the 2nd of February, 1761, he was married to his first wife, Lady Diana Beauclerk, daughter of Charles, second Duke of St. Albans. Her Ladyship died in child-bed, May 28, 1766, leaving no issue.

After a variety of minor ecclesiastical preferments, he was appointed, in 1769, to the Bishoprick of Landaff; and on the 20th of June, 1770, was married to his second wife, Jane, daughter of Sir John Guise, of Rendcombe, in Gloucestershire.

In 1782, Bishop Barrington was translated to Salisbury, on the death of Dr. Hume; and, in 1791, on the death of Bishop Thurlow, he was advanced to the splendid Bishoprick of Durham, which he continued to enjoy up to the time of his death.

In 1807, the second lady of the Bishop died at Mongewell House, Oxon, without leaving any issue.

The Bishop was the author of a variety of religious publications, of which the most important is, "The Grounds on which the Church of England separated from the Church of Rome re-considered, in a View of the Romish Doctrine of the Eucharist," published in 1809.

Both as a man, and as a Christian Minister, Bishop Barrington deserves the very highest encomiums. Perhaps no man ever dispensed the immense income and patronage of the Bishoprick of Durham more satisfactorily to the public, or more honorably to himself, than he did. A variety of instances could be named of his liberality to religious opponents; throughout life, he delighted to distinguish, by his favor, worthy men of all classes and denominations. His own religion was of a quiet, but fervid, character-unostentatious, but sincere -simple, but pure. Although at an age far advanced beyond the ordinary lot of humanity, he retained the possession of his faculties unimpaired; and, until within a few days before his death, his conversation calm, cheerful, and lively. He died on the 25th of March, 1826, in the 92nd year of his age.

Sir Archibald Macdonald, Bart.

This gentleman was the third son of Sir Alexander Macdonald, of an ancient family in Scotland, and was born in the year 1746. He was educated at Westminster, and Christ Church, Oxford, and was afterwards entered of Lincoln's Inn. He was called to the bar in Michaelmas Term, 1770, but his practice there was extremely limited. He had, however, the good fortune to secure the affections of Lady Louisa Levison, daughter of the Marquis of Stafford, and this high alliance at once assisted him through all those gradations which lead to the highest honors. In 1778, he was made King's Counsel; in 1783, Solicitor-General; in 1788, Attorney-General; and, in 1793, Chief Baron of the Court of Exchequer. This last situation he held until 1813, when he retired into private life, and was created a Baronet.

Athough Sir Archibald's talents were not, perhaps, of so commanding an order as to have enabled him to attain to high legal honors, without the assistance of his noble connections, he was, nevertheless, a man of superior mind-possessing great acuteness and

power of expression. In society he was a most excellent companion; witty himself, and an admirable retailer of the wit of others.

He died on the 18th of May, 1826, leaving Lady Louisa surviving, and one son and two daughters. Sir James Macdonald, the present Baronet, is M. P. for Calne.

Rev. John Milner, D.D.

Dr. Milner was born in London in 1752, received his education at the English College at Douay, and was ordained Priest in the Roman Catholic Church in 1777. He then returned to England, and was placed first in London, and afterwards in Winchester and Wolverhampton.

Dr. Milner, for thirty years, took a very prominent part in the controversies which have agitated the political and religious world upon the subject of Roman Catholic disabilities, and without doubt did much service to the cause of his church, by the manly, vigorous, candid, and honest manner in which he entered into the prevalent discussions. Dr. Milner has also published several antiquarian works of great merit; but the introduction of controverted points of religion and policy into all his publications, considerably lessened their value. To enumerate even the titles of the pamphlets and other works that have emanated from this celebrated divine, would fill several of our pages. As a controversionalist, he deserves all the praise that can be given to a man of vigorous and manly intellect-master of the subjects upon which he wrote, and zealous for the defence of what he considered to be the truth. His views upon several points of doctrine and conduct, differed considerably from the milder opinions of Mr. Charles Butler; and the firm and unbending character of Dr. Milner's mind, were in no instances more palpably displayed than when opposing the concessions to which more pliant Catholics were ready to submit. Late in life, he published a book, entitled, " An End of Religious Controversy," which produced an admirable letter from Dr. Parr, to which Dr. Milner replied, as some think, in no very convincing manner. Dr. Parr's letter was not given to the world until after his death.

Dr. Milner was Bishop of Castabala, and Vicar Apostolical for the midland district of England. He died on the 19th of April, 1826, at the age of 74. His funeral, which took place at Wolverhampton, was accompanied by a grand display of all the imposing ceremonies of the Roman Catholic Church.

Taylor Combe, Esq.

Mr. Combe was the eldest son of the late Dr. Combe, a well known collector of medals and man of learning, who died in the year 1817. His mother, after whose family he was named, was the only daughter of Henry Taylor, Esq. He was educated at Harrow, and afterwards removed to Oriel College, Oxford. In 1803, he was appointed keeper of the coins at the British Museum; and in 1807, was placed at the head of the new department of Antiquities. In 1812, he was elected

secretary to the Royal Society, and filled that office for twelve years, when ill health compelled him to resign.

Mr. Combe's publications are chiefly upon antiquarian subjects. of no very general interest, but highly useful to enquirers. They are distinguished by great accuracy of information upon abstruse and difficult subjects. In private life, Mr. Combe was an excellent and highly respected man. Sir Humphrey Davy, in his last annual address to the Royal Society, took occasion to refer to his services to the Royal Society, and the general cause of science, in terms of very animated encomium. Mr. Combe died on the 7th of July, after a long illness. His age was 52.

The Right Rev. Reginald Heber, Bishop of Calcutta.

Dr. Heber was the second son of the Rev. Reginald Heber, of Marton Hall, Yorkshire, and Mary, daughter of the Rev. Dr. Allanson of the same county. He was born April 21, 1783, at Malpas, in Cheshire. After receiving the rudiments of education at some country schools, he was entered of Brazen Nose, Oxford, in 1800. Whilst at Oxford, he obtained several academical honors, amongst which were the prizes for Latin and English verse. The poem which procured him the latter distinction, was entitled "Palestine;" it possesses great beauty, and is much better known than most prize poems.

In 1805, Mr. Heber was presented to the rectory of Hodnett, in Shropshire, and shortly afterwards was married to Amelia, daughter of Dr. Shipley, late Dean of St. Asaph.

From that time up to 1822, Mr. Heber remained in the retirement of the country, but published several short poems, and in 1815, the Bampton Lectures, which he had been elected to deliver. In May, 1822, he was chosen preacher of Lincoln's Inn, and in the next year, agreed to accept the Bishoprick of Calcutta, which, when first offered to him, he had refused. He arrived at Calcutta in October, 1823, and early in 1824, entered upon the arduous task of a visitation of his immense diocese. His first visitation comprehended northern India and Ceylon, and this he happily completed. Shortly afterwards, he again set forward upon a visitation to Madras, and having arrived at Trichinopoly, he on Sunday, April 2, preached and confirmed, which ceremony he repeated early the next morning. On his return home, he took a cold bath before breakfast, as he had done the two preceding days. The servant who attended him, thinking he remained longer than usual in the bath, entered the apartment, and found the Bishop lying in the water, dead. An alarm was instantly given, and the body taken out of the bath, but life was extinct; a blood vessel had burst upon the brain, occasioned, as the medical men imagined, by the sudden plunge into cold water, when he was warm and exhausted.

Few men have been more regretted than Bishop Heber, and few indeed have more deserved regret. His conduct in his episcopal functions, appears to have been sedulous, zealous, and, without exception, blameless; and in private life, his simple, unostentatious, and unpretending behaviour was the theme of general admiration. Extraordi

nary honors have been paid to his memory throughout the Indian empire, in which his loss is a theme of general lamentation. His lordship was in the 43rd year of his age.

Lord Gifford.

The law is a profession, in which men of superior ability seldom fail to distinguish themselves; and Lord Gifford is not only an instance of the truth of this, but of as rapid advancement as can well be conceived. He was born on the 24th of February, 1779, of parents in very humble life at Exeter: his father, who was a tradesman, died whilst Robert, of whom we are treating, was very young, and two of his brothers carried on the business for the benefit of the family. Robert Gifford was educated at a country school near Exeter, and at the age of 17 articled to an attorney. He served his clerkship, but some dispute then arising between him and his master, he determined to study for the bar, and accordingly entered himself of the Middle Temple, and on the 12th of February, 1808, was in due course called. His earliest professional business was at the Exeter Sessions, and on the Western Circuit; and the cause which first brought him into notice, was a question of lunacy, in which he was opposed, singly, to the present Lord Chief Justice Abbot, and Mr. Dauncey, who were brought specially to Exeter on the occasion.

On the 9th of May, 1817, he was appointed Solicitor-General, and knighted, and in July, 1819, succeeded Sir Samuel Shepherd as Attorney-General. Whilst he held this office, it will be recollected that he conducted the case against Queen Caroline.

On the 30th of January, 1824, Sir Robert Gifford was raised to the peerage by the title of Baron Gifford of St. Leonards, in the county of Devon, and was appointed Chief Justice of the Common Pleas; and in the same year was chosen Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords, and upon the death of Sir Thomas Plomer, he succeeded to the mastership of the Rolls.

Lord Gifford performed these various duties with credit to himself, and advantage to the public; for although not considered a man of very extraordinary talent, he possessed an intelligence and quickness, exceedingly useful in the dispatch of business. In his capacity of Judge, he was calm, patient, and deliberate; and as Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords, his excellent management caused a speedy diminution in the arrear of appeals. In private life, Lord Gifford was more than ordinarily esteemed.

His lordship's death was sudden. It was occasioned by an attack of cholera morbus, and took place on the 2d of September, 1826, at Dover. He was in the 48th year of his age.

His lordship was married, April 8, 1816, to Harriett Maria, daughter of the Rev. Edward Drewe, of Broadhembury, in the county of Devon. He has left a family of two sons and three daughters. His remains were attended to the grave by the Lord Chancellor, and most of the distinguished members of the legal profession then in town.

III. LITERARY SUMMARY OF 1826.

The Literary History of the present year has partaken of the character of the times, undistinguished by anything peculiarly striking. Indeed, some classes of society dependent upon the state of literature, have been reduced to a condition of extreme distress, only equalled by the unfortunate manufacturing labourers. It is the fashion to boast of the great advances which have been made in our time, in almost all departments of science; and perhaps this is in part true; but we are apt to attach too great importance to modern discoveries, not reflecting, that if we have gained in some things, there are others in which perhaps we have lost. We laugh at the ignorance of our ancestors, we deride their follies with much self-complacency, and congratulate` ourselves upon being infinitely wiser and better. It is not our wish to take away from the present generation all the superiority they challenge; but we doubt whether, if we have discarded some of the errors of our ancestors, we have not also acquired a variety of our own. Fooleries of which they had no knowledge, have sprung up amongst us, and it is in our literature, as in our manners; our ancestors were bold, hardy, and strong minded, but sometimes stubborn and wrongheaded; we, on the contrary, are vain, sickly, shallow, and pretending. The long and wearisome roads by which they arrived at wisdom, will not suit the puny seekers after knowledge of the present day. We must have a royal road to learning---we cannot pursue it as they did in the midst of disadvantages and discouragements---we cannot follow it as they did, however barren and uninviting the country through which it was necessary to travel, whatever difficulties were to be contended against, whatever obstacles were in the path; as nurses administer medicines to children in the shape of sweetmeats, so we must have our instruction laid before us in the most inviting form: history, to be read, must be turned into a romance; sciences are inculcated by lectures; and religious instruction insinuated in a novel! This sickly timidity, this want of courage to grapple with difficulties, of course has great influence upon our literature. Light reading suits the taste of the times, and authors, anxious to secure popular favor, endeavour to clothe every subject in an airy and captivating dress. Thus novels are the most important works of the day, if indeed importance is to be estimated by popular anxiety and applause. The publication of a new novel creates a sensation in society, and a few days are sufficient to dispose of a large impression; whilst a work of standard merit and importance lays dormant upon the publisher's shelves, or even sometimes steals into notice under cover of its lighter neighbour.

It was our intention to have concluded this article with a notice of the most important works that have issued from the press, during the last twelve months, classing them under the usual divisions, History, Poetry, Biography, &c.; but when we review the list of works which those months have produced, we find that such a task would be vain and useless, and, for the most part, would have no other effect than to show, in a striking manner, the poverty and worthlessness of