"lemon modernized in the Christian Hero, by "Sir Richard Steel, he had wished to see the "whole New Testament expounded in some

thing of the same familiar manner; and that "mine had entirely met his approbation. And "then, to evidence his sincerity, he mentioned "to me two or three passages which he thought

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might be improved. As I received these "corrections candidly, and wished for further "remarks, he read the book critically, and from "time to time gave me several other remarks, "almost all of which I adopted. This critical correspondence, on scriptural subjects of dif "ferent kinds, continued till his death, which happened at the end of the last year. After "his death, his executors, or one of his friends, "made me a present of his works, which were "out of print; and, at my desire, gave me a "few particulars of his life, with which I was

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totally unacquainted. His works consist of "translations, from the Hebrew (for he was “esteemed among our best Hebrew scholars,) "of the Psalms, and other practical parts of

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scripture; and I cannot but think, he gave the "first hint to the Bishop of London; Dr. Blaney; "and the present Primate of Ireland; who fol"lowed with translations of different parts of "the Bible, in the manner of Mr. Green. Mr. "Green's Psalms were printed sixteen years "before Bishop Lowth published his Isaiah,

"which was the first of these Biblical works I "have mentioned."

It was not to be expected, however, that so novel an attempt as that of modernizing the books of the New Testament, should be received by all, with an equal approbation. Some objections appeared, both to the principle itself, and the manner of executing it. To one of the latter description, which had been privately suggested by a friend, Mr. Gilpin returned the following vindication. "You wish I had left the sacred "writers more in possession of their bold, figu"rative expressions, and had been more full in my explications. With regard to the first, (as "I have just been telling a very sensible man, "unknown though to me, who wrote to me on "that subject, out of Warwickshire,) I cannot "see how the harmony of composition would "have allowed me to do otherwise. You are "still in possession of these bold figurative ex"pressions. I admire them with you; but do "not pretend to vie with them. If I modernize "one part, and not another, I fear I should pro"duce rather a disagreeable mode of composi"tion. Those bold flights which are of a piece "with the original scriptures, would agree ill, I

fear, with the coldness of modern language. "As to your exceptions of my conciseness, I hope they will vanish, if you will read atten❝tively my title-page, which sets forth, that I

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"mean chiefly to convey, as far as I can, the "leading sense and connection. As this my

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design in attending to the leading sense chiefly "does not seem to be generally taken up, I shall, in another edition, say something more "on the subject."

In the year 1788, Mr. Gilpin printed two sermons, the one preached at the visitation of the Bishop of Winchester, in 1788; and the other at that of the Chancellor of Winchester, in 1790. In 1790, came out his Observations relative chiefly to Picturesque Beauty, made in the year 1776, on several parts of Great Britain, particularly the Highlands of Scotland, in 2 vols. 8vo. This publication was followed by Observations relative chiefly to Picturesque Beauty, made in the year 1772, on several parts of England, particularly in the Mountains and Lakes of Cumberland and Westmoreland, in 2 vols. 8vo. He then published Remarks on Forest Scenery; 2 vols. 8vo. ; Essays on Picturesque Beauty; Picturesque Travels, and the Art of Sketching Landscape; - Essays on Print; Observations on the Wye; - Picturesque Remarks on the Western Parts of England; - Sermons to a Country Congregation, and Hints for Sermons ; *

* Were I required to give an opinion, as to the relative merits and value, of Mr. Gilpin's more serious publications, I should, without hesitation, point to his Sermons; which appear to my poor judgment, to rank among the most

-Moral Contracts, or the Power of Religion exemplified under different Characters;-Amusements of Clergymen ; - Life of John Trueman, and Richard Atkins, for the Use of Servants' Halls, Farm-houses, and Cottages; - An Ac

useful compositions of this description, in the English language. Sufficiently correct and refined to please the most polished taste; they are, at the same time, so plain and simple, as to be perfectly intelligible to the humblest classes, and the most ordinary understandings. Pregnant alike with the truths of Scripture, and the feelings of a pious mind, they breathe the very spirit of holiness; while a vein of practical enforcement pervades their pages, which suffers no deceived sinner, or conscious hypocrite, to rest easy under the flattering delusion; that any forms of faith; professions of zeal; or observances of worship, will avail aught in the work of salvation; unless they be associated, with a righteous, upright, and moral conduct. There are those, it is true, who affect to think lightly of these admirable discourses; and to speak of them in terms little short of contempt; as being wanting in unction: naked of doctrine; and defective in spirituality: but, it may be well doubted, whether these objecting Divines, have themselves, as yet "apprehended" the principles; or imbibed the spirit of the Gospel. If to propound, clearly and forcibly, all the essential doctrines of our most holy faith; and to deduce from these, all the obligations to a religious, moral, and useful life, be to "preach the Gospel," Mr. Gilpin's claim to that praise, is certainly unimpeachable; and must ever be impregnable for, we may venture to predict, that, as long as sober and rational, (the only genuine) Christianity shall exist in our country, there will never be wanting many, who will consider the late Rev. William Gilpin, as a "Preacher of Righteousness;" and rank him among those, who "though they be dead, they yet speak."

count of William Baker. His posthumous works were, "Observations on the coast of Hampshire, "Sussex, and Kent;" and "Dialogues."

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With respect to his two little popular tracts, "The Life of John Trueman and Richard Atkins," and "An Account of William Baker," some circumstances connected with them are curious, and deserve to be recorded. In mentioning these publications in one of his letters, he says, "I am very glad my little books pleased you. Instruction, I have observed, is generally given to low people in the way of precept, "which they often do not understand, and are rarely very attentive to. I had an inclination "to try the way of example; and in the account "of Trueman and Atkins (which I endeavoured, "as well as I could to copy from nature,) I have "touched most of the characters in low life, that "appeared to me praiseworthy, or the reverse. "The first edition, which was not so full, I drew up merely for my own parish. But some of

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my friends saw it and were pleased with it; "and it fell accidentally into the hands of a "learned and ingenious prelate (the Bishop of

Worcester,) with whom I am not acquainted. "But he wished to have some of them for his

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parish of Hartlebury; and advised me to print "it for sale. I accordingly printed a second "edition at a low price; which I could the "better afford, as I told Blamire, he should have