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their coining, the province which they particularly possessed, and to which the Israelites afterwards succeeded. The design of the dissertation on the Eurocly don spoken of in Acts xxvii. 14, was to vindicate the common reading in opposition to Boehart, Grotius, and Bentley, who were offended at it, and who, supported by the anthority of the Alexandrian MS. and of the Volgate, thought Evçaxvxwv, or Euroaquilo, more agreeable to the truth.

"The celebrated work on aneient mythology is a literary phenomenou, which will probably remain the admiration of scholars as long as a curiosity after antiquities shall continue to be a prevailing passion among them. Paracelsus, the celebrated Quixote in chemistry, though he failed in discovering the philosopher's stone, found what was of much greater consequence in his excursions through nature, and opened a field of entertain ment and information which amply recompensed his assiduity, however distant it might leave him from the original object of his pursuit. Nothing in the extensive range of Grecian and Roman literature, however recondite or wherever dispersed, has escaped its sagacious author in his diligent investigation. Departing with a boldness of genius from his predecessors and their systems, he delights by his ingenuity while he astonishes by his courage; and, though the exuberances of fancy and imagina tion are every where conspicuous, the plausibility of his hypothesis is Hikewise frequently apparent. Mr. B. has contended in various fields of controversy with various sucess, but always with a zeal for truth, and a soberness of enquiry. The leading object of his observations on Rowley is to prove that Chatterton could not have been

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"The treatise on the authenticity of Scripture is an anonymous publication, and the whole of the profits arising from its sale are to be given to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. It con tains a good general view of the leading arguments for Divine Revelation; but has, perhaps little upon the whole to entitle it to a pre-eminence over other works of a similar kind. Neither are the learn ed and elaborate observations upon the plagues inflicted on the Egyptrans, however good and commendable the author's motives and his attempt, perhaps, calculated on the whole to promote the cause of Re realed Religion in this unbelieving age.

"For the repose of Mr. B's wellearned fame, it probably would have been better had his Dissertation concerning the War of Troy never been written. Surely even the high authority with which he is armed could not warrant him in controverting opinions so long maintained and established among historians, and in disproving facts so well attested by the most extensive and most brilliant evidence. Great and ratural was the surprize of the Literary World on the appearance of this publication; and very few, if any, were the proselytes to the new doctrine which it inculcates. It was answered by Mr. Gilbert Wakefield, in a very indecent letter to Mr. B.; and in a style more worthy of the subject by J. B. S. Morrit, Esq. of Rokeby park, near

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Greata bridge."

New Catalogue

of Living Authors, 341-6; which being re-published in the British Critic, Mr. B. weakly expostulated with the Reviewers; and Mr. Morrit answered him. And here Mr. B's pen rested from its public labours. See some elegant lines addressed to him.-Gent. Mag.

At his house in Cheapside, of an inflammation on the lungs, Mr. Alderinan Boydell. This excellent man, and liberal patron of the fine arts, was born January 19, 1719, at Dorrington, in Shropshire, of which parish his grandfather was vicar. His father, who was a landsurveyor, intended him for the same profession; but a trifling in cident gave a different turn to his mind, and led him into another walk.--While he was very young, chance threw in his way "Boddesley's Views of Country Seats," among which was one of Hawarden Castle, Flintshire, the seat of Sir John Glynn, by whom he was then employed in his professional capacity, and situated in the parish of which his father was an inhabitant, naturally attracted his attention. An exact delineation of a building he had so often contemplated, afforded him pleasure, and excited his surprise. Considering it an engraving, and naturally reflecting, that from the same copper might be taken an almost indefinite num ber of impressions, he resolved to quit the pen and take up the graver, as an instrument which would enable him to disseminate whatever work he could produce, in so much wider a circle. This resolution was no sooner formed, than carried into effect; for at the age of 21 he walked to London, and apprenticed himself for seven years to Mr. Toms, the engraver of the print which first excited his atten

tion.

His conduct during his appren

ticeship was remarkably assiduous; and he attended as often as he could the academy in St. Martin's Lane, to perfect himself in the art of drawing; his leisure hours were devoted to the study of perspective, and the French language; and to improve himself in the latter, he constantly frequented the French chapel. After studying his business six years, he bought the remainder of his time from Mr. Toms, and on becoming his own master, he immediately visited into his native place, where he mar ried an excellent young woman, to whom he had long been attached.

During his residence in the country he sketched several drawings of romantic spots, both in Wales and in Derbyshire. These he afterwards engraved; but his first publication was in 1745, and entituled " The Bridge Book, consisting of six small landscapes, for the use of learners, the price of which was one shilling." The encouragement he received for this performance, induced him to proceed with spirit; but the art of engraving at that time was extremely low in England, and those who had a taste for prints obtained foreign ones, espe cially French. This greatly mortified our young artist, but, for the present, he could only lament the dishonour which his country suffered, without being able to correct the evil. He therefore contented himself with designing and engraving views in and about the metropolis, and copying prints from Vandeveldi, Ostade, Salvator, Rosa,&c.

The facility with which he drew, etched, and managed the dry needle, enabled him to complete a great number of prints; which, after he became Lord Mayor, he collected and published in a portfolio, at five guineas. In the introduction to this work he observes: "That to the lovers of the fine

arts

arts it may be an object of some curiosity, as it was from the profits of these prints that the engraver of them was first enabled to hold out encouragement to young artists in this line; and thereby, he flatters himself, has somewhat contributed to bring the art of engraving in England to such a state of superiority. It may likewise be added, that this is the first book that ever made a Lord Mayor of London. Few men have had the happiness of seeing, in a single life-time, such a rapid improvement; and the pubLisher will be gratified, if, in the future history of the art, his very extensive undertakings shall be thought to have contributed to it. When the smallness of this work is compared with what has follow ed, he hopes it will impress all young artists, with the truth of what he has already held out to them-that industry, patience, and perseverance, united to talents, are certain to surmount all difficulties."

Finding that the taste for prints encreased, and that still larger sums were yearly drawn out of this country by French artists, he sought for an English engraver, who should equal, if not excel them. This person he found in William Woolett, who engraved for him first the Temple of Apollo, from Claude, and two fine pictures by the Smith's of Chichester; but the Niobe and Phacton from Wilson, were his master-pieces. For the first of these Mr. Boydell agreed to pay him fifty guineas, and when the plate was finished, he gave him one hundred. The second Woollet agreed to perform for fifty guineas and Boydell gave him one hundred and twenty, Proof prints were not at that time deemed of any particular value, and sold at the ordinary prices, but of late,proofs of the above prints have fetched at auctions above ten guineas.

The immense difference between the prices paid to artists now, and at that period, almost surpasses belief. Messrs. Boydells in their advertisement to the print of the Death of Major Pearson, assert, that painting the picture and engraving the print, cost them five thousand pounds.

The number of inimitably fine prints which have been produced in this country since the time above mentioned, have beyond all question, raised the English school of engraving above every other in Europe.

Mr. Boydell did not confine his attention solely to prints: he also had the honour of establishing an English school of historical painting. We allude to that great undertaking the Shakspeare Gallery. He also presented to the Corpora tion of the City of London, a num ber of valuable pictures which are placed in the Council Chamber at Guildhall. Some of them are calculated to commemorate the ac tions of those heroes who have 'done honour to the British name; and others to impress on the minds of the rising generation, the senti ments of virtue, industry and pru dence, in several fine allegorical representations painted by Rigaud, Smirke, Westall, &c.

It is however to be lamented that after a life thus honourably speut in promoting genius and the interests of his country, the Alder man suffered most severely from this very cause. His connexions wth the continent by the exportation of prints were immense, and the Revolution in France and the war which followed, not only put a stop to the trade, but deprived him of large sums that were due to him from abroad.

In consequence of this misfortune he applied to Parliament and obtained an act enabling him to

dispose

dispose of the Shakspeare Gallery and his collection of Pictures and Prints, by way of Lottery, which will take place in the course of next month.

Of his conduct as a citizen it is not necessary to say much, In the different offices of alderman, sheriff, and Lord-mayor, he deported himself in a manner that will be long and gratefully remembered, Though inflexibly just, he was always kind and merciful: and when husbands came before him with complaints of their wives, or wiyes of their husbands; masters of their servants; fathers of their children, he always endeavoured, and often with success, to reconcile them to each other, and to accommodate their differences.

England, to the Roman purple, and the Parisian Arch-Episcopate, both of which were offered him in 1801 by the First Consul of France and by the Pontiff of Rome.

Unalterable in his attachment to the House of Bourbon, His Royal Highness Monsieur, brother to the King of France and Navarre, made him one of his principal counsellors and confidential advisers; unpro fitable offices, indeed, for those who, confounding fortune with justice, paid money more than ho nour; but advantageous to him who has a conscience, follows its dictates, and feels the honourable difference between the disinterest ed counsellor of a lawful prince, and the despicable accomplice of a barbarous Usurper.

In his manners he was plain and The Bishop of Arras had, from unaffected, cheerful, upright, and nature, a constitution strong egenerous:aud to his many excel-nough to resist the ravages of time lent qualities was added that of being a Christian upon principle.

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to the farthest limits assigned to the life of man, had not Providence also bestowed on him a mind virtuous and feeling to the highest degree,

16. M. De Congier, bishop of Arras, born a nobleman, and educated for the prelacy. He did equal honour to his rank and to his The deplorable state of christianstation; faithful to his King as to ity, the misfortunes of his King, his God, a long life was never pol- and the degradation of his coun luted with a single action that did try, were the diseases which denot prove the standard merit of a prived the world prematurely of good man, and of a sincere chris-one of its best and brightest ornatian. The loyal, as well as the religious, in imitating his conduct, may be sure to possess the esteem of their contemporaries, and the admiration of posterity,

That such a character should particularly attract the hatred of Buonaparte might justly be expected. The name of the Bishop of Arras was upon the same line of the same list of proscription with that of the hero of loyalty, Georges. The Corsican assassin, who pierced the heart of an Enghien, Pichegru, and Georges, has long pointed his dagger at the bosom of this prelate, who preferred poverty and exile in

ments. From the scandalous jour ney of Pius VII. and the sacrilegi ous coronation of Napoleon I. this prelate received his death-blow. He survived but for a few days the news of the Corsican assassin's and poisoner's anointment, and was one of the first victims of this horrible act, which has opened a tomb for true religion, at well as for lawful monarchy.

As in health he had been an example of piety and constancy, during his short illness he was a model of devotion and resignation. He exhorted his countymen and fellowsufferers, like himself, unfortunate

exiles,

exiles, not to deviate from that glorious, though painful, path of thorn, they had dutifully and conscientiously entered. He preached submission to the decrees of the Almighty, in shewing the justice of that noble cause to which they had sacrificed rank, property, country, and every thing else, except their honour. He told them never to forget the gratitude they owed to England, should religion and loyalty once more prosper in France, His constant prayers were, on his death bed, that Christ may again save his Church in France, restore there the rightful and lawful to power, and convert, but not

punish the undutiful and unbe lieving.

It is often more glorious to deserve than to occupy a throne. His Royal Highness, however, with an humanity worthy of better times, and better fortune, refused himself even the necessary rest to attend this trusty and affectionate servant who had the consolation to breathe his last in the arms of his good and generous prince. Some few minutes before he shut his eyes for ever, he pressed the houd of Monsieur to his bosom, and with a faint voice, faultered these his last words." My kind Prince, death is terrible to the wicked only!"

ERRATA in the last Number.
In the Hymn for Christmas Day,

Page 379, line 8, for "null" read "full.”
23, dele "happy"

In the Address to a Young Lady page 380, I. 10, after "meet" add "thee' 13, for "He" read "She."

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

The life of Bishop Andrewes will appear in our next number. Also the first of a series of Devotional Discourses, by Bishop HORNE.

The Essays on the Natural History of the Bible have been unavoidably discontinued, owing to the pressing engagements of the Author: but will soon be resumed, and be regularly continued.

We shall have no objection to giving more copious extracts from the Sermon of Bishop Horne, but the one sent by a correspondent, signing himself a Villager, is too slight and detached to answer any good pur pose.

We are sorry to be under the necessity of rejecting the papers subscribed Clericus Burosus Dakiniensis.

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