Fund, he had, so far back as the time of his residence at Chelsea, projected a plan for the assistance of deserving authors in distress; and after several ineffectual attempts, he so far succeeded in the years 1788 and 1789 as to found the institution, and commence its benevolent operations. You, Mr. Urban, if not one of the first, yet certainly rank as one of the earliest Officers; and well know the unremitting zeal and activity with which the Founder devoted the full force of his splendid abilities, and the greater part of his time and attention, to foster and support the infant institution. He had the heartfelt satisfaction of seeing it continually rise in public estimation, and at length honoured with the illustrious patronage of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, who generously bestowed an annual donation for the purpose of providing a house for the use of the Society, and expressly desired that Mr. Williams should reside in it. A

t

singular and striking work, written by

Mr. Williams and several of his zealous and able coadjutors, who each put their names to their own several productions, was given to the publick under the title of "The Claims of Literature; explanatory of the Nature, Formation, and Purposes of the Institution."

During the peace of Amiens Mr. Williams again visited Paris, and is supposed to have been then intrusted with some confidential mission from the Government

of his own Country, his remarkable figure having previously been noticed entering the bouses of several of the higher members of the then Administration. On his return be published a much enlarged edition of a little work which the alarm of invasion had induced him to write, entitled "Regulations of Parochial Police;" and he is thought to have been the author of a sort of periodical publication which appeared about that time in numbers, "Egeria; or Elementary Studies on the Progress of Nations in Political Economy, Legislation, and Government;" but which does not appear to have been continued beyond the first volume. The last acknowledged work that proceeded from his prolific pen was, Preparatory Studies for Political Reformers." It is curious and instructive to observe the marked and striking effect produced by his experience of reform and reformers in the struggles of, and consequent upon, the French Revolution; his diction retains its full vigour, but his anticipations are much less sanguine, and his opinions on the pliability of the materials on which reformers are to operate, or in other words, on the real character of human nature, seem much changed. About five years since he was seized with a severe paralytic affection, from which he parLially recovered, but continued to suffer GENT. MAG. July, 1816.

the gradual loss of his corporeal and mental powers; his memory became very considerably impaired, and for some length of time preceding his decease he was unable to walk or move without assistance. The tender assiduities of an affectionate Niece soothed the sorrows of declining nature, and received from him the most affecting and frequent expressions of gratitude. The state of his mind cannot be so well depicted as by himself in the following letter, one of the last he ever wrote, and addressed to a clergyman of the Church of England, in the country:

"Dear Sir,

"I am now drawing near my end, and am desirous to conclude my days in peace. I have outlived almost all my relations and all my acquaintance; and I am desirous to exchange the most sincere and cordial forgiveness with those I have in any sort offended. I had once a great regard for you; why it was not continued I have forgotten. Indeed, a paralytic stroke has greatly destroyed my memory, and will soon destroy me.. I take leave of my friends and acquaintance: among others I take leave of you. I greatly esteemed you and your worthy father, and I hope you will only remember what you saw commendable and good in me, and believe me very sincerely yours, D. W."

It will readily be supposed that this let ter brought the gentleman immediately to contributed very much during the last two town; and his friendly offices of kindness years to the comfort and consolation of his suffering friend, who breathed his last on Saturday morning, the 29th of June, and was interred the Saturday following, in St. Anne's church, Soho, under this inscription:/

David Williams, esq. aged 78 years;

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Founder of the Literary Fund. In the words of his friend, Captain Thos. Morris, "The distinguishing traits of Mr. Williams's character were, a boundless philanthropy and disinterestedness; studious of every acquisition that forms the taste, but applying the strength of his genius to the arts of government and education as objects of the highest importance to the welfare of nations and the happiness of individuals. In his dress elegantly plain; in domestic life attentive to the niceties of decorum; in public politely ceremonious; in all his manners dignified and distinguished; in conversation elevated; in his person tall and agreeable, having a commanding look softened with affability."

A review of the life and writings of this remarkably gifted man strongly illustrates the observation, That political and moral philosophy, theories of government and education, even when displayed with splendid ability and enforced with the most engaging

beues

lenting censures of each other, and harsh and unkind disputes, even upon the doctrines of peace and love; thus supplying the doubtful and unbelieving with the most unanswerable of all arguments, that drawn from the hypocrisy of professing principles without suffering them to influence the practice.

*It shall be given in our next.

May 22. Died at Alphington, in the vicinity of Exeter, Edmund Calamy, Esq. aged 70. He was lineally descended from Edmund Calamy, a very eminent,learned,and pious Nonconformist Divine, who lived in the tempestuous reign of Charles I. He was born in London in 1600, and was admitted of Pembroke Hall in the University of Cambridge, where he took the degree of B.A. in 1619, and that of B.D. in 1632. Dr. Felton, the learned Bishop of Ely, made him his Chaplain, and gave him the Vicarage of Swaffham Prior in Cambridge shire, which he afterwards resigned on being chosen one of the Lecturers of St. Edmunds Bury, in Suffolk. On the Restoration in 1660, he was appointed one of the Chaplains to King Charles II. and was offered the Bishoprick of Lichfield and Coventry, which he refused. He always maintained a strict adherence to the principles of religious liberty, and the rights of conscience; of which he gave an unequivocal proof, when, on the passing of the Act of Uniformity in 1662, he resigned the living which he then held, St. Mary, Aldermanbury. He died Oct. 29, 1666, within two months after the Fire of Londou.

Another of the ancestors of the late Mr. Calamy, several of whom were distinguished for piety and learning, was Dr. Edmund Calamy, born in 1671, grandson to E. Calamy mentioned above, by his eldest son. In 1688, he went over to the University of Utrecht, where he attended the lectures of the learned Grævius, and other eminent professors. On his return to England, among other studies, he began to inquire into the controversy between the Church of England and the Nonconformists; and after a long and sober examination of what had been written on both sides, he resolved to join himself to the latter. In 1703, he was chosen to suc

B. D.

ceed Mr. Vincent Alsop, as Pastor of the Congregation of Protestant Dissenters in Prince's-street, Westminster; where he was followed by Dr. Hughes, the Rev. S. Say, the Rev. Dr. Kippis, the Rev. T.Jervis,' and the Rev. P. Houghton, &c. in succession. This venerable person published Mr. Baxter's History of his Life and Times; and afterwards a very useful Abridgment of it, which he subsequently improved into a much larger and more valuable work. In 1728, he completed his great design of preserving the History of such Ministers, Lecturers, Masters, and Fellows of Colleges, &c. as were ejected and silenced after the Restoration; "a work of prodigious industry and labour, and which is alone sufficient to transmit his memory with honour to posterity, as it has supplied the learned world with noble collection of Memoirs which otherwise, in all probability, had been dissi-de pated and lost." He also distinguished himself by many other learned and useful writings; and had the degree of Doctor in Divinity conferred on him by the Univers + sities of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. He died in the City of Westminster ju 1732; and his loss was greatly regretted (says his Biographer), not only by the Dissenters, but also by moderate members of the Established Church, both Clergy and Laity, with many of whom he lived in great intimacy. A great and deserved character of Dr. Calamy was given in his funeral sermon by Mr. Mayo, as" a person of sound judgment, extensive learning; sincere piety, of a candid and benevolent temper, and very moderate with regard to differences in point of religion." (See Biogr. Brit. Dr. Kippis's Edition.)

Thus the name of Edmund Calamy is a name ever-memorable in this country in the annals of Nonconformity, and dear to

known in the fashionable circles at Bath, had caused a paragraph to be inserted in a public paper at that place, which tended to prejudice the character of this young lady; and Mr. Sheridan immediately applied for redress to the printer, who communicated the author's name. Mr. Mathews had in the mean time set out for London, and was closely pursued by Mr. Sheridan. They met and fought a duel with swords at a tavern in Henrietta-street, Covent garden. Mr. Sheridau's second on the occasion was his brother, Charles Francis, the late Secretary at War in Ireland. Great courage and skill were displayed on both sides; but Mr. Sheridan having succeeded in disarming his adversary, compelled him to sign a formal retraction of the paragraph which had been published. The conqueror instantly returned to Bath; and thinking that, as the insult had been publicly given, the apology should have equal notoriety, he caused it to be published in the same paper. Mr. Mathews soon heard of this circumstance, and, irritated at his defeat, as well as the use which his antagonist had made of his apology, returned to Bath, determined to call on Mr. Sheridan for satisfaction. A message was accordingly sent, and a meeting agreed to: Mr. Sheridan would have been justified, according to the most delicate punctilios of honour, in declining the call; but he silenced all the objections that were started by his friends, and the parties met on Kingsdown. The victory was desperately contested, and, after a discharge of pistols, they fought with swords. They were both wounded, and closing with each other, fell on the ground, where they fought until

MR. URBAN,

July 22.

THE experience of the last twenty-five years during which you and I, as Members of the Literary Fund, have acted together in the management and conduct of that very interesting establishment, hath afforded us the amplest proof of the severity of the misfortune recently fallen upon literary merit in distress, in the decease of the venerable Founder of the Society for a Literary Fund. The rational and enlarged views of political philosophy and true benevolence with which he formed the plan, and endeavoured to impress the character and habits of this institution, can only be justly appreciated by those who, themselves possessing the feelings' and energy of superior minds, have turned their thoughts not only to the productions of genius, but also to the personal suffer

FITZ-GERALD.

ings of the possessors of that splendid. boon, and to the causes and circumstances that often involve them in destitute and unheeded misery.

Those who, like you, Mr. Urban, have for so great a length of time, and under such a variety of discordant claims and incidents, witnessed the invincible liberality, candour, and kindness, that so strongly marked the Founder's conduct in all discussions and applications respecting the Fund and its purposes, would necessarily be led to admire and respect that generous and active humanity, which neither perverse calumny, nor indolent misapprepension, could pervert from its benevolent Course. It is peculiarly incumbent upon us to notice this interesting fact, in giving to the publick the slightest memoir of this distinguished friend and advocate of literary merit; as his life affords a remark

able

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