was increased by his coming out warm from the House of Peers, and afterwards exposing himself to the cold air with the windows of his chair open; a pleurisy was the consequence, which at first was not considered by the physicians to be dangerous. His Royal Highness was believed to be in a fair way of recovery, till the very hour before he died. A large abscess in his lungs had been forming for some time, and was supposed to have burst, and to have been the immediate cause of his death.

This event was most deeply lamented by all the nation. In every relation of public or private life, the Prince of Wales was held in the highest estimation, as a dutiful son, an affectionate parent and husband, a warm friend, and generous patron. He captivated all hearts by the affability and kindness of his temper and manners; and, indeed, all who had the honour of knowing His Royal Highness were greatly attached to him. Endowed with excellent talents, and considerable learning, the Prince took real pleasure in giving encouragement to ingenious and learned men, and distinguished them by substantial marks of his favour and kindness.

In 1750 the King went a second time to Hanover, and left the Prince of Wales guardian to the kingdom, who made a tour into the West of England with the Princess of Wales and the Princess Augusta, (who was afterwards Duchess of Brunswick): they were received every where with the highest respect and affectionate loyalty. The

people were delighted by the gracious manners of the Prince and Princess, while the nobility were happy to anticipate the reign of such royal excellence. Alas! transient and brief are the sanguine hopes of mortals: in eight months after this tour the popular and justly beloved heir-apparent to the throne was in his grave.

son.

The King was deeply afflicted by the death of his Ten years of cordial reconciliation (after long estrangement) had made the Prince and Princess of Wales more and more estimable and dear to his Majesty; while the very prudent and amiable conduct of the Princess had gained the most perfect attachment of his Majesty, who shewed the greatest sympathy with her and her very fine family on the decease of her husband. The nation had formed the highest hopes, that, if the Prince should live to ascend the throne, his reign would be glorious and happy for himself and for his country. All party opposition had been extinguished for some years before his death, from the time that the King had been reconciled to him.

George the Second died at his palace, at Kensington, on the 25th of October, 1760, in the seventy-eighth year of his age, and thirty-fifth of his reign. His Majesty had risen and drank his chocolate, and asked his page about the weather; he then went and opened a window of his apartment, and said he would walk in the garden. Soon after (when left alone in his chamber) his Majesty fell on the floor: his servants, hearing the noise,

ran into the room, and lifted him upon the bed. He desired them to call the Princess Amelia; but he expired before she could reach the apartment. An attempt was made to bleed his Majesty, but it was in vain. When his body was opened, it was found that the right ventricle of the heart was broken or had burst, and a great quantity of blood was discharged through the aperture, so that his death was instantaneous and without pain.

George the Second was in his person well formed and upright, but rather below the middle stature, with a fair complexion and a high nose, and his eyes were remarkably prominent: his temper was ardent, and inclined to be positive, impetuous, and inflexible; but in his public life it did not appear to have much effect, nor did it lead him to any hasty measures contrary to the interest of his subjects. To promote the happiness of his people by all exertions in his power, was his sincere desire. He never was known to practise any deceit: upright in heart, honest in all his words and deeds, he was ever true to his promise, and void of all dissimulation. His Majesty seldom changed his servants, and never willingly. His judgment of public affairs and conduct was just and comprehensive. He had a clear and judicious idea of the interests of the different powers of Europe, while most anxious to give attention to the interest of Great Britain and Ireland. His Majesty had the happiness to see the spirit of discord, amongst contending parties, almost extinguished in his dominions, but

it was not till near the end of his reign that his family might be considered as firmly established on the throne, and the House of Stuart finally rejected. It was observed by historians and travellers, that England, in the old age of George the Second, enjoyed all the blessings of peace, while most of the kingdoms of Europe were suffering all the dreadful calamities of war.

George the Second had little or no taste for literature or the fine arts, neither had his minister troubled the ear of his Majesty for aid to literary men; yet to Dr. Young, the author of "Night Thoughts," the King gave 2007. a year, at that time no small reward.

In this happy period of general peace at home and abroad, King George the Third ascended the throne, in the twenty-third year of his age, with the highest character, and with the most ardent and sincere congratulations and love of his happy and loyal subjects: which happiness was augmented greatly by the marriage of the King to the most amiable and excellent Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburgh Strelitz, in August, 1761. Her memory will long be dear to all who knew her distinguished virtues, and eminent good understanding, her firm principles, and amiable feelings in public and private life.

DR. ISAAC BARROW, D.D.

THIS very learned and distinguished divine was born in London, in 1630; his family were highly respectable and greatly attached to King Charles the First. Dr. Barrow was placed in the Charter-house when very young, and was afterwards sent to Felstead school in Essex, where he made great progress in the Latin and Greek languages, and was early at Cambridge, where he formed a happy and permanent friendship with Mr. Newton, (afterwards Sir Isaac). They were both most distinguished scholars, and pre-eminent by their knowledge of geometry, mathematics, and astronomy. Mr.

Barrow was chosen to be tutor to the Lord Viscount Fairfax; at this time Mr. Barrow had been remarkable by his talents and great diligence at Cambridge, both in the knowledge of the languages, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, as requisite at that time for all young gentlemen, who were also ardent to get telescopes improved more and more in England, where the first telescopes (brought from Italy) were 200 and 220 feet in length, and yet not half