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could "paint very well," and who was "an excellent judge of colours," mentioned by Dr. Milner in a letter to Mr. Wilberforce "on the theory of colours and shadows," afterwards published by Repton in his book on Landscape Gardening.

The following note, which, with others of a similar kind, and many of a more important character, has been kindly placed at my disposal by the Rev. Richard Edward Kerrich, may serve to indicate the nature of the easy and unceremonious intimacy which subsisted between these old friends.

"DEAR SIR,

"Queen's Lodge, December 31st, 1808, Saturday night.

"Sir William Wynne, with Dr. Jowett, and five or six others, drink their tea with me to-morrow; and it has occurred to me, that you may like to meet the grave Knight, &c. &c.

"If so, I shall be glad to see you by about half-past six, or a quarter before seven at farthest.

"Respond.

"Rev. Mr. Kerrich."

"Yours,

I. MILNER.

Very pleasant were such tea-parties; but they were of rare occurrence. Dr. Milner, at least with his old and intimate friends, greatly preferred a quiet and perfectly unceremonious tête-à-tête. A tête-à-tête indeed, I ought not in strictness to call it, having been myself, from my childhood upwards, permitted to be present on such occasion. Dr. Jowett, as it has been already intimated, spent at Queen's Lodge every Thursday and Sunday evening, coming to supper at half-past nine,

This letter was communicated by Mr. Wilberforce to Mr. Repton, with the following remark: "He" (the writer) "is a man unequalled for the store of knowledge he possesses, for the clearness with which he views, and the happy perspicuity with which he communicates his perceptions." It

ought not, however, to have been published without the writer's privity; and Dr. Milner felt that he ought to have been allowed the opportunity of revising a private letter on a scientific subject, previously to that letter's being made public.

remaining till half-past eleven or twelve; Mr. Kerrich generally came to tea, coming as early as half-past five, and going at nine or ten. There were no fixed days for his visits, but both parties enjoyed these evening conversations, which were always lively and interesting; and meeting with mutual pleasure, they met frequently. The dissolution of friendships, cemented like these by time and long habit, is one of the severest calamities incident to the decline of life.

CHAPTER XIX.

Examination for Smith's Prize.-Recollections of this Examination by Sir E. H. Alderson.-Fifth Volume of the Church History.-Joseph Milner's Sermons.-Correspondence.—Board of Longitude.-Revival of Luther's Character. The term "Methodism."-Thoughts on Baptism and Regeneration.-Establishment of a National School at Carlisle.-Opinions of Dr. Buchanan concerning the History of the Church of Christ.-Visit to Hull.-Anecdote.-Return to Cambridge.

A.D. 1809. ÆTAT. 59.

THE month of January brought with it its usual occupations. The present Sir E. H. Alderson, one of the Barons of the Exchequer, who was this year Senior Wrangler, Senior Medallist, and First Smith's Prize-man, has favoured me, among other interesting recollections, with the following account of Dr. Milner's style of examination for Smith's Prize.

"My recollection," writes Sir Edward, "of the Dean's examination of us in 1809, is of a very amusing, though laborious day's work. He talked to us and told us many anecdotes of by-gone days in the University, whilst we were working at the problems which he set us.

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"I should characterize his style of examination, as being favourable rather to ready and quick students, than to deeply read and learned ones; and I own that my subsequent experience in life leads me to think that he was right in that course. If the University were intended solely, or even mainly, to produce great philosophers in particular sciences or arts, he was wrong; but if it be intended, as I believe it ought to be, to produce those who, in the language of our bidding prayer,' are to do God service both in church and state,' then that course of study and of examination which tends to bring out the most accomplished men, should be pursued.

"Some of the present courses seem to me to be worthy of the sarcastic description applied to them, of being a new system of 'patent block machinery.'

"Happy are the students who unite both qualifications of learning and ready talent. But they are rare, and are the lights of the age when they occur. A general system cannot be accommodated to them alone."

The final revision of the fifth volume of the Ecclesiastical History, with the writing of the Appendix and Preface, now formed the occupation of Dr. Milner's leisure hours.

His feelings and opinions, both with regard to this volume, and to the second volume of his brother's Sermons, then lately published, appear in the following letter.

"TO THE REV. WILLIAM RICHARDSON.

"MY DEAR FRIEND,

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*

"Mr. Wilberforce's, Kensington Gore, March, 1809, Wednesday.

I am called to London about the old

business of finding the Longitude; and for aught I know I may be examined before the House of Commons, as a member of the Board which Mr. Earnshaw complains of, for not having sufficiently rewarded his merits as a maker of time-keepers.

"This petition is at this moment before the House.

“I have deferred writing to you, partly because I wished to hear a little what might be said about the new volume of Sermons. *

*

*

"In general, this is my report.-1. The best people like it the best. 2. All who knew him, agree that this volume revives the author much more than the former one did. 3. It is much more spiritual. 4. Some growl on account of incorrectness, but not much; and as far as I am concerned, I find myself in a dilemma. Some think I might mend many passages; others say I am more likely to spoil them, or at least to make them less like the style of the author."

[Here follow several minute criticisms, &c. &c.]

"You will like my new volume, I think, on the whole*; though I know you will think I am too diffuse. However,

* Volume V. of the History of the Church.

there are multitudes (to my certain knowledge) who are delighted with the revival of Luther's character. From all quarters I am told that this is the case; and though you may have formed, beforehand, the same general notion of him, it is next to impossible that you should have seen the proofs, the rich documents, which I produce in this book: they have never yet appeared. My labour has been very great, to digest and to curtail, and yet to supply the existing facts, so as to pass by nothing of great importance.

"I desire to be affectionately remembered to Mrs. Richardson, your kind neighbours, and all friends. I am tormented with toothache,

"But am yours, dear friend, always,

I. M."

During this same visit at Kensington Gore, Dr. Milner thus wrote to his excellent friend Mr. Stillingfleet, of Hotham.

"Kensington Gore, March 7th, 1809.

"The second part of Volume IV. of the History of the Church is actually printed. In the new edition, which is forthcoming in eight volumes, it will be called Vol. V. It is a large volume, containing about seven hundred and fifty pages, full of excellent matter, but gets on, in time, very little; and for very good reasons. If I live, I shall get on so much the faster afterwards, in point of time."

In a letter to Dr. Milner, dated March 15th, Mr. Richardson, after expressing his "mortification" at the discovery of certain errors in the newly published volume of Sermons, thus writes :

"I hate, as you do, tables of errata, and for the same reasons. I think all that should be done with the Sermons in the next edition is, to make them more correct; and to add a word here and there when wanted, as was done with the second edition of the first volume*. Dr. Jowett, or some other friend, might easily help you in this matter.

* This was done in the subsequent editions.

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