Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

the Governor, in his Message, "is nearly a transcript of the English system, and a worse model could not be found. Experience has shewn that pauperism has increased in the ratio of its supplies and accommodations." We are glad to find that such just opinions prevail in the new world respecting a system which so many persons among ourselves not only applaud, but would even extend to Ireland, where its baneful effects would be still more pernicious than in England or New York. We heartily wish that the New-York Legislature would imitate our own in abolishing lotteries, so far as its own State is concerned, and in prohibiting the sale of tickets, either national or belonging to other States. Our readers may judge of the extent of the evil when they consider that New York has been computed to contain more than one hundred and sixty lottery offices, and is in fact the great depôt for the whole Union. By another strange anomaly in legislation, the proceeds of the licences of these pestilential establishments are appropriated to the public-school fund, and the deafand-dumb asylum. We earnestly recommend the friends of religion and good morals in America, to turn their attention to this subject, and we doubt not that in the end, whatever opposition they may meet with from those who are interested in the present system, they will find their reward in abolishing this great public evil.

DOMESTIC.

Government have at length brought forward their plan respecting the trade in corn; which, though it has met with strenuous opposition from the advocates for a corn monopoly, is less favourable to a liberal system of trade in this article than we think sound policy and justice demand, especially when we consider the deeply afflicting condition of our manufacturing population, to whom cheap bread is the most important of all articles of consumption. The proposed plan is, that grain should be allowed to be imported at all times for home consumption but under the protection of certain duties. Thus, when wheat is at the price of 60 to 61s. per quarter, the duty shall be 20s. from 61 to 62s. 18s.; from 62 to 63s. 16s., and so on up to 70s. when the duty would cease and importation be free, excepting a trifling payment of 1s. The same ratio of 2s. duty for every shilling in price is to take place in the descending scale, so that when the price falls only to 55s., there will be a duty of 30s. which

would be in fact prohibitory. Barley, oats, and other species of grain are to be regulated by corresponding duties calculated according to their relative value. Much discussion has ensued, and some amendments have been proposed; but the general measure has been sanctioned by considerable majorities in the House of Commons. Warm opposition, however, seems to await it in the House of Lords; but we trust not so as to defeat the leading provisions of the plan, which, though far from what is to be wished on this great branch of policy, is at least an improvement of the existing system, and proceeds on a much sounder principle.

The question of Catholic Emancipation has been again brought forward in the House of Commons, on a motion by Sir Francis Burdett, for" taking into consideration the present laws inflicting penalties and disabilities uport our RomanCatholic fellow-subjects with a view of removing them." The debate lasted two nights; in the course of which most of the leading speakers, and various other members particularly interested in this subject, addressed the house. We cannot undertake to give even an outline of these protracted discussions; which resulted in a rejection of the motion by a majority of four: no fewer than 548 members voting; 272 for, and 276 against the motion. The subject is, however, far from being set at rest; and frequent conversations are occurring respecting it in both houses, especially the House of Lords. We much fear lest it should prove a source of greater discords than ever; for never, in the opinion of persons of all parties, has the state of Ireland been less a subject of more serious uneasiness than at present.

Mr. Peel is adding to his claims upon the gratitude of the country, by the introduction of several highly valuable bills for consolidating, and in part amending, successive portions of the criminal jurisprudence of the country. These bills will remove one hundred and thirty statutes, and condense the law respecting theft into twenty-nine pages. The language also will be rendered more intelligible by the omission of useless and tautologous phraseology. The bills will also, in some respects, diminish capital punishments; an object which Mr. Peel states his wish gradually to extend further, as the intelligence of the country may allow.

A bill has been brought in by the Master of the Rolls for regulating proceedings in Chancery. It is founded upon the report of the Commissioners, and it

embodies various useful suggestions, but it does not cut at once at the root of the delays and charges of that dilatory and expensive court.

Lord Wharncliffe has introduced a bill for amending the game laws, into the House of Lords, grounded on similar provisions to those which he so zealously advocated in the House of Commons.

We cordially wish his lordship success in his humane and enlightened endeavours to meliorate this lamentably defective part of our legislation and social system.

A bill has also been brought into the House of Commons for prohibiting the use of spring guns and steel traps for the protection of game,

ECCLESIASTICAL PREFERMENTS.

Rev. A. Russell, Archd. of Clogher. Rev. G. Vernon, Preb. of Kilgoghlin, Ireland.

Rev. W. Airey, Hexham P. C. Northum.
Rev. J. Coyte, Farnham P. C. Suffolk.
Rev. T. Cupples, Balyrashane V. Ire-
land.

Rev. R. Firmin, Fingringhoe V. Essex.
Rev. N. W. Hallward, Milden R. Suf-

folk.

[ocr errors]

Rev.
Rev. W. Mill, Ballywellan V. Ireland.
Rev. J. Morewood Dunlace R. Ireland.
Rev. C. Musgrave, Halifax V. co. York.
Rev. C. Tetherston, Nenagh R. Ireland.
Rev. C. H. Williams, Cloverly R. co.
Devon.

Hume, Birr. V. Ireland.

Right Rev. Dr. John Kaye, Bishop of Bristol, to be Bishop of Lincoln.

Rev. Dr. Charles Lloyd, Regius Professor of Divinity in Oxford University, to be Bishop of Oxford,

Rev. J. Headlam to be Archdeacon of Richmond.

Rev. J. B. Atkinson, West Cowes P. C. Hants.

Rev. L. A. Cliffe, Samford Arundell V. Somerset.

Rev. W. E. Coldwell, Sandon V. Herts. Rev. T. Coventry, Croome Moutis R. co. Worc.

Rev. Mr. Croft, Hutton Bushel V. co. York.

Rev. Dr. French, Moor Monkton R. co. York.

Rev. L. M. Halton, Woolhampton R. Berks.

Rev. C. A. St. Jolin Mildmay, Chelmsford R. Essex.

Rev. G. Pellew, St George R. with St. Mary Magdalen, Canterbury.

Rev. T. Morgan, Lansadara V. with' Lanurada Chapel, co. Carnarvon.

Rev. C. Musgrave, Halifax V. co. York. Rev. F. Swanton St. John's P. C. Winch.

Rev. T. Tweddell, Liddington V. with Caldecot, co. Rutland.

Rev. W. Vaughan, Astley P. C. Salop. Rev. J. Vernon, Shrawley R. co. Worc.

Rev. C. Hall, Chaplain to Lord Macdonald.

Rev. N. R. Dennis, and Rev. H. Parker, to be Chaplains to the Forces.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

THEOGNIS; D. B.; S. B.; SELEWO; B. B.; H.M.; OMICRON IGNOTUS; C. R. S.; G. F. A.; F. M.; J. H.; G. W. P.; N. Ó.; SCRIBONIUS LARGUS; P. O.; J. J.,. are under consideration.

We have received several other answers to B. W. since the one in our present Number was printed. The chief of them shall appear.

F. S. has not given his authorities for his calculation.

N. B. D. will find his suggestion anticipated in the No. of the Anti-Slavery Reporter for this Month, No 22. A paper on the same subject has just been issued by the Manchester Anti-Slavery Society.

We have remitted CEPHAS's donation and I. S.'s subscription for the Poor Pious Clergy Society to the Rev. H. Watkins, Rector of St. Swithin's, London Stone, the Secretary.

R. P. B. wishes us to assure D. R. that he did not intentionally attribute the words of Solomon, Ecc. ix. 10., to St. Paul. The passage which he intended to have quoted was Coloss. iii. 23.

We cannot inform A. M. of any entire volume of prayers designed expressly for husbands and wives; but various forms may be found in Bishop Patrick's Work, and other manuals for private, domestic, and social prayer.

THE

CHRISTIAN OBSERVER.

No. 304.]

APRIL, 1827. [No. 4. Vol. XXVII.

RELIGIOUS COMMUNICATIONS.

For the Christian Observer.

MEMOIR OF JOHN MASON GOOD,

WE

M.D. F.R. S.

E have already noticed the death of this excellent man, which took place at the house of his daughter, at Shepperton, Middlesex, on Tuesday the 2d of January last; and the funeral sermon which was preached on the occasion by Mr. Jerram, first at Shepperton, and then at St. John's Chapel, Bedford Row, Dr. Good's usual place of worship. The sermon, as we have stated, is highly instructive and valuable, considered simply as an explanation of the text; but it is the more impressive on account of the striking account given by the preacher of the state of mind evinced by the deceased during his last short but severe illness. It furnishes an example of the power of faith to overcome the "last enemy" of the Christian; an example which must be truly consoling to surviving friends, and cannot fail to make a salutary impression upon the heart of every considerate reader. Mr. Jerram having allowed us to make use of his pages, and some additional details being in our possession, we doubt not it will both interest and profit our readers to lay before them a brief memoir of Dr. Good's life. We shall however omit much that we might have inserted, in order to comprise our narrative within the limits of a single Numand we do so the more readily because a copious memoir is in preparation by his intimate friend, Dr. Olinthus Gregory, a gentleman, we need not add, eminently quaCHRIST. OBSERV. No. 304.

ber;

lified both as a Christian and a man of talents and erudition, to do justice to the subject. Dr. Gregory purposes, we understand, to enrich his narrative with extracts, both in poetry and prose, from the manuscripts of his deceased friend, and, in addition to a survey of his writings and his literary character, to devote especial attention to the develop, ment of his religious and devotional excellence.

John Mason Good was born May 25, 1764, at Epping, in Essex. He was descended from an old and respectable family at Romsey, in Hampshire. His father was a dissenting minister of exemplary character, and considerable literary attainments. His mother was a Miss Peyto, a lady of very ancient family and a niece of the celebrated John Mason, author of the wellknown treatise on Self-Knowledge, She died when he was an infant; and his father married a Miss Baker, a truly pious woman. He had few literary advantages, but he was from early childhood most diligent in study. He commenced practice as a Surgeon, at Sudbury in Suffolk, when only nineteen years of age. He married a Miss Godfrey, who died suddenly at the end of six months. Six years afterwards he married a daughter of the late J. Fenn, Esq. a banker of Sudbury; and by her he had six children, four of whom died young. In the year 1793, he removed to London, where he soon became distinguished, both as an author and as a medical practitioner. He was also for several years secretary to the Society for bet tering the Condition of the Poor; 2 C

[ocr errors][ocr errors]

and it is generally understood that, in conjunction with the late Sir Thomas Bernard, he drew up many of the instructive and valuable Reports of that society. His publications at this early period were numerous, and some of them still retain their reputation. In the year 1803, he gave to the public the first fruits of his oriental acquisitions, in a translation of the Canticles, with the title "Song of Songs; or, Sacred Idyls," translated from the original Hebrew; with notes, critical and explanatory." In this version a new arrangement is offered, and two distinct translations given: one accommodated to the metre of the original; the other in English verse. The notes, which are numerous and very entertaining, display much taste, and extensive reading. With regard to the precise object of these "idyls," Dr. Good says, "We have no sufficient data to build a decisive judgment. For myself," he adds, "I unite in the opinion of the illustrious Lowth, and believe a sublime and mystic allegory to have been fully intended by the sacred bard. Regarded in this view, they afford an admirable picture of the Jewish and Christian churches; of Jehovah's selection of Israel, as a peculiar people, from the less fair and virtuous nations around them; of his fervent and permanent love for his elder church, so frequently compared by the Hebrew prophets to that of a bridegroom for his bride; of the beauty, fidelity, and submission of the church in return; and of the call of the Gentiles into the pale of his favour, upon the introduction of Christianity, so exquisitely typified under the character of a younger sister, destitute, in consequence of the greater simplicity of its worship, of those external and captivating attractions, which made so prominent a part of the Jewish religion."

For some years after Mr. Good's removal to London, his principal theological associates were Socini

ans, or persons of kindred sentiments among the Roman Catholics. One reason of this unhappy association was the great kindness he had received from some persons of Socinian sentiments in time of adversity. Of this class was an individual of extraordinary talents and erudition, too well known for his bold and fearless innovations as a critic and translator; we mean, the late Dr. Geddes; memoirs of whose life and writings were published by Mr. Good, in the year 1803.

Two years after this, Mr. Good published a translation, in blank verse, of the poem of Lucretius, On the Nature of Things; illustrated by a large body of notes and observersations, indicating an enthusiastic admiration of his author, and elucidating his views by an astonishing variety of quotations from writers in almost every polished language, ancient as well as modern. The whole of this poetical translation, we have been assured, was composed whilst walking in pursuance of his professional engagements, and written down on his return home; for his literary pursuits were but a secondary consideration with him.

From the year 1804 to 1813, Mr. Good was employed, in conjunction with Dr. Olinthus Gregory and Mr. Newton Bosworth, upon a new cyclopædia, entitled Pantalogia; comprised in twelve large and closely-printed royal octavo volumes. Dr. Gregory was the general editor of that work; but Mr. Good composed for it numerous articles, disquisitions, and treatises, many of which are highly curious and elaborate. In reference to Mr. Good's contributions to this work, Dr. Gregory has been often heard to express his astonishment, as well at the extent of erudition which they evinced, as at the extreme accuracy of his acquaintance with a great variety of practical subjects, and the extraordinary facility with which communications, obviously marked by great thought and research, were

transmitted to Dr. Gregory, often on the return of the post by which he applied for them.

During the earlier course of this publication, Mr. Good began to evince a change of sentiments on theological topics; and before long, he broke off the intimacy of his connexion with men of heterodox sentiments. This, the friends who then knew him best, imputed partly to the impression made upon his mind by the circumstance that some Socinians continued to circulate erroneous translations from the New Testament, in favour of their sentiments, after they had acknowledged to him that they were inaccurate, partly by the train of thought suggested by the perusal of the article Cowper, in the Pantalogia, that article containing a defence of Cowper's religion from the charge of producing the affecting malady with which he so long struggled, and partly from the happy result of many confidential conversations with two clerical friends. These, and doubtless numerous other causes, known only to the great Searcher of hearts, produced in him, during the last sixteen or eighteen years, an obvious growth in religious knowledge, experience, and activity, which issued ultimately, by the mercy of God, in the full enjoyment of Christian consolations at the hour of death.

In the year 1812, notwithstand ing the multiplicity of Mr. Good's professional and other engagements, he published, in a large octavo volume, his "Book of Job, literally translated from the original He

brew; and restored to its natural Arrangement; with Notes, critical and illustrative; and an introductory Dissertation on its Scene, Scope, Language, Author, and Object." Although this translation is sometimes marked by technical peculiarities, it is truly spirited, and in many respects highly valuable. The notes, which are very numerous, perhaps too numerous, abound in ingenious defences of the peculiarities of this

translation, and in elaborate and instructive illustrations of the true meaning of the sacred text, drawn, as is usual with this elaborate writer, from the literary storehouses of various ages and nations. In the introductory dissertation, which occupies ninety-two pages, the author very acutely, and, in the opinion of some repectable critics, very successfully, inquires into the scene of the poem, its scope, object, and arrangement; its language; and the difficulties attending a translation of it; its author and æra, and the doctrines which it incidentally develops. Mr. Good's interpretations are, throughout, consistent with the orthodox Christian faith; and, if the train of reasoning pursued in his introductory dissertation be correct, the Book of Job "is the most ancient of all human records; the only book in existence from which we can derive any thing like a systematic knowledge of pure patriarchal religion: and hence that very book which gives completion to the Bible, by adding the dispensations of the earliest ages to those of the Law and of the Gospel, by which it was successively superseded."

In the year 1817 appeared his Physiological System of Nosology, with a corrected and simplified nomenclature. In this work the diseases of the animal functions are arranged in classes, derived from a physiological view of those functions. It is more full and comprehensive in its plan than any previous system of nosology, more simple and intelligible in its classification, and more classical and correct in its language. This work was the precursor of one still more important and extensive; entitled, "The Study of Medicine," the chief object of which was to unite, under one general system, and in conformity to the arrangement he had already given in his Nosology, the various branches of medical science; so that, being contemplated under one point of view, they might throw mutual light on each other.

« AnteriorContinuar »