piness of knowing him, he was exceedingly beloved. A more generous and benevolent heart than his never beat within a human bosom. His range of information was unusually extensive for his years, and his judgment was excellent. He had already written several treatises which were much esteemed; and, with his research and sagacity, and uncompromising love of truth, had his life been spared, he could not have failed to become one of the chief ornaments of his age."

His remains were interred on the following Tuesday, in the church of St. George, Bloomsbury; and attended to the grave by his immediate relations and by many sincerely sorrowing friends, as well of those more matured in life, whose confidence and approbation he had, by his many amiable qualities and undeviating correctness of conduct, conciliated, as also by several young men who were treading equal steps with him in the paths of usefulness. Of the former description were Sir J. W. Lubbock; W. Astell, Esq. M. P. Deputy Chairman of the East India Company; Pascoe Grenfell, Esq.; Isaac Solly, Esq.; Sir M. A. Shee, President of the Royal Academy; and Dr. Roget. The younger part of the attendants consisted of Mr. J. W. Lubbock, Mr. W. H. Ord, Mr. J. Romily, Mr. E. M. Fitzgerald, Mr. Hildyard, &c. Monthly Magazine.

W.

WESTON, the Rev. Stephen, B. D. F.R. S. F.S. A. M. A.S., Jan. 8. 1830; at his house in Edward Street, Portman Square; aged 82.

This elegant scholar was born at Exeter in 1747, the eldest son of Stephen Weston, Registrar of that Diocese, and grandson of Stephen Weston, Bishop of Exeter, from 1724 to 1743. The Bishop was a man of eminent learning and character; his history is elegantly told on the monument erected to his memory in Exeter cathedral, and must be read in its own correct and chaste language.

Stephen Weston, whose death we now record, was educated at Eton, and from thence went to Exeter College, Oxford, where he obtained a Fellowship. He accompanied Sir Charles Warwick Bamfylde, Bart., as his tutor, in an extensive tour on the Continent, and never lost that taste for foreign society which

he thus early imbibed. Mr. Weston also formed an early friendship with the late Earl of Lisburne, who was rejoiced to ensure the society of his friend, by conferring on him, in 1777, the living of Mamhead, in which parish his lordship's magnificent seat was situate. Of the unrivalled beauties of that truly noble place, to all who have visited that part of Devonshire, it will be needless to speak; and those who intimately knew Mr. Weston, can appreciate the mutual enjoyment which such a connection must have conferred.

In 1784 Mr. Weston married Miss Tierney; and on that occasion entirely rebuilt his Parsonage House on a scale worthy of the noble situation in which it stands, overlooking the grand estuary of the Exe; but, how uncertain are the schemes of this life! - the loss of his amiable wife, in 1790, closed Mr. Weston's enjoyment of this situation; and he quitted the scene and his preferment there for ever. He resigned this living to his patron, amply benefited by the money he had expended there. He also held, from 1786 until his quitting Devonshire, the small living of Littlehempston, near Totness, in the gift of the Crown.

His first publication was in 1784, "Hermesianax: sive Conjecturæ in Athenæum, atque aliquot Poetarum Græcorum loca, quæ cum corriguntur et explicantur, tum carmine donantur," 8vo. The title of this work was taken from the name of a Greek Poet in the days of Alexander the Great.

In 1785 he published "A Sermon on Isaiah, xiv. 18, 19, 20.; in which it has been endeavoured to preserve the genuine sense and original meaning of the Prophet, in an exact and literal translation." Printed at Totness, 4to. In 1788, "An Attempt to translate and explain the Difficult Passages in the Story of Deborah, with the Assistance of Kennicott's Collations, Rossi's Versions, and Critical Conjectures." 4to. In 1789, "The Provincial Ball," a Poem; also "The Turtle-doves of Florian, in French and English," printed at Caen, by Le Roy.

In 1792 and 1793, in two volumes, 8vo. "Letters from Paris." In 1794, Elegia Grayiana, Græcè,” 4to. At the same period were published two other Greek translations of the same Poem, by the present Bishop of Ely, and Mr. Sim, Fellow of Eton (see Nichols's Literary Anecdotes, vol. ix.

In

p. 154.) In 1795, “Conjectures, with some Comments and Illustrations of Various Passages in the New Testament, particularly in the Gospel of St. Matthew; to which is added, a specimen of Notes on the Old Testament." Mr. Weston had contributed to the edition of 1782 of " Bowyer's Conjectures on the New Testament." 1799, "A Fast Sermon," 4to. 1802, "A specimen of the Conformity of the European Languages, particularly the English, with the Oriental Languages, particularly the Persian, in the order of the Alphabet, with Notes and Authorities," 8vo. Another edition of the same work, enlarged, was published in the next year (1803).

In

At the peace of 1802, Mr. Weston took an early opportunity of revisiting the French metropolis; and so great was his pleasure and admiration, that in 1803 for the title to a description of his observations, he adopted that of "The Praise of Paris; or, a Sketch of the French Capital, in Extracts of Letters from France, in the summer of 1802; with an Index of many of the Convents, Churches, and Palaces, not in the French Catalogue, which have furnished pictures for the Louvre Gallery. By S. W. F.R.S., F. S. A." 1803. Mr. Weston found much less real alteration in Paris than might have been expected and with regard to libraries he pronounced it a more convenient residence than any other city or university in Europe. He always retained the greatest partiality for the elegant amusements and lively society of the French capital; and during the last summer, when upwards of eighty, he was seen there, frequenting the Théâtre Française and other places of public resort. We may here also notice by anticipation several subsequent productions of Mr. Weston, the result of his foreign travel: "A slight Sketch of Paris in its improved State, since 1802," 1814, 8vo. "Euchiridion Romæ ; or Manual of detached Remarks on the Buildings, Pictures, Statues, Inscrip tions, &c. of Ancient and Modern Rome," 1819, 12mo. ; "A Trimester in France and Switzerland," 1821, 8vo.; "A Visit to Vaucluse," 1823, 8vo.; and "The Englishman Abroad," two parts, 1824 and 1825, 8vo. ; "Short Recollections in a Journey to Pæstum,"

1828, 12mo.

In 1803, Mr. Weston published "The Spirited Remonstrance of Rajah

Soubah Sing to the Emperor Aurengzebe, in Persian and English," 4to. In 1804, "Dares and Entellus; or Bourke and the Chicken, Carmine Latino." In 1805, "Q. Horatius Flaccus, cum collatione Scriptorum Græcorum perpetua et notis nominibusque variorum illustratus, præmittuntur Odæ O Fons' atque Intermissa Venus' e Latino in Græcum conversæ," 8vo. In the same year,

In

" Arabic Aphorisms, with Persian comments," 8vo. In 1805-6, "Earths and Metals, Werner and Haüy." In 1807, " Fragments of Oriental Literature, with an outline of a Painting on a curious China Vase," 8vo. In 1808, "The Sunday Lessons for the Morning and Evening Service throughout the Year, with those for Christmas-Day and Good-Friday; illustrated with a perpetual commentary, notes and index. Part I. containing the First Lessons; Part II. containing the Second Lessons," followed in 1809, 12mo. 1809, "Ly Tang, an Imperial Poem, in Chinese, by Kien Lung; with a translation and notes," 8vo. "Siao çu Lin; or a small collection of Chinese characters analysed and decompounded," &c. 8vo. In 1810, "Conquest of the Miaotsee, engraved (by Mutlow) from the original Chinese Poem," 4to.; and "Remains of the Arabic in the Spanish and Portuguese Languages, with a passage from Bidpay, in German, Greek and Latin hexameters," 8vo. In 1812, "Specimen of a Chinese Dictionary, with the Keys explained” (engraved by Mutlow), 4to.; and Persian and English Ambassadors, with fifteen new Persian Tales, and a Portrait of Sir Robert Shirley," 4to. In 1814, "Persian Distichs, from various authors: in which the beauties of the language are exhibited in a small compass, and may be easily remembered,” 8vo.; to which were added, additions to his "Conformity of European and Oriental languages." "Fan-Hy-Cheu, a tale in Chinese and English; with notes, and a short Grammar of the Chinese language.' 4to. " Porsoniana,

or scraps from Porson's rich Feast." In 1815, "An Ode to Her Imperial Majesty Catherine the Great," 8vo. In 1815," Episodes from the Shah Nameh ; or Annals of the Persian Kings, by Ferdosee, translated into English verse," 8vo. In 1816, "A Chinese Poem inscribed on Porcelain, in the 33d year of the Cycle, A.D. 1776;

with a double translation and notes," 12mo. In 1818, 66 Nyg." In 1819, "La Scava." In 1820, "A Chinese Chronicle, by Abdalla of Beyza; translated from the Persian, with notes and explanations," 8vo. In 1821, " Voyages of Hiram and Solomon." In 1822, "Petrarchiana," 8vo. In 1826, "Historic Notices of Towns in Greece, and other Countries that have struck Coins," 8vo. In 1829, "A Supplement to the German Grammar, for the use of Students in that Language, 1829," 8vo. The last and perhaps most useful book which he published was in 1830,"Annotations on the Sunday Lessons for Morning and Evening Service throughout the Year," in a thick 12mo.

in

In

Mr. Weston was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1792, and of the Society of Antiquarians in 1794. To the Archæologia he contributed 1798, "Observations on Mr. Towneley's Antique Bronze Helmet, discovered at Ribchester in Lancashire (vol. xIII. 223-226.) In 1800,"Explanations of the Inscriptions on the base of a Lar of Mars, discovered in the Fossdyke" (XIV. 274.). In 1801, "Observations on the second Arundelian Marble" (ibid. 33-36.); and "Explanations of an unfinished Phonician Coin" (ibid. 132–135.). In 1802, "Observations on the Ogmian Hercules of Lucian, and on the derivation of the word Ogham," (ibid. 244248.) In 1804, "Explanation of a Cast of an Inscription taken from a Column, brought from a private House near Aboukir" (xv. 339, 390.). 1806, "Four Letters on unpublished Greek Coins (XVI. 9-13. 89, 90.) In 1807, "Account of an Antique Persian Gem" (ibid. 135, 136.). In 1808, "Account of a Silver Tetradram, with Siculo- Punic characters " (151, 152.); "Of an inedited Coin of Alexander the Great" (179, 180.); "Of a curious Coin not described by the writers on Gadir;" "Of a curious and unique Coin of Edesæ;" "Of a very rare Samaritan Coin; and of a Coin struck at Cyparissa " (all printed ibid., pp. 272-278.). In 1810, "A Note on Sir Joseph Banks's Swan-roll" (ibid. 163.); "A translation of the Inscription on the Rosetta Stone (220-224.); "Explanation of an Antique Bacchanalian Cup" (xvII. 113, 114.). In 1812, "An account of a Bronze Figure found at Richborough, Kent, representing a Roman Soldier

دو

playing on the Bagpipes," (176-179.); "Account of a Coin of Germanicopolis" 218-219.); "Of a Roman Altar found in the neighbourhood of Aldston Moor in Cumberland" (229-330.). In 1814, "An account of an inedited Seal of the Hospital of Burton Lazars in Leicestershire," (xvIII. 525.); "Of a large Gold Medal of Elizabeth of Hungary" (432-434.). In 1815," Remarks on Gog and Magog, as they are mentioned in Genesis, chap. x. ver. 2.; in Ezekiel, chap. xxxviii. ; and in the Revelation of St. John the Divine " (263-266.); " Description of a Coin of the Emperor Vitalian," (267, 268.); In 1816, "A View of the Opinions of various writers on the identical place where the Ark of Noah rested," (302305.); On the Origin and Antiquity, Use and Advantage of Cufic Coins,' (309–312.). In 1816, " A Letter from Queen Elizabeth to King James the Sixth in 1592," (xIx. 11, 12.). In 1818, "Observations on the bas-relief supposed to represent the Evil Eye," (99—101.); " A Letter from Sir Edward Atkyns, to his brother Sir Robert from London, during the fire 1666" (105-108.).

To his friends Mr. Weston also communicated a number of ingenious fugitive essays, both in prose and verse; amongst which, "Cracherode in the Shades," and "The tears of the Booksellers on the Death of Dr. Gossett," will be readily remembered. The humorous epitaph by Mr. Weston, on Dryander the librarian of the Royal Society, is preserved in Nichols's Literary Anecdotes, vol. ix. p. 44.; also some Latin elegiac verses " In Mortem Toupii," p. 496. In 1789, he contributed notes to Shakspeare, in the edition by Johnson and Steevens, signed S. W. with the Taming of the Shrew, from El Conde de Lucanor, in Spanish. He also printed, separately, in 1808, "Short Notes on Shakspeare," 8vo.

He was formerly an occasional contributor to the Gentleman's Magazine; and also to the Classical Journal. Mr. Weston was remarkable for the peculiarly happy manner he possessed of communicating his immense and diversified stores of erudition; and by the charm of his conversation he was the delight of a numerous circle of friends, of all ages, and of every rank in society. His frequent trips to the Continent, and constant intercourse with the higher classes of society, as

well the learned as the gay, enabled him to form a valuable collection of "Reminiscences," contained in more than fifty volumes, of various sizes, from which an excellent "Westoniana" might be selected.

There are two private portraits of Mr. Weston; one engraved by Harding, from a picture painted at Rome, in 1775, and the other recently taken, and etched by Mrs. Dawson Turner.-Genman's Magazine.

overcame the obstacles which prejudice had raised against his efforts, and which threatened to prevent the general adoption of his discoveries and improvements.

In 1812, however, a charter of incorporation for a gas-light and coke company was obtained, and success crowned his labours; but his mind having been wholly possessed with the prosecution of an object of such public importance, he was too regardless of his own pecu

Mr. Winsor was the founder of the Gas Light and Coke Company in London, and of the first gas company which was established at Paris. From his public and persevering efforts arose these and every other gas-light establishment which has since been founded.

It will be recollected that in 1803 Mr. Winsor demonstrated the use to which his discovery of gas-lighting might be publicly applied, though many men of high scientific reputation denied its practicability. His first public experiments were shown at the Lyceum, in the Strand; he afterwards lighted with gas the walls of Carlton Palace Gardens, in St. James's Park, on the king's birth-day, in 1807; and during 1809 and 1810, one side of Pall Mall, from the house which he then occupied in that street. His house was for many years openly shown, fitted up with gaslights throughout, to exhibit to the legislature and the country the practicability of his plans.

The memorial to his late Majesty George III. for a charter, and the evidence taken in Parliament and before the Privy Council, bear testimony to the indefatigable and unremitting zeal with which he persevered, until he

legal power over the advantages which resulted from his exertions; he unfortunately trusted too much for his reward to the honour of the parties with whom he was engaged.

In 1815 he extended to France the advantages which had attended his efforts in England. There, too, he was the first to establish a company and erect gas works: but rival interests created other companies, in defiance of patent privileges; and these associations, with large capitals, undermined his interests, and he again gave fortunes to others which ought to have been his own reward.

It is thus that a life, which, it may truly be said, has been an honour to England, has been embittered, if not abridged, by cares and ingratitude. After all the services which he rendered to his country and to the world, and the gains which individuals have realised by his discoveries, the founder of gas-lighting has left no other legacy to his family than the remembrance of his virtues, and of those talents by which the present and future generations have been and will be benefited:

Sic vos non vobis.

Monthly Magazine.