ing to thirty-nine. (iii. xxviii and Xxxxii.) tents are chiefly extracted from two eminent writers, Michaëlis This work was originally de- and Lardner. The former has dicated" to the Duchess of North. displayed so much ingenuity and umberland, daughter of Lady discernment, and the latter such Hertford, the friend of Dr. Watts a depth of learning, as give the and Mrs. Rowe. The Duchess greatest advantage to such as would being dead before the appearance avail themselves of their labours." of the fourth edition, that is " con- A friend of the editor supplied a secrated to her beloved and hon." short account of the several oured memory." The Editor ha sects and heresies that prevailed ving frequent occasion to celebrate in the times of Christ and his the ancient Percys, could not fail Apostles;" also "A Key to the to attract the notice of the modern Prophecies contained in the Rev. possessors of their wealth and elation." This little work has itles. This publication is indeed passed through several editions, understood to have procured for and been adopted in the Univer him the appointment of domestic sities. chaplam to the Duke, and thus to In 1769, Mr. Percy preached have rendered his advancement in the "Sermon before the Sons of the church no longer problemati. the Clergy, at their annual Meetcal.- Mr. Percy, however, was ing at St. Paul's." The same not content without showing that year he was appointed one of the he had paid attention, amidst his royal chaplains, and probably hitrary pursuits, to subjects im now took his degree of Doctor of mediately connected with bis Divinity. clerical pretensions. In 1770, he appeared again as In this same year (1765), he an editor. The curious work published that justly popular "little committed to his care we had ocmanual," as he names it in a casion to quote, and it is frequentdedication to the Bishop of Dur- ly referred to, in the last edition ham, A Key to the New of the Reliques, as the NorthTestament; giving an account of umberland Household Book. It the several books, their contents, is entitled "The Regulations and their authors, and of the times, Establishments of the Household: places, and occasions on which of Henry Algernon Percy, 5th they were respectively written." Earl of Northumberland," from In an unassuming preface, it is 1512 to 1525. It appears that remarked that “a clear introduc- a small impression was printed tory illustration of the several by order of the late Duke and books of the New Testament, Dutchess of Northumberland, to shewing the design of their wri- bestow in presents to their friends;" ters, the nature of their contents, but it has been since reprinted and whatever else is previously necessary to their being read with understanding, is a work, that, if well-executed, must prove the best of commentaries and frequently supersede the want of all other." Of this work, "the con. entire in the 4th volume of the second edition of the Antiquarian Repertory, 4to. In the Editor's Preface, this 5th Earl is described as a "nobleman of great magnificence and taste, who had a just passion for literature, and was a liberal patron of such genius as that age produced." He adds, "the bare mention of my lord's or my lady's library deserves notice, at a time when many of the first nobility could hardly read, or write their names." to have been sufficiently tenacious of the good opinion of the noble house to which he was now attached. Boswell has preserved a curious proof of this, in that collection of trash and treasure, the Life of Johnson, which our During the same year, 1770, limits will not allow us to introwas published by Dr. P. with a duce. See Boswell, ii. 215. 4to. dedication to the Duke of North. If Dr. Percy had set his mind umberland, "Mallett's Northern on attaining to high station in Antiquities, in his Introduction the church, the fear of disapto the History of Denmark, or a pointment soon subsided. His Description of the Manners, Cus- rise was now rapid. In 1778, he toms, Religion and Laws of the became Dean of Carlisle, and in antient Danes, and other North- 1782, Bishop of Dromore. He ern Nations, including those of was no longer known to the pub. our Saxon Ancestors; with a lic except by occasional commu. translation of the Edda, or System nications to his literary friends. of Runic Mythology, and other Mr. Nich Is had been assisted by Pieces from the antient Islandic him in his "Select Collection of Tongue; translated from Monsieur Miscellaneous Poems." He now Mallett's Introduction a l'Histoire contributed to the History of de Dannemarc, with additional Hinkley," and, in 1786, to an Notes by the English translator, edition of the " Tatler, with Notes, and Jorancin's Latin Version of in 6 vols." Dr. Kippis mentions the Edd." Mallett's work ap- his obligations to Dr. Percy, in peared in 1763, and very early the Preface to his 1st. volume of engaged the attention of his trans. Biog. Brit. and in 1784, was in lator, who has given a Preface of debted to him, in the 4th volume, some length, designed principally for the Life of Cleveland, the to prove, against the opinions of bitter satirist of republicans, to his author, that the Teutonic whom Dr. P. was collaterally reand Celtic nations were originally lated. This life is short and af -two distinct people." forded occasion for little more In 1771, the muse of Percy than judicious selection. There gratified his patrons by the pub. is one observation on the effect of lication of The Hermit of Wark-paying court to temporary pre worth, a Northumberland Ballad, judices," which is well worthy of in three Fits or Cantos;" which, quotation. Cleveland's "subexcept the beautiful song in Dons. jects and his manner of writing, ley's collection, O Nancy wilt made him extremely popular athou go with me, comprizes, we mong his contemporaries, but enbelieve, the whole of his original tirely forgotten and disregarded poetry. Warkworth was one of since.-Contemporary with Milthe titles of the Duke of North- ton, he was in his time exceedingly umberland, and a castle of that preferred before him; and Milname, a part of his princely po- ton's, own nephew tells us, he sessions. Dr. P. appears indeed was by some esteemed the best of 66 the English poets. But Cleive- death, he steadily maintained his land is now sunk into oblivion, habitual cheerfulness; and in his while Milton's lame is universally last painful illness he displayed diffused. Yet Milton's works such fortitude and strength of could with difficulty gain admis- mind, such patience and resignasion to the press, at the time when it tion to the Divine will, and exwas pouring forth those of Cleive. pressed such heartfelt thankfulness land in innumerable impressions. for the goodness and mercy shown But behold the difference! The to him, in the course of a long and press now continually teems with happy life, as were truly impres republications of the Paradise sive and worthy of that pure Chris. Lost, &c. whereas, the last edi- tian spirit in him so eminently tion of Cleveland's works was in conspicuous."-G. Mag. 81. Pt. 1687." (B. Brit. iv. 622 ) 2. P. 483. Dromore, a diocese of very It is added, in a note to one of small extent, and inhabited by several elegiac tributes to his scarcely any Roman Catholics, memory, that "his personal exafforded dulles to a Protestant ertions, his charges to his clergy, Bishop, and facilities for their his distribution of the scriptures, performance. These duties Dr. and other religious tracts, his enPercy has the reputation of hav. couragement of literary societies, ing well performed for thirty years, and above all, his encouragement in which he survived every bishop of Sunday Schools, will be long whom he found in Ireland. The remembered with gratitude in the following account of the occupa. North of Ireland."-G. Mag. 81. tions of his life and the circum. 556. N. stances of his death, has been given upon authority not to be fairly questioned. Bishop Percy died at the See House of Dromore, Sep. 30, 1811, in the 83d year of his age. He A Dromore he constantly left two daughters, having survived resided, promoting the instruction an only son, and his wife, a lady and comfort of the poor with un- of Northamptonshire, who died remitting attention, and superin- in 1806, aged 75. The fate of tending the sacred and civil inter- his successor, formed a striking ests of the diocese with vigilance contrast to his own; for the Proand assiduity; revered and beloved vost of Trinity College, Dublin, for his piety, liberality, benevo- Dr. Hall, who was elected or lence and hospitality, by persons rather appointed Bishop of Droof every rank and religious de. more, died a few days after his nomination. Under the loss of consecration, before he could take sight, of which he was gradually possession of his See. deprived, some years before his N. L. T. EXTRACTS FROM NEW PUBLICATIONS. Present State of Religion in Ice land. [From Sir. G. S. Mackenzie's Travels in Iceland. 4to. pp. 324-333.] in a parish; and the total num. The reformation of religion in Iceland took place A. D. 1551; since which period the doctrines of the Lutheran church, as it exists in the northern kingdoms of Europe, have been strictly maintained in the island. At the present time, not a single dissentient is to be found from the established religion of the country; and the only instance of the kind on record, is one which occurred about the end of the 17th century; when HELGO EIOLFIDAS, a man who had acquired much knowledge of deacons, whose office it is to ex German literature, espoused the Socinian doctrines, and taught them openly to his children and friends; till compelled by the judgment of the ecclesiastical court to make a public renunciation of his belief Doctrinal discussion is of course, little known among the Icelanders; and the contests which have existed in their church, relate chiefly to external ordinances, and to the situation and rights of the clergy of the island. crcise a general superintendence over the churches in each Syssel*, and who are chosen, in general, from a regard to their talents and respectability of character. There are nineteen of these deacons in the island; but their number is included among that of the priests, just mentioned, as they severally have parishes allotted to them, of which they discharge all the ordinary duties. A small additional. stipend is attached to the office, which renders their situation some-' what superior to that of the other clergy. The religious establishment of Iceland is formed on a more extensive scale, than might have been expected from the nature of During a period of seven con. the country and the condition of turies, Iceland was divided into the people. The inhabited parts two bishopricks; that of Skalholt, of the island are divided into 184 comprehending the southern, that parishes; a division which gives of Hoolum the northern, districts to each parish an average popu- of the island. The sees becoming lation of about 260 persons. vacant at the same time, they From the great extent, however, of these districts, it has been *Syssel a term applied to the subin many instances found neces- divisions of Iceland. sary to erect more than one church VOL. VII. L tertaining the country priests, who come to barter their commodities with the merchants at this place. were united in 1797, by the order of the Danish government; and the title of Bishop of Iceland was conferred upon the learned and The patronage of the church in respectable Geir Vidalin, the pre- Iceland, was formerly in the hands sent possessor of this dignity. The of the people and the proprietors duties of the office are important of land; was afterwards assumed and extensive. The bishop super- by the bishops, as the representaintends the general concerns of the tives of the papal authority; and religious establishment, and the finally, at the period of the Re. particular affairs of each church in formation, was transferred to the the island he inspects the con. crown of Denmark. The power duct of the priests, regulates any is now, in most cases, exercised ecclesiastical disputes which may by the governor of the island, occur, ordains those who are en- with the assistance and advice of tering upon the pastoral office, the bishop. The revenues of the and watches over the education clergy are derived in part from and moral conduct of the people the lands annexed to the churches; at large. It is a part of his duty partly from tithes upon the landed also, to visit at stated periods, the property of the country. These different districts of his diocese, tithes are paid by the farmers, in for the purpose of personal in a ratio determined, not by the spection; and the farmers of the quantity of produce raised upon country are required to assist him, each farin, but by the fixed rents while making these journies, with of the land. To afford an idea of every accommodation, which their the extreme scantiness of the promeans may afford. The appoint. vision which is thus made for the ment of the bishop is entirely clergy, it may be sufficient to state vested in the crown. While there the general fact, that the whole were two bishoprics in Iceland, revenue by tithe, in 184 parishes, the revenues of each were ex- does not exceed the sum of 6400 tremely small, and ill-adapted to specie dollars; giving an average support the dignity, scarcely even of 34 or 35 dollars for each parish the necessary duties of the office. in the island. The distribution of In consequence of the union of the the stipends is by no means equal, sees, a considerable augmentation owing to the difference in the exwas made in the revenues of the tent and value of the land under present bishop, which now amount cultivation in different districts. to about 1600 dollars per annum; The most valuable living in the derived chiefly from the public island is that of Breidè-bolstadr, treasury of the island. Did he re- in Rangaavalle Syssel, the stipend side in the interior of the country, of which is upwards of 180 dollars: this sum would raise him to the the parish contains 376 people. highest rank of, opulence; but In the parish of Kröss in the same making his abode in Reikiavik, he district, where there are two is subject to many additional ex- churches, and a population expences, not only from the differ- ceeding 500, the stipend amounts ent mode of life among the Danes, only to 33 dollars. In Aarnes but also from the necessity of en- Syssel, the parish of Torfastadir, |