532

Royal Mercy-Patronage-Prince Regent, &c.

servation. The following circumstances, however, the veracity of which may be relied upon, will fully explain the singularity of the fact. In the year 1802, a dignified divine, preaching before the royal family, happened to quote a pas sage illustrative of his subject, from a living writer, whose name he did not mention. The king, who was always remarkably attentive, was struck with the quotation, and immediately noted the passage for an inquiry. At the conclusion of the service, he asked the preacher from whom his extract had been taken? and being informed that the author was a dissenting minister, in Yorkshire, he expressed a wish to have a copy of the original discourse. The royal inclination was accordingly imparted to the author, who lost no time in complying with it, accompanying the work with a very modest letter, expressive of the high sense which the writer entertained of the honour conferred upon him. His Majesty was so well pleased with the production, as to signify his readiness to serve the author. The case of the above young man shortly after afforded this amiable and disinterested minister an opportunity of supplicating at the hands of the monarch, the exercise of his royal prerogative, and that the sovereign, after having voluntarily given the general assurance of his favour to an obscure, but meritorious individual, should be induced rather to depart from an established rule, than violate the sacredness of his pledge, displays a dignity of mind, and a benevolence of heart, which cannot fail to eleyate his character above all panegyric.

PATRONAGE.

His majesty, at an early period, took a pleasure in encouraging literature, and patronizing men of talents, whose principles and character rendered them deserving of his favour.

Dr. Johnson was distinguished by particular marks of the royal goodness; and Thomas Sheridan received a pension from the king, without any solicitation, The same was the case with Dr. Beattie, and, on the death of Whitehead, the poet laureat, his majesty, of his own accord, offered that appointment to the worthy and ingenious Thomas Warton. The learned Jacob Bryant was often visited by the king, who used to converse for many hours with the venerable sage, on the most familiar tertns. Dr. Tucker,

[Jan. 1,

dean of Gloucester, had several interviews with his majesty, who spent some time in the dean's study, in his visit to that city. Dr. Tucker drew up, for the use of the king, when Prince of Wales, a course of elemental instruction on the subject of trade and commerce, the manuscript of which is yet in being, and ought to be printed. To these names a number of others might be added, more than enough to shew the falsity of those satirists, the poignancy of whose wit only serves to render their scurrility the more infamous.

THE PRINCE REGENT.

The filial affection by which the Prince Regent has been distinguished, will ever be remembered to his honour, and will be more than sufficient to counteract the base calumnies of all the foulmouthed revilers of dignities. His royal highness being at Windsor one morning in summer, entered the room where his venerable parent was sitting, and heard him lamenting his blindness, in the language of our great epic poet: O, dark, dark, dark, amid the blaze of noon, Irrecoverably dark, total eclipse, Without all hope of day! O, first erected beam, and thou great WORD, Let there be light, and light was over all; Why am I thus bereav'd thy prime decree?

This affecting quotation, uttered with that peculiar solemnity and pathos for which the speaker was remarkable, had such an effect upon the prince, that he burst into a flood of tears, and was obliged to retire to another apartment.

ROYAL ELOCUTION.

It has been said of his majesty, that he recited a speech, or delivered an oration with more true modulation and eloquence, than most men in his dominions. His speeches from the throne to the two houses of parliament, were always consi dered as specimens of beautiful elocotion, and this was the more remarkable, since in common conversation, the king spoke with a rapidity which sometimes made him unintelligible to those who were not familiarized to his peculiar mode of expression. The prince regent has the same merit in his deliberate articulation, without the fault of a hasty utterance. He reads Horace and Virgil with uncommon elegance, and to his taste and judgment, in the most difficult passages, the best classical scholars in the country can bear testimony.

SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF THOMAS CAMPBELL, ESQ.

IT has been well remarked that," though we are justified in expecting in the life of the hero or the statesman, a succession of brilliant actions and extraordinary events, yet the reverse is the case with many great and distinguished characters. If the lives of authors in general are barren of historical details, still more so is that of the poet in particular. Accustomed to the contemplation of the beautiful, his soul lives chiefly in an ideal world, and revels amid the beauties of its own creation, of which he rarely finds resemblances in common life. Ile therefore shuns the busy crowd, whose foolish wishes and whose vain pursuits have no charms for him; and with nicer discrimination, chuses his occupations and amusements. He loves to retire from the tumult of the world, into the narrow circle in which his soul finds more congenial commerce, and his sweetest hours are those which are spent in the contemplation of the beauties of nature, or devoted to the muses, to friendship, and to the enjoyment of domestic felicity."

This character we believe to be perfectly applicable to Mr. Campbell, and it will afford the best excuse that can be offered, for that scantiness of biographical detail which may disappoint the expectations of those in whom his works have excited sentiments of admiration and respect.

Scotland enjoys the honour of having produced two of our most distinguished living poets. Campbell, like Scott, is a native of North Britain. He was born in 1777 at Glasgow, and christened by the hand of the venerable Dr. Reid. He was initiated at a very early age into the rudiments of learning, being sent, when only seven years old, to the Grammar School of his native city, and placed under the tuition of Dr. David Alison, an instructor of long and high celebrity in Scotland, for his method of teaching the classics, and for the uniform kindness with which he treated his pupils. At twelve, young Campbell was removed to the University of Glasgow, and the following year gained a bursary on Bishop Leighton's foundation, after a severe contest with a candidate of twice his age, who was reputed one of the best Latin scholars at the University. That spirit of emulation which thus early manifested

* Memoirs of Sol, Gessner, prefixed to his Works, 2 vols. 1805.

itself, must have been encouraged and strengthened by his subsequent successes; for during his residence at the University, he was every year distinguished by academical prizes. To the assiduous study, and the diligent cultivation of his talents, without which, such honours could not have been acquired, the world is indebted for those productions which have placed him so high in the list of modern British bards; for, in spite of the well-known axiom, that a man must be born a poet, we may reasonably doubt, whether, if the subject of this memoir had not received precisely that education which he did; if, for example, he had been bred to the profession of arms, or of commerce, his poetic genius would have been called forth at all, or, at least, have attained that vigour evinced in his performances. In his earlier essays he was most fortunate in Greek translation, and won the palm, by his poetical version of several entire plays of Aristophanes, Eschylus, and other Greek authors. The professor, in awarding the prize for the last of these exercises, declared it to be, in his opimion, the best performance of the kind ever offered for competition in that University.

Mr. Campbell's attention, however, was not exclusively confined to the classics; he attended the philosophical lectures of Dr. Millar, who at that time adorned Glasgow. The writings of that professor have not attained a celebrity proportioned to the esteem and admiration in which he was held by his acquaintance, on account of the attractions of his public oratory and private conversation. From his society and instruction Mr. Campbell acquired that philosophical ease and freedom by which his works and opinions are distinguished.

On quitting Glasgow, Mr. Campbell, after a short residence among the mountains of Argyleshire, removed to Edinburgh, where his talents soon gained him the notice of Stewart, Playfair, and other eminent literary characters, which could not fail to prove highly flattering to so young a man. It was not long before he fully justified their partiality by the production of The Pleasures of Hope, which he composed at the age of twenty, and published at twenty-one. On the merits of a performance which has been universally read and admired, it would be superfluous to expatiate. Suffice it

534

Sketch of the Life of Thos. Campbell.

to observe, that it must be considered as
a surprizing effort at his age, and that it
is justly ranked with the most classical
poems in our language. It would be
difficult to point out in any author a
thought more truly sublime than that
contained in the concluding lines:-
Eternal Hope! when yonder spheres sublime
Peal'd their first notes to sound the march of
time;

Thy joyous youth began-but not to fade-
When all the sister planets have decay'd;
When wrapt in fire the realms of æther
glow,

And Heav'n's last thunder shakes the world
below,

Thou undismay'd shalt o'er the ruins smile,
And light thy torch at Nature's funeral pile.

In 1800 Mr. Campbell visited the Continent. He passed about twelve months in travelling through various parts of Germany; and, among the agreeable recollections of that period, in which he is known to be fond of indulging, was his meeting with Klopstock, the venerable bard of The Messiah, and baving passed an agreeable day in his society. It was not till his return from Germany that he for the first time visited London. Here he continued till his marriage in 1803, when he settled at Sydenham, where he has ever since resided.

In 1809 Mr. Campbell ushered into the

[Jan. 1,

world a second volume of poems, contain-
ing Gertrude of Wyoming, a Pensyl-
vanian Tale, written in the difficult stanza
of Spenser's Fairy Queen; and some
smaller pieces. Not long after the ap-
pearance of this work the author ac-
cepted the honourable appointment of
professor of poetry in the royal institu-
tion, where he has delivered two courses
of lectures and commenced the third.

A History of the Reign of his present
Majesty, published anonymously, in four
octavo volumes, has been generally
ascribed to the pen of Mr. Campbell,
who, we believe, has never avowed him-
self to be the author, but on the contrary
seems disposed to rest his claim to cele-
brity on his poetical productions alone.
To these we may, without exaggeration,
apply the observations of Dr. Ander-
son on the poems of Gray: "Whoever
writes but as correctly as he has written
will not find himself able to write much.
His pieces have all the marks of close
study and patient revision, and the small-
ness of their number, compared with the
length of time he was known as a poet,
sufficiently shews that they were kept
long under his own eyes, before they
were submitted to those of the public.
They may, therefore, be regarded as a
kind of standard of the correctness to
which English poetry has arrived in our
day."

INTELLIGENCE IN LITERATURE AND THE
ARTS AND SCIENCES.

On all the different subjects comprehended in this highly important department, communications are earnestly requested from Authors, Booksellers, Artists, the Secretaries or other members of Learned "Societies, Patentees, and Men of Letters and Science in general. To such persons as wish to give publicity to their works, inventions, or discoveries, the advantages of such a channel must be sufficiently obvious.

PROCEEDINGS OF UNIVERSITIES.

OXFORD, Nov. 15.-The following were admitted to degrees :—

M. A.-The Earl of Yarmouth, of St. Mary Hall, grand compounder; Mr. P. T. Hinckes, of Worcester College; Rev. Rob. Macfarlane, of Baliol.

B. A.-Geo. Chetwode and Mr. W. Birkett, of Brasennose.

Nov. 17.-In a convocation, the honorary degrees of Master of Arts were conferred on Walter Manners, esq. and John Hamborough, esq. gentlemen commoners of Queen's College, presented by the Rev. Robert Dickinson, M. A. fel low of that society.

Mr. Geo. F. Grey, B. A. of University
College, is elected a fellow of that society.
Nov. 22.-Mr. Charles Alcock was
admitted scholar of New College.

Nov. 24.-The following were ad-
mitted to degrees:

The Rev. William Morgan, M. A. of Jesus College, and chaplain of the royal naval asylum at Greenwich, was admitted B. and D. D.

M. A.-Rev. W. Attfield, of Oriel College; Mr. O. Tyndall, of Christchurch; Rev. Edward Watkin, of Lincoln College; and Rev. W. Read, of St. Edmund Hall.

.1815.]

Proceedings of the University of Oxford.

B. A-Mr. J. Chambers, of All Souls' College; Mr. C. C. Crump and Mr. W. Cotton, of Exeter College; Mr. T. Greene, of Oriel College; Messrs. D. Davies and G. Chisholm, of Worcester College; Mr. S.mon F. Cooke, of University College; Messrs. John C. C. B. P. Hawkins and Hyla Holden, of Pembroke College; Mr. A. Brigstocke, of Jesus Coliege; Mr. C. J. Hellicar, of Magdalen College; Mr. R. Goff, of Christ-church; Mr. John Jones, of Trinity College; Mr. E. Archer, of Corpus Christi College; Messrs. J. Calcott and James Knight, of Lincoln College; Mr. John Jackson, of Brasennose College; Mr. Robert Wilan, of St. Edmund Hall; Messrs. Thomas Glascott and F. D. Foster, of Baliol College.

Mr. Joseph M Murdie, student in Music, of Magdalen Hall, and organist of Christ-church, Surrey, was admitted bachelor in Music.

The same day Mr. J. C. C. B. P. Hawkins, was unanimously elected fellow of Pembroke College on the Tesdale foundation, by the master and fellows. The following subjects are proposed for the Chancellor's prizes, for the ensuing year, viz

-Europa Pacatores

For Latin verses-. Oxoniam invisentes.

For an English Essay-The Effects of distant Colonization on the Parent State. For a Latin Essay-In illa Philosophia Parte, quae Moralis dicitur, tractanda, quænam sit præcipue Aristotelice Disciplina Virtus?

Sir Roger Newdigate's prize-English Verse-The Temple of Theseus.

Dec. 2.-In a convocation, the names of the following gentlemen, who had been respectively nominated to succeed to the office of select preacher, at Michaelmas next, were approved by the house, viz.

The Rev. Edward Nares, D. D. of Merton College; the Rev. Thomas Stone, D.D. of Brasennose College; the Rev. William Corne, B. D. student of Christchurch; the Rev. C. M. Mount, M. A. fellow of C. C. C.; the Rev. John Miller, M. A. fellow of Worcester College.

At the same time the appointment of the Rev. Geo. Shepherd, B. D. of University college, to be one of the select preachers, in the room of the Rev. Dr. Barton, fellow of Corpus Christi College, who had resigned that office, was approved.

In a congregation, the same day, the following gentlemen were admitted to degrees:

535

M. A.-The Rev. Thomas Hardwicke Rawnsley, of Exeter College; Mr. William George Royse, of Wadham College. B. A.-Mr. Richard Walker, of Magdalen College; Mr. Henry Strangways, of Pembroke Coll.; Mr. John Stedman, of Pembroke Coll.; Mr. John Woodrotfe Morgan, of University College; Mr. Charles Gregory Okeover, of Trinity College; Mr. Richard Rice, of Merton College; Mr. Edward Pemberton, Mr. Wm. Lowndes, and Mr. Josias Robinson, of Brasennose College; Mr. Nath. Nathan Basevi, of Baliol College.

Dec. 10.-The names of the candidates, who at the close of the public examination this term, were adinitted by the public examiners into the first and second classes of Litere Humaniores et Discipline Mathematice et Physicæ, respectively according to the alphabetical arrangement prescribed by the statute stand as follow:-

In the first class of Litera Humaniores.-G. H. Cherry, Christ-church; C. P. Cooper, Wadham; J. A. Cramer and C. J. Fynes, C. C.; C. J. Hellicar, Magdalen; W. W. Hull and W. Lowndes, Brasennose; W. Madan, C. C.

In the first class of Discip. Mathemat. et. Phys.-S. F. Cooke, University College; C. P. Cooper, Wadham ; J. A. Cramer and W. Madan, C. C.

In the second class of Litera Humaniores.-N. N. Basevi, Baliol; W. Birket, Brasennose; E. R. Butcher, University College; G. Calcott, Lincoln College; S. F. Cooke, University College; F. D. Foster, Baliol; E. Jacob, Corpus Christi College; J. Robinson, Brascnnose; S. Willis, Magdalen; J. Younge, Baliol,

Discipl. Mathemat. et Phys.-E. Č.
Keene, Christ-church, now fellow of All
Souls.

Litere Humaniores.-J. Chambers,
All Souls; C. T. Collins, Baliol; W.
Cotton and C. C. Crump, Exeter Col-
lege; T. J. Glasscott, Baliol; R. Goff,
Christ-church; T. Greene, Oriel; T. E.
M. Holland, Baliol; J. Jackson, Brasen-
nose; C. Ives, Exeter College; E. C.
Keene, Christ-church; G. Pellett, Corp.
Christi; J. Smith, Trinity; W. Thomp-
son, Queen's; R. Walker, Magdalen.
T. COLLINS,
C. LLOYD,
F. CARDWELL, Examiners.

J. KEBLE,

Public

The number, of candidates to whom testimoniums for their degrees were given by the public examiners, but who

Proceedings of the University of Cambridge.

were not admitted into either of the above classes, amounted to 36.

Dec. 14. The following gentlemen were admitted to degrees :

B. D.- Rev. S. Briscall, of Brasen