. In the trials, to which God has exposed me, I endeavour to discern the design of his providence. The disorder, to which I am yet subjected, ought to be to me a perpetual lesson of humility. I have sometimes thought, that, if our powers and state of mind, in another world, depend at all upon the condition of the understanding, when we leave this, I should prefer to die, before my mind shall be irrecoverably debilitated by this disorder. May this considerationwith others-keep me in a state of perpetual willingness and readiness to depart. My greatest trial this year was, the attack upon my selection of hymns for the use of Brattle Street church. I cannot but think it insidious and impertinent. If I have indulged any improper feelings towards the supposed author, I pray God to forgive me; at least, I trust, they do not appear in my reply. As to the principal and most important charge in the review, that of unsignified alterations, I can here put down, what it was not

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necessary to tell the public, that I DID NOT KNOW OF THEM, TILL THEY WERE POINTED OUT BY THE REVIEWER. I took the hymns, without alteration, from Dr. Kippis's collection."

In the beginning of 1809 Mr. BUCKMINSTER published a sermon on the death of Governour Sullivan, the first production of his pen to which he gave his name. In the course of the year he wrote the circular address of the Massachusetts Bible Society, an institution, in which he took a very lively interest, and of which he was corresponding secretary. He also published an address "on the dangers and duties of men of letters," pronounced before the society of. B. K. at Harvard College-an enchanting specimen of the variety and elegance of his literature, and of his power and disposition to make it auxiliary to the cause of truth and virtue.* These, together with a sermon on the death of Rev. William Emerson, are the only writings which he published, except the fugitive pieces in the literary journals, to which I have referred.

In 1808, he engaged, in conjunction with his friend, Mr. William Wells, and under the patronage of the university at Cambridge, in the publication of Griesbach's Greek Testament, containing a selection of the most important various readings. This work passed under the most careful revision, in the course of which several errours in the original were discovered and corrected. I believe, that this American edition may be safely said not to yield the palm of accuracy to any, which has been published in Europe. Mr. BUCKMINSTER wrote several pieces, in which the general merits of Griesbach were largely and ably discussed, the peculiarities of the minor edition were pointed out, and the fidelity and accuracy of this most candid and learned critic were vindicated and explained.† Proposals were, also, issued for a supplementary volume to Griesbach,

This Address will be found inserted at the end of this Memoir. ↑ Note C.

to contain an English translation of the Prolegomena to his large critical edition, the authorities for his variations from the received text, and some dissertations, original and selected, on subjects connected with the criticism of the Bible. Some progress was made in preparing this work by Mr. BUCKMINSTER and one of his friends; but, as he did not give his name to the proposals, they did not receive sufficient encouragement to induce him to persevere. In 1810 he formed the plan of publishing all the best modern versions of the prophetical books of the Old Testament. He proposed to use the version of Bishop Lowth for Isaiah, with the various renderings of Dodson and Stock in the margin, where they differ materially from Lowth. The major prophets were to be completed by Blaney's version of Jeremiah and Lamentations, Newcome's of Ezekiel, and Wintle's of Daniel, with Blaney's of the LXX weeks. Newcome's translation of the minor prophets was to have followed, with the most important variations from Horsley's Hosea, Benjoin's Jonah, and Blaney's Zechariah. After this he hoped to have been able to give an additional volume, containing the most important notes and preliminary dissertations to the several books. The whole design, however, I am almost ashamed to say, failed for want of a sufficient taste for these studies among our countrymen.

The remaining years of the short life of Mr. BUCKMINSTER were marked by few incidents. The peaceful duties of a clergyman admit of but little variety, and possess no general interest. He was an active member of almost all our literary and charitable societies. He took the liveliest interest in every plan for the improvement of the intellectual, moral and religious character of the community; and scarcely one was attempted, in which his advice and cooperation were not sought and afforded. In 1811 he received a proof of the estimation, in which his knowledge in his favourite walk of study was held, by his appointment, as the

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first lecturer on biblical criticism at Cambridge, on the foundation established by the late Hon. Samuel Dexter. This appointment was universally thought to be an honour most justly due to his preeminent attainments in this science. All his studies had contributed to fit him for this office; but, to increase his qualifications, he immediately began the study of the German language, and engaged in a minute review of his former reading. He laid out a very extensive plan for his lectures-of which, however, some fragments only were found among his papers-and expect. ed to have been prepared to deliver them early in 1813.

But the all-wise Disposer had otherwise determined. In the midst of all his usefulness and activity, when he was never more interesting to his friends, and their hopes from him were never more highly raised, they were all at once extinguished. A sudden and violent access of his old disorder instantly made a total and irrecoverable wreck of his intellect, and, after lingering for a few days-during which he had not even a momentary interval of reason—he sunk under its force, Tuesday, June 9, 1812, having just completed his twenty-eighth year.

It remains, that I should now attempt to embody some of my recollections of his person and manners, his intellectual habits, acquisitions and powers, his religious character and views, and his ministerial endowments.

In his person, Mr. BUCKMINSTER scarcely reached the middle size. His limbs were well proportioned and regular. His head resembled the finest models of the antique; and his features presented an almost faultless combination of dignity, sweetness and intelligence. The portrait prefixed to this volume, engraved by Edwin from one of the happiest efforts of the pencil of Stuart, will give a general idea of his face; though some of the most interesting traits, which are yet remembered with fond regret by his friends, it is, perhaps, beyond the reach of art to preserve.

There were very few peculiarities in the manners of Mr. BUCKMINSTER, to distinguish him from the generality of men of refined minds and familiar intercourse with the best society. He was affable and unconstrained, and very accessi ble to the claims of his friends and the curiosity of stran gers. There was a remarkable simplicity and directness, if I may so speak, an absence of all disguise in his mode of uttering his thoughts; and it might sometimes seem, that his first impressions were made known with a freedom, which more prudence or more selfishness would have taught him to repress. He had that unfailing mark of a good disposi tion, an easiness to be pleased. His conversation, in large companies, was not remarkably copious, but always very correct and elegant. In the private society of his friends he delighted in the exchange of minds—particularly on subjects connected with education, classical learning, biography, the theory and laws of morals, the nature and influence of religion, the prospects of mankind, &c.-and was very communicative of his great variety of knowledge on all these subjects. Though he was eminently and habitually cheerful, there were occasional inequalities in his manner; and there were moments, when there appeared in him a sort of reserve, and want of interest in those about him, which made his character misunderstood by several, who, if they had known him more, would have found him formed to engage all their esteem and love. These occasional departures from his habitual manners were, I am confident, to be traced to his bodily indisposition. Many of his friends, who have entered his room, when he was suffering under this effect of his disease, well remember, that, after a few moments of conversation, he would shake off the oppression of his languor, his wonted smile would play over his features, that peculiar animation, which usually lighted up his countenance, would again break out, and he would