80 Strictures on Rees's Cyclopædia. and highly illustrious Christian bishop now no more. In Vol. XXVIII. Part I. under the article "Porteus," are the following words:-" About this time Dr. Porteus made great exertion in a cause not at all deserving of the zeal which he manifested in it. This was to set apart, as a day of fasting, Good Friday. He was, however, in a good measure successful; and the labours of the loom and the field have been suspended in many parts of the kingdom on every successive Good Friday, from that time to the present. This, if we understand the Christianity of the New Testament, is contrary to the injunction of our holy religion, and it is certainly in hostility to good policy in a national point of view. It was, however, so well received by the Court, that he was immediately raised to the bishopric of Chester, through the influence of her majesty, whose bishop he was at that time emphatically called." You will with me, Mr. Editor, scarce conceive that any person, professing any religion, should speak against setting apart a day in commemoration of a circumstance so important to our eternal felicity. We can set apart a day to the immortal memory of a Fox, but we cannot sanctify a day to the honour of him who was our heavenly Saviour! The labours of the loom and the field suspended for one day!!! Shocking! This, Sir, is rather a novel specimen of evangelical rea soning. I rejoice to hear it was so well received by the court; I rejoice to find our illustrious queen gave so good a proof of her love of God; and I am silly enough to believe that it is this love of religious decorum that has made us the envied nation we are. This measure of Dr. Porteus, continues the Cyclopædia, "called forth a very able pamphlet from the Rev. Robert Robinson, entitled The History and Mystery of Good Friday, in which the writer's learning, argumentative powers, and HUMOUR, were displayed to great advantage." I do not know, neither do I wish to know, the Rev. Robert Robinson: I trust he does not belong to the established church; nay, he cannot; and I take the editor's word for the argumentative and learned part of the argument; but I am really yet to learn the propriety of treating the subject of our Lord's Sufferings, Cross, and Passion, with humour, and that by a gentleman of a profession which allows of no idle talking or jesting on such a subject. I was going, Mr. Editor, to take up [Feb. 1, more of your time, but at the end of this piece of biography contained in the Cyclopædia, I find among the authori ties quoted is that old leaven of righte ousness and loyalty, the Old Monthly Magazine;—I therefore, for the present, say no more than to beg your insertion of this, in order to warn the rising generation, that when they read the New Cyclopædia, they must make some allowance for party prejudice and human infirmity. JOHN. MR. EDITOR, I AM much gratified in being enabled, through the medium of a German journal, to submit to your readers a statement of some curious observations made by Count Moscati, and his assistant, M. Quirio Mauri, at the observatory belonging to the former at Milan, on three volcanoes which have recently been discovered in the sun. This statement was originally published by M. Mauri, in the Giornale Italiano, of the 17th of November last. "On the 3d of October," says that astronomer, "the craters of the three volcanoes lately discovered on the surface of the sun appeared quite distinct, but elliptical: they were situated about the edge of the sun, in the form of a transverse belt. On the 4th the two nearest to the edge were invisible, owing to the sun's revolution, and the contour of the other was less distinctly marked than before. On the opposite edge, however, appeared very plainly on the sun's disk two detached planetary masses in conjunction; on the 5th was observed a single but thicker mass of the same kind, likewise in conjunction. On the 7th, half of the middle crater cf the 3d was seen nearly circular, because it had approached to the centre of she solar disk. On the 9th the circumference of this crater appeared lengthened, and the crater observed on the 4th seemed almost quite round, and nearest to the centre of the disk; as did in its turn the last and only one visible on the 4th. On the 17th were remarked three different planetary masses in conjunction, like those above mentioned, but not so large: on the 18th appeared three small but probably similar masses; on the 19th three smaller; on the 23d three still smaller; ou the 29th five, little different from the preceding; and, finally, on the 30th, near the edge of the sun, a small portion of one of the craters described above. All these masses, without exception, were in the above-mentioned 1815.] M. Mauri on Volcanoes discovered in the Sun. zone. The powers of the telescope would not allow of any farther discoveries during the time specified." From these phenomena M. Mauri deduces the following inferences: "The sun must be considered as a body containing a matter capable of producing distinct volcanoes, because it has recently exhibited traces of such craters, and the projected masses really, or at least to appearance, covered the luminous surface in several places. "There is every reason to believe that the sun is a solid, not a fluid body; because the volcanic craters were distinctly to be seen open for a considerable time together. "The sun is, on the other hand, a cold body, not so hot as to melt or produce a red glow; because the parts observed in these abysses were not fiery, but black. "The sun has for the promotion of fertility a luminous, slightly fluid envelope, like the green carpet that covers our fields; because some folds of luminous matter inclined downward in order to cover the bare places on some of the interior edges of the craters. "The sun, underneath the abovementioned envelope, is not luminous; because the interior of the newly-opened craters was quite dark, as well as the masses thrown up by them. "The sun has probably a warmth nearly approaching to the temperature of our earth; because volcanoes, which are hotter than the rest of the mass of the earth, make their appearance there. "The sun reproduces the luminous envelope wherever the latter is broken through; because the volcanoes are gradually covered again with it, after the manner of an organic and, to us, unknown matter. "The sun accomplishes its daily revolution in about 108 hours of our time. This period is ascertained by the reappearance of the individual craters discernible by us on the surface of the sun; and on this occasion it may be affirmed, that the spots, as they are called, upon the sun, which have hitherto been considered as attached to its body, are either atmospheric phenomena, or aërolites passing about it, because they change their situation with respect to each other. Perhaps they may be wrecks from that remote catastrophe described by Moses: perhaps fragments though of smaller dimensions, yet of a similar nature with those which we have in a former place denominated planetary masses; fragments of that kind which I remarked in 31 diverging columns, more or less fanshaped, which accompanied the last beautiful comet, like an atmosphere illuminated in opposition with the sun, and through which, on account of the inferior power of reflecting light, I discovered the real opaque nucleus of that meteor. I could appeal for the truth of this to the testimony of various eyewitnesses, and among the rest of a professor, who observed it with me, and who entertained no doubt of the reality of the phenomenon. "The sun has on its surface prodigious concavities, and proportionate protuberances; because the situation of the elliptic axes of the crater differed from that of those which would have been produced on a perfectly level sphere. "Besides its annual and diurnal motion, the sun has a conical revolution round its pole, which is performed by its axis in about 27 days of our time; because the last portion of crater, in the zone originally discovered, re-appeared in that period, after the positive passage of the craters into other zones. "I might mention some other discoveries worthy of notice; but this letter is already long enough. Allow me, however, to express my ardent wish, that astronomers possessed of the requisite instruments and skill would examine and confirm the discovery of the latest planets that have issued from the sun. The three largest seemed to me to belong to the class of Venus and Mercury. If the sun's light should preclude observations of them at present in their elliptical situation, they might be found hereafter in a more favourable position. The discoverers might then give them what appellation they please, with the exception of the three largest, which I reserve to myself the right of naming." I leave to your astronomical readers the task of appreciating the value of these observations and inferences, which seem at least to be novel and highly curious to one who is London, Jan. 5. No ASTRONOMER. MR. EDITOR, THE great care and attention that your useful miscellany pays to the interesting departments of the fine arts and the drama, having rendered it the completest manual of reference for professors of the fine arts now published, allow me to ask, through your medium, of any of the members of the Royal Academy of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture, why, in the election of a council, who 32 Neglect of Architecture by the Royal Academy. have, among other duties, to superintend the admission of students, and to pass judgment on the comparative merits of the designs of the probationers in painting, sculpture, and architecture, no architect's name appears? Is it that they think architecture more easy to be understood than the other arts of design? or is it that habitual carelessness towards this noble art that has been complained of so often from this otherwise liberal and enlightened body? The evil is this:A probationer in architecture may present a design wholly and totally a plagiarism, but well drawn, and another may present one less beautifully drawn, MR. EDITOR, [Feb. 1, but consisting of original and praiseworthy ideas; the painters and sculptors of the two councils would be liable to select the first, and reject the latter, whose merits, as well the defects of the former, a professed architect alone could discover. To prove my assertion, I beg leave to refer to your last number, (p. 545,) where you will find that the new council consists of a sculptor and three painters, and the old council of an enameller and three painters. A PRIVILEGED STUDENT OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY. London, Jan. 6, 1815. MISCELLANEOUS INQUIRIES. AS I know your work is open to every inquiry that may be deemed interesting to the lover of the fine arts, I shall feel myself extremely obliged if any one of your numerous and respectable correspondents can give me a short biographical account of Sir Nathaniel Holland, bart. who died about two years since. He was formerly, as some of your readers must remember, a very celebrated painter and contemporary with Sir Joshua Reynolds. If we except that wonderful delineator of the human countenance, he was undoubtedly the finest portrait and historical painter at that time in England: his Timon of Athens, and Garrick in Richard the Third, with many others, will fully prove the truth of this assertion. J. D. posing my name to be Owen Thomas, or MR. EDITOR, SOME of your readers or correspondents can perhaps afford me information on the following subjects, through the medium of your miscellany. 1. Some details respecting John Dury, or Duræus, a Scottish divine, who died about 1675, and whose unremitting labours to re-unite the Lutherans and Calvinists cannot be too highly commended, 2. Some account of another ingenious Scotsman, William Dalgarno, or Dalgarden, educated (during the seventeenth century) at Marischall College, Aberdeen, and with whom the idea of instructing the deaf and dumb first originated. 3. What has now become of the Lusi tanian Legion, organized by Sir Robert Wilson? 1815.] [ 33 ] MEMOIRS OF EMINENT PERSONS. SOME ACCOUNT OF THE HONOURABLE AND RIGHT REVEREND SHUTE JOHN SHUTE, the first Viscount Barrington, was the youngest son of an eminent merchant of the city of London, whose family came originally from Upton, in Leicestershire. There is a memoir of this distinguished nobleman in the Biographia Britannica, drawn up by his son, the bishop; but the following particulars and character of him are not to be found in that account, though they were written and printed immediately after his lordship's death, by Mr. Mackewen, his domestic chaplain. We shall, therefore, give the whole in this place, as affording the most proper introduction to the memoir of the bishop of Durham. "Lord Barrington was descended from worthy ancestors eminent for their virtue and zeal for the cause of liberty, several of whom served the kings of England with honour, as commanders in the wars of Normandy, when Normandy was annexed to the crown. He had a graceful person, a happy constitution, and an extraordinary genius, improved by a pious and liberal education; and, if I am not mistaken, it will hereafter be accounted an honour to Utrecht, where he finished his academical studies, to have contributed to the forming so great a man; for he was a person of almost unequal led abilities, and many excellent and uncommon virtues: his great judgment, extensive knowledge, acute sagacity, and intensive application, rendered him perhaps, upon the whole, the most finished character in life. "His principles of christian and civil liberty were rational, demonstrative, and immoveable; and his happy faculty of communicating his thoughts upon any subject, made his conversation extremely agreeable and instructive to men of sense and taste. Such admirable talents could not long be hid; and therefore he had an early and strict friendship with several persons of the greatest rank, learning, and virtue, which he never sought; was made a commissioner of the customs in virtue of a promise he never asked; and had several employments of honour and profit offered him which he declined to accept whilst the Occasional Act was in force. He was adopted His lordship was bred a dissenter, and without his knowledge by two gentlemen remained attached to the Independents presiding as the chairman at their public meetings, in which capacity he acted at Thame, in Oxfordshire, the year before his death. * His lordship, by a very violent resolution, was expelled the House of Commens F VOL. III. 34 Character of the first Viscount Barrington, He will appear to every unprejudiced and discerning person to have been governed by an earnest and steady love to truth, liberty, his country, and mankind, in all the different periods and circumstances of his life; which ought to be the chief objects of every man's pursuit. To these he sacrificed not only his private interest, and the flattering secular vices, but, as is known to his intimate friends, even his constitution. "He was a person of unlimited Christian charity to men of all persuasions; free from every degree of superstition; and had the utmost abhorrence to all kinds of persecution, as perfectly antichristian. He was always zealous to serve his friends, and ready to forgive injuries, which generous Christian principle the worst treatment could never extinguish his gratitude and generosity have many witnesses among the relatives aud friends of his benefactors, as well as others. He owned no master but Christ in his church and kingdom; and maintained that revealed religion did not subvert, but assist natural. For these, and the like sentiments, he was calumniated by the crafty, the ignorant, the envious, and bigotted; but his patience and fortitude will be admired by generations to come: for as no man knew better the interest of virtue and his country, so none, perhaps, ever had greater resolution to promote it. This was well known to those who have had the honour of the greatest share of power and credit in the two preceding reigns. "The years of his retirement were spent to the noblest purposes, the study of the sacred oracles; in which province he shined with a peculiar lustre. His profound skill and facility in handling these divine themes, by the happiest mixture of reason and oratory, was the admiration and delight of all that had a just relish of them; and (I speak it from knowledge) the contemplations which filled his own mind with the highest rational pleasure were of the Supreme Being, his moral government, particular providence, and dispensations to mankind. We may view the picture of his mind in these pathetic and admirable lines, wrote to his son and heir, whom he tenderly loved, a few weeks before for having been concerned in the Harbourg Lottery; by which fraudulent scheme he was as much deceived as the rest of the sufferers. The ministry, however, to screen themselves, contrived to turn the resentment of the people against one who had not the means of repelling the attack. [Feb. 1, his death:-" The study of morality," says he, "is the noblest of all other; those eternal truths that regulate the conduct of God and man. This alone can be called the science of life; will instruct us how to act in this scene with happiness and usefulness; to leave it with composure, and be associated in a future and better state to the best moralists and philosophers that ever lived; to the wisest men and the greatest benefactors of mankind; to confessors and martyrs for truth and righteousness; to prophets and apostles; to cherubim and seraphim; to the Holy Spirit that searches and knows the deep things of God; to Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant; and to God the Judge of all, who is before all, above all, and in us all.” "His first and steady view was always truth and right; and his fine genius and just sentiments gave him that distinguished share in the esteem of the greatest and best men this nation ever knew; which, together with his vindications of revelation, will make his name immortal.* "His conjugal friendship and affection was inviolable and manly. He was a peculiarly kind and tender parent; and the principles of religion and liberty which he took care to instil in the minds of his children and servants, with a suitable address and singular perspicuity, were just and rational, worthy of God and the dignity of human nature. His ardent desire was that they might be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth, and the love and practice of virtue. In a word, he was a strict observer of the laws of God and his coun trv; a shining example of sobriety, regu* The works of Lord Barrington are, de Theocratia Civili; quam annuente sum1. Dissertatio Philosophica Inauguralis mo Numine, ex auctoritate magnifici D. Rectoris D. Hermanni Witsii S. T. Theol. Doctoris, ejusdemque in Inclytâ Academica Ultrajectina Professoris Ordinarii, et Ecclesiæ ibidem Pastoris, necnon amplissimi Senatûs Academici consensu Subtilissimæque Facultatis Philosophica Decreto, pro gradu doctoratus in Philosophia et Liberalium Artium Magisterio, omnibusque prerogativis honoribus et privilegiis vite ac legitime consequendis publice propugnabit Johannes Shute, Londino Anglus ad diem 12 Octob. horis locoque solitis. Quarto, 1697. 2. Miscellanea Sacra. Two volumes, octavo, London, 1726. This work has been reprinted, and enlarged to three volumes in the year 1776, by the care of the bishop. 3. An Essay on the Dispensations of God to Mankind, octavo, 1728. |