easy to retain and record them as to retain and record the grand events with which they are connected: nor was it essential that the persons who committed them to writing, should be inspired. Equally needless was such inspiration for the purpose of causing them to leave a suitable impression upon the heart. This case indeed is perfectly distinct from the question, whether the authors of the sacred books were, as authors, under the government of the Holy Spirit. We now come to another inquiry: Can any and what advantages be found in admitting the Inspiration of the Scriptures?

They who answer this question in the affirmative, tell us that we cannot otherwise rely with confidence on the sacred writings, as records of the special will of God, promulgated by Moses and by Christ.

Let me however ask, where is the mutual affinity of these subjects? Do not we estimate the truth of both the Jewish and the Christian revelation, upon principles quite distinct from the inspiration of the canonical books? Indeed, the facts on which those two religions are severally founded, were spread abroad and received some time before the books themselves were written; a consideration that would seem decisive against the practice of identifying the divine origin of either religion with the inspiration of the writings in which authentic accounts of it are found.

Still, it is said, "If we suppose the writers of these books to be, in that capacity, uninspired, how can we possess a rational conviction that they have not fallen into gross mistakes, that they have not omitted some things, and given erroneous representations of others?" Now this is a question of fact, and not of theory. Let those who put it, inform us, whether the sacred authors have committed mistakes, by which their credibility is affected? When some of this class are pointed out, and not before, it will be time for us to repel the objection, both in its principle and its application. But do we not speak of the Scriptures as the Word of God? True: nevertheless, it might be more correct to call them the Records of the Word of God. The expression, like many such modes of speaking, is the abridgment of a form in some degree circuitous.

They who receive the tenet of the inspiration of the Scriptures, in the popular sense, are far from being unani

mous respecting the extent in which they suppose those books to have been inspired: and their difference of opinion is, surely, a presumptive argument against the reality of such a kind of inspiration.

N.

PETITION OF THE UNITARIAN CONGREGATION, LYNN; WITH THE REPLY OF THE BISHOP OF NORWICH TO AN APPLICATION TO HIM TO PRESENT IT.

The Petition of the Unitarian Congregation, Lynn,

SHEWETH,

THAT your petitioners, in common with all other Protestant Dissenters, feel themselves aggrieved as citizens, and degraded as men, by certain Acts of Parliament passed in the unquiet reign of King Charles II., called, "The Corporation and Test Acts."

That, as Christians, they are persuaded by the tenor of the Gospel, all persecution, under any form whatever, for a difference of opinion, is directly opposed to the religion of Jesus; while, at the same time, they cannot but consider the appropriation of the Lord's Supper, as a test of qualification for secular offices, to be an abuse of that ordinance, to which every serious mind must strongly object.

Anxious, therefore, in common with their fellow-subjects, to enjoy those privileges to which, as inhabitants of this kingdom, they are naturally and reasonably entitledto obtain the erasure from the statute-book of these realis of every law repugnant to the Gospel of Christ—and to prevent any future perversion of one of its rites, which they have just now recited, your petitioners earnestly and respectfully pray, that the said Corporation and Test Acts may be repealed.

Letter of the Bishop of Norwich, addressed to " Rev. Wm. Selby, Unitarian Minister, Lynn, Norfolk."

DEAR SIR,

It has appeared to me, for considerably more than half a century, that civil disabilities, on account of religious opinions, are inconsistent with all true ideas of policy, of justice, and of Christian charity. I shall, therefore, have great pleasure in presenting your petition; and this pleasure is much increased by the conviction which I feel, that the just claims, both of Protestant and of Roman Catholic Dis

senters, will, at last, receive from the Legislature that attention to which they are unanswerably entitled.

I am, dear Sir, yours, &c.

Bath, Feb. 24, 1828.

HENRY NORWICH.

P. S.-Should my very advanced age render me unequal to the exertion of a long journey, your cause will not suffer; for I can without difficulty, find a much more able, though not a more cordial, friend, than myself, to civil and relitious liberty.

MEMOIR OF WILLIAM HARRIS, ESQ.

[Extracted from the Gentleman's Magazine for February, 1828.] DIED, Feb. 1, in Brompton Crescent, aged 76, WILLIAM HARRIS, Esq., lately librarian to the Royal Institution.

Mr. Harris was a native of Oxford, which he left at an early period of life, and came to London on the recommendation of Mr. Alderman Fletcher (of whose literary and antiquarian taste we gave a due memorial in our last year's volume, I. 179). Mr. Harris was first engaged, for many years, with Mr. White of Fleet Street, and afterwards with Mr. Egerton at Whitehall, each of whom are well known as booksellers of eminence and respectability. With the latter he had a view to a future establishment in business; but before any arrangement was finally concluded, another prospect was presented to him. He had so far availed himself of the advantages afforded him in the great metro'politan school of bibliography, and by unwearied industry and diligence had acquired so complete a knowledge of books, such as probably falls to the lot of few in the subordinate ranks of that useful and respectable department of literature, that upon the establishment of the Royal Institution, in the year 1803, Mr. Harris was appointed to the office of librarian,—a situation for which he was eminently qualified, and which he continued to hold for upwards of twenty years, with equal advantage to the Institution and credit to himself. To the truth of this assertion, the Catalogue of that library bears ample testimony. It cannot fail to be duly appreciated by the lover of literature, as a valuable addition to the bibliography of this country, and may be justly considered as the model of a Catalogue Raisonnée. It was first printed in 1809, and

came to a second edition, 1821; and, although at Mr. Harris's own expense, it is understood that he was fully indemnified by the liberal encouragement this spirited undertaking received from the public. It is frequently referred to as competent authority; and in terms of high commendation, by a celebrated bibliographer of the present day, who, with a singular tact and happy facility, has applied himself to the development of the various merits of those scientific or classical productions for which we are indebted to the labours of the learned.-See Dr. Dibdin's Library ·Companion, second edition.

It is also due to Mr. Harris to state, that in the original formation of the valuable and extensive library of the Institution, the selection and arrangement are principally to be attributed to his care, discrimination, and judgment, with the occasional assistance of a few gentlemen amongst the proprietors, who had leisure or inclination to pay attention, from time to time, to this interesting object. Mr. Harris's knowledge of books was neither superficial nor merely technical; it was not confined to editions, dates, and sizes, their rarity or pecuniary value: he likewise possessed a very general acquaintance with the intrinsic merit of works of established reputation and celebrity, both ancient and modern. He had read much, and with attention; was endowed with a strong understanding, and a retentive memory; and, by turning these advantages to good account, had acquired a considerable store of general and useful information upon many important subjects.

It reflects no little credit on his literary character, that he revised and corrected for the press the variorum edition of Shakspeare, published in 1813, in 21 vols. 8vo., designated by Dr. Dibdin the Editio Optima, a work founded on the joint labours of Dr. Johnson and George Steevens, Esq., who spared no pains in exploring the rich mines of erudition which were opened to their view, as the reward of their indefatigable zeal and elaborate investigation. These eminent critics, and distinguished commentators, have acquired a well-earned fame for judicious and lucid interpretation; and in the opinion of all competent judges, they are entitled to the highest praise for the penetration, taste, and talent, which they have displayed in correcting the texts and illustrating the sentiments of our great national dramatist; while they led the way to further elucidations and improvements, achieved by subsequent and

successful labourers in this fertile field of philological inquiry and research. To Mr. Harris was entrusted, by the proprietors, the task of putting a finishing stroke to this important undertaking; and it must be observed, that it was executed by him con amore, with his habitual accuracy and precision, with a correct and discriminating eye, with a steady and a skilful hand. And it is but justice to him to mention, that although he did not aspire. to class himself with those great names which have already been specified, to which may be added those of Reed, Malone, and Boswell, who have since appeared, yet he modestly contributed his mite to this treasury of literature, by inserting many just remarks and pertinent illustrations,-several of which are interspersed through various parts of the work, under his own name, and others are appended under the general title of "ADDENDA.' -See this edition, of 1813, Vol. XXI. pp. 421-423.

In his intercourse with the world, Mr. Harris was conscientious, just, upright, and candid; his mind was well directed, and well regulated, by natural good sense, an inflexible integrity, and a straight-forward, undeviating, principle of rectitude and benevolence. His moral worth was justly valued by those who were most nearly acquainted with his plain, manly, unobtrusive character. In the higher concerns of religion, he was intelligent, rational, consistent, and sincere; a strenuous advocate for unqualified liberty of conscience, and the right of every man to worship God according to his own interpretation of the Sacred Scriptures. He was educated in the doctrines of the Church of England, but in after life separated himself from her communion, and joined the Unitarian Dissenters; but, although himself a seceder, he never censured or impugned the sentiments or conduct of those who differed with him on theological subjects.

Mr. Harris, bore, the external indications of a hale and robust constitution, whose stamina were not likely soon to fail; yet, towards the latter part of life, it became gradually impaired by repeated and severe attacks of indisposition. These symptoms were perhaps more apparent after the close of his services as Librarian at the Royal Institution. Having by that means lost his long-accustomed stimulus to exercise and exertion, he probably gave way to the habits of a sedentary life, which had an unfavourable effect upon his health; ; and the circumstances by which it was

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