bar of the house, his terrors on this occasion rose to so astonishing a height, that they overwhelmed his reason: he was obliged to relinquish a station so formidable to his singular sensibility.

In a few months, his mind became tranquil and clear; and resolving to abandon all thoughts of a laborious profession, and all intercourse with the busy world, he settled, in 1765, in the town of Huntingdon. Here commenced his acquaintance with a respectable clergyman, and his amiable wife, who resided in that town: their name was Unwin. About two years afterwards, the husband died; and from that period, during the course of near thirty years, this excellent woman was a most distinguished friend and guardian of Cowper. Of her piety and virtue, and her eminent, invariable kindness to him, he has left many affectionate and grateful memorials. In the lapse of these years, he was several times oppressed with derangement of mind, which was extremely distressing to his friends, who entertained for him the purest sentiments of esteem and regard. During his lucid intervals, which continued several years, he was perfectly himself; and exhibited, in his writings, the most unequivocal proofs of it. His gratitude to the Supreme Being, for the mercies. and deliverance he had experienced, was fervent and exemplary; and his life was distinguished by every correspond

ent virtue.

Cowper wrote a number of little poems, which are marked with fine traits of the pathetic and descriptive; and which show the exquisite delicacy of his feelings, and the goodness of his heart. 'His "Task," which was published in 1785, placed him in the first rank of English poets. This work is finely characterized by Hayley, his biographer, "The Task," says he, "may be called a bird's-eye view of human life. It is a minute and extensive survey of every thing most interesting to the reason, to the fancy, and to the affections of man. It exhibits his pleasures, and his pains; his pastimes, and his business; his folly, and his wisdom; his dangers, and his duties; all with such exquisite facility, and force of expression, with such grace and dignity of sentiment, that ra tional beings, who wish to render themselves more amiable, and more happy, can hardly be more advantageously em ployed, than in the frequent perusal of the "Task."In 1791 appeared his "Translation of the Iliad and Odyssey of Homer, in Blank Verse." This work, from first to last, gave Cowper ten years of useful and pleasing employment. It has

considerable merit; particularly in its near approach to that sweet majestic simplicity, which forms one of the most attractive features in the great prince and father of poets.

The inquietude and darkness of Cowper's latter years, were terminated by a most gentle and tranquil dissolution. He died in the year 1800. We shall close this sketch of him, with a striking eulogium made by his biographer on his character and writings: "The more the works of Cowper are read, the more his readers will find reason to admire the variety, and the extent, the graces, and the energy, of his literary talents. The universal admiration excited by these, will be heightened and endeared, to the friends of virtue, by the obvious reflection, that his writings, excellent as they appear, were excelled by the gentleness, the benevolence, and the sanctity of his life."

CUNNINGHAM, John,-was born in Dublin, in 1729. He received his education at the grammar school of Drogheda ; and early began to exhibit specimens of his poetical powers. His passion for the stage induced him to engage, when young, in the profession of an actor; and he continued in it, with little variation, till his death.

In 1762, he published "An Elegy on a Pile of Ruins ;" which was read with pleasure, even after Gray's "Elegy in a Country Church Yard;" of which it is an obvious imitation. He wrote also "The Contemplatist, A Night Piece;" "Fortune, an Apologue;" "Day, a Pastoral Poem," and many other small pieces of poetry: all of them evince considerable powers of description.

After lingering some time under a nervous disorder, during which he burnt all his papers, he died in 1773, in the 44th year of his age.

CURTIUS, Quintus, a Latin historian, who wrote the life of Alexander the Great, is only known by this work. He is supposed, by his style, to have lived in or near the Augustan age. His work is the most entertaining account we possess of the actions of Alexander.

DODD, William,-an English divine, was born in Lincolnshire, in 1729. He was a celebrated and popular preacher in the metropolis; where he was remarkable for his zeal in promoting charitable institutions, particularly the Magdalen hospital, of which he became preacher. He was a classical scholar, and possessed considerable abilities. His writings are numerous, and some of them, not only well written, but useful. The popularity which he acquired made him vain ;

and his vanity led him into expenses, to which an opulent fortune would have been unequal. He became involved in debts which he could not discharge; and was tempted at length, to commit forgery, by which he forfeited his life. He was committed to prison, tried, convicted, and executed at Tyburn, in 1777.

He died with all the marks of the deepest remorse, for the follies and vices of which he had been guilty; and with expressions of the most bitter regret for the scandal which, by his conduct, he had brought on his profession, and on the religion of which he had officiated as a minister.

His "Thoughts in Prison," which were published after his death, contain much admonitory matter, and have passed through numerous editions. His "Reflections on Death” have also been much read.

DODDRIDGE, Philip,-an eminent English non-conformist divine, was born in London, in the year 1702. He was a fine classical scholar, and had a mind adorned with a rich variety of knowledge. At Northampton, he kept an academy of distinguished reputation. During the twenty-two years, in which he sustained the office of tutor, he had about two hundred young men under his care, of whom one hundred and twenty engaged in the ministry. At Northampton, he laboured with great assiduity, as a minister and instructer, admired and esteemed, by men of every persuasion, for the extent of his learning, the amiableness of his manners, and the piety of his life. This excellent man died in 1751, at Lisbon, whither he had gone with the hope of recovering his health.

His work entitled "The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul, &c." was warmly applauded by persons eminent for rank, learning, and piety, in the established church, as well as by the dissenters; and soon went through many editions, not only in this country, but in America, and on the continent of Europe. His "Family Expositor," in 6 vols. octavo, is his grand work. It possesses great merit, and has been very useful in promoting the cause of piety and virtue. His life of Col. James Gardiner, is drawn up with the warm feelings of friendship. It is, however, a valuable performance, and well calculated to recommend religion and goodness. Besides these works, he wrote ma ny treatises, all designed to explain or enforce the doctrines and precepts of the Gospel.

We shall conclude this sketch, with the testimony of Dr.

Kippis, who says, "Dr. Doddridge was not only a great man, but one of the most excellent and useful christians, and christian ministers, that ever existed."

DYER, John, an English poet, was born in Wales, in the year 1700. He received his early education in the country, and finished his studies at Westminster school. His father intended him for the profession of the law: but painting and poetry were his most agreeable studies. He travelled into Italy for improvement; and at Rome formed the plan of his poem called "The Ruins of Rome;" which he finished soon after his return, in 1740.

A serious turn of mind, ill health, and the love of study, solitude, and reflection, inclined him to the church; and he accordingly entered into orders. He was a very amiable and respectable man; beloved by his friends for the sweetness and gentleness of his disposition, and respected by the world, as a person of superior endowments.

In 1757, he published his "Fleece :" but he did not long survive it. He died in 1758, in the 58th year of his age. Dr. Johnson says, that " Dyer's Grongar Hill' is the happiest of his productions. It is not indeed very accurately written but the scenes which it displays are so pleasing, the images which they raise so welcome to the mind, and the reflections of the writer so consonant to the general sense or experience of mankind, that when it is once read, it will be read again."

ENFIELD, William,-an eminent dissenting minister, and an elegant writer, was born at Sudbury, in 1741. In 1763, he was ordained minister of a congregation at Liverpool, where he soon obtained notice as a pleasing preacher, and an amiable man in society. In 1770, he accepted an invitation to officiate as resident tutor, and lecturer in the belleslettres, in the academy at Warrington; and he fulfilled these offices for several years, with great diligence and reputation. In 1785, he took the charge of the principal congregation at Norwich; where he continued usefully and honourably occupied, till his death, which happened in 1797.

His publications are various: the chief of them are, an Abridgment of Brucker's History of Philosophy," a work in which the tenets of the different sects of philosophers, are displayed with much elegance and perspicuity; "Biogra phical Sermons on the principal Characters in the Old and New Testaments;" ;"" Institutes of Natural Philosophy, theoretical and experimental ;"and a compilation called "The Speaker," a very popular school book.

FENELON, Francis de Salignac de la Motte, archbishop of Cambray, one of the most excellent and distinguished persons of his time, was born of an ancient family in France, in the year 1651. He made a rapid progress in learning; and being destined to the ecclesiastical profession, became a preacher as early as his nineteenth year. At the age of twenty-four, he entered into orders, and exercised the most laborious offices of his ministry. His singular talents of pleasing and instructing, induced the king to nominate him chief of a mission for the conversion of heretics. This post

he would not accept, but on condition that no other arms should be employed in the work, than those of argument and charity.

In 1689, he was appointed preceptor to the duke of Burgundy, the heir apparent, and to his brothers. By his excellent lessons of religion and morality, he so softened the harsh and haughty character of the duke of Burgundy, as to make him a model of all that could be wished, in the expected sovereign of a vast empire. His services were rewarded in 1695, with the splendid preferment of the Archbishopric of Cambray.

His book entitled "An explication of the Maxims of the Saints concerning the interior life," gave considerable offence to the guardians of orthodoxy; and his enemies procured it to be condemned by the Pope; and obtained the banishment of the archbishop to his diocess. In this retreat, he united the characters of a nobleman and of a christian pastor. In the latter, nothing could surpass his simplicity of manners, his charity, his minute attention to all his duties, his fervent piety united to indulgence and moderation. He frequently took walks round the environs of Cambray, entered the cottages of the peasants, sat down with them, and administered consolation and relief in their distresses. When the alarms of war had driven them from their habitations, he opened his house to them, and even served them at his table. The amiableness of his manners and character produced venera tion even in the enemies of his country: for in the last war with Louis XIV. the duke of Marlborough, amidst the general devastation, expressly ordered the lands of Fenelon to be spared.

This excellent man died in 1715. He expired in perfect tranquillity, deeply lamented by all the inhabitants of the Low-countries, and especially by the flock committed to his charge.