On the death of Dr. Sterne, the see of Clogher was filled by Dr. Clayton, author of the "Essay on Spirit," a decided Arian; and between him and Skelton there could consequently be no coincidence of opinion, or mutuality of respect. In 1748, Mr. Skelton having prepared for the press his valuable work entitled "Deism revealed," he conceived it too important to be published in Ireland, and therefore determined to go to London, and dispose of it there. On his arrival, he submitted his manuscript to Andrew Millar, the bookseller, to know if he would purchase it, and have it printed at his own expence. The bookseller desired him, as is usual, to leave it with him for a day or two, until he could get a certain gentleman of great abilities to examine it. Hume is said to have come in accidentally into the shop, and Millar shewed him the MS. Hume took it into a room adjoining the shop, examined it here and there for about an hour, and then said to Andrew, print. By this work Skelton made about 200l. The bookseller allowed him for the manuscript a great many copies, which he disposed of among the citizens of London, with whom, on account of his preaching, he was a great favourite. He always spake with high approbation of the kindness with which he was received by many eminent merchants. When in London he spent a great part of his time in going through the city, purchasing books at a cheap rate, with the greater part of the money he got by his "Deism revealed," and formed a good library. This work was published in 1749, in two volumes, large octavo, and a second edition was called for in 1751, which was comprized in two volumes 12mo. It has ever been considered as a masterly answer to the cavils of deists; but the style in this, as in some other of his works, is not uniform, and his attempts at wit are rather too frequent, and certainly not very successful. A few months after its publication the bishop of Clogher, Dr. Clayton, was asked by Sherlock, bishop of London, if he knew the author. "O yes, he has been a curate in my diocese near these twenty years."" More shame for your lordship," answered Sherlock, 66 to let a man of his merit continue so long a curate in your diocese."

After a residence at London of about six months, during which he preached some of the sermons since published in his works, Mr. Skelton returned to his curacy in Ireland, and in 1750, a large living became vacant in the diocese

of Clogher. Dr. Delany and another bishop immediately waited on bishop Clayton, and told him, that if he did not give, Skelton a living now, after disappointing them so often, they would take him out of his diocese. This, however, was not entirely effectual: Clayton could not refuse the request, but made several removals on purpose to place Skelton in the living of Pettigo, in a wild part of the county of Donegal, worth about 2001 a year, the people uncultivated, disorderly, fond of drinking and quarrelling, and, in a word, sunk in profound ignorance. He used to say, he was a missionary sent to convert them to Christianity, and that he was banished from all civilised society. He often declared that he was obliged to ride seven miles before he could meet with a person of common sense to converse with. With such difficulties, however, Skelton was born to contend. He always had a conscientious feeling of the wants of his flock, with a strong impelling sense of duty. His biographer has given a very interesting account of the means, pious and charitabie, which he took to meliorate the condition of his parish, which, for the sake of brevity, we must omit; suffice it to say, they were effectual; but his situation affected his mind in some degree, and he became liable to occasional fits of the hypochondriac kind, which recurred more or less in the afterpart of his life.

In this lonely situation he found some time for study, and besides an excellent visitation sermon on the "Dignity of the Christian Ministry," he published in 1753 "The Consulta.ion, or a Dialogue of the Gods, in the manner of Lucian," intended to ridicule the Arians; and in this, or the following year, went again to London to publish his dis courses, two volumes of which appeared in 1754, under the title of "Discourses Controversial and Practical, on various subjects, proper for the consideration of the present times. By the author of Deism revealed'."

In 1757 a remarkable dearth prevailed in Ireland, and no where more than in Mr. Skelton's parish. The scenes of distress which he witnessed would now appear scarcely credible. He immediately set himself to alleviate the wants of his flock, by purchases of meal, &c. at other markets, until he had exhausted all his money, and then he had recourse to a sacrifice which every man of learning will duly appreciate. He resolved to sell his books, almost the only comfort he had in this dreary solitude, and relieve his

indigent parishioners with the money. Watson, a bookseller in Dublin, who had advertised them for sale without success, at last bought them himself for 80l. and immediately paid the money. Soon after they were advertised, two ladies, lady Barrymore and a Miss Leslie, who guessed at Skelton's reason for selling his books, sent him 50%. requesting him to keep his books, and relieve his poor with the money; but Skelton, with many expressions of gratitude, told them he had dedicated his books to God, and be must sell them; and accordingly both sums were applied to the relief of his parishioners. Every heart warms at the recital of such an act of benevolence, and all reflections on it would lessen the impression.-One other circumstance may be added. The bookseller sold only a part of the books in the course of trade, and those that remained, Mr. Skelton, when he could afford it, took from him at the price he sold them for, but insisted on paying interest for the sum they amounted to, for the time Mr. Watson had them in his possession.

About 1758, a pamphlet appeared in Dublin, entitled "An Appeal to the common sense of all Christian people," an artful defence of Arianism, an answer to which was written by Mr. Skelton, in the opinion of his biographer, in a masterly manner and style, exceeding any of his former compositions. But as the "Appeal" sunk into obscurity, the answer was not inserted in the edition of his works published in 1770. Here, however, may be found a description of Lough-Derg, which he wrote about this time, a place much visited by the superstitious. In 1758, Dr. Clayton, bishop of Clogher, died, and was succeeded by Dr. Garnet, who treated Mr. Skelton with the respect he deserved, and in 1759 gave him the living of Devenish, in the county of Fermanagh, near Enniskillen, worth about 300l. a year, and thus he was brought once more into civilized society. When leaving Pettigo, he said to the poor, "Give me your blessing now before I go, and God's blessing be with you. When you are in great distress, come to me, and I'll strive to relieve you." In this new charge, he exerted the same zeal to instruct his flock both in public and private, and the same benevolence toward the poor which had made him so great a benefit to his former people. We must refer to his biographer for numerous proofs, for which his memory continues still to be held in high veneration. In 1766, the bishop of Clog

her removed him from Devenish to the living of Fintona, in the county of Tyrone, worth at least 100%. more than the other. He was now in the fifty-ninth year of his age. "God Almighty," he used to say, "was very kind to me: when I began to advance in years and stood in need of a horse and servant, he gave me a living. Then he gave me two livings, one after another, each of which was worth a hundred a year more than the preceding. I have therefore been rewarded by him, even in this world, far above my deserts."

At Fintona, he shewed himself the same diligent, kind, and faithful pastor as when on his former livings; but two varieties occurred here very characteristic of the man. Having discovered that most of his protestant parishioners were dissenters, he invited their minister to dine with him, and asked his leave to preach in his meeting on the next Sunday; and consent being given, the people were so pleased with Mr. Skelton, that the greater number of them quitted their own teacher. After some time, Skelton asked him how much he had lost by the desertion of his hearers? He told him 40l. a year, on which he settled that sum on him annually. We mentioned in a former page that Mr. Skelton had studied physic with a view to assist the poor with advice and medicines. By this practice, at Fintona, he found that Dr. Gormly, the physician of the place, lost a great part of his business; on which Skelton settled also 40l. a year on him. In both these instances, his biographer observes, he not only took on him the toil of doing good, but also voluntarily paid for doing it.

In 1770, he published his works by subscription, in 5 vols. 8vo, for the benefit of the Magdalen charity. The first volume contains "Deism revealed," the second and third, the "Sermons" he published in England, the fourth an additional number of sermons not before printed; the fifth consisted of miscellanies, of which some had not been before published, as "Reasons for Inoculation," an "Account of a Well or Pool" near Clovis, in the county of Monaghan, famous for curing the jaundice; "Observations on a late resignation," that of the rev. William Robertson (see his life, vol. XXVI. p. 257.) "A Dream," intended to expose the folly of fashion; and "Hilema," a copse or shrubbery, consisting of observations and anecdotes.

In his latter days, when the air of Fintona became too keen for him, he passed some of his winters in Dublin, and

there was highly valued for his preaching, which, in the case of charities, was remarkably successful. During a dearth, owing to the decline of the yarn manufactory at Fintona, he again exhausted his whole property in relieving the poor, and again sold his books for 100l. He said he was now too old to use them; but the real cause was, that he wanted the money to give to the poor, and the year after he bestowed on them 60%. It was one of his practices to distribute money, even in times of moderate plenty, among indigent housekeepers, who were struggling to preserve a decent appearance. He was also the kind and liberal patron of such of their children as had abilities, and could, by his urgent application and interest, be advanced in the world.

His infirmities increasing, after fifty years labour in the ministry with unexampled diligence, he now found himself incapable any longer of the discharge of his public duties, and in 1780 took his final leave of Fintona, and removed to Dublin, to end his days. Here he received great respect from many of the higher dignitaries of the church, and in 1781 the university offered him the degree of doctor of divinity, which he declined. In 1784 he published by`subscription a sixth volume of his works, containing "An Appeal to common sense on the subject of Christianity," &c. or a historical proof of the truth of Christianity, superior in style and arrangement to any of his former productions, and which shewed that his faculties were in full force at the age of seventy-six. In the same volume, are "Some Thoughts on Common Sense," some hymns, and a Latin poem. In 1786 he published his seventh volume, entitled

Senilia, or an Old Man's Miscellany." In the same year he published a short answer to a catechism, written by an English clergyman, and used at Sunday schools, which he supposed to contain an erroneous doctrine with respect to the state of men after death, and sent a copy to all the bishops of England and Ireland. The archbishop of Dublin was so convinced by it, that he stopped the use of the catechism in his diocese.

Mr. Skelton died May 4, 1787, and was buried near the west door of St. Peter's church-yard. His character has been in some degree displayed in the preceding sketch taken from his "Life," by the rev. Samuel Burdy, 1792, 8vo. With the exception of some oddities of conduct and expression, in which he somewhat resembled Swift and