ations, many improvements were made in the code of discipline at Oxford. In a subsequent edition of the same work, Dr. Knox addressed a letter to Lord North, then chancellor of the university: this gave rise to a pamphlet, censuring Dr. Knox for his interference; but as we have no wish to meddle with the bitterness of controversy, we shall abstain from all comment upon it. It is quite clear that the heads of the college had discovered some justice in the Doctor's argument, or they would not have felt it incumbent upon them to make the alterations which took place, soon after the appearance of his book, in the discipline of the university.

In 1787 Dr. Knox published a series of miscellaneous papers, entitled "Winter Evenings," in three volumes, octavo. They have passed through several editions, although they have not, on the whole, been as popular as those which preceded them. They contain a great deal of agreeable discussion on a variety of subjects, mostly connected with literature and the fine arts.

The "Elegant Extracts in Prose and Verse," next occupied the attention of Dr. Knox; and the extraordinary popularity of these useful compilations must have been highly gratifying to the tasteful and judicious editor. The "Elegant Epistles" were also subsequently collected by our author, who, besides these valuable works, edited an edition of Horace, upon the expurgata plan. It would have been well if his example had been followed by other editors; for it is a scandal to the country, that the books commonly put into the hands of young persons for the purposes of education, are precisely of a nature to debauch and deprave their minds. It is difficult to conceive why we permit our children to have access to the most revolting obscenities, for so unsatisfactory a reason as that of their being written in the dead languages. The purest of the Latin poets is not without his indecencies. What then are we

to expect from such writers as Ovid, Horace, Juvenal, Perseus, Tibullus, and the like? A radical reform in the system of education would seem, even at this late period, to be imperiously called for.

In 1793 an event occurred in the life of Dr. Knox, which has been the subject of much misrepresentation. It seems that a sermon, preached by him at Brighton, at the time when this country was in a general ferment in consequence of the French revolution, gave so much offence to a portion of the congregation before whom it was delivered, that upon the doctor's appearance at the theatre a few evenings afterwards, he was very roughly treated, and, we believe, obliged to leave the house.

The doctrine insisted upon in this celebrated sermon was, that "offensive war is a high crime against humanity and christianity." But whether it contained allusions, as ill-timed and improper as his enemies have represented, we cannot undertake to decide. The best way of exculpating himself from blame, and silencing his antagonists would have been for the Doctor to have published the sermon. This would have settled the question at once.

About this period Dr. Knox is said to have published some political tracts, advocating, for the most part, the popular side in politics. The sentiments of the doctor were decidedly those of the Whigs; and the steadiness and consistency to which he adhered through life to his early opinions, was such as to entitle him to the respect of all parties.

Mr. Fox sought his acquaintance; and there is no doubt, if political events had afforded the opportunity, but that Dr. Knox would have filled the highest station in the church. Preferment, however, was not his object, nor ever occupied his thoughts. He was, from conscientious conviction, a firm friend of the establishment. His strenuous support of its doctrines in his theological works, excited the hostility of the Socinians and other separatists. Dr. Disney addressed a letter to him upon the publication of his sermons. ́ On the other hand, though of political sentiments diametrically oppo site, that distinguished prelate, Bishop Horsley, publicly eulogised his treatise on the "Lord's Supper," in his episcopal charges, "recommending it to the general attention of the clergy, and describing it as no inconsiderable monument of the

learning and piety of the writer." Another prelate, of inferior reputation, indeed, to Dr. Horsley, as a polemic, and divine, but justly held in universal esteem for his amiable character and his useful labours in the church, Bishop Porteus, entertained a high sense of the value of Dr. Knox's religious works, and recommended them for perusal, as containing the most attractive delineations of the pure spirit of christianity. Notwithstanding his strong attachment to the establishment, Dr. Knox was a friend to religious as well as civil liberty, and therefore an advocate for a very liberal toleration. Entertaining much respect for the private character of the late Bishop Dampier, he felt it his duty publicly to protest against an address, which that Bishop proposed for the adoption of the clergy of the diocese of Rochester, at a visitation, thanking the crown for requiring a pledge from administration, that they would never again agitate the Catholic question. He was aware, that differences of opinion might very conscientiously be entertained upon what is called Catholic emancipation; but thought, that with proper securities, that it was contrary to sound policy and justice, no less than to the benign spirit of the gospel, to impose civil disabilities upon so many millions of the Christian subjects of the United Kingdom, merely because they remain faithful to the religion of their forefathers.

Dr. Knox's facility of composition was remarkable. He wrote Latin with the most classical purity in prose and verse, and was particularly happy in epigrammatic point. He was a great student of the harmony of languge, forming his sentences invariably with a regard to rythmical proportion. His style displays an union of force with exquisite polish. As a standard of his powers as a writer, as well as a specimen of the energy of his mind, his last production (the pamphlet upon classical education) may be fairly taken. To a splendour of diction that has rarely been equalled, there is added an harmony in the periods that is perhaps exclusively his own. The style as well as the matter of the "Essays" has long been universally admired. They appeared, originally, in one volume, in the lifetime of Dr. Johnson. In speaking of them to Mr. Dilly,

the publisher, that great critic expressed himself in terms of high panegyric, and predicted the future reputation of the author.

Dr. Knox was rector of Rumwell and Ramsden Crays, in Essex, (of which livings he was the patron,) and minister of the Chapelry of Shipbourne, in Kent, to which he was presented by the late Viscount Vane. The duties of a parish priest he discharged for nearly forty years with a regularity, an ability, and a zeal, seldom surpassed; scarcely during that long period requiring any assistance in the performance of the service of the church. After his retirement, while he lived in London, (the situation of his benefices in Essex not permitting residence,) he never withheld his powerful aid from the pulpit, whenever it was solicited in favour of the various charities with which the metropolis abounds. There are few of these institutions which have not greatly benefitted by his exertions. As a preacher he will long be remembered. His matter was always excellent; and his manner possessed a dignity, propriety, and impressiveness, that rivetted the attention of his congregations. He enjoyed a long course of uninterrupted health, and retained his mental faculties in their full vigour to the last moment of his life; within the three last days of it, he was as capable as ever of any laborious literary research, or professional exertion. The cause of his death, which took place while on a visit to his son at Tunbridge, Kent, September 6th, was an obstruction in the bowels, that resisted all medical treatment.

In person Dr. Knox was about the middle size, his countenance dark, and his eye thoughtful and expressive.

The following is, we believe, a correct list of the Works of Doctor Knox:

1. Essays, Moral and Literary, in 1 vol. 12mo. 1777. — The success of this work encouraged its republication and acknowledgement, with additions; 2 vols. 12mo. 1778; since which time it has gone through numerous editions.

2. Liberal Education, or a Practical Treatise on the Methods of acquiring Useful and Polite Learning; 8vo. 1781. This treatise was enlarged to 2 vols. 8vo. 1785.

3. Elegant Extracts, in prose; 8vo. 1783.

4. Elegant Extracts, in verse; 8vo. 1790.

5. Sermons intended to promote Faith, Hope, and Charity;

8vo. 1792.

6. Elegant Epistles; 8vo. 1792.

7. Personal Nobility, or a Letter to a Young Nobleman;

12mo. 1793.

8. A Narrative of Transactions relative to a Sermon preached in the Parish Church of Brighton, August, 1793; 8vo. 9. Antipolemus, or a Plea against War, translated from Erasmus; 12mo. 1794.

10. Family Lectures; in one large vol. 8vo. 1794.

11. Christian Philosophy; 2 vols. 12mo. 1795.

12. Considerations on the Nature and Efficacy of the Lord's Supper; 12mo. 1794.-At the request of Bishop. Horsley, the author published a cheap edition of this book.

13. A Sermon, preached at the Opening of the Philanthro pic Society; 4to. 1807.