AND Journal of Belles Lettres, Arts, Politics, etc. No. 51. SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 1818. (Concluded from our last.) With everlasting professions of liberality and tolerance in his mouth, we have rarely met with more numerous examples of illiberality and intolerance in practice, than are here recorded. Prevented early in life from going to Bencoolen as chaplain to the factory, the author exclaims, "I have thanked God for being disappointed of an opportunity of becoming an Asiatic plunderer." 66 But we will not multiply these examples of want of candour: suffice it to say, that with most of the heat and prejudices of a partisan, Dr. Watson claims all the probity and honour to himself and the side he espouses, rarely allowing their adversaries to possess either sense or honesty. Of his more innocent and excusable vanity, the following account affords a pleasanter exhibition. PRICE Is. the rest of us (the Whig ministers in the coalition.) I assured him that my refusal proceeded from a regard to my situation; that I did not think it suitable to my station as a clergyman, and especially as a professor of divinity, to enter so deeply into political contentions." This was a good theory; the reverse was the practice of the theorist's life. Only seven pages further on, we find him an active petition-monger, and stirring electioneerer. this business (says he triumphantly) fell "The whole planning and conducting of upon me. My tolerating principles had gained me the esteem of the Presbyterian Dissenters, and their support contributed essentially to the carrying of the election on the 14th Sept. 1780. The poll was finished, by my contrivance, as to the manner of taking the votes, in a few hours; by which a very great expense was saved to all the candidates," &c. "In February, 1790, two pamphlets were published in opposition to the Duke's "I pursued my intention of retiring, in a great measure, from public life, and laid, Hints.* I wrote an hasty reply to these attacks upon a nobleman whose zeal for in the summer of 1789, the foundation of Christianity, instead of censure and oblo- my house on the banks of Winandermere. quy, deserved the praise of all good men. I have now spent above twenty years in this In February 1781, the presentation I took a large and liberal view of the sub- delightful country; but my time has not to the rectory of Knaptoft, in Leicesject, thinking it better to do that, than to been spent in field diversions, in idle visit-tershire, was his reward from the brogive a printed answer to every petulant re-ings, in county bickerings, in indolence, or ther of the successful candidate; and mark of the two Pamphleteers, though one intemperance: no, it has been spent, partly of them, I have no doubt, was the produc- in supporting the religion of the country by in return to him were dedicated the first tion of a Bishop, if not both." seasonable publications; and principally in two volumes of the Doctor's Chemical My temper could never brook sub-building farm-houses, blasting rocks, en- Essays! We question that this conmission to the ordinary means of ingratiat-closing wastes, in making bad land good, duct would have passed muster with ing myself with great men; and hence Dr. in planting larches, and in planting in the the Doctor as thorough independence Halifax, (afterwards Bishop of St. Asaph) hearts of my children principles of piety, of and abstinence from politics in any of whose temper was different, called me one benevolence, and of self-government. By his opponents. of the Baga; and he was right enough in such occupations I have much recovered the denomination. I was determined to be my health, entirely preserved my indepenadvanced in my profession by force of de-dence,set an example of a spirited husbandry sert, or not at all. It has been said (I believe by D'Alembert) that the highest offices in church and state resemble a pyramid, whose top is accessible to only two sorts of animals, eagles and reptiles. My pinions were not strong enough to pounce upon its top, and I scorned by creeping to ascend its summit. Not that a bishoprick was then or ever an object of my ambition; for I considered the acquisition of it as no proof of personal merit, inasmuch as bishopricks are as often given to flattering dependants, or to the unlearned younger branches of to the county, and honourably provided for But the writer's temperament was guided by passion." "This short scene of life is too important to be wrangled away in endless disputes, on subjects of politics or religion, with men who are ignorant of every useful "Hints to the new Association," and recom-judgments are warped by interest, or mis* A pamphlet by the Duke of Grafton, object of knowledge; or with those whose mending a revision of the liturgy. It seems his grace was a Unitarian, and his friend says, very strangely for a bishop, "I never attempted either to encourage or to discourage his profession of Unitarian principles, for I was happy to see a person of his rank, professing with intelligence and with sincerity, Christian principles. If any one thinks that an Unitarian is not a Christian, I plainly say, without being myself an Unitarian, that I think otherwise." VOL. II. Many of the author's opinions on the important events of the age, as they occurred, are preserved in these pages. Time has falsified them all; and we marvel why they were left in print to impeach the judgment of their writer with posterity. "The moment (says he, in 1775) America is compelled to open her ports, and to refuge her distress under foreign protection, there will be an end of our history as a great people." (page 58), If France (said he in 1787) shall ever by force or by fraud, unite the marine of Holland to her own, there will be an end furnishes an example similar to what has "No history (1791) ancient or modern, of our history as a great people." (p. 165). happened in France; an example of a whole people (the exceptions are not worthy of notice) divesting themselves of the prejudices of birth and education in civil: and religious concerns, and adopting the Imagining that my refusal proceeded principles of philosophy and good sense." from an apprehension of being ill thought You must be (It is but justice to add, that the of at court, jocularly said, forced down the king's throat as well as | learned Prelate soon abjured these pre Declining to act as a delegate from |