CHARACTER OF DR. PRIESTLEY.

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where he died not long ago, in the 70th year of his age. A handsome monument has been re.cently erected to his memory at Birmingham, with an inscription from the pen of Dr. Samuel Parr, of classic celebrity.

Dr. Parr's character, indeed, of Dr. Priestley, taken from a letter addressed to the inhabitants of Birmingham, soon after the infamous riots, is too remarkable to be omitted:"I confess, with sorrow, that in too many instances, such modes of defence have been used against this formidable heresiarch, as would hardly be justifiable, in the support of revelation itself, against the arrogance of a Bolingbroke, the buffoonery of a Mandeville, and the levity of a Voltaire. But the cause of orthodoxy requires not such aids; the church of England approves them not; the spirit of Christianity warrants them not. Let Dr. Priestley, indeed, be confuted where he is mistaken. Let him be exposed where he is superficial. Let him be repressed where he is dogmatical. Let him be rebuked where he is censorious. But let not his attainments be depreciated because they are numerous, almost without a parallel. Let not his talents be ridiculed because they are superlatively great. Let not his morals be vilified because they are correct without austerity, and exemplary without ostentation; because they present, even to common observers, the innocence of a hermit, and the simplicity of a patriarch; and because a philosophic eye will at once discern in them the deep fixed root of virtuous principle, and the solid trunk of vir

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tuous habit." I shall only add to this original and masterly eulogium, that the scientific discoveries alone of this excellent man, with whom I had the honour and pleasure of being acquainted, will immortalize his memory.

In the burying-ground close to one of the meeting-houses which were destroyed during the riots, lie interred the remains of Robert Robinson, of Cambridge, and a neat monument, with an inscription of some length, has been erected to his memory. He came on a visit to Birmingham, in the summer of the year 1790, and here, in the 54th year of his age, died suddenly, and alone in his bed, at midnight. He had wished for instantaneous dissolution, and his wish was gratified. He was in many respects an extraordinary man. He rose to eminence, not only by the simplicity of his pulpit eloquence, but by the originality of his theological productions.

As this advocate of civil and religious liberty has, by his writings, endeavoured to soften the prejudices and annihilate the evils of party-spirit, it is remarkable that he should have been interred in the spot, over which, in the course of a twelvemonth after, were acted scenes of the most disgustful and outrageous bigotry. Could ROBINSON have started from his tomb on this occasion, and could the rioters have listened for a moment to his impressive accents, they would surely have desisted from their devastations, shrinking back ashamed and confounded to their habitations! The voice proceeding from the lips of truth commands at

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tention, and operates with an irresistible energy. It silences the clamours of ignorance, and subdues the tumults of passion. It awakens the tenderest emotions, inciting to the mild deeds of virtue and of humanity.

Since writing the above paragraph, in the former editions of this work, a Monument has been raised to the memory of Mr. Robinson, with the following just inscription :

SACRED to the memory of the Rev. ROBERT ROBINSON, of Cam. bridge, the intrepid champion of liberty, civil and religious; endowed with a genius brilliant and penetrating, united with an indefatigable industry, his mind was richly furnished with an inexhaustible variety of knowledge; his eloquence was the delight of every public assembly, and his conversation the charm of every private circle. In him the erudition of the scholar, the discrimination of the historian, and the boldness of the reformer, were united in an eminent degree, with the virtues which adorn the man and the Christian! He died at Birmingham, the 8th of June, 1790, aged 54 years, and was buried near this spot.

I would beg leave to recommend to you, my young friend, the Life of this worthy man, prefixed to an handsome Edition of his smaller productions in four volumes, by Mr. B. Flower, of Cambridge. This Biographer has repelled the attacks of Fanaticism and Infidelity, shewing him to be, what he really professed himself, the rational, consistent, and liberal friend of CHRISTIANITY.

Wishing to bring with me from Birmingham some memorial of ingenuity, for the display of which the place is distinguished, I entered a principal shop, and after having looked over various little articles, purchased a medal of the great

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MECHANIC THEATRE AT PARIS.

WASHINGTON, Individuals who knew him have pronounced the impression a striking likeness. Round the profile are these words, GEORGE WASHINGTON, OB. 14 DEC. 1799, E. 68. On the reverse is the figure of Fame with her trumpet, having this inscription encircled with oak and laurel, EMANCIPATOR OF AMERICA! This real patriot, considered either in his military or legislative capacity, possesses a degree of merit which surpasses my feeble powers of commendation. His prudence and fortitude throughout the American war, his wisdom and moderation during the period of his presidency, to which he was twice elected, together with his determined firmness in preserving peace with this country, during our lamentable contest with France, entitle him to the reverence and gratitude of succeeding generations. On this account I honour and esteem his character, and for these reasons the account of his illness, death, and interment, in the American prints, was particularly affecting and impressive.

During my stay at Birmingham I was gratified by ingenious pieces of mechanism to be seen in some of the principal- manufactories in the town. It is incredible to what perfection such things are brought. They reminded me of what I had read respecting the Mechanic Theatre at Paris. The account of this exhibition being somewhat similar, shall be transcribed:-"The spectacle in the Picturesque and Mechanical Theatre consisted of scenery and appropriate little moving figures. The first scene was a view of a wood in early morning,

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every object looked blue, fresh, and dewy. The gradations of light, until the approach of meridian day, were admirably represented. Serpents were seen crawling in the grass. A little sportsman entered with his fowling-piece, and imitated all the movements natural to his pursuits; a tiny. wild duck rose from a lake and flew before him. He pointed his gun, and changed his situation, pointed again, and fired. The bird dropped, he threw it over his shoulders, fastened his gun, and retired. Waggons, drawn by horses four inches high, passed along; groups of peasantry followed, exquisitely imitating all the indications of life. Amongst several other scenes was a beautiful view of the bay of Naples, and the great bridge, over which little horses, with their riders, passed in the various paces of walking, trotting, and galloping! All the minutiae of nature were attended to. ear was beguiled with the patting of the horses' hoofs upon the pavement, and some of the little animals reared and ran before the others. There were also some charming little sea pieces, in which the vessels sailed with their heads towards the spectators, and manoeuvred in a surprising manThe whole concluded with a storm and shipwreck. Sailors were seen floating in the water, then sinking in the surge. One of them rose again, and reached a rock.

ner.

The

Boats put off to his

relief, and perished in the attempt. The little figure was seen displaying the greatest agonies. The storm subsided, tiny persons appeared upon the top of a projecting cliff, near a watch-tower,