(Sir David), was born in Edin- burgh on the 28th of October (N.S.) 1726. His father was Sir James Dalrymple of Hailes, Bart. and his mother Lady Christian Hamilton, a daughter of the Earl of Haddington. His grandfather Sir David Dalrymple was the youngest son of the first Lord Stair, and is said to have been the ablest of that family, so much distinguished for ability. He was Lord Advo- cate for Scotland in the reign of George I. and his son Sir James had the auditorship of the exchequer for life.

The subject of this memoir was educated at Eton school, where he was distinguished as a scholar, and long remembered as a virtuous and orderly youth. In that justly celebrated seminary he acquired a classical taste, which, though it was once prevalent in Scotland, has in that country been long on the decline; and formed, besides, friendships to persons, and attachments to things, which accompanied him through life. Hence probably sprung his partiality to English manners and customs, which marked both his public conduct and private con- versation, and was the source of much of his dignity, and some of his littleness.

From Eton he returned to Edinburgh, whence, after the usual course of a gentleman's studies in that univer- sity, he went to Utrecht to study the civil law; and remained there till after the rebellion in 1746. Upon his return to his native country, to promote were his parts, and such his industry and soberness of mind, that very languishing expectations were entertained of his fu- ture eminence; and in some respects these expectations were not frustrated. To his intimate friends it was well known, that if left to follow the bent of his own inclinations, he would have devoted his time and his talents to the study of antiquities and the belles lettres; in both which departments of literature he was emi- nently qualified to excel. On the death of his father, however, he found his affairs so very much encumbered, that in order to retrieve them, and to provide for his bro- thers and sisters, he resolved to follow the law as a pro- fession, in which some of his ancestors had made a dis- tinguished figure.

He was called to the Scotch bar in 1748, where, notwithstanding the elegant propriety of the cases which he drew, it must be confessed that his success did not answer the expectations which had been formed of him. This was not owing either to want of science or to want of industry, but to certain peculiarities, which, if not inherent in his nature, were the result of early and deep-rooted habits. He possessed on all occasions a so- vereign contempt, not only for verbal attacks, but for well rounded periods, and every thing which had the semblance of declamation; and indeed he was wholly unfitted, by an ill-toned voice and ungraceful elocu- tion, for shining as an orator. No wonder, then, that his pleadings, which were never addressed to the passions, did not rival those of some of his opponents, who, possessed of great rhetorical powers, did not, like him, employ strokes of irony too fine to be perceived by the bulk of any audience, but expressed themselves in full, clear, and harmonious periods. Even his memo- rials, though classically written, and often replete with valuable matter, did not on every occasion please the court; for they were always brief, and sometimes, as it was said, indicated more attention to the minutiae of forms than to the merits of the cause. Yet on points which touched his own feelings, or the interests of truth and virtue, his language was animated, his arguments forcible, and his fervent regard to form thrown aside.

He was sometimes employed as a deputy advocate, which gave him opportunities at the circuits of display- ing that candour and tenderness of disposition which so well becomes the public prosecutor in a criminal court. Of this the following instance may be worth relating. On the first day of the court at Stirling, he was once accosted by another advocate in these words: "Sir David, why is there not a trial this forenoon? I would be getting on." "There are (replied he) some unhappy culprits to be tried for their lives; and therefore it is proper that they have time to confer with their men of law." "That is of little consequence (said the other). Last year I came to visit Lord Kames when he was here on the circuit, and he appointed me counsel for a man accused of a rape. Though I had very little time to prepare, yet I made a decent speech." "Pray, Sir," said Sir David, "was your client acquitted or condemned?" "O (replied the other), most unjustly condemned." "That, Sir (said the depute advocate) is no good argument for hurrying on trials."

To return from this digression, if it be considered as such, it is surely to the honour of Sir David Dalrymple, that whatever men thought of his singularities, his detractors concurred with his admirers in believing him incapable of misleading the judge by a false statement of facts; or his clients, by holding out to them fallacious grounds of hope.

His high sense of honour, and his inflexible integrity, were indeed universally admitted; and it was with the warmest approbation of the public that in 1766 he was appointed one of the judges of the court of session, the highest civil tribunal in Scotland. He took his seat on the bench, according to the usage of that court, by the title of Lord Hailes, the designation by which he is generally known among the learned of Europe; and the expectations entertained of him were again sanguine. His unwearied affability in fitting dark and intricate matters to the bottom was well known; his elegant and concise manner of expressing his sentiments was admirably suited to the character of a judge; and his legal opinions had been generally found. Yet it must be confessed, that as a judge he was neither so useful nor so highly revered as he ought to have been from the extent of his knowledge, and his unquestioned integrity. The same minute attention to forms, which had in some degree obstructed his rise at the bar, accompanied him to the bench, and brought upon him the ridicule of the wits about the court (a): and we all know, that the character even of Socrates himself was not able to resist the torrent of ridicule. In extenuation of this foible, it may be observed, that by some of the judges of the court of session perhaps too little regard has been paid to form; and that forms, even apparently trifling, cannot in legal proceedings be wholly disregarded without involving in danger truth and justice. Be this as it may, such was the opinion which the other judges entertained of Lord Hailes's accuracy, diligence, and dignified manners, that, in the absence of the president, they generally voted him into the vacant chair.

In May 1776 he was appointed one of the lords commissioners of judiciary; and in that station he commanded the respect of all mankind. Fully impressed with a deep sense of the importance of his office, he seemed, in the criminal court, to lay aside his singularities. So far from throwing his whole weight into the scale of the crown, a charge which has been sometimes brought, we believe unjustly, against the Scotch judges, Lord Hailes, like the judges of England, was always counsel for the prisoner when the king's counsel appeared too strong for their opponents, or when there was any particular intricacy in the case. In administering

(a) In a satirical ballad on the court of session, Mr Boswell, alluding to Lord Hailes's fondness for verbal criticism, makes him address the president in the following words:

"To judge of this matter I cannot pretend, For justice, my Lord, wants an e at the end." he was made a judge, he considered abstraction from the gay and fashionable world as connected with the duty of one whose time was no longer his own; and when he chose to unbend his mind, it was in the society of a few easy friends, whom he selected as much for their worth and good humour as for their genius or their learning. He had indeed occasionally much con- versation with that constellation of wits and men of science who flourished in Edinburgh at the same period with himself; but it was impossible for friendship or in- timacy to subsist between men who thought so differ- ently as he and they thought on the most important of all subjects. Though an old-fashioned whig, zealously attached to the constitution, he scorned to take any share in the civil or ecclesiastical broils in which some of his brother judges were warmly engaged for the first 20 years of the present reign; for he looked on these as either frivolous or mischievous.

Although his Lordship's constitution had been long in an enfeebled state, he prosecuted his studies, and at- tended his duty on the bench, till within three days of his death, which happened on the 29th of November, 1703, in the 66th year of his age.

His Lordship was twice married; by his first wife Anne Brown, only daughter of Lord Coaliton, one of the judges of the court of session, he left issue one daugh- ter, who inherits the family estate. His second mar- riage (of which also there is issue one daughter) was to Helen Ferguson, youngest daughter of Lord Kilke- ran, who has the affection to survive him. Leaving no male issue, the title of Baronet descends to his ne- phew.

Though the church of Scotland does not much en- courage funeral discourses, a very laudable endeavour was made to render the talents and virtues of Lord Hailes a theme of instruction to mankind, in a sermon preached soon after his death in the church of Inveresk; by his learned friend, and venerable pastor, Dr Carlyle; from which we shall transcribe a summary view of his character as a judge, a scholar, a Christian, and a citi- zen.

"His knowledge of the laws was accurate and pro- found, and he applied it in judgment with the most scrupulous integrity. In his proceedings in the crimi- nal court, the satisfaction he gave to the public could not be surpassed. His abhorrence of crimes, his tender- ness for the criminals, his respect for the laws, and his reverential awe of the Omnipotent Judge, inspired him on some occasions with a commanding sublimity of thought, and a feeling solemnity of expression, that made condemnation seem just as the doom of Provi- dence to the criminals themselves, and raised a salutary horror of crimes in the breast of the audience.

"Conscious of the dignity and importance of the high office he held, he never departed from the decorum that becomes that reverend character; which indeed it cost him no effort to support, because he acted from principle and sentiment, both public and private. Af- fectionate to his family and relations, simple and mild in his manners, pure and conscientious in his morals, en- lightened and entertaining in his conversation; he left society only to regret, that, devoted as he was to more important employments, he had too little time to spare for intercourse with them.

"He was well known to be of high rank in the re- public of letters, and his loss will be deeply felt through many of her departments. His labours in illustration of the history of his country, and many other works of pro- found erudition, remain as monuments of his accurate and faithful research for materials, and his sound judgment in the selection of them. Of his unfeigned piety and devo- tion, you have very often been witnesses where we are now. I must add, however, that his attendance on religious ordinances was not merely out of respect to the laws and for the sake of example (motives which should never fail to have influence on persons of superior rank, for the most obvious reasons), but from principle and conviction, and the most conscientious regard to his duty; for he not only practised all the virtues and char- acter in proof of his faith, but he demonstrated the fin- eness of his zeal by the uncommon pains he took to illustrate primitive Christianity, and by his elaborate and able defences of it against its enemies.

"His profound researches into history, and his tho- rough knowledge of the laws, made him perfectly ac- quainted with the progress of the constitution of Bri- tain, from the first dawn of liberty in the common law of the land, and the trial by jury which preceded all written records, and afterwards in the origin and esta- blishment of parliaments, through all its vicissitudes and dangers, till at last, by the blessing of divine Providence, which brought many wonderful events to concur to the same end, it was renewed, strengthened, and finally con- firmed by the Revolution.

"It was this goodly and venerable fabric of the Bri- tish constitution which the deceased most respectable character contemplated with admiration and delight (of late, indeed, with a mixture of anxiety and fear), as the temple of piety, as the genuine source of greater happiness and freedom, to a larger portion of mankind than ever flowed from any government upon earth.

"Ill indeed can the times bear the loss of such an affectionate patriot and able guardian of the laws of his country. But we must not murmur at the will of Pro- vidence, which in its mercy 'may have withdrawn the good man from the evil to come.' In mercy, I say, to him, whose righteous spirit was so deeply grieved when 'he saw the wicked rage, and the people imagine a vain thing.'"

Such is the memorial which, in the hour of recent fear, followed this excellent man to the grave; and we believe it will yet be allowed to be just by all who had the happiness of his Lordship's acquaintance, and are what he was, friends to the best interests of mankind.

This sketch of the life of Lord Hailes would be more imperfect than even it is, if we could not subjoin to it a catalogue of his publications, of which the greater part are exceedingly curious. We call them publica- tions, because he employed almost as much of his time in republishing old and useful books as in preparing for the press his own valuable works.

Besides his essays in the papers called The World and The Mirror, which are well known and universally ad- mired, his Lordship published the following works: Sacred Poems, or a Collection of Translations and Paraphrases from the Holy Scriptures; by various au- thors, Edinburgh, 1751, 12mo. Dedicated to Charles Lord Hope, with a preface of ten pages. The Wisdom of Solomon, Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus, 12mo, Edin. 1755. Select Discourses (in number nine), by John Smith, late Fellow of Queen's College, Cambridge, 12mo, 291 pages. Edin. 1756; with a preface of five pages, many quotations from the learned languages translated, and notes added, containing allusions to ancient mythology, and to the erroneous philosophy which prevailed in the days of the author,—various inaccuracies of style have been corrected, and harsh expressions softened.

A Discourse of the unnatural and vile Conspiracy attempted by John Earl of Gowry and his Brother, against his Majesty's person, at St John's Town, upon the 5th of Aug. 1600. No date of the republication, but the edition and notes supposed by Lord Hailes, 12mo.

A Sermon, which might have been preached in East Lothian upon the 25th day of October 1761, on Acts xxvii. 1, 2. "The barbarous people showed us no little kindness." Edin. 1761, pp. 25, 12mo. "Occasioned by the country people pillaging the wreck of two vessels, viz. the Betty, Cunningham, and the Leith Packet, Pitcairn, from London to Leith, cast away on the shore between Dunbar and North Berwick. All the passengers on board the former, in number 17, perished; five on board the latter, October 16. 1761."—A most affecting discourse, admirably calculated to convince the offenders!

Memorials and Letters relating to the History of Britain, in the reign of James I. published from the originals, Glasgow, 1762.—Addressed to Philip Yorke, Viscount Roston, pp. 131. "From a collection in the advocate's library, by Balfoir of Dennyln." The preface of four pages, signed Dav. Dalrymple.

The Works of the ever-memorable Mr John Hales of Eaton, now first collected together in 3 vols., Glasgow, 1761; preface of three pages. Dedicated to William (Warburton), Bishop of Gloucester. "The edition said to be undertaken with his approbation; obsolete words altered, with corrections in spelling and punctuation."

A specimen of a book entitled "Ane Compendious Book of Godly and Spiritual Sanga, collectit out of sundrie parts of the Scripture, with sundrie of other Ballates changed out of prophane Sanges, for avoyding of Sin and Harlotrie, with augmentation of sundry Gude and Godly Ballates, not contained in the first edition. Edinburgh, printed by Andrew Hart," 12mo. Edin. 1766, pp. 42; with a Glossary of four pages.

Memorials and Letters relating to the History of Britain in the reign of Charles I. published from the originals, Glasgow, 1766, pp. 189. Preface of six pages, signed Dav. Dalrymple, chiefly collected by Mr Wodrow, author of the History of the Church of Scotland. Inscribed to Robert Dundas of Arniston, Lord President of the Court of Session.

An account of the preservation of Charles II. after the Battle of Worcester, drawn up by himself; to which are added, his Letters to several persons. Glasgow, 1766, pp. 190, from the MSS. of Mr Pepys, dictated to him by the king himself, and communicated by Dr Sandby, master of Magdalen College. The letters are collected from various books; some of them now first published, communicated by the tutors of the Duke of Hamilton, by the Earl of Dundonald, &c. The preface of four pages, signed Dav. Dalrymple, dedicated to Thomas Holles, Duke of Newcastle, chancellor of the university of Cambridge.

The Secret Correspondence between Sir Robert Cecil and James VI. 12mo, 1766.

A Catalogue of the Lords of Session, from the Institution of the College of Justice in the year 1532, with Historical Notes. Suam cuique—repudiavit posteritas. Edin. 1766, 4to, pp. 26.

The Private Correspondence of Dr Francis Atterbury, Bishop of Rochester, and his friends, in 1725, never before published. Printed in 1768, 4to. Advertisement, pp. 2. Letters, pp. 10. A facsimile of the first from Bishop Atterbury to John Cameron of Lochiel, to prove their authenticity.

An Examination of some of the Arguments for the High Antiquity of Regiam Majestatem; and an Inquiry into the authenticity of the Leges Malcolmii; by Sir David Dalrymple, 4to, pp. 52. Edin. 1769.

Historical Memoirs concerning the Provincial Councils of the Scottish Clergy, from the earliest Accounts to the Era of the Reformation; by Sir David Dalrymple. Edinburgh, 1769, 4to, pp. 41.—Nota. Having no high opinion of the popularity of his writings, he prefixes to this work the following motto. "Si delectatnum quum scribimus quis eft tam invidius qui ab eo nos abducat? fin laboramus quis eft qui alienae modum flatuat inductio."—Cicero.

Canons of the Church of Scotland, drawn up in the Provincial councils held at Perth, A.D. 1242, and 1269. Edinburgh, 1769, 4to, pp. 48.

Ancient Scottish Poems, published from the MS. of George Bannatyne, 1568. Edin. 1770, 12mo. Preface six pages; Poems pp. 221; very curious notes pp. 92; glossary and lists of pallages and words not understood, pp. 14.

The additional Case of Elizabeth, claiming the title and dignity of Countess of Sutherland; by her Guardians. Wherein the facts and arguments in support of her claim are more fully stated, and the errors in the additional cases for the other claimants are detected, 4to.—This singularly learned and able case was subscribed by Alexander Wedderburn (present Lord Chancellor), and Sir Adam Ferguson, but is the well-known work of Lord Hailes. It ought not to be regarded merely as a law paper of great ability, but as a treatise of profound research into the history and antiquity of many important and general points of succession and family history. Introduction, pp. 21; the first four chapters, pp. 70; the fifth and sixth chapters, pp. 177.

Remarks on the History of Scotland, by Sir David Dalrymple.—"Utinam tam facile vera invente possem quam falsa convincere." Cicero.—Edin. 1773, inscribed to George Lord Lyttleton, in nine chapters, pp. 284. 12mo.

Huberti Languetii Epistolae ad Philippum Sydnicum Equitem Anglicum, accurante D. Dalrymple de Hailes, Eq. Edinburgh, 1776, 8vo. Inscribed to Lord Chief Baron Smythe.—Vitrorum Eruditorum Testimonia de Langueto, pp. 7. Epistolae, pp. 289. Index Nominum, pp. 41.

Annals of Scotland, from the Accession of Malcolm III. surnamed Canmore, to the Accession of Robert I. by Sir David Dalrymple. Edin. 1776, pp. 311. Appendix, pp. 51.

Tables of the Succession of the Kings of Scotland, from Malcolm III. to Robert I. their marriages, children, and time of their death; and also of the Kings of England and France, and of the Popes who were their contemporaries.

Chronological Abridgement of the Volume, pp. 30. The Appendix contains eight dissertations: 1. Of the law of Evesus and Mercia Muliern, pp. 17. 2. A commentary on the 22nd statute of William the Lion, pp. 8. 3. Of the 18th statute of Alexander III., pp. 5. 4. Bull of Pope Innocent IV., pp. 6. 5. Of Walter Stewart Earl of Menteith, 1296, pp. 7. 6. Of MacDuff, slain at Falkirk in 1298, pp. 3. 7. Of the death of John Comyn, 10th February, 1305, pp. 4. 8. Of the origin of the house of Stuart, pp. 6.

Annals of Scotland, from the Accession of Robert I. surnamed Bruce, to the Accession of the House of Stuart; by Sir David Dalrymple, Edin. 1779, 4to, pp. 277. Appendix, pp. 54, containing, 1. Of the manner of the death of Marjory, daughter of Robert I., pp. 7. 2. Journal of the campaign of Edward III., 1327, pp. 9. 3. Of the genealogy of the family of Seton in the 14th century. 4. List of the Scottish commanders at the battle of Halidon, 16th July 1383, pp. 11. 5. Whether Edward III. put to death the son of Sir Alexander Seton, pp. 8. 6. List of the Scottish commanders killed or made prisoners at the battle of Durham, pp. 8. 7. Table of kings, p. 1. 8. Corrections and additions to volume i., pp. 16. Chronological abridgement of the volume, pp. 39.

Account of the Martyrs of Smyrna and Lyons, in the 2d century, 12mo, with explanatory notes, Edin. 1776. Dedicated to Bishop Hurd, pp. 68. Notes and illustrations, pp. 142. This is a new and correct version of two most ancient epistles, the one from the church at Smyrna to the church at Philadelphia; the other from the Christians at Vienna and Lyons to those in Asia and Phrygia—their antiquity and authenticity are undoubted. Great part of both is extracted from Eusebius's Ecclesiastical History. The former was first completely edited by Archbishop Usher. The author of the notes says of them, with his usual and singular modesty, "That they will afford little new or interesting to men of erudition, though they may prove of some benefit to the unlearned reader." But the erudition he possessed in these branches is so rare, that this notice is unnecessary. They display much useful learning and ingenious criticism, and breathe the most ardent zeal, connected with an exemplary knowledge of Christianity. N.B. This is the first volume of the remains of Christian Antiquity.

Remains of Christian Antiquity, with explanatory notes, vol. ii., Edin. 1778, 12mo. Dedicated to Dr Newton bishop of Bristol. Preface, pp. 7. This volume contains the trial of Justin Martyr and his companions, pp. 8. Epistle of Dionysius bishop of Alexandria, to Fabius bishop of Antioch, pp. 16. The trial and execution of Cyprian bishop of Carthage, pp. 8. The trial and execution of Fructuosus bishop of Tarracoa in Spain, and of his two deacons, Angarius and Eulogius, pp. 8. The Maiden of Antioch, pp. 2. These are all newly translated by Lord Hailes from Ruiart, Eusebius, Ambrose, &c. The notes and illustrations of this volume extend from p. 47 to 165, and display a most intimate acquaintance with antiquity, great critical acumen, both in elucidating the sense and detecting interpolations; and above all, a fervent and enlightened zeal, in vindicating such sentiments and conduct as are conformable to the word of God, against the malicious sarcasms of Mr Gibbon. To this volume is added an appendix of pp. 22, correcting and vindicating certain parts of vol. i.

Remains of Christian Antiquity, vol. iii., Edin. 1780. Dedicated to Thomas Balguy, D.D. Preface, pp. 2. It contains the History of the martyrs of Palestine in the 3d century, translated from Eusebius, pp. 94. Notes and illustrations, pp. 135; in which Mr Gibbon again comes, and more frequently, under review.—The partiality and misrepresentations of this popular writer are here exposed in the calmest and most satisfactory manner.

Pity it is that Lord Hailes should have printed and published these valuable volumes, and indeed most of his other works, at his own expense; and dispersed them so liberally to his friends, that they have been little circulated among any other.

Ostavins, a Dialogue, by Marcus Minucius Felix, Edin. 1781, pp. 16. Preface.—The speakers are, Cæcilias a Heathen, Ostavins a Christian; whose arguments prevail with his friend to renounce Paganism and become a Christian profelyte. Notes and illustrations, pp. 120.

Of the manner in which the Persecutors Died; a Treatise, by L.C.F. Lactantius, Edin. 1782. Inscribed to Dr Porteous bishop of Chester (present bishop of London). Preface, pp. 37, in which it is proved that Lactantius is the author. Text, pp. 125. Notes and illustrations, pp. 109.

L.C.F. Lactantii Divinarum Institutionum Liber Quintus seu de Jutitia, 1777.

Disquisitions concerning the Antiquity of the Christian Church, Glasgow, 1783. Inscribed to Dr Halifax, bishop of Gloucester, pp. 194.—This small original and most excellent work consists of six chapters. Chap. 1. A commentary on the conduct and character of Galileo. Acts xviii. 5, 12, 17. Chap. 2. Of the time at which the Christian religion became publicly known at Rome.—Chap. 3. Cause of the perfection of the Christians under Nero. In this the hypothesis of Mr Gibbon, vol. i., pp. 641, is examined.—Chap. 4. Of the eminent Heathen writers who are said (by Gibbon) to have disregarded or contemned Christianity, viz. Seneca, Pliny sen. Tacitus, Pliny jun. Galen, Epictetus, Plutarch, Marcus Antoninus. To the admirers of Heathen philosophers, and to those especially who state between them and the Christian doctrine any consanguinity, this chapter is earnestly recommended.—Chap. 5. Illustration of a conjecture by Gibbon, respecting the silence of Dio Cassius concerning the Christians. In this chapter, with extreme impartiality, he amplifies and supports an idea of Mr Gibbon on this head. Chap. 6. Of the circumstances respecting Christianity that are to be found in the Augustan history.

It seems very probable that the close attention which Lord Hailes appears to have given to such subjects, was in some measure the effect of the mistakes and partiality of Gibbon. In no one work from 1776, the date of Mr Gibbon's first publication, has he omitted to trace this unfair and insinuating author; but in 1786 he came forth of set purpose with the most able and formidable midable reply which he has received, intitled, "An Inquiry into the Secondary Causes which Mr Gibbon has assigned for the rapid growth of Christianity; by Sir David Dalrymple." Edin. 1786; gratefully and affectionately inscribed to Richard (Hurd) bishop of Worcester, 4to, pp. 213. In five chapters.

Sketch of the Life of John Barclay, 4to, 1786.

Sketch of the Life of John Hamilton, a Secular Priest, 4to (one of the most savage and bigotted adherents of Popery, who lived about A.D. 1600).

Sketch of the Life of Sir James Ramsay, a general officer in the armies of Gustavus Adolphus king of Sweden, with a head.

Life of George Leslie (an eminent capuchin friar in the early part of the 17th century), 4to, pp. 24.

Sketch of the Life of Mark Alex. Boyd, 4to.

These lives were written and published as a specimen of the manner in which a Biographia Scotiae might be executed; and it is likely that Lord Hailes selected purposely the least interesting.

The Opinions of Sarah Duchess Dowager of Marlborough, published from her original MSS. 1788, 12mo, pp. 120. (With a few foot notes by Lord Hailes, in which he corrects the sanguine partiality of her Grace).

The Address of Q. Sept. Tertullian to Scapula Tertullian, Proconsul of Africa, translated by Sir David Dalrymple, 12mo. Edin. 1790, inscribed to Dr John Butler, bishop of Hereford; preface, pp. 4; translation, pp. 18; original, pp. 13; notes and illustrations, pp. 135.

This address contains many particulars relating to the church after the third century. The translator has rejected all words and phrases of French origin, and written entirely in the Anglo Saxon dialect. In the course of the notes many obscurities of the original, not adverted to by other commentators, are explained. Some strange inaccuracies of Mr Gibbon are also detected, not included in the misrepresentations of his two famous chapters.

This was the last work of this truly learned, respectable, and useful man. Whether he left behind him anything else finished for the press, is known only to his friends. We have repeatedly heard that he was engaged in examining the authenticity of the books of the New Testament, and that, with the exception of two or three, he found every verse contained in it in the writings of the first three centuries. This seems indeed to have been an object in all his works; for, at the end of each of his translations and editions of the primitive Christian writers, a table is given of passages quoted or mentioned by them. If his Lordship completed any work of this kind, it should not be withheld from the public. We may indeed be told that its utility is in a great measure superceded by the laborious collections of Lardner (a), and the more elegant work of Paley (c); but not to mention the prejudices generally entertained against Lardner on account of his evident bias to Unitarianism, it would surely be proper, in the present age of wild opinions, to shew the multitude, who are guided by authority, how important a subject the Christian religion was deemed by this learned and accomplished layman.