"ty. To them the doctor made his thankful acknowledgments, and in his "letter to bishop Secker he took the occasion to thank him for his admirable "sermon, then lately preached before the society, in which he had excelled "all his predecessors in pleading the cause of the church of England in the ❝colonies, and had particularly urged the necessity of sending bishops to A"merica. The doctor enlarged on the necessity of establishing an episcopate " in the colonies, and requested his lordship to continue the exertion of his in« fluence and great abilities towards obtaining a blessing of such importance. "The bishop wrote a polite and kind answer to him, which introduced a cor"respondence, that continued till near the time of his lordship's death in "1768." "In 1754 the trustees of King's College New York unanimously chose Dr. ። Johnson president, and requested him to remove to New York as soon as pos"sible, that he might be able to give more effectual assistance in bringing it forward. But he complied with reluctance. He was happy in his people "at Stratford, had been always fond of a country life, and was in easy circum"stances; all which were strong inducements for not accepting the offer. "But his principal reasons against it were his fear of the small pox, to which " he must be often exposed in the city, but more especially the consideration « of his advanced state of life, being now turned of fifty seven. These things " he represented to his chief friends in New York, and the principal managers of the college; but they declared, that, if he declined, they would re"linquish the institution. It was his advice, that they should procure some "proper person for the station from one of the universities in Great Britain ; "but they did not think fit to follow his advice. Finding this to be the case, " he at length consented to go to New York about the middle of April follow"ing by way of trial; but he would not absolutely accept of the post till the " charter should be passed, and he could see what kind of college it was likely to prove. Accordingly he left Stratford, as he had promised, on the 15th " of April 1754, but did not remove his family till after the charter was pas"sed.' In the duties of this station he engaged with ardor; took the first students under his particular care and instruction; and drew up rules for the direction and discipline of the college. He also wrote to Bishop Sherlock, with whom he had been honored by a correspondence, and to "the society "* Dr. Hodges in his oration before the university Oct. 5 1744, when he resigned "the office of vice chancellor, speaks of this degree, conferred on Dr. Johnson, as one "of the most agreeable things, that had happened during his administration. Fate or autem me, says he, Voluntati vestræ obsecundare semper paratum, numquam ad jussa vestra capessenda paratiorem accessisse, quam in illo justissimo decreto exequen"do, quo egregium virum* in propaganda fide apud Indos Occidentales feliciter occupa"tum Doctorali Gradu voluistis insigniri. Operi tam divino se accingentem, iterque "officio tam pio destinatum instituentem, liberali građûs magistralis viatico, quo potuis"tis utilissimo, aliquando olim instruxistis. Spes vestras minimè fefellit fidus illi "Christi Minister, qui ornamentum ipsi delatum in usum Ecclesiæ Deique gloriam egregiè convertebat. Erat aquissimum, ut virtutem ita spectatam viribus vestris et sub"sidiis omnibus aleretis, promoveretis. Illi, qui ex unâ minâ lucrifacit decem, divini "nostri magistri sequaces plura et honorificentiora esse committenda jure et exempla 66 summo decrevistis. See Dr. Hodges Theological pieces &c, p. 334." « SAMUELEM JOHNSON." "for propagating the gospel," informing them of the design of the college, and of his appointment to the superintendency of it, and requesting their patronage. Their approbation, encouragement, and assistance, were accordingly promised in terms highly gratifying to the president. In 1756 June 20 his eldest son, who had been a tutor in the college, but had gone to England to receive orders, died at London with the small pox. This accomplished young man had been admitted to the degree of Master of Arts in the universities of Oxford and of Cambridge; had received holy orders, and preached several times in and about London with great reputation. November 1756 Dr. Johnson was obliged to leave the city on account of the small рох. He retired with his family to West Chester, where he tarried till march 1758, and then returned to college. On June 1st following deceased his excellent wife, with whom he had lived happily above thirty two years. In 1759 he was again forced to retire by reason of the small pox. He returned in May following. June 18 1761 he married Mrs. Beach, the widow of an old friend and parishioner. This amiable, virtuous, and worthy lady died of the small pox February 9 1763. Under the pressure of such repeated bereavements, and considering his own advanced age, which must soon render him unable to undergo the fatigue, that necessarily attended his station, Dr. Johnson deemed it best to resign his office, and retire to Stratford, there to finish his days. The Rev. Mr. Myles Cooper was chosen his successor. In his retirement he pursued his studies with the same eagerness, that animated his younger years. He revised, corrected, and much improved the System of Logic and Ethics, he had published. He also composed " an English and He"brew Grammar," which was printed in London in 1767; and reprinted, with many improvements, in 1771. And he kept up his correspondence with Archbishop Secker, Bishop Sherlock, Dr. Lowth, and his other European friends. Sev eral of their letters to him, with some from other eminent clergymen in England, are inserted in the Appendix, and form an interesting part of the volume. " course. "On the morning of January 6 1772, the most glorious Epiphany, he ever beheld, he conversed with his family on the subject of his own « death with the greatest cheerfulness and serenity. Among other things * he said, 'that, although he seemed to be but little indisposed, yet he found "his strength failing him; that he must soon leave them, but he was going “home;' adding such exhortations, as were suitable to the subject of his disHe expressed his wishes, that he might resemble, in the manner " of his death, his good friend, Bishop Berkeley, whom he had greatly loved, and whose exit he had ever esteemed happy.' Heaven granted his wish; “ for very soon after he had uttered these words, like the good bishop, he in"stantaneously expired in his chair, without the least struggle or groan. So "that he may rather be said to have been changed, or translated, than to have died ; "for he felt none of the agonies of death; he underwent no struggle, that was sufficient to discompose the pleasing serenity of his countenance. "Two days after his remains were interred in the chancel of Christ Church Stratford, where a handsome monument has been erected to his memory "with the following inscription, composed by a friend, who greatly loved * and respected him. " M. S. "SAMUELIS JOHNSON D. D. "Et hujus Ecclesiæ naper Rectoris, "If decent dignity and modest mein, "The cheerful heart, and countenance serene; "If pure religion and unsullied truth, "His age's solace, and his search in youth ; "If piety in all the paths, he trod, "Still rising vig'rous to his Lord and God; If faith and virtue, walking side by side; « All the clergy from the neighbouring towns attended his funerel. A " sermon, suitable to the occasion, was preaceed by the Rev. Mr. Leaming, ❝ as Mr. Beach, to whom that office had been assigned, was unable to perform "it for want of health. The sermon, which this latter gentleman had prepar“ed, was however preached at Stratford shortly after, and published at the "request of the audience. "As to Dr. Johnson's person, he was rather tall, and, in the latter part ❝ of his life, considerably corpulent. There was something in his counte nance, that was pleasing and familiar, and that indicated the benevolence "of his heart; and yet at the same time it was majestic, and commanded 86 respect. He had a ruddiness in his complexion, which was the effect of "natural constitution, and was sometimes farther brightened by a peculiar "briskness in the circulation of his spirits, brought on by the exercise of the "benevolent affections. ઃ "He was happy in an original calmness and sweetness of temper, that was "seldom discomposed, and never soured by the common accidents of life. If "an injury was in his opinion designedly done him, he was much more prone "to pity the injurious person, than to resent the action. But indeed he was "seldom injured, except in his public character; for those, that knew him, generally loved and revered him, and were desirous of recommending them"selves to him by a course of obliging and respectful behaviour. What was "most apt to excite his indignation was the licentiousness of an unprincipled age, with respect both to religion and government. The same good temper, that rendered him amiable in private life, marked all his proceedings of "a public nature, and may be discovered, where such a thing is not often ex"pected, in his controversial writings. These he conducted with decency "and candor; and the greatest personal provocations could not kindle him "into that wrath of man, which, as St. James tells us, and as experience may ❝ convince us, worketh not the righteousness of God. 66 66 "Benevolence was always a shining part of Dr. Johnson's character. This "discovered itself in all companies, and on all occasions. It was not confined "to his friends, or to people of one denomination only, but extended to the "whole human race without exception, and even to the brutal part of the "creation. He had an affection for every thing, that God had made, according to its nature and qualities; and he took an exquisite pleasure in com "municating or increasing happiness, whenever and wherever he had an op*portunity. Had it been in his power, he would have made every human "creature completely happy; and as far as it was in his power, he never "failed of doing so in the most effectual manner. 66 "He scarcely ever suffered a day to pass without doing to others some good offices, relating to their temporal or spiritual affairs. With regard to "the former either relieving, or assisting, or advising them; and with regard to the latter instructing, or exhorting, or encouraging them, as the cases "required. These benevolent employments were his chief relaxations from study, or from public business; and he always returned from them more vigorous, than if he had indulged himself in any vain or useless amuse"ments." "His conversation was enlivened and rendered more pleasing by the nat"ural cheerfulness of his disposition. He was commonly the most cheerful "man in company, and frequently said the most sprightly things, that were "said in it. Yet he was careful to keep up the dignity of his character; and "one might discover in him the scholar, the gentleman, the clergyman, and "the pious christian, in his freest and most cheerful discourse. He always "endeavored to introduce what might be useful and improving as well, as " what might be agreeable in conversation; and his friends in general, I be«lieve, may say what one of them, who was acquainted with him for fifty five years, and for the greater part of that time enjoyed his most intimate friendship, has publicly declared in the following words. • Without an hyperbo"le I may say it, I know not that I ever conversed with him without finding myself afterward the better for it.'* 66 "What rendered his conversation peculiarly improving as well as agree"able was his knowledge of the affairs of the world, and his general ac *Mr. Beach, in bis funeral sermon, p. 14′′ “quaintance with all the branches of learning. He was not only a good « classical scholar, but well versed in all the liberal arts and sciences. He knew "and could explain with precision their respective boundaries and limits, "their connexion with each other, and in what manner they are conducive * "to the happiness of man. The study of the belleslettres and polite litera"ture was his constant and favorite amusement; and scarcely any thing of "this kind of any consequence was published in the English language in his "time, but what he read. But theology, including the critical study of the "holy scriptures in their original languages, was his main literary employ"ment; and, in subserviency to it, history both ancient and modern, ecclesi❝astical and civil, engaged no small share of his time. Heaven had blessed "him with a quick perception and a sound judgment; and, by an almost in“ credible application of these powers through a long life, he became what a very able and competent judge* asserts him to have been, viz. "The most "excellent scholar, and the most accomplished divine, that this colony (Con"necticut) ever had to glory in." And had his memory been equal to his "judgment, or to his application, he would perhaps have been but little infe"rior to the most celebrated scholars and divines in Europe. After this analysis, or rather abridgment of the biographical memoirs of President Johnson, remarks snd criticisms would be superfluous and unnecessary. That the narrative is interesting, the information instructive, and the publication useful, will be gratefully acknowledged by all, who have opportunity to examine the work. *Mr. Beach, ut supra. An abridgment of universal geography, together with sketches of history, designed for the use of schools and academies in the United States. By SUSANNAH RowSON. Boston, printed for John West, No. 75 Cornhill. THE importance of geographical knowledge is a sufficient reason for treating with some degree of attention every production of this kind. Whoever improves the art, or multiplies the instruments of diffusing this knowledge in society must be considered, as contributing something to the general good. The study of geography has ever been considered an essential part of a liberal education, and has been taught in most public seminaries of learning. But it is not till within a few years, that it has found its way into private academies and common schools. For this val uable improvement in the system of school instruction the public is, in no small degree, indebted to those, who have furnished abridgments of geography, accommodated to the use of schools. The brief epitome of geography, we are now examining, was not begun, the author informs us, "with the smallest idea of of |