he declined entering upon a new contest; and from that time interfered with politics only by means of occasional pamphlets. The titles of the principal of these are as follows: - Remarks on the Proposals made to Great Britain for a Negotiation with France, 1808 Considerations on the Causes of the present War, 1808; Observations on the Address to his Majesty proposed by Earl Grey, 1810; Occasional Tracts relative to the War betwixt France and Great Britain, 1811; Letter to Henry Brougham, Esq. on a Reform in the Representation of the People in Parliament, 1811; Answer to a Letter from Mr. J. Merritt, on Parliamentary Reform, 1812; Observations on Penal Jurisprudence and the Reformation of Criminals, 1819. We understand that his correspondence on this last subject, with various individuals in the United States, has been productive of considerable improvement in the prisons of New York and Pennsylvania.

In 1817, Mr. Roscoe published a Discourse he delivered on the opening of the Liverpool Royal Institution, on the Origin and Vicissitude of Literature, Science, and Arts. In 1824, he edited a new edition of the works of Pope, to which he prefixed a life of the author. The last work he was occupied in publishing was a botanical one, on a portion of the "Class Monandria." To the science of botany he had previously evinced his attachment, by "An Address delivered before the Proprietors of the Botanic Garden at Liverpool, previously to opening the Garden, May 3. 1802," published in 12mo.; and by the following communications to the Transactions of the Linnæan Society:-in 1806, "Of the Plants of the Monandrian Class usually called Scitamineæ" (vol. viii. p. 330.); in 1810, "An artificial and natural arrangement of Plants, and particularly on the systems of Linnæus and Jussieu" (vol. xi. p. 50.); in 1814, "On Dr. Roxburgh's description of the Monandrous Plants of India" (ibid. p. 270.). Mr. Roscoe also wrote the excellent preface to Daulby's Catalogue of the Etchings of Rembrandt.

While Mr. Roscoe's mind was chiefly occupied with his literary and political studies, a series of unforeseen circum

stances, particularly several other failures, obliged the banking-house in which he was engaged to suspend payment. The creditors, however, had so much confidence in Mr. Roscoe's integrity, that time was given for the firm to recover from its embarrassments; and Mr. Roscoe, on first entering the bank after this accommodation, was loudly greeted by the populace. The difficulties, however, in which the bank was placed rendered it impossible for the proprietors to make good their engagements. Mr. Roscoe did all that could be expected from an honest man; he gave up the whole of his property to satisfy his creditors. His library, which was very extensive, and consisted principally of Italian works, was the greatest sacrifice; the books were sold (at Liverpool) for 5150%., the prints for 1880., and the drawings for 7381. A portrait of Leo X. was purchased for 500l. by Mr. Coke, of Holkham.

Yet, upon the whole, Mr. Roscoe can scarcely be termed unfortunate. Distinguished through life by the friendship of the gifted and noble, his days were passed in a free intercourse with kindred minds, and his declining years were solaced by the affectionate attentions of justly and sincerely attached relations. He was regarded as the head of the literary and scientific circles of his native town; and much of his time was spent in the promotion of many noble public institutions which he had contributed to establish. The reflection that by his means no citizen of Athens had ever assumed a mourning garment, afforded satisfaction to the dying moments of the statesman of old: as concise a comment has been supplied on the tenour of Mr. Roscoe's life, in the assertion that he has not left behind him a single enemy. "Such," it has been observed, was the charm of his manner of his unaffected cheerfulness of his conciliating disposition of his playful

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humour of his natural eloquence of his and candid dealing of his evident and unceasing kindness of heart and universal benevolence- such his domestic virtues, and such his various and brilliant talents-that he was every where,

at home and abroad, loved and admired; and he died, as he lived, without an enemy."

The death of this amiable and highly gifted man took place, in the eightieth year of his age, at Toxteth Park, Liverpool, on the 30th of June, 1831; after a short illness, partaking somewhat of the nature of cholera. His funeral was attended by committees of the Royal Institution, the Philosophical Society, and the Athenæum; and by nearly two hundred gentlemen on foot, besides those in carriages.

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No. XXII.

CHARLES GORING, ESQUIRE.

THE highly estimable subject of this memoir was born February, 1743, O. S.; being the only son of the second marriage of Sir Charles Matthews Goring, Bart., of Highden, with Elizabeth, eldest daughter and co-heiress of Sir Robert Fagg, Bart., in right of whom he succeeded to the ancient estate and mansion of Wiston, in Sussex.

Mr. Goring was educated at the Charter House; admitted a Gentleman Commoner of Magdalen College, Oxford, in 1762; afterwards elected a Fellow of All-Souls College; and on the decease of his father, in 1769, vacated his Fellowship, and took possession of his family seat, where he resided, with few intermissions, during the remainder of his life. In this situation, so congenial to his inclination and pursuits, he was constantly engaged in some useful undertaking, and steadily directing his views to the benefit of his country, his neighbours, and his dependants. It was the rule of his life never to be unemployed; and though public business was less suited to his taste than private and domestic duties, yet he was always earnest in his endeavours to promote the interests of the community at large.

When the borough of New Shoreham was opened to the freeholders of the rape of Bramber, he was returned as its representative; and, when the militia was established on its present footing, he contributed his efforts to overcome the resistance that was raised against it (which continued longer in Sussex than in any other county), and encountered much difficulty in withstanding the popular excitement. On this occasion his house was beset by a tumultuous mob, who

threatened to destroy it, and who were diverted by him, with considerable address and courage, from their criminal design.

He filled a commission in the militia regiment but for a short time, being compelled to retire by the attack of an acute disease, which unhappily abridged the term of his public services, and returned at intervals to the last. Confined by this state of health to occupations near his home, he there assiduously discharged the duties of a magistrate, for which he was eminently qualified. When disengaged from such duties, he found his relaxation in agriculture and planting, with the diversions of the field, in which he was very expert. Perfectly acquainted with every branch of rural economy, he managed his affairs with singular success: and, in the year 1801, obtained the gold medal given by the Board of Agriculture, for the best essay on "The Conversion of Arable Land into Pasture."

His house was always open to his friends, and displayed a scene of true English hospitality, of which his numerous labourers partook. To the cause of public charity, and the institutions which promoted it, he extended his liberal support; but his real character with regard to munificence was not generally known. The stream of his private bounty flowed silently and unobserved. His delicacy in bestowing it was equal to his generosity: it relieved those whom he favoured as much as possible from the weight of obligation, making the acceptance appear as a kindness conferred upon himself, for which he never expected any requital. He respected in others that independence of mind which he maintained in his own conduct.

It must be acknowledged, that his virtues were too much secluded from public view to be duly valued; and, as he sought neither honour nor applause, he might be more regardless of the opinions entertained by others than was conducive to his own reputation. If this were a defect, and clouded the full lustre of his bright example, it was akin to those qualities which adorned it. From ostentation and vanity he was entirely exempt. Maintaining his proper