"Method for Preventing the Frequency of Robberies "and murders ;" and another Discourse on the "Self-existence of Jesus Christ;" both delivered at St. George's, Hanover Square.

It was in this period of his life that Mr. Romaine was called to the professorship of astronomy in Gresham college. He had not the highest opinion of the religion, morals, or wisdom of the age; and in the discharge of his duty in this new office he pursued a plan which ran counter to them all. He attempted to prove that God was best acquainted with his own works, and had given the best account of them in his own words. He disputed some part of the Newtonian philosophy with a boldness and banter, which were not likely to be well received, when derogating from the honour of a man who was held little less than divine. And as he observed in the mathematics, astronomy, and geometry of the day, "a difference in their demonstra

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tions of no less than one hundred and twenty-one "millions of miles;" so he spoke of the "modern divinity as bringing you no nearer than one hundred "and twenty-one millions of miles short of heaven." The only traces that I have ever met with of his con duct, in this professorship, are to be found in the Gentle man's Magazine for the month of March, 1752. The reader may have recourse to this account, if he pleases, and must judge for himself how far it is just and impartial.

If Mr. Romaine quitted this office in enmity with the world, he quitted it no doubt in friendship with God, for he had God's honour at heart, however he might not have consulted his own; he had therefore God's promise in hand, "They that honour me, I will "honour." In proof of this, I cannot but observe, that whatever credit he lost in the city of London, as professor of philosophy in Gresham college, he retrieved it an hundred-fold in a business of a very different nature which happened about the same time, I mean the famous Jew Bill. By his opposition to which, both in

preaching and print, he rose and increased in favour with God and man. His reasonings upon this subject, and answers to every thing that was attempted in vindication of a project so contrary to the decrees and declarations of heaven, and so injurious to the religious, civil, and commercial interests of this country, were collected by himself in a pamphlet, which was reprinted by the citizens of London in the year 1753, and it is a masterly performance, which will bear printing again.

Mr. Jones, in his life of Dr. Horne, late bishop of Norwich, with which he has just favoured the world, has a passage so much to our present purpose, that I have taken the liberty of transcribing it. "In the "year when the Jew Bill was depending, and after it "had passed the house, he (Mr. Horne) frequently employed himself in sending to an evening paper "the time, certain communications which were much "noticed, while the author was totally unknown, ex

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cept among some of his nearest acquaintance. By "the favour of a great lady, it was my fortune (though "then very young) to be at a table where some per"sons of the first quality were assembled, and I heard 66 one of them * very earnest on the matter and style "of some of these papers, of which I knew the secret history, and was not a little diverted when I knew "what passed about them. To the author of these papers, the Jew Bill gave so much offence (and the Marriage Bill not much less,) that he refused to dine "at the table of a neighbouring gentleman, where he "was much admired, only because the son-in-law of "Mr. Pelham was to be there; he was, therefore,

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highly gratified by the part taken in that perilous "business by the Rev. William Romaine, who op "posed the considerations dispersed about the king"dom in defence of the Jew Bill with a degree of spirit and success, which reminded us of Swift's opposition to Wood's Halfpence in his Drapier's Letters." * Lord Temple.

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This honourable mention of one, who is now literally a departed brother *, reflects equal honour upon him that made it, nor can it fail of giving pleasure to all lovers of peace and truth, as it brings two old friends and acquaintance together, who pursued the same path of study, though they have been cast into different habits of life, who have contended for the same faith, fought with the same weapons, worshipped the same God, and steadily adhered to the same communion. Why should a doubt be entertained of their happy meeting in heaven, and of their rejoicing together in the beatific vision of the Lord their God? Why should such a doubt arise even from their last meeting upon earth? which was indeed extraordinary, but of which no notice might have been taken in these memoirs, had it not made its first арpearance in the Evangelical Magazine, under the signature of T. H. as an anecdote of Mr. Romaine, more characteristic of the man" (as this writer is pleased to say)" than might be found in twenty lives

of him." How far the trait, as he has drawn it, is lovely in the character of a "venerable saint," every one must judge for himself, who reads the extract from the Magazine for the month of March, as it is given verbatim in the note below.† The truth, as I have it

* A name was given to Mr. Romaine by certain gentlemen, whose apology was so ably written by one who rose to the Bishoprick of Norwich. They may all be ranked among the brightest ornaments and best friends of the church of England. They differed from Mr. Romaine only in the use, application, and enjoyment of the truths they held, which he sought personally for himself, and in the boldness and fervent zeal with which he endeavoured to propagate them to others. This happy, or unhappy turn (as the world is pleased to call it) led him into what some of his former friends called serious mistakes and irregularities. But the church of England had never a more dutiful, affectionate, and illustrious son then William Romaine.

"If twenty lives were written of Mr. Romaine, they will, I am confident, produce nothing more characteristic of the man, than the following anecdote. I insert the names, perhaps you will prefer the initials. T. H.

"About three weeks before the last illness of that venerable patriarch Mr. Romaine, he was walking in the city, and followed close by Dr. G. of Islington, and Mr. J. of Pluckley, who had been formerly

under the hand of one present at the interview, was simply this. A little while before the death of Mr. Romaine, Mr. Jones and Dr. Gaskin overtook him in

his intimate acquaintance, and, like many other old Hutchinsonian friends, had long forsaken and shunned him. His friendship, they knew, was not the road to Canterbury.”

Niger est hunc tu Romane caveto.

Dr. G. said, "There goes Mr. Romaine just before us." Mr. J. replied, "He is an old acquaintance of mine," and, in his facetious manner, whipped by Mr. Romaine, and turning round, stopped him full; just then Dr. G. was at his elbow: Mr. Romaine looked at him -"Do not you know me, Mr. R. ?" said he. No," said the venerable saint," nor my Master neither;" and turning round on his heel crossed the way, with contempt and indignation, leaving them confounded at this unexpected reception.

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Such is the famous anecdote which is to supply the place of twenty lives! It impressed the present rector of Blackfriars as such a stigma upon his late venerable friend and predecessor, as well as such an undeserved reflection upon a great character, now living, that he immediately sent to the editor of the Evangelical Magazine, the following letter:

SIR,

In your Magazine for the last month I observed an anecdote of my late venerable rector, Mr. Romaine, which, had it been true, I was at a loss to account for the reasons of its insertion. If meant as a compliment, it has generally been understood as a reflection; while it casts an undeserved odium also on two characters that are very worthily respected. But as the statement which has appeared is altogether erroneous, I have no doubt but you will be ready to counteract the effect which it has produced by publishing the circumstances, as I received them from unquestionable authority, not long after they took place. The Rev. Dr. G. and the Rev. Mr. J. were walking together in Cheapside, when the sight of Mr. Romaine at a distance gave rise to the following conversation.

Mr. J. There is Mr. Romaine-Do you know him?

Dr. G. No. I have no personal acquaintance with him.

Mr. J. Does he know you personally.

Dr. G. I am not sure that he does; have you any knowledge of him?

Mr. J. Yes. Some years ago we were very intimate, and he has been at my house some days together; I will speak to him.

As Mr. Romaine came near, he was addressed by Mr. J. in this manner-How do you do, Mr. Romaine? I do not know whether you forgot one William J. I do not forget you. To which Mr. Romaine replied, "No, nor my Master neither, I hope." Without waiting for a reply, he crossed the street, and passed on. In whatever way Mr. Romaine's answer be understood, it implies no such reflection on Mr. J. as is so strongly marked in the statement you have given. I am rather inclined to think he meant it as a compliment, as I have heard

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Cheapside, and Mr. Jones very good-naturedly proposed speaking to his old acquaintance, and on getting up to him, he said with a cheerful countenance, "Mr. "Romaine I do not know whether you recollect one "William Jones, but I do know that I do not forget you." To which Mr. Romaine made a laconic reply, which neither of the gentlemen distinctly heard, but the words impressed upon them at the moment were, "No, nor my Master, I hope:" and true it is, that Mr. Romaine, after having made this answer, turned upon his heel, and crossed the street, leaving them not a little astonished at this unexpected reception. It might be unexpected to them, but it was not an uncommon reception for Mr. Romaine to give in the street to his most intimate friends. He had a natural quickness, and sometimes roughness in his manner, which were often mistaken, when not meant, for anger and rudeness. He was seldom in the street, but upon business; and being intent upon his engagement, and as frugal of his time as he was prodigal of his

him express himself in terms of great respect, as to the person he then spoke to.

No idea of disrespect need be attached to his immediately passing from them, for it was what Mr. Romaine would frequently do to his most intimate friends, as he had almost as great an aversion to stop talking in the street, as in the church, in the latter of which he was so remarkable, and so worthy of imitation. I conceive, Sir, it is a justice due to all parties, to insert this, for the authenticity of which I am responsible.

Blackfriars, March 23, 1796.

I am yours,

WILLIAM GOODE.

Why was not this letter inserted, or at least acknowledged? Should not a work, called "Evangelical," be careful to speak evil of no man? Should it not, if it accuse falsely, take the earliest opportunity of acknowledging its error? Is it fair to suppose that Mr. J's intimacy with Mr. Romaine should have been discontinued from an idea that it would obstruct his preferment in the world? Does not the character of Mr. J. as a scholar, a clergyman, and a Christian, stand too high to be soiled by a paragraph in the Evangelical Magazine? Or is it to be inferred, from the general tenor and tendency of his life and writings, that the Judge of quick and dead will dený him at the great day, and include him in that awful sentence, 66 Depart from me, I never "knew you?"