the same gentleman mentions, that "in all his studies, his method was not to leave off his design till he had brought it to effect; except in the Arabic lan guage, in which he made an essay for a little while, and then deserted it." It was as a mathematician that Barrow first became known to the public. His edition of Euclid's Elements appeared at Cambridge in 1655, and was followed in two years by the Data. Unlike most editors of Euclid, he has given us the fifteen books of the Elements entire, occasionally substituting demonstrations of his own, or shortening and simplifying those of his author. In 1654, the great Duport resigned the Greek professorship at Cambridge, and recommended his pupil, Mr. Isaac Barrow, for his successor. On this occasion he justified the good opinion of his patron, by a probationary exercise of distinguished merit; but the electors decided in favour of his competitor Mr. Ralph Widdrington. Barrow's friend and cotemporary, Abraham Hill, attributes his disappointment to a suspicion on the part of the parliamentary commissioners, that he was tainted with Arminian notions; whilst a more recent biographer discovers a likelier reason in Widdrington's relationship to the Speaker of Cromwell's Parliament a circumstance which, in his opinion, "would weigh more with these worthies" than literary merit. Mr. Hughes is needlessly ingenious in calumniating these "worthies." Abraham Hill thought it reproach enough that they allowed theological orthodoxy to influence them in the choice of a Greek professor. We do not agree with Mr. Hill, nor does the usage of the patrons of our English Universities always agree with him either. The parliamentary commissioners believed that the instructor of the future ministry of the Church should himself be sound in the faith, and they believed that an Arminian was not sound. Mr. Hughes may think that they were wrong in this; but he must not deny that they were right in assuming that Barrow was an Arminian. If it be Arminianism to deny personal election, particular redemption, and the perseverance of the saints, then Barrow was an Arminian. Whatever were the reasons, Barrow lost the Greek professorship, and the disappointment confirmed a purpose of setting out to explore some foreign countries. We have somewhere seen it mentioned, that he obtained a travelling fellowship; but there is no hint of this in his correspondence, or in the earlier accounts of his life. In one of his letters to his own college, he tells them that he has reached Paris, and will take a breathing-time there until their approbation encourage him to complete his journey, or their censure compel him to break it off" donec progressum suum aut vestra approbatione animatus absolvere aut repræhensione deterritus abrumpere cogatur." But all this and more might be said in complaisance to his former colleagues, without his being indebted to them for the means of putting his purpose in execution. And if he had such a travelling fellowship, it must have been scanty, for he was obliged to sell his books in order to complete his equipment. We cannot now well estimate the importance of foreign travel to the scholar, the philosopher, or the theologian of that day. When, in the absence of VOL. I. B books of travel, foreign countries could only be known by being seen-when England contained no museum except some private cupboard of curiositiesand when the works of many classics and fathers, and some moderns, could only be seen in manuscript in some rich library,—the two or three years which a man of learning spent abroad were the most amassing period of his life, and he came home, not with the mere air of one that had seen the world, but a prodigy of learning and wisdom-the referee of fireside scholars, and the admiration of his less favoured or venturesome companions. If a man in those days wished to understand things thoroughly, like the Father of history, he must go and see them for himself—witness Bishop Hall, John Ray, and our own Sir James Balfour. It was in the month of June 1655, that Barrow left the shores of England In an epistle of Latin hexameters, we have all the details of his voyage, performed-like most poetical voyages-in a crazy vessel, amidst sea-sickness, and retarded by a calm. At Paris he found the exiled court of Charles II., where his father was still in attendance, and, like his prince, in poverty. It gratified the generous heart of Barrow, that out of his own slender resources he was able to administer to the wants of his father. The situation of Mr. Thomas Barrow gave his son near access to the Court, and favourable opportunities for observing the state of feeling in the high places of France. These he improved with diligence, which showed a turn for diplomacy; and a long letter to his college, dated Feb. 7, 1655 (1656 N. S.) presents us with some of the results of his observation. "Here public affairs present an aspect of external tranquillity. Everywhere peace smiles with benignant aspect; the whole kingdom throughout, the din of arms is not heard. Without, fortune flatters with prosperity-within, all is afloat in luxury. In the palace, magnificence and revelry hold courtall is an endless round of play-acting, dancing, feasting, rejoicing—every man in his humour, and no day of evil coming. But what security there is for all this felicity, what heavings toward a storm may agitate the bosom of this deep, and what tempests may be struggling forth from the caverns of clandestine consultation, the more knowing must determine. The seeds of mischief have not yet shot through the thin mould that covers them; but perpetually watered as they are, it is easy for sharp eyes to see how far their roots are striking. For where violence is the basis, who can guarantee stability? and who can pledge the patience of an afflicted people, whilst the hooks of a ceaseless extortion are raking in their vitals? (cujus viscera perpetuis exactionum hamis exenterantur.) Where the memory of past wrong and the sense of present grievance inflame them against the nobles-where the administration of law is confided not to men of legal skill or blameless character, but to the best bidder where military and civil promotion is irrespective of merit, and the strongholds of the public safety are opened by a golden key-where the soldiers, after lavishing their lives for the common weal, get promises for pay, and count it good luck when they get a tenth of their wages-where, in short. the people are retained in allegiance, not by the silken cords of kindness, but by the reins of terror and the force of fear,-where such scandals strike every eye, what tranquillity can be lasting ?" Then follows a character of the deep politician, at that time supreme in the councils of Louis XIV. As much in justice to Barrow as to Cardinal Mazarin, we ought to give this sketch. "At the head of affairs is one sprung from the land of the giants (Sicily), who, rising from obscurity to the sacerdotal scarlet, presumed to dispute for the chief authority in the state with princes of royal lineage, and aided by their valour, prudence, and popularity-yet triumphed in the unequal contest. Again, battling with adverse fortune, hurled from his eminence, in exile, and declared the public enemy, he contrived to procure his own return, to regain the helm, to check the triumph of his enemies, to convert some of them into instruments of his own, and drive the others off the field. Now that he is replaced in the seat of authority, he seems to occupy it more securely than ever. He has astricted to himself by matrimonial alliance, the chief of the nobility; the governors of the provinces wait upon his nod; and he has filled the frontier garrisons with men of his own creating, and who have nothing to hope except from him. The revenues of the realm flow through his coffers; and by him each appointment in the army, the state, the court, the law, is sold and settled. rule of duty, his command the decree of fate. Of course, one who managed to emerge from dust and darkness into such a splendour, who could project or execute such purposes, must have genius and great endowments. But these are all debased by abundance of dross. Whilst accounted powerful and fortunate, he has not yet earned the glory of greatness of soul. A want of good faith dims the lustre of good management, and a craving avarice imparts a meanness to all his grand exploits. Nor can he be popular to the last, who is monopolised by such a love of money. This is the engine which will hurl from its place our Marpesian rock-this Delos, axırov Teg ooav-which will upset this fortune so well founded and so strongly propped. Whilst by every device he scrapes together treasure for himself, along with the gold he pockets the hatred of the people; he is rich in money, but poor in good wishes; and whether his profits be not loss, time will discover." His word is law, his will the Barrow was gratified to find that Protestantism was viewed with some favour at court. During an interview with the Queen, the Archbishop of Toulouse had complained of the progress of heresy in his province, and implored her Majesty's assistance in putting down these seditious innovators. The Queen instantly replied, that she had tried their allegiance, and had found them more faithful subjects than some who charged them with sedition. One of the marshals of France who stood by affirmed the same. And when the King, who happened to come up, learned the subject of conversation, he closed the discussion by saying, that he quite agreed with them, and would take care to perpetuate to his Protestant subjects every immunity secured to them by his predecessors. Our traveller gives a melancholy account of the state of learning in the university. With the exception of Arnauld, whom the Jesuits had expelled for favouring the Jansenists, and Robervalle, the mathematician, he looked in vain for a successor to the Petaviuses, the Sirmonds, and the Gassendis of the past. He was disappointed even with the extent of the collegiate buildings. Though they should be all piled into one mass, they could not rival Trinity, either in extent or magnificence. This mention of his Alma Mater gives occasion to his ending his epistle with a most passionate apostrophe to that home of his learning: "Though I should traverse all the regions on which the sun looks down, never do I hope to see the match of you! At the very thought of you, how is my spirit refreshed, and how does my heart rejoice! How hard to be separated from you! how hard to think of any thing besides! To-morrow shall I turn my thoughts to Italy-to Germany next day. This day let me dwell with you. With you I began, and with you must end. The Most High defend you, and pour into your bosom peace and plenty, worth and wisdom!" Whatever might be Barrow's reason for setting out on his travels, disgust with the Fellows of his college was not the cause. When some months had passed in Paris, he proceeded to Florence, where also he made a lengthened stay. The chief attractions of this city were the library and museum of the Grand Duke. Besides perusing many of the rarer volumes in that noble collection, he seems to have been much interested by the study of 10,000 medals, which formed a cabinet under the charge of Mr. Fitton, an English antiquarian patronised by the duke. From Florence he wished to proceed to Rome, but was deterred by tidings of the plague. He therefore took advantage of an English vessel in the port of Leghorn, bound for the Levant, to prosecute his journey as far as Constantinople. He has given an amusing account of this voyage in a long set of Latin elegiacs. In this poem, by far the most admirable thing is his sketch of their English captain: Cor bene compositum, frons exporrecta, benignum On ship-board and at sea, so steady and so thoughtful-ashore, so reckless and jolly. As soon as he discharged his cargo, he dismissed his cares. Lætus amicorum cunctas circumvolat ædes, During the voyage, the courage of this gallant commander was tested by an Algerine pirate. They were attacked in the Ionian Sea, but gave the corsair so warm a reception, that he was fain to sheer off, and leave them to prosecute their voyage. Throughout the engagement Barrow kept on deck, and stood to his gun with the rest of the crew. Talking on this subject afterwards, Dr. Pope asked him, "Why did not you get down into the hold, and leave the defence of the ship to those whom it concerned?" He answered, "It concerned no man more than myself: I would rather have lost my life than have fallen into the hands of these merciless infidels.” After touching at Smyrna, they arrived at Constantinople in the close of 1657. Barrow's stay of twelve months at Constantinople is usually mentioned merely as a stage in his travels. To us it seems important as a stage in his mental history. It was at Constantinople that he formed his acquaintance with the works of Chrysostom. It must have been inspiration to read the Homilies of that prince of preachers, in the city where he penned and spoke them twelve centuries before. Do the Sermons of Barrow retain no trace of this inspira We cannot imagine such a student, in such circumstances, perusing page by page—for he read the whole—each folio of the great Greek father— without transfusing somewhat of his spirit into his own. It was for something better than quotations-though he quotes from him abundantly—that our author was indebted to St. John of Constantinople. In thus pointing out Chrysostom as one of the sources of Barrow's eloquence, we surely need not say that we are not charging him with plagiarism. Plagiarism is the vice of intellectual poverty; and a mind so rich in its own resources as to be capable of thoroughly appreciating Chrysostom would be incapable of stealing from him. It would have no occasion, and it would not know how to appropriate the pilfered treasure. Borrowed materials are not available to such minds, for they cannot be fitted into their own workmanship; but borrowed skill in the use of materials is always valuable. During his residence in Turkey, Barrow was much occupied in studying. the Mahometan religion. It possessed more theological importance in those days than now; for it was not then so decidedly the exhausted and waning superstition which it now is. It usually occupied a place second only to Popery in the systems of that century; but in the discourses of Barrow it receives a prominence which it did not usually obtain in the pulpit, and which shows that his mind had been specially arrested by its peculiarities. In his miscellaneous Latin works are an epitome of the Turkish faith, and a very long fragment of a poem, "De Religione Turcicâ." One of the most remarkable things in Barrow's travels is the number of friendships which he contracted as he passed along. At Florence, he not only * Much earlier than this, Barrow had given a proof not more of great courage than great strength, and more than either, of a highly generous spirit. When a youth, he was on a visit to a friend în the country. Being a very early riser, he had sauntered out into the garden before any of the family had appeared; when a fierce mastiff, which had been let loose from his chain for the protection of the premises during the night, attacked him with great fury. He seized the animal by the throat, and contrived to throw him down and lie upon him; and whilst matters were in this situation, his first impulse was to despatch his assailant. However, it struck him that it would be exceedingly unjust to kill even a dog for doing his duty -as he himself had no business to be wandering about before break of day. Accordingly, exerting his voice, he called so loud that some of the household were alarmed, and hastening to his assistance, rescued the scholar and the dog from their perilous predicament. |