to the necessity which the modern writers in that language are under of borrowing their phraseology from Cicero and other celebrated authorities, whose diction is of the splendid kind; while he who composes in his native language feels himself at liberty to form new and peculiar combinations, and to adapt the tone of his expressions to the chastity and simplicity of his own imagination.

In 1769 the Dean of Christ Church was chosen to preach the concio ad clerum to the synod of the province of Canterbury. On this occasion he endeavoured, with great force of argument and elegance of expression, to demonstrate that whatever in human knowledge is vain and fanciful has always been contrary to true religion; while it never opposed that learning which is conformable to reason and nature. He bestowed a just encomium on the character of Newton and his views in philosophy; and at the same time lashed, with deserved severity, the metaphysicians of the French school, who were then attempting to carry their designs into execution, by darkening and perplexing the human understanding, and bringing into contempt whatever had been esteemed sacred in religion, science, or government.

But in the eagerness of attack he has advanced to a position which does not appear tenable. *The

Cum patrias etiam religiones invenirent fabulis anilibus refertas in Ethicâ suâ constituandâ, opem omnem religionis, nisi quantum ad usum civilem sufficeret, planè rejecerunt, quasi a philosophic studiis abhorrentem nequi a populari opinione satis remotam. superstitionibus igitur evellendis religionis stirpes incisæ sun'

CONCIO 12.

ancient

ancient philosophers (he observes) finding the estab lished religions full of the fables of old women, en. tirely rejected religion in their systems of morality, as foreign to their philosophical speculations, and not sufficiently remote from vulgar opinions, unless as far as it was useful in matters of state. In tearing up superstition, they therefore injured the root of religion." Now this certainly was not the practice of the Academics who were the most distinguished of the ancient philosophers. Cicero's address to Atticus, in the introduction to his work on Laws, sufficiently evi dences this point. "Dasne igitur hoc nobis Pomponi (nam quinti novi sententiam) Deorum immortalium *naturâ, ratione, potestate, mente, numine, sive quod aliud est verbum quo planius significem quod volo, naturam omnem regi: nam si hoc non probas ab eo nobis causa ordienda est potissimum." Lib. I. c. 7. "Do you allow this, (for I know the opinion of my brother) that all things are governed by the care, reason, power, mind, divinity, or, if there is any word that will more clearly express my meaning, of the im, mortal gods; for if you will not allow it, we must by all means begin with endeavouring to prove it." The Concio was published together with a Latin speech made on presenting Dr. Thomas as prolocutor to the higher house of covocation. These, together with a sermon preached at Lambeth at the consecration of James Lord Bishop of Gloucester, in 1753, are the only productions of Dr. Markham by which the pub

*It is supposed by the commentators that this should be "cura," and the translation proceeds as if it was.

lic is enabled to form a judgment of his literary

character.

In January 1771 Dr. Markham was consecrated Bishop of Chester, and in the succeeding month was, in the first establishment for the education of the Prince of Wales, chosen preceptor to his royal highness. Dr. Cyril Jackson, the present dean of Christ Church, was at the same time appointed sub-preceptor.

In June 1776 a new establishment was formed, when Dr. Markham was succeeded by Dr. Hurd, the present Bishop of Worcester, and Dr. Jackson by Mr. Arnold, tutor of St. John's College, Cambridge. Why Dr. Markham and Dr. Jackson were not allowed to complete the education of the Prince of Wales is not generally known: their successors had been celebrated tutors at Cambridge, and they had been distinguished at Oxford. It seems, therefore, that it was intended to afford his royal highness the united advantages that might be expected from those who excelled in the different pursuits of the two universities.

This at least is known, that Dr. Markham, in the discharge of his duty, gave great satisfaction to the King, who personally superintended the education of his son, and that he has always retained a very enviable portion of the royal favour. The following anecdote may be mentioned in proof: Mr. Pitt promised to the late Dr. Clarke the deanery of York when it should become vacant by the death of Dr. Fountayne; but he was obliged to revoke the promise, having found that the King, in consequence of an application

from

from Dr. Markham, intended it for his eldest son, who now enjoys it.

In 1777 Dr. Markham was translated to the archbishopric of York. His life, as it can be viewed by a distant observer, appears to have been an uninterrupted series of uncommon felicity. Distinguished at a great school and an eminent college, over both of which he was afterwards called to preside, and over the former at a very early period of life; advancing in preferments and reputation until he was proinoted to a bishopric, and selected for an employment with the due execution of which the future happiness of his country was intimately connected; afterwards rewarded by the second dignity of the English church, which he has held nearly thirty years; the father of a numerous and prosperous family, and in an extreme but vigorous old age, still able to feel all the happiness of his situation; what has he not enjoyed of those things which are supposed to constitute the splendid or the solid satisfactions of life? That he may long continue to enjoy them can now rather be desired than expected. But

"Such age there is, and who would wish its end?”

In his person the Archbishop of York is tall and graceful, and in his manners and address extremely dignified. He is supposed to have always rather too much indulged a constitutional indolence, and to this is owing that so little has been contributed to the instruction of the public by a man of such superior abilitics and attainments.

THE

THE DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE.

THESE fortunate islands, notwithstanding the captious objections of peevish geographers, must cer tainly have been the Hesperides of the ancients! The golden apples alluded to in history are still to be met with in Herefordshire, and occasionally in Coventgarden; while, to complete the resemblance, the male and female dragons who guard them in both places will never consent to part with any of those valuable productions, unless Hercules himself should appear in the shape of a piece of money. The number and value of our flocks too is another proof of identity, for we have possessed from the earliest periods a fleece which may justly vie with that of Colchis; in addition to which, one of the late Mr. Bakewell's rams might have actually carried both Phryxus and Helle on his back at the same time, while his woolly covering would have defrayed no small portion of the expence attendant on the argonautic expedition!

A third, and indeed the most convincing proof, arises from the lovely faces and enchanting figures of our fair countrywomen; and if these modern Pleiades. have not, like their mothers of antiquity, "the immortal gods themselves for their suitors," every man possessed of common gallantry will allow that they at least deserve them! It may seem, however, at first sight a little fanciful to assert that we are indebted, in some measure, to their beauty even for our religion; yet the most orthodox divines will not scruple to assent to this, when they recollect how much our

conversion