THE LORD CHANCELLOR HARDWICKE.

PHILIP YORKE, Earl of Hardwicke, was born at Dover, in Kent, December 1st, 1690. He was early distinguished at School at Bethnal-green, where Mr. Samuel Morland was an eminent teacher of classical and general learning. Mr. Yorke afterwards studied the law in the Middle Temple. He was called to the Bar in 1714, and was soon very eminent in his profession, by his talents and learning, with superior eloquence and unblemished honour. He sat in Parliament in 1718, as Member for Lewes, in Sussex, and afterwards in two succeeding Parliaments for Seaford. He was in early youth admirably qualified for the most important business; calm, candid, just, with great penetration and discernment.

In March 1720, he was promoted to the office of Solicitor General, by the Lord Chancellor Parker's high recommendation. In February 1724, he was appointed Attorney General, in which office he was remarkable for lenity and sound judgment. In 1733, Sir Philip Yorke was appointed Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench; and soon after was raised to the dignity of a Baron of this kingdom, with the title of Lord Hardwicke, Baron of Hard

wicke, in the County of Gloucester. He was also called to the Cabinet Council of King George the Second. In the midst of this general approbation, he was called to succeed Lord Talbot, (on his decease), as Lord High Chancellor, February 17th, 1737. After his Lordship had filled this high office for seventeen years, in times of particular difficulty and danger, having been also twice called to act as Lord High Steward, on the trial of Peers concerned in the rebellion, he was in 1754 advanced to the dignity of an Earl of Great Britain, with the titles of Viscount Royston, and Earl of Hardwicke. These favours were all conferred, unasked, by his Sovereign, who treated him during his whole reign with particular esteem and confidence, always speaking of him in a manner which shewed that his Majesty had set as high a value on the man as on the Minister. The high character of this nobleman is well expressed in the "Life of Sir Robert Walpole," by Archdeacon Coxe. We beg leave to copy the following lines from that able author.

"This great lawyer, who sat so long, and with distinguished character for integrity and knowledge, at the head of the law, had raised himself solely by his eminent talents. The eloquence which he displayed at the bar, had recommended him to notice in early life. The style of his eloquence was more adapted to the House of Lords, than to the House of Commons. The tone of his voice was pleasing and melodious; his manner was placid and dignified: precision of arrangement,

closeness of argument, fluency of expression, elegance of diction, and great knowledge of the subject on which he spoke, were his particular and most important characteristics. He seldom rose into great animation; his chief aim was more to convince than amuse his hearers; to appeal to their judgment, rather than to their feelings. He possessed a perfect command over himself. His even temper was never ruffled by petulant opposition or malignant invective."

The prudence, moderation, and good feelings of the Chancellor were all distinguished in the misunderstanding between the King and Prince of Wales. His Majesty, George the Second, was irritable, and quickly offended; and from his not having patience or opportunity of knowing the excellent virtues of the Prince, the misunderstanding appears to have arisen. His Majesty deeply lamented the death of the Prince of Wales, who was honoured and beloved by all.

The Lord Chancellor Hardwicke resigned the Great Seal in November, 1756; which gave universal concern to the nation, however divided at that time in other respects. But his Lordship continued to serve the public in a more private character at the Council Board, and in the House of Lords. He died in his seventy-fourth year, at his house in Grosvenor square. His body was interred at Wimple, in Cambridgeshire, by that of his lady, Margaret, daughter of Charles Cocks, Esq. of Worcestershire, and niece of the Lord Chancellor Somers.

DR. JOSEPH BLACK, M.D.

DR. BLACK was many years Professor of Chemistry at Edinburgh, where his character and talents were in high estimation, not only as a great chemist, but by extensive general knowledge, with very polite and engaging manners.

Dr. Black was a native of Bourdeaux, and had received in France all his early education. His father had been from Britain, and settled in Bourdeaux when very young, as a wine merchant, and was intimate with the celebrated President Montesquieu, who was Governor of that province, and was the author of the treatise" De L'Esprit des Lois." This great and learned nobleman had been well known to Dr. Joseph Black, before he left France to study medicine and chemistry at Edinburgh. Dr. Black was so very distinguished a chemist, that he was chosen Professor of Chemistry at Glasgow University in 1756, a young, but a very remarkable genius. He published four volumes on chemistry. His worthy father, at Bourdeaux, was delighted to hear of the progress which his son was making at Edinburgh and Glasgow, and shewed to the President Montesquieu the agreeable letters received from him. The Editor saw one

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or two letters in which the father of Professor Black writes to his son "I have had great pleasure in seeing my good friend, the President Montesquieu, and gave him your letter to read of your promotion at Glasgow. The President, who is the most distinguished nobleman here, called on me at Bourdeaux, and said, ' my very good friend, Mr. Black, I come to rejoice with you on account of the good news from your son, he will be an honour to you."

In 1766, Dr. Black was promoted to be Professor of Chemistry at Edinburgh, where his fame and his real merits made him a great acquisition to the University: the students in his class respected and loved their eminent master. When he appeared either in public or private, his polite manners and very graceful and polished deportment (partly from his early education in France) with all the intelligence which appeared in his conversation, made him a perfect accomplished gentleman, as well as the great philosopher.

In winter, the Society at Edinburgh is very refined and intelligent, by reason of the many noble- * men and judges, lawyers, and many military men of rank mingled with the Professors of the Colleges, and many very agreeable and most intelligent ladies, who then reside there: but Dr. Black never was married. He had devoted himself to literary life and philosophy.

The Editor met him in Perthshire in 1781, at the seat of the old Earl of Kinnoul, Dupplin Castle,