repeatedly accused us of covering the stage with

corpses.

On this occasion too his lordship has had recourse to" these aërial beings, whose powers, as described in the songs of the ancient northern nations, were first employed by our Shakespeare," and by the intervention of servants, and the buffo character of Peres, a physician, converted the piece into a tragi-comedy.

We have thus, in addition to an account of the illustrious author, indulged in a long and descriptive catalogue of his works; but no apology is required upon this occasion, for while the Earl of Carlisle, in imitation of some of the greatest men of the last age, pursues the career of literature, we are anxious to follow at a distance, and pointing to the gaol, hold him up to the example and imitation of our nobility.

GEORGE ISAAC HUNTINGFORD, D. D.

LORD BISHOP OF GLOUCESTER.

ONE advantage, and that of no inconsiderable consequence, attending an ecclesiastical establishment like that in England, is the encouragement it holds out to pre-eminent virtue and talents. The levelling system would in a great measure destroy that powerful incentive to learning which arises from the prospect of preferment. If we examine attentively the catalogue of prelates who have graced the hierarchy in this kingdom, since the Reformation, we shall find that by far the greater part arose to that distinction solely

through

through their personal merits, and, comparatively speaking, from the humbler walks of life.

To the honour of the present administration, we have observed them exercising their patronage, in thể disposal of the higher ecclesiastical dignities, with the most marked and liberal regard to distinguished piety and learning. This has been strikingly instanced in the promotion of a Vincent to the deanry of West minster, and of a Burgess and a Huntingford to the sces of St. David's and Gloucester. Of the last men tioned prelate we shall here attempt to give a brief but correct biographical sketch.

George Isaac Huntingford, D. D. who now fills so honourably the chair which was once occupied by the Herculean and haughty Warburton, was born of res➡ pectable parents in the city of Winchester, in the year 1748. He received his grammatical education in the school founded by that magnificent patron of learning, William of Wykeham; but though he successively filled the stations of sub-preceptor, usher, and master in that venerable seminary, yet he was never upon the foundation. So great was his proficiency, and correct his deportment, that at the early age of eighteen he was appointed an instructor in the school of Winchester. His academical studies were pursued, as usual, at New College, Oxford, where he proceeded to his degrees in arts, and on being elected fellow became an eminent tutor, having among other eminent persons, the present chancellor of the exchequer for a pupil. As an assistant to the amiable Joseph Warton, with whom he always lived on the happiest

terms,

terms, he conducted Winchester school with distinguished honour to the teachers, and advantage to those who had the benefit of their instructions.

Upon the death of his brother, Dr. Thomas Huntingford, he was nominated to succeed him in the living and mastership of the school of Warminster, in Wiltshire. At the same time he took his brother's widow and seven fine children to live with him; two of the latter are since married, one to Gorges Lowther Esq. M. P. and the other to Stonhouse Vigur, Esq. of the family of Mr. Vansittart, and grandson of the late reverend Sir James Stonhouse, Bart.

This Dr. Thomas Huntingford was a man of extensive erudition, and of the most refined taste. He shewed the latter in the many improvements which he commenced at his residence in Warminster; though, it must be confessed, his prudence may be called in question, as he thereby considerably diminished his property.

Another brother of the bishop's is Mr. James Huntingford, in the profession of the law; a gentleman eminently distinguished by a vigorous understanding and extensive information. Several of the public institutions in the metropolis, principally of a benevolent nature, are indebted to him either for their origin, or for the flourishing state of their circumstances. He has been for several years occupied on an undertaking of great maguitude and importance, a "Digest of the Statute Laws," on a new plan. In this vast and seemingly impracticable design he has laboured with astonishing assiduity; and amongst his subscribers

subscribers we observe enrolled nearly all the bishops, judges, temporal lords, and other distinguished personages in the realm, besides the universities and corporations.

To return to the bishop. Though he is a man, unquestionably, of strong and active mind, he has never manifested any ardent wish for preferment. In the mastership of Winchester school he succeeded, of course, on the resignation of Dr. Warton, and afterwards obtained, which seems to have been his utmost ambition, the wardenship of the college, worth about the annual value of twelve hundred pounds.

However, his friend Mr. Addington could not pass by his modest, unassuming, and unsoliciting merits unrewarded; and on the translation of Dr. Beaden to the see of Bath and Wells, Dr. Huntingford was nominated without his knowlege to that of Gloucester. But the situation he held at Winchester was more congenial to his love of tranquillity, and habits of life; to render the preferment, therefore, the more agreeable to him, he was permitted to hold the wardenship with the bishopric. His lordship is unmar. ried, and when the circumstance has been mentioned to him, with some degree of surprise, he has jocularly turned towards the children of his deceased brother, and asked whether he had not already a sufficient family?

In return, the children naturally regard him as their parent; while their mother, by her care and attention, contributes not a little to his ease and enjoyment.

From

From this pleasing scene, which places his lordship in the most amiable and honourable point of view, we turn to consider him in his prominent character as a scholar and divine. In Grecian literature he may perhaps be equalled by a few, but certainly is not excelled by any in the present day. His introduction to the writing of Greek, in two parts, 8vo, bound together, though an elementary book, does infinite credit to the author, and is of inestimable value to learners and teachers.

But his principal credit as a scholar rests upon his Μετρικα τινα Μονοσροφικα, Metrica quedam Monostrophica, published in 1783. This work consists of thirty-one Greek odes, all evincing an elegant taste, a minute acquaintance with the best classical writers, and a skill and judgment rarely to be found in the imitators of ancient models. The inerit of these poems was handsomely acknowledged by a very learned Critic in the Monthly Review, who also entered into a most rigid and particular inquisition of them. The remarks of the ingenious reviewer, who is known to have been Dr. Charles Burney, of Greenwich, were in general just, though it seems as if there were throughout a studied design to find and expose flaws with rather too much of the microscopic spirit of criticism. However, it is but fair to observe, that much praise was bestowed on the author in summing up the evidence upon his work, and the following handsome apology is too honourable both to the author and the critic to be omitted here.

"We think (says the reviewer) that no apology is necessary to Mr. Huntingford for the mode which we have adopted in our 1803-1804.

Y

criticism;