Had this advice been attended to, few correspondents would have had occafion to charge us with delay. The truth is, we are always defirous to oblige; but when long pieces are tranfmitted, particularly effays, we are under the painful neceffity either of abridging, which authors diflike, or of poftponing them from month to month, before we can find room for their infertion,

As to our poetic correfpondents who think themselves neglected, we can only fay, our limits are fo contracted, that we can infert but a part of what we receive; and as we constantly aim at impartiality, we must beg to be indulged with a discretionary power in making the selection.

We are endeavouring to bring up the arrears of our Review, and regret that any important works fhould remain unnoticed. In future, we trust, by fhortening our remarks, when they may be fpared, we shall be able to introduce every interesting publication of a religious nature very foon after its appearance.

Could the propofal of Benevolus, for making a permanent provifion for the widows of gofpel minifters be accomplished, we should fincerely rejoice, In the mean while it affords us much pleafure to reflect, that, by the liberal encouragement our work has received, we have been enabled annually to contribute fome hundreds of pounds towards their fupport. Their dif treffes are of the most afflicting kind; and, were they generally known, could not fail of exciting compaffion in every feeling heart. As feveral perfons have expressed a wish that the Trustees of this Magazine, who are fo intimately acquainted with all their circumftances, would become depofitories of fuch property as humane and ferious characters might be defirous to appropriate to their relief, either by legacy or gift, we take the liberty to fubjoin the form in which benefactions may be bequeathed.*

I give and bequeath £•

to the Rev. John Eyre, or to the Trea

furer, for the time being, of the ftated contributors to the Evangelical Magazine, and Trustees for the proper diftribution of the profits. To be paid to him within months after my decease, out of my perfonal eftate; to be appropriated to the fame charitable and pious purposes, as the profits of that work.

THE

THE

Evangelical Magazine,

FOR THE YEAR 1798.

BIOGRAPHY.

HEMOIRS OF THE HON. AND REV. WM. BROMLEY CADO

GAN, A. M. RECTOR OF ST. LUKE'S, CHELSEA, AND VICAR OF ST. GILES'S, READING.

SUCH

UCH is the nature of the Chriftian religion, that it neither covets, nor oppofes the artificial diftinctions of life. Whilft it every where inculcates humility and lowlinefs of mind, it directs us to give honour to whom honour is due, whether it be to believers or unbelievers: And, what it inculcates by precept, it enforces by example. St. Paul addreffes the Roman governor, in the most respectful manner, calling him, moft noble Feftus; and St. Luke, who records the circumftance, in dedicating this narrative of facts he had compofed to the most excellent Theophilus, withholds not from him the customary refpect paid to perfons of his exalted station, because he happened to be a Chrif tian brother. For envy and pride are equally obnoxious to the fpiritually minded, who fecking for thenifelves the honour that cometh from God only, and comparing the emptinefs of the fading glories of time with the unchanging realities of eternity, neither defire the titles earthly princes confer, nor feel the leaft uneafinefs at feeing others enjoy them.

No man deferved diftinctions of rank more than the fubject of thefe memoirs; and yet no man efteemed them lefs, when compared with the fuperior dignity of being "a "member of Chrift, a child of God, and an inheritor of the "kingdom of Heaven." He was the fecond fon of the prefent Lord Cadogan, and was born in 1751, at Caversham

Park

4 MEMOIRS OF THE HON. AND REV. W. B. CADOGAN.

Park, Oxfordshire, a beautiful feat near Reading, and vifible for feveral miles on the Bath road. After much care and expenfe in ornamenting it, his Lordfhip fold it, about fourteen years ago, with the confent of his eldest fon, to a Major Marfack, who had just returned from India, with a large fortune.

Whilft his elder brother was intended for the army, and his two younger brothers, by the fame mother, for the navy; Mr. Cadogan was defigned for the church. Whether any particular circumftance influenced the decifion, it is immaterial. "The lot is caft into the lap, but the difpofal there"of is of the Lord." The emoluments of the church were, probably, the chief object his friends had in view; could they have forefeen his faithfulness and zeal, it is highly probable, from their fubfequent conduct, they would rather have devoted him to any other profeffion. But God, who intended him for nobler fervice than to be feeking at courts and levees, for church preferment, inclined their minds to purfue fuch meafures as would ultimately accomplifh his intentions, and frustrate their own.

At an early age, he was fent to Westminster school, where he received his claffical education. While there, he had fome ferious impreffions on his mind; but they were neither ftrong nor lafting. Mr. Bakewell, who afterwards removed to Greenwich, then kept his fchool in Palaceyard; and, though often interrupted by the rudeness of the Weftminster scholars, preached in the evenings to fuch of his neighbours as wifhed to attend. Thither Mr. Cadogan reforted, to laugh, with his young companions; but confcience, enlightened with the truths he heard, would fometimes fmite him, and he even felt ardent defires to enjoy the favour of God; as he had no friend, however, to fan the kindling fparks into a flame, they were foon extinguishby youthful folly.

About the ufual time, he removed to Chrift Church College, Oxford. There he diftinguifhed himfelf by obtaining fome literary prizes; nor was he altogether unconcerned about the important office, for which he was defigned; but applied himself to the study of the Scriptures, and wrote an abstract of the contents of each book, for his own information.

About this time, the Rev. Mr. Talbot, vicar of St. Giles's, Reading, died. He was an extraordinary man both for piety and generofity; and his wife, alfo, was a Christian of more than common excellence. They were both venerated.

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