the coast. The Isle of Wight is a great favourite with him upon those occasions, and a considerable portion of his leisure time has been spent there. When at Oxford he regularly employs two hours every day in traversing the beautiful walks of Christ Church with the tutors and others of his college, who find his conversation a rich fund of literary entertainment.

He has embellished the buildings of the establishment over which he presides in a very considerable degree within these few years; and it is generally understood that he has it in contemplation to take down some of the meanest and oldest parts of it, especially what is called Chaplain's-court, and to erect a stately edifice, similar to Peckwater-quadrangle, upon its site, as soon as the funds will enable him to carry his ideas into execution.

The dean must have now become so riveted to the customs and duties of his present situation, that it is probable he will not give it up while his vigour of body and mind continue in any tolerable degree. Upon the death of Archbishop Newcombe, the pri macy of Ireland, a place of great wealth, was presented for his acceptance, which he refused without hesitation. He was also offered the bishopric of Oxford, on the death of Dr. Smallwell; but declined it in favour of his highly-esteemed friend Dr. Randolph, the present worthy prelate of that see. It is conjec tured by some that he wishes to succeed to the bishopric of Worcester, and by others to the archbishopric of York; but these are mere suppositions, and are perhaps without any foundation. Probably

he is conscious that no successor would be able to conduct the affairs of the college in the manner he docs, and therefore wishes the society to enjoy prosperty under such favourable auspices as long as pos

sible.

As a preacher he is not supposed remarkably to excel, his sermons being usually replete with much learned argument and critical observation, rather than with the saving truths of the gospel of Christ. His turn to appear before the university only happens about twice in three years, and it is remarkable that for the four or five last times, if he has not preached from the same text, he has preached upon the same subject; and in his last discourse he gave his numerous audience to understand that he had not yet fully illustrated his subject, of which the Oxonians are by this time probably become desirous to hear the end.

Though the dean did not take a public, yet certainly he took an active part in the late controversy between the Bishop of Meath and Dr. Vincent, for the latter of whom he stood up strenuously, as he cast severe and, perhaps, even uncandid reflections on the former. But it must be remembered that he is a Westminster man, and for some trifling and natural prejudices in this respect, allowances ought to be made. Upon Dr. Wingfield's resignation of the head-mastership of Westminster school, he exerted himself with much vigour in favour of his most intimate friend Mr. Carey, then a tutor and junior censor of Christ Church, and succeeded in the attempt of getting him appointed head-master. head-master. Whether so young a man

as

as Mr. Carey was calculated to fill a place of so much trust, and which requires so much attention and experience, seemed to be very much doubted at the time of his election: and many respectable persons who had the best interests of the school at heart, were highly displeased at the dean's conduct, and threw out some severe censures upon him. But Mr. Carey's acknowledged talents and learning, as well as the strict attention he has hitherto paid to his several important duties, have, in a great degree, vindicated the dean's measures, and reconciled his opponents to them.

To the learned society at Christ Church, a great acquisition has lately been made by the appointment of the celebrated Dr. White, now regius professor of Hebrew, as well as of Arabic, to a canonry; to whom, upon his coming to settle among them, the dean paid a great compliment, assuring him that " if he had been allowed to fix upon a person for the vacant canonry, of all the learned men in the kingdom, he (Dr. White) would have been the man."

Upon the whole we cannot conclude this memoir without paying a humble tribute of praise to the industry and worth of Dean Jackson, and expressing our hearty wish that he may live to govern the college now so greatly endeared to him, for many more happy and prosperous years.

LORD HOWE.

THE herd of mankind, for the most part, decide ac cording to events. No allowance is made for unexpected difficulties, for intervening misfortunes, for the misconduct of superiors and subordinates, and above all, for the uncontrolable force of fortune. The discerning few, from whom alone praise becomes desirable, form their judgment on a very different basis. They collect evidence, weigh and compare actions, examine conduct, and deem it sufficient to merit, without being always able to obtain success. In respect to military men more especially, the history of the times ought to be taken into consideration, and the cause in which they embark to be canvassed, while the character of the administration, under whose directions they act, should not be overlooked. On recurring to the annals even of our own country, we shall find the reputation of both admirals and gencrals sacrificed to intrigue, and more than one attempt made to transfer the odium of rash and impracticable schemes, from a minister who presumes to direct, to a commander who is fated to obey. It is the business, as well as the duty, however, of history to dispel the mist of prejudice, and do justice to injured merit.

The family of Howe, which has produced several able commanders both by sea and land, may be traced up to a remote period; certain it is, that they possessed a considerable estate in the county of Somerset in the time of Elizabeth, and afterwards obtained by marriage the manor of Langar, in the county of Nottingham.

Nottingham. In 1650 we find one of them sheriff of Gloucestershire; in 1660 another was created a baronet; and Sir John Howe was ennobled during the reign of William III. by whose favour he became

both a baron and viscount.

Scrope, Viscount Howe, in 1719 married Charlotte, eldest daughter to Baron Kilmansegge, master of the horse to George I. as elector of Hanover. The mother of this lady was successively created Countess of Leinster in Ireland, Baroness of Brentford and Countess of Darlington in England; and as the family enjoyed high credit in the English court, this union led to new honours and employments. Nor did it prove unfortunate, for one son (the late Earl Howe), sealed a life of glory, as a British admiral, by a memorable victory over the enemies of his country; while another (Brigadier-general George Augustus Viscount Howe) perished during an expedition against Ticonderago, in an action with the French.

William, of whom we now propose to treat, was the third brother, and at an early age resolved to follow the career of the family, all of whom had betaken themselves to the profession of arms. Accordingly, after being educated at Eton, he became an ensign of foot, and rose by degrees to the highest rank in the army. He had no sooner attained the station of a field officer, than an excellent opportunity offered to distinguish himself, for at this period a great and illustrious commoner wielding the energies of the empire with a giant's arm, carried on a general and suc

* William Pitt, afterwards Earl of Chatham.