our nature, to our religion, and our country, demand the sacrifice, why should an act of such accumulated duty be done by halves? Why not rather by one generous effort of public virtue cut off all occasion of inhumanity and oppression, with all the pernicious effects of slavery on the slave, the master, and the state."

The reverend author, however, never dreamed of effecting this by an immediate emancipation, but merely by an act of the legislature, which should prohibit all further importation of slaves from the coast of Africa, or from any other quarter; and then, at the end of a limited period, he proposes to abolish slavery in every part of the British domi

nions.

Towards the conclusion we are told, and told truly, that in time of war the slaves, in consequence of the privation of liberty, the severity of labour, and the want of interest in the produce of their own toils, added to the desire of revenge for the cruelties and miseries they suffer, cannot but afford great cause of alarm for the security of the islands. The commercial advantages of slave labour are likewise estimated on the authority of three great political writers of the present day: Smith, Millar, and Young, while he has subjoined certain queries formerly propounded by Malachy Postlethwait, who was himself a member of the African company, by way of pointing out the impolicy of the commerce in slaves.*

* He also quotes the instances of Phillis Wheatley's poems, Ignatius Sancho's letters, and the conduct of Farhan, governor of Loheia, to prove, "that the African mind is susceptible of very superior improvement."

the

We trust that the question, so ably advocated by pen of this learned gentleman, will not fail to be supported hereafter, if necessary, by all the authority of his newly acquired dignity, and, in the mean time, we most seriously join with him in the following concluding sentiments:

"Whatever then may be said to justify the permission of slavery in the colonies of other governments, less free than our own, to permit it in the British colonies is an inconsistency which degrades our high pretensions to political freedom, and discredits the fairest form of liberty, which the world ever saw, a form of liberty which combines those properties of political perfection, which politicians of antiquity saw in contemplation only, and considered, like the painter's ideal beauty, as objects rather of the imagination than of the senses, rather to be admired and envied, than to be expected in any one form of civil government.

"The whole civil history of mankind does not present a more interesting subject, than the progress of our constitution from the imperfect rudiments of German liberty down to that great event in the last century, which in the fullest and most definite manner established the liberties of this country. When we consider, therefore, the situation which our constitution now holds in the progress of political society, and how much advanced beyond the other governments of Europe, who does not, in proportion as he values his own happiness, and feels for the honour of his country, regret, that such a political evil should be suffered to exist in any part of a free Christian government, as slavery? and such a system of slavery, as by the immense supply of men which it draws annually from Africa, encourages war and destruction among the savage nations of Africa, extends the miseries of slavery over onehalf of the continent, impedes the progress of civilization, and precludes the means of a just and liberal intercourse between Europe and Africa. Who does not deprecate the toleration and continuance of an obstacle which, so disgracefully to us, obstructs the advancement of the general happiness of mankind ?”.

We have now enumerated and noticed some of the literary labours of the subject of this memoir, and on a review of them it will be found that they are not a little honourable to his character and his station, being intimately connected with the advancement of knowledge, of benevolence, and Christianity. We have been given to understand that, some years since, he had projected a philosophical tour, with an intent of not only gratifying himself, but also of communicating his acquisitions to the public. But in consequence of the intervention of unexpected events, he was called to the exercise of other duties, and therefore deemed it improper to fulfil his original plan.

Soon after his first preferment, Mr. Burgess determined to settle in life, and accordingly, in 1796, married Miss Bright, of Durham, half sister to the present Marchioness of Winchester,* her father, Mr. Bright, a gentleman of good fortune, having married the widow of John Andrews, Esq. of Shotley Hall, in the county of Northumberland.

With this lady, by means of whom he obtained a considerable addition to his fortune, and no small augmentation to his happiness, Mr. Burgess remained in the north of England, without any great hopes of, and it may be truly said, without any great wishes for preferment. There, in the society of friends by whom he was beloved, and in the practice of that hospitality, which has not yet been en

* Formerly Miss Andrews.

tirely rooted out in that portion of the empire, notwithstanding the pressure of the times, and the accumulation of taxes, he continued to enjoy that calmness and tranquillity of mind, so congenial to happiness, without cares to vex, and with scarcely a single wish, in respect to himself, ungratified.

He was not inattentive, however, to the honours of his university, and accordingly, in 1802, repaired to Oxford, to take the degree of D. D. At this period, when he had climbed the steep ascent to a prebendal stall, and the doctorate, Mr. Addington, now Viscount Sidmouth, by an extraordinary concurrence of circumstances, after acting for many years in the dignified office of Speaker of the House of Commons, was now become Chancellor of the Exchequer, and First Lord of the Treasury-in other words, Prime Minister of the British Empire!

Here was a fine opening for the renewal of a friendship commenced at Winchester, and consolidated at Oxford; but the modest prebendary did not obtrude himself upon the exalted statesman, although, in the course of his journey, he passed twice through the capital.

Soon after his return, however, a letter was received by the post, with the name of " Henry Addington," on the superscription, on which, unconscious of his intended advancement, he coolly replied, that some of his correspondents had obtained a frank from a gentleman to whom he himself was formerly known!

.

On breaking the seal, and unfolding the cover, he read nearly as follows:

"DEAR SIR,

"Although many years have elapsed since we had any personal intercourse, yet to convince you that I continue to bear you in mind, I have to inform you that the bishopric of St. David's, which is now vacant, is entirely at your service.

I am, dear Sir,

Your most obedient, &c. &c.
H. ADDINGTON."

Soon after the receipt of this very kind and auspi cious epistle, Dr. Burgess repaired to London, waited on the minister, in Downing-street, on purpose to make his acknowledgments, was presented to the King, and consecrated and inducted in due form. Thus the lawn sleeves were at last tacked to his garment, unexpectedly, yet not undeservedly, and by the intervention of singular events. But he was not dazzled by the glitter of the episcopacy; and it was truly, as well as kindly observed, by the Prelate of Durham, "that his friend Burgess had accepted his new situation from gratitude, for with such a man a bishopric could add nothing to his happiness."

The bishop of St David's now divides his time in such a manner as is most consonant to his various duties, residing part of the year at Aberguilly, near Caermarthen, and at another, visiting Durham and London.

Some of the dignified clergy have occasionally complained of dilapidations on the part of their predecessors, but few, or none, we believe, of elegant