the East have sustained a great loss. This eminent scholar has been long celebrated as a most learned and indefatigable cultivator of the Asiatic History and Literature of the Hindoos. He was one of the earliest members of the Asiatic Society, and soon distinguished himself by his contributions to their researches ; his extensive eru dition and unwearied diligence received the highest encomiums from Sir William Jones, and secured the favourable notice of Warren Hastings, by whose encouragement Lieut. Wilford was induced to address his whole attention to those studies to which he perseveringly devoted the rest of his life.

JOSEPH NOLLEKENS, ESQ. R. A.

- April 23.-Aged 85, Joseph Nollekens, Esq. R. A. He was born in London, in 1737, of foreign parents, his father being a native of Antwerp, and his mother a Frenchwoman. În Lord Orford's "Anecdotes of Painting," there is a particular account of the father, Joseph Francis Nollekens, who came over to England very young, and studied painting under Tillemans. He afterwards copied Watteau, and imitated him so closely that several of his pictures now remaining, are scarcely distinguishable from those of the above celebrated artist. He had several children, none of whom appear to have long survived him except his son Joseph, who was placed under that eminent sculptor Scheemakers, with whom he remained until he had saved a sum of money sufficient to enable him to visit Rome, where he was desirous of attaining what was then the summit of his ambition, the becoming an assistant to Mr Wilton'at some future time. In the above city he profited by the instruction of Cavacetti, and

very soon obtained a gold medal fr the Roman Academy of Paintsg, Sculpture, and Architecture, as the reward of his great and increasing merit as a sculptor. During his say at Rome, he executed several buts, among which were those of Stame and Garrick, now in the possession of Lord Yarborough, who has the largest collection extant of Mr Nallekens' works. For the above busts he received the moderate price of twelve guineas each.

On his return to England, with a considerable sum of money in his pocket, he very soon acquired the fame and great encouragement to which his pre-eminent merit and skil in his profession so justly entitled him. He had ever before his eyes the choicest specimens of sculptured art among the ancients, and had himself made excellent drawings of the most celebrated antiques both abroad and at home. His own designs, and academical drawings, are deserving of equal commendation, and he has also left a most interesting volume, containing copies by himself of many of the Townley marbles and terracottas, the publication of which had been often ardently solicited, and im peded only by his own modest reluc tance. Whilst a close imitation of nature, and the total absence of peculiarity of style and manner, shall constitute the real value of an artist, so long will the works of Mr Nolle kens continue to be admired. The unsullied purity of his mind, and the unaffected simplicity of his manners, united to a most excellent and discri minative understanding, will remain deeply impressed on the memory of all who thoroughly knew and com prehended him. His benevolence was more felt than seen; it was known where it was not intended to be known; and numerous instances could, if necessary, be adduced of his

report from the naval commissioners, his lordship voted with a minority of 216 to 217. On the 26th of June, he was chosen by ballot one of a committee of seven, to inquire into and examine the secret matter contained in the 11th report of the commissioners of naval inquiry, and afterwards, as chairman, delivered in the result of the proceedings.

Besides an account of the Tokay and other wines of Hungary, in the Philosophical Transactions for 1773, he was the author of "History of the Cases of Controverted Elections determined during the first Session of the 14th Parliament of Great Britain," 4 vols. 8vo, 1777, 2d edition, 1802; "Reports of Cases determined in the Court of King's Bench in the 19th, 20th, and 21st years of George III.," fol. 1783, 3d edition, 2 vols. royal 8vo, 1790. Many years ago his lordship published "Lyric Poems," written by the late James Mercer, Esq., who had married his sister, to which a life of the author was prefixed, and an account of his own family. To console himself as much as possible under the heavy losses of his wife and his son, Lord Glenbervie employed himself in translating the first canto of "Ricciardetto," a humorous Italian poem, by Fortiguerri, with an introduction concerning the principal romantic, burlesque, and mock-heroic poets; and notes critical and philological. The work, which is rendered into English with spirit and correctness, and does honour to the learned translator, was published last year.

Marquis of Beaumont and Cessful, t Earl of Kelso, Viscount Broxmonth, and Baron Ker of Cessford and verton, a baronet, and one of the teen peers for Scotland. He born 1738; married, first, April 19, 1769, Mary, sister of Sir Cecil Way, of Glentworth, county of Lincoln, Bart., by Frances, daughter of Fir fax Norcliffe, of Langston, county York, Esq., and by her (who died July 20, 1807) had no issue; ands condly, July 28, 1807, Harriet, daugh ter of the late Benjamin Charlewood, of Windlesham, Esq., and by her had issue the present duke, born July, 1816, and a daughter, born and died May 26, 1814. His original name was Innes, and he derived his descent from Margaret Ker, third daughter of Harry, Lord Ker, who married Sir James Innes, of Innes, Bart., by Jane, daughter of James, sixth Lord Ross His grace claimed the title of duke, &c.; and on the 11th of May, 1812, the House of Lords unanimously resolved, "That the petitioner, Sir James Norcliffe Innes Ker, Bart., had made out his claim to the titles, ho nours, and dignities, &c., as stated in his petition."

He succeeded William, seventh Baron Bellenden, and fourth duke, who died, in 1805, without issue; and who succeeded John, third duke, so generally known to the literary world as the nobleman whose taste for old books led to the foundation of the club which bears his name.

DUKE OF ROXBURGH.

July 19-At Fleurs, near Kelso, aged 85, James Norcliffe Innes Ker, 5th Duke and Earl of Roxburgh,

DR LEDWICH.

August 8-At his house, YorkStreet, Dublin, in his 84th year, the Rev. Edw. Ledwich, LL. D. F.S.A of London and Scotland, and men ber of most of the distinguished terary societies of Europe; a learned

ndustrious antiquary and topoer. In 1789, Mr Gough acledged his obligations to Mr vich and other curious gentle of Ireland, "For an excellent rehensive View of the Governof that Kingdom, from the earTimes to the latest Revolution "inserted in his most valuable on of Camden's Britannia. 1790, this learned and elegant uary published a most valuable me, entitled "Antiquities of Ire" and which came out in numcontaining a large collection of taining and instructive essays on emoter antiquities of that island. pened his work with establishing Scandinavian origin of the Irish, in differing from their vulgar nal tales concerning Noah's grandbters, Partholanus and Milesius, grounding what he advanced on succession of writers from Camto Warton. For having called in tion the legendary history of St ick, which he invalidated as a on invented long after the time n he is said to have lived, besides cally examining the several works ibed to him, and other tales of the ages, he was attacked by some quaries of the Roman Catholic uasion, who allowed their bigotattachment to their religion to ersede their value for truths which been obtained by indefatigable arch. When the late celebrated Captain se went to Dublin for the purpose completing his noble design, "to strate the antiquities of England, les, Scotland, and Ireland," he ned an acquaintance with this gennan, urged by the above-mentionexcellent specimen of his conguinity in authorship. Upon his th, which shortly followed, Mr dwich, at the request of the puber, became the editor of "The

Antiquities of Ireland," in two volumes 4to; and with great liberality and the utmost success, engaged in the laudable design of completing what his predecessor had begun, but did not live to carry it on to any considerable extent. The first volume of this valuable work came out in 1794, and the second in 1796.

In the same year as the second volume of the above national work was published, he produced a judicious, informing, and interesting work, in imitation of the Scotch clergy, who, under the encouragement of Sir John Sinclair, conducted their statistical inquiries with such success in their own country. It was entitled, “A Statistical Account of the Parish of Aghaboe, in the Queen's County," 1796, 8vo.

Besides the above works, he contributed to the volumes of the Archæologia, a "Dissertation on the Religion of the Druids," inserted in vol. VII. p. 303, and "Observations on our own Ancient Churches," vol. VIII. p. 165.

Mr Ledwich was a member of a little society for investigating the antiquities of Ireland, at the head of which was the Right Hon. William B. Conyngham, teller of the Exchequer at Dublin; but which was dissolved, it is said, in consequence of the free pleasantry with which Mr Ledwich treated certain reveries circulated among them; and occasionally alluded to in his Antiquities of Ireland.

MR ROBERT BLOOMFIELD.

At Shefford, aged 57, Mr Robert Bloomfield, author of the Farmer's Boy, once very popular, and of other poems. He was the son of a poor tailor in Suffolk, was originally em

ployed as a farmer's boy, and afterwards followed the employment of a shoemaker. Having, about 1800, finished his four poems on the rural employments of the seasons, he brought them to London to endeavour to get them published. His first application was to Mr Charles Dilly, who recommended him to the editor of the Monthly Magazine. He brought his poems to that office; and, though his unpolished appearance, his coarse hand-writing, and wretched orthography, afforded no prospect that his production could be printed, yet he found attention by his repeated calls, and by the humility of his expectations, which were limited to half-adozen copies of the Magazine. At length, on his name being announced when a literary gentleman, particularly conversant in rural economy, happened to be present, the poem was formally re-examined, and its general aspect excited the risibility of that gentleman in so pointed a manner, that Bloomfield was called into the room, and exhorted not to waste his time, and neglect his em ployment, in making vain attempts, and particularly in treading on the ground which Thomson had sanctified. His earnestness and confidence, however, led the editor to advise him to consult his countryman, Mr Capel Lofft, of Troston, to whom he gave him a letter of introduction. On his departure, the gentleman present warmly complimented the editor on the sound advice which he had given "the poor fellow ;" and, it was mutually conceived, that an industrious man was thereby likely to be saved from a ruinous infatuation. Bloomfield, however, visited Mr Lofft, and that kind-hearted and erudite man, entering sanguinely into his views, edited the work through the press, wrote a preface, and the poem appeared as a literary meteor. Its suc

cess was prodigious. The author vas to divide the profits with the book seller, and they soon shared above 1000l. a-piece. The reputation of the poem at length seemed so thoroughly established, that the bookseller of fered to give Bloomfield an annuity of 200l. per annum for his half; but this he refused, in the confidence that it would produce him double. At length, however, new cbjects caught the public attention; the sale died away; and, in three or four years, a small edition per annum only was required. All this was in the usual course; but Bloomfield, whose expectations had been unduly raised, keenly felt the reverse; he was ob liged to seek other employment, and his health and spirits suffered in consequence. Other attempts produced but moderate recompense, and, becoming peevish, he entered into a paper-war with his patron, Mr Loft, and lost the sympathy of many of his first friends. He was nevertheless a man of real genius; and, though the bloated popularity of his Farmer's Boy led to no permanent advantage, yet it had, and still has, admirers, some of whom never ceased to be kind to the author. His ambition, however, was disappointed; and, for some years, he was in a state of mental depression.

GENERAL JOHN, EARL OF HOPE

TOUN.

Aug. 27.-At Paris, aged 57, the Right Hon. John Hope, fourth Ear of Hopetoun, Viscount Aithrie, Lord Hope, Baron Hopetoun of Hopetour, and Baron Niddry, county of Linlithgow.

He was the second child and only son of John, second earl, by his se cond marriage with Jane, daughte