comparative scarceness of maps at that time forms no good ex cuse for so universal a scholar. He retracted his error in the subsequent impressions." F. WRANGHAM.

P. 48, note, 1. 35, r. “240.”—P. 67, note, 1. 26, г. “1746." P. 85, note, 1. 5, for "hearers," r. "heroes."

P. 93. Of Mr. William Law, the celebrated Mystick (whose name frequently occurs in these volumes), I shall here give some particulars, from Mr. Gibbon's "Memoirs of his own Life," and other sources. - After stating that his Grandfather, Edward Gibbon, esq. who lived at Putney in great hospitality, and died in December 1736, at the age of 70, by his last Will (at the expence of his Son Edward, to whose marriage he was not reconciled) enriched his two Daughters, Catherine and Hester; and that the former became the wife of Mr. Elliston, an EastIndia Captain; he says, "A life of devotion and celibacy was the choice of my Aunt, Mrs. Hester Gibbon, who, at the age of 85, still [1796] resides in a Hermitage at Cliffe in Northamptonshire, having long survived her spiritual guide and faithful companion, Mr. William Law, who, at an advanced age, about the year 1761, died in her house. In our family he had left the reputation of a worthy and eminently-pious man, who believed all that he professed, and practised all that he enjoined. The character of a Nonjuror, which he maintained to the last, is a suffificient evidence of his principles in Church and State; and the sacrifice of interest to conscience will be always respectable. His theological writings, which our domestic connexion has tempted me to peruse, preserve an imperfect sort of life; and I can pronounce with more confidence than knowledge on the merits of the Author. His last compositions are darkly tinctured by the incomprehensible visions of Jacob Behmen; and his Discourse on the absolute Unlawfulness of Stage-Entertainments is sometimes quoted for a ridiculous intemperance of sentiment and language: The Actors and Spectators must all be damned. The Playhouse is the Porch of Hell, the place of the Devil's abode, where he holds his filthy Court of Evil Spirits. A Play is the Devil's triumph; a sacrifice performed to his glory, as much as in the Heathen Temples of Bacchus or Venus,' &c. &c. But these sallies of religious phrenzy must not extinguish the praise that is due to Mr. William Law as a Wit and a Scholar. His argument on topicks of less absurdity is specious and acute; his manner is lively, his style forcible and clear; and, had not his vigorous mind been clouded by enthusiasm, he might be ranked with the most agreeable and ingenious Writers of the times. While the Bangorian Controversy was a fashionable theme, he entered the lists, on the subject of Christ's kingdom, and the authority of the Priesthood. Against the 'Plain Account of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper,' he resumed the combat with Bishop Hoadly, the object of Whig idolatry and Tory abhorrence; and, at every weapon of attack and defence, the Nonjuror, on the ground which is common to both, approves himself at least equal to the Prelate. On the appearance of the

'Fable

Fable of the Bees,' he drew his pen against the licentious doctrine, that private vices are public benefits; and Morality as well as Religion must join in his applause. Mr. Law's masterwork, the "Serious Call," is still read as a popular and powerful book of devotion. His precepts are rigid, but they are founded on the Gospel; his satire is sharp, but it is drawn from the knowledge of human life; and many of his portraits are not unworthy the pen of La Bruyere. If he finds a spark of piety in his Reader's mind, he will soon kindle it to a flame; and a Philosopher must allow that he exposes, with equal severity and truth, the strange contradiction between the faith and practice of the Christian World. Under the names of Flavia and Miranda, he has admirably described my two Aunts, the Heathen and the Christian Sister."-"This," says Mr. Lemoine, "is the character the famous Historian is compelled by the spirit of truth to give to the piety and goodness of Mr. Law, the most original Writer of his day." 'Many years since," adds another Correspondent, "I was acquainted with some of his admirers, from whom I understood that Mr. Law was a bachelor all his life-time; that in person he was a well-set man, and rather of a dark complexion, though remarkably cheerful in his temper; and that he was upwards of 70 years of age when he paid the debt of Nature. From another person of veracity I have likewise heard, that such was Mr. Law's love of privacy and a state of recollection, that it was very seldom indeed that he passed away more than two hours in the company of any person whatever. With a very small patrimony also, Mr. Law was remarkably charitable; but it was principally confined to his poor neighbours, the manufacturers of wooden-ware in and about King's Cliffe, co. Northampton. In this benevolent disposition he was joined by the two maiden Ladies with whom he resided at King's Cliffe. Their object was, not to encourage the idle and dissolute, but to promote and facilitate the good intentions and endeavours of the industrious; and sorry I am that I cannot recollect the particulars of some anecdotes of Mr. Law which I have heard from a man of letters now no more. From him, if I mistake not, I likewise heard, that Mr. Law gave the copies of all his works intended for publication to his Bookseller; but that for some one of them Messieurs Richardson and Urquhart insisted upon his acceptance of 100 guineas. Your Correspondent might have added to what he relates as the sallies of Mr. Law's frenzy, that the latter, the better to understand his favourite author Jacob Behmen, made himself master of the German language; a task of no small labour and difficulty to a native of this country. Whether the "Serious Call" be Mr. Law's master-piece, I have some doubt. I should give the palm to his "Case of Reason stated," in answer to "Christianity as old as the Creation." The style and conclusions are almost as plain and convincing as any of the deductions in common arithmetick; and at this present time [1800], as the public mind is not quite cured of the predi

lection

lection it has lately entertained for the French Goddess of Reason, I presume a cheap edition of that work by Mr. Law might effectually remove their propensity, as it exhibits Reason not the Empress (as the French and English Free-thinkers have displayed her), but too often "the blind tool and most abject drudge of the passions." I cannot say that I ever saw a fair statement of the religious tenets of the people, like Mr. Law, attached to such writers as Jacob Behmen, but who have lately been swept away by the fanciful followers of Emanuel Swedenborg, whose genuine origin in this country is impartially delineated in the "Rise and Dissolution of the Infidel Societies."-[ forgot to mention the opinion of Mr. John Wesley respecting Mr. Law's literary abilities, viz. that his writings would remain an everlasting testimony of the strength and purity of the English language. W. H. REID."

Mr. Law's Publications are, 1. "A serious Call to a devout and holy Life, adapted to the State and Condition of all Orders of Christians." 2. "A Practical Treatise upon Christian Perfection." 3. "Three Letters to the Bishop of Bangor, 1717," Svo. 4. "Remarks upon a late Book, intituled, "The Fable of the Bees; or, Private Vices Public Benefits," Svo. 5. "The absolute Unlawfulness of Stage-Entertainments fully demonstrated," 8vo. 6. "The Case of Reason, or Natural Religion, fairly and fully stated," Svo. 7. "An earnest and serious Answer to Dr. Trapp's Discourse of the Folly, Sin, and Danger, of being righteous over-much," 8vo. 8. "The Grounds and Reasons of Christian Regeneration," Svo. 9. "A Demonstration of the gross and fundamental Errors of a late Book, called, "A plain Account of the Nature and End of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper," affectionately addressed to all Orders of Men, and more especially to all the younger Clergy, 1735," 8vo. 10. "An Appeal to all that doubt or disbelieve the Truths of the Gospel." 11. "The Spirit of Prayer; or, the Soul rising out of the Vanity of Time into the Riches of Eternity; in Two Parts," 8vo. 12. "The Spirit of Love; in Two Parts," 8vo. 13. "The Way to Divine Knowledge; being several Dialogues between Humanus, Academicus, Rusticus, and Theophilus, as preparatory to a new Edition of the Works of Jacob Behmen, and the right Use of them," 8vo. 14. "A short but sufficient Confutation of the Rev. Dr. Warburton's projected Defence (as he calls it) of Christianity, in his Divine Legation of Moses; in a Letter to the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of London." 15. " A Collection of Letters on the most interesting and important Subjects, and on several Occasions," 8vo. "Of Justification by Faith and Works; a Dialogue between a Methodist and a Churchman," 8vo. 17. " An humble, earnest, and affectionate Address to the Clergy," Svo.

16.

Thus far I had actually printed my account of Mr. Law (founded on what had been said in Gent. Mag. vol. LXX. pp. 720, 1038), when the kindness of a Friend pointed out to me "A short Account of the Life and Writings of the late Rev.

William

William Law, A. M. Author of The Serious Call to a Devout Life, and of many other not less valuable Works; with an Ap pendix, which contains Specimens of his Writings. By Richard Tighe, 1813;" from which I shall extract a few dates. Mr. Law was born at King's Cliffe in 1686; and was the second son of Mr. Thomas Law, grocer. He was educated at the Grammarschool either of Oakham or Uppingham; admitted a Student of Emanuel College, Cambridge, Jan. 7, 1705; B. A. 1708-9; Fellow 1711; M. A. 1712. Not chusing to take the oaths to King George I. he resigned his Fellowship in 1716. He was for some little time a Curate in London; and soon after went to reside at Putney with Mr. Gibbon, as Tutor to his son Edward, who was the Historian's Father. In 1717 he engaged in controversy, by writing in favour of the authority of the Christian Ministry in a National Church. Between that period and 1737 he published several Tracts, all in support of Religion in general, accompanied with the earnest recommendation of good morals. In 1727 he founded an Almshouse at King's Cliffe for two old women, either unmarried and helpless or widows; also a School for 14 girls; which in 1755 had an annual income of 541.; improved in 1813 to 691. Whilst standing at a door in London, he had a sealed paper, directed to him, delivered into his hands, containing a Bank-note for 1000l.; with which, it is supposed, those Charities were established. Mrs. Hester Gibbon (his Pupil's sister) and Mrs. Hutcheson (widow of Archibald Hutcheson, esq. of the Middle Temple), two excellent ladies, were introduced to each other's acquaintance by the means of Mr. Law; and, having formed the plan of retiring from the world to the exercise of charitable and religious duties, they took Mr. Law as their chaplain, instructor, and almoner. At first they hired a house at Thrapston in Northamptonshire; but in 1740 they enabled Mr. Law to prepare for them a roomy house, near the church, at King's Cliffe. Mrs. Gibbon's annual income was nearly 1000l.; Mrs. Hutcheson's about 2000l. ; and their bounty was extended to the poor of an extensive circle. In 1745 Mrs. Hutcheson founded a School at King's Cliffe for 18 boys, endowed with an annual income of 1481. Mr. Law died April 9, 1761; and his remains were placed in a new tomb, built by Mrs. Gibbon. Mrs. Hutcheson died in January 1781, aged 91; and her remains were placed, by her particular desire, at the feet of Mr. Law, in a new tomb. Mrs. Gibbon died in June 1790, aged 86; and was buried with Mr. Law. Her property she gave by will to her Nephew the Historian, who long expected it, but not without apprehensions that his Aunt would devise it to some of those friends with whom she had spent her life. A "Selection from the Works of Mr. Law," a large octavo, was published by subscription in 1800.

P. 97. Dr. Christopher Wilson was of Catharine Hall, Cambridge; B. A. 1736; M. A. 1740; and was Proctor of the University in 1742-3; the last Dr. Henry Stebbing, a Fellow of the

same

same College, being at the same time one of the Moderators in the Philosophy Schools. He occurs Rector of Fulham, Rector of Willingale Spayne, in Essex, from 1744 to 1770, and Vicar of Halsted, in the same county, from 1744 to 1768; the former in the gift of the Crown, on the nomination of the Bishop of London, the latter in the gift of the Bishop of London absolutely; and was, in 1748, installed a Prebendary of Westminster, which he resigned in 1758, on being made a Canon Residentiary of St. Paul's. He was afterwards Prebendary of Finsbury, and Rector of Barnes in Surrey, which he held in commendam; and was advanced to the See of Bristol in 1783. He published a Sermon delivered before the House of Peers, Jan. 31, 1785, from Dan. v. 21; and, had he not been prevented by illness, would have been the Preacher in course at the Anniversary Meeting of the Society for propagating the Gospel, 1791. He died April 18, 1792, in his 78th year. Bp. Wilson's life was of that undiversified tenor which distinguishes Churchmen who intermeddle little with Politicks, Controversy, or Literature. Exemplary was his conduct in every social claim upon character. His high office was sustained with suitable dignity; and the urbanity and intelligence of the Gentleman and the Scholar gave a finish to his domestic manners. They who look for the habitudes of life to influence the moment of dissolution may infer the best of his, for his serenity was unruffled; and, not having lived to give pain to others, at the close of being he felt none himself. He had ordered a full and superb set of communion-plate, which he intended to present to the new Church of St. Paul, in his Episcopal City of Bristol. He left one son and five daughters; and died extremely rich, having, as Prebendary of Finsbury, made a most fortunate and lucrative Contract for a Lease with the City of London.

The amazing improvement in that Prebendal Manor is worthy of notice; and, having been for four years (from 1788 to 1791) an active Member of the Committee of City Lands (under whose management, in conjunction with Bp. Wilson, the plan was completed), I can attest the authenticity of the narrative; which was originally drawn up, by my old friend Deputy Solomon Wadd, for the use of Mr. Ellis, the very intelligent Historian of Shoreditch.

"In the year 1768 an Act was passed, to enable Christopher Wilson, D. D. and Prebendary of Finsbury, to make and grant unto the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of London, a Lease of the Prebendal Estate, for a Term of Ninety-nine Years; which Preamble recites, that Edward Moyle, Prebendary of Haliwell and Finsbury, by his Deed indented, made Dec. 14, in the first and second years of Philip and Mary, granted to the Mayor and Commonalty of London the whole Manor of Finsbury, with its Appurtenances, for the Term of Fourscore and Ten Years, at and under the yearly reserved Rent of 391. 13s. 4d.; and that, by Indenture, bearing date 16 February 10 Elizabeth, John Spendlowe, Clerk, then Prebendary of Haliwell and Finsbury,

granted