about this time. In Maty's Review, Vol. | III. p. 433, he published a critique on Schutz's Eschylus (dated Trinity College, May 29, 1783). Brunck's Aristophanes he criticised, Vol. IV. p. 55. Hermesianax, by Weston, Vol. V. p. 238. Huntingford's Apology for his Monostrophics, Vol. VI. p. 93. He also furnished Mr. Maty with a transcript of the letters of Bentley and Le Clerc, Vol. IX. p. 253. He was likewise an occasional contributor to the Monthly Review, the Gentleman's Magazine, and, it is believed, to other publications. The account of Robertson's Parian Chronicle, in the Monthly Review, Vol. Ixxix. for the year 1788, p 351, and Vol. lxxx, p. 38, was written by him. The review of Knight's Essay on the Greek Alphabet, January 1794, has, from internal evidence been attributed to him. The ironical defence of Sir John Hawkins's Life of Johnson, is said to have been unquestionably his writing; in three admirable letters inserted in the Gentleman's Magazine for 1787, signed Sundry Whereof. Letters on the contested verse, 1 John v. 7, appeared subsequently in the same work; which at length caused the publication of his letters to Archdeacon Travis. 1 Medea was published at Cambridge, with his name; and in 1802, a second edition of the Hecuba, with a supplement to the preface, and a very copious addition to the notes. The last work he published was a third edition of the Hecuba. When Heyne's Virgil was re-published in London, Mr. Porson superintended the press; and, in 1800, he was employed in a collation of the Harleian manuscript of the Odyssey, for a splendid edition of Homer by lord Grenville. In 1806, his schylus stole into the world with out his name, without his last corrections, and without a preface. In 1795, Mr. Porson married Mrs. Lunan, a sister of James Perry, Esq. (editor of the Morning Chronicle), who sunk under a decline in April, 1797 and from that time he was incessantly afflicted with a spasmodic asthma, which interrupted him in every study: proba bly the consequence of his sedentary habit. He had undertaken to make out and copy the almost obliterated manuscript of the Lexicon of Photius, which he had borrowed from the library of Trinity College. And this he had with unparalleled difficulty just completed, after ten months incessant toil, when the copy was burnt in the house of Mr. PerNot long after Mr. Porson had taken his ry, at Merton. The original, being an first degree, it was in contemplation of the unique entrusted to him by his college, he syndics of the university press at Cambridge carried with him wherever he went; and he to publish Eschylus with Stanley's papers was fortunately absent from Merton on the (since committed to the reverend Mr. Butler, morning of the fire. He sat down without a master of the grammar school at Shrewsbury). murmur, and made a second very beautiful Mr. P. offered to undertake the work, if he copy. It is extant in his library, and is quite might conduct it according to his own judge-ready for press. On the establishment of ment, but his offer was rejected. In 1786, when Nicholson, the Cambridge bookseller, was preparing a new edition of Xenophon's Anabasis, Mr. Porson furnished him with some notes, which, though avowedly written in haste, attest the hand of a master. In 1787, he communicated to the delegates of the Clarendon press some notes on Toup's Emendations on Snidas, which appeared with that work in 1790. Before the period had elapsed for him either to enter into holy orders, or surrender his fellowship, he had determined to decline subscription, though, with an enfeebled constitution, he had nothing to depend on but his classical acquirements. A lay fellowship might have secured his services to the cause of letters; but this was not within his power. In 1791 his fellowship ceased; but some private friends fortunately stepped in, and, by an unanimous vote of the seven electors he was chosen Greek Professor at Cambridge. The salary is but £40 a year. In 1797 Mr. Porson published the He cuba, intended as the precursor of all the dramas of Euripides. The Orestes and the Phænissa followed; they were all printed in London without his name. In 1801, the the London Institution, he was chosen principal librarian; an appointment for which he was peculiarly qualified. About a month before his death, Mr. Porson was afflicted by an intermittent fever; he had a dislike to medical advice, and he adopted his usual remedy of abstinence; but in the evening of Monday (Sep. 19), while walking in the Strand, apparently in health, he was seized with a paroxysin of the epileptic kind, to which he had been subject at a much earlier period of his life. He was conveyed to St. Martin's workhouse, where he con tinned in a state of total insensibility until about six o'clock on the following morning; but one of the attendants of the London In stitution seeing a paragraph in a newspaper, relating the circumstance, and stating that the party had a memorandum book, with some Greek notes, in his pocket, surmising it might be Mr. Porson, repaired thither, and brought him to the house in the Old Jewry. He took his breakfast in the room called the Globe room; and conversed with some of the gentlemen of the establishment, remarking that the keeper of the workhouse was a wag, and had endeavoured to pose him with his wit. Being advised to prepare his will,' he at first seemed reluctant; but afterwards assented to the propriety of it, and discussed the moral obligation of disposing of our property after death; adding, that the subject had often been treated in a legal way, but scarcely ever in the manner he wished, excepting in a work intituled Symbliography." He coutinued to discourse during five hours, sometimes in the full exercise of his faculties, at others, wild and wandering. At three o'clock, he went to Cole's coffee-house, near the Royal Exchange, where he frequently dined. After talking to a friend there, he suddenly proceeded to Cornhill, where looking up fixedly at the vane and clock of the Exchange, (then under repair) a number of persons assembled round him. The porter of the London Institution, happening to see him, conducted him back to Cole's, where on taking two glasses of wine, the paroxysm and insensibility returned; he was then carried home in a coach to the Institution, and remained in a condition of torpor, with very short intermissions, until Sunday, when he died. On Monday, Oct 3., his remains were removed from the London Institution, and, on the following day, they were interred in Trinity College chapel, Cambridge. The Rev. JOHN WHITAKER.-The following interesting account of the life of this gentle, man, unquestionably one of the most learned members of the church of England, is copied from a provincial paper, and is believed to be the production of a writer who has given many proofs of abilities, as a divine, a poct, and an antiquary :- Truro, Nov. 5, On Sunday, the 30th ult. died at his rectory of Ruan-Lanyhorne, near Tregony, Cornwall, that great and good man, the Rey. J. Whitaker. He was born at Manchester, about 1735. He went early to Oxford; where he was elected fellow of C. C. C. and where he discovered in a very short time, those fine originalities, those peculiarities of mind, which afterwards so strongly marked him as an author and as a man. He took the degree of M.A. 1759, and proceeded B. D. 1767. His uncommon vigour of intellect at once displayed itself among his acquaintance; but, whilst his animated conversation drew many around him, a few were repelled from the circle by his impatience of contradiction (a failing which almost ever accompanies powers like his), and by the consciousness, it should seem, of their own inferiority. The character of his genius, however, was soon decided in literary composition. In 1771, Mr. W. published the first volume of his History of Manchester," in quarto; a work which, for acuteness of research, bold imagination, independent sentiment, and correct information, has scarcely its parallel in the literature 64 of this country. Nor does its composition less merit our applause, whether we have respect to the arrangement of the materials, the style, or the language. In some passa ges there is supreme elegance;" in others, a magnificence of thought, a force of expres sion, a glow of diction, truly astonishing, The introduction of Christianity into this island, in particular, is uncommonly beauti ful. With regard to the general subject uf the Manchester," Mr. W. was the fint writer who could so light up the region Antiquarianism as to dissipate its obscurity, even to the eyes of ordinary spectators; bis Manchester" being perhaps the book which the truth of our island history has been best elucidated by the hand of a master It is rather singular that this work was, in the order of merit as, well as time, the first of Mr. Whitaker's publications. In proportion as our author advanced in life, his imagination seems, by a strange inversion of what is chas racteristic of our nature, to have gained an ascendancy over his judgement, and we shall perceive more of fancy and of passion, of cons jecture and hypothesis, in some of his subse quent productions, than of just opinion, u deliberate investigation, Mr. Whitaker "Genuine History of the Britons, asserted, an octavo volume, published in 1772, may be accepted as a sequel to " Manchester It contains a complete refutation of " thẹn unhappy Macpherson whose "Introduc tion to the History of Great Britain and Ire land" is full of palpable mistakes and misre presentations. In 1773 we find Mr. W. the morning preacher of Berkley chapel; to which office he had been appointed in No vember by a Mr. Hughes; but in less than two months was removed from that situation, This gare occasion to "The Case between Mt. W. and Mr. Hughes, relative to the morning Preachership of Berkley Chapel," in whica Mr. W. relates some remarkable particulars, and declares himself" unalterably deter mined to carry the matter into Westminsters = hall." And we may be assured, that he used his utmost efforts to bring his determination into action. But the fervour of his resentment threw him off his guard; and he expressed himself so indiscreetly, that his Case "wa considered as a libel by the Court of King Bench. During his residence in London, had an opportunity of conversing with several of our most celebrated writers; among whom were the author of "The Rambler. and the Historian of the Roman Empire. does not appear, indeed, that Johnson wa much attached to Whitaker. Equally strop in understanding, equally tenacious of opinion,andequally impassioned inconversation, it is not probable that they should amicably coalesce on all occasions. In the Ossianic controversy they were decidedly hostile With Gibbon Mr. W. was well acquainted; and the MS. the pastor and his flock. His cordial, his of the first volume of The Decline and familiar manner, indeed, was always please Fall of the Roman Empire" was submitted ing to those whom prejudice had not armed to Mr. Whitaker's inspection. But what against him; and, in proportion as they was his surprise, when, as he read the same became acquainted with his kind disposition, volume in print, that chapter, which has the transitoriness of his resentments, and, been so obnoxious to the Christian world, was after injuries, his promptness to forgive, and then first introduced to his notice! That anxious wish to be forgiven; they endeavour. chapter Gibbon had suppressed in the MS. ed more and more to cultivate his friendship, over-awed by Mr. Whitaker's high character, and at length loved and revered him as their and afraid of his censure. And in fact, that father. Nothing can more fully display the the feeble Deist should have shrunk from his warmth of his affections, his zeal as a minis indignant eye, may well be conceived, when ter of Christ, or his impassioned style of elowe see his Christian principle and his mauly quence, than those "Sermons"*" which he spirit uniting in the rejection of a living of published in 1783; after having preached considerable value, which was at this time them to his parishioners, we doubt not with offered him by an Unitarian patron! He a voice and manner to penetrate the conspurned at the temptation, and pitied the science, and strike conviction into the soul, to seducer!* Of his integrity, however, some awaken the tears of penitence, and elevate. recompence was now at hand; and, about the hopes of the Christian to the abodes of the year 1778, he succeeded, as fellow of immortality. That he should have published Corpus Christi College, to the rectory of so little in the line of his profession, is, perRuan-Lanyhome, one of the most valuable haps, to be regretted; though his " Origin livings in the gift of that college; and into of Arianism be a large volume, it is a conCornwall he went, to reside upon his rectory.troversial tract, full of erudition and ingeniThere, it might have been expected, that retirement and leisure would greatly favour the pursuits of literature; and that, though "the Converser" (to use an expression of Mr. W.) had disappeared, the Author would break forth with new energies. But Ruan-Lany horne was, for several years, no tranquil seat of the Muses. That pleasant seclusion was now the scene of contest; bot of contest which (in the opinion of the writer of this memoir) was absolutely unavoidable. Mr. W. had proposed a tithe-compo sition with his parishioners, by no means unreasonable. This they refused to pay but Mr. W. was steady to his purpose. A rupture ensued between the parties; the tithes were demanded in kind; disputes arose upon disputes; animosities were kindled; and litigations took place. That Mr. W. I was finally victorious, afforded pleasure to the friends of the rector, and to the friends of justice and truth; yet it was long before harmony was restored to Ruan-Lanyhorne. That his literary schemes had been so sadly interrupted, was the subject of general regret. But the conscientious pastor looked with a deeper concern to the spiritual welfare of his parishioners. He saw with sorrow their aver-probably have written as temper or caprice sion to his preaching; their indifference to his instructions; their repugnance to his authoruty; and he laboured more abundantly;" till, after a few years, he had the satisfaction to perceive a visible alteration in the behaviour of the principal parishioners; and a mutual good understanding was established between * On this subject Mr. Polwhele addressed to Mr. Whitaker a sonnet; for which see Sketches in Verse," second edition. VOL. V. [Lit, Pan. March 1809.] ་་ ous argumentation. We have read no other suggested), we find him, for the most part, They are intituled "Sermons upon Death Judgment, Heaven and Hell.” 2 X sweet with bitterness. It was the critique tresses. It is true, to the same warmth of on Gibbon that contributed greatly to the temper, together with a sense of good intenreputation of The English Review," in tions, we must attribute an irritability at times which Mr. W. was the author of many valua- destructive of social comfort, an impetuousble articles. To his pen, also "The British ness that brooked not opposition, and bore Critic" and "The Antijacobin Review" down all before it. This precipitation was were indebted for various pieces of criticism. in part also to be traced to his ignorance of the But the strength of his principles is no where world; to his simplicity in believing others more apparent than in those articles where he like himself-precisely what they seemed to comes forward, armed with the panoply of be; and, on the detection of his error, his truth, in defence of our civil and ecclesiastical anger at dissimulation or hypocrisy. But his constitution. It was there he struck his ad-general good humour, his hospitality, and his versaries with consternation, and we beheld convivial pleasantry, were surely enough to the host of Jacobins shrinking away from atone for those sudden bursts of passion, those before his face, and creeping into their flashes which betrayed his "human frailty," caverns of darkness. But we are here, but still argued genius. And they who know perhaps, betrayed into expressions too how "fearfully and wonderfully, he was violent for plain prose, which reminds us of made," could bear from a Whitaker what another part of our friend's literary character they could not so well have tolerated in anowe mean his poetical genius. That he con- ther. In his family, Mr. W. was uniformly tributed some fine pieces of poetry to "The regular: nor did he suffer, at any time, his Cornwall and Devon Poets," is well known. literary cares to trench on his domestic duties, These were published in two small octavo The loss of such a man must be deemed, as it volume; and the editor has in his possession were, a chasm both in public and private life. a sufficient quantity of good verse, by Mr. But, for the latter, we may truly say, that if Whitaker, to fill forty or fifty pages of a third ever wife had cause to lament the kind and volume, now in contemplation. We have faithful husband, or children the affectionate thus (with rapid glances, and in a manner too parent, or servants the indulgent master, the desultory to be perfectly satisfactory to our family at Ruan-Lanyborne must feel their loss selves) reviewed the productions of our old irreparablet. That he should have lived to and valued friend; and hailed him in the seve- the age of 73, is rather to be wondered. For ral departments of the Historian, the Theo- strong as was his bodily constitution, his logist, the Critic, the Politician, and the mind, ever active and restless must have worn Poet. Versatility, like Whitaker's, is, in out (we should have presumed) even that trnth, of rare occurrence; but still more rare athletic frame, long before the period assigned is the splendour of original genius, exhibited to man's existence. Amidst his ardent and in walks so various. Not that Mr. W. was indefatigable researches into the Antiquifies equally happy in them all. His characteristic of London, his friends detected the first symp traits as a writer were, acute discernment, and toms of bodily decay. His journey to London, a velocity of ideas which acquired new force his vast exertions there in procuring informa in composition, and a power of combining tion, his energetic and various conversation images in a manner peculiarly striking, and with literary characters, brought on a debility, of flinging on every topic of discussion the which he little regarded till it alarmed him strongest illustration. With little scruple, in a stroke of paralysis. From this he never therefore, we hazard an opinion, that though recovered to such a degree as to be able to rehis chief excellence be recognized in anti- sume, with any good effect, his studies or quarian research, he would have risen to occupations. But, for the last year, his de higher eminence as a poet, had he cultivated cline has been gradual; and it was such as in early youth, the favour of the Muses. Be we have contemplated with pleasure; since this, however, as it may; there are none who we have seen him sensible of his approaching will deem us extravagant in pronouncing, dissolution, yet invariably supported by the that Mr. W. was a "great" literary character. faith of a Christian. His indeed was the reThat he was "good" as well as great, would signation, the cheerfulness becoming a sufficiently appear in the recollection of any primitive disciple of that Jesus in whose merperiod of his life; whether we saw him aban- cies he reposed, and to whom only he looked doning preferment from principle, and heard for acceptance. And he who would derive him "reasoning of righteousness and judg-comfort from the prospect of death should ment to come" until a Gibbon trembled; or keep in view our venerable friend, when, at whether, amongst his parishioners, we wit- that awful hour which assured us of his hap nessed his unaffected earnestness of preaching, piness, at peace with himself, his fellow. | his humility in conversing with the poor cot tagers, his sincerity in assisting them with advice, his tenderness in offering them consolation, and his charity in relieving their dis • Two amiable daughters. ↑ Mrs. W. was a Miss Tregenna, of an ancient Cornish family. creatures, and his God, he sank as into quiet slumber, without a trouble or a pain, and with a smile on his countenance expired. realm a slaughter-house-your statutes cancelled, and your treasure spent-and yonder is the wolf that makes this spoil. You fight in justice; then in God's name be valiant.” Spaniards, strike home. electoral votes for the president and vice-prePresident elected. The returns of the sident are completed and stand as follows: For the President; J. Madison 122; C. Pinkney 48; G. Clinton 6.-For the VicePresident; G. Clinton 113; Rufus King 48; J. Longden 9; Madison 3; Munroe 3.-Of course, Madison and Clinton are elected. State of Exports.-The following is an official statement laid before the house of representatives, of goods, wares, and merchandize exported from America nominally during the year prior to the first day of October, 1808; but, in fact, during the three last months of the year 1807, subsequent exportation having been prevented by the embargo. The goods, wares, and inerchandizes, of domestic growth or manufacture, included in the statements, are estimated at ་་་ Dollars. 9,433,546 The Hon. and Right Rev. JAMES YORKE, L. L. D. Lord Bishop of Ely, Governor of Addenbrook's Hospital, and Visitor of Jesus, St. John's, and Peter's Colleges, Cambridge. This prelate, who died at Forthampton Court, Gloucestershire, about August 26, in his 78th year, was the youngest and only surviving son of the Chancellor, who had been named the Great Lord Hardwicke; and was successively appointed to the deanery of Lincoln, and the bishopricks of St. David's, Gloucester, and Ely, the last of which he held 27 years. The death of this venerable prelate was sudden. He had walked on the Terrace, at Forthampton, about seven o'clock on the preceding evening, in perfect health. He was affectionately loyal to his Sovereign, politely attentive to his equals, and kindly concerned for the welfare of his inferiors. It is almost unnecessary to mention, amongst many instances of his disinterested sense of duty, that the mastership of Jesus College, Cambridge, was offered to the late Dr. Paley, without solicitation; and that during his superintendance of the diocese, by example and exhortation to the clergy, especially with spect to residence, the Isle of Ely had much facture may be arranged under the following improved in morals, in social order, and in general felicity. He has left a widow, whose affliction, it is hoped, will be mitigated by the recollection of having been á dutiful and affectionate companion during a long course of years, employed in the exercise of useful virtue and charitable piety; numerous relatives, and descendants, by whom he will ever be regretted, and a memory worthy of the dignified and sacred situation he was placed in. He lived to his latest hour with the consolation and the tranquillity of a patriarch. His lordship's remains were interred with due solemnity in the family-vault at Forthampton, near Tewkes bury, re OBSERVANDA EXTERNA. '*'* AMERICA, NORTH. State of Politics.-At a grand dinner late y given at Newbury Port, America, in compliment to Chief Justice Pickering, the following were among the toasts given from the chair:-"The President of the United States. His promises were, as he now is, MIGHTY; but his performance, as he soon will be, NOTHING."-Buonaparte's March. -2. " Our country in a leprosy by the Embargo-may she go to the ocean and be healed."-Rise Columbia.-3." SpainYour Sovereign is prisoner to the foe your And those of foreign growth and manufacture át 12,997,414 Amounting together to 22,430,950 The articles of domestic growth or manu heads, viz. Produce of the Sea 832,000 Forest......... 1,399,000 Uncertain,. 112,000 9,438,000 Anti-Embargoists.We are informed, that the meetings at Boston, Philadelphia, Augusta, Ballatan, Warren, Portland, Newbury Port, and other places, have entered into resolutions, which, with respect to a government vigorously administered, would be deeined little short of downright rebellion. Those adopted by the inhabitants of Newbury Port, and the adjacent towns, are peculiarly striking Resolved, That we will not aid or assist in the execution of the several embargo laws, especially the last, and that we constder all those who do as violators of the constitation of the United States and of this commonwealth; and that they be considered as unworthy of the confidence and esteemn of their fellow-citizens.Resolved, That we do not consider it the duty of any soldier to aid and assist in carrying into execution the last embargo law." |