fectly familiar to his mind: but, in private conversation with two or three select friends, he communicated his knowledge with the most. ingenuous freedom. He was equally ready both to give, and to receive, instruction. With the scholar described by Chaucer,

Sounding in morall virtue was his speech,

And gladly would he learne, and gladly teach.

It has been suggested, that he published not specimens of his own composition. For this omission, if it should be deemed a defect, various reasons might be alleged. But it is sufficient to observe, that he forgot not the department, in which Providence had fixed him. The arduous task of instructing youth, his allotted portion in life, engrossed his entire attention. I have however some cause to think, that if he had been fortunate enough to have obtained an exemption from the labours of his occupation by a comfortable provision, and indulged in the decline of life with a sound body and the free enjoyment of his mental faculties, he would have enriched the literary world with a work, which would not have disgraced the fame of the accomplished scholar.

Of the excellency of our civil and ecclesiastical constitution he justly entertained the most respectful sentiments: and these he studiously endeavoured to inculcate into his scholars. No one

loved his country with a more cordial affection. Every event, which tended to promote it's prosperity, filled him with an exultation almost enthusiastic; whilst any disastrous accident sunk his mind into dejection. If he had lived to see the romantic plans of those men, who under the specious idea of reform are vainly ambitious to excite discontent amidst a happy people, how serious would have been his indignation! One virtuous effort to amend the morals of society would have availed with him more than ten thousand airy schemes of political innovation.

His religious character I contemplate with the sincerest pleasure. Deeply affected with the momentous truths of Revelation himself, he had no wish nearer to his heart, than that of impressing a due sense of them upon the minds of others. A lovely pattern of Christian faith and Christian practice, he exhibited in his life and conversation the vital energy of inward religion; and uniformly displayed that charming simplicity of manners, which so strongly characterised the great Doctor of the Jewish Law, dignified by our Divine Master with the title of an Israelite indeed, in whom there was no guile-a title, infinitely surpassing all the distinctions of earthly grandeur !

And though, from his natural diffidence, he could seldom persuade himself to preach before a crowded audience, he was always ready to assist a

brother-clergyman in the neighbouring villages. Once, however, he conquered his timidity. The Rev. Thomas Mease, who had for upward of fifty years regularly attended the service of St. John's Church, Beverley (usually called the Minster) in a diligent performance of his duty, which was preaching twice on Sundays and once on Wednesdays, died at the advanced age of eighty. Mr. Clarke, thinking it a disgrace that the remains of so venerable a person should be carried to the grave unnoticed, delivered upon that occasion an excellent and appropriate discourse.

The institution of youth, in this country, is generally consigned to the clergy. Those of them, who from the earliest period of their lives have devoted themselves to this momentous function, are surely entitled to a grateful return for their labours. Yet have we not reason to regret, that they are frequently left unrewarded? Detached from the bustle and glitter of the world, they know not the windings of that crooked path, which often leads to promotion. But this is not invariably the case. The merit of a Gilpin * has been distinguished by the bene

* The reader, who has a relish for the beauties of nature, will be highly gratified with Mr. Gilpin's Forest Scenery ;' 'Scotch Tour,' &c. His Lectures on the Church-Catechism,' and his Exposition of the New Testament,' are entitled to every encomium. He was presented to a prebend of Salisbury, in 1783, by Bishop Barrington.

ficence of an eminent prelate. An unsolicited preferment, bestowed by the same prelate upon a gentleman in his diocese, who for the space of forty years had sustained the character of a Good Schoolmaster, demands our warmest applause. Such instances are, indeed, too rare; but, when they do occur, they fill the mind with genuine satisfaction.

Mr. Clarke was induced to expect a presenta tion from a person, who possessed considerable patronage in a distant county. A vacancy occurred, and a prior engagement was pleaded. A second, a third vacancy followed. Still the promised boon did not arrive. At one time several of the Nobility, with some Members of Parliament, solicited for him preferment from the Duke of Newcastle, then Prime Minister. His Grace, however, resisted the application, urging the hackneyed objection, that to comply with their request would be to deprive the public of a Good Schoolmaster.' He was at length presented by Mr. Jolliffe, formerly one of his scholars, who had married Miss Meek, the daughter of Mrs. Clarke, to a small vicarage in Essex. But his imbecility, both of mind and body, incapacitated him from receiving institution. The living was held for his benefit by the Rev. Robert Ingram, the present incumbent, who had been educated under him. This clergyman, in the privacy of a country-village, devotes his whole time to the

study of the Sacred Writings, and particularly of the prophetic parts. The Remarks, which he has published on several passages of the Apocalypse, deserve to be more known. But little encouragement is given to pursuits of this kind, though of infinite consequence to religion when conducted with sobriety and discretion.

A considerable income annually accrued to our amiable preceptor from the uniformly-flourishing state of his school: yet various causes conspired to preclude him from even a moderate acquisition of wealth. He was temperate indeed in his desires, and free from excess in his mode of living; but, upon all occasions, he was beneficent and generous. Having imbibed the very spirit of integrity, he entertained no distrust of the good faith of others: and thus, unskilled in the lessons of secular prudence, he incurred great pecuniary losses. One day examining the state of his finances, he found it so ill according with his expectations, that he burst into tears; agitated no doubt with the dismal apprehensions of distress in that condition of wretchedness, to which he might possibly be reduced by the pressure of age or of

disease.

A wise and good man, when he arrives at a certain period of life, conscious of having performed the duties of his station with credit to himself and advantage to his fellow-creatures, cheerfully retires from public bustle, and in the