the Sea," the one remarkable for softness, the other for sublimity, are chef d'œuvres.

Mr. Pratt has always avowed a disinclination to engage in the heats of party, on either side, yet has invariably shewn himself to be a warm friend to the good order of that social compact, by which all men are bound to their native country; and on particular national emergencies he has come forward with some well-timed and temporary public offering. In 1797, when our naval disputes ran fearfully high, appeared a letter from Mr. Pratt to the "Tars of Old England." This very animated address to the British seamen, upon their lamentable and unexampled mutiny, which is now almost forgotten in their glory, possesses great merit. It breathes all the energy and spirit of true patriotism; and speaks a language which must affect every heart not wholly corrupted by the poison of insubordination. This ran through six editions in a less number of weeks. In the same year came out, a letter to the "British Soldiers," by the same author, in which he has strengthened the reproof which he dispensed to the seduced sailors, by the judicious panegyric which he has here bestowed upon the unsullied purity of the military character.

It became a sort of fashion for literary people of both sexes to contribute pamphlets and books on national subjects and distribute them gratis; of this plan we believe Lord Carlisle and Hannah More were the first projectors. Our author contributed a small tract, entitled "Our good old Castle on the

Rock,"

Rock," intended to prove that a spirit of general union which may concenter the hands and hearts of the nation against a common enemy, is the only way to make "Our good old Castle on the Rock" impregnable. It is elegant, and yet easy to every understanding.

Mr. Pratt is also author of various impromptus, &c. on temporary subjects, particularly a very beautiful inscription engraved on the monument lately erected in Westminster-Abbey, to the memory of Mr. Garrick, finely executed by Webber.

It remains only to be said, that the virtues are not indebted to Mr. Pratt for his writings only: his life has been constantly distinguished by an uniform practice and support of the most amiable qualities; and the writer of this article cannot close it, without feeling it a duty of gratitude to state in his own person, and to attest for many others, that Mr. Pratt's disposition to benevolence keeps pace with his beautiful descriptions of it; and that, impelled to the practice of the sympathy and humanity so touchingly painted in almost every production of his pen, he has often been led to a more full tide of good offices to the unfortunate of every denomination, than the dictates of severe prudence might sanction.

J.

DOCTOR

DOCTOR HARRINGTON,

OF BATH.

THIS highly respected gentleman is descended from an ancient and illustrious family, not more distinguished by the smiles of fortune, than by superior intellectual possessions; an interesting account of which may be found in a publication of the Doctor's, in 1768, entitled the "Hugo Antiques," being a collection of letters written by his ancestors and their correspondents, in the reigns of the 7th and 8th Henrys, Mary and Elizabeth, Edward the 6th, James the 1st, and Charles the 1st, in four vols. replete with original information and merit. Sir John Harrington, from whom the Doctor more immediately descends, was the son of Mr. Harrington, who married a natural daughter of Henry the 8th, with whom the King gave as dower, the forfeited church lands of Kelston, Catharine, part of Bath-Easton, and Corston, upon which, it is said, he built at Kelston the largest house at that time in Somersetshire. He was a great favourite of Queen Elizabeth's, whom be attended in the tower during the reign of her infatuated and sanguinary sister Mary. She stood godmother for Sir John, his eldest son, who also became a favourite, from his ready wit, pleasantry, and learning. He was esteemed the best English epigram writer of that age, and when very young displayed much ingenuity and judgment in a translation of

Ariosto,

Ariosto, the only one of that beautiful poet till Mr. Hoole's, which appeared some years since, and though certainly possessed of much merit, is by no means comparable to Sir John's, to whom, indeed, Mr. Hoole seems much indebted for assistance.James Harrington, another ancestor of the Doctor's, rendered himself conspicuous in the literary world, by the so justly celebrated Oceana, which is inserted in the preface of the "Hugo Antiques." Indeed Genius seems to have had many favourites in this family, and the world will certainly allow that his smiles have been continued to the worthy subject of this memoir, whose delicately enriched taste, and superior knowledge in the enchanting science of music, have so often and so justly been the theme of public admiration.*

Doctor

*The Doctor has, in his possession, some good pictures, and a curious collection of family and other portraits, uncommonly well preserved, of the reigns of Henry 7th and 8th, Queen Elizabeth, James 1st, and Charles 1st. He has an original picture of Queen Elizabeth, when Princess, in the tower, and of Etheldred Tudor Harrington, natural daughter of Henry the 8th; also a portrait of Lord Leicester and Essex, originals, and two of the handsomest of Queen Elizabeth's maids of honour, in their curious apparel in which they appeared at court on the Queen's birth-day. They were rival beauties, and, on the Queen's giving her preference to the beauty of one of them, the other is said to have died of grief and envy.

The Doctor has also a family seal, the date of the year 1279, it belonged to Robertus Dominus de Haverington, Cumberland. King James the First sent for the Doctor's ancestor Sir John Harrington, to Court, to converse with him, as he heard he was

a great

Doctor Harrington was born on Michaelmas day, 1727, at Kelston, Somersetshire. He received his education in his father's house, under the tuition of the late Rev. Dr. Fothergill, father of the present Vicar of Twerton, and brother to the late Provost of Queen's College, Oxford. His father's affairs being much embarrassed, his elder brother was prevailed on to dock the entail of the Kelston estate, an act that ultimately proved ruinous to the whole family, for it might, on account of the Doctor's minority, have been preserved to the present family, his brother having died shortly after the business was effected. At this time the Doctor was received by his uncle, William Harrington, Vicar of Kingston, in Wilts, and under his patronage, entered at Queen's College, Oxford, in the year 1745. During the vacations, he lived with his uncle, a man every way calculated to diffuse knowledge and create emulation; and it is most probable that the Doctor derived much of that elegance, taste, and judgment, which has so conspicuously shown in his compositions, from him. He was highly celebrated for his acquirements in the sciences of music, poetry, and mathe

<< what

a great wit, "Sir John," said the superstitious King, do you think is the reason why the devil deals with old women, so that they become witches?" "Please your Majesty,” replied the Knight, I humbly think it is because the devil delights to walk in dry places."

The King talked much to him on theological subjects, and told him when he left him, "that as he had heard Sir John's wit, Sir John had also heard the King's learning, and bid him report it favourably."

matics;