stranger. Mr. Dibdin is not writing for those who altogether despise book pursuits, but for those whose taste is congenial with his own. There is no question, therefore, upon the value of the pursuit itself; but what is the extent of the obligation which these Jatter owe to the author. The best answer to be given will be found in the work itself. I will venture to affirm, that there is no where to be found a greater quantity of matter, a greater multiplicity of anecdotes, or a greater variety of useful information within the same compass. He has contrived, at the same time, to set off and enliven his subject by that gentlemanly temper, and that good-natured vivacity, which we never lose sight of, and for which qualities Mr. D. is himself, in private life, so distinguished. It was too true an observation of Dr. Johnson's, that the pioneers in literature are often trampJed upon and forgotten by those whose progress they have been facilitating: nor must Mr. D. complain that he may in some instances meet with a siinilar fate: humani nihil alienum; he can claim no exemption. His labours, however, have not been frustrated: he has the satisfaction of knowing that he has secured to himself the grateful acknowledgements of a large description of readers, to whose favourite study he has contributed a fund of pleasing and useful information. Yours, &c. S. P.

Feb. 3.

Mall, on Thursday the 6th of Feb last, and was witness to a mos traordinary transaction. Mr. Chi the worthy and skilful auctio seemed himself to be lost in an ment: the biddings flew, like shɩ cocks, from one side of the rooi the other. "On, gentlemen, on fast as you please: the pleasa pace imaginable”— -was Mr. Chris remark; while surprize sparkle his eye, and joy set his heart a d ing. The lot was the Philosoph Works of Cicero, printed for the of the Dauphin, in 1689, 4to; but TRUE EDITION, Mr. Editor: m that, I beseech you; the true editi not the best (for it is an indiffer one*); but the true edition. I tha you, Mr. Dibdin, " for that word.'

Who should be the purchaser such a lot? and for what sum was knocked down? Posterity will be credulous, when they hear it was M D. himself; and he gave 597. 6. i the volume: so said the Morni Chronicle and the Courier, for ti subsequent day and evening. Fro these too we find, that the purcha: was made for LORD SPENCER; a N bleman of whose book-spirit an book-treasures, the publick can neve hear too much in commendation Well, Mr. Editor, the volume nov ornaments the shelves in St. James'. Place; and its utility and rarity are no doubt justly appreciated by its no ble possessor.

I was much diverted on hearing the remarks that were made immediately (said one) who writes a learned voafter the purchase. "Here is Mr. D. lume, to distinguish the symptoms, and trace the history, of BooK-MADNESS, himself giving public demonstration, that he is as deeply infected with the disease as any of his brethren!" I expect to read many sharp squibs against him, for so extraordinary a conduct; but I already hear

him

t

towns, or in schools of inferior instruction, in most of the villages throughout the kingdom. It is in reflection the mind is best satisfied; but he who undertakes the instruction of rich or poor, is the first to be gratified, of course, in seeing numbers, and the increase of them; as Cujacius saw " eight hundred of his scholars following in his train," instructed in his principles and profession of civil

Law.

Admitting freely the merit of Mr. Lancaster, and the benefit and success of his schools for reading, writ ing, and arithmetic, and the Holy Bible put into the hands, or permitted, of the poor, as the first and initiatory book, it is in candour and equal justice due to Dr. Bell, in his improved" plan, to admit Creeds, Liturgy, and the Church Catechism, in his school, and mode of instruction, in order to have his scholars grounded in sound faith, and upon principles of the Established Church. He who has founded rights will not compromise them; and he who would compromise "religious principles," in times of danger, deism, secession from the church, and even persecution, is like the suppliant in a storm at sea, who would then compound his safety for genuflexion and instant prayer.

It is unnecessary to speak to Mr. L. of Articles, Creeds, Tenets, Rubric, and Formularies, excluded from his plan of education, though he professes "not to prevent instruction in them." He must not escape, however, from notice of his words, and Mr. Pope's wish added to them. Mr. L. had said, “I long to see men who profess Christianity, contend not for Creeds of faith-words and names.” Mr. Pope had uttered the same sentiment a century ago. The immediate observation is as obvious as true,

though Mr. Lancaster is a man of sense, he is a Quaker-Mr. Pope, a man of genius, was a Roman Catholic;" and Dr. Bell is a sound member of the Established Church.

There are expressions also, “narrow-minded bigots and alarmists," to be noticed, as terms of intemperate language, used with vehemence, and directed against the firm adherents to ecclesiastical ordinances, and faithful watchmen, who, aware of latent insidiousness (Qui capit ille facit), are prepared against surprise, and by

alertness, misinterpreted for alarm, are ready to repel the open attacks of the adversaries of the Established Church, or, if such there be, of Revealed Religion.

In closing the subject of the Eastern systemr, and mode of instructing the poor, less could not be expected from the mind and activity of Mr. Lancaster, or more from the improved plan of Dr. Bell. In commending both, highly and justly, and their exertions, as first and fast friends of the poor, and at length, in preferring the plan of Dr. Bell to that of Mr. Lancaster, we leave it to posterity to be determined, that Mr. L.'s plan was the epoch that ends where the era of Dr. Bell's improved plan begins: but in the present age, we must all unite in the same wish and hope, that, through the exertions of the two competitors for preference, in doing the most and best for the poor, "knowledge" may break forth, and be diffused, as the Sun, "with irradiations of genius and national talents," and that Christianity may be as universal as knowledge in all quarters of the world.

I am, Mr. Urban, of the Church
Militant, MILES EMERITUS.

H

MR. DIBDIN'S BIBLIOMANIA. Mr. URBAN, Feb. 12. [AVING received considerable pleasure, as well as information from this entertaining work, I am happy to see your pages, on more occasions than one, doing justice to its merits. I was lately much surprised, on accidentally opening one of our Reviews, among other, what appeared to me, irrelevant observations, to find a particularly frivolous charge brought against the texture of the dialogue. I would ask, in what manner the subject-matter was to be conveyed? Would a dry detail of catalogues, and names of books and dates, have answered the end? Or is it not obvious that many of its, present readers would have been prevented looking into it? Every one must see and acknowledge, that the dialogue is only a convenient vehicle for the more important substance of the notes; and the lively and agreeable manner in which this part is executed, has led many a reader to seek for information upon a subject to which he was before an entire

stranger

At Nottingham, aged 68, Mr. Richard Wood, formerly an officer in the Excise at Tickhill, father of Mr. W. coach-proprietor, Doncaster.

At the palace of Dalkeith, his grace Henry Scott, Duke of Buccleugh and Queensberry; Marquis of Dumfrieshire, Earl of Dalkeith, Sanquebar, and DrumJanrig; Viscount Nith, Torthowald, and Middlebie, and Dornock; also Earl of Doncaster and Lord Tynedale in England, Knight of the Garter; Lord Lieutenant of the Counties of Edinburgh and Roxburghshire, Governor of the Royal Bank of Scotland, &c. He was born in 1746; the only son of Francis Earl of Dalkeith, by Lady Caroline Campbell, eldest daughter of John, the great Duke of Argyle; and succeeded his grandfather in 1752. In 1767, his Grace married Elizabeth Montagu, only daughter of the late Duke of Montagu, by whom he has issue, Charles William, now Duke of Buccleugh and Queensberry, and Henry James, Lord Montagu, and four daughters, viz. the Countess of Courtown, Countess of Ancram, Countess of Home, and Lady Douglas; all of whom have families. He is succeeded in his titles and estates by his eldest son, Charles William, Earl of Dalkeith, who married Harriet, daughter of the late Visc. Sidney, and has several children. His Grace succeeded at an early age to a princely fortune, which gave him the means of indulging his natural disposition to public spirit and private liberality, to which purposes, accordingly, a considerable part of his immense funds were known to be applied. He was exceedingly affable in his manners; and what deserves to be recorded of a person so greatly exalted both in rank and fortune, was generally accessible to the poor. As a landlord, his liberality was well known; he was easy of access, and always ready to take an active part in any scheme of benevolence and humanity. He possessed great political influence.

Found drowned under the ice, in Daddingstone Loch, Edinburgh, aged about 80, Mr. Alexander Steel, many years proprietor of the steel-yard, Causewayside. He had been for some years in a superannuated state, under the care of his relations, from whom he had wandered on the 9th inst. and it is supposed he had fallen in the Loch in the dark. He was discovered in an erect posture, and had some scratches on the hands and face, apparently received in struggling to extricate himself.

Jan. 12. In Charlotte-street, of a lingering and painful disease, borne like a man and a soldier, Gen. Sir James Henry Craig, K. B. late governor-in-chief of British North America; governor of Blackness Castle; and colonel of the 78th foot.

R, Hollingworth, esq. Queen-square, Westminster.

In the New-road, aged 69, Mr. John Schweitzer, a native of Germany, and for many years a considerable tailor in Cork-street, Burlington-gardens. His life was distinguished by exemplary piety and uniforin benevolence.

In his 73d year, Mr. Thos. Watson, of Islington, nurseryman,

At Paddington-green, in his 67th year, John Chamberlayne, esq.

At Epping, aged 77, Sir Thomas Coxhead, formerly M. P. for Bramber,

At Canterbury, Capt. Lamotte, 1st reyal dragoons.

At Fawler, Oxon, Mr. Wilsdon, a respectable farmer.

In her 78th year, Mrs. Alderson, relict of the late Thomas Alderson, esq. of Lynn, Norfolk.

Mr. Barns, schoolmaster, Rlilingborough. co. Lincoln.

At Elston, near Newark, Mr. Matlock, many years master of the free school.

Found literally burnt to a cinder, the wife of Mr. Colclough, chandler, Dublin. She was a handsome woman, between 50 and 40 years of age; and possessed a more than ordinary share of intellectual endowment. It is conjectured that the back of her clothes caught fire first, and that she fainted either through fright or suffocation.

Mr. Peter Moulton, driver for the last 15 years to the Sudbury coach; respected by the publick for his civility and attention, and by his employers for his fidelity.

Jan. 13. In West-square, Jas. Hedger, jus. esq.

In his 15th year, Charles Wentworth Watson, cadet, son of Thomas W. esq. M. D. and third son in the Hon. East India Company's service.

Mrs. Gilbert, of Evington Lodge, co. Leicester.

At Whaplode Drove, co Lincoln, aged 87, Anne Phenix, who was blind the last ten years.

Jan. 14. Suddenly, in a hackney coach, which was conveying him to the White Horse cellar, Piccadilly, in order to his returning home by the Bath mail, Mr. Mitchell, who kept an inn near Bath, On the coachman arriving at the hotel, medical assistance was sent for; but the spark of life was gone. Mr. M. came to town a few days ago to article one of his sons to an attorney.

Aged 80, Mrs. Jones, relict of Morris J. esq. of Lower Belgrave-place.

At Winchester, in his 70th year, Mr. George Feachem, one of the oldest freemen of that city. Mr. Feachem succeeded the late James Randall, esq. of St. Cross, as father of the charitable society of Gentlenen Aliens, and for many years

distin

Jan. 20. In Half Moon-street, in her 77th year, Mrs. Jebb, widow of John Jebb, M. D. F. R. S. (who died March 2, 786.) Mrs. Jebb was the eldest daughter of the late Rev. James Torkington, rector of King's Rippon and Little Stukely in Huntingdonshire, and of Lady Dorothy Sherard, daughter of Philip second Earl of Harborough. She was married to Dr. Jebb in 1764, when he was in the height of his literary reputation at Cambridge. The Doctor, it is well known, engaged in some very serious controversies with the University, particularly on abolishing Subscription to the Thirty-nine Articles, at the time of taking degrees, and on public annual examinations of Under-graduates. These disputes found exercise for the first talents at that time in the University; and Mrs. Jebb was not content , with being a silent observer: she became the active opponent of Dr. Powell, the Master of Saint John's College, who conducted the other side of the controversy, and who felt as sensibly the point of Mrs. Jebb's pen in the public prints as he did of the learned Doctor's. It was in reference to the force of argument contained in a smart pamphlet written by Mrs. Jebb on the same subject, under the signature of Priscilla, that the late Dr. Paley said at the time," The Lord had sold Sisera into the hands of a Woman." When Dr. Jebb, having embraced some speculative opinions which he thought made it neeessary for him to resign his preferment, and to leave the Church, settled in London; he became a physician and a strenuous political reformer. No name is better known among the advocates of Parlia mentary Reform, than that of Dr. J.; and the active energy of Mrs. J. is also well known. Being an invalid, she lived a retired life: but her zeal rose to the full level of her husband's: she saw with the same quickness, glowed with the same ardour, and wrote occasionally with the same spirit. But Mrs. Jebb was not more distinguished for the vigour of her mind,

than the qualities of her heart. She was a Christian, without bigotry; a moralist, without severity; a politician, without self-interest or ambition; a sincere friend, without disguise, and without reserve.— With considerable powers of mind, she possessed all the amiable softness of the female character. With as few failings as could well fall to the lot of humanity, she exercised an unlimited candour in judging those of others. Candour and benignity were the prominent features of her character. Her friends, therefore, were numerous, and she could not have a single enemy. These superior qualities of mind and heart were lodged in a body of the most delicate texture. The frame of Mrs. Jebb was extremely feeble; her countenance always languid and wan. She used to recline on a sofa, and had not been out of her room above once or twice these twenty years-she seemed the shadow of a shade, or rather all soul and intellect, like one dropped from another sphere. For her ardour and patriotie firmness, mixed with urbanity and gentleness, and occasionally brightening with innocent playfulness, gave that to her countenance, which the mere bloom of health cannot bestow, nor the pen describe; it gave a singular interest to her character; it can only be felt, and will be lastingly remembered by her surviving friends.

Jan. 24. In Portman-square, Isabela Susanna, Countess of Beverley, second daughter of Peter Burrell, esq. of Beckenbam in Kent, sister to the Duchess of Northumberland, and the Duchess Dowager of Hamilton, now Marchioness of Exeter, and Peter Lord Gwydir. Her Ladyship was married June 8, 1775, to Lord Algernon Percy, second son of the late Duke of Northumberland, afterwards Lord Lovaine in 1786, and in 1790 Earl of Beverley; and has left a numerous issue.

Jan. 27. At Sutton, Surrey, the wife of Ambrose Hall, esq. of that place, and of Albion-street, Blackfriars.