were then under the reproach of being followers of Mr. Hutchinson *. The Rev. Dr. Wetherell, late Dean of Hereford, was then a young man in the College of which he was afterwards the worthy Master: and such was his zeal at that time in favour of Hebrew literature, that Mr. Horne, Mr. Wetherell, and Mr. Martin (afterwards Dr. Fairfax,) and a fourth person intimately connected with them all, sat down for one whole winter, to examine and settle, as far as they were able, all the Themata of the Hebrew language: writing down their remarks daily, and collecting from Marius, and Buxtorf, and Paginus and others, what might be of use for compiling a new Lexicon. How much judgment they had, at this early period, to render their papers valuable, we dare not say: but, such as they were, the fruits of a faithful and laborious scrutiny, a copy of them was handed to the learned Mr. Parkhurst, late of the University of Cambridge, an eminent labourer in the same vineyard, to whom the public have since been greatly indebted for three editions of his Hebrew Lexicon; which contains such variety of curious and useful information, that contrary to the nature of other Dictionaries (properly so called) it may be turned over for entertainment as a Commentary on the Scripture, and a magazine of Biblical Erudition. His two scriptural Lexi * On occasion of this paragraph, I have reconsidered Dr. Patten's Discourse and the Defence of it; and am persuaded it might be of much service, if every young man were to read them both, before he takes holy orders. His picture of fashionable Christianity is very alarming, and I fear it is not exaggerated. Another Discourse preached before the University, and from the same pen, published also by request, intitled "The Opposition between the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and what is called the Religion of Nature," deserves to be noticed here. cons, the one Greek, and the other Hebrew, are both so excellent in their way, that they will last as long as the world; unless the new Goths of infidelity should break in upon us and destroy, as they certainly wish to do, all the monuments of Christian learning *. Doctor George Berkeley, of late years a Prebendary of the Church of Canterbury and Chancellor of Brecknock, was then Mr. George Berkeley, a student of Christ-church, a son of that celebrated pattern of virtue, science, and apostolical zeal, Dr. Berkeley, Bishop of Cloyre in the kingdom of Ireland; who chose to spend the latter days of his life in retirement at Oxford, while his son was a member of the university. Between this gentleman and Mr. Horne a very early intimacy commenced, and much of their time was spent in each other's company. Under the training and with the example of so excellent a father, Mr. Berkeley grew up into a firm believer of the Christian religion, and discovered an affectionate regard to every man of letters, who was ready, like himself, to explain and defend it. He was consequently a very zealous admirer of Mr. Horne; and the one had the happiness of belonging to the Chapter, while the other for several years was Dean of Canterbury: and when his friend was removed to the See of Norwich, Dr. Berkeley preached his Consecration Sermon at Lambeth; an act of respect for which he had reserved himself, having been under a persuasion, for some years before, that he should see Mr. Horne become a * The third edition of Mr. Parkhurst's Hebrew Lexicon was promoted by Bishop Horne, whose name stands first among the patrons to whom it is inscribed; though Bishop Horne did not live till it was published. Bishop. His discourse* on that occasion shewed him to be a true son and an able minister of the Church of England: and another discourse, originally delivered on a 30th of January, and reprinted since with large and curious annotations, has distinguished him for as firm and loyal a subject to his king and the laws of his country. Dr. Berkeley was very greatly esteemed by his patron the late Archbishop Secker, with whom he had much influence; and he never ceased to take advantage of it, till he had obtained preferment from him for one of his old friends, who had no other prospect. The father of Dr. Berkeley has been made known to the world by a few happy words of Mr. Pope : but the following anecdote, which is preserved among the private notes of Bishop Horne, will give us a more exact idea of his character. Bishop Atterbury, having heard much of Mr. Berkeley, wished to see him. Accordingly, he was one day introduced to him by the Earl of Berkeley. After some time, Mr. Berkeley left the room: on which Lord Berkeley said to the Bishop, "Does my cousin answer your Lordship's expectations?" The Bishop, lifting up his hands in astonishment, replied, "So much understanding, so much knowledge, so much innocence, and such humility, I did not think had been the portion of any but angels, till I saw this gentleman." The passage is taken from Hughes's Letters. II. 2 †. *This Sermon is now published, and may, not improperly, be bound up with this volume, if the reader pleases. The title of it is, An Inquiry into the Origin of Episcopacy, in a Discourse preached at the Consecration of George Horne, D.D. &c. &c. + Dr. Berkeley, the excellent son of an excellent father, changed this world (in which he had seen much trouble) for a better, on the day of Epiphany 1795, before the first edition of this work went to the press. Mr. Samuel Glasse, a student of Christ-church, who had the repute he merited of being one of the best scholars from Westminster-school, was another of Mr. Horne's intimate friends, and continued to love and admire him through the whole course of his life. The world need not be told what Dr. Glasse has been doing since he left the University, as a divine, as a magistrate, and as a teacher and tutor of the first eminence; of whose useful labours, the Gospel, the law, the church, the bar, the schools of learning, the rich and the poor, have long felt and confessed the benefit and may they long continue so to do! although it may be said, without any suspicion of flattery, in the words of the Poet-non deficit alter aureus -a son, whose learning, abilities, and good principles have already entitled him to the thanks of his country, and will secure his fame with posterity. This gentleman, the son of Dr. G., distinguished himself very early in life by his uncommon proficiency in Hebrew literature, which procured him the favour of Dr. Kennicott, and a studentship of Christ-church. He has since acquired a great addition of fame as a classical scholar, by his elegant translation into Greek Iambics of Mason's Caractacus, and Milton's Samson Agonistes, adapted in form, and style, and manner, to the ancient Greek drama *. And he has recently * Though I speak with respect of this, as a work of great scholarship, and even wonderful in a young man, I have my doubts, whether any Englishman can exhibit unexceptionable Greek versification, in which a Critic cannot, with a microscope in his hand, and a little jealousy in his eye, discover flaws and pinholes and that a Greek version of a fine English Poem, whoever produces it, will at last be but a bad likeness of a good thing: which may be said without impeaching the parts or the diligence of any translator. When a man writes in a dead language, he does it at a great : shewn himself an elegant English writer, as well as a pious and well informed divine, by his publication of the Contemplations of Bishop Hall, in a form very much improved. He had prepared a Dedication of that excellent work to Bishop Horne; but the Bishop dying, while the work was depending, an advertisement is prefixed, which does great honour to his memory. From Westminster-school there came, at an earlier period, a Mr. John Hamilton of University College, whose father was a member of the Irish Parliament, and his mother a lady of high rank. This amiable young man, for the politeness of his behaviour, his high accomplishments, his vivacity of temper and readiness of wit, was a companion equally respectable and desirable; so nearly allied in disposition and abilities to the two characters of Mr. Watson and Mr. Horne, that a strict friendship grew up between them. The example of some seducing companions from Westminster-school had rendered him for a while dissipated and thoughtless: but when the time approached, in which he was required to prepare himself for holy orders, he determined to become a clergyman in good earnest; gave himself up to study and retirement; and was known to rise frequently at four o'clock in a summer's morning, to read the works of St. Austin. With this disposition, it is no wonder he was ready to embrace every opportunity of deriving more light to his Christian studies. He therefore soon became a Hebrew student hazard and I have heard this matter carried to such a nicety by a person of distinguished learning, as to suppose it dangerous, even in Latin composition, to put a noun and a verb together, unless you can find that noun and that verb actually standing together in some native Latin writer of allowed authority. |