interfere less than might at first be supposed, or will be actually supposed by the public; as I leave out many provincial English words, not known either in writing or speaking in Scotland; while I introduce many not known to a person who has not long resided here, and some of these are reckoned our most ancient vocables. If any of your literary friends wish to forward such a work as mine, while perhaps they may also give their support to the other, I will reckon it very obliging if you let me know, "I am, dear Sir, with much respect, "Your most obedient servant, JOHN JAMIEson." THO. BOWDLER, Esq. M. D. F. R. S. and F. S. A. Was born at Ashley, near Bath, January 4, 1754. He was elected F. R. S. in 1781, and F. S. A. in 1784. Of his Letters, written in Holland in September and October 1787, see the " Literary Anecdotes," vol. IX. p. 37. In 1818, he published the "Family Shakspeare ;" and closed a long and useful life at Rhyddings, near Swansea, in Wales, Feb. 24, 1825, in his seventy-first year. An ample memoir of this worthy gentleman, communicated by his nephew the Rev. Thomas Bowdler, may be seen in the "Annual Biography and Obituary," vol. X. p. 191. Priestley's History of Early Opinions." 1795. 8vo. He was then styled "D. D. F. A. S. S. and Minister of the Gospel, at Forfar." 4. "Remarks on the Rev. Rowland Hill's Journal, &c. In a letter to the Author, including Reflections on Itinerant and Lay Preaching. By John Jamieson, D. D. Minister of the Gospel, Edinburgh." 1801. 8vo. In these "Remarks" Dr. Jamieson vindicates the seceders from the character given them by Dr. Hill; and gives it as his opinion, that no person should undertake the office of itinerant preacher without being appointed to a mission, and that precomposed discourses are every way preferable to impromptu preacbing. 5. "A Faithful Account of an important Trial in the Court of Conscience. 1807." 12mo. 6. "The Use of Sacred History, especially as illustrating and confirming the great Doctrines of Revelation. To which are prefaced Two Dissertations, the first on the Authenticity of the History contained in the Pentateuch, and in the Book of Joshua; the second proving that the books ascribed to Moses were actually written by him, and that he wrote them by Divine inspiration. 1807." 2 vols. 8vo. Dr. Jamieson has recently published some Additions to his Dictionary. Mr. BOWDLER to Mr. NICHOLS. SIR, "It was not till the last week, that I saw your Magazine for September, having been absent on a long journey. In the supplement to the account of General Villettes, which you were so good as to insert in it, I perceive a typographical error, which, though slight, is of so unfortunate a nature, that I believe I must request you to correct it in a conspicuous manner in the next number of your excellent publication. "It is stated in the original account, that the General's property descends to his sister, a lady who has been many years married and settled in Swisserland. By a small, and very easy mistake, this has been printed, 'married or settled, in Swisserland.' Typographical errors are generally of the less consequence, because for the most part they make nonsense of the passage, and proclaim themselves to be mistakes; but in this instance the case is very different; for the passage, as it now stands, is good sense, and good grammar, and may be supposed to be correct; but it conveys a meaning very different from the original, and may indeed be received in a sense very unpleasant to the feelings of the relatives of the deceased. If this circumstance strikes you in the same light in which it strikes me, you will, I am sure, have the goodness to correct it in whatever manner your good judgment shall point out as being most proper. Wishing you all possible success in the conduct of your excellent Magazine, which I selected on this occasion as the best of our periodical publications, "I remain your obedient servant, THOMAS BOWdler." The Rev. EDWARD BLAKEWAY, B. A. Fellow of Magdalen College, Cambridge, eldest son of Mr. Peter Blakeway, surgeon, by Dorothy his wife, only daughter of Joshua Johnson, master of the Free-schools, was born Feb. 5, 1736-7; educated at the Free-school under Mr. Hotchkis ; and went to Magdalen College, Cambridge, upon a Millington exhibition: took what is there called a wrangler's degree of B. A. in 1756; M. A. 1759; and moderated 1762. He was appointed minister of St. Mary, Shrewsbury, in October 1763. In April 1764, he obtained from his College the rectory of Long Staunton, in the county of Cambridge, vacant by the death of Dr. Theodore Waterland, and retained it till Feb. 1779, when he became rector of Filton in the county of Gloucester, on the presentation of his brother-in-law Matthew Brickdale, Esq.; and in July 1786, he was presented by Lord Chancellor Thurlow, to the vicarage of Neen Savage, in Shropshire. He married, Sept. 3, 1764, his second cousin Mercy, eldest daughter of John Brickdale, Esq. of Knowl, in the county of Somerset; but by this lady, who survived him, and died August 13, 1808, he left no issue. Mr. Blakeway was, to adopt the language of a friend who knew him well, "a highly respectable clergyman and worthy man; polished, sensible, and of pleasing manners. He was an elegant scholar, and possessed eminent talents for conversation. As a preacher he was much admired; though his voice was not strong, and wanted variety." An internal tumour caused his death, which took place Feb. 17, 1795; and which he met with the greatest calmness, resignation, and fortitude. He was buried at Withington, whither his great-grandfather, in the reign of Charles II. removed from Cronkhill, the previous residence of the family for several centuries, originally as tenants to the Abbot of Lilleshull. Mr. Blakeway resigned the curacy of St. Mary, Shrewsbury, the year before his decease, and was succeeded by his nephew the Rev. John Brickdale Blakeway, March 8, 1794. Mr. BLAKEWAY to the Rev. THOMAS PERCY *, Rector of Easton Mauduit, Northamptonshire. "MY DEAR PERCY, Shrewsbury, July 4, 1765. "This morning I received your most agreeable letter. I cannot delay, a single post, sending you my sincere and hearty congratulations on your promotion. You are now most advan *Afterwards Bishop of Dromore; of whom see the "Literary Anecdotes," vol. III. pp. 160. 752. See also Index, vol. VII. pp. 317. 649. tageously situated within the wheel of fortune; the known generosity of your noble patron, your own useful and pleasing qualities, allow me to encourage the most flattering hopes of your future success. The expedition you are about to undertake, and the particular province that falls to your lot, is on every account a most fortunate event for you. The journey itself, from its distance, and the novelties you will continually discover, cannot but be highly satisfactory to your taste and curiosity. The sight of the Castle of Alnwick will most agreeably call to your remembrance your venerable and now highly to be esteemed friends, the ancient British bards. But I trust that the ingenious critic and illustrator will profit more by his labour than they did by their poetic rhapsodies. All they could hope for was present subsistence, and a slight portion of future fame in the latter I doubt not you will share more abundantly, and as to the more substantial rewards of genius, I am confident you may depend on the princely disposition of your Lord. If I am not much mistaken, your own poetic flame will be excited on this occasion; the family, a view of this ancient seat, and several other subjects of a like nature, will furnish you with ample materials. But as, perhaps, you are before hand in this conjecture, I say no more. As soon after your arrival there as you conveniently can spare time, you will permit me to expect the pleasure of a letter from you. At present, I cannot give you any light in regard to your enquiries about Farquhar's Comedy; but if I should be able to discover any, I will not fail to send it to you. "Sometime this summer, I meditate an expedition into Holland and Flanders, if I can meet with a companion; this tour I intend shall take me about six weeks: I promise myself much entertainment by it. I had wrote thus far almost immediately on the receipt of your letter, when I was informed of an old lady in this town, who had it in her power to resolve your curiosity, in respect to the "Recruiting Officer." I had no convenient opportunity till to-day of talking sufficiently on this subject with her. She says that she well remembers Farquhar on a recruiting party in this town, where he continued some time, long enough to write his play. "I do not think, for my own part, that the characters therein described have in them much of singularity, but you are in the right in believing that he had living originals in his eye. Her account of them is as follows: Justice Ballance is Mr. Berkley, then Deputy Recorder of the town; one of the other justices, a Mr. Hill, an inhabitant of Shrewsbury; Mr. Worthy is Mr. Owen of Rusason, on the borders of Shropshire; Captain Plume is Farquhar himself; Brazen, unknown; Melinda is Miss Harnage, of Belsadine, near the Wrekin; Sylvia, Miss Berkley, daughter of the Recorder above-mentioned; the story, I suppose, the poet's invention. This is the best answer I can at present send you; should any more particulars come to my knowledge, you shall have them in due time. "This letter will I hope find you safely arrived at Alnwick with my lady and your pupil. I much question whether the unsettled state of ministerial affairs will allow for your Lord's journey at this critical juncture. I shall inform Mr. Pitt, when I see him, of your good fortune. That gentleman is at present like to be roughly handled in the Crown-office, for an assault upon an acquaintance of yours, Mr. Williams the Rector or Vicar of Weston. The particulars of this foolish matter, not worth your hearing. My paper advises a conclusion, which I cannot do without again congratulating you on this fortunate event of your life; which in good time, I trust will be equally pleasing to your noble patron; for surely a very high degree of self satisfaction must attend on rewarding real virtue and learning. I am, my dear friend, yours most affectionately, E. BLAKEWAY. The Rev. JOHN BRICKDALE BLAKEWAY, the eldest son of the late Joshua Blakeway, esq. |