"Critical Disquisitions on the Eighteenth Chapter of Isaiah. In a Letter to Edward King, Esq. F. R. S. A.S." [By Bishop Horsley.] 4to. brother's more splendid talents, and superior attainments. He became B. A. with credit in 1794; and M. A. in 1797. He was appointed Afternoon Lecturer of Charlotte Street Chapel, on the recommendation of his predecessor the Rev. Dr. Wilgress, and Evening Lecturer of Brompton, on the recommendation of the Rev. T. F. Dibdin, in 1811.~ His work "Zimao the African" was twice printed and published with success, i. e. in 1800 and 1807; it pleads the cause of humanity in pathetic language. For more than nineteen years he was classical-assistant in his father's school at Chelsea; to the superintendance of which establishment he succeeded in 1814: when the venerable Principal calmly and contentedly retired to the village of Gayton, to be Curate to the Master of Harrow.-Such and so humble is the solace in this lower world of a man of blameless manners and exalted character, whose life has been incessantly and most exemplarily engaged in arduous professional toil, in the service of his fellow creatures, for upwards of a century !—" Sic vos non vobis!!!" The elder Mr. Butler was one of the earliest Institutors of the excellent "Society for the Discharge and Relief of Persons im prisoned for small Debts ;" and most materially assisted his friend and coadjutor the late James Neild, Esq. in preparing for the press a Third Edition of the Account of that Society, published in 1808; and still more so in the enlarged Edition of 1810, every line of which he twice transcribed; and also took upon himself the labour of correcting the proof-sheets: all this he did gra tuitously. The friendship, indeed, which existed between these two benevolent characters cannot be better exemplified and attested than by the following Letter [published by Mr. Neild in the third edition of his work]: 66 REV. SIR, Chelsea, Jan. 1, 1808. "I am unwilling to close these pages without embracing the opportunity they afford me of thus publicly expressing the ardent gratification I feel, in common with you, at the success and stability of this benevolent Society; and of uniting my congra tulations with yours on the incalculable benefits which the publick have long derived, and, under Divine Providence, through the most remote periods of time, will, I trust, continue to receive, from its establishment, and the extension of its objects aided by the bounty of the Christian, the Philanthropist, and the Man of the World, to all of whom the great end of relieving human misery, the peculiar object of the Institution, is of equal consideration. When I look back to the distant period of our lives, and observe that of the first Committee of the Society, you, Reverend Sir, and myself, remain the only survivors; Icannot but feel the most powerful, and, at the same time, the most "The Anniversary Sermon of the Royal Humane Society, preached at Grosvenor Chapel, on Sunday most humble gratitude to the Great Disposer of all human events, for having suffered me to live, and witness the happy result of our early and well-meant endeavours. * And when I pursue the course of reflection, and find that, in addition to the consequences naturally attendant upon an advance in years, I labour under painful infirmities, that hasten to plunge me into that awful, yet hopeful, gulph of death, which has already absorbed our fellow-labourers in the vineyard; I confess I feel an irresistible impulse to embrace this, perhaps the last and only opportunity I shall ever have, of publicly commemorating, as far as the feeble efforts of an humble individual will be allowed to extend, our joint exertions in the same great cause; and of testifying the sincere pleasure with which I at all times recur to the early intimacy and long-continued friendship, which has formed one of the unfeigned sources of the comfort and happiness of my life. With growing and well-merited esteem, Sir, I witnessed your successful exertions in behalf of the Society, at its earliest institution: Often have I felt the influence acknowledged by all who have heard the eloquent and impressive Discourses which you have delivered from the pulpit, in recommendation of the objects embraced by this Charity; and never, whilst I am permitted to retain the power of memory, can the gratifying recollection be effaced, of the glow of surprize and pleasure, which beamed from every countenance around you, upon the receipt of 100l. sent by a then unknown, though eminent advocate for suffering humanity; no more than can the impression of that active zeal with which you personally assisted, to search out the objects of misery, who were relieved from the deepest affliction by its timely application. The leading share you took in forming the plan, which has afforded such permanent benefit to this enlarged and improving establishment, bespeaks the soundness of your judgment, while it pourtrays the natural goodness of your heart. It has left those impressions of gratitude and respect on the Society, and upon the mind of your humble and faithful friend, which cannot be described; and can only be felt by a due appreciation of the manifold benefits which the Publick derive from the establishment of the Institution itself. The happy effects produced on Society by the exemplary conduct of a good and virtuous man, has been often the subject-matter of your pathetic and convincing Discourses. But in no instance, Reverend Sir, under the grace of God, does the doctrine appear more manifestly established, than in the general character of the offspring with which you are blessed; and whose superior excellence, at the same time that it reflects splendour on themselves, distinctly emanates from the virtuous example of the Parent. And here, suffer me, Sir, without disparagement to the rest of [In p. 224, line 17, read" upwards of HALF A CENTURY."] VOL. IX. Ω your April 16, 1799; and at the Parish Church of Mitcham, on Sunday, June 30, 1799. By the Rev. Richard Harrison*, Minister of Brompton Chapel, Joint Lecturer of St. Botolph, Bishopsgate, and St. Martin-in-the-Fields." your family, who have equal claims to your commendation, most sincerely to congratulate you on the promotion of your son Doctor Butler to the eminent situation he fills; the reward of his virtues; of those early advances which your tuition enabled him to make in Literature; and which can only be surpassed by the modesty of his deportment, the liberality of his sentiments, and the purity of his Christian principles. That you may both, with the rest of your children, long continue reciprocally to reflect honour on each other, on your households, and our common nature, is the sincere and earnest wish of, "Reverend Sir, your faithful Friend, JAMES NEILD. "If to any of my present readers the above tribute of esteem appear irrelevant, and unnecessary to the end proposed by the publication of the work, it is upon the candour of those readers, and of posterity, who may hereafter deem these sheets deserving of their consideration, that I am willing to throw myself: indulging the hope, that the same regard for mankind which induces them to the perusal of the work, will not be denied to its frail Author; who fondly imagines, that his humble record of an unreserved attachment which, through all the vicissitudes of human life, has continued with unabated zeal for forty years, will not be read without some of those emotions of pleasure which glow in his bosom when he recurs to them. J. NEILD." * In mentioning the name of this animated Preacher, it is impossible to pass over unnoticed that of his excellent Father, the Rev. Richard Harrison, who will long be recollected with gratitude by the Members of the Royal Humane Society, as their earliest Anniversary Preacher in 1775. He was of Christ Church, Oxford, where he matriculated about the year 1754: when he graduated, I do not learn. Soon after entering into holy orders he became Lecturer of St. Peter's Cornhill, and Joint Lecturer of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. He was also Minister of Brompton Chapel, and Alternate Preacher at the Magdalen. In 1789 he was presented by Lord Chancellor Thurlow to the Rectory of St. John's, Clerkenwell, in a manner highly honourable both to the Patron and the Divine. Happening officially to attend the Chancellor on the day when Mr. Alderman Pickett was presented for his Majesty's approval; in the course of conversation, the Chancellor, in his plain, but emphatic language, said, " Mr. Harrison, the Rectory of St. John's, Clerkenwell, is vacant; and you may have it, if you think it worth your acceptance." Mr. Harrison had no previous acquaintance with Lord Thurlow; but he always consi dered "A serious Address to the Head and Heart of every unbiassed Christian. By Thomas Langley*, B. A. of Snelston, Derbyshire." 8vo. sidered himself as in a great degree indebted for the presentation to the influence of the late Marchioness of Stafford with the Chancellor; her Ladyship, without soliciting any particular benefice, having strongly recommended him to Lord Thurlow as highly deserving preferment. His general merits indeed were universally acknowledged; and, as a Reader and Preacher, he stood in the foremost ranks of popularity. His death, which happened Dec. 23, 1793, arose from apoplexy, and was awfully sudden; as on the preceding day he was in perfect health, and had preached an admirable Sermon. He published five single Sermons; 1. "Preached before the Governors of the Magdalen, 1768" 2. "Before the Governors of the Small Pox Hospital, 1769;" 3. "Before the Humane Society, 1775;" and Two Fast Sermons, in 1779 and 1781. His son, the present Rev. Richard Harrison, who inherits the talents, the zeal, and the many other good qualities of his father, was entered at Queen's College, Oxford, 1781; where he took the degree of B. A. in 1805. He succeeded his father as Minister of Brompton Chapel, and in the Joint Lectureship of St. Martin-in-the-Fields; and has since been chosen Joint Lecturer of St. Botolph, Bishopsgate. *This ingenious young Divine was a native of Buckinghamshire, and a careful collector of the Antiquities of that County, of which he gave a very good specimen in "The History and Antiquities of the Hundred of Desborough and Deanry of Wycombe, in Buckinghamshire, 1797," 4to. He had it also in contemplation to continue the Work by some other Hundreds. June 17, 1799, he writes to a Friend, "I am extending my researches into the Hundred of Burnham, which offers much more interesting subjects of enquiry. By referring to the Map of Buckinghamshire, you will perceive that it includes Amersham, Beaconsfield, Burnham, Chenyes, &c. The latter, you know, is rich in monumental records of the Bedford family. From your store of Antiquarian knowledge, I flatter myself you will do me the favour of communicating some hints as to this Hundred. Finding that my former Work met not with a ready sale, from a want of Plates, I am anxious to supply that deficiency in this (if I have encouragement to publish it); and I shall be very thankful for your information as to drawings and plates relative to this part of Buckinghamshire; particularly whether you have drawings of the Monuments at Chenyes. I have hopes that the Duke of Bedford will pay some attention to his Ancestors. Having lived totally in the country ever since the publication of the History of Desborough, I am quite ignorant of the reception of the Work among Antiquaries, and whether any other Gentleman An Appeal to the Publick," in Behalf of the is collecting for this County. I have no ambition to re-commence Author; and am in too obscure a situation to afford any great expence. My zeal for my native County urges me to a study which is very congenial to my inclinations; but, being deficient in so many respects, I shall be particularly obliged for your counsel and advice as to proceeding in the task." In February 1800, he had completed a Poem of some length, on a religious subject, which he did not find himself bold enough to print; but he communicated to a friend the following ideas for two engra. vings for it." One, of the good Shepherd, standing by the side of a pure stream of water, in the midst of a conceived Paradise, with an emblem of the Tree of Life in one hand, and the other extended towards a flock of sheep, driven by a storm, scattered upon the sides of a rugged mountain, surrounded with deep gulphs, and the figure of an hideous monster therein, menacing their ruin, placed opposite to The good, the blessed, blessing Shepherd comes;' and another Engraving of the City of Jeru salem lying in ruins, with a female form, expressive of fallen and widowed Majesty, clothed in a black robe, in a pensive attitude, casting dust upon her head with one hand, the other extended towards the ruins, &c.; and her crown taken away by a flaming Angel with a sword in his hand streaming in blood, placed opposite to 'Jerusalem, poor, poor Jerusalem.' Were it not for the expence, I cannot but suppose they would be highly picturesque." In that year he was presented to the Rectory of Whiston, in Northamptonshire, vacant by the death of Mr. George Selwyn; but he enjoyed that preferment only a few months; dying at Marlow, July 27, 1804, at the early age of 32. "The authenticity of the following Narrative, in all its particulars, may be absolutely relied on by those who may be disposed to honour it with their compassionate attention:A Gentleman of character, whose literary productions are not altogether unknown to the Publick, has for some time laboured under the pressure of very severe and complicated distress. His income, which has scarcely ever exceeded ninety-pounds per annum, has been altogether unequal to the support of a very numerous family of children; ten of whom, the survivors of twenty-one, born in wedlock, are (with the exception of the eldest daughter) destitute of all means of support, save only the sum already mentioned, and the produce of some works of ingenuity, undertaken for the benefit of their parents, in which several of them, from their tender age, are as yet unqualified to join. The eldest son has been a cripple from his infancy. The father has for some time been afflicted with the disorder known among medical persons by the name of Angina Pectoris; which is too generally known to terminate fatally, after a period of severe and protracted sufferings. In the month of April last, he was compelled to quit his little home, and had to sustain a |