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so that the virtues and talents of his offspring might well. be considered as hereditary, only that a double portion. of the father's spirit rested on the son.

At the celebrated seminary of Winchester, founded by William of Wykeham, he received his grammatical education; and some time before he left school, he displayedhis genius and taste by some beautiful compositions. His poem on the Genealogy of Christ, as painted on the window of Winchester-college chapel, first made him known in the train of the muses: and this was followed by another on Catherine-hill, the scene of youthful pastime to the Wykehamites: a subject which must have been endeared to Lowth by the recollection of many a happy hour spent there, devoid of ambition and of care.

His scholastic attainments, however, were not con fined to poetry. Though, as the greatest and the best of men have frequently done, he employed it for the relief of severer studies, his attention was not diverted from those more serious pursuits which are requisite to complete the character of the scholar. He not only acquired a critical knowledge of the Latin and Greek classics, but added an uncommon acquaintance with Oriental literature; which, opening the treasures of sacred lore, attracted and fixed his attention on biblical criticism, in which he afterwards shone with unrivalled lustre.

From Winchester he removed to New-college, Oxford, and in due course obtained a fellowship upon that fourdation; which he vacated in the twenty-second year of his age, by marrying a lady of Christ-church in Hampshire.

Such an early engagement, interrupting the course of academic studies too soon, might have been fatal to the prospect of a man whose attainments were less mature, and whose manners were less calculated to attract admiration and gain patronage. To the highest literary

accomplishments, he joined those amiable external graces which adorn the character of the gentleman: and the duke of Devonshire had the good sense to recognize and reward them, by appointing him tutor to his son the marquis of Hartington; with whom he made the tour of Europe, and discharged the important function in such a manner as secured him the future protection of that noble family.

Having taken the degree of master of arts in 1737, he was appointed professor of Hebrew in the university of Oxford four years afterwards; when he delivered his admirable lectures on the sacred poetry of the Hebrews, which place him in the first rank of eminence as a critic.

It was the good fortune of Lowth to obtain the patronage of Dr. Hoadley, bishop of Winchester, at an early period of his life; and to this amiable and able prelate he was indebted for his first preferment, which was the rectory of Overton, and afterwards for that of East Woodhay, both in Hampshire. The same zealous patron also appointed him archdeacon of Winchester in the year 1750; and being now in the high road to preferment by the kindness of Providence and the regard of his friends, his own merit rendered his future promotion neither doubtfuł nor distant.

In 1754 he obtained the degree of doctor in divinity by diploma, from his university; and the following year, on the appointment of his noble pupil the marquis of Hartington to be lord-lieutenant of Ireland, Dr. Lowth accompanied him as first chaplain, and soon after was offered the bishopric of Limeric. But the attractions of a mitre in the sister kingdom were at that time less powerful than the endearments of family connexions, and literary pursuits in his native country; and he exchanged the see for a prebend of Durham, and the rectory of Sedgefield in that diocese.

In 1758, Dr. Lowth preached a visitation-sermon before

the bishop of Durham; which was afterwards printed, and has been much admired for the liberal spirit which it breathes. A few short extracts, as developing the sentiments of such an eminent man at that period of his life, may be properly introduced here. Christianity," observes this eloquent preacher, "was published to the world in the most enlightened age; it invited and challenged the examination of the ablest judges, and stood the test of the severest scrutiny; the more it is brought to the light, to the greater advantage will it appear. When, on the other hand, the dark ages of barbarism came on, as every art and science was almost extinguished, so was Christianity in proportion oppressed and overwhelmed by error and superstition; and they that pretended to defend it from the assaults of its enemies by prohibiting examination and free inquiry, took the surest method of cutting off all hopes of its recovery. Again, when letters revived, and reason regained her liberty; when a spirit of inquiry began to prevail, and was kept up and promoted by a happy invention, by which the communication of knowledge was wonderfully facilitated; Christianity immediately emerged out of darkness, and was in a manner republished to the world in its native simplicity. It has always flourished or decayed together with learning and liberty: it will ever stand or fall with them. Let no man be alarmed at the attempts of atheists or infidels let them produce their cause; let them bring forth their strong reasons, to their own confusion: afford them not the advantage of restraint, the only advantage which their cause permits of; let them not boast the false credit of supposed arguments, and pretended demonstrations, which they are forced to suppress. What has been the consequence of all that licentious contradiction, with which the gospel has been received in these our times, and in this nation? Hath it not given birth to such irrefragable apologies, and convincing illustrations, of our

most holy religion, as no other age or nation ever produced? Where freedom of inquiry is maintained and exercised under the direction of the sincere word of God, falschood may perhaps triumph for a day; but to-morrow truth will certainly prevail, and every succeeding day will confirm her superiority."

To controvert the opinions of such an eminent divine, may appear arrogance; but an unlimited right of discussion in the common language, is not perhaps unattended with danger. Where the genuine love of truth is the object of pursuit, God forbid that the liberty of the press should ever be restrained! but where cavils are raised merely to entrap the ignorant, and objections a thousand times refuted are vamped up anew to poison the unreflecting, a wise man will pause before he gives his assent to unrestrained discussion, and a good man will hesitate to indulge it.

The fame of Dr. Lowth as an elegant writer and a biblical critic, was now supreme. Utility or ornament was conspicuous in all his publications, from his Lectures on the Sacred Poetry of the Hebrews, to his Short Introduction to English Grammar; and truth was adorned with all the embellishments of diction, and all the force of argument. His Life of William of Wykeham, the founder of the college in which he had received his education, may be considered as a tribute of gratitude to the memory of that beneficent patron of literature; and will exalt the character of the person who paid it, in the estimation of every man of moral sentiment. His controversy with Warburton, bishop of Gloucester, was carried on with liberality and some smart raillery on his part; but Warburton, though a strenuous and real defender of Christianity, could never dispute without indulging a spirit of acrimony.

Dr. Lowth was raised to the mitre in 1766, and was consecrated bishop of St. David's; but a few months after was translated to the see of Oxford, and in 1777 to that of London.

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The year after he entered on this last bishopric he published his New Translation of Isaiah; with a preliminary dissertation, and a variety of learned notes. person was better qualified for this arduous task, and none could have executed it better. His previous acquirements, great as they were, undoubtedly were all called into action on this occasion; and the learned in every part of Europe have re-echoed the applauses of his countrymen on the execution of this elaborate work, which will transmit his name with honour to remote posterity.

Amidst the unclouded sunshine of prosperity, the best qualities of the heart are frequently obscured. It is affliction that tries our faith, and improves our virtues. After bishop Lowth had risen to deserved preferment, and in point of temporal good could have no more to ask, it pleased the Supreme Dispenser of all to exercise his patience by some of the severest trials that human nature can undergo. As he advanced in years, he was harassed by a cruel and incurable disorder; and to increase his calamity, he suffered some of the most afflictive dispensations of Providence. His eldest daughter, of whom he was passionately fond, had been carried off by a premature fate, and on her tomb he engraved his affection. The classical scholar will read these very beautiful Latin lines with a plaintive pleasure; and the English reader will not be displeased with the translation subjoined, though far inferior to the graces of the original:

Cara, vale ingenio præstans, pietate, pudore,

Et plusquam natæ nomine cara, vale!
Cara Maria, vale! at veniet, felicius ævum,

Quando iterum tecum, sim modò dignus, ero.
"Cara, redi" lætâ tum dicam voce,
66 paternos,.

66

Eja age in amplexus, cara Maria! redi."

Dearer than Daughter, parallel'd by few

In genius, goodness, modesty,-adieu!

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