kindred blood they have no knowledge, from kindred attachment they obtain no advantage.

"It is in man alone that parental love is formed into a durable habit. It is not merely in the helpless state of infancy, nor in the thoughless days of childhood, nor yet during the dangerous inexperience of youth that the domestic tie is felt and obeyed: in the season of full grown manhood it continues to bind and to delight. The connection still subsists when the personal circumstances are entirely changed; when the shoots are become strong and vigorous, and the original stock is grown weak and helpless; when that which once needed and received, is able and required to

give assistance and support. In every varied

scene the parent finds that, like Jacob of old, his life is bound up with the life of his children; when they prosper he is scarcely sensible of any evil, when they suffer, he knows no pleasure: to promote their good is the chief object of his daily care ;-Oh! bless my children, heaven! is the last prayer of his dying lips.

"How great then is the satisfaction of the pious mind when it contemplates the God

whom it worships in the character of a parent. From a relation so intimate, how elevated muşt be our hopes! How firm and durable our trust! On what can we rely if we doubt a father's love? Where can we seek for refuge but in our father's house? What can be so consoling to weak and dependant creatures as the assurance that like ás a father pitieth his children so the Lord pitieth them that fear him?"

It was no small pleasure and advantage which he derived from his attachment to the study of natural history, that he was introduced by this means to the knowledge and the friend ship of many eminent persons, to whom it is probable he must otherwise have been for ever a stranger. Among these the justly celebrated President of the Linnæan Society held the first place. In Dr. Smith, he found not only a similarity of taste, and an ardent love, and a profound knowledge of those most pleasing works of nature which he himself delighted to explore, but the same deep veneration of the great and good Author of nature, congenial views concerning the character and the perfections of the world's great Ruler, and the true happiness of

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the subjects of his moral government, and manners and dispositions mild and amiable, as were his own. Dr. Smith, it is hoped, will excuse a stranger, who has taken the liberty of thus publicly mentioning his private friendship. To the writer of this Memoir it cannot but be highly gratifying, to record how much one whom he valued and loved, was valued and loved by the wise and good, and judging by his own feelings he cannot suppose it will be displeasing to any one to be spoken of as the friend of Mr. Wood.

The centenary of the Revolution was an event which could not be passed over in silence by one who had early imbibed the love of civil and religious liberty, and who was firmly attached by subsequent conviction to the genuine principles of the British constitution. Mr. Wood partook of the feelings which then generally prevailed, and on the two Sundays which succeeded the 4th of November, 1788, delivered two excellent sermons, which were afterwards published. In the first of these, having noticed the subject of the late commemoration, and shewn the propriety and the duty of referring all events to the divine

direction, he proceeds to point out the value of civil liberty, and dwells upon the peculiar excellencies and advantages of the British constitution: he traces its rise and progress in a brief but clear manner, contrasting at the same time the very different process through which the other European Goveruments passed, and the very different character in which at that time they appeared. With becoming candour he notices the despotic rule at which the Stuarts aimed, and by which the liberties of the country were endangered; and with an animation which the subject could not fail to inspire, he celebrates the deliverance from that danger which was effected by the illustrious Prince of Orange. The conclusion is an impressive exhortation to pursue a virtuous conduct as best adapted to the enjoyment, the security, and the transmission of the privileges which have been confirmed to Britons by the glorious Revolution. The second discourse is devoted to the consideration of religious liberty, of which he clearly shews, that neither the polished nations of antiquity, nor even the Jewish people had any knowledge. He asserts

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it to be an essential part of christianity, and establishes the right of every one to claim and to exercise it. He goes on to trace the history of the infringement of this right in every age of the Christian Church, exposes the dangers by which it was threatened, and the attempts which were made in this country to destroy it, and shews the important effects of the revolution, especially of the Toleration Act which followed it, in securing the invaluable privilege of private judgment to every British subject. The conclusion is a fine and eloquent spe cimen of the truly candid, liberal and enlightened spirit by which the preacher was ever actuated.

In the following year Mr. Wood was actively engaged in the application of the Dissenters to Parliament, for the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts. In order clearly to shew what part he took on this important occasion, it is necessary to observe, that a motion for the repeal of those acts had been made in the House of Commons on the 28th of March, 1787, by Mr. Beaufoy, and ably supported by Mr. Fox and others. But as this application originated at a General