conduct which no consideration of self has with-held him from pursuing; and we are happy to observe, that although Admiral Roddam has attained an age to which the generality of mankind do not reach, yet he possesses a strength of constitution equal to the activity of his mind. SIR RICHARD HILL, BART. M. P. AND THE REV. ROWLAND HILL. SIR RICHARD HILL is the eldest son of Sir Rowland Hill, of Hampstone, in Salop, Baronet. He was educated, we believe, at Westminster school, whence he was removed to the university of Oxford, where he soon distinguished himself by the peculiarities of methodism. Whether he figured as a preacher while he was at Oxford we know not, but he has more than once displayed his zeal from the Evangelical pulpits; and we remember to have heard him several years ago at Truro, in Cornwall, where he preached in the meeting-house to a very crowded audience, clad in a green coat, ornamented with gold lace, At an early period of life he was elected knight of the shire for his native county, and has invariably oc⚫ cupied that scat in every succeeding parliament to the present time. Sir Richard adhered firmly to Lord North during the American war; and has been equally equally constant to Mr. Pitt and his successor.* He used to be a pretty constant speaker in the House, and the motley mixture of politics and religion which composed his harangues was wont oftentimes to excite considerable merriment. The author of "Criticisms on the Rolliad" has attempted to fix on the peculiarities of the worthy Baronet; but, like all satirists, he borders on the extravaganza, and in pursuit of severity outsteps the bounds of justice. "With Bible bawdy, and with sacred smut, "And that of all the jest books man has known, "The Bible's merits most distinguish'd shone." And again, "With wit so various, piety so odd, 66 Quoting by turns from Miller and from GOD; "Shall no distinction wait thy honour'd name? "No lofty epithet transmit thy fame? "Forbid it wit, from mirth refin'd away! "Forbid it Scripture, which thou mak'st so gay ! ་་ Scipio, we know, was Africanus call'd, "Richard styl'd Longshanks-Charles surnam'd the Bald "And no proud phrase, with panegyric sound, "Swell thy fhort name, great Hill?-Here take thy due, About the same time appeared some ingenious satires, called Probationary Odes for the Laureatship, in It is but fair to remark, that Sir Richard delivered an animated and independent speech respecting the late war. which different public characters were made to exhibit their poetical effusions, and among the rest Sir Richard is described as invoking the muse of methodism to assist his pious strains. It is supposed that both these wicked and waggish performances came from the same pen. Sir Richard, when but a young convert, became a zealous champion for the religious party, to which he had attached himself. It is well known that the great leaders of methodifm, Wesley and Whitfield, adopted opposite sentiments on the extent of salvation. The former allowed that man is a free agent, and that the satisfaction of Christ was made for all men. These points were flatly denied by Whitfield and the calvinistical methodists, who made man a passive instrument till grace inspired him with divine life; and they contended that the elect only, or those who were predestinated from all eternity, shall be made partakers of the kingdom of heaven. A fierce contention arose among the methodistical leaders upon these inscrutable topics, and they almost proceeded to excommunicate one another for heterodoxy. The Calvinists were by far the most violent, and the harshness of their creed inspired them with the most intolerant sentiments. Sir Richard Hill waged war against the whole host of Arminians, and published several pamphlets upon the doctrines in dispute, which exhibited considerable knowledge of the subject, and evinced no small skill in theological controversy. About the same time, the university of Oxford began to be jealous of the progress of me thodism, thodism, and finding that Edmund-hall contained some students who exercised their preaching talents before they were duly authorised, expelled them. This caused a mighty outcry among the zealots; and several pieces were published against the conduct of Dr. Howell, principal of the hall, and other heads of houses who were engaged in that affair. Among the rest Sir Richard came forward as the champion of methodism, in a tract which was written with great shrewdness and spirit, entitled " Pietas Oxoniensis." Not long after this he engaged in a paper war with Dr. Adams, rector of St. Chad's, Shrewsbury, on the following occasion. It was the custom of the late Mr. Romaine, whom the Calvinists regarded as their prophet, to spend some of the summer months in travelling, and in one of these excursions he was invited to preach at the Doctor's church. He accepted the invitation; but his sermon was so little to the vicar's taste, that he is said to have treated him rather rudely, and even to have preached against him from the same pulpit. The Doctor was soon after attacked in a printed letter with great warmth by the author of Pietas Oxoniensis, and the controversy we believe was continued for some time with no little heat on both sides. But Mr. John Wesley, and a very pious minister in connexion with that extraordinary man, the Rev. Mr. John Fletcher, vicar of Madely, were the principal antagonists of Sir Richard. The whole field of controversy between Calvinism and Arminianism was traversed over and over again by these adroit pole mics; but there was one gentleman who had a manifest advantage over all the rest, and that was Mr. Au gustus Toplady. He possessed a considerable degree of learning, a great command of language, an extent of reading, and such a competency of metaphysics and logic, as enabled him to give to Calvinism an attracting appearance. When that gentleman, died, it seems the Wesleyan methodists propagated some scandalous stories concerning the manner of his departure, as that he had recanted his opinions, and expired distracted. In confutation of this slanderous reproach, Sir Richard printed a finall pamphlet, which abundantly vindicated the consistent integrity of his departed friend, and did honour to his own feelings. Since that time he has published a few other pieces, some practical and others controversial. The chief of his works, however, is "An Apology for Brotherly Love, and for the Doctrines of the Church of England, in Letters to the Rev. Charles Daubeny; with a Vindication of such parts of Mr. Wilberforce's Practical View as have been objected to by Mr. Daubeny in his Guide to the Church." 8vo. 1798. In this work Sir Richard evinces greater moderation than in his former pieces; and it must be admitted that, so far as the faith of the church of England is concerned, he encounters his adversary to great advantage. We here close our view of the Baronet as a writer, to notice him as a divine; for be it known, that with all his zeal for the church of England, he actually officiates as a preacher, or an exhorter, in a chapel at his beautiful seat in Shropshire. Whether this be |