but small, in proportion to those who neglected to improve moderate abilities by a steady course of patient discipline.

These defects in our system probably struck even at this time very forcibly the mind of Powell, and induced him to remedy the evil within his own sphere of influence, as soon as he became master of that college, where he was now an undergraduate. In 1739, he took his degree of A. B.: but what rank he attained on the tripos, I am unable to ascertain; since the annals of our university about this period are extremely defective; and the list of bachelors, with the order of seniority, for this year, is intirely omitted. In March, 1740, Powell was elected fellow of St. John's; and in 1741, he entered into the family of Lord Viscount Townshend, as private tutor to his second son Charles, who was afterwards chancellor of the exchequer. Towards the end of the same year he was ordained deacon and priest by Dr. Gooch, then bishop of Norwich; and was instituted by him to the rectory of Colkirk in Norfolk, on Lord Townshend's presentation.

He returned to college the year after; took the degree of A. M.; and began to read lectures, as assistant to Mr. Wrigley and Mr. Tunstall: but in 1744 he became principal tutor himself, and engaged his eminent friend, Dr. Thomas Balguy, as an assistant lecturer. Mr. Powell is considered to have discharged the duties of his tutorial office in a very able and satisfactory manner, as regards both the morals and the studies of the young men committed to his care. The lectures, which he drew up in the four branches of natural philosophy, continued to be the text

* The heads of these lectures were published in 1746, probably with a view of rendering them more extensively useful.

book at St. John's college, until they were superseded by the more elaborate publications of the present learned master, Dr. Wood, and his coadjutor, the late Professor Vince.

In 1749, Mr. Powell proceeded to the degree of B. D.; and in 1753, he resigned the rectory of Colkirk, that it might be consolidated with Stibbard, another of Lord Townshend's livings; and was again instituted the next day. At the commencement in 1757, he was created doctor of divinity; on which occasion, he preached his celebrated sermon, in defence of the subscriptions required by our church.

6.6

"At this time," says the worthy Mr. Cole,* things were only brewing" that is, projects were set on foot, not only to dissolve the alliance between church and state, under the specious pretext that all disqualifications on account of religious scruples are to be accounted as pains and penalties; but also to weaken the allegiance due to the church from its own ministers, by representing her requisition of assent and subscription to any human interpretations of Scripture, as contrary to the spirit of Protestantism and of Christian liberty. Dr. Powell, then a leading character in the university, was the first of those who placed themselves in the gap against these innovations. Subscription to the thirty-nine articles, was, at this period, required from undergraduates, before they were admitted to their first degree; a practice, which had continued from the time of James I., and which began to be considered, not only as encroaching on the province and privileges of literature, but as tending to render youth at that

* Manuscripts published by Nichols, in his Literary Anecdotes, vol. i. p. 570.

age either reckless or hypocritical. A strong spirit of dissatisfaction with this demand now began to manifest itself amongst the undergraduates themselves; many of whom remonstrated against it, whilst others refused subscription altogether, and forfeited the advantages to which their previous residence in the university had entitled them. Thus agitated as their minds were, and fomented as their disaffection was by some who had ulterior objects in view, Dr. Powell's sermon was directed principally to conciliate them, to remove difficulties out of their path, and secure their adherence to established forms and usages: it will however be better to reserve the discussion of its merits to the period of its republication. In the mean time, its zealous author came into possession of a considerable estate in Essex, devised to him by Mr. Reynolds, a relation on his mother's side: but he did not resign his fellowship till the year 1763.

In 1760, Dr. Powell entered anonymously into a controversy, which I am inclined to think detracted somewhat from his character. The celebrated Edward Waring, a very young man, and only bachelor of arts, being at this time candidate for the Lucasian professorship, published the first chapter of his Miscellanea Analytica, in order that the electors, and the university at large, might judge of the nature of his pursuits, and his qualifications for the high office which he solicited. This publication was immediately attacked by some anonymous "Observations;" the author of which did not confine himself to what he' thought mathematical errors, but indulged in severe reflections on the age, the inexperience, and the style of the analyst. These animadversions, however, not only failed in their object of stopping Waring's election, but produced

a reply from the new professor, in which he vindicated his own positions, and retorted the charge of error on his adversary; and this again was followed by a "Defence of the Observations:" the author of them however having become well known, Waring sent forth a "Letter to Dr. Powell," which closed the controversy; and in which, whilst he animadverted with considerable severity on his antagonist, he did not forget his rank and station.

The motive generally ascribed to Dr. Powell for this interference, was a desire to serve the cause of his friend Mr. Ludlam, of St. John's, who aspired to fill the vacant chair of Newton: and certainly if he felt himself fully competent to decide on the deep subjects of Waring's speculations, this was a good excuse for his attempting it: but if he was deficient in the necessary skill and science; if, as was the case, he proved impar congressus Achillei, and was defeated in the contest, candor required him to confess his fault, and make all due reparation to his antagonist.

In 1761, Dr. Powell left college, and resided in London; where he had not been long domiciliated, before an event took place which recalled him to the university. On the death of Dr. Newcome, master of St. John's, no less than seven candidates started to succeed him: these were Dr, Rutherforth, who had long been a tutor of the college; Dr. Brook, who succeeded Dr. Newcome as Margaret Professor; Dr. Ogden; Mr. Skinner, who had been public orator; Dr. Powell; with Mr. Alvis, and Mr. Frampton, both fellows of the college. How the intrigues of this conclave," says Mr. Cole,*" were carried on, is more than I know, being then settled in Buckinghamshire: the result

66

* Literary Anecdotes, vol. i. p. 566.

of it was however propitious to Dr. Powell, who was unanimously elected master on the 25th of January, 1765; a post, which he maintained with the greatest reputation and honor to himself, and credit and advantage to the society, for the space of ten years, bating six days."

I believe it may safely be asserted, that St. John's college never possessed a master before him more zealous for the honor of his house, or more ready to advance its prosperity by all the means in his power. He not only contributed liberally to its repairs, but kept a watchful eye over its revenues, which he materially augmented. His principal care however was to advance its reputation, by the improvement of its discipline, and by the adaptation of its method of instruction to the formation of the scholar and the Christian. In the very first year of his mastership, he applied himself to the establishment of those college examinations, which before his time were unknown in our university, and which form so excellent a test of proficiency in the various subjects of lecture. The examination lists, still preserved at St. John's, which were all drawn up with great care and consideration by Dr. Powell himself, as long as he presided over the college, bear strong testimony to the acute discrimination, the strict impartiality, and the resolute industry with which he conducted and perfected this his favorite scheme. In a very early stage of it he had to encounter all the opposition naturally to be expected from young men, anxious to cast off what they considered a grievous yoke, imposed partially on themselves; but the wise resolves of his mature deliberation were not so to be overthrown: the punishments inflicted on some of the delinquents, and the severe denunciations recorded against others, together