His

JOHN FLAXMAN, ESQ., R. A. Mr. FLAXMAN, at the time of his death, was in the 72d year of his age. health had been gradually declining for some years, but his friends had no apprehension of his end being so near, when a severe cold baffled the power of medicine, and overpowered his remaining strength. He was born in the Strand, and at a very early age evinced a predilection for the art in which he afterwards so eminently excelled. He did not enjoy the advantages of a classical education, of so much importance to his profession, and he married young. Subsequently to his marriage he spent some years in Italy, and there laid the foundation of the celebrity he afterwards acquired. The following eloquent eulogy on Mr. Flaxman was pronounced by Sir Thomas Lawrence at the Royal Academy on the day of his death.

"Mr. Flaxman's genius, in the strictest sense of the words, was original and inventive.

"His purity of taste led him, in early life, to the study of the noblest relics of antiquity, and a mind, though not of classical education, of classic bias, urged him to the perusal of the best translations of the Greek philosophers and poets; till it became deeply imbued with those simple and grand sentiments which distinguish the productions of that favoured people. When immersed in these mingling studies, a fortunate circumstance -the patronage of a lady of high rank,* whose taste will now be remembered with her known goodness-gave birth to those unequalled compositions from Homer and the Greek tragedians, which have so long been the admiration of Europe. These, indeed, from their accuracy in costume, and the singular felicity of the union between their characters and

* "The Dowager Countess Spencer."

subjects, to minds unaccustomed to nice discrimination, may have naturally conveyed the idea of too close an imitation of Grecian art. Undoubtedly, the Elements of his style were founded on it; but only on its noblest principles, on its deeper intellectual power, and not on the mere surface of its style. Though master of its purest lines, he was rather the sculptor of sentiment, than of form; and, whilst the philosopher, the statesman, and the hero, were treated by him with appropriate dignity, not even in Raffaele have the gentler feelings and sorrows of human nature been traced with more touching pathos, than in the various designs and models of this estimable man. The rest of Europe know only the productions of the earlier period of his fame, but these, which form the highest efforts of his genius, had their origin in nature only, and the sensibility and virtues of his mind. Like the greatest of modern painters, he delighted to trace, from the actions of familiar life, the lines of sentiment and passion; and from the populous haunts and momentary peacefulness of poverty and want, to form those unequalled groups of maternal tenderness, of listening infancy and filial love!

"The sources and habits of composition, in Michel Angelo and Flaxman, were the same-and, sanctified as the memory of the former is by time and glory, it receives no slight addition from the homage of this modest but great man; whose SHIELD OF ACHILLES, that matchless union of beauty, energy and grandeur, his genius only could surpass.'

Some of Mr. Flaxman's friends have appeared anxious to represent him to be a member of the Church of England. But it is well known that he was by religious profession a disciple of Swedenborg. His modest and retiring habits prevented him, however, from publicly appearing as the champion or abettor of an unpopular sect. In private life he was endeared to a large circle of friends by the high excellencies of his character, and the amiableness of his manners. He was buried on the 15th December. It had been intended that the Royal Academy should follow his remains to the grave, but this was prevented by his own injunctions, that his funeral should be private. Several of the more distinguished members of the Academy attended, notwithstanding, to bear their testimony to his eminent worth.

MRS. TURNER.

December 25, aged 68, JANE, eldest daughter of the Rev. W. Willets, of Newcastle-under-Line, and second wife of the Rev. W. TURNER, of Newcastle-uponTyne. The many excellent and admirable qualities, both of the understanding and the heart, by which she was endeared to those who enjoyed the privilege of her intimate society, might justly have

called forth from some of them a more

extended memorial, if her own, perhaps extreme, dislike of publicity had not imposed a restraint upon the natural expression of their feelings. They, however, to whom she well supplied the place of a mother, by the most unremitting and affectionate performance of a mother's duties, wonld feel it to be a violation of the reverence which they owe to her memory, if they failed to record their gratitude to the instructress and guardian of their childhood, the assiduous cultivator of good principles and habits, and the judicious friend and adviser of maturer years.

MRS. WARD.

December 27, aged 41, ANN, wife of T. A. WARD, Esq., of Park House (near Sheffield). The sterling worth of this truly amiable woman, could be known only by those with whom she was intimate. Withdrawn by the delicacy of her constitution from that society which she was so well fitted to improve and adorn by her virtues and her talents, she contented herself in the privacy of her family, which she enlivened by her cheerfulness, and instructed by her example; fulfilling every domestic duty with the exemplary correctness of a true Christian. By the few who did know her intimately, she was loved and esteemed as a kind and zealous friend, anxious for their welfare and happiness, whatever sacrifices and exertions it might cost her to promote them.-Sheffield Independent.

MISS ELIZABETH BENGER.

[By Miss Lucy Aikin.] ON Tuesday morning, January 9th, died, after a short illness, deeply regretted, ELIZABETH O. BENGER, author of several interesting and popular works, chiefly biographical and historical.

This admirable and excellent woman, a rare instance of female genius struggling into day through obstacles which might well have daunted even the bolder energies of manly enterprise, was born

at the city of Wells, in 1778. Her father, late in life, was impelled by an adventurous disposition to enter the navy, and ultimately became a purser. The vicissitudes of his fortune occasioned, during many years, a distressing fluctuation in the plans and prospects of his wife and daughter; and his death abroad, in 1796, left them finally with a slender provision. For some years after this event, Miss Benger resided with her mother in Wiltshire, where she had many affectionate friends and relations who never lost sight of her.

An ardour for knowledge, a passion for literary distinction, disclosed itself in her early childhood, and never left her. Her connexions were not literary; and her sex, no less than her situation, debarred her from the means of mental cultivation. The friend who traces this imperfect sketch has heard her relate,

that in the want of books which she at one time suffered, it was her common practice to plant herself at the window of the only bookseller's shop in the little town which she then inhabited, to read the open pages of the new publications there displayed, and to return again, day after day, to examine whether, by good fortune, a leaf of any of them might have been turned over. But the bent of her mind was so decided, that a judicious though unlearned friend prevailed upon her mother at length to indulge it; and about the age of twelve, she was sent to a boy's school to be instructed in Latin. At fifteen, she wrote and published a poem, in which, imperfect as it necessarily was, marks of opening genius were discovered.

At length, about 1802, she prevailed upon her mother to remove to London, where, principally through the zealous friendship of Miss Sarah Wesley, who had already discovered her in her solitude, she almost immediately found herself ushered into society where her merit was fully appreciated and warmly fostered. The late Dr. George Gregory, well known in the literary world, and his valued and excellent wife, were soon amongst the firmest and most affectionate of her friends. By them she was gratified with an introduction to Mrs. Elizabeth Hamilton, of whom she gave, many years afterwards, so interesting a Memoir; and soon after, to Mrs. Barbauld, and to the late Dr. Aikin, with the various members of whose family, and especially with her who now inscribes, with an aching heart, this feeble record of her genius and virtues, she

contracted an affectionate intimacy, never interrupted through a period of more than twenty years, and destined to know but one termination. Another and most valuable connexion which she soon after formed, was with the family of R. Smirkie, Esq., R. A., in whose accomplished daughter she found a friend whose offices of love followed her with out remission to the last.

Many other names, amongst which that of Mrs. Joanna Baillie must not be forgotten, might be added to the list of those who delighted in her society, and took an interest in her happiness. Her circle of acquaintance extended with her fame, and she was often able to assemble round her humble tea-table, names whose celebrity would have attracted attention in the proudest saloons of the metropolis.

Early in her literary career, Miss Benger was induced to fix her hopes of fame upon the drama, for which her genius appeared in many respects peculiarly adapted; but after ample experience of the anxieties, delays and disappointments, which in this age sicken the heart of almost every candidate for celebrity in this department, she tried her powers in other attempts, and produced first her poem on the Abolition of the Slave Trade, and afterwards two novels published anonymously. All these productions had great merit, but wanted something of regular and finished excellence; and her success was not decided till she embarked in biography, and produced in succession her Memoirs of Mrs. Elizabeth Hamilton, Memoirs of John Tobin, and Notices of Klopstock and his Friends, prefixed to a translation of their Letters from the German; and finally rising to the department of his tory, her Life of Anne Boleyn, and Memoirs of Mary Queen of Scots and of the Queen of Bohemia. All these works attained deserved popularity; and she would probably have added to her reputation by the Memoirs of Henry IV. of France, had longer life been lent her for their completion.

But to those who knew her and enjoyed her friendship, her writings, eloquent and beautiful as they are, were the smallest part of her merit and her attraction. To the warmest, most affectionate, and grateful of human hearts, she united the utmost delicacy and nobleness of sentiment, active benevolence

which knew no limits but the furthest extent of her ability, and a boundless enthusiasm for the good and fair wherever she discovered them. Her lively imagination lent an inexpressible charm to her conversation, which was heightened by an intuitive discernment of character, rare in itself, and still more so in combination with such activity of fancy and ardency of feeling. As a companion, whether for the graver or the gayer hour, she had few equals; and her perfect kindness of heart and universal sympathy rendered her the favourite of both sexes, and all classes and ages. With so much to admire and love, she had every thing to esteem. Of envy or jealousy there was not a trace in her composition; her probity, veracity and honour, derived, as she gratefully acknowledged, from the early precepts of an excellent and meritorious mother, were perfect. Though free from pride, her sense of dignity was such, that no one could fix upon her the slightest obligation capable of lowering her in any eyes; and her generous propensity to seek those most who needed her friendship, rendered her in the intercourses of society oftener the obliger than the party obliged. No one was more just to the characters of others; no one more candid; no one more worthy of confidence of every kind.

Lamented as she must long and painfully be by all who truly knew her excellencies, they cannot but admit that their regrets are selfish. To her the pains of sensibility were dealt in even larger measure than its joys;-she was tried by cares, privations and disappointments, and not seldom by unfeeling slights and thankless neglect. The infirmity of her constitution rendered life to her a long disease. Old age would have found her solitary and unprovided; now she has taken the wings of the dove, to flee away and be at rest.-Literary Gazette.

REV. JEDEDIAH MORSE, D. D.

June 9, at Newhaven, in Connecticut, U. S., the Rev. JEDEDIAH MORSE, D. D. LL.D.; the author of the American Geography, and of many other valuable geographical works, and for many years pastor of the first Church in Charlestown, aged 65.

Dr. J. P. Smith* and Mr. Haldane on

the German Rationalists.

The Evangelical Magazine of December, contains a continuation of the correspondence of A. Haldane, Esq., [Alethia,] one of the attackers of the present administration of the Bible Society, and Dr. J. Pye Smith, in reference to Professor Haffner, of Strasburgh, whom Mr. Hal

dane has chosen to denounce as an infidel and " a scoffer at vital Christianity." Mr. Haldane (who writes in a tone

* Dr. Smith has addressed to us the following letter, which, as it relates in part to this controversy, we shall insert in this place.

SIR,

To the Editor.

Homerton,

December 16, 1826. I REQUEST your permission to make my strongest protest against the construction put upon some words of mine, by the American author of the Critical Synopsis in the last Number of the Repository, p. 716. My SOLE INTENTION in marking by italic letters the words "ignorant men and hypocrites abuse it," was to fix those designations upon persons who, pretending to be Calvinists, abuse, that is pervert to the purpose of carelessness, fancied security, or the commission of sin, the doctrine under discussion. It excites my surprise that the Critic should have imagined a construction which appears to me so plainly irreconcileable with the connexion of the clanse.

To his question ("Will he tell us what becomes of the sincere believer,' &c.,) I reply, that the person departing out of this life under such circumstances would inevitably fall under the exclusion of the Divine assurance, "The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

As the late respected Editor has done me the honour to republish my letter on the subject of Dr. Haffner's Preface, I solicit the favour of your mentioning two errors, (made in the Magazine from which it was reprinted,) which are of some importance to the sense. Page 751, column 1, line 25, expunge the before clauses. Line 28, read dissevered.

J. PYE SMITH.

by no means becoming towards the excellent individual whom he is addressing) thus animadverts on Dr. Smith's observations on the Rationalists and Professor Haffner. We shall quote only the parts of the letter which relate to this question, with Dr. Smith's replies, which are connected with Mr. H.'s letter, by the capital letters, and some extracts from the latter's rejoinder.

"It would ill become me to enter into a

lengthened controversy with the theological tutor of Homerton College, on the sentiments of the German Rationalists in general, or of that worthy member of their body, Dr. Haffner, in particular. I may lament as an individual, the language he adopts in regard to the former, as calculated to palliate their guilt and encourage the study of their works; [C] I may lament also that such a man as Haffner should be spoken of by Dr. Smith, as a 'distinguished Lutheran Divine' [D], and his blasphemous Preface as valuable and interesting.' But it is not the object of my letter to comment on the sentiments of Dr. Smith, nor to inquire how far in this respect they comport with the injunctions of the inspired apostle of love, as contained in 2 John 10. [E.]

་

"In reference to Dr. Haffner, it is enough for me to know that Dr. Smith admits that he belongs to that class of religionists, known in Germany under the imposing title of Rationalists. After this admission, his eulogiums and panegyrics on Haffner, are like 'sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.' I am well aware that the appellation of Rationalist includes various shades of sentiment, but, after all, no one who is acquainted with the state of religion in Germany, will deny that the term decidedly implies a rejection of all the mysteries of revelation, reduces the word of God to the level of the works of Plato or Herodotus, and degrades the uncreated brightness of the Father's glory,' to the rank of frail and erring humanity. Let us on this subject hear a writer of the greatest impartiality and the very highest authority-I mean the Rev. Mr. Rose, of Cambridge. 'They' (the Rationalists) are bound by no law but their own fancies; some are more and some less extravagant; but I do them no injustice, after

this declaration, in saying that the general inclination and tendency of their opinions is this, that in the New Testament we shall find only the opinions of Christ and the Apostles adapted to the age in which they lived, and not eternal truths; that CHRIST HIMSELF HAD NEITHER THE DESIGN NOR POWER of teaching any system that was to endure; that the apostles understood still less of real religion; THAT CHRIST HIMSELF CRRED, AND HIS APOSTLES SPREAD HIS ERRORS.'

[F]

"Now, Sir, if these be the sentiments of Dr. Haffner, as it is well known they are, and as he himself has owned them to the world in his Preface to the Strasburgh Bible, I maintain that he is not only an unbeliever, but in some respects worse, inasmuch as his sentiments render him more dangerous than those who with undisguised honesty avow themselves infidels. I am not to be frightened by the cry of illiberality or want of charity, nor am I to be told that unsound as were Paley and Locke, that they were as bad as Professor Haffner. I trust, I also with humility recollect who it is who maketh us to differ,' and that it is Sovereign grace alone which raises the most glorified saint in heaven above the most abandoned sinner on earth. But we are not on this account to put evil for good' or bitter for sweet' and 'sweet for bitter;' we are commanded, on the contrary, to try the spirits whether they be of God.' One thing, however, I will concede to Dr. Smith, and that is, that PRIESTLEY was probably in doctrinal sentiment little better than HAFFNER. Let me also remind the learned Doctor of Dr. Priestley's celebrated letter to Mr. Belsham, dated Northumberland, 23 April, 1813, when speaking of Mr. President Jefferson, he says, that he is generally considered an unbeliever,' i. e. an infidel. If so,' adds Dr. Priestley, he cannot be far from 1'!! [G]

"I might produce other evidence to prove that Dr. Haffner is decidedly a scoffer at vital Christianity,' and I have not lightly made the assertion; [H] but I prefer, both for the sake of brevity and other causes, at present to adhere to the fact of his being a Rationalist, and to that of his having published a preface, abounding in heretical and infidel sentiments.

"This Preface, it is true, Dr. Smith attempts to defend. But how does he defend it? By evading without daring

"Rose on the State of Religion in Germany, p. 71." VOL. I.

K

to contradict the evidence that is brought forward as to its character. If the extracts that have been given from that Preface be incorrectly translated, or direct misrepresentations, let Dr. Smith prove the fact and give his own translation. [1] Let him tell us if Haffner does not deny the inspiration of the sacred vo lume, [K]-if in his Preface he does not treat the word of God in a way that no commentator would treat Thucydides or Aristotle, [L]-if he does not degrade, for example, the Psalms of David, by describing them as bearing 'in some parts the impression of the yet imperfect sentimeats of early times-if that Preface does not blasphemously contrast David as cursing his enemies and Christ as praying for his murderers-if it does not describe the prophets as having no title to the character of inspiration, but merely possessing a certain degree of clearsightedness, which gave them a presentiment of distant future events? In short, I would once more ask, if this distinguished Lutheran Divine' does not degrade the Saviour to the rank of a mere man, and inculcate that he had neither the design nor power of teaching any system that was to endure?' [M]

"Now, Sir, does Dr. Smith imagine that, while he is unable to deny these broad assertions, he can blind the eyes of any intelligent reader by asking a string of questions which simply amount to this-Has Alethia read the Preface in the original ?—Without gratifying idle curiosity as to the extent of my knowledge of German, I will frankly avow that I have not read the Preface in the original, and that the Doctor does me gross injustice in saying that I wished this to be understood by my readers. But I speak to the character of that Preface on no light authority, &c."