Through his influence his brother obtained two lucrative sees in succession, and by his liberality a nominal Dean of Caius was rendered a real one, cum cura animarum. Hor sley also, on account of his controversial talents, was by his means seated on the Bishops' bench; but notwithstanding this, it is on record that he was unable to obtain for Dr Johnson such an increase of his pen. sion as would have enabled him to endeavour to repair a broken constitution, by flying to the genial climate of Italy.

Edward Lord Thurlow died at Brighton in Sussex, on the 12th of September, 1806, in the 71st year of his age. He had three daughters by Miss Hervey, one of whom, Mrs Brown, who had married in opposition to his wish, was present at his demise.

He is succeeded in his Barony by Edward, now Lord Thurlow, the eldest son of his brother, the late Bishop of Durham, with remainder, in case of default of issue male, to Edward South Thurlow, M. A. one of the six prebendaries of Norwich.

Account of the AMERICAN Settlement of KENTUCKY.

From MICHAUX's Travels.

THE State of Kentucky is situa

ted between 36° 30' and 39° 30' lat. and between 28° and 29° of long. Its boundaries are, to the N. W. the Ohio, for an extent of about seven hundred and sixty miles; to the E. Virginia, and to the S. the State of Tennessee. It is separated from Virginia by Sandy River, and the Laurel-hills, one of the principal chains of the Allegany Mountains. The extreme length of this State is about four hundred miles; and its greatest width nearly two hundred.

Nov. 1806.

This

vast extent appears to rest upon a base of calcareous stone, covered by a stratum of vegetable mould, which varies in its composition, and is from several inches to ten and even fifteen feet thick. The limits of the immeuse stone-bank have not yet been accurately ascertained; but its thickness must be very considerable, from the appearance it exhibits at the rivers, the banks of which, particularly those of Kentucky, and Dick Rivers, rise in some parts perpendicularly to the height of three hundred feet, in which space nothing but this stone is perceptible. The soil of the Kentucky, though irregular, is not hilly, except in some few parts near the Ohio, and on the side of Virginia. Calcareous stone, and abundant mines of unexplored coal, are the only mineral substances observable. Iron mines are scarce, and, as far as I can recollect, one only is worked, which is by no means sufficient for the wants of the country.

In 1782, the number of inhabitants in Kentucky did not exceed three thousand; but in 1790, it amounted to one hundred thousand; and in the general census of 1800, it is computed at two hundred and twenty thousand. At the time of my journey to Lexington, in August, 1802, they calculated its population to amount to two hundred and fifty thousand; including about two thousand negro-slaves. Hence in this State, where perhaps there cannot be found ten individuals twentyfive years of age, who were born there, the number of inhabitants is already as great as in seven of the old States, while there are only two whose population is twice as numerous. This rapid increase might have been much greater, but for one particular circumstance, which prevents emigration to those districts: I allude to the difficulty of establishing claims to landed property: for of all the States of the Union, it is in

this

United States, he may enter all the sea-ports and principal towns, remain in them, or travel, as long as he pleases, through every part of the country, without any public officer nquiring who he is, or what are his easons for travelling.

The inhabitants of Kentucky are very willing to give strangers the inFormation they require respecting the country in which they reside, and which they consider as the best part of the United States; as that in which the soil is most fertile, the climate most salubrious, and where ll who have come to settle, were ed by the love of liberty and inde. pendence. In their houses they are decent and hospitable; and, in the ourse of my journey, I preferred odging with them, rather than in he taverns, where the accommodaion is frequently worse and much

carer.

The women seldom interfere in he labours of the field: they remain t home, assiduously engaged with omestic cares, or employed in spining hemp or cotton. This labour lone is considerable, for there are w houses in which there are not pur or five children.

Among the different sects which ext in Kentucky, those of the Methosts and Anabaptists are the most nuerous. The religious enthusiasm has, ithin the last seven or eight years, acired a new degree of strength in ose regions; for, independently of e Sundays, which are scrupulously served, they meet, during the sumer, in the course of the week, to ar sermons, which last for several ys in succession. These meetings, hich often consist of two or three ousand persons, who come from ten twelve miles round, take place in e woods. Every person brings his vn provisions, and they pass the ght round fires. The ministers e very vehement in their discourses;

and frequently, in the middle of their Sermons, many of the congregation become frantic, and fall down, inspi red, exclaiming, Glory! Glorg! It is chiefly, however, among the women that these absurdities take place.They are then taken from among the crowd, and put under a tree, where they lie supine for a long time, uttering deep groans.

At some of these assemblies as many as two hundred will fall in this manner, so that a number of others are required to help them. While I was at Lexington, I attended one of these meetings. The better-informed people differ from the opinion of the multitude with respect to this species of extacy; and thus they frequently draw upon themselves the appellation of bad folks. But this is the extent of their intolerance; for when they return from the sermon, religion seldom forms a subject of conversation. Although divided into different sects, they live in the greatest harmony, and when an alliance is projected between families, difference of religion never causes any impediment: the husband and wife follow the worship they approve; as do their children, when they have arrived at maturity, without the least opposition from their parents.

Throughout the Western Country, the children are punctually sent to school, to learn reading, writing, and the elements of arithmetic. These schools are supported at the expence of the inhabitants, who procure masters as soon as the popula tion and their means enable them; it is therefore very uncommon to meet with an Amcrecan who is unable to read and write. On the Ohio, and in the Barrens, however, where the settlements are very widely dispersed, the inhabitants have not yet been able to procure this advantage.

SCOT

844

SCOTTISH REVIEW. I. Account of the Life and Writings, of the late Dr Beattie, by Sir William Forbes of Pitsligo, Bart. 2 vols. 4to. 21. 12s. 6d.; l. p. 51. 5s.

(Concluded from p. 767.)

HAVING brought down the narrative to the establishment of Dr Beattie's literary reputation, we shall now look back to some domestic occurrences, which were omitted in their proper place.

In 1767, he was married to Miss Mary Dun, daughter of Dr Dun, rector of the grammar school, in Aberdeen. This lady is said to have possessed a variety of accomplish. ments, which were peculiarly calculated to render her agreeable to Dr Beattie. The connection, however, was productive of much unhappiness. Mrs Beattie had inherited from her mother a tendency to a fatal disorder, which, says our author," tho' it did not for a considerable time break out into open insanity, shewed itself in caprices that embittered every hour of his life, till, at last, it unquestionably contributed to bring him to his grave."

In a letter to Dr Blacklock he thus describes his feelings on the birth of his first son:

You ask me, what are my feelings? Perhaps I shall be in a better condition to answer that question afterwards than now. He is always near me, and never has had any illness; and you know, that adversity is the only true touchstone of affection. I find my imagination recoils from the idea of such adversity as would bring my affection to the test. To tell the truth, I am at no great pains to obtrude that idea on my fancy; evils come soon enough, we need not anticipate them.

At present, however, I feel enough to convince me experimentally of what I have proved from the principles of reason in my essay, that this gym is something entirely different from that affection we feel towards dependants, as well as from that which arises from a habit of long acquaintance. P. 137.

Soon after the publication of his two first works, Dr Beattie twice visited London, where he met with the most distinguished reception from persons the most conspicuous for rank and literature. Mrs Montague, Lord Lyttleton, Dr Johnson, and Sir Joshua Reynolds were among his particular friends. Both their Majesties honoured him with particular marks of approbation.His friends in power were anxious that something should be done for his fortune, and after several plans had been started, the king at length determined to give him a pension of 2001. a year. The Queen had previously expressed an intention of making him a present, which however he declined, on account of his expectations from the King. D Beattie had also the honour of a pri vate interview for upwards of an hour, with the King and Queen, with which he appears to have been highly gratified. We shall give, from hi own journal, a transcript of some par of this interesting conversation.

We had much conversation on mors

subjects; from which both their Ma ties let it appear, that they were warm friends to christianity; and so little clined to infidelity, that they could bare ly believe that any thinking man could really be an atheist, unless he co bring himself to believe that he mi himself; a thought which pleased King exceedingly; and he repeated several times to the Queen. He ask ed, whether any thing had been writh against me. I spoke of the late pa phlet, of which I gave an account, te ling him, that I never had met with 255 man who had read it, except one Quaker This brought on some discourse abo the Quakers, whose moderation, a mild behaviour, the King and Quee commended. I was asked many quer tions about the Scots universities, th revenues of the Scots clergy, their mot of praying and preaching, the medic college of Edinburgh, Dr Gregory, ( whom I gave a particular character

and Dr Cullen, the length of our vacation at Aberdeen, and the closeness of our attendance during the winter, the number of students that attend my lectures, my mode of lecturing, whether from notes, or completely written lectures; about Mr Hume, and Dr Robertson, and Lord Kinnoull, and the Archbishop of York, &c. &c. &c. His Majesty asked what I thought of my new acquaintance, Lord Dartmouth? I said, there was something in his air and manner, which I thought not only agreeable, but enchanting, and that he seemed to me to be one of the best of men; a sentiment in which both their Majesties heartily joined. "They say "that Lord Dartmouth is an enthusi

66

ast," said the King," but surely he says nothing on the subject of religion, "but what every christian may and ought to say." He asked, whether I did not think the English language on the decline at present? I answered in the affirmative; and the King agreed, and named the Spectator" as one of the best standards of the language. When I told him that the Scots clergy sometimes prayed a quarter or even half-an-hour, at a time, he asked whether that did not lead them into repetitions? I said, it often did. That," said he, "I don't like in prayers; and "excellent as our liturgy is, I think it "somewhat faulty in that respect." "Your Majesty knows," said I, "that "three services are joined in one, in the 66 ordinary church-service, which is one "cause of those repetitions." "True," he replied," and that circumstance al

66

66

so makes the service too long." From this, he took occasion to speak of the composition of the church-liturgy; on which he very justly bestowed the high est commendation. "Observe," his Majesty said, "how flat those occasional prayers are that are now composed, in "comparison with the old ones." When I mentioned the smallness of the churchlivings in Scotland, he said, " he wondered how men of liberal education "would chuse to become clergymen "there," and asked," whether in the re"mote parts of the country, the clergy, "in general, were not very ignorant?" "I answered, No, for that education "was very cheap in Scotland, and that "the clergy, in general, were men of "good sense, and competent learning."

P. 270.

In 1773, the chair of natural philosophy having become vacant by the death of Dr Russel, a proposal was made to Dr Beattie to remove to the university of Edinburgh; Dr Ferguson, who had formerly filled that chair, being willing to resume it, and to leave vacant for him that of moral philosophy. His friends in Edinburgh urged him a good deal to accept this offer. He gives a number of reasons for declining it, particularly his knowledge, that there were in Edinburgh a number of persons by whom he was viewed with an unfavourable eye, on account of his opposition to Mr Hume. He strenuously denies, however, his being under any fear of these persons; but, says he, "I am so great a lover of peace, and so willing to think well of all my neighbours, that I do not wish to be connected even with one person who dislikes me." Neither will he admit, that he is less useful at Aberdeen than he could be in the metro. polis. He gives the following account of his academical employment in the former place:

My lectures are not confined to my own class. I do what no other professor here ever did, and what no professor in any other part of Great Britain can do; I admit, together with my own students in moral philosophy, all the divinity students of two universities, who are willing to attend me; and I have often a very crowded auditory; and I receive fees from nobody, but from such, of my own private class as are able to pay them. Nobody ever asked me to do this, and nobody thanks me for it, except the young men themselves; and yet, in all this there is so little merit, it being as easy for me to lecture to a hundred as to thirty, that I should not have thought it worth men. tioning, except with a view to obviate an objection, that seems to be implied in some things, that have been thrown out at this time. P. 315.

He concludes with expressing a conviction that a continuance in his

pre.