repetition, as it was natural that she should attempt to move Hell as well as Heaven in her behalf. 'Flectere si nequeo superos, Acheronta movebo.' "To have a right apprehension of your narrative, or rather to see the force and beauty of your various allusions to history, your readers must by all means look into Gibbon. Perhaps you had better quote the passages referred to." MEMOIR OF REV. JOHN HELLINS, F.R.S. [Communicated to the Gentleman's Magazine by Mr. Archdeacon Nares.] "Died, March 1827, the Rev. John Hellins, B.D. F.R.S., Vicar of Potterspury, in Northamptonshire. "This distinguished member of the scientific world was, to use the words lately addressed to the Royal Society by their President, Mr. Davies Gilbert, one of those extraordinary men who, deprived of early advant ages, have elevated themselves, by the force of genius and of industry, to a level above most persons blessed with regular education.' In 1787, he edited 'The Young Algebraist's Companion.' The first paper from his pen in the Philosophical Transactions, appears in 1780, being a "Theorem for computing Logarithms.' In 1788 he published a quarto volume of Mathematical Essays, on several subjects ;' and in 1802, in two vols. 4to. 'Analytical Institutions, originally written in Italian, by Donna Maria Gaetana Agnesi.' [Translated from the Italian by Mr. Colson.] 66 Having adopted the clerical profession, Mr. Hellins was for some time curate of Constantine in Cornwall; and afterwards of Greens Norton, Northamptonshire; but in 1790 he was presented by Earl Bathurst to the vicarage of Potterspury in Northamptonshire. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1796, and in 1800 took the degree of B.D. at Trinity College, Cambridge. Mr. Hellins, continues the eulogium before quoted, 'at one time computed for the Nautical Almanac. He afterwards assisted at Greenwich. And, what is now perhaps almost unknown, he furnished the late Mr. Windham with all the calculations and tables on which that gentleman brought forward his new military system, as Minister of War, in 1806. Mr. Hellins applied himself with great industry to some of the most useful branches of pure mathematics. No less than nine communications from him appear in our Transactions;'-' On the summation of series.'-'On the conversion of slowly-converging series into others of swifter convergency. On their application to computing of logarithms, and to the rectifying of circular arcs. On the roots of equations.' And in 1798, On a method of computing with increased facility the planetary perturbations: for the last he was honoured with your Copley medal. "Retired to a small living in Northamptonshire, Mr. Hellins became a pattern of philosophical calmness and content. 'Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife, He seems to have said 'Curtatis decimis, modicoque beatus agello, "I have known Mr. Hellins for above forty years, and I can testify to his virtues. It once happened that, through the late Dr. Maskelyne, I had nearly obtained for him the Observatory at Dublin. The failure cannot, however, be lamented, since Brinkley was appointed in his stead.' Mr. Hellins also occasionally furnished Mathematical articles to the British Critic, from the year 1795 to 1814. The most remarkable of these are those on Mr. Wales's Method of finding the Longitude, vol. 6, p. 413. On Bishop Horsley's Mathematical Treatises, vol. 21, p. 272. On Donna Agnesi's Analytical Institutions, of which he superintended the publication, vol. 23, p. 143; vol. 24, p. 653; and vol. 25, p. 141. On Keith's Trigonometry, vol. 31, p. 489. On F. Baily's work on the Doctrine of Interest and Annuities, vol. 38, p. 622, and vol. 43, p. 502. When the first series of the British Critic closed, the connection of Mr. Hellins with the work is supposed to have ceased. Several minor articles, on scientific subjects, were written by him, which are not here specified. "He married Miss Brock, a Devonshire lady, who survived him but a short time, and by whom he has left an only son." To Rev. RICHARD POLWHELE. * * "I have not at present anything in contemplation to suggest to you for the Royal Society of Literature, and all authors write best upon subjects suggested by their own. minds. I hope you know your Archdeacon, Sheepshanks; if so, pray remember me to him when you have opportunity. "Yours very truly, R. NARES." To J. B. NICHOLS, Esq. "MY DEAR SIR, "I here send you the result of a late bridge. If you print it I shall be glad to three separate copies, also to see a proof. "Yours truly, Oct. 16, 1827. visit to Camreceive two or R. NARES." "MR. URBAN, Cambridge, Oct. 10, 1827. "The magnificent additions and improvements lately made, or now in progress, at this famous University, present a subject of curiosity and interest to every liberal observer; and I, though, as you know, an Oxford man, have been viewing them with much satisfaction. You will, perhaps, be willing to receive a few remarks upon these efforts of art, from one who has no object in making them, but to give due credit where it seems to be deserved; and to criticise, if at all, only in the hope of suggesting further improvement, and bringing what is good still nearer to perfection. "Of the new Court added to Trinity College (called King's Court), nothing can, I think, be said in the way of censure. It does honour, in all respects, to the judgment and taste of the architect, Mr. Wilkins. The communication with Neville's Court is ingeniously contrived, to unite convenience and variety with beauty; while the whole building exhibits a chaste specimen of collegiate architecture. The entrance from the Walks is very grand. Nor let it be objected, that the two gates within are not in the same line; this freedom being so consistent with the Gothic style, as rather to conceal than betray the newness of the structure. The merit of this consistency will be felt the more forcibly, by a mere peep into Neville's Court adjoining, the whole of which is a Grecian building united with one Gothic* side; and to increase the ab * "I use the term Gothic for convenience, though I do not approve it." surdity, that side is less than half covered by a most unmeaning skreen of modern work. But the absurd contempt of the ecclesiastical style, which prevailed for the chief part of the 18th century, was carried so far as to produce inconsistencies of this kind in almost every antient building. The Gothic, chiefly because it was so called, was deemed so barbarous, as rather to be honoured than insulted by the intrusion of the Greek orders into its most venerable sanctuaries. This barbarous fear of barbarism has happily ceased, and the Gothic (as it is called) is acknowledged to have its peculiar beauties, and to deserve the study of the enlightened architect. That it has at length been studied, with some success, will be further seen in these remarks.* "Proceed we now into Trumpington-street, to contemplate Corpus Christi (or Bene't), formerly the reproach of the University, now one of its fairest ornaments. "A question might perhaps be raised, whether a new building, unconnected with others, should at this day be adapted to the Grecian or the modern antique style. But in an English University, where so much of fine old building remains, that neither can be nor ought to be metamorphosed, it cannot be objectionable to form new structures in a taste which, from its original predominance in these seats of learning, may fairly be considered as academical. On this plan, therefore, this new and elegant structure has been designed and executed. The architect is Mr. Wilkins, whose works in other colleges are here also noticed. It cannot, I think, be denied that he has studied the best examples of this style with good success; and has here embodied his knowledge in a manner that commands admiration. The front towards the street bears most resemblance to that of Oriel College in Oxford; but without minute imitation. Like a good poem, written in antiquated language, it has original beauties; and may indeed have been designed without a particular view to any example. Within the court, the eye is first attracted by the Chapel, which occupies the central situa "This ignorant contempt of a species of architecture, for some purposes preferable to every other, is no where more disgracefully displayed than in the magnificent entrance court of this College. If they who rebuilt the Master's house and the rest of that side, desired a Grecian court, they should have pulled down the ancient part, and rebuilt the whole. That might have been fine, but the mixture of the two styles, as there exhibited, must always be offensive, so entirely different are they in character." tion, presenting only its porch and west window to the view; the body receding inwards towards the east. The other principal parts of this Court, the Hall, the Library, and the Master's Lodgings, are well designed and placed; without too much of ornament, or too little, or any misapplied embellishments. More minute observations or description I leave to the Cambridge Guides; having no object at present, but to point out beauties, or to suggest improvements. But I cannot quit this renovated college without expressing my satisfaction that its famous collection of manuscripts is at length deposited in a room of noble proportions.* I trust they are also secured from fire by stone work or arches underneath. 66 Nearly opposite to this College, but a little to the north, commence the great improvements of King's; where many shabby buildings have been removed to widen the street, and afford a proper approach. The same ingenious architect is here employed; but employed upon a much more difficult task. At Corpus he had only to form one consistent design, from his own conceptions; here he has to place his work in immediate contact with the most beautiful specimen existing of ancient art. Not to obscure any part of the matchless Chapel, a low skreen of architecture forms this new front, in the centre of which is a noble gate of entrance. That the general appearance of these parts is rich, beautiful, and adapted to the situation, is undeniable; and if the skreen were made a cloister (as Mr. W. is said to have planned it), all would so far be right. Perhaps, indeed, four small towers, surrounding the principal dome, would be better than the eight which are there, but this may admit of a doubt. But, passing through this gateway of the most highly ornamented Gothic, what object now immediately salutes the eye? Gibbs's heavy Doric building,† extending over all the opposite space! This is a fault or misfortune, which nothing less than utter destruction can remove. The happiest and purest modern Gothic would here be offensive; having to abut almost against that exquisite chapel, which nothing of inferior building should approach. To gothicise the present building (which has been proposed) would be a truly gothic proceeding; miserable in effect, and yet heavy in expense. At a cost not greatly " 87 feet in length, 22 in width, and 25 in height. "Usually called the New Building, containing rooms for the Fellows. |