feem alfo to have occupied about the fame portion of time. I could carry on a parallel of these two ce lebrated works in many other points; but, perhaps, what I have faid is enough for the prefent. My ideas might be fingular, but, I think, I could even trace the fchool, connexions, friends of the two authors, and the line and caft of their politicks, though born and bred at diftant times (not ages); but this would be irrelevant; though it is with some mirth and fpleen that I find Junius gravely afferted to be Mr. Boyd, whofe refidence and habits of life in London and elie where I have had too many opportunities of knowing formerly to hear fuch a fuppofition with common patience.

We have had letters advertifed in the papers to $. P. to Dr. Goodall, and others, with pretty broad hints about the authorship of the Purfuits of Literature; but, as they are not yet published, I can only reafon from what I know and have read in print, or gathered in converfation. But, Sir, I have my particular thanks to return to you for introducing to my notice, in your excellent Review (vol. LXIX. p. 1135), a moft fingularly-curious work, called, The Irish Purfuits of Literature. In confequence of what I read there, I purchafed it much to my fatisfaction, though mingled with regret at the defultory mode adopted by the learned writer, in which he has not imitated the Englifh author, who, I think, writes on a regular plan and method, though it requires fome attention and diligence to fee it clearly in all the parts, but repays a perfon well when he has taken the trouble. The Irith writer has the greatest zeal I ever faw in any man for the good of the publick, and an attachment to the unknown author of the work in queftion beyond what I ever found even in two actual and zealous friends for each other's works; and I do not think that Hurd's zeal for Warburton can exceed this pro

foundly-learned gentleman's for the writer of the Pursuits of Literature. I fhould think his work must have done great good indeed in Ireland, and will not be read without much advantage here; in particular his Index, which is a fad deficiency in the English edition; and I have now the tenth without any attempt or even hint of the kind. Becket, the bookfeller, might get the author, or employ fome other perfon, to adopt it to the next edition he prints (as undoubtedly there will be many in no long space of time, the work being fo important), as it is much wanted. But pray, Mr. Urban, what objection could the author have to make one himself, quite new? But if he will not, this is done very well, but not quite fo perfect as could be wifhed, yet it anfwers the purpose, and the publick are much indebted to the learn ed Dr. Hales for the labour he bas fubmitted to for their edification.

There are many admirable and original obfervations by Dr. Hales, and he has fometimes very properly hinted to the author of the Purfuits fome points in which he has erred, His addition to the books recommended for the ftudy of the Chriftian religion is very valuable; but his ftrictures on Jenyns, Paley, and Clarke, I am not inclined to confider as well founded; for, I believe, fome of their opinions have not been fairly stated; but this difcuffion would lead me from the point. Dr. Hales's account of "the monftrous republick" is an excellent and manly addition to what has been written; and, as he faw the terrors of France in Ireland, he was enabled to paint them very ftrongly. His fault is being fo defultory as not always to be followed, which is owing to the fervour and alarm in his mind; but this is eafily for given by the noble zeal he displays for the reftoring of literature, properly fo called.

Surely all thefe works taken to gether muft have a wide-extended effect in the kingdom, and thew people

people what they ought to do as well as read; and if the attention to the Purfuits of Literature continues as general as has now been for feveral years, we may hope that the rifing generation will be preferved by good principles, and by them preferve their country from deftruction. The few particular prejudices of the author of the Purfuits of Literature will be loft or forgiven in the general tendency of the work; and unhappily Death is every day removing fome of the charac'ters recorded in it from the fcene of action. But the work itself is independent of these few particulars; but if you encourage me, I may copy out in a future letter fome obfervations I have made on paffages and perfons which that author might as well have left alone, and feme whom he has ftrangely neglected to mention. I tell you again, I do not pretend to be confidered as a writer, but only one who will give an opinion on important public works when there is a propriety, or any fuppofed neceffity in emergency of the

own. Hereafter, perhaps, time and due investigation may place the crown on the head of him who ought to wear it.

One of the greatest and deepest fcholars of the age, who úrongly approved and praised the poem on the Purfuits of Literature, though he naturally enough disliked a particular part of it, had the candour and generofity to give the following defcription of it in Latin; the best I have ever feen, and which was given me by a perfon who copied it out, by permiflion of the learned writer: "Eruditio in co mira, multiplex, exquifita; poeseos et eloquii vis vivida et inexhaufta erga patriani amor acerrimus, ftudiumque indefeffum; morum, religionis, legum tutamen et præfidium; bonis tantum conceffa loquendi et fentiendi libertas; facetiæ libero dignæ, acerbitate quâdam conditus lepos, et abunde falis." Yours, &c. (To be continued.)

Mr. URBAN,

MESSALA.

April 9.

your Obituary, p. is

carefully, which has been my study and amufement fo long as to become familiar to me; and I have preferved the various readings of the different editions of the Purfuits of Literature; but the laft edition is evidently the moft perfect, though fome few things are rejected which might have been retained by the author, who, I repeat it, is at prefent unknown in the true fenfe of the word. I told you in my laft, that Mr. Mathias knew me the laft two years he refided in Trinity college, Cambridge, but that I would not leave my name with you, as your correfpondent Lucius did, but that he potlibly might remember me in Trinity college as well as lately at Sir Jofeph Banks's Sunday converfazioni. I with only to do juftice; and in this cafe I am not detracting the wreath from any man's brow, as no one has yet claimed it as his

letter of Etonenfis: "The cenfure of Mr. Steevens as well as the praife of Mr. Sam. Lyions (and I am not fingular in my opinion) are equally ridiculous, and without foundation." Now, after conceding that I have the highest opinion of the merits of Mr. S. in his line, I am, I conceive, at liberty to obferve, that the author of the Pursuits of Literature is not fingu lar in his commendations of Mr. L.; that the Monthly Review, a publication of fupreme literary excellence, where party (that fiend which will fuperfede the neceffity of merit, be of immenfe injury to fcience, and ultimately deftroy the character of the work conducted upon its principles), it not being a queftion of politicks or religion, affuredly did not interfere, has avowed as much as the author of the "Purfuits of Literature" in the criticism of the "Roman Antiqui

ties.

ties of Woodchefter*;" that the geius of Mr. Lyfons has ever been loudly celebrated by all the Gloucefter hire people of inftructed minds; and that, from the une quivocal tefts of genius, impreffion, and effect, it is univerfally acknowledged that that quality, blended with kill, tafte, felicity, and elegance, characterize the productions of Mr. Director of the Society of Antiquaries. Add to this, that a more elaborate piece of topography, perhaps, never exifted than the "Environs of London † ;" and that the plan of it, which I conceive to be exquifite having fuch a remarkable completenefs, and leaving nothing deficient, is fuppofed to be a dictate of the juft and fine archæological tafte of Mr. S. L. I appeal to any Antiquary, whether the "Roman Antiquities of Woodchefter," and the "Environs of London," are not among the first productions of the prefent day, notwithstanding what the author of the "Purfuits of Literature" has thought proper to obferve with regard to the latter, in that narrow-minded fcale upon which the whole book is conducted. I admire fine Latinity and claffical knowledge as much as he does; but furely there are other things worth

attention too.

Cob, p. 134, I am informed by a gentleman who has refided in Devonshire, is mud-mortar or walling; hence ftone and cob, which would be abfurd if Mr. Grofe's definition of cob-ftones were admitted here. A CONSTANT READER.

- Mr. URBAN, Winterton, April 5. BSERVING in your Maga, zine (p. 173) a brief, and, in fome refpects, an erroneous account of the means by which almoft the whole of the crew of his Majefty's gun-veffel, the Maftiff, lately wrecked on the Norfolk coaft,

* Our correfpondent might have referred to our vol. LXVII. p. 1033. EDIT.

This too has had an ample share of praife in Mr. Urban's volumes. EDIT.

were faved; allow me to lay before you a more full and correct statement of that event, containing, as I conceive, many circumftances which will prove highly interefting to fuch of your readers as delight in the contemplation of the exertions of individual humanity and fpirit in the lower claffes of our fellow-fubjects, and in proofs of attention and generofity in those of the higher ranks to fuch exertions, as well as of that Government under which we have the happiness to live.

On the morning of the 5th of Ja nuary, the Mastiff gun-veffel, under the command of Lieut. Watson, coming out of Yarmouth Roads, and fteering Northwards, ftruck in a thick fog on fome part of the Cockle fands. Signals of diftrefs were immediately fired; which being noticed by the fea-faring inhabitants of Winterton, they with all difpatch manned two of their boats, and furmounting, not without confiderable difficulty and hazard, the great fwell upon the beach, haftened to her affiftance. Arving as near the veffel as her perilous fituation and the violence of the fea about her would permit, they perceived the impoffibility of rendering her at that time the re lief they wished. In the courfe ef the afternoon, however, they had the good fortune to fuccour eight of the fhip's company, who in de fpair had betaken themselves to the fhip's boat, already much injured in the attempt, and nearly filled with water. With these eight per fons they made the nearest shore; and, after having procured for them fuch accommodations went comforts as they could, they went back before day-break the next morning to take their station near the Maftiff, and to watch if, per haps, by any favourable change in wind or tide, a momentary oppor her brave crew from the deftrue tunity might be found of refcuing tion which else inevitably awaited them.

Suck

Such an opportunity towards the evening feemed to offer; when two of them, named Abel King and William Pile, volunteered, at the hazard of their lives, to attempt to pafs in a larger boat, which they had now obtained (from a juft apprehenfion that the too cager rush of the thip's company might overfet or fink their own), through a tremendous fea, towards the veffel; whilft the reft in another boat, connected with them by a rope, remained in fmoother water to affift them in returning after they fhould have taken out the crew from the Maft.f.

This courageous project was crowned with the most complete fuccefs; and, under Divine Providence, thefe men became the happy inftruments of faving Lieut. Watfon, with the matter of the veffel, and more than 30 failors, from that fate which was now drawing on apace, fix or feven of their number having already perithed through fatigue and cold, and the thip fhortly afterwards breaking entirely in pieces.

You may be affured, Sir, that the above account is correct, being acarly the fubftance of a statement drawn up, after due enquiry into the circumftances, for the purpofe of being fubmitted to Admiral Lord Duncan, who, after having condefcended to receive and confider it, judging that it might promote the general intereft of humanity, and the good of his Majefty's fervice, if, by the affignment of fome fuitable reward on the prefent occañon, encouragement fhould be given to fuch fpirited and beneficial exertions in future, was pleased to lay the fame before the right hon. the Lords of the Admiralty, for their opinion and decifion

Their Lordships' decifion was at once highly honourable to themfelves, and to the parties in whofe favour it was made; and fhortly afterwards the Commiflioners of the Navy ordered, that 150 guineas GENT. MAG. April, 1800.

fhould be paid, by their ftorekeeper at Yarmouth, into the hands of the perfon by whom the abovementioned statement was drawn up, to be diftributed by him amongst the boatmen of Winterton, "in reward of their intrepid and meritorious exertions in faving the crew of the Maftiff gun-veffel," in the following proportions, namely, to Abel King and William Pile 25 guineas each, and the remaining 100 guineas in equal shares amongst 18 other perfons ailiftant to them on that occafion.

This letter is certainly a long one; yet, long as it is, it must not be concluded without the infertion of two notes, fhort, but excellent for their matter, clofely connected with its fubject; and reflecting the higheft credit on the grateful young officer and the generous veteran (evidently the friend of the fervicê and mankind) from whom they

came.

1. Mers. Abel King and William Pile.

"I fend you incfed a note from my worthy friend Admiral Digby; he means it only to fhew how much he approves of your unexampled good conduct. I should be very glad to know that every thing res lating to that affair has been fettled to joue fatisfaction with Government; and I thall take it as a favour of you to write me few lines to let me know if this is the cafe, Yours faithfully, JAMES WATSON, Lieut

"late commanding his Majefty's gon veffel Mailiff. "Leith walk, Leith, March 6, 1800."

2

"Admiral Digby defires that Abel King and William Piles will accept of the inclufed (a guinea each), merely as a mark of the fenfe he entertains of their praifeworthy and intrepid behaviour in preferving the crew of the Mastiff gun vellel for the commander of which vetfel che Admiral entertains a particular regard”

Being defirous, Mr. Urban, as well to fpread the example as to preferve the remembrance of these facts, I know of no one more likely than yourself to fecond my de-, fire, nor of any vehicle more adapted than your durable and widelycirculating pages to promote thofe purposes. To them, therefore, with your permiflion, I confign the

above

above detail; and, fhould the Imalleft fpark of emulation be excited by it in a fingle breaft, it will more than compenfate for all the trouble which it may have occafioned to

Q

WM. GIBSON.

RETROSPECT OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. ESSAY III. UEEN ANNE, at her firft elevation to the throne, enjoyed the fmiles of all parties; but the bill for forming an union of the two kingdoms of England and Scotland raised a strong oppofition in the British parliament; and, a ftill more violent one being formed in that of Scotland, the measure was laid afide at that time.

War being declared on the 4th of May, 1702, the Earl of Marlborough in the beginning of July repaired to the confederate army at Nimeguen, and, having taken the command, advanced towards the enemy; but, as they fcrupuloufly avoided an engagement, he laid fiege to Venlo, which capitulated on Sept. 25, as did alfo Ruremond after an obftinate defence. The French having abandoned Liege, it was taken poffeflion of by the allies, and the citadel foon after furrendered. Thus fuccefsful was the Earl in his firft campaign; and hereby laid the foundation for thofe hopes which his future conduct fully realized.

The most brilliant action performed this year by the navy was the, taking of Vigo by Sir George Rooke; in which Vice-admiral Hopfon particularly fignalized him delf, by breaking the boom which was thrown across the harbour. A French fquadron of 30 men of war, and 22 Spanish galleons, were either taken or deftroyed, the fortifications difmantled, and the fleet returned in fafety to England with plunder to the value of a million and upwards.

In the West Indies, Adm. Benbow, with the British fleet, coming to an action with the French under Du Caffe, was deferted by most of

3

his captains. After fuftaining the engagement for feveral days, moft of the time unfupported by any of the fhips under his command, be was feverely wounded, and obliged to return to Jamaica, where he foon after died. Two of his captains, Kirby and Wade, were condemned by a court-martial to be fhot; and this fentence was put in execution on their arrival at Plymouth.

A new parliament having been elected, it affembled in October; and, though it in general met the wifhes of the Queen, the factions became fo acrimonious towards each other as even to create violent difputes between the two Houfes. Thefe difputes began to manifeft themfelves in the debates and conferences on the bill against occafional conformity; which, after a fevere ftruggle, was loft, by the Commons refufing to agree to the amendments made by the Lords. Upon the confideration of the public accompts, thefe difputes grew to abfolute difcord; for, in the mismanagement of the money ap propriated for the fervice of the nation, fome of the members of both Houfes were faid to be deeply implicated; and, as all fides defpaired of an accommodation, her Majefty prorogued the parliament on the 27th of February following. In the Houses of Convocation no greater degree of coincidence was found to fubfift than in thofe of the parliament; indeed, diffenfions were fo deeply fown by all parties, that, bad there not been a foreign inveterate enemy to have engaged the attention of the nation, it is probable they would have ended worfe than in those cabals which greatly perplexed, and in fome degree thwarted, the defigns of the executive government.

The Earl of Marlborough, being returned, received the thanks of both Houfes of Parliament, w created a duke, and had a penfica of 5000l. a year fettled on him for life.

The