Mr. Peters is supposed to have left behind him many valuable writings. During the last seven or eight years of his life, he was, wholly, occupied in completing a critical paraphrase upon the Psalms; which, it is believed, was nearly finished, as a great part of it was fairly transcribed at the time of his decease: he died about thirty-five years ago, universally esteemed, beloved, and lamented.

His critical dissertation on the book of Job places him in the first rank of critics. His sermons are posthumous. An intimation is given that a second volume would be published, if the sale of the first warranted it; but it was so slow as to prevent the execution of the intent; which is greatly to be lamented, because many of the sermons, although not calculated to interest general readers, are entitled to much praise.

The Critical and Monthly Reviewers speak thus of his sermons.

"This pious and learned writer acquired a consi derable reputation in 1751, by his Critical Dissertation on the Book of Job.

"These are not elaborate compositions abounding with striking sentiments, acute reasonings, or critical investigations, but plain and pious instructions calculated for a country congregation."

Critic. Rev. May, 1776.

"These discourses are of the judicious kind; plain, serious, and convincing: while they are calculated to inform and instruct, they aim also to affect and persuade. We have perused these sermons with pleasure; were they yet more plain and pathetic, wę apprehend they might still be more adapted for usefulness to congregations in town, as well as in the country. But we think they do credit to the author's abilities, and, which is much more important, to the goodness and rectitude of his heart."

Mon. Rev. Aug. 1776.

DR.

DR. POWELL.

WILLIAM SAMUEL POWELL was born at Colchester, Sep. 27, O. S. 1717. He was admitted at St. John's College, Cambridge, in 1734: began to reside there the year following: took the degree of B. A. in 1738-9: and was admitted Fellow in 1740.

In the year 1741, he was taken into the family of the late Lord Viscount Townshend, as private tutor to his second son, Charles Townshend, afterwards Chancellor of the Exchequer. Towards the end of the year he was ordained Deacon and Priest by Dr. Gooch, then Bishop of Norwich; and instituted by. him to the rectory of Colkirk in Norfolk, on Lord Townshend's presentation.

He returned to the College the year after; took the degree of M. A. and began to read lectures, as assistant to Mr. Wigley and Mr. Tunstall. In the year 1744, he became principal tutor; and in 1749 took the degree of B. D.

In the year 1753, he resigned the rectory of Colkirk, that it might be consolidated with Stibbard, another of Lord Townshend's livings: and was again. instituted the next day.

He was admitted to the degree of D. D. in 1756; and created at the following commencement in 1757.

In 1759 he came into possession of an estate in Essex which was devised to him by Mr. Reynolds, a relation of his mother's. In 1761 he left College, and took a house in London; but did not resign his fellowship till 1763.

In 1765 he was elected Master: soon after, he went to reside in College; and was chosen Vice-chancellor of the University in November following,

The year after, he obtained the archdeaconry of Colchester, which was in his Majesty's gift for that turn, on the promotion of Dr. Moss to the bishopric

of St. David's and in 1768, he was instituted to the rectory of Freshwater in the Isle of Wight.

He died Jan. 19, 1775.

The above is taken from the advertisement prefixed by Dr. Balguy to Dr. Powell's Sermons.

The late Professor Manwaring, in the preface to his Sermons, says,

It would be impossible to produce a more eminent instance of the happy alliance of taste and genius, learning and good sense, than in the sermons and charges of the late Dr. Powell; of whom, indeed, on every account, the whole society over which he presided might, justly, join with me in saying;

"Semper honos, nomenque tuum, laudefque manebunt,'

This character of his sermons would be applied. with much more propriety to those of Dr. Ogden, which the Professor meanly calumniated.

The Critical Reviewers are, on the other hand, too sparing of praise.

"These sermons and charges bear the marks of an agreeable writer, rather than of a profound enquirer or solid reasoner."

MR. REAY.

MR. HUTCHINSON's History of Cumberland furnishes the materials for the biography of this excellent writer.

"William Reay, second son of the Reverend Richard Reay, Rector of Denton, not more than £20 per ann. The father educated him as long as

he

he lived; but on his demise William was sent to the free-school at Carlisle: from thence he was removed to Queen's Coll. Oxford, where, in 1751, he took his degree of M. A. At Oxford he was supported by a singularly benevolent, and liberal-minded man, his father's brother, Mr. John Reay, who had been the confidential servant of Dr. Gibson, Bishop of Lon don. This John Reay retired in old age to Carlisle, where he lived in comfort and credit.

"In 1755 William published his sermons under the patronage of Dr. Church, to whom he had been Curate of Battersea till 1755, when he was invited to the curacy and lectureship of Wandsworth, under Mr. Collison, in which situation he continued till he died in 1756. Persons who remember Mr. Reay, speak of him as an excellent man, and a pleasing preacher.

"The subscriptions to his sermons are said to have been liberal, and were conferred in the most handsome manner. They have long been regarded among the best in our language; of which the high price they have borne, and do still bear, is some proof. He who wishes his mind to be strongly imbued at once with good principles and a good taste for composition, let him give his nights and days to the reading of English sermons. Among the foremost of these we place those of Benson, Fothergill, Seed, and Reay; all of whom, however, it is but fair to own, are said to' have been wretched preachers."

Is there not a little inconsistency in the foregoing statement? Mr. Hutchinson says Reay was a pleasing preacher; and then classes him with Benson, Fothergill, and Seed-all of whom, he observes, are said to have been wretched preachers. Reay's sermons are very unequal; but some of them must be acknowleged to be superlatively good.

I do not mean to depreciate the writings of Benson, Seed, and Fothergill; but to him who would

C 4

wish

wish to imbue his mind with good principles and a good taste, I would say with confidence, give your nights and days to the reading of the sermons of Skelton, St. John, Newlin, Hickman, Ogden, Richmond, and Riddoch: the taste and the mind will, necessarily, by a diligent perusal of them, be greatly improved; and you may, happily, "be made wise unto salvation."

BISHOP RICHMOND,

MY enquiries respecting this elegant writer have not been successful. I formerly knew some Clergymen who had lived with him in habits of intimacy; but death has prevented my obtaining that information, which, during our acquaintance, I had not the curiosity to solicit.

Bishop Richmond was the son of a worthy Clergyman, the Rev. Mr. Richmond, Rector of the valuable living of Walton, near Liverpool. He sent his son to St. John's College in Cambridge, where he took the degree of L.L.B. in 1752: in 1757, his father gave him the vicarage of Walton, the revenues of which were very inconsiderable. In 1758, he became L.L.D. He was received into the family of the Duke of Athol as Chaplain, and tutor to some of the younger branches. In 1764 he published his sermons; all which he had wrote, except one on harvest, as was told me, by a very excellent Clergyman, the late Rev. Mr. Tatlock, who had been his father's Curate. It is somewhat singular, that he should, as my friend observed, have continued to preach them after he had published them. It is true, they were a little altered, but the body of the sermon was the same. They were always heard with the utmost attention; for as a speaker, he had few equals.

The