the two laft of which he was agonized. Yet, in the midst of pain,

Studio fallente dolorem,

he found folace and alleviation in proceeding with his Political Difquifitions. In 1774 he published

them.

This very interefting Work is closely printed in three volumes octavo, and contains a great quantity of very valuable information. It is one of thofe Works which may be called a SYLVA; a ftorehouse of materials, which a skilful builder may, at fome future time, erect into a regular and fymmetrical edifice. The first volume principally treats of Parliament; the second, of Places, Penfions, the Taxation of the Colonies, and the Army; the third, of Corruption of Manners, and its Effects on the State. Whoever has a regard for Civil Liberty, as established by the British Conftitution, in its purity, will give attention to Mr. Bargh's Political Difquifitions. They are, however, chiefly valuable as a Collection. What he has added himself appears not to have been finished with accuracy. It is the work of indefatigable labour, interrupted by painful disease; yet it must be highly esteemed by all who duly value the Rights and Happiness of Men in Civil Society. If there is a little too much acrimony in fome parts, let it be attributed to the honeft indignation of a virtuous mind, and the irritation of bodily pain.

In addition to the publications already spoken of, Mr. BURGH was the author of many anonymous papers; particularly of Letters in the General EveningPoft, under the fignature of the Free Enquirer; and in the Gazetteer, under that of the Conftitutionalist. The fcope of these occafional Effays was to recommend Annual Parliaments, Equal Reprefentation, and a

Place

Place Bill. He wrote also a series of papers in the Gazetteer, figned The Colonift's Advocate, in which he pleaded the cause of the Americans against the oppreffive measures of the Miniftry of that time, and the House of Commons under its direction. His attention to politics never interrupted his main object, the care of youth committed to his charge, and the general improvement of education. He printed, but did not publifh, for the fole use of his own pupils, Directions, prudential, moral, religious, and scientific. They have been furreptitiously published by a Bookfeller, under the title of "Youth's friendly Monitor." He left several manufcripts behind him, and certainly published feveral valuable tracts, which, being anonymous, have eluded the enquiries of his Biographer.

Of Mr. BURGH's private character, we have a very authentic and favourable teftimony. The refpectable Dr. Kippis, to whom the World is chiefly indebted for the materials of his life, and who had a long perfonal knowledge of him, informs us, that he can confidently pronour.ce Mr. BURGH to have been a man of great Religion, Integrity, and Benevolence. "He

"had a warmth of heart," fays Dr. Kippis, "which "engaged him to enter heartily into the profecution of "any valuable defign; and his temper was communi"cative and chearful."

One of his moft favourite recreations, while he enjoyed health and fpirits, was a regular attendance at a weekly club, confifting of fenfible and refpectable men, decidedly friends to Science, moral Virtue, and Civil Liberty among these were feveral perfons honourably diftinguished for their attainments in Philofophy and general Literature. His chief enjoyments were of the intellectual kind, and he added a dignity to them, by rendering them fubfervient to the purposes of Benevo

lence.

lence. He communicated the refult of his ftudies, reflection, and converfation, for the improvement of the rifing race, and for the promotion of all public, difinterested virtue.

It may be mentioned as a circumftance honourable to his character, that though long in the vale of Ohscurity, his endeavours to serve the cause of Virtue and Religion, caused him to be introduced to our prefent King, when Prince of Wales, at the defire of the late Princess Dowager of Wales. The Royal Mother wished much to have his ideas on the subject of education. He was honoured with a moft gracious reception; and, among other topics, converfed with her on a subject then much agitated, Lord Bolingbroke's Philofophy. If he had lived, I think he would have been one of those who have done honour to Royalty, by receiving penfions, as rewards for public fervices, in advancing the cause of Literature, Virtue, and civil Freedom.

He had formed a profpect of a Grand Association, "confifting of perfons confpicuous for their CHA"RACTERS and STATIONS, who could eafily have

procured the affiftance of all the ableft Pens in the "three kingdoms, for carrying on a periodical Publi"cation in Support of Virtue and Truth, and who "would have it in their power to give a general Turn "to the Sentiments and Manners of Twenty Millions "of People."

The business of his interview with our PRESENT KING and the Princefs Dowager of Wales, was to promote this moft laudable and beneficent purpose. They expreffed their approbation of it; but, War and Politics were too clamorous, to fuffer a scheme to be cordially promoted, which had no other object than the Im

provement

provement and Happiness of the Human Race. Let it here be remembered, as a fingular inftance, that Mr. BURGH Condefcended to become a Courtier, not for private intereft, not for perfonal honours or emolument, but to folicit the Cause of Mankind, to promote the Interests of Virtue, Learning, and Liberty.

He appears to have formed the benevolent defign of a political work, refembling what he published under the title of Political Difquifitions, folely defigned for the HEIR APPARENT, the future King, on whöfe improvement in Knowledge and Virtue, the welfare of millions depended. His purpose was not to print or publish this Work, left it fhould become too common; but to have it fairly written out, "that in all "cafes of difficulty, to exprefs his ideas in his own. "words, the KING (then Heir Apparent) might have "fomewhat more certain to depend on, than the pre"carious and contradictory couhfels of MEN, who might be themselves mistaken, or might be inte"refted to deceive him."

Thus it appears that his Life was devoted to the fervice of his fellow-creatures: nor was he contented with contemplative beneficence. He actually carried into execution several projects for the public advantage. Disease and Death only put a stop to his benevolent defigns. The caufe of Truth, Virtue, Liberty, and Human Nature, lay nearest to his heart; and confidering the disadvantages he laboured under, in early life, through indigence and obfcurity, and the inconveniencies he suffered at a more advanced age, in consequence of one of the most painful diseases that flesh is heir to, it must be allowed, that he not only projected, but executed many Works, both in public and private, highly conducive to the Improvement and Happiness

Happiness of Man, the first and dearest object of his Life.

Upon a review of his Life and Works, I have little doubt but that the Reader will agree with me, in what I have already intimated, that JAMES BURGH, not only gave rules for fupporting the DIGNITY OF HUMAN NATURE, but facilitated the practice of them by the powerful incitement of his own example.

After bearing the tortures of the stone, during two years, with fingular patience, and refignation to the will of God, he found ease in the arms of Death on the twenty-fixth of Auguft, in the year of our Lord, 1775, and in the fixty-first of his age.

The Bookbinder will obferve, that the Title-Page which joins to this Sheet of The Life, must be placed as a Wrapper over The Dedication and Contents.

THE