ancient philosophers (he observes) finding the estab lished religions full of the fables of old women, en. tirely rejected religion in their systems of morality, as foreign to their philosophical speculations, and not sufficiently remote from vulgar opinions, unless as far as it was useful in matters of state. In tearing up superstition, they therefore injured the root of religion." Now this certainly was not the practice of the Academics who were the most distinguished of the ancient philosophers. Cicero's address to Atticus, in the introduction to his work on Laws, sufficiently evidences this point. "Dasne igitur hoc nobis Pomponi (nam quinti novi sententiam) Deorum immortalium *naturâ, ratione, potestate, mente, numine, sive quod aliud est verbum quo planius significem quod volo, naturam omnem regi: nam si hoc non probas ab eo nobis causa ordienda est potissimum." Lib. I. c. 7. "Do you allow this, (for I know the opinion of my brother) that all things are governed by the care, reason, power, mind, divinity, or, if there is any word that will more clearly express my meaning, of the immortal gods; for if you will not allow it, we must by all means begin with endeavouring to prove it." The Concio was published together with a Latin speech made on presenting Dr. Thomas as prolocutor to the higher house of covocation. These, together with a sermon preached at Lambeth at the consecration of James Lord Bishop of Gloucester, in 1753, are the only productions of Dr. Markham by which the pub

It is supposed by the commentators that this should be “cura,” and the translation proceeds as if it was.

lic is enabled to form a judgment of his literary character.

In January 1771 Dr. Markham was consecrated Bishop of Chester, and in the succeeding month was, in the first establishment for the education of the Prince of Wales, chosen preceptor to his royal highness. Dr. Cyril Jackson, the present dean of Christ Church, was at the same time appointed sub-preceptor.

In June 1776 a new establishment was formed, when Dr. Markham was succeeded by Dr. Hurd, the present Bishop of Worcester, and Dr. Jackson by Mr. Arnold, tutor of St. John's College, Cambridge. Why Dr. Markham and Dr. Jackson were not allowed to complete the education of the Prince of Wales is not generally known: their successors had been celebrated tutors at Cambridge, and they had been distinguished at Oxford. It seems, therefore, that it was intended to afford his royal highness the united advantages that might be expected from those who excelled in the different pursuits of the two universities.

This at least is known, that Dr. Markham, in the discharge of his duty, gave great satisfaction to the King, who personally superintended the education of his son, and that he has always retained a very enviable portion of the royal favour. The following anecdote may be mentioned in proof: Mr. Pitt promised to the late Dr. Clarke the deanery of York when it should become vacant by the death of Dr. Fountayne; but he was obliged to revoke the promise, having found that the King, in consequence of an application

from

from Dr. Markham, intended it for his eldest son, who now enjoys it.

In 1777 Dr. Markham was translated to the archbishopric of York. His life, as it can be viewed by a distant observer, appears to have been an uninterrupted series of uncommon felicity. Distinguished at a great school and an eminent college, over both of which he was afterwards called to preside, and over the former at a very early period of life; advancing in preferments and reputation until he was promoted to a bishopric, and selected for an employment with the due execution of which the future happiness of his country was intimately connected; afterwards rewarded by the second dignity of the English church, which he has held nearly thirty years; the father of a numerous and prosperous family, and in an extreme but vigorous old age, still able to feel all the happiness of his situation; what has he not enjoyed of those things which are supposed to constitute the splendid or the solid satisfactions of life? That he may long continue to enjoy them can now rather be desired than expected. But

"Such age there is, and who would wish its end?”

In his person the Archbishop of York is tall and graceful, and in his manners and address extremely dignified. He is supposed to have always rather too much indulged a constitutional indolence, and to this is owing that so little has been contributed to the instruction of the public by a man of such superior abilities and attainments.

THE

THE DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE.

THESE fortunate islands, notwithstanding the captious objections of peevish geographers, must certainly have been the Hesperides of the ancients! The golden apples alluded to in history are still to be met with in Herefordshire, and occasionally in Coventgarden; while, to complete the resemblance, the male and female dragons who guard them in both places will never consent to part with any of those valuable productions, unless Hercules himself should appear in the shape of a piece of money. The number and value of our flocks too is another proof of identity, for we have possessed from the earliest periods a fleece which may justly vie with that of Colchis; in addition to which, one of the late Mr. Bakewell's rams might have actually carried both Phryxus and Helle on his back at the same time, while his woolly covering would have defrayed no small portion of the expence attendant on the argonautic expedition!

A third, and indeed the most convincing proof, arises from the lovely faces and enchanting figures of our fair countrywomen; and if these modern Pleiades have not, like their mothers of antiquity, "the immortal gods themselves for their suitors," every man possessed of common gallantry will allow that they at least deserve them! It may seem, however, at first sight a little fanciful to assert that we are indebted, in some measure, to their beauty even for our religion; yet the most orthodox divines will not scruple to assent to this, when they recollect how much our conversion

conversion to christianity depended on the compassionating pun of a pious pontiff, who on beholding some pagan slaves standing for sale in the public market at Rome, exclaimed,

"NON ANGLI, SED ANGELI!”’*

The inhabitants of Great Britain have indeed been celebrated in all ages for the muscular strength of the male, and the graceful softness of the female form. This would have been ascribed by Montesquieu, perhaps, to our climate, and by Rousseau to our not degenerating from a state of nature. But the fashionable and prevailing pursuits of the times seem to sanctify more homely notions; and the right honourable and right reverend agriculturists of the present day will doubtless be inclined to deduce these advantageous effects from their own fanciful theories.

Arguing in conformity to the same principles by which they explain the proportions of the Leicestershire ram, or the west-country cow, they will assert that the bone and muscle of the present day proceed from the Saxon cross, in the time of Hengist and Horsa; they will find the golden locks and enchanting bloom on the yet unpainted cheeks of a country maiden to have originated with our hyperborean ancestors who accompanied Canute; while the dark hair and black eyes, so frequently to be met with in our old English families, must have undoubtedly proceeded from the Norman warriors who accompanied William the Bastard.

*Not English-women, but angels!

Georgiana