"Telemachus, a Masque, by the Rev. George Graham*, M. A. Fellow of King's College, Cambridge," 4to. Dr. Gally's "Second Dissertation, against pronouncing the Greek Language according to Accents, in answer to Mr. Foster's Essay on the different Nature of Accent and Quantity," 8vo. "Israelis Lyon, junior, Fasciculus Plantarum circa Cantabrigiam nascentium, quæ post Raium observatæ fuere;" 8vo. "An Introduction to English Grammar, by Dr. Lowth §," (afterwards Bishop of London); which he very frequently reprinted, Svo and 12mo. * This gentleman, the younger son of a clergyman, was educated at Eton school, and was thence elected, in 1746, to King's college, Cambridge. He afterwards became one of the assistants at the school already named, and died in February 1767. He was author of a tragedy, which was refused by Mr. Garrick, and has not hitherto appeared in print. His elder bro ther, David, was also a fellow of King's, and a barrister at law. † Which may be added to the list of his publications in p. 274. Dr. Gally was made King's chaplain in October 1735. To the article of Mr. Lyons (in p. 328) add, "The Scholar's Instructor, or Hebrew Grammar, by Israel Lyons, Teacher of the Hebrew Tongue in the University of Cambridge. The second Edition, with many Additions and Emendations which the Author has found necessary in his long Course of teaching Hebrew. Cambridge, 1757," Svo, was the production of his fa ther; as was a treatise printed at the Cambridge press, under the title of "Observations and Enquiries relating to various Parts of Scripture History, 1768;" published by subscription, at 2s. 6d." I am now publishing a small book of five sheets, and am obliged to quote a shekel of Simon with Samaritan characters, which is in Dr. Morton's Tables of Alphabets, which tables I do not doubt but you have them. I shall take it as a great favour of you if you could send me the letters of that inscription, either in hollow letters, if you have such, but if you have them not, then you will be pleased to send me the letters of the inscription in the common Samaritan characters." Letter to Mr. Bowyer, July 4, 1768. § This illustrious Prelate was born at Winchester, in the Close, December 8, 1710. His father, the Rev. William Lowth was a prebendary of Winchester, and made a distinguished figure in the republic of letters. He published "Commentaries on the Prophets;" but his most useful and popular work was, “Directions for profitably reading the Holy Scriptures." This tract EE 2 has "A View of the Internal Policy of Great Britain," 12mo. has passed through many editions, and is still in high estimation. Robert Lowth, like the Hebrew Prophet, when his father winged his flight to Heaven, caught his mantle, and a double portion of his spirit rested upon him. Mr. Lowth was educated at Winchester college, and completed his theological studies at New college, Oxford, of which he became fellow in 173. The native brilliancy of his genius soon displayed itself; and though he applied himself with vigour and unremitted assiduity to his classical pursuits, yet he frequently unbent his mind, and let his imagination rove through the flowery regions of Poetry. Of these some elegant specimens, indulgently communicated by himself, may be seen in the Fifth Volume of "A Select Collection of Miscellany Poems, 1785;" which his Lordship also enriched by some biographical anecdotes of his friends Dr. Ridley and Mr. Spence. But more sublime and nobler objects arrested his attention, by unfolding the treasures of sacred knowledge, by directing the attention of mankind to the sacred page of inspiration, and exhibiting to them all the varied charms of biblical literature.-In 1737, he took the degree of M. A. Mr. Lowth's great literary talents and his elegant manners gained him the friendship of the Duke of Devonshire, who appointed him tutor to his son, the Marquis of Hartington (the late Duke). With this young nobleman he made the tour of Europe; and it would be superfluous to add, that his services were such as ever after entitled him to the friendship of the noble house of Cavendish.-In 1741, having been elected Professor of Hebrew Poetry in the University of Oxford, he there delivered those admirable lectures "De Sacra Poesi Hebræorum,” or the Sacred Poetry of the Hebrews, which has placed him in the highest scale of eminence as a critic. In 1732, he married Miss Mary Jackson, daughter of Lawrence Jackson, esq. of Christ-Church, Hants. In 1736, he was admitted to his first preferment, the living of Overton, in Hampshire. Dr. Lowth had also gained the esteem of Bp. Hoadly, who became his zealous patron, and appointed him to the archdeaconry of Winchester, in the year 1750. In 1754, the University of Oxford gave him his diploma as doctor of divinity. The Marquis of Hartington being appointed in 1755 viceroy of Ireland, Dr. Lowth accompanied him as his domestic chaplain; and, the bishoprick of Limerick becoming vacant, Dr. Lowth was appointed to that see. In 1758, he published his "Life of William of Wykeham," the Founder of the Colleges in which he had received his education. In May 1766, he was promoted to the bishoprick of St. David's; and, in July following, to the see of Oxford; and, in 1777, was translated to that of London. In 1778, he published his "Translation of Isaiah." This elegant and beautiful version of the evangelical prophet, on which learned men in every part of Europe have been unanimous in their eulogiums, is alone sufficient to transmit his name to the latest posterity. Dr. Lowth + he was admitted a scholars7ig •- this date was ust be inimest as he did not vacate his fello 1700 "The History of Lady Julia Mandeville. By the Translator of Lady Catesby's Letters," [Mrs. Frances Brooke]; 2 vols. 12mo. was for some time a prebendary of Durham, and was succeeded in his stall there by Dr. Warburton; and it has been said, that the first disgust taken by these gentlemen to each other was occasioned by a disagreement between their ladies respecting some articles of furniture, on quitting the prebendal house. [His unpleasant controversy with that distinguished Prelate will be elsewhere noticed.] When Archbishop Cornwallis died, the King made an offer of the archiepiscopal see to Dr. Lowth; but this dignity he declined. He was now advanced in life, and was tormented by a cruel and painful disorder, and had recently experienced some severe strokes of domestic calamity. Mary, his eldest daughter, of whom he was passionately fond, died in 1768, aged 13. On her mausoleum, the afflicted father placed the following exquisitely-beautiful and pathetic epitaph on her tomb: "Cara, vale, ingenio præstans, pietate, pudore, "Dearer than daughter, parallel'd by few, His second daughter, Frances, died as she was presiding at the tea-table, July 1783; she was going to place a cup of coffee on the salver. "Take this," said she, "to the Bishop of Bristol;" immediately her cup and her hand fell together upon the salver, and she instantly expired. Amid these scenes of distress the venerable Bishop exhibited the lovely portrait of a Christian philosopher. Animated by the hopes which the religion of Jesus alone inspires, he viewed, with pious resignation, the King of Terrors snatching his dear and amiable children from his fond embrace! And, when the grim monarch levelled his dart at him, he met the stroke with fortitude, and left this vorld in full and certain hope of a better. His death, and that of his wife and four of his children, are thus recorded on an elegant monument in Fulham church-yard: "ROBERT LOWтH, Lord Bishop of London, died November the 3d, 1797, in the 77th year of his age. daughter and heiress of Lawrence Jackson of Christ-Church, Hants, esq. Dr. Brown's "Cure of Saul, a sacred Ode;" and his "Dissertation on the Rise, Union, and Power, the Progressions, Separations, and Corruptions, of Poetry and Music," 4to. "Astronomical Tables and Precepts, for calculating the true Times of New and Full Moons, and shewing the Method of projecting Eclipses, from the Creation of the World to A.D. 7800. To which is prefixed a short Theory of the Solar and Lunar Motions. By James Ferguson *.* 8vo. died March 14, 1803, in the 84th year of her age. CHARLOTTE LOWTH died May 29, 1768, Of Bp. Lowth's literary life, see Gent. Mag. vol. LXI. p. 981, vol. LXIV. p. 205, vol. LXV. p. 486. * James Ferguson was born in the year 1710, a few miles from the village of Keith, in Bamffshire, in the North of Scotland. At the earliest age his extraordinary genius began to exert itself. He first learned to read by overhearing his father teach his elder brother: and he had made this acquisition before any one suspected it. Between seven and eight years old he drew his idea of mechanic powers from an accident, which obliged his father to use a lever in supporting the roof of his little cottage. As soon as his age would permit, he went to service, in which he met with hardships, which rendered his constitution feeble through life. He kept sheep for four years; and next served with a fariner, whose name was James Glashan, whom he commemorates for his kindness and indulgence. Before he went into this service he learnt the practice of marking the position of the stars with a thread and bead; which he there was enabled to continue by the goodness of this honest man, who, observing these marks of his ingenuity, procured him the countenance and assistance of his superiors. Mr. John Gilchrist, minister of Keith, encouraged and assisted his growing genius; and when his service was ended (for he would not leave it sooner, though a substitute was offered) Thomas Grant, esq. received him for instruction into his family, where his butler, Alexander Cantley (of whose extensive abilities and knowledge an extraor dinary 1422 I had occasionally the pleasure of attending the lectures of this excellent Astronomer in company dinary account is given by our Philosopher) became his tutor. Of him he learned decimal arithmetick, algebra, and the elements of geometry; and from the description of the sphere, aided with a map of the earth, made a terrestrial globe; though he had never seen one before. He then went into two very hard services, one of them to a miller; and had nearly perished by ill health and want of assistance, had it not been for the medicines and care of his valuable friend Cantley. When he was still too weak for labour, he made a wooden clock, and afterwards a watch, from the casual sight of one. His ingenuity introduced him to Sir James Dunbar, when he learnt to draw; and began to take portraits, an employment by which he supported himself and family for several years, both in Scotland and England, whilst he was pursuing more serious studies. The Rev. Dr. Keith of Edinburgh encouraged his efforts, and recommended him to the patronage of Lady Jane Douglas, of whose beauty. and merit he speaks in the most affecting language of native simplicity, which was always his language. He now began to be the œconomist of a little stock, which the good-will of his friends enabled him to acquire. He next made some attempts in the medical line; but honestly laid them aside soon, not venturing far in an employment to which experimental knowledge is no less required than genius, and where the conse quences of error are so fatal. In his twenty-ninth year he married. And when he was thirty, with very scanty data, and hardly any means from books or instruments to assist him, he invented that excellent machine for shewing the new moons and eclipses, called his Astronomical Rotula, which acquired him the friendship of that admirable philosopher and good man, Mr. McLaurin. By sight of an Orrery, though its machinery was concealed, he made a Tellurian for the motions of the Earth and Moon; and gave his first Lecture on its use by the desire of his "great and good friend," as he justly calls him. In 1743 he made another Orrery, scon after purchased by Sir Dudley Rider, so eminent for his professional and general abilities. After this he came up to London, where he first published some curious astronomical tables and calculations, and afterwards gave public lectures in experimental philosophy, which he repeated (by subscription) in most of the principal towns in England, with the highest marks of general approbation. By a letter of recommendation from Mr. Baron Edlin of Edinburgh, he was made acquainted with the Hon. Stephen Poyntz, the friend of Lord Lyttelton and of Virtue, whom he mentions with the warmest gratitude and merited veneration. A delineation of the complex line of the Moon's motion recommended him to the notice of the Royal Society, and particularly of Mr. Ellicot, who had before made a similar scheme, and ingenuously acknowledged Mr. Ferguson's equal title to the invention. He was elected a fellow |