Yet there are exceptions. To the honest heart, the penetrating mind, and powerful intellect of Dr. Johnson, the world is indebted for a superior method of Biography. The persons whose characters he has described, are introduced to our acquaintance without any flattering disguise, and made known to us as completely as if we had enjoyed a domes tic intimacy with them. And it may be ob served, that his own character has been des cribed with equal fidelity, and that posterity will view him exactly as he appeared to those who had daily access to him when he was alive.

Some, indeed, who dislike this honest dealing, affect to lament the injury done to the character of Dr. Johnson, by the unguarded communications of his friends, and particularly by the Publication of his "Prayers and Meditations." Yet this book was published by his own directions; and even the peculiarities, in his devotional exercises, which may be called superstitious, were permitted to appear without any care, on his part, to excuse or conceal them. Hence it is evident that he apprehended no dishonor to his memory, from being exhibited to the world as a penitent sin

ner, humbled with the review of past trans gressions, trembling under a sense of the ma jesty of God, and imploring mercy through the merits of his Saviour. Nor was Mr. Adam under any concern at the thought of having the secrets of his heart disclosed to the world, as is evident from the Paragraph with which the Chapter containing his Confessions concludes.* Both had discernment to see their own faults, and honesty enough to confess them. Both abhorred hypocrisy and guile, and wished not to appear better than they were. And surely they have not suffered on this account in the esteem of the truly Wise and Good, unless a person can be wise or good who judges of characters by rules contrary to those which determine the Judgment of God. For "thus saith the Lord, to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word."

York, March 14, 1803.

W. R.

* Vid. p. 108;

A SHORT SKETCH

OF THE

LIFE AND CHARACTER

OF

THE AUTHOR.

THE REV. THOMAS ADAM, author of the following work, was born at Leeds, in the West-Riding of Yorkshire, Feb. 25, 1701; his father, Mr. Henry Adam, was of the profession of the law, and town-clerk of that corporation. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Jasper Blythman, Esq.* recorder there, by whom he had six children, Jasper, Henry, Thomas, Katherine, Elizabeth, and Sibyl.

Our author, Thomas, was first put to the public grammar-school in that town, under the care of the pious and worthy Mr. Thomas Barnerd, † then head-master of

Elizabeth, the mother of Jasper Blythman, Esq. recorder of Leeds, was one of the twenty children of Sir John Stanhope, which were born and baptized (besides two which were still born) before either he or his lady were forty years of age."

Author of the Life and Character of Lady Eliza beth Hastings.