"The Charge of Samuel [Horsley] Lord Bishop of Rochester to the Clergy of his Diocese; delivered at his Primary Visitation, in the Year 1796. Published at the Request of the Clergy."

Bishop Horsley's Treatise, "On the Properties of the Greek and Latin Languages *," 8vo.

of whom are gentlemen of rank, fortune, and respectability. I have the honour to be, Rev. Sir, your obedient, &c. W. HAWES." "" SIR, Hatton, Nov. 16, 1795.

"On my return from a tour of business last Saturday evening, I received the favour of your Letter, dated Nov. 13; and I should certainly have done myself the pleasure of answering it yesterday, if I had not been prevented by a slight illness.-Indeed, Sir, I am not holding the jargon of trite and hollow profession, when I express to you my grateful sense of the honour which the Stewards and Members of the Humane Society have conferred upon me, by requesting me to preach before them at the next Anniversary-1 am sure that an Institution so benevolently designed, and so judiciously conducted, deserves the serious attention, and, where circumstances may admit, the active support, of every conscientious Clergyman.-I cannot, among the nume rous Societies for charitable purposes with which this country abounds, name any one which surpasses yours in solid utility, or perhaps rivals it in exemption from abuse. I am aware that several distinguished Teachers in the Established Church have, with great credit to themselves, employed their abilities in giving effect to your wise and humane exertions; and, so far as concerns the mere trouble in preparing a Sermon upon the occasion, I cannot reproach myself with so much sluggishness of feeling, or so much barrenness of invention, as would disqualify me from saying what is proper to be said before an audience so respectable, and for a purpose so important. But, the distance at which I live from London, the inconvenience I have more than once experienced from leaving my parochial domestic business in the Spring, and the necessity which the frequent application to me for Charity-sermons has imposed upon me of fixing some limitations to compliance, compel me to state, though with reluctance, and even anguish, that I am unable to perform the office, which, in your Letter, I am desired to undertake. Permit me,

Sir, to request that you will be so kind as to present my most respectful compliments to the Managers, Stewards, &c. and to

assure you of my most unfeigned good-will towards so excellent

an Institution, the success of which is, I believe, in a very eminent degree, to be ascribed to the judgment, zeal, and philanthropy, of Dr. Hawes. I have the honour to be, with great respect, Sir, your most obedient humble servant, *See vol, IV. p. 687.

S. PARR."

"A Ser

"A Sermon preached at St. Mary, Whitechapel, at the Anniversary of the Royal Humane Society, on Sunday, March 13, 1796. By the Rev. William Hawtayne*, M. A. Rector of Elstree, Herts."

"The History and Antiquities of the County of Leicester. Compiled from the best and most antient Historians, &c. &c. Including also, Mr. Burton's Description of the County, published in

:

*Of Trin. Coll. Oxford; M.A. 1773; Rector of Elstree 1787. "At the view of two large and well-filled Folios, the commencement only of a more extensive design, the first idea that occurs to the mind is that of prodigious and almost inconceivable labour. On a more particular consideration, however, of the matter composing these Volumes, it will appear that the labour is so much more that of the Collector, Compiler, Printer, and Corrector, than of the Author, as to reduce within a reasonable compass that idea which would otherwise scarcely obtain credibility for the worthy and respectable person, whose name is prefixed to this Work, is known to be engaged in so many other literary concerns of magnitude, that, were he conceived to write Folios, his industry and powers must be thought to surpass those of the most laborious of mankind. Nor do we, by this explanation, mean to detract from the praise of uncommon and almost unequalled assiduity, which, as a Compiler and Printer, he certainly deserves. The Work before us is among the most complete of its kind, and could not be composed without vast pains bestowed in the search after materials and in their proper arrangement, exclusively of the mechanical labour of revision and correction." M. Rev. N. S. XXI. 13.

"The execution of a Work of such magnitude and importance as a County History, requires talents so various, and perseverance so indefatigable, that, if the eye of a critical reader encounter occasional redundancies, oversights, or defects, as he may naturally expect, he will easily forgive them. He will forgive them, not only from the conviction that it is not in the power of human genius to produce a performance of such labour perfect in all its parts, but also from the persuasion, that every Topographical Work, if performed even with moderate ability, necessarily combines utility with amusement; and, by preserving the records of customs and manners, in many instances obsolete, and almost forgotten, tends, at the same time, to the illustration of history, the gratification of curiosity, and the extension of knowledge. If we were to assert that County Histories, or, in other words, historical accounts of particular places and districts, are, in a manner, appropriate to our own country, we should not perhaps be very far from the truth; for, although the description of a few places, memorable from their antiquity, the

importance

1622; and the later Collections of Mr. Staveley, Mr. Carte, Mr. Peck, and Sir Thomas Cave. By John Nichols, F. S. A. Edinb. & Perth." Vol. I. Part I. containing Introductory Records, Illustrations, &c. &c. and the early History of the Town of Leicester; and Vol. II. Part I. Framland Hundred." "The Repertory of Arts and Manufactures*, consisting of Original Communications, Specifications of Patent Inventions, and Selections of useful Papers from the Transactions of Philosophical Societies, &c. Vols. I. II. and III." Svo.

importance they once obtained in history, and the magnificence of their remains, have, in different parts of the world, exercised the acuteness and diligence of learned Writers; yet a Local History, like that contained in the Volumes before us, which describes customs, places, persons, and indeed every thing which can become the subject of enquiry, for use or curiosity, within a certain limited portion of a country, has not yet been attempted by the several Nations of Europe, who rival us in every other branch of science. Of the importance of such compilations, we have before spoken; and it is but justice to add, on the present occasion, that Mr. Nichols, so far as his work is yet completed, has performed an office in itself highly honourable, with talents fully adequate, with acuteness seldom, and with diligence never surpassed. To individuals, however remotely connected with Leicestershire, a treasure is here presented, of which it may be truly said, that if it was anticipated with eagerness, its appearance has fully satisfied every expectation. To the publick at large, and to all descriptions of readers, an abundant source of entertainment is unfolded, in which every one may find gratification, however various the wish or fastidious the taste. The labours of Mr. Nichols will extend to four volumes, out of which a considerable part of two is now before the publick. B. Crit. VII. 102. * This useful Work, which was projected in 1794 by Mr. John Wyatt, has been ably and successfully continued to the present time by the same ingenious Editor; and, though it has been Occasionally assailed by imitations, has sustained an unimpeachable reputation through a Series of XVI Volumes (which was closed by a General Index); and a Second Series, of XXV Volumes. The "Repertory" was commenced with a view to increase the knowledge and improve the practice of the useful Arts, and if an attentive and unceasing selection for more than 20 years, from the Societies and Journals instituted for the advancement of those objects; from the communications of ingenious individuals; and from that rare and excellent store of the Manufacturer's ingenuity and reward, the Patent-ofhce, can have prosuch effect, this Work cannot have failed of success;

duced

any

for

*

"The Principles and Duties of Christianity inculcated and explained: a Sermon preached at Sunbury, Middlesex, on Wednesday, May 25, 1796, being the Anniversary Meeting of Two Friendly Societies of poor Tradesmen and Daylabourers in that Parish, instituted for mutual Support in Cases of Sickness, Accident, or old Age. By James Cowe*, A. M. Vicar," Evo.

"The Second Volume of Mr. Gough's Sepulchral Monuments of Great Britain; containing the Fifteenth Century." Folio.

"Arthur and Emma; or, the First Navigator. A Poem, in Four Books. By the Rev. B. J. Bromwich, A. M." 4to.

for there are but few of the Manufacturing Arts in which it has not demonstrated or suggested Improvements. Bleaching, Tanning, Paper-making, Glass-making, Colour-making, Soap-mak ing, Sugar-refining, Dyeing, Machine-spinning, Weaving, and many others, have received considerable light and benefit from this publication. And for ameliorating the Steam Engine no less than 30 Patents are inserted in it. To Manufacturers generally, this Work will be found of much more utility than an Encyclopedia, because it gives the improvements in each branch as they arise or become known, while an Encyclopedia details only what was universally known at the time of writing the article."

"This seasonable and well-written Discourse must not be hastily confounded with the mass of occasional Sermons, whose existence and period are so nearly allied in point of time, that they scarcely can be noticed before they are forgotten. With learning fully adequate to the most abtruse speculation, and powers of language to adorn the most barren subject, the Author never loses sight of those whom he particularly addresses. A subject more important cannot be delivered from the pulpit, or that comes more' home to men's business and bosoms.' To such of the higher ranks as are engrossed by the formalities of life, dissipated in the tumults of business, or amidst the vicissitudes of pleasure, it is not addressed; to such we do not recommend it: but, while to these it would be foolishness,' it will teach the serious well-disposed Christian, to be wise unto salvation." Gent. Mag. Vol. LXVI. p. 943.

* Of whom see hereafter, under the year 1800.

"This little Work, the Author observes, is a paraphrase on one of a similar nature, written some years ago by the celebrated German Poet Gesner; and is offered at the tribunal of a candid Publick as a first attempt in rhyme.' As such, we may venture to bestow on it our commendation." Ibid. p. 1034.

1797.

"An Enquiry into the Divine Missions of John the Baptist, and Jesus Christ; so far as they can be proved from the Circumstances of their Births, and their Connexion with each other*. To which are prefixed, now first published, Arguments in Proof of the Authenticity of the Narratives of the Births of John and Jesus, contained in the two first Chapters of the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Luke. By William Bell, D. D. &c. &c." 8vo. "The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorsett; compiled from the best and most ancient Historians, Inquisitiones post Mortem, and other valuable Records and MSS. in the Public Offices, Libraries, and in Private Hands. By John Hutch

* "The celebrity of this 'Enquiry' is too far spread to need any encomium on its re-publication; which is now principally mentioned on account of the candour and ability with which the 'Arguments' prefixed to it are introduced to the notice of the reader." Gent. Mag. LXVII. 146.

+ This venerable and learned Divine (many years Chaplain to the Princess Amelia, daughter of King George II.) was of Magdalen College, Cambridge; where he took the degree of B. A. in 1753; being the Eighth in the Wranglers' List. In 1755 he gained one of the Senior Bachelors' Dissertation Prizes, given by the Two Members for the University; and proceeded M.A. 1756, in which year he obtained one of Lord Townshend's Trade-Dissertation Prizes; the other was awarded to Mr. William Hazeland, Fellow of St. John's College; D. D. (per Literas Regias) 1767.-Sept. 28, 1765, he obtained a Prebend of Westminster (where he is now the Senior Prebendary.) He also enjoys the Treasurer's valuable Prebendal Stall in St. Paul's Cathedral; to which are annexed the Patronage and Impropriation of Brent Pelham, Furneaux Pelham, and Aldbury, Herts; and several Tenements in St. Paul's Church-yard. He was presented to the Vicarage of St. Bridget, London, 1776; which he resigned in 1750; and was in that year presented to the Rectory of Christ Church, London; which he resigned in 1799. In 1810 he benevolently founded Eight Scholarships at Cambridge for Poor Clergymen's Orphans.

"This is a second instance in British Topography of a Second Edition of a County History. The first was Sir William Dugdale's Warwickshire; and nothing but the intrinsic merit of both could have obtained for them this mark of distinction. The merit of the late Mr. Hutchins is well known. lle made VOL. IX. Sir