REV. RICHARD, D.D., L.L.D., fellow of the Royal Society of London, and of the Academy of Sciences, New England, was born at Tynton in Glamorganshire, February 22, 1723. His father was a dissenting minister at Bridgend in that county, and died in 1739. At eight years old he was placed under a Mr Simmons of Neath; and in four years removed to Pentwyn in Caernarvonshire under the Rev. Samuel Jones, whom he represented as a man of a very enlarged mind, and who first inspired him with liberal sentiments of religion. Having lived as long with him as with Mr Simmons, he was sent to Mr Griffith's academy at Talgarth in Breconshire. In 1740 he lost his mother; and on this he quitted the academy and came to London. Here he was settled at that academy, of which Mr Eames was the principal tutor, under the patronage of his uncle the Rev. S. Price, who was co-pastor with Dr Watts upwards of 40 years. At the end of four years he left this academy, and resided with Mr Streatfield of Stoke Newington in the quality of domestic chaplain, while at the same time he regularly assisted Dr Chandler at the Old Jewry, and occasionally assisted others. Having lived with Mr Streatfield near 13 years, on his death and his uncle's he was induced to change his situation, and in 1757 married Miss S. Blundell of Leicestershire. He then settled at Hackney, but being shortly after chosen minister at Newington Green, he lived there until the death of his wife, which was in 1786, when he returned to Hackney. He was next chosen afternoon preacher at the meeting-house in Poor Jewry-street, but this he resigned on being elected pastor of the Gravel-pit meeting Hackney, and afternoon-preacher at Newington Green. There he resigned with a farewell-sermon in February 1791. Shortly after he was attacked with a nervous fever, which disappearing, was succeeded by a disorder in his bladder, which reduced him to such a degree that, worn out with agony and disease, he died without a groan on the 19th April 1791. He left his property to a sister and two nephews.

Dr Kippis, speaking of his learning and pursuits, observes *, that "his chief aim was to lay a foundation for solid knowledge, by an application to sciences of the noblest kind. It was on the great and fundamental principles and obligations of morality, on the higher species of mathematics, on the sublimer parts of natural philosophy, on the true basis of government, and on the questions which relate to the essential welfare and dignity of man, that his studies were employed; and in the prosecution of these studies he not only enriched his own mind, but was enabled to become of eminent service to his country and to the world. In his moral writings he has laboured with distinguished ability to build the science of ethics on an immutable basis; and what he has advanced will always stand high in estimation as one of the strongest efforts of human reason in favour of the system he has adopted. For myself (adds Dr Kippis), I scruple not to say, that I regard the treatise referred to as a rich treasure of valuable information, and as deserving to be ranked among the first productions of its kind. With respect to his other ethical works, every one must admire the zeal, earnestness, and strength, with which he endeavours to lead men into pious views of God, of providence and prayer; and to promote the exercise of devout and amiable dispositions. In consequence of his profound knowledge in mathematical calculations, he was qualified at a particular crisis for being of singular utility to his fellow-citizens. A number of schemes for insurance for lives, and the benefit of survivorship, promising mighty advantages, were rising up in the metropolis. These ruinous schemes would have been carried to great excess, had not Dr Price stepped forward and dispelled the delusion. Gratitude will not allow us to forget the ability and spirit with which he awakened the attention of his countrymen to the reduction of the national debt. With him it was that the scheme of the present minister for that purpose is understood to have originated. What crowned the whole of his character was, its being an assemblage of the most amiable and excellent private virtues. His piety was sincere, humble, and fervent; his soul pure and elevated; in his views disinterested and noble; and in his manners mild and gentle: the applause of his talents and virtues will be transmitted to future ages, and he will be united in the catalogue with the most eminent benefactors of mankind."

This is the panegyric of a friend; but with few abatements it will be admitted by every candid reader. In morals Dr Price's principles were those of Cudworth and Clarke; and by many who have themselves adopted a very different theory, he is allowed to have defended those principles with greater ability than any other writer in the English language (see MORAL Philosophy, No 14.). In metaphysics he was perhaps too great an admirer of Plato, from whom he has borrowed a doctrine concerning ideas which we confess ourselves unable to comprehend. He was a firm believer in the immateriality of the soul; but, with Dr Law, the late learned bishop of Carlisle, he thought, that from death to the resurrection of the body it remains in a dormant or quiescent state. He contended for its indivisibility, but maintained at the same time its extension: which furnished Dr Priestley with some advantages in their celebrated controversy, which his own acuteness would never have obtained. In propagating his political principles, which were republican, he sometimes expressed himself with undue vehemence; and he was a zealous enemy to all religious establishments, which, in his opinion, encroach upon that liberty wherewith Christ has made us free. His faith respecting the Son of God was what has been called sometimes low Arianism and sometimes Semi-arianism. From a very early age he claimed the privilege of thinking for himself on every subject. His father was a rigid Calvinist, and spared no pains to instil his own theological dogmas into the tender mind of his son; but young Richard would often start his doubts and difficulties, and sometimes incur the old man's displeasure by arguing against his favourite system with an ingenuity that perplexed, and a fidelity that could not be easily overturned. He had once the misfortune to be caught reading a volume of Clarke's sermons, which his father in great wrath snatched from him and threw into the fire. Perhaps he could not have taken a more effectual method to make the book a favourite, or to excite the young man's curiosity after the other works of the same author; and it is by no means improbable that this orthodox bigotry contributed more than any other circumstance to lay the foundation of his son's Arianism.

But whatever may be thought of Dr Price's speculative opinions, whether political or religious, his virtues in private life have never been called in question. Of his practical religion it is impossible to speak in terms too high. There was a fervour even in his public prayers which indicated the strongest sensibility as well as sincerity in himself, and communicated its warmth to those who joined with him. But in his family devotions he gave still fuller scope to the pious emotions of his soul, and proved to those friends who were occasionally present at them how deeply he felt religious impressions, and how happily he blended in this as well as in other things the cool decisions of the understanding with the amiable and exalted sensibilities of the heart.

But it is not in devotion only that these sensibilities were displayed. He was as exemplary in affection to his relatives as in love to his Maker. Of this he gave a striking though private instance before he first quitted his native place to try his fortune in London. His father had left to an elder brother by a former marriage a very considerable fortune; to Richard he left a mere trifle; and to each of two sisters still less. Our author divided his share between his sisters, refer- ving to himself only a few pounds to defray the expenses of his journey, and trusting for his future support to the blessing of God upon his talents and his industry. As in early life he was an affectionate and generous brother, in old age he was a loving and attentive husband. His wife, who for a considerable time before her death was almost wholly helpless, found during the last years of her life hardly any enjoyment except in a game at whist; and though our Doctor disliked cards as a waste of time, and never touched them on any other occasion, to amuse her he would sit down every evening to the card-table, and play till it was late, with a cheerfulness and good humour which charmed every person who had the happiness of viewing him in that endearing situation.

Yet, though thus attentive to the obligations of domestic life, he did not suffer his private affections to encroach upon his social duties. His talents and his labours were ever ready at the call of friendship; nay so much did his nature abound with the milk of human kindness, that he could not resist without extreme reluctance even troublesome and unreasonable solicitations. His hours of study and retirement were frequently broken in upon by applications for assistance and advice, especially in matters relating to annuities and life-insurances; and in this way he sacrificed much of his personal convenience to individuals of whom he knew but little, and from whom he would accept of no pecuniary recompense. His good nature in this respect amounted almost to a foible; and subjected him to importunities and loss of time, of which he would sometimes complain as interfering materially with more important and more generally useful studies.

Whilst he thus obliged the rich by his mental talents, he succoured the poor with his earthly substance. A fifth part of his annual income was regularly devoted to charitable purposes; and he was laudably anxious to distribute it in such a way as might produce the greatest good. In the practice of this, and indeed of all his virtues, he was utterly devoid of ostentation. Simplicity and humility were among the strong features of his character. No man was ever less sensible of his own excellence, or less elated by his own celebrity; and in no man was the dignity of artless manners and unaffected modesty more happily displayed.

His face was the true index of his mind. It beamed with philanthropy; and when lighted up in conversation with his friends, assumed an aspect peculiarly pleasing. His person was slender, and rather below the common size, but possessed of great muscular strength and remarkable activity. A habit of deep thought had given a stoop to his figure, and he generally walked a brisk pace with his eyes on the ground, his coat buttoned, one hand in his pocket, and the other swinging by his side.

It is natural to suppose that such a man as Dr Price, some of whose writings were translated into foreign languages, would be very generally respected in the republic of letters, and have many correspondents. The supposition is well founded. In 1763 or 1764 he was chosen a fellow of the Royal Society, and contributed largely to the transactions of that learned body; in 1769 he received from Aberdeen a diploma creating him DD.; and in 1782 the degree of L.L.D. was conferred upon him by the college of Yale in Connecticut.

As in 1770 he had refused an American degree which had been conveyed to him by Dr Franklin, his acceptance of one 13 years afterwards can be attributed only to his extravagant attachment to a republican form of government; which was the greatest defect in his character, and shows what prejudices the most vigorous mind will imbibe by thinking always on the same subjects, and in the same track. Among his correspondents, the most eminent in his own country were the late Lord Chatham, Lord Stanhope, Lord Landowne, the late bishops of Carlisle and St Asaph, and the present bishop of Landaff; Mr Hume, Mr Harris of Salisbury, Dr Gregory of Edinburgh, and the celebrated Mr Howard, who lived with him on terms of the greatest intimacy; in America he corresponded with Dr Franklin, Dr Chauncey, Mr Adams, and others; and in France with the celebrated Turgot, the Duke de Rochefoucault, and several of the first national assembly. One of his female correspondents sketched his character with great judiciousness many years ago under the fictitious but well applied name of Simplicius; and with this character we shall close these short memoirs.

"While the vain man is painfully striving to outshine the company and to attract their admiration by false wit, forced compliments, and studied graces, he must surely be mortified to observe how constantly Simplicius engages their attention, respect, and complacency, without having once thought of himself as a person of any consequence among them. Simplicius imparts his superior knowledge, when called upon, as easily and naturally as he would tell you what it is o'clock; and with the same readiness and good will informs the most ignorant or confers with the most learned. He is as willing to receive information as to give it, and to join the company, as far as he is able, in the most trifling conversation into which they may happen to fall, as in the most serious and sublime. If he disputes, it is with as much candour on the most important and interesting as on the most insignificant subjects; and he is not less patient in hearing than in answering his antagonist. If you talk to him of himself or his works, he accepts praise or acknowledges defects with equal meekness, and it is impossible to suspect him of affectation in either. We are more obliged by the plain unexaggerated expressions of his regard, than by the compliments and attentions of the most accomplished pattern of high breeding; because his benevolence and sincerity are so strongly marked in every look, word, and action, that we are convinced his civilities are offered for our sakes, not for his own, and are the natural effects of real kindness, not the studied ornaments of behaviour. Every one is desirous to show him kindness in return, which we know will be accepted just as it is meant. All are ready to pay him that deference which he does not desire, and to give him credit for more than he assumes, or even more than he possesses. With a person ungraceful, and with manners unpolished by the world, his behaviour is always proper, easy, and respectable; as free from constraint and servility in the highest company, as from haughtiness and insolence in the lowest. His dignity arises from his humility; and the sweetness, gentleness, and frankness of his manners, from the real goodness and rectitude of his heart, which lies open to inspection in all the fearlessness of truth, without any need of disguise or ornament." Such was Dr Price.—Of his public principles men will think differently; of his private worth there can be but one opinion. He will live in the memory of his friends till memory has lost her power. To posterity his works will be his monument. They are: A Review of the principal Questions and Difficulties in Morals, 8vo, 1758; Dissertations on Providence, &c. 8vo, 1767; Observations on Reversionary Payments, &c. 8vo, 1771; Appeal on the National Debt, &c. 8vo, 1773; Observations on the Nature of Civil Liberty, 1776; on Materialism and Necessity, in a correspondence between Dr Price and Dr Priestley, 1779; on Annuities, Assurance, Population, &c. 8vo, 1779; on the Population of England, 1780; on the Public Debts, Finances, Loans, &c. 8vo, 1783; on Reversionary Payments, 2 vols, 1783; on the importance of the American Revolution, 1784; besides Sermons, and a variety of papers in the Philosophical Transactions on astronomical and other philosophical subjects.