them. Men, of almost every religious creed, joined in the holy work. Sunday-schools, societies for Bettering the condition of the poor, with many associates, were anxiously supported. The Madras system of education, under the direction, and, possibly, the invention of Dr. Bell, in our national schools, completed a revolution in public instruction, and a new population of literary aspirants, required the careful attention and judicious selection of moral and religious information. Our venerable societies for Promoting christian knowledge, and Propagating the gospel in foreign parts, under new auspices, carry tidings of salvation into the remotest regions. The British and Foreign Bible Society diffuses a sacred treasure, not only in our native tongue, but in languages never before hallowed by the word of God. Missionary societies, of various kinds, have multiplied; and societies for the distribution of religious tracts are numerous. Highly as I may be inclined to laud such institutions as these, I must be understood to speak generally :-but every word that I have written, impresses more strongly the conviction on my mind, that the then chancellor's decision on Mr. Bradley's will, was too strong a measure. Time has passed away, and all the personal discussion, which it occasioned, along with it. May I not add, the very object of contention (what was intended to constitute the funds) has vanished also?-To extinguish a charity like this, was, in another language, like putting out one of the eyes of Britain. But the purpose of Divine Providence is never obstructed by partial interruptions. The wave will roll on, and accomplish that for which it was sent.

BRASS CROSBY, ESQ.,

Lord Mayor of London.

This patriotic civic magistrate was born at Stockton, May 8th, 1725; and is noticed in this history on account of the manly stand he made against the measures of the ministry of that period, which were considered by him as unconstitutional and tyrannical. He was the eldest son of Hercules Crosby, a respectable burgess of Stockton, and of Mary, the daughter and co-heiress of John Brass, of Black-halls, in the parish of Hesilden, and grandson of John Crosby, by his wife, Mary Charlton.

He received a good education in early life, and was removed from Stockton to the office of an attorney at Sunderland; from hence he was transferred to London, where he practised in his profession, first in the Little Minories, and afterwards in Seething-lane. The foundation of his ample fortune was laid by his assiduity in his profession, aided certainly by a succession of lucrative marriages.*

In 1758, Mr. Crosby was elected one of the common council for tower-ward; in 1760, he purchased the office of city remembrancer, which, in the following year, he was permitted to sell. In 1764, he served the office of

*In the History of Durham, by R. Surtees, Esq. vol. 3, p. 196, it is said that Brass was born to be rich-but he was undoubtedly the architect of his own fortune by his talents and industry. His two first wives, Mrs. Walraven and Mrs. Combe, brought him a considerable accession of wealth: by the first he had a daughter who died young. His third wife was Mrs. Tattersal, the daughter of Mr. James Mead, a wealthy merchant of London, and widow of the Rev. James Tattersal, rector of Gatton, in Surrey-with this lady he had the manor of Chelsfield Court in Kent. She survived her husband many years.-C. S.

sheriff; in the next year he was chosen alderman of Bread-street-ward; and in 1770, became Lord Mayor of

London.

In the parliament which met in 1765, he was elected a member for the borough of Honiton; he was afterwards on two occasions proposed a candidate for the city of London, but he was not anxious to sit again in parliament, and took no pains to insure his return.

When he was elected Lord Mayor, he did not compromise those principles of liberty which he had espoused, but in his address of thanks, laying his hand on his heart, he assured his fellow citizens that at the risque of his life, he would protect them in their just privileges and liberties. The strong political feeling which prevailed at this period, particularly in the city of London, rendered it not improbable that some circumstance would occur to call those principles into action. The court and city were already at variance on the subject of press warrants; and it was not long before the Lord Mayor was called upon to support the principles which he had declared. The Speaker of the House of Commons had issued his warrant against certain printers and publishers of newspapers for misrepresenting speeches in parliament, and reflecting upon members of the House. The Speaker's warrant not being backed by a magistrate, the Lord Mayor thought himself justified in discharging one of the printers brought before him, and signed a warrant of commitment for the messenger of the House of Commons for an assault on the printer, and false imprisonment. The messenger was bailed by the serjeant-at-arms; and soon after the Lord Mayor was called upon to answer for his conduct before the House. The effect was, the committal of the Lord

Mayor to the tower, which was carried, in the House, March 27, 1771, by a majority of 202 against 39. It was the intention of the House only to have placed him in the custody of the Serjeant-at-arms, on account of his ill state of health; but this intended favour the Lord Mayor disclaimed, and observed that, his health had amended with his struggle for his country:—that he longed to join his noble brother in office in the tower; Mr. Sheriff Oliver having been committed there two days before for the same offence. This mode of conduct made the Lord Mayor very popular. In returning from the House, on this occasion, the populace took the horses from his coach, and drew it to Temple-bar, though it was then midnight; and having conceived some suspicion of the Deputy Serjeantat-arms who attended him, when they got there they shut the gates, and informed his Lordship that his company had been drawn to the utmost extent of their boundaries, and that they must now immediately get out of the coach. The chief magistrate comprehended the full extent of the danger they were in, and pledged his honour that the gentlemen with him were his particular friends, who were to accompany him home: upon which they proceeded to the mansion-house with loud huzzas. He slept there that night, and in the morning went privately to the tower.

The Lord Mayor continued in confinement till the end of the session of parliament, the eighth day of May, when he was consequently discharged. On his return from the tower, he was conducted to the mansion-house in the state-coach, with all the city honours; the aldermen and common council being summoned to attend. Fifty-three carriages followed in the train; and the honourable members of the artillery company accompanied the procession in their uniform.

The Lord Mayor, during his imprisonment, was honoured with the freedom of the city of Worcester, and the town of Bedford; and with addresses from the counties of Caermarthen, Pembroke, and Cardigan; from the towns of Newcastle, Stratford, and Honiton ; from the common council of every ward in the city of London, and from many patriotic clubs. At the conclusion of his mayoralty, he received the thanks of the corporation of London, and a silver cup of two hundred pounds in value, which still remains in the family.

Mr. Crosby died at his house in Chatham-place, without issue, February the 14th, 1793, and was interred in a splendid manner on the 21st, in Chelsfield church, in his 68th year.

It is a proof of the integrity of Mr. Crosby's public life, that he presided over several charitable institutions in the city of London; from whence we may infer, that he was a man of an active as well as of a benevolent mind. He was president of the royal hospitals of Bridewell and Bethlehem; governor of the Irish Society; vice-president of the London workhouse; and chairman of the four principal committees; namely, 1. Of the city and bridgehouse estates. 2. The Thames navigation. 3. The controul over the corn and coal meters. 4. General purposes. He was trustee also (as one of the senior aldermen) of Greenwich hospital, Wilson's charity, &c.

JOSEPH RITSON, ESQ.

Barrister at Law.

It is not my intention to give a detailed memoir of this acute critic, as this has been ably done by Mr. Surtees,