Hoxton and Hackney; and the Rev. Dr. Flexman. Besides his constant labours as a preacher, an author, and a tutor, Dr. Rees was, and still is, assiduous in his attendance in the various connexions which he sustains as a member of the Presbyterian board ;* as one of the trustees of the late Dr. Williams's property; as one of the general body of associated mi nisters; The Presbyterian board consists of the ministers and representatives of several congregations in London, which by public annual collections and subscriptions are enabled to afford relief and assistance to a great many ministers in the country, whose annual income is utterly inadequate to the support of themselves and families. From the same fund several young men designed for the ministry are materially assisted in the prosecution of their studies. Dr. Daniel Williams was born at Wrexham in Denbighshire, about the year 1644: he was remarkable for his early application to study. In the course of his life he was chaplain to the countess of Meath, and occasional preacher in Dublin and other parts of Ireland. About the year 1697 he came back to and settled in London. In the beginning of the last century he was created a doctor in divinity by the universities of Dublin and Glasgow. He died in the year 1716 in possession of considerable property, the greater part of which he invested in trust for charitable purposes. Dr. Rees is one of the present trustees, which consist of about twenty persons, who are either dissenting ministers, or the most respectable persons belonging to their congregations. The interest of Dr. Williams's estate is applied to the support of some schools in Wales, and of dissenting ministers, and the widows of dissenting ministers, in the united kingdoms. Dr. Williams left his library for public use, which is preserved in a commodious house in Redcross-Street, Cripplegate, and which, by application to any of the trustees, may be consulted four days in every week. The trustees have also power to lend any of the books under certain restrictions. The nisters; and as a friend and supporter of the fund which was projected by the late Dr. Chandler,* and which is wholly devoted to the better maintenance of the widows and orphans of those ministers, who at their decease are unable to provide for their subsistence. Dr. Rees has also been of great use forwarding the views of the " Working Orphan School in the City Road, as well as a considerable benefactor in The collection of books in Dr. Williams's library has been greatly augmented by considerable donations of liberal-minded persons, and by presents from authors of their respective works in every department of literature. It is said to consist of eighteen thousand volumes: many of them are copies of works which are now become very scarce, in which the modern historian and critic will find ample materials to assist and clucidate their various researches. A new edition of the catalogue belonging to this library was printed the beginning of this year for the use of the trustees; and copies of it have been sent to most of the public libraries, and to many of our most celebrated literary characters. * Dr. Chandler, many years pastor of the congregation in the Old Jewry, was a man of very superior talents and profound learning. On the death of King George the Second he published a sermon, in which he compared that prince to King David. This gave rise to a pamphlet entitled "The History of the Man after God's own Heart," in which the author exhibited King David as an example of perfidy, lust, and cruelty, and complained of the insult that had been offered to the memory of the late British monarch by Dr. Chandler's parallel between him and the King of Israel. This attack led the Doctor to publish "A Review of the History of the Man after God's own Heart, &c." and afterwards a very claborate "critical History of the Life of David," which has been considered, in many respects, as a masterpiece of criticism. Dr. Chandler is also known by many other valuable theoogical works. + The Working Orphan School is an institution established in the year 1760 at Hoxton, for the maintenance, instruction, and employment various ways to several other charitable institutions belonging to the protestant dissenters. Of Dr. Recs's sentiments as a politician it may be observed, that though he has never taken any very active part in this line, yet he has uniformly shewn himself friendly to those principles which placed the Brunswick family on the throne of these realms, and is a warm advocate for the general principles of liberty.* With regard to his theological opinions, Dr. Rees avows himself an Unitarian of the old school; claiming his right to this appellation, though he does not adopt the sentiments of those who have lately appropriated the distinction to themselves concerning the person of Christ. Whilst he admits the pre-existent dignity of Jesus Christ, he maintains the unity and employment of orphans, and other poor children. It is now conducted with the greatest respectability in the City Road, and is supported principally by the voluntary contributions of dissenters and other liberal-minded persons. * The following passage, taken from one of Dr. Rees's printed sermons will illustrate his political sentiments: "I shall only add, that the late victory on the coast of Africa, so important in itself, so beneficial in its consequences, and so honourable to all who were engaged in achieving it, will bring to our grateful recollection the glorious first of August, which has long been celebrated as the æra of the accession of his Majesty's family to the throne of these realms, and by none of his Majesty's most loyal subjects more sincerely and more joyfully than by PROTESTANT DISSENTERS. They have thus testified their approbation of the civil constitution of their country, and on all necessary occasions they have been amongst the most zealous and active in evincing their attachment to it, and their desire of its perpetuity." See "The Privileges of Britain." supremacy supremacy of God, and considers him the sole object of religious worship. On other subjects of theological controversy, he ranks with those who are usually denominated the liberal dissenters. His sermons are seldom devoted to controversy, but to moral and religious instruction. He is neither a materialist nor necessarian, and in opposition to opinions that distinguish persons of this description, he is often explicit, and always decided, whilst he lives in habits of intimate friendship with many of this class, whom, in common with all good men, he esteems and honours. Such is the sketch of the useful life and labours of the Rev. Dr. Abraham Rees, who, on account of the service which he had rendered to literature and science, was, when he had completed the last edition of the Cyclopædia, unanimously elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. In conformity to the public wishes which have been long and loudly expressed, Dr. Rees is now fully engaged in preparing a new edition of the great English Cyclopædia. This work, we have been told, though, formed upon the same plan as the last, will be found to be rather a new work than a new edition. The most competent writers and the most ingenious artists are engaged to complete the new Cyclopædia. We have heard in connexion with this work the names of the most celebrated authors in Chemistry, Medicine, Surgery, Anatomy, Agriculture, Music, Statuary, &c.; but the proprietors not having formally announced them, we do not think we should be justified in anticipating the public expectation. MR. MR. ARTHUR YOUNG, SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE, &c. &c, ARE the memoirs of men, who have stood forth conspicuous to the public view, to be drawn up and sent abroad for the mere gratification of an idle curiosity on one hand, or of a puerile and selfish vanity on the other, rather than for the more noble purposes of general information, and of directing the plaudits and patronage of the public towards the modest possessors of virtue and useful talents? We trust the information, as well as amusement, to be found in these volumes, will prove a satisfactory answer to this question. But as the chief merit and utility of this species of composition consists in the strictest attention to impartial and discriminating truth, it is necessary to awaken congenial sentiments in the mind of the reader, and in the mind also of him who is honoured with the enviable distinction of biographical notice. The latter, in particular, should for a moment assume the biographer's difficult place; should set about convincing himself, that it is beyond the lot of the most exalted of mortals to attain a state of perfection, or be independent of the advantages of good counsel; should accept, with a manly and rational satisfaction, the due commendation of his merits and his virtues, and receive, with the mild forbearance of a philosopher, the correction of his errors. To be enabled to do justice to the laudable curiosity of a contemporary public, and con |