from this kingdom, and one of its kings* actually consented not only to swear fealty to the Pope, whose vassal he publicly acknowledged himself to be, but to pay one thousand marks yearly as à token of his subjugation.

To such a degree of power and wealth did the clergy of that day, who uniformly yielded obedience to the papal see, at length arrive, that we hear of onet prelate braving the legitimate authority of his sovereign, and of another rivalling him in splendor and magnificence.

At last, partly in consequence of the glaring impositions of the see of Rone, and partly from the increase of learning on the side of the laity, a new and happier order of affairs took place. During the reign of Henry VIII. the church of England was separated for ever from the Roman communion; and at the conclusion of near-nine centuries and a-half, posterior to the introduction of Christi anity, that grand revolution in ecclesiastical affairs, known by the name of the REFORMATION, formed a conspicuous epoch in our history.

Since that memorable period, our dignitaries have indeed been less opulent in point of revenues, but, at the same time, they have been also more chaste in their lives and conversation. We no longer find them apeing the state of kings, or arrogating an

* John.

† Archbishop Becket, afterwards canonised.

+ Cardinal Wolsey.

unseemly pride, but ill according with the life, si tuation, and sufferings of their common Master.

With but a very few exceptions indeed, our English prelates have exhibited characters exempt from scandal, as well as conduct free from reproach, and this we attribute not a little to the proper selection of that dignified and respectable class. Care has been generally taken that our mitred priests, who are, at the same time, peers of parliament, should be chosen from among those eminent for their virtue, their learning, and their talents. Nor are we disposed to deny, that two other circumstances have contributed not a little to the purity of the episcopacy, for it has been customary hitherto, to elevate none but men of a mature age to the English purple, while the sons of our nobility, who might be supposed to pique themselves on their birth, have borne but a small proportion to those of a more bumble origin.

Anterior to the late revolution in France, the younger brothers of the aristocracy were accustomed to look up to the Gallican church for an appanage, and falsely supposing that their illustrious descent conferred honour on the crosier, not unfrequently forgot those duties, of which the pastoral staff is a very appropriate emblem.

Dr. Burgess is a native of Hampshire, having been born in that county, in or about the year 1754, or 1755. His family occupied the same rank in life as those of Abbot, Tillotson, and Moore, prelates, eminent for their piety, and celebrated for

-their virtues, rather than their birth. His father, a very respectable man, was for many years a grocer at Odiham, and had a large family, consisting of three sons, and three daughters. One of the children, who is at this moment an opulent tradesman, in London, was provided for early in life, by means of an estate that was left him, by a relation, a few days after his birth, while the others were early taught the useful lesson, that they must carve -out a fortune for themselves, by industry and perse

-verance.

Thomas, of whom we now treat, received the first rudiments of his education from Mr. Webbe, a schoolmaster in his native village. After this, he repaired to Winchester, where he was admitted on the foundation, and while there, became the contemporary of Mr. Addington, now Lord Sidmouth, an event which led to important results, as will be seen hereafter. Having at length removed to New College, Oxford, he again fell in with his old schoolfellow, so that their acquaintance was renewed, and their friendship confirmed.

At this celebrated university Mr. Burgess resided many years, and after receiving the full benefit of the instruction to be derived from such a noble institution, he obtained a fellowship from Corpus Christi College, and assisted in the education of others, by acting, as is usual, in the capacity of a

tutor.

* Odiham, in Hampshire.

The fame of his acquirements in the learned languages, having at length extended beyond the boundaries of Alma Mater, Mr. Burgess began to be talked of, more especially after obtaining a prize* in 1780. But it was a work+ more immediately connected with his studies that introduced him to the notice of Dr. Barrington. The regard of that prelate was not confined to barren applause, for he first made him his domestic chaplain, and then conferred a prebendal stall at Carlisle. On his lordship's translation to Durham, this was exchanged for a still better one, appertaining to that see, to which was annexed a living on the banks of the Tees, since resigned in consequence of his recent preferment.

The first correct notice of his literary career, within the scope of our knowledge, commences with the year 1781, when Mr. Burgess published a new edition of Dawes' "Critica Miscellanea," to which he has also added a large Appendix. A respectable critic of that day, after much well deserved praise, expresses himself as follows, in respect to his labours on this occasion:

"This Mr. Burgess we consider as an extraordinary young man, from whom great things in the way of erudition may be expected, and who promises to be one of those who, in this respect, will contribute to sustain the glory of our countrymen.

"The same gentleman, in a supplement to his Essay on Antiquities, which obtained the Oxford prize in 1780, and which de

* For an "Essay on Antiquities."

+ A Treatise on the Origin and Formation of the Greek Lan guage.

served that prize, hath given the general plan of an intended Treatise on the Origin and Formation of the Greek Language. From this plan it is apparent that the author is well fitted for undertaking curious and profound enquiries."

In 1792 Mr. Burgess, who by this time had obtained the degree of bachelor of divinity, published a sermon chiefly in opposition to the Socinians,* in which he strenuously maintained the doctrine of the divinity of Christ, and that too, in a manner somewhat novel; by the testimony of "his living witnesses the Jews." This had been delivered before the members of the university in which he was educated, about two years anterior to the period alluded to, and it contains many pointed remarks on the opinions of Dr. Priestley, and Mr. Gilbert Wakefield, which were calculated to make considerable impression.

In the preface we are told

"That at the request of some much respected friends of the author, the following sermon is presented to the public. He has un dertaken in it," it is added, “to prove, what indeed has often been proved before; and to support, from the Scriptures, the belief of what there is the best evidence for asserting has always been believed, in all ages of the church, and the best grounds for thinking will continue to be believed, by infinitely the greater part of those who study the Scriptures seriously, and without prejudice,

* "The Divinity of Christ proved from his own Declarations, attested and interpreted by his living witnesses, the Jews; a Sermon, preached before the University of Oxford, at St. Peter's, February 28, 1790. By THOMAS BURGESS, B. D., Domestic Chaplain to the Lord Bishop of Durham, and Prebendary of Durham."