Arms.] Argent a fefs, Gules, between 2 bars gemelles wavy, Azure.

Creft.] On a wreath an Elephant's head coupt Argent, collard Gules.

Supporters.] Two Eagles reguardant, with wings expanded,, proper, and charged on their breafts with an ermine fpot.

'Motte.] Occurrent Nubes.

Chief Seat.] Port Eliot in Cornwall.

The copper-plates which illuftrate this work, are not inferior to thofe of the last edition of Collins. As to literary perfection, Mr. Longmate and his master do not vary widely. Their diction is harfh, dry, and unornamented; and they are perfect strangers even to the idea of fpeculation. Their care is bounded by mere matters of fact; and here their only value must be refted. Their labour, however, facilitates the ftudy, and may aid the invention of abler writers; and their collections caft a light upon the diplomatic fcience of England.

ART. IX. Obfervations on the late Contefts in the Andrew Kippis, D. D. F. R、 S. and S. A. binfon.

I

T is a matter of regret that the objects of science and li. terature cannot always be pursued with cordiality and candour. Vanity, difappointment, faction, and fpleen too fre quently disturb the fpeculations of the learned, and expofe them to the ridicule of the vulgar. The dignity of knowledge is thus degraded; and its march and progrefs are difagreeably interrupted. The din and animofity which pervade the two houfes of parliament, begin to be introduced into the Royal Society; and policy, fcience, and literature are alike disfigured by the hoftilities of war.

The philofophical caution which, during a long period, had characterised the transactions of the Royal Society, being in a strong oppofition to its prefent contefts, they have become the fubject of a public curiofity; and our author being con scious of a defire to restore to it its ancient peace and harmony, was induced to put together the obfervations now before us. His profeffions of candour are warm; and as he has given his name to his obfervations, they are the more worthy of respect and attention.

He states firft, without any comment, the facts that have occafioned the diffentions which now prevail in the Royal Society; and to these he then applies chiefly in their order, the cenfure or praise which he conceived to be due to each. This method is doublefs very fair; but we muft acknowledge that we do not always concur in his conclufions.

It appears that the Prefident and Council of the Royal Society were diffatisfied with the conduct of Dr. Hutton, in the bufinefs of the foreign correspondence; and that they engaged in measures which obliged him to refign his ftation. His friends took the alarm; but though they were able to procure the public thanks of the fociety for his fervices, they could not reinftate him in his office. And the Society difcovered a determination to fupport Sir Jofeph Banks in the chair.

In general it is obvious that the conduct of Dr. Hutton was ftrictly commendable; and, indeed, a vote of the Society juftifies him completely. Complaints however had been made against him by foreigners who had fent prefents to the Society, and who were not fufficiently complimented in his letters to them.. His letters, notwithstanding, were according to a prefcribed form; and where fuch a ceremonial is ftipulated, it was his duty to be pointedly exact in following it. The form was cautious and general; and, without doubt, it was founded in the care which the Society thought to be indifpenfibly neceffary for fupporting their own dignity; by avoiding to exhibit their fanction indifcriminately to the theories and discoveries which might be tranfmitted to them.

It ftrikes us forcibly that Sir Jofeph Banks was animated by an improper heat against Dr. Hutton; and that the punifhment of the latter is not to be vindicated by any criminality in his behaviour. At the fame time we will confefs that Dr. Hutton was wrong in refigning to the Society at large, inftead of the Prefident and Council, in whom the appointment of the foreign fecretary is vetted. From the previous want, too, of reciprocal and polite attentions between Sir Jofeph Banks and Dr. Hutton, it is pretty obvious that the paffions of both were rather too keenly engaged. But as the former was the firft to promote the degradation of the latter, the hoftility of Dr. Hutton will be the more readily excufed. In all focieties whatsoever, we are afraid, that the pride of perfonal confequence is too much indulged; and that individuals, in the eagerness of contention, too eafily overleap the purity of virtue, and the exercise of a rigid probity.

In the course of the difpute concerning Dr. Hutton, the behaviour of Dr. Horfley was remarkable; and our author touches upon it in ftrong language. We pretend not to vindicate the rude impetuofity of Dr. Horfley. It was blameable in a high degree; but we cannot with-hold ourselves from obferving that Dr. Kippis wanders too widely from the general tenor and fcope of his treatife, when he enters

upon

upon the character of this gentleman as a theologian. This , was a matter out of the question; and when contrafted with the high character given of Sir Jofeph Banks, a fufpicion arifes that Dr. Kippis is not altogether impartial in his obfervations. That his intentions were moft honourable we fincerely believe; but what man is there who can constantly, preferve a guard upon his attachments and his prepoffeffions!

It will be allowed that the papers before us are written with ability, and abound with information, good fenfe, and a zeal for the extention of knowledge. The fentiments which conclude them have in a particular manner our affent and approbation.

Every man must be fenfible of the ardent, the enquiring, the penetrating fpirit of the times. The world is in agitation with refpect to philofophical difcoveries. The zeal with which they are purfued has already been productive of great effects, and will be productive of ftill greater effects in future. Britons in general, and the Royal Society in particular, will, I truft, never ceafe to be animated with the fame zeal. The members of that learned body will not spend their time, and lofe their renown, in unprofitable debates. The prefent contests will fubfide, and the only ambition will be who fhall moft contribute to extend the bounds of fcience, to increase the powers of man over nature, and to promote the real honour of his country. This is the glory of the true Englifhman, this is the glory of the genuine philofopher; and it is a glory infinitely fuperior to the completeft victory in any perfonal difpute. In a career fo illuftrious, the writer of the prefent tract can be no competitor: but he fhall deem himself happy, if, in attempting to compofe differences, he fhall chance to be of any ufe to the Society which has done him the honour of enrolling him among its members. The confcioufnefs of this attempt will be the fole reward of his undertaking.'

It only remains for us to wifh with Dr. Kippis, and the public in general, that the members of the Royal Society may bury for ever their animofities, and combine with united vigour in the profecution of thofe liberal purfuits which have brought them together. If the propagators of fcience and literature would only act as one family, philofophy would foon uncover her treasures, and, by the advancement of the truth extend and fecure the political and religious happiness

of mankind.

ART.

ART. X. A new and general Biographical Dictionary; containing an Hiftorical and Critical Account of the Lives and Writings of the most eminent Perfons in every Nation, particularly the British and Irish, from the earliest Accounts of Time, to the prefent Period. Wherein their remarkable Actions and Sufferings, their Virtues, Parts, and Learning are accurately difplayed. With a Catalogue of their literary Productions. A new Edition, in Twelve Volumes, greatly enlarged and improved. 8vo, 41. 4s. Strahan, Rivington, &c.

THE object of this publication is vaft and extenfive, as it includes the hiftory of eminent perfons in every age and nation. But as fuch an undertaking is evidently boundlefs, it is not to be expected that it fhould be perfect. To approach to perfection, in enterprizes of this kind, is to attain a high merit; and, it must be confeffed that the volumes. before us comprehend an immense variety of articles.

Many works of a fimilar tendency have been presented to the public; and the authors of the volumes before us, have not failed to avail themfelves of the collections and materials of their predeceffors. They have borrowed very freely from the Hiftorical and Critical Dictionary of Mr. Bayle; from the General Dictionary; from the Biographia_Britannica; from the Athenæ Oxonienfes; and from Mr. Collier's Hiftorical Dictionary.

They have endeavoured to furnish judicious narratives of the actions and writings, the honours and difgraces of all ⚫ those whofe virtues, parts, learning, or even vices, have preferved them from oblivion in any records of whatever age, and in whatever language. *. Accordingly it will be found that they have gathered together accounts and memoirs of the moft interefting tranfactions concerning religion and government; concerning the progrefs of taste and learning; and concerning the principles and opinions by which the world has been influenced in all its extent and duration.

In every portion of this work we obviously perceive the exercite of diligence and impartiality; and it is obfervable that the authors have been more particularly careful to do the compleatest justice to the learned and ingenious of Great Britain and Ireland. They every where blend entertainment with inftruction. The articles they exhibit are short, and yet comprehenfive. They were attentive not to fatigue the attention by an endless prolixity, or by idle fpeculations.

But while they confulted and abridged the matter which is detailed in former Dictionaries, it is evident that they have

fearched with curiofity for every publication that could affift their views, and promote the execution of their design. We therefore bestow upon them, with pleasure, our approbation; and with regard to the prefent edition, it is fit that we remark that it contains more than fix hundred lives, that did not appear in the former. For this advantage, if we are rightly informed, the public is chiefly indebted to the indefatigable industry of Mr. Nichols, who is fo generally known not only as a learned printer, but as a curious fearcher into hiftory and antiquities.

As a fpecimen of the ftyle of this work, we fball extract a part of the life that is given of Abbé Winkelman.

In one of his letters, dated 1754, he gives an account of his change of religion, which too plainly appears to have been guided by motives of intereft, to make his way to Rome, and gain a better livelihood. At Drefden he published, 1755, "Reflections on the Imitation of the Works of the Greeks," 4to, tranflated into French the fame year, and republished 1756, 4to. At Rome he made an acquaintance with Mengs, firtt painter to the King of Poland, after wards in 1761 appointed first painter to the Houfe of Spain, with an appointment of 80,000 crowns, a houfe, and a coach; and he foon got access to the library of Cardinal Paffionei, who is reprefented as a moft catholic and respectable character, who only wanted ambition to be pope. His catalogue was making by an Italian, and the work was intended for Winkelman. Giacomelli, canon of St. Peter, &c. had publifhed two tragedies of fchylus and Sophocles, with an Italian tranflation and notes, and was about a new edition of "Chryfoftom de Sacerdotio;" and Winkelman had joined with him in an edition of an unprinted Greek Oration of Libanius, from two MSS. in the Vatican and Barberini libraries. In 1757, he laments the calamities of his native country, Saxony, which was then involved in the war between the Emperor and the King of Pruffia. In 1758 he meditated a journey over the kingdom of Naples, which he fays could only be done on foot, and in the habit of a pilgrim, on account of the many difficulties and dangers, and the total want of horfes and carriages from Viterbo to Pifciata the ancient Velia. In the year 1768, we find him inraptured with the idea of a voyage to Sicily, where he wifhed to make drawings of the many beautiful, earthen vafes collected by the Benedictines at Catana. At the end of the first volume of his letters, 1781, are now first published his remarks on the ancient architecture of the temple of Girgenti. He was going to Naples, with 100 crowns, part of a pention from the King of Poland, for his travelling charges, and thence to Florence, at the invitation of Baron Stofch. Cardinal Archinto, fecretary of state, employed him to take care of his library. His "Remarks on ancient Architecture" were ready for a fecond edition. He was preparing a work in Italian, to clear up fome obfcure points in mythology and antiquities, with above 50 plates; another in Latin, explanatory of the Greek medals that are least known; and he intended to fend to be printed in England, "An Effay on the Style of Sculpture before Phidias." A work in