Atrations, et manque plus rarement encore à fes promeffes. Modefte enfin, et modéré, il n' attache point la gloire à deprimer ceux qui courent la même barriêre, ou qui penfent differemment de lui. A ces traits, que mon coeur a tracés, que la voix publique confirme, et qu'un Prelat univerfellement respecté des gens de lettres et des gens de bien a confacrés, il eft peu de lecteurs, du moins dans notre Ifle, qui ne reconnoiffent Mr. le Docteur JORTIN."*

"The Author of thefe Differtations is a man equally distinguished for Science and Virtue. Of the highest class in Literature, his unftudied regard for words is folely proportioned to their confequence, as they ftand in connection with his fubject, and conduce to the knowledge of things. Perfectly familiarized to ancient writers, and deep in the refearches of Antiquity, he never feeks to raise himself on the depreffion of the times in which he lives, by giving an undue preference to those which

* See the Journal Brit. Vol. XVII. Mois de Novre, et de Decre, 1755. Page 373.

have gone before him.

His facred profeffion naturally difpofed him to confult the inftruction of others; and to effect this, he prefents to them a religion, fimple in its appearance, and calculated to render them happy in existence here, and prépared for their great change. He is more fotlicitous to investigate truth than to fabricate novelty; and, as being unfhackled by any fyftem, he aims not at fingularity; feldom leads you to expect a demonftration; and when he does, is fure to fulfil his engagements. In difpofition equally modeft and temperate, he does not make it his boast to depreciate either thofe who run with him in the fame courfe, or those who think differently from him. From thefe outlines, dictated by my own heart, confirmed by the public voice, and fanctioned by a prelate of univerfal esteem amongst men of worth and letters, few readers, in Britain at least, can fail to anticipate the name of DOCTOR JORTIN."

Suck

Such were the sentiments of a learned foreigner; and, to fhew that fuch are the fentiments of our own countrymen, the following extracts are adduced.

I

In the Preface to Dr. Newton's edition of Milton's Poems, first published in 1749, we find that amiable editor expreffing the affistance which he had received from our author, amongst many others, in the courfe of that elaborate work. am obliged too to Mr. JORTIN for fome remarks, which he conveyed to me by the hands of Dr. Pearce [afterwards Bishop of Rochefter.] They are chiefly upon Milton's Imitations of the Ancients; but every thing that proceeds from him is of value, whether in poetry, criticism, or divinity; as appears from his Lufus Poetici, his Mifcellaneous Obfervations upon Authors, and his Difcourfes concerning the truth of the Chriftian Religion."

In the third Volume, Preface to Paradife Regained, &c. He fays, "The notes, as upon the PARADISE LOST, fo likewise upon the PARADISE

A 4

PARADISE REGAINED and other Poems, are of various Authors, and of various kinds: bur thefe, excepting only a few, were never printed before, and have therefore novelty to recommend them; as well as fome names of the firft rank and greatest eminence in the republic of Letters. The truth of my affertion will be fully juftified, by mentioning only the names of Mr. Warburton and Mr. Jortin; who, while they are employed in writing the moft learned and elaborate defences of religion, yet find leisure to cultivate the politer arts; and to promote and improve, both in themfelves and others, a claffical tafte of the finest authors. And, whatever may be the fuccefs, I can never repent of having engaged in this undertaking, which hath given me fo many convincing proofs of their friendfhip and kindnefs; and at the fame time hath happily conjoined,-what perhaps might never elfe have been joined together,myftudies, and my name, with theirs."

The editor apprehends he cannot do a more acceptable. fervice to the reader, than by fubjoining

Dr.

Dr. JORTIN's character, as it is admirably drawn in a late anonymous publication.

"As to Doctor JORTIN, whether I look back to his verse, to his profe, to his critical, or to his theological works, there are few authors to whom I am fo much indebted for rational entertainment, or for folid inftruction. Learned he was, without pedantry: he was ingenious, without the affectation of fingularity: he was a lover of truth, without hovering over the gloomy abyfs of fcepticism; and a friend to free inquiry, without roving into the dreary and pathlefs wilds of Latudinarianifin. He had a heart, which never difgraced the powers of his understanding. With a lively imagination, an elegant tafte, and a judgment most masculine and most correct, he united the artlefs and amiable negligence of a fchool-boy. Wit without illnature, and fenfe without effort, he could at will fcatter upon every fubject; and in every book the Writer prefents us with a near and distinct view of the real Man:

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