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perhaps be wrong, a correct knowledge of the Hebrew language will help the student to form his own judgment without being dependent on the aid of sciolists. In the many passages where the authorised versions have been thought wrong, but are really right, when new and erroneous renderings have been given, a thorough knowledge of the language will detect all this, and our confidence in the received versions be settled and confirmed. Hence the great importance of establishing schools and classes for Hebrew literature in the great seminaries of learning; and this leads me to notice the

“4. Advantage; viz. the educating of a learned clergy, in order to uphold and strengthen the Church against the attacks of its enemies. No human means are better calculated to give weight, strength, and stability to the Established Church of England: and what can be a more important object in our labours here? Not that the study of Hebrew literature would be all but if clerical education were made, as it ought to be, a separate object, which at present it is not in either of the English universities, Hebrew would, at any rate, form one of its most important branches.

"5. The discovery and improvement of the student's moral character. This attends, in some measure, the study of all languages.

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There is an exercise of integrity even in our studies, but especially in the study of the language of the Holy Scriptures. Here higher principles are concerned; the student professes to take the book as the Word of God; then let us see how he will study this. In his studying the Word of God, what a discovery of the character of the light, shallow profession of religion! How it comes out! Every high expression is, with him, a metaphor, an orientalism, a figure of speech: but if the student knows the truth, and that truth be stamped on his heart, then his love of truth will show itself in the study of the Scriptures. The Eternal Word, shining by his Holy Spirit on the written Word, will give him light in his heart, and the express letter of the Word will have a hold on his conscience, and assert and maintain its right to be received and owned by him with all acquiescence and joyful acceptation as the very truth of God."-pp. 24—29.

Mr. Alexander more than once declares, that after a little perseverance has been applied to the study of the Hebrew, the pursuit of it becomes easy, and even delightful. He invites all who are disposed to try their hands at acquiring it to study it, as they may with him, on principle, not to enter on the task lightly, "but to begin the work in the fear of God, and with an eye to his glory."

ART. X.- The Annual Biography and Obituary, 1833. Vol. XVII. London: Longman, Rees, and Co. 1833.

THIS useful periodical still continues to maintain that principle of impartiality with which it was so very properly commenced. The number of celebrated persons whose biographies will be found in the present volume, amounts to twenty-seven, forming for the contemplative mind a subject of solemn meditation. Who is it that can look upon these successive catalogues, recording the yearly victims to Time's unmerciful scythe-who is it that can behold so many of the "good and great" falling beneath the undiscriminating stroke, without having his thoughts transferred from the vain and ephemeral occupations of this life, to objects of much more noble and enduring value? It will not surely be an unprofitable employment of his leisure, for any man to dwell betimes on the solemn truths of which we are reminded when the inevitable law of human mortality makes vacancies in high places, and removes from before our eyes the illustrious persons whose actions had called forth our truest admiration. How quietly the warrior sleeps who but a month ago shook the hearts of millions by the very sight of his sword! With how little space is this mighty statesman now contented who thought but lately to comprehend the half of Europe in his grasp! How peremptorily are the aspirations of ambition made to subside by death! What little recollection have these two senators of the terrible conflicts with each other to which their lives were devoted, now that they lie side by side in their silent graves! Never do the scenes of life impress more strongly upon us their fugitive nature, than when we are called to witness the final departure of those who rendered themselves conspicuous before us.

The life of Sir R. H. Bickerton, a distinguished officer of the navy, commences this volume. It offers but little worthy the attention of the general reader; besides, the account is merely drawn from the materials furnished by Marshall's Naval Biography and the United Service Journal.

The life of the Rev. Mr. Crabbe, which is next in succession, would not have justified us in dwelling much upon it, if his biography which is furnished in these pages had not every appearance of being written by himself! It is stated by the editor, that a life of the reverend poet was published in 1816, and that as the context bore evident traces of its being an autobiography, there was no doubt as to the propriety of selecting it as an authentic document. Mr. Crabbe was born in 1754, at Aldborough, Suffolk, and was destined by his father for the medical profession; but when he came to reflect on his prospects in this calling, he found but little encouragement, and this consideration, assisted by a strong bias to another and a very different pursuit, urged the young man to relin

quish his profession. The bias to which we allude will at once be understood to be the indulgence of his fancy in the composition of verses. The indulgence of this predominant taste, however, he was under the necessity of circumscribing, for he was led to believe that much more important concerns demanded his attention. With little more worldly property than his verses, young Crabbe left his native place and came to the metropolis. He lodged in the city, studied chiefly versification, read as many books as his circumstances permitted, and took as full a view of mankind as his time enabled him. It appears that about this time Mr. Crabbe sent a MS. poem to some bookseller, who declined to publish it, but at the same time stated that it was not on account of its want of merit that he did so. Crabbe, however, could not be brought to believe that such was the motive for the refusal, and instead of being disgusted at the result, he only looked on it as a motive for fresh exertions, and a greater attention to his compositions.

Young Crabbe, who had now found himself absolutely enthralled in the profession of authorship, was daily admonished of the necessity there was that he should have some patron who would introduce him to the public. He had now completed a poetical piece, of which he entertained considerable hopes, and looking about for some competent guide, under whose auspices he might present himself before the world, his lucky star led him to apply to Mr. Burke. The account of Mr. Burke's kind patronage of Crabbe we derive from Mr. Prior :

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It was about this period (1781) that the kindly feelings of Mr. Burke were appealed to by a young and friendless literary adventurer, subsequently an eminent poet, whose name on the present occasion it is unnecessary to mention, who, buoyed up with the praises his verses had received in the country, and the hope of bettering his fortune by them in London, had adventured on the journey thither, with scarcely a friend or even acquaintance who could be useful to him, and with no more than three pounds in his pocket. This trifle being soon expended, the deepest distress avaited him. Of all hopes from literature he was speedily disabused: there was no imposing name to recommend his little volume, and an attempt to bring it out himself only involved him more deeply in difficulties. The printer, it appeared, had deceived him, and the press was at a stand from the want of that potent stimulus to action which puts so much of the world in motion.

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Hearing, however, or knowing something of an opulent peer, then in London, who had a summer residence in his native country, he proposed to dedicate to him this little volume, and the offer was accepted; but, on requesting a very small sum of money to enable him to usher it into the world, received no answer to his application. His situation became now most painful; he was not merely in want, but in debt; he had applied to his friends in the country, but they could render him no assistance. His poverty had become obvious, he said, to the persons with whom he resided, and no further indulgence could be expected from them; he had given a bill for part of his debt, which if not paid within the following week, he was

threatened with a prison; he had not a friend in the world to whom he could apply; despair, he added, avaited him whichever way he turned.

"In this extremity of destitution, Providence directed him to venture on an application to Mr. Burke. He had not the slightest knowledge of that gentleman other than common fame bestowed-no introduction but his own letter stating these circumstances-no recommendation but his distress; but, in the words he used in the letter, hearing that he was a good man, and presuming to think him a great one,' he applied to him, and as it proved, with a degree of success far beyond any possible expectations he could form. Mr. Burke, with scanty means himself, and unbribed by a dedication, did that which the opulent peer declined to do with it; but this was not all; for he gave the young poet his friendship, criticism, and advice, sent some part of his family round to their friends to collect subscriptions for his work, introduced him to some of the first men in the country, and very speedily became the means of pushing him on to fame and fortune." "—p. 17.

In truth, Mr. Burke may be said to be the parent of Mr. Crabbe's fortune, for he introduced him to Dodsley, the bookseller, and did every thing in his power to assist the young man. Burke, it is said, corrected several of the early pieces published by Mr. Crabbe, and in an especial manner the poem entitled The Village. Mr. Burke had him also at his house in Beaconsfield, where he introduced young Crabbe to some of the first men of the time. Mr. Crabbe was ordained a clergyman in 1782, and through the influence of Burke, was engaged as domestic chaplain to the Duke of Rutland, at Belvoir Castle. In 1807, he published his Village Manners, which were most favourably received. The productions which followed this, and which are so invariably known, improved still further his reputation, and placed him amongst the ranks of our best living poets. The private character of Mr. Crabbe was a model in every respect to clergymen and men of families and of influence in their neighbourhood." His charitable nature was the most prominent feature of his character. He bestowed great care on the education of the humbler classes. The sunday school, towards the close of his life, was his most favourite resort. Mr. Crabbe received, in April, 1828, as the head of an original school of composition, two royal golden medals, value fifty guineas each, annually given to individuals distinguished by the production of works eminent in literature.

The merits of the late Sir William Grant, the next subject of the biographer, whose intellectual powers all parties agreed in admiring, were best known to the legal profession. He rose chiefly by his own exertions, and proceeded gradually from the condition of a member of parliament to the elevated rank of the master of the rolls. With that good sense which few men, even those who are selected for the justice seat, are found to possess, Sir William Grant retired from the Bench before his faculties were interfered with by old age. The regret and respect of the whole Bar followed

him in his retreat. The following is a very just estimate of his powers:

"The gravity which became his station was united with a lively strength and vigour of understanding. Reserved and sparing in words, he was in thought quick, acute, and penetrating. Diligent and laborious in the discharge of his high duties, he executed them with a facility truly surproszę. His judgments, in few but chosen words, touched at once the growd points of the case, affording a clue to all its intricacies and enTjeltonag en las obscurities. His calm and dignified self possession, was, porhees it some measure, constitutional; it may have been produced by à hai tamperament, in which passion was lost in the pure existence of De song faculty. Rut whether natural or acquired, it was certainly

vable service toward the proper exercise of his judicial functions. dace be never hastened impetuously to any unsound conclusion, nor no in peevishness and disgust from any tedious but necessary investigation, still less could he be misled by sophistry or captivated by eloquence. Accustomed as he was to deliver his own reasons in the most brief and scntentious form, he yet listened with indefatigable attention to the condicting statements of those whose business it often was to exercise a subtle and evasive ingenuity of argument. Neither the art of the advogate, nor the collateral circumstances of the case, ever created any undue prejudice in his mind; but he always gave to them their full share of consideration; and in discharging this essential part of the judicial function, it might be said of him, as of the virtuous Katharine, that to his other commendations,

.He yet might add an honour-a great patience.'

His decisions are those, of all others, the most clear and satisfactory for the guidance of the practitioner. He says neither too much nor too little on a point. He lays down safe practical rules. He unsettles as little as possible, and settles as much as possible; and equity, as a science is indebted to few judges in a higher degree than to him. During his time the court was most conspicuous for the talents which were displayed at the bar; but Sir William Grant was generally able to place the subject in an original view, even after it had been argued by a Romilly or a Leach on the one side, or a Hart or a Bell on the other."-pp. 36, 37.

We pass over the account of the lives of Bishop Huntingford, Lord Henry Paulet, and Mr. Liverseege, as containing but little, if any interest, to come to the biography of Dr. Adam Clarke.

This reverend gentleman was born in the north of Ireland. His parents were in rather humble circumstances, and there is reason to believe that he himself assisted his parents, by his personal labour, at a small farm which they cultivated. At the age of fourteen, young Clarke was placed under a linen manufacturer, for the purpose of being bred up to that business, but he very soon became tired of the occupation, and returned home by his master's permission. Being educated in the Wesleyan persuasion, and being a person of considerable promise, his existence was made known to

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