Nov. Test. A portrait of Dr. Chandler, engraved by T.Kitchin from a painting by Chamberlin, is prefixed to his Posthumous Sermons. There is also a fine mezzotinto sheet print of him, by Pether.-Dr. Chandler's Bible was to have been presented by his widow to one of our Universities. Some of the most eminent and learned Dissenting ministers gave her 20. guineas for it, and offered it to an opulent bookseller to print, only desiring to be reimbursed the purchase-money, and the surplus-money to be insured to the widow. He calculated the printing at gol. his own profit at 251. per cent. yet would 90l. give nothing to print it himself, and asked too great allowance as publisher. Dr. Lardner was for publishing it by subscription. The family of the COLLINSONS is of antient standing in the North: PETER and JAMES were the great grandsons of Peter Collinson, who lived on his paternal estate called Hugal-Hall, or Height of Hugal, near Windermere Lake, in the parish of Stavely, about ten miles from Kendal in Westmoreland. PETER, whilst a youth, discovered his attachment to Natural History. He began early to make a collection of dried specimens of plants, and had access to the best gardens at that time in the neighbourhood of London. He also became early acquainted with the most eminent Naturalists of his time; the Doctors Derham, Woodward, Dale, Lloyd, and Sloane, were amongst his friends. Among the great variety of articles which form that superb collection, now (by the wise disposition of Sir Hans and the munificence of Parliament) the British Museum, small was the number of those with whose history Mr. Collinson was not well ac * The materials of this article were furnished by a little tract printed by Dr. Fothergill, under the title of "Some Account of the late Peter Collinson, Fellow of the Royal Society, and of the Society of Antiquaries in London, and of the Societies of Berlin and Upsal. In a Letter to a Friend, 1770," quainted; quainted; he being one of those few who visited Sir Hans at all times familiarly; their inclinations and pursuits in respect to Natural History being the same, a firm friendship had early been established between them.-Peter Collinson was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society on the 12th of December, 1728; and perhaps was one of the most diligent and useful members, not only in supplying them with many curious observations himself, but in promoting and preserving a most extensive correspondence with learned and ingenious foreigners, in all countries, and on every useful subject. Besides his attention to Natural History, he minuted every striking hint that occurred either in reading or conversation; and from this source he derived much information, as there were very few men of learning and ingenuity, who were not of his acquaintance at home; and most foreigners of eminence in natural history, or in arts and sciences, were recommended to his notice and friendship. His diligence and economy of time was such, that, though he never appeared to be in a hurry, he maintained an extensive correspondence with great punctuality; acquainting the learned and ingenious in distant parts of the globe, with the discoveries and improvements in natural history in this country, and receiving the like information from the most eminent persons in almost every other. His correspondence with the ingenious Cadwallader Colden, esq. of New York, and the justly celebrated Dr. Franklin of Philadelphia, furnish instances of the benefit resulting from his attention to all improvements *. * "In 1730, a subscription-library being set on foot at Philadelphia, he encouraged the design by making several very valuable presents to it, and procuring others from his friends : and as the library-company had a considerable, sum arising annually to be laid out in books, and needed a judicious friend in London to transact the business for them, he voluntarily and cheerfully undertook that service, and executed it for more than thirty years successively; assisting in the choice of books, and taking the whole care of collecting and shipping them, without The latter of these gentlemen communicated his first essays on Electricity to Mr. Collinson, in a series of letters, which were then published, and have been reprinted in a late edition of the Doctor's ingenious discoveries and improvements. Perhaps, in some future period, the account procured of the management of sheep in Spain, published in the Gentleman's Magazine* for May and June 1764, may not be considered among the least of the benefits accruing from his extensive and inquisitive correspondence. His conversation, cheerful and usefully entertaining, rendered his acquaintance much desired by those who had a relish for Natural History, or were studious in cultivating rural improvements; and secured him the intimate friendship of some of the most eminent personages in this kingdom, as distinguished by their taste in Planting and Horticulture, as by their rank and dignity. He was the first who introduced the great variety of seeds and shrubs, which are now the principal ornaments of every garden; and it was owing to his indefatigable industry, that so many persons of the first distinction are now enabled to behold groves transplanted from the Western Continent flourishing so luxuriantly in their several domains, as if they were already become in : ever charging or accepting any consideration for his trouble. The success of this library (greatly owing to his kind countenance and good advice) encouraged the erecting others in different places on the same plan and it is supposed there are now upwards of thirty subsisting in the several colonies, which have contributed greatly to the spreading of useful knowledge in that part of the world: the books he recommended being all of that kind, and the catalogue of this first library being much respected and followed by these libraries that succeeded. During the same time he transmitted to the directors of the library the earliest accounts of every new European improvement in agriculture and the arts, and every philosophical discovery; among which, in 1745, he sent over an account of the new German experiments in electricity, together with a glass tube, and some directions for using it, so as to repeat those experiments." Letter from Mr. R. Franklin to Michael Collinson, Esq. * See Gent. Mag. vol. XXXIV. pp. 203. 266; a reference which at the present day may be particularly useful in the management of Merino sheep. digenous 1 digenous to Britain. He had some correspondents in almost every Nation in Europe; some in Asia, and even at Pekin; who all transmitted to him the most valuable seeds they could collect, in return for the treasures of America. The great Linnæus, during his residence in England, contracted an intimate friendship with Mr. Collinson, which was reciprocally increased by a multitude of good offices, and continued to the last. Besides his attachment to Natural History, he was very conversant in the Antiquities of our own country, having been elected a member of the Society of Antiquaries April 7, 1737; and he supplied them often with many curious articles of intelligence and observations, respecting both our own and other countries. His person was rather short than tall; he had a pleasing and social aspect; of a temper open and communicative, capable of feeling for distress, and ready to relieve and sympathize. Excepting some attacks of the gout, he enjoyed, in general, perfect health, and great equality of spirits, and had arrived at his 75th year; when, being on a visit to Lord Petre, for whom he had a singular regard, he was seized with a total suppression of urine, which, baffling every attempt to relieve it, proved fatal on the 11th of August, 1768*. The following letter, from Mr. Thomas Collinson†, a nephew of Peter Collinson, was soon aftér addressed to Dr. Ducarel. ↑ Who died at Bath, of a paralytic stroke, under which he had laboured for ten months, Aug. 22, 1803, in his 77th year; and whose intellectual superiority and distinguished worth entitle him to honourable mention. He was not one of the multitude whose "The sympathising concern expressed in yours makes me believe the following particulars of my whose passage through life resembles that of an arrow through the air, leaving not a trace behind. In his youth, by passing much of his time with his uncle Peter, he formed an acquaintance with many of the scientific characters of that period; and his mind became impressed with that love of knowledge, and energy in its pursuit, which attended him through a long life, and only ceased with his existence. There were few parts of our Island which he had not visited, and accurately described. In 1789 he went to the Continent, with his friend John Walker, esq. only son of his early patron Isaac Walker, esq. of Arnold's grove, Southgate; whereby his curiosity was gratified to his utmost wish; and his observations on this excursion, which his modesty concealed from all but his intimate friends, would, if permitted to see the light, be a greater gratification to the learned than half the tours which are obtruded on them. He returned, enriched with much and important information, after an absence of near two years, during which he had seen a considerable portion of Europe. Few were better qualified to profit by such a tour than himself. From his varied and extensive knowledge, he was prepared not only to see, but to understand, and to reap delight and instruction from every object, whether of Nature or Art, submitted to his view. Of the topography and structures of antient Rome so accurate was his knowledge, that Guides and Ciceroni were rendered wholly useless, while examining those interesting monuments of antiquity, during a residence of near four months in that city. His acquaintance with natural philosophy was considerable; and in some branches of the mathematics he had attained distinguished eminence. His conversation was uncommonly animated and energetic; his memory most retentive, bringing forward from its rich treasury the most apposite illustrations of the subject. From his society, few retired without improvement, none without pleasure; his lucid and happy mode of communicating instruction, especially to young people, was a marked feature in his character; while they eagerly listened, and imbibed the streams of knowledge, they felt rather conferring than receiving an obligation, such was the urbanity and fascination of his manners. As an œconomist of time, few equalled, none surpassed him; its minutest divisions were not suffered to pass away unheeded or unimproved. To this, his constant habit of registering the transactions of each day materially contributed; and that which was terminated without some advance in learning or science, he considered as lost. These memoranda, regularly entered at the close of the day, throughout a long series of years, form a very extensive and valuable collection of facts, respecting both men and things. His application, even at that period of life when, with most, indulgence takes place of activity, and intellectual exertions yield to necessary repose, was truly extraordinary. To a new object, or to the renewal of ac quaintance |