church sanctions the state-the state supports the church. If once we divide this building of the state, however, what are we to look for, but, to speak after the manner of men, the fate that inevitably awaits the house which is divided against itself? The vail of our temple will then be rent.

Religion is paramount in society. Such was the conviction of past times, times quite as wise as these times, and such our ancestors have made her. Our king, though the head of the church of this land, takes his crown as it were from the hands of a priest: parliament does not enter on its daily sittings, without first having supplicated religious assistance and illumination: judges, before they proceed to decree the solemn awards of justice, attend to the injunctions of the preacher: the very banners under which we fight, the arms in which we so far trust, solicit the sacerdotal benediction; and are consecrated, as they ought ever to be devoted, to the best of causes: in short, from the cradle to the grave, from the day of birth to the hour of death,-whether in baptism, or in marriage, or in sickness, or at burial, -it is from the clerical character, however wantonly or wickedly traduced, that we expect to derive, through life, and under God, the most serious support of mind, in their anxious dis

charge of the most awful of trusts.

Political

society has therefore but conceded to religion her natural elevation.

Happy is it for political constitutions, however, when the clerical character is found really to verify the expectations naturally excited by it; and when, as in the great instance before us at this time, the established dignitaries of the Church of Christ prove themselves sensible of the high importance attached to them by mankind.

Isaac Milner, D. D. and F. R. S. of Queen's College, Cambridge, of which he was chosen Master in 1788, and of whose University he became Lucasian Professor of Mathematics in 1798, has now held, for upwards of twenty-four years, the Deanery of Carlisle. Biography is a secondary consideration in this work; but there are circumstances in the history of the present Dean of Carlisle, which, though previously known, cannot with propriety be here overlooked. Society demands that they should stand recorded for its just and lasting benefit.

Born in the humbler walks of life, near Leeds, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, and contending with many disadvantages during his earlier years, Isaac Milner, following his brother's great example, has not only emulated the career of Joseph, but exceeded it both as to brilliancy and

effect. Joseph, who died on the fifteenth of November 1797, had settled in Kingston-uponHull, (having left the University of Cambridge with high credit,) as Head-Master of the Free Grammar School there, when, speaking in the language of his brother, the bowels of Joseph yearneth upon his Younger Brother; and as soon as we find him in a situation to do him service, and to prosecute the excellent system of his father, he loses not a moment's time, but instantly releases him from his temporary obligations at Leeds, and takes him under his own tuition at Hull.'

Although the father of the Milners could boast neither rank nor wealth, yet he was a man of strong understanding; and had felt in his own case, the want of a good education. In consequence he formed a very early resolution to remedy that defect in regard to his children, to the uttermost of his power, whatever inconveniences he or his family might experience from so laudable an attempt. Accordingly, his youngest son Isaac, when a little boy of six years old, began to accompany his brother Joseph every day to the Grammar-School; and at ten years of age he could construe Ovid and Sallust into tolerable English, and was then beginning to learn the rudiments of the Greek language. The premature death of their father,' adds the Dean, ruin

ed all the prospects of Isaac's advancement in learning. His mother was obliged to abandon the prosecution of her husband's plan; and that her son might acquire a livelihood, by honest industry, she wisely employed him in learning several branches of the woollen manufactory at Leeds.'

Providentially rescued from what might otherwise have been his lot-labouring with his hands in the manufactories of Yorkshire,' and thereby withheld from that church of which he has long formed an illustrious ornament,-rescued by the competency and affection of his brother, who, like Joseph of old, seems to have been reserved for the salvation both of his family and others, Isaac Milner lost no time in cultivating those advantages with which he now felt himself surrounded. < Isaac's memory,' observes the Account of the Life and Character of the late Rev. Joseph Milner, M. A. 'was not bad; for, though at this period he had been absent several years from the Grammar-School at Leeds, and was still but a boy, he was found perfectly well qualified to act as Assistant to his brother, in teaching the lower boys of his crowded school at Hull; so well initiated had he been, in the Latin and Greek languages, by the Rev. Mr. Moore,' at the Grammar School of Leeds.

Isaac had written his brother an account of the

progress he had already actually made in learning; requesting, at the same time, to become an assistant to him, in the school, for teaching the lower classes. Joseph, however, either doubtful of his brother's progress in classical literature, or pleased to put him on his trial, requested a clergyman to call upon and question Isaac, in order to ascertain his fitness for the situation he had asked. He was found unexpectedly at his loom, but with a Tacitus by his side! After undergoing an examination for some time, in the course of which he is said to have displayed great accuracy of idea, much general knowledge, and an astonishing command of language, he was deemed eligible to be sent to Hull; and, accordingly, in a few days after, he quitted the occupation of weaving for ever.

Having now directed his attention to the church, he was removed, from his brother's at Hull, to Queen's College, Cambridge, where he entered as a sizar in 1770. All the time of his being an under-graduate was spent by him in indefatigable study; and in 1774 he became senior wrangler, accompanied with the distinction of incomparabilis, and also gained the first mathematical prize. During 1782, Mr. Milner served the office of Proctor; and, in 1792, that of Vice. Chancellor.