"Bibliomania," for its animation, and vigour. Braithwaite was contemporary with Peacham-a “ par nobile fratrum"-they both employed their pens for the advancement of knowledge, and the refinement of manners in the upper classes. Braithwaite published his " English Gentleman," and "English Gentlewoman," severally in the years 1630 and 1631, which were preceded only a few years by Peacham's "Complete Gentleman."

NOTE 4 (p. 129.)

"Townshend." The Rev. Joseph Townshend (who died some few years since) was of Clare Hall, Cambridge, where he took the degree of A. M. He also pursued the study of medicine at Edinburgh; but, whether he ever graduated in that Faculty, I know not, yet I presume that he did, as he, subsequently, published "The Physician's Vade-Mecum," and for this he was, probably, sanctioned by a Degree. He entered into the Church, and attained to the Rectory of Pewsey, in Wilts.

In the year 1781, Townshend published, anonymously, in 12mo., "Free Thoughts on Despotic and Free Governments as connected with the Happiness of the Governor and the Governed." This work discovers a mind embued with a native love of freedom, and stocked with much historic, and political, knowledge. It is worthy to be read by-the Statesman. He was a man of enthusiastic feelings in all his engagements—in the early part of his ministry in the Church he was led (or led. himself more probably) into Calvinistic Methodism; and it is said, as I believe, with truth, that he, occasionally, officiated in Lady Huntingdon's Chapel at Bath. He is supposed to have been the "Geoffry Wildgoose" of Graves's satirical “Comic Romance" of "The Spiritual Quixote." Townshend, at that time, became surrounded with professed religious votaries, and to the poorer of these he was liberal with money and food, but -he possessed, by nature, a keen mind, which was too much. alert to be permanently entrapped, and imposed on, by religious hypocrisy, which he found to be the case-he then shook off the yoke, and confided, for the future, on his sobered judg

ment.

In the year 1782 he published his "Dissertations on the

Poor Laws," in which his reasonings, and deductions, are sound, and philosophical. This book was published fifty-four years since, and then he took the same view of the evil tendency of those laws, and of their mismanagement, as have led to their recent altered arrangements. In illustration of his feelings on this subject I quote the following extract from the "Preface" to his volume of "Sermons" published in 1805: “In the year 1782," (says he,)" when the legal provision for the poor became a most intolerable burden to the proprietors of land; when the good intentions of the legislature had been frustrated; when the system of our poor laws had increased the evils it meant to remedy, and aggravated the distress it was intended to relieve; the Author took up the pen to expose the folly of those laws, and published his Dissertations on that subject."

In the years 1786 and 1787, Townshend visited the Continent, and, shortly after, obliged the world with his "Journey through Spain," in three vols. 8vo. This work received the high approbation of the public, and is a model for statistical travels, the most useful of any, and which may ever, by a comprehensive mind, be agreeably diversified with notices on the arts and sciences, &c. In this tour he paid particular attention to the agriculture, manufactures, commerce, population, taxes, and revenue of that country." His interspersed remarks on its geology are very interesting.

66

I have before remarked, that Townshend studied medicine; but, whether he ever practised as a physician prior to his entrance into the Church, I cannot say. He published "The Physician's Vade-Mecum," which leads me to suppose, that he did act as such. This was succeeded, in 1795, by his "Guide to Health; being Cautions and Directions in the Treatment of Diseases, designed chiefly for the use of Students." This work is, I believe, well esteemed by the Faculty; and, illustrated, as it is, by practical observations, and detailed cases, it cannot but be interesting to one not of the Faculty. The author, however, modestly, thus introduces his ingenious work in his "Preface." "This Guide to Health' (says he) meant to supersede the Nosologia Methodica' of Dr. Cullen : that work, I may venture to predict, will stand the test of time. Of this, above all others, I would say to Students:

'Opus hoc

Nocturnâ versate manu, versate diurnâ.'

" is not

The nosological part of my work is founded upon his: the practical observations are derived from my own experience in the country, from conversation with the ablest physicians in Britain, France, and Spain, and from the most approved authors."

He again says, "If any one, not bred to science, should imagine, that, by consulting this work, he may readily become his own Physician, he mistakes my meaning;" and he concludes his preface with an earnest caution against the having resort to other than men of experience, or " of being misled by those, who have obtained the King's Letters Patent."

In the year 1805, Townshend published a volume of "Sermons on various Subjects." These Sermons may be truly characterised as religious without enthusiasm-elegant in their language and argumentative in their details. They are replete with substance-with correct reasoning derived from mature, and sound, reflection, and conveyed in a condensed style.

The last, and great, work of Townshend was " The Character of Moses established for veracity as an Historian, recording Events from the Creation to the Deluge," two vols. 4to., 1813, 1815.

Of this work (in its embryo state) the author thus speaks in his" Preface" to his volume of Sermons, published in the year 1815: "With the same view" (i. e. the suppression of infidelity) "of leading men both to the practice of virtue and to the knowledge of the truth, he is now preparing for the press his Observations on the Character of Moses, as an Historian, as a Lawgiver, and as a Prophet.

"This work will embrace a variety of interesting objects.

"As an historian, Moses displays the work of creation in its progressive stages, till it terminated in the fall of the human race. He gives an account of our fall from a state of innocence and virtue to the most abject condition of depravity and vice. He describes an universal deluge; he speaks of the dispersion of mankind, and affirms, that, prior to this event, the whole earth was of one language; he represents to us the simplicity of manners, which prevailed in the pastoral ages, the nature of the patriarchal government, and the introduction of sacrifice, with other religious observances universally prevalent from the most remote antiquity.

"These subjects lead to geological discussions, and to the

examination of the various languages, which are spoken in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America.

"In his geological discussions, the Author has examined the several strata, which appear in every part of Europe; but he has paid more particular attention to such as prevail in Britain, and has described their usual succession, range, thickness, dip, and dislocations, the materials of which they are composed, with their extraneous fossils, and the useful purposes for which these materials are adapted, the nature and extent of springs, and the regions to which both coals and mineral productions are confined.

"In his examination of languages, he has selected 3600 words in English, all monosyllabic, as being most ancient, and these he has compared with corresponding expressions in threescore languages, in order to demonstrate, that they all originate in one. This part of his work may be considered as a key to the languages of Europe, because, to any person, who is intimately acquainted with one of these, it facilitates the acquisition of all the rest.

"The first part of his work is almost ready for the press, and will appear in one quarto volume. It has occupied twelve years of close application, and unremitting attention. Indeed, the whole bent of his studies, for more than half a century, may be considered as having been directed to this object, because it has been constantly preparing him for the undertaking.

"Whenever that volume shall appear, it must not be considered as incomplete without the succeeding volume, because it will thoroughly investigate the character of Moses as an historian, which has no dependence on what is meant to follow, respecting his comparative merit as a legislator, and a prophet. In a word, it will stand like the principal and central portion of a vast edifice, to which the wings may be occasionally added to compose one whole."

Thus speaks Townshend, in the year 1805, of his elaborate work, the first volume of which appeared in the year 1813, and embraces alone his geological disquisitions; and I cannot do him greater justice for the proof of his qualification for the task than by quoting the following passage from his "Introduction:"

"The work now presented to the public is the result of laborious investigation during a period of more than fifty years.

The Author in early life turned his attention to Mineralogy, and in his Father's mines had an opportunity of noticing the visible effects of the deluge.

"When he had finished his education at Cambridge, and had left the University, he took up his residence in Scotland, where his knowledge progressively increased, and prepared him for a more extensive field of observation.

"In the year 1769 he traversed Ireland, and the next year he crossed over to the Continent, that he might pursue his researches in Holland, France, and Flanders. In these journeys he had an opportunity of conversing with men of superior knowledge on these subjects, and on his return to England, he read whatever had been written by modern travellers, descriptive of these geological excursions.

"During successive winters, he ransacked every part of Cornwall, and visited its mines, to all which he had free access.

"In 1786 he again crossed the Channel, examined the Cabinets in France, and had access to the most distinguished mineralogists, Daubanton, De Romé de Lisle, the Abbé Haüy, Besson, Hassenfratz, Chaptal, and Stoutz.

"In Spain he met with few men of science; but in every part of the Peninsula he had opportunities of tracing the effects of the grand revolution, which has happened to our globe.

"Whilst traversing the mountains, and viewing the lakes of Switzerland, he saw innumerable vestiges of the universal deluge, and he is happy to find his opinions confirmed by two of the most experienced naturalists, who received their education in the Alps. In their works the suggestions of his mind met with support, and his deductions from multiplied observations have been confirmed."

The preliminary discussion on the state of the world from the Creation to the Deluge, and on the traditions of the latter amongst the nations of various time, and space, is philosophical, and ingenious, and developes much classical research. He then proceeds to descant on the present state of the earth with its subterrene dislocations, and contents, more fully, indeed, as to this country, but in observations extended to all parts of the world; and, at the close, eloquently draws up his conclusions in vindication of the Mosaical Account of the Deluge. I must now add, that the indefatigable author executed with his own hands the several drawings of the fossils, which, engraved by Hewlett, illustrate his work.