where he was born about the year 1720. He was defcended from James Uther, Archbishop of Armagh in Ireland, a Prelate no lefs diftinguifhed for his piety and other virtues than for his great abilities and profound erudition. With him he had likewife the honour to claim a defcent from James Stanihurft, Efq. thrice Speaker of the House of Commons of Ireland, Recorder of the city of Dublin, and one of the mafters in Chancery; and whofe name is ftill rendered more memorable for having had the honour of firft moving Queen Elizabeth to found a College and Univerfity, then in the vicinity of Dublin; which being finished in the year 1593, James Ufher, afterwards Archbishop of Armagh, was one of the firft three Students who were admitted, and his name ftands to this day in the first line of the roll. Mr. Ufher received a good claffical education, yet being bred to no particular bufinefs or profeffion, he, after the example of his father, commenced Gentleman farmer in the neighbourhood of his family. He continued in this line for fome years, but, as it has been too uniformly experienced thnough life, the Gentleman mult be feparated from the Farmer to make agriculture profitable. Mr. Ufher added another proof of their incompatibility. In fhort, finding he could not fucceed in this bufinefs, he ftopt in time, fold off his farm, ftock, &c &c. and fettled as a linen-draper in Dublin. In the courfe of this bufinefs, Mr. Ulher made feveral trips to Bristol, and exerted himself with no inconfiderable diligence and induftry to maintain himfelf and a growing family; but the love of fcience, and the confequences which generally flow from that affection, are infenfible drawbacks to the arts of money-making. The one improves the mind in the higher contemplation of thinking and acting-the other principally goes to the improvement of the purfe-not by the fublimer precepts of philofophy-but by the practices of the lefs lettered part of mankind, whofe example teaches them the more fuccefsful arts of rival hip, quick nefs, fineffe, diffimulation, œconomy, &c.&c. Uber, not trained in this latter fchool, and perhaps too much drawn off by the love of books, which was his favourite purfuit, fucceeded as little in the character of a linen draper as he did in that of a Gentleman farmer. His wife dying about this time, deranged his affairs ftill more; fo that, finding himself a widower with a family of four children (three boys and a girl) and but little profpect of providing for them in any line of business, he took orders in the Church of Rome, fent his fons for education to the College of Lombard in Paris, his daughter to a monaftery (where the foon after died,) and came himself to London, the better to provide for his children, which was very laudably the great object of his life. as Whilft he was cafting about what method he fhould adopt for the improvement of his little income, and the education of his children, Mr. Molloy, an Irish gentleman, who had formerly figured away a political writer againft Sir Robert Walpole, died, and left him a legacy of three hundred pounds. With this money Mr. Ufher thought of fetting up a fchool, as the most likely way of providing for his fons; and with this view he communicated his intentions to Mr. John Walker, the ingenious Author of the Pronouncing Dictionary, and many other approved Works on the conftruction and elegance of the English Language. Mr. Walker not only met Mr. Uther's ideas, but joined him as a partner in the business,' and they opened a fchool under this firm at Kensington Gravelpits. Mr. Uther's acquaintance with Mr. Walker commenced during the former's excurfions from Dublin to Britol, which latter place Mr. Walker's bufinefs led him to vifit occafionally. Their acquaintance foon grew into a friendflip, which, as it had virtue for its bafis, continued unbroken and undiminifhed to the clofe of Mr. Uher's life. Mr. Walker is ftill living, and in good health, with that reputation as a Man, a Teacher, and an Author, which is equally creditable to his morals and his talents. The school thefe Gentlemen were embarked embarked in, did not altogether anfwer Mr. Walker's purpofes. Whether the profits were too little to divide, or whether he thought he could do better as a private teacher, it is difficult to fay-but Mr. Walker, after trying it for fome time, quitted the connection, and commenced a private teacher, and fome time after opened a public fchool in this city, in which he was extremely fuccefsful. They parted. however, with the fame cordiality they commenced, and the civilities and friendships of life were mutually continued. Mr. Uher being now fole mafter of the school, he cultivated it with diligence and ability, and, we believe, with tolerable fuccefs, for about four years; when he died of a confumption, at the age of fifty two, in the year1772. "The life that paffes in Penury muft neceffary pafs in Obfcurity," fays Dr. Johnfon of Fenton the Poet, who, like Ufher, at one time kept a school, and who, in many other circumftances, bore ftrong refemblances: it is, there fore, to his writings that Ufher owes his being noticed in this place; and, to do him juftice, they were fuch as were equally creditable to his heart and understanding. His firft publication was a fmall pamphlet called "A New Syftem of Philofophy," in which he cenfures Locke, as leaning too much towards Naturalifm, a doctrine which he confidered as the bane of every thing fublime, elegant, and noble. He next wrote fome letters in the Public Ledger (a Paper at that time diftinguished for the morals of its Correfpondents), figned "A Free Thinker," in which he fhews the inconfiftency and impolicy of the perfecution at that time going on againft the Roman Catholics. His next publication was entitled "Clio, or A Difcourfe on Tafte, addreffed to a Young Lady," wherein he endeavours to prove, that there is in feveral refpects an univerfal ftandard of tafte in the foul of man, which, though it may be depraved or corrupted by education and habit, can never be totally eradicated. He proceeds to prove this, by our univerfal tafte for truth, gratitude, ge nerofity, liberty, &c. &c. and concludes this part of his affertion by faying, "that if opinion were the real ftandard of fentiment, the nature of one animal could not be more noble than that of any other; yet it is certain, that if there was in the world but one man of integrity, generofity, gratitude, and a great foul, and all the rest of mankind confifted of people who had no fenfe of the dignity of truth and a noble difpofition, this fingle perfon would be of more worth than the whole race of man befide." thofe To this very ingenious Effay, which is touched with elegance and obfervation, though, perhaps, with too much refinement, he afterwards added "An Introduction to the Theory of the Human Mind," This little Treatife is written with zeal and ability, and is meant as a refutation againft Deifts who attack revealed religion under an apparent appeal to philofophy, but, by the occafional fhiftings of principles and fyftems, and a dexterous ufe of equivocal language, draw the difpute into a kind of labyrinth, in which the retreats are endless, and the victory always incomplete. "This obfervation (fays Mr. Ulher in his preface) made me with that the principles of philofophy that enter into the difpute were more clear, limited, and decifive. It seemed reasonable in me to conclude, that true religion cannot be inconfiftent with true philofophy that if men be obliged to any duties in a state of nature, fuch duties are the indubitable laws of God, and they cannot differ effentially from the duties the Deity is pleafed to require of us by revelation. Hence I imagined, that the plan of the mind of man, if attentively obferved, and faithfully delineated, muft give light into the intention and end of his creation; at leaft, the eager defire of each party (Chriftians and Deilis) to reconcile philofophy to their own religious opinions, demonftrates the fecret fenfe mankind have of the neceffity that true philofophy fhould witnefs for religion. "Full of thefe reflections, I fet out on an inquiry into the nature of the human mind, with a view, if poffible, to difcover fome traces of duty and natural religion, and to try if any principles may be folidly eltablifhed in public view, which may prove decifive in the difpute between Chriftians and Deifts." very acute, having a penetrating mind, which feized an argument like a logician who was fuperior to the trammels of his art. He was originally bred a Proteftant, but became very early a convert to the Roman Catholic faith, of which he was always a zealous and fincere defender, and in which he died. But the Work that he valued moft, and which he laboured through the beft part of his life to bring to perfection, was A Treatife on the Instincts, Paffions, and Affections of Man."This Work he unfortunately loft, and having no copy, it was loft to the world. How far it might have answered the Author's expectations, it is impoffible now to fay; but if we may judge from others of his publications, which Wilford, took up lefs of his time and obfervation, Adam Winterton, Mr. Dodd it is but fair to conclude its fate was a Rawbold, disappointment to the Literary World. Samfon, He himself felt this ftroke moft poig- Boy, nantly; he talked of it, as of the lofs of Cook, a favourite child; nor ever forgot to Peter, feel it as one of the greatest difappoint- Walter, ments of his life. Simon, British Theatre. March 12. THE IRON CHEST, a play, by Mr. Let not the busy world too readily Gregory, look upon this kind of difappointment Armstrong, as too trifling to engage the attention of Orfon, the human heart.-An Author's fame Firft Robber, Mr. Uher in his ftature was below the middle fize, naturally thin and of a confumptive habit, a difeafe of which he died, and which he often faid he caught from his wife, who fell a facrifice to the fame diforder. His afpect was rather mean, and his manners not of the highly educated caft; but a natural politenefs fupplied this deficiency; for he had an elegance of expreffion which always bespoke him a man of an uncommonly refined turn of thinking. Had he poffeffed the advantages of a more liberal education, and an early and conftant refidence in the capital, there is no doubt but that he would have been an acquifition to polite literature; for though his fancy was bril linas and poetical, his reafoning was Blanche, Mr. Bannifter, jun. Mr. Barrymore Mr. Hollingsworth Mr. Maddocks The fcene lies on the border of the New Foreft.-The fable is briefly this: Sir Edward Mortimer, keeper of the New foreft in the reign of Charles I. is a man whofe mind has been rendered by the author a receptacle for the most heterogeneous qualities. Though mild, generous, charitable, and humane, the friend of the poor, the patron of the virtuous, and the protector of the dif treffed, he has, in his youth, committed a most atrocious murder, for which neither excufe nor palliation can be found, and the recollection of which inceffantly goads him with the flings of remorfe, and gradually undermines his health, by fubjecting him to all the hors rors of a guilty confèience. For this murder he has been tried, and hansur, ably ably acquitted. Previous to the period vent the fatal effects which he appreat which the piece opens, Sir Edward hended might accrue from the extraorhas taken into his fervice, in the capaci- dinary confidence which he had repofed ty of fecretary, an obfcure youth, Wil- in his fecretary Wilford therefore is ford, who is, in fact, the hero of the fecured, and charged with having robpiece. From the obfervations which bed his mafter, who fecretly conveys Wilford has occafion to make on the into his trunk fome jewels and papers, ftate of his master's mind, who is more which had been kept in the iron cheft. particularly affected when engaged in He is accordingly brought to trial, in examining the contents of an iron cheft the hall of the cafle, before Captain in his study, he is led to fufpect the ex- Fitzharding, an old foldier, who is on iftence of fome fatal fecret, which a vifit to his brother, Sir Edward Mordefeats the effect of a high reputation timer, and Sir Edward himself beand general efteem; and, by a conver- comes his accufer. With all the proflifation which he has with Adam Win- gacy of a hardened villain, Sir Edward terton, fteward to Sir Edward, who, at relies on the integrity of Wilford, as fourfcore, is perpetually adverting, with the means of his conviction; and fudall the garrulity, and with more than denly, and indeed miraculously, lofing the ufual tedioufnefs of old age, to the all that exquifite fenfibility, which the tranfactions of the two proceeding flightest allufion to any circumstance reigns, and who, by his love of Canary, that can recall to his mind the fatal is betrayed, over his bottle, into fome tranfaction which has doomed him to indifcreet communication, this fufpici- perpetual mifery, invariably excites, on becomes confirmed. Stimulated by he, with the utmost coolness and indifcuriofity, Wilford takes advantage of ference, queftions Wilford on the cirthe momentary negligence of his mafter, cumftance of his opening the iron cheft, in leaving the key in the lock, to open which contained the articles faid to be the iron cheft; but ere he can examine ftolen, and is not, in the smallest deits contents, Sir Edward returns, and, gree, affected by the pointed appeals detecting him in the attempt, is about which Wilford makes to his honour to flab him with his dagger; the time- and his confcience-to that honour ly intervention of reafon, however, de- which made him an affaffin-to that ters him from the commiflion of a fe- confcience which renders him wretched. cond murder. Soon after this occur- The ftruggle produced in Wilford's rence, Sir Edward determines to en- mind, by the defire of eftablishing his truft Wilford with the fatal fecret; own innocence, and his unwillingness to and, after exacting a folemn oath of violate his oath of fecrecy, is confidered fecrefy, proclaims himself an affaffin. as the confufion arifing from a confciStricken with horror at the recital, oufnefs of guilt. Nothing now remains Wilford refolves to fly from a house but to establish the fact, and for this which has become odicus to him, but purpofe the trunk is opened, and the is intercepted by a robber, who fells jewels are produced. In vain does, him to the ground, and is afterwards Wilford affert his innocence, and apconducted to the habitation of the peal to Sir Edward for the truth of his gang, in the ruins of an old abbey, near affertions: his guilt appears establishthe manfion of Sir Edward. The ed beyond the poffibility of doubt. cruelty of the robber who wounds Wil- But juft as fentence is about to be proford being refented by the captain of nounced, from one of the papers which the gang, who is reprefented as an Fitzharding holds in his hand, drops a honeft and honourable thief, and by his bloody knife-the very knife with affociates in general, a fentence of ex- which Sir Edward Mortimer had compulfion is pronounced against him; mitted the murder for which he was and as might naturally be expected, he tried.-The effect produced by this exrepairs to Sir Edward, and impeaches. traordinary event may be eafily conBy this means, Sir Edward becomes ceived: Wilford's innocence is proapprized of Wilford's fituation, and claimed; Sir Edward faints, and is ta refolves to execute a plan of revenge ken off the stage, and the piece ends. ich he had devifed, in order to pres The 1796. The German Story. The German Story. (Continued from page 256.) 'MY Y imagination was fired with wine and loofe defires, my reafon fettered, and my blood heated: human fociety had banished me-and here I found brotherly affection, good living and honour. Whatever might have been my choice, I could not efcape the hand of punishing juftice; however, in a fituation like that which was offered me, I could at least fell my life dear: voluptuoufnefs was my ruling paffion, and I had till then always been treated with fcorn and contempt by the other fex, but here I could expect to fatisfy my defires, and to be received with pleasure my refolution coft me but very little, and I exclaimed, after a moment's confideration, I will ftay with you, comrades, if you will cede to me my beautiful neighbour.' All of them agreed to confent to my requeft, and I became unexpectedly the avowed poffeffor of a we, and the chief of a gang of robbers!' which we difpatched one of our affo Meeting with fuccefs in our nocturnal rambles our temerity increafed, and we way-laid the traveller on the high road, however I took great care not to perpetrate a fecond murder. The terror of my name foon spread itself all over the country, and the neighbouring magiftrates tried every means to get me in their power; a great reward was promifed to him who fhould take me, dead or alive, and, if one of my affociates, a full pardon; however, I was fo fortunate to elude the watchfulness of my purfuers for a confiderable time, and to fruftrate every attempt on my liberty.' life I had carried on this infernal trade To be revenged on the prince, in whofe dominions I had suffered fo much a whole year, when I began to be tired difgrace, was the chief defire of of it. The gang, whofe leader I was, my heart, and to effect that pur- having difappointed my fanguine hopes, pofe was the firft ufe I made of my new I foon perceived, with terror, how much acquired authority. Our gang confift- my fancy, heated by wine and loofe deed in eight ftout fellows befides myself, fires, had been impofed upon, when I the reft was compofed of women and confented to become the captain of my children: my new affociates had con- affociates. Hunger and want frequent tented themfelves 'till I was joined to ly fupplied the place of fuperfluity and their fociety, with clandeftine depre- eafe, which I had expected, and I was dations in the pantries and cellars of the neceffitated many a time to risk my rich peasants, and game-ftealing, and in order to procure a fcanty meal, which never had recourfe to violent means. hardly fufficed to appeafe the violent My views went farther: I propofed to cravings of my empty ftomach. The declare open war against the game, vifionary image of brotherly concord which had brought on my difgrace and difappeared, and envy, fufpicion, and ruin, and to rob the houfes of the jealoufy ftepped in its place, loofening judges who had punished me fo fe- the ties of our fociety; the folemn promife of a full pardon to him who verely.' To effect our purpose we wanted thould deliver me into the hands of jufhorfes, the frontiers, where the domi- tice, was a powerful temptation to lawnions of my former fovereign terminat- lefs robbers, and I was well aware of By the dangers which furrounded me. I ed, being three miles diftant. means of houfe-breaking and fome became a ftranger to fleep, a victim to highway robberies we foon got poffef never ceafing apprehenfions; the phanwhere fion of a fufficient fum of money,ith tom of fufpicion purfued me every Hib. Mag. April, 1796. Pp |