OBITUARY. Mr. Paulson, James Crowe esq. Mr. Knowles, General Paoli. ON the 26th of Jan. died suddenly, of which, in planting and agriculture, aged 63. Mr. PAŬLSON a respect- he paid a very scientific and skilful able farmer at Taversal, near Mans- attention. He had for thirty years stufield-Mr. P. possessed strong natural died botany, and made great proficiency abilities, which were improved by an in that science. He is described as poseducation suitable to his sta ion in sesing a mind religiously disposed and life. In his religious sentiments, on of having been happily led by his purwhich his whole deportment reflected suits from " Nature up to Nature's God." great honour, Mr. P. was an Unitarian In politics he was attached to what are Christian. The simplicity of his man- called Whig principles. ners accorded with his views in reli- Feb. 3, in London, at an advanced gion. His guileless heart won the af- age, Mrs. KNOWLES, one of the sofection of all who knew him. His ciety of Quakers, widow of Dr. Knowles, knowledge of men and things, with his a physician, whom she survived several inflexible moral principles, induced his years. This lady possessed a variety of neighbours to look up to him, with talents. She was not only known as a confidence, in affairs of importance and pa nter, but also for her portraits in needifficulty; and they always found him dle-work, which were much admired, the prompt friend of his fellow-crea- particularly one of the present king. tures-In disposition he was uncom- Her talents for conversation have been monly generous, in fr endship ardent recorded by Mr. Bo we.l, in his life of and sincere; and in his whole conduct Dr. Johnson, where she appears to great upright and just-He was a happy advantage. Mrs. K. is said to have died illustration of the words of the poet, very rich, and during the latter years of "An honest man's the noblest work life to have felt rather too much of of God."that propensity which riches so fiequently encourage. His remains were deposited in the Unitarian Chapel at Man field. His funeral sermon was delivered by his sincere friend, the Rev. J. Bull, to a numerous and deeply affected auditory. Notwithstanding the extreme incie mency of the day, all the principal people of Teversal, came four miles to Mansfield, to pay this last tribute of respect to their departed friend and neighbour. It happens not often that a person of Mr. Pau son's unostentatious character, and limited sphere, is so extensively regretted. In addition to the usual congregation, more than 120 persons, connected to him by no ties, but those of esteem, attended to evince their regard for his cha acter, and regret at his sudden removal. It is pleasing to the benevolent mind to observe so much homage paid. by people of different religious persuasions, to the memory of this truly conscientious Christian. Feb. 5, aged 82, General PASCAL PAOLI, so famous for his military exploits in Corsica. He was second son of a gentleman of that island, to whom Mr. Boswell, in his "Account of Corsica," attributes a high character for learning, religion and bravery. With a similar character he also largely endows the son. The father of Pascal Paoli having re moved to Naples, his son accompanied him, and was educated by the Jesuits in the University of that city. He returned to the island in 1755, being appointed general to defend his country against the Genoese. This defence he prosecuted with various success. At length the Geno se transferred the island to the French, who sent a force sufficient to overcome the exertions of Paoli and his brave countrymen, and at length to conquer the island. In 1769, Paoli retired from Corsica, and soon after landed in England, where he resided, excepting a short Jan. 26, at Lakerham House, near interval, til his death, supported by a Norwich, in the 57th year of his age, pension from the British government. JAMES CROWE, E. q. F. L. S. one of In that interval he appeared at the bar of the senior aldermen of that corporation, the National Assembly as the advocate This gentleman was po sessed of very of Corsica, which the assembly proposed considerable landed property in the to con titute a part of the Republic. He county of Norfolk, to the improvement afterwards promoted the views of the J. B British government in that island; and upon the failure of these returned to England. His name frequently appears in Boswell's Life of Johnson. Feb. 7, after a few hours illness, with which he was seized as he was stepping into his carriage, WILLIAM STEVENS, Esq. F. S. A. and Treasurer of Queen Ann's bounty. He was a man of singular excellence of character, and of the soundest learning, particularly in divinity, which was his favourite study, and in which he was as deeply if not more deeply read than any layman of his time. Pos essed of a liberal income, he employed the greatest part of it in acts of charity, which were regulated with a degree of system truly admirable, and performed in an unostentious manner. As a friend he was kind and sincere; and a a companion he was sought after by old and young on account of the amiableness of his disposition, the engaging simplicity and chearfulness of his manners, and the amusement and instructiveness of his conversation. He was bred to the business of a wholesale hosier, which he carried on till within a few years of his death, which took place in the house in which he served his apprenticeship and pursued his trade. Cens. Lit. Mr. Stevens appears to have been what is generally known by a high churchman, as such he very consistently employed his pen to controvert some very liberal doctrines maintained in Dr. (now Bishop) Watson's Sermons.preached during the American War. He also wrote "the Life of the Rev. William Jones, of Nayland," and was the Editor of the latter volumes of Bishop Horne's Sermons. Mr. S. is described as "an excellent Hebraist and a considerable Grecian." Feb. 18, at Hackney, in the prime of life, the Rev. Mr. RÁNCE, a popular and respectable Minister of a congregation of Calvinistic Baptists in that village. Mr. R. had been lately indisposed, but was considered as in no immediate danger. He went to bed not apparently worse than usual, and was found dead the next morning. Feb 20, in London, Mrs. DOUGLAS, of Ednam House, near Kelso, translator of Gellent's Works, widow of the late Dr. Dougla Cens. Lit. Feb. 23, Master HENRY WHITE, age 115, one of the unfortunate sufferers in the late melancholy catastrophe at the - VOL. Old Bailey. Impelled by a curiosity natural to young people, and in some instances, alas! too powerful to be controled, he went to the eventful spot. And though on all occasions he possessed both spirit and conduct, yet he was overcome by the pressure of the immense crowd, swooned, and rose no more! He was just finishing his education, through which he was pas ing with credit to himself and satisfaction to his tutor, who loved him as his own child. He was to have been placed in the counting house of his father, an eminent wine merchant at Portsmouth, who, together with his partner in life, has borne this severe dispensation of providence with a truly Christian fortitude and resignation. He was beloved not only by his relatives and friends, but by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. His sorrowful tutor, deeply affected by the early and premature death of an amiable pupil, bears this sad tribute of respect to his memory. E. Feb. 26. Died, at Balham Hill, near Clapham, Surry, in the 81st year of his age, the Rev. THOMAS URWICK, many years pastor of a dissenting congregation at Clapham. He was born near Salop, where he was under the pastoral care of the Rev. Job Orton, whose sentiments and spirit he imbibed. His academical studies were under the direction of Dr. Doddridge, of whose pupils, excepting only one not now in the ministry, he was the last survivor. After he had finished his course at Northampton, he spent some time in the university of Glasgow. He first settled as a minister at Worcester, where he spent many years, universally respected. But at length he and Ms. Urwick, wishing for a more retired situation, after a short time spent in the neighbourhood of London, he removed to Narborough, a village near Leicester, where a new and handsome house was erected for him, to the expense of which he himself contributed. But he and Mrs. Urwick not finding such a retirement to answer their expectations, he was prevailed upon by some intimate friends near London, to accept an invitation to Clapham, where he succeeded the learned Dr.Furneaux about the year 1780. There his sphe e of usefulness was enlarged beyond the society over which he presided, particularly by being chosen one of Dr. Williams' trustees, and likewise a trustee of William Coward, Esq. Y for the academy in which he was educated, now fixed at Wymondley; as well as by occasional public services. For many years he conducted the whole of the worship at Clapham. But beginning to feel some of the infirmities of age (which however no other person perceived) he expressed a desire of some assistance, and in a short time resigned the whole pastoral charge. Still, however, he was far from being indolent or uscless. Being of an active make, both as to body and mind, he literally went about doing good, as he had always been accustomed to do. And he was ever ready to preach upon any emergency at Clapham, and to assist his brethren in and about London, whose houses were always glad of his services, which were truly pious and useful, as well as judicious. His manner also was such as engaged attention and commanded esteem. His sermons, thouzh not brilliant, were well composed; and though so plain as to suit the meanest capacities, were not below the attention of learned and critical hearers, though they cost him but little pains. Few persons indeed ever composed such good discourses as his with so much ease; and few set so small a value upon their own compositions. He used great numbers of them as waste paper, and he never printed more than two or three occasional ones, of which the principal one was on the death of the Rev. H. Farmer, though often importuned to publish a volume, which, for their plainne s and simplicity, would have been particularly suited to families. On resigning his pastorship, it had been his intention to spend his last days at his native place, for which purpose he ordered a house to be built for him at Salop, and he had actually set out on his way thither, but, being seized with a complaint by which he had before greatly suffered, he was obliged to return; after which he thought, with his friends, that it was the will of providence that he should finish his course at Clapham. His last illness was short, and was brought on by a cold, caught after too severe exercise in his garden. He was buried at Clapham church, where Mrs. Urwick had been some years before interred. We shall not here attempt a delineation of his character, which may be expected to greater advantage from his intimate friend, the Rev. Thomas Tayler, who, at the desire of his late congregation, preached his funeral sermon to a great number of sincere mourners: for Mr. Urwick was esteemed and lamented by all who had any knowledge of him, particularly for his kindness and benevolence. Among many instances of which that might be mentioned, the following deserves to be recorded. By his reasonable interposition, he rescued from a very unhappy situation, a youth, then an entire stranger to him, who otherwise had been lost to his parents and to the world, and who has since distinguished himself by a plan of uncommon usefulness. This was Mr. Lancaster, whose expeditious method of teaching a number of poor children, is so well known, and meets with such distinguished encouragement. R.S. [Other particulars in our next.] RELIGIOUS, LITERARY, AND POLITICORELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. RELIGIOUS. UNITARIAN BOOK SOCIETY. The annual meeting of this society will be held on THURSDAY, APRIL 23; when the subscribers and friends to it will dine together, at the LONDON COFFEEHOUSE, LUDGATE-HILL. There will(we are sorry to say) be no Sermon this year. The cause of this omission we must hereafter state. Mr. Belsham's excellent Sermon last year, since given to the public, we hoped, with our reviewer, would have been the first of a Series of Sermons which would strengthen the argument and increase the publicity of the Unitarian doctrine. UNITARIAN FUND.-The Report of the committee of this society, which we announced in our last, as ready for publication, has been unavoidably delayed in the press till late in the present month. The report will be delivered gratis to the subscribers. The subscribers to Dr. Toulmin's Ser mon are requested to apply for their copies to the bookseller, Mr. Johnson, or to the committee. LITERARY. tend to harmonize man with his species, and form a brother-hood of wisdon and knowledge. Even war, which gives a loose to every hateful passion, and involves the deepest miseries, has been divested of much of its ferocity, and its horrors have been diminished, by the lenient hands of science and philosophy. Even religion, though divine in its origin, and heavenly in its nature, in barbarous ages was so entirely corrupted as to be transformed into a monster: and it was the revival of letters, science and philosophy, that made way for the reformation of religion, and the revival of its mild spirit and primitive purity. WISBEACH SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY. This Society may be considered as still in its infancy. It commenced, under great disadvantages, in the year 1804. It now consists of fourteen members, and three honorary members. The honorary members are gentlemen residing at too great a distance from Wisbeach to attend the meetings of the Society, which are held weekly. At each meeting some subject in science or philosophy is discussed: and, when the subject will admit of it, illustrated by experiments. An admission fee is paid "If such be science and philosophy, by each member on his first entering and such their happy tendency, those the society, and a small sum monthly. who cultivate and promote them ought The money is employed in the purchase to be reckoned among the best friends of of philosophical books, apparatus, &c. Mr. Wm. Skrimshire, jun, author of letters which have lately appeared in Nicholson's Philosophical Journal, on the absortion of electric light by different bodics, &c. is the president, and the Rev. R. Wright the Secretary, of the society. We insert the following report, made by the secretary, at one of the meetings of the society in Jan. last, as it contains a sketch of its rise and present state, and, by stating the importance of science and philosophy, may tend to promote the formation of such societies in places where they do not exist. mankind, and such societies as this must have a benevolent tendency, and ought to be zealously promoted. This society commenced in Jan. 1804. There were at first but four members, circumstances were highly discouraging: they added very few to their numbers during the first two years; but they had the virtue to persevere; they met together weekly, and by this time they must begin to rejoice in seeing their efforts attended with the success which the last year hath witnessed. During the last year the society has added nine new members; they The Secretary's Report, made Jan. 19, have indeed to regret the removal of 1807.-" Science and philosophy, the one of their oldest members, Mr. F. B. handmaids of truth and virtue, have Wright, who is now an honorary already done much towards enlighten- member; they have also added two ing the world, and ameliorating the other honorary members, men of tacondition of man. Associated with lents and steady exertion in the cause arts and manufactures, they have of science and philosophy. They feel diminished manual labour, and much themselves honoured in reckoning such increased the comforts of life. To them gentlemen among their members. The we are in no small degree indebted for Society has received some presents of our superiority in trade, which enables books, &c. during the year, which exns to maintain such a distinguished rank cite a grateful remembrance They among the most civilized nations. have heen able to furnish themselves They have elevated us from the low with an air pump, some electrical appastate of human savages, and that barba- ratus and other instruments. They rism which brutalizes rational crea- have also fitted up a room, in which tures, to rank as a nation among the they now hold their meetings. The first of human societies. Science and president has made many curious and philosophy tend, by their genial influ- interesting, and some original, experience, to tame the passions, and render ments, at their meeting. It is pleasman the master of himself. They en- ing to reflect that al the meetings of large the views and fill the soul with the society have been conducted with grand ideas, furnishing pleasures far good nature, friendship, and unanisuperior to those of sensuality. They mity. } "On the whole the retrospect of the at length prevailed over the Sciences, last year is both pleasing and encourag- and the mathematical army was forced, ing. The society may be regarded as routed, and at length made prisoners of yet in its infancy. It is desirable that war. all the members should make a point of attending the meetings of the society as frequently as pos ible, and that each member should exert himself to bring forward all the information he can on the subjects proposed for dis cussion. A Venetian Monk, of the name of MAURO, is said to have la cly been traced as the author of a chart which made its appearance upon the continent 350 years ago. This chart is said to be still in existence, and that in it the Cape of Good Hope is distinctly "The small beginnings of this so- marked: that the remarks written in ciety ought by no means to discourage, the Venetian dialect of that day, say a 1.t them rather stimulate to greater and vessel visited that extremity of Africa, more unwearied exertions. This so- in 1420. The compass is several times ciety may in time obtain an honourable named, and the flux and reflux of the rank among those scientific and learned sea is formally ascribed to the attractive bodies who have excited the notice of virtue of the sun and moon. But it is mankind, and promo ed the cause of to be lamented that the foreign jourscience and philo ophy in the world. nalist, in announcing this chart, does not The rising generation, in this neigh inform us where it is to be seen. bourhood, may at some future period, The French have added an "Ofwhen we are laid in the dust, fondly ficia! A manack" to the rest of their cherish the memory of tho-e persons, official publications. The late Paris pawho, under such great di advantages, pe s announce that "l'Almanack Impe first instituted and promoted this scien- rial," is the only one which contains oftific Society. Let us be anxious to, ficial documents; and further, that none live for po terity, and deem it an ho- of the re-t have any sufficient warrant nour to rank, in however humble a for their accuracy. degree, among the friends and promoters of science and philosophy." FOREIGN. Dr. Gall, the celebrated author of the System of Craniology, the continental journals mention, has found it necessary to make an apology at Stutgard, where on opening his course of lectures he declared, "That not to scandalize the weak" he could assure them," that his theory neither leads to materialism, destroys the freedom of the will, nor excuses crimina's." A German Journal, under the head of "Literary Curiosities," mentions a saarce work, printed in 1772, at Rome, by the Marquis Mosca Barri, in the form of a letter, in which he demonstrates the truth of Christianity, upon mathematical principles. In a dream he represents him elf in the presence of two armies composed of metaphysical per onages. On one side, the immortality of the soul, the freedom of the will, and all the mysteries of religion, were drawn up in battle array. On the other side the mathematical poin s presented themse ves in the various lines, circles squares, &c. &c. The battle as may be supposed was dreadful, however, much to the comfort of the good people of Rome, Mystery A Work under the title of "La Republique des Champs Elysées ou Monde Ancien, has lately been announced at Paris, which for its curious speculation, as to an ient history, has scarcely been equalled since the days of Father Hardouin. The author, the late M. de Grave, a member of the Council of the Ancients, undertakes to prove, I. That the Elysian Fields and the Hell of the Pagans, are the names of an ancient republic of just and religious men, situated at the northern extren.ity of ancient Gaul, and particular y among the islands of the Rhine. II. That this heil was the first sanc tuary of initiation into the mysteries. III. That the goddess Circe is the emblem of the Elysian Church. IV. That Elysium was the cradle of arts and sciences, and Mythology: V. That the inhabitants of Elysium also called Atalantians, Hyperboreans, Cimmerians, &c. civilized all the anci ent nations, not excepting the Egyptians and the Greeks VI. That the fabulous deities are nothing more than the emblems of the social in titutions of Elysium. VII. That the visible heavens are the picture of the institutions and philosophy of the Elysians, Hyperboreans, &c. |