attending the sacred rites of sepulture, and depositing his venerable remains in the silent tomb - you will not be surprised if I am almost afraid to trust myself upon this affecting subject, while all the kindest sensibilities of the heart are awake, tremblingly alive to the sentiments of unfeigned sorrow and regret. I am well aware that, upon this painful occasion, I shall stand in need of that indulgence which I have often needed, and as often experienced, within these walls, from the candid auditory to which I now address myself. And I am persuaded, that the kindness of your sympathy will be prepared to make every reasonable allowance for the imperfect execution of the task which I have prescribed to myself-to which, notwithstanding, I feel myself unequal.

"Doctor Disney was a man of no ordinary description. With great natural endowments, he had a mind stored with various knowledge and information; whilst a singular energy and vivacity of sentiment, a suavity and urbanity of manner, and a temper happily communicative, gave a peculiar interest and spirit to his conversation, and animated all around him. Possessing high and varied attainments, he was eminently conversant with the several departments of theology and literature. And it may here be observed with propriety and advantage, that his controversial writings are remarkable for that manly liberality, candour, and moderation, which reflect honour on the cause which he espoused, and at once distinctly mark the character of the scholar, the gentleman, and the christian.

"His estimable and accomplished character was established upon the just ground of his upright, and exemplary conduct through life. Distinguished by his rank in society, and adorned by the nobler distinction of his virtues, he was highly esteemed and respected in the neighbourhood in which he was resident; in the circle of his numerous and respectable friends; and by all who were competent to judge of the purity of his principles, of the independence, the honour, and integrity of his actions."

Dr. Disney has left behind him an ample fortune, and a large family. In 1774, he married an amiable woman, the daughter of the celebrated and pious Archdeacon Blackburne, who died in 1809. By this lady he had eight children. Of these, John, bred a barrister, and for some years Recorder of Bridport, married his first cousin; Algernon, who is still a bachelor, has attained the rank of a field officer in the army; and there are five amiable daughters.

A bust of this respectable gentleman, carved by the chisel of J. Cockaine, was exhibited in the model room of the Royal Academy in 1817.

List of the Works

Of the late Rev. John Disney, D.D. F.S.A.

1. Animadversions on Dr. Rutherforth, an 8vo. tract, 1768. 2. Four Sermons, on Christmas-day, 8vo. 1771. N. B. These were afterwards republished, in his 2 vols. of Sermons. 3. Loose Hints on Nonconformity, 1773.

4. Letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury, 1774.

5. Rational Christian's Assistant, 1774.

6. Remarks on Dr. Balguy's Consecration Sermon, 1775. 7. Short View of Confessional and Clerical Petition Controversies, 1775.

8. Thoughts on Licensing Public Alehouses, 1776.

9. Remarks on Bishop Hurd's Charge, 1777.

10. Considerations on the Clergy acting in the Commission of the Peace, 1781.

11. Reasons for quitting the Church of England, 2d edition,

1783.

12. Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Arthur Ashley Sykes, D. D. with an Appendix, 8vo. 1785.

13. A friendly Dialogue between an Athanasian and a Trinitarian, 2d edition, 1787.

14. A Preface to "Discourses on various subjects, together with Considerations on Pluralities, by Sam. Disney, LL.B. late Vicar of Wanstead, Essex," 8vo. 1788.

15. Address to the Bishops, 1790.

16. Observations on the Homilies, 1790.

17. Arranged Catalogue of publications on Toleration, Corporation, and Test Acts, 8vo. 1790.

18. Letter to the Students of Divinity, in the Diocese of Chester, 8vo. 1790.

19. Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Dr. Jortin, 8vo. 1792.

20. The Book of Common Prayer Reformed, for the use of Unitarian Congregations, 1792.

21. Letters to the Rev. Vicesimus Knox, D. D. 1792.

22. Short Memoir of Bishop Edmund Law, 1800.

23. Short Memoir of the Life of Michael Dodson, Esq. 1800.

24. Book of Common Prayer Reformed, with a Book of Psalms, and a collection of Hymns, 1802.

25. Memoirs of Thomas Brand Hollis, Esq. 4to. 1808. 26. Sermons, 4 vols. 8vo. 1793 and 1816.

27. Six Letters occasioned by the institution of an Auxiliary British and Foreign Bible-Society, 8vo. 1812.

28. Remarks on Dr. Tomlin's (Bishop of Lincoln's) Charge, 1812.

29. The Great Importance of a Religious Life Considered, 1812. N. B. This was formerly published under the title of "A Religious Life Considered; to which are added some Morning and Evening Prayers." The Editor in the 2d edition observes, "that he has made certain omissions; and has deemed it right, in justification to the original author, to accompany the publication with an explicit statement of the fact." 30. Short Memoir of the Rev. R. E. Garnham, 1814.

31. Short Memoir of the Rev. William Hopkins, B.A.

1815.

32. Dr. Disney also compiled an unpublished Index to the 2 vols. of Mr. Thomas Hollis's Life.

[With an Account of some of his Friends and Contemporaries.]

THIS is one of the most extraordinary men of letters of the present age. His name with an exception to poetry, is connected with almost every species of composition, and it would be impossible to write the history of the literature of the reign of George III. without assigning him a place, if not very elevated, at least somewhat conspicuous among the authors of that period. Had his life and adventures been regularly drawn up by himself; and had he favoured the world, like J. J. Rousseau, with "confessions," communicated fairly, honestly, and without reserve, at the close of his life, it

would have been a work truly curious and original. He had been connected with the English press, during a period not far distant from half a century; he was acquainted with a number of renowned veterans in the various branches of science and philosophy, in the southern as well as the northern portion of the United Kingdom, and he had taken by the hand, and conducted towards the temple of fame, a variety of unskilful tyros who were desirous by his means to attain the name of authors, and acquire without any previous labours the applause and approbation of their countrymen.

William Thomson, a native of Scotland, was born in the year 1746, just after the battle of Culloden, which concluded the civil war occasioned by the landing of the Young Chevalier, as he was then termed, much in the same manner that the ever memorable battle of Waterloo has terminated the long, portentous, and sanguinary strife on the Continent. The place of his birth was a cottage in the parish of Forteviot in Strathern. This obscure spot is situate six miles from Perth, a place which had largely participated in the then recent disturbances, and about thirty from Edinburgh, the capital, which with an exception to the castle had readily yielded to the power and the pretensions of an adventurous descendant of James II.

The character of the Swiss is said to be tinctured by that of their deep valleys and majestic mountains; and the minds of men, perhaps assume somewhat of the hue of those scenes which are familiar to their early infancy. In this point of view, therefore, it may not be improper to observe, that the subject of the present memoir first drew his breath on the banks of the Erne, which, during the floods that frequently occur in spring, autumn, and winter, descends in torrents, and while it exhibits several fine natural cascades, not unfrequently commits great damage in the adjacent strath or valley. Some of the stateliest of the Orchil hills too, whence this river derives its source, closely adjoin; and while they terminate this district by means of an immense barrier, they at the same time lift their lofty heads to the skies, now seemingly encumbered with