There has scarcely passed a life, of which a judicious and faithful narrative would not be useful. For not only every man has, in the mighty mass of the world, great numbers in the same condition with himself, to whom his mistakes and mis-carriages, escapes and expedients, would be of immediate and apparent use; but there is such an uniformity in the state of man, considered apart from adventitious and separable decorations and disguises, that there is scarcely any possibility of good or ill, but is common to human kind. DR. JOHNSON. B MEMOIR OF THE RIGHT REV. DR. BULL, LORD BISHOP OF ST. DAVID'S. Magnum et memorabile nomen.—VIRG. 1.-His Birth and Education, including a Period of Twenty-one Years. GEORGE EORGE BULL, D. D. was descended from an ancient and respectable family in Somersetshire. The family estate was at Shapwich, in the same county. His father, George Bull, was the second son of William Bull, Esq. who had nine other sons and ten daughters. Being a member of such a numerous progeny, he engaged in trade in the parish of St. Cuthbert, at Wells, where he filled his station with credit, both as a christian and a citizen. Here he entered into the matrimonial state, and was blessed with a son, on the 25th of March, 1634, being the annunciation of the Blessed Virgin. This son, he made a public declaration of his intention to devote to the sacred office of the ministry, at the period of his baptism. But, the best resolutions are no security, that the framer of them shall live to bring his purposes into effect. Mr. Bull died before his dedicated boy had completed his fourth year. The orphan, his only son, was committed to the care of guardians, with an estate of £200. per annum, subject to a rent charge of £50. a-year, to his father's widow, who was his step-mother. * At a grammar-school, in Wells, he received the rudiments of learning, but was speedily removed to the free school of Tiverton, in Devonshire, where he made rapid progress in classical literature, under the direction of Mr. Butler. His excellence in the composition of Latin verse was such, that his master used to say, "George Bull, I expect from you verses like those of Ovid, for I know you can do it." Stimulated by merited praise, he had completed his preparations for College, at an age unusually premature. Trahimur omnes laudis studio. In his fourteenth year, he repaired to the University of Oxford, and having entered a Commoner at Exeter College, July 10, 1648, was placed under the care of Mr. Ackland, a person eminent for his learning, piety, and loyalty. But he did not proceed as he had begun ; probably in consequence of his having laid aside * Nelson's Life of Bishop Bull, sect. 1st, &c. the Toga Praetexta too soon. Toward the end of his academic studies, however, he redeemed part of his mis-spent time, by a close application to the study of logic. At College, he became acquainted with Dr. Conant, the Rector of Exeter College, and afterward Archdeacon of Norwich; with Dr. Prideaux, Bishop of Worcester, and with Mr. Clifford, who, in 1672, became Lord High Treasurer of England. Having refused the oath of allegiance to the Commonwealth, he left Oxford with his tutor and some of his fellow pupils, and retired to North Cadbury, in Somersetshire, where he remained till the age of nineteen. Here he was frequently visited by one of his sisters, and was by her successfully reasoned out of those follies which had previously impeded his progress. At this period, there is presumptive evidence, that the first lasting impressions of religion were made upon his mind. The arguments of his affectionate visitant were accompanied with fervent prayer, and by the blessing of Providence upon exertions, folly lost a friend, and religion gained a powerful and faithful supporter, Finding himself deficient in theological knowledge, Mr. Bull placed himself under the tuition of the Rev. W. Thomas, Rector of Ubly, in Somersetshire, from whom, during two years' study, he found that he derived little addition to his knowledge in sacred literature. This was |