APPENDIX.

NOTE I. referred to in page 214.

Extract from Letters, with which Doctor Parr has honoured the Reminiscent:-On the high polish of Virgil's diction -the Character of Archbishop Cranmer-and Polemic Moderation in religious disputes

NOTE II. referred to in page 252.

- 357

The Inaugural Oration at laying the First Stone of the London Institution

NOTE III. referred to in page 253.

Mr. Porson's Algebraic Problem, with its Solution

NOTE IV. referred to in page 331.

365

Letter directing a course of Study of Modern History - 378

REMINISCENCES.

INTRODUCTION.

As the Writer's time of life admonishes him, that this* may be the last occasion, on which any production of his pen will solicit the attention of the public, he avails himself of it to mention THE TITLES OF ALL HIS WORKS, and to state succinctly some circumstances and observations, which the present publication brings to his REMINISCENCE. Several works having been imputed to him, in which he has had no concern, and which he knows only by their titles, he takes this opportunity of disclaiming ALL, which he shall not mention.

M. Pellisson, in his account of M. Huét the celebrated bishop of Avranches, observes of him, that, "from his tenderest years, he gave himself "to study; that, at his rising, his going to bed, "and during his meals, he was reading, or had "others to read to him; that neither the fire of

* These reminiscences, in a contracted form, were prefixed to the writer's HISTORICAL MEMOIRS OF THE ENGLISH, IRISH AND SCOTTISH CATHOLICS, the publication referred to in the text.

B

youth, the interruption of business, the variety "of his employments, the society of his friends,

nor the bustle of the world, could ever mode"rate his ardour for study*." These expressions the Reminiscent has applied, with complete justice, to the reverend Mr. Alban Butler, the author of "The Lives of the Saints," his paternal uncle he believes that, with some justice at least, he may also apply them to himself.

It is pleasing to him to reflect, that, though few have exceeded him in the love of literature, or pursued it with greater delight, it never seduced, or was suspected by his professional friends of seducing him, for one moment, from professional duty. M. Teissiert, in his account of one of the French jurisconsults noticed in his Eloges, mentions that "he was so absorbed in his literary "pursuits, that his wife was frequently obliged to "drag him from his library to his bureau." To this necessity, the loved and revered person, to whom the Reminiscent owes thirty-seven years of happiness, was never exposed.

Very early rising,-a systematic division of his time, abstinence from all company and from all diversions not likely to amuse him highly,from reading, writing, or even thinking on modern party politics,—and, above all,—never per

* Pellisson, Histoire de l'Académie, vol. i. p. 102.

† In the account of his life inserted in the 3d vol. of the writer's works.

Elôges des Hommes Sçavans tirés de l'Histoire de M. de Thou. Leyde, 4 vols. 12mo.

mitting a bit or scrap of time to be unemployed,-have supplied him with an abundance of literary hours. His literary acquisitions are principally owing to the rigid observance of four rules: to direct his attention to one literary object only at a time; to read the best book upon it, consulting others as little as possible ;--where the subject was contentious, to read the best book on each side;-to find out men of information, and, when in their society, to listen, not to talk.

The produce of his literary labours has appeared in the publications, which these pages, opus senile, will be found to mention. It is a great satisfaction to him to reflect that none of his writings contain a single line of personal hostility to any one.