compofition. Two or three American characters will be found in the prefent volume, and others are promised us from the fame pen, if these are honoured with the approbation of the Public. Indeed the utility and the principles of this new fpecies of biography, are at prefent more diffused and understood. Voluntary contributions begin to pour in upon us; and it has grown into a patriot emotion to raife, in this manner, literary ftatues to living genius and virtue. Manifold are the advantages, we conceive, which fociety may derive from thus anticipating the trophies which have usually been appropriated to the tomb. To that final memorial we have usually been referred for the hiftory of the perfons whom Death has fummoned; but there, alas! the brief biography has little elfe to fhew the living world, except the prefcriptive flatteries of a mourner or a friend: or if Truth enters into the detail, the hasty passenger reads, admires, and forgets her eulogy. It is referved for the contemporary biographer to engrave on the mind the virtues or the vices, which moulder and become unheeded when confided only to the monument. Thofe vices and virtues live, move, and have a being in the written page, which holds up the mirror of men to men. In a work of this kind, the wife and the good may be faid to erect their own monuments, and to read the infcriptions of their honourable honourable qualities, their talents, and their labours, on tablets more durable than marble; and on the other hand, the bafe may be taught the unworthinefs of their characters, and ere yet too late may make atonement to the community they have injured, fo as ftill to merit a redeemed reputation, and even an honourable place in the temple of Fame. In every poffible view, therefore, no afperity of criticifm, nor any ill-founded complaints, we may receive from the difappointed, or the vain, can deprive us of the firm persuasion, that the principle and the object of this annual offering is not of the utmost importance to morals, genius, and virtue in a word, that it is not one of the most effectual inftruments both of precept and example; for the imitation, or for the warning of the LIVING WORLD. ! CON WE have as ufual inferted some outline sketches of those Perfons of whom we could readily procure correct Portraits. We offer these to the Public simply as rude characteristic sketches, conveying only general ideas, and probably not in every inftance equally fortunate. We flatter ourfelves, however, that in most instances these outlines will be readily recognized by thofe perfons who know the parties, and to posterity and those who do not know them, will convey an impreffion fufficiently accu rate. 1. The Chancellor. 2. Duke of Portland. 9. Dr. Blair. 10. Mr. Porter. 17. Mr. Bidlake. 18. Mr. Boulton. 19. Mr. Paul Sandby. 20. Mr. John Ireland. 21. Dr. Mauor. 22. Mrs. Smith. 23. D. of Marlborough. 24. Mr. Thelwall, PUPLIC CHARACTERS of 1798-1799. First The Earl of Moira The Earl of Liverpool Mr. Abraham Newland Dr. Darwin Lord Hood Sir G. L. Staunton The Abp. of Canterbury Mr. Jackfon, of Exeter Mr. Justice Grofe Mr. Kemble Mifs Seward The Lord Chancellor of Sir W. Sydney Smith The Bishop of Durham Mr. John Foster Alfo the Second Volume, for 1799-1800, The Earl of St. Vincent Sir John Parnell Mr. Sheridan The Rev. Dr. Parr Mr. Saurin Dr. Samuel Arnold Lord Bridport Mr. Southey Mr. Cumberland The Bishop of Salisbury The Duke of Norfolk Lord Thurlow The Marquis Cornwallis Mifs More Mr. Alderman Boydell Mr. D'Ifraeli Mr. David Williams Lord Rokeby Lord Nelfon Price 75. 7d. in Boards. Mr. George Ponsonby The Duke of Grafton Mr. William Godwin The Marq. of Lanfdown Sir George Yonge Dr. Garnett Dr. Harrington The Dutchefs of Gordon Mifs Linwood Mr. Haftings The Duke of Bedford. Critical Opinions upon the preceding Volumes of this Work. "This work excités much curiosity because it professedly treats of living characters, and we infer that its information is impartial and correct. It is but juflice to own that we have been altogether amused by the publication. British Critic. "A fpirit of candour and moderation evidently pervades the prefent publication. Some of the characters are drawn with great discrimination, and display an acuteness of powers, and a felicity of expreffion, not to be found in the flecting productions of the day. In fhort, the work abounds in moral and critical obfervations that evince correctnefs of judgment, and delicacy of tafle." London Review. "This work difcovers refpectable traits of discrimination, and has the merit of being uncontaminated by the virulence of party fpirit.-Critical Review. "The memoirs contained in thefe volumes are full and accurate in point of information; judicicns in their literary and critical frictures; and exhibit well drawn and appropriate characters of their refpective fubjects. They are not written under the uniform infiuence of any particular theological or political bias. New Annual Regifter. |