The Sun.
London, England, 1806-11-07 00:00:00

BRITISH REVIEW.

MATTERS of high national importance have long I
prevented us from attending to the particular mite-
I
rests of Literature, but it is our intention to resume;
occasionally, that Department of our Paper which
gives us .an opportunity of notking Works of real
merit. Among these; "Ah Account of the Life
and Writings of the late Dr. BEATTIE," a good Poet,.
a sound Philosopher, and a sincere Christian, by Sir
WILLIAM FORBES, is particularly entitled to our at-
tention, as it is written with Judgment and can-
dour, though it comes warm from the source of
.friendship.
. Ohr Readers will, we doubt not, receive great plea-
sure in perusing the following Relation of the inter-
view which passed between HIS MAJESTY and Dr.
BlorriE, as given to the Public bx,the latter. . This
Relation forms an interesting cffinterpart to that
given by Dr. Jour: sds; and the represeniations of two
. such profound judges of human nature, as Sou N SON
and BEATTIE, cannot but give the world in general
Os high a respea for the intelleaual powers and ex-
tensive knowledge of our vinerable Monarch, as it
has always justly entertained for the moral excellence
and public virtue which distinguishes his august cha-
raacr.

" Tuesday, 24th August, set out for Dr.-Majen-
die's,-at Kew-Green. The Do&or told me, that he
had not seen the King yesterday-, but had left a note
in writing to intimate, that I was to be at his house
fc-Jay ; and that one of the King's pages had' come
to him this morning to say, " that his Majesty
would see me a little after twelve." At twelve, the
Dodor and I went to the King's-house, at Kew.
We had been only a few minutesan the ball, when the
King and Queen caine in front an airing, and as
they passed through the hall, the King called to me
by name, and asked how long it was since I came
from town., I answered, about an hour. " I shall
see you,",says he, "in a little." The Dodor and I
waited a considerable time (for the King
.was busy),
and then we were called into a large room; furnished
ash library, where the King was walking about, and
the Queen sitting in a chair. We were received in
the most gracious manner possible by both their Ma-
jesties. I had the honour of a conversation with
them (nobody else being present but Dr. Majendie),
for upwards'of an hour, on a great variety of topics,
in which both the 'King- and Queen toined,,with a.
degree of chearfulnesg, affability, and ease, that was
to me surprising, and soda dissipated the embarrass-
' ment which I felt at the beginning of the conference.
They both complimented we, in the highest terms,
on my " Essay," which, they was a book
they always kept by them ; and the King said he
had one Copy of it at Kew, and another iu town,
land immediately went and took it down from 'a shelf.
I found it was the second edition. " r never stole a
book but one," said his Majesty, " and that was
your's (speaking to me) ; I stele it from the Queen
to give it to Lord Hertford to read." He bad heard
that the sale of Hume's Essays had failed since my
book was published ; and I told him what Mr.
Strahan had told me in regard to that matter. He
had.even heard of my being in Edinburgh last sum-
mer, and how Mr. .Hrune was offended on the
score of my book. He asked many questions about
the :second part of the EsSay, and when it would be
ready for the press. I gave him, in a short speech,
an account of the, plan of it.; arid said my health
.was so precarious, I could not tell when it might be
ready, a$ I-had many books to consult before I could.
finish it ; but that, if myholth-were good, I thought
I Might bring it to a conclusion in two or three
years. He asked how long I had been in compos-
ing my Essay i praised the• caution with which it
was written ; and said he did not wonder that itijiad,
employed me, Live or six years. He asked about. tny
Poems. I said there was only one poem of my I
own on. Which I set any value (meaning the Min-
strel), and that it was first published.about the same
time with the Essay. My others poems,-.,1
we're incorrect, being but juvenile pieces, and of
'little Consequence, even in my own opinion. We
had much conversation on moral subjects; from
which both their Majesties let it appear, that-they
were warm friends to Christianity ; and so little in-
clined . to infidelity, that they could hardly believe
that any thinking man could really be an atheist,.
unless he could bring himself- to believe that he
mile himself ; a thought which pleased the King
exceedingly ; and he repeated it several times to the
Queen. -He asked, whether any thing bad been
written against Inc. I, spoke of the late pamphlet,
of which I gave an account, telling him, that I, ne-
ver had met with any man who had read it, except
one Quaker. This-brought on some discourse about
the Quakers, whose moderation, and mild behal,•l--
out, the King and Queen commended. was ask-
ed many questions about the Seas. Universities, the
revenues of the, Scots clergy, their mode of praying
and preaching, the Medical College of Edinburgh;
Dr. Gregory (of whom I gave a particular character),
and Dr. Cullen, the length of our vacation at Aber-
deen, and the closeness -of our attendance during the
winter, the number of students that attend my lee-
iwes, my mode of leditring, whether from notes, or
completely written ledures ; about Mr. Hume, and
Dr. Robertson, and Lord Kinnoull, and the Arch
bishop of York, Bcc. &c. His .Maje Sty asked what
I thought of my new acquaintance, • Lord Dart-
-mouth I I said, there was something in his air and
manner, which I thought not only agreeable, but
enchanting, and that he seemed to me to be one of
the best of men; a sentiment in which both their
r Majesties heartily joined. " They say that Lord
Dartmouth is:an enthusiast," said 'the King, " but
surely he says nothing.on the,sebjeet of religion,
but what every christian may and ought to say."

na asked, Whether I (ha sot think the English
page on the decline at present ? 1 answered the:.
affirmative ; and the King agreed, and named the
'Spectator as one of _the best standards of the lan-
guage. When I told. him . that the Scots clergy
`sometimes prayed a quarter, or even half; an boor at
a time; he. asked, whether that did not led them.
into repetitions ? I said,, it often did. -" That," said
he, ". I don't like in prayers ; and 'excellent as our
Liturgy is; I think it somewhat faulty in. hat re-
soca." " Your Majesty kupa,,s,",. said I, " that „
three services are joined in one, in the ordinary
church-service, which iaone cause xd those repeti7
tions." '' True," he replied, " and that, circum-
stance also makes the service too long." From
this he took occasion to speak of the compOsitiOn
of the church liturgy; oo which he very justly be=
stowed the highest , commendatiora " Observe,"
his Majesty said, " how fiat those occasional prayers
are that are now composed, in comparison with
the old ones." When I Mentioned the smallness of
the church-livings in Scotland, he said, " he won
dered how. men of liberal education would choose to
become clergymen there," and asked, " whether in
the remote parts of the country the clergy, in gene-
ral,
were not very ignorant ?" I answered, " No;
for that _education was very cheap in Scotland, and
that the clergy, in general, were men of good sense,
and competent learning." . lie asked whether
~we -
had any good preachers at Aberdeen'? I said, yes,
and named Campbell and Cerrard; with Whose
names, however, I did not find that he was aequaint-
ed. Dr. Majendie mentioned Dr. Oswald'a Appeal,
with commendation ; I praised. it too ; and the
Queen took down the name, with-a view to send for
it. I was naked, whether, 'I knew Dr. Oswald ? T.
answered; I did. not ; and said; that my book was
published beforK 'I read his ; that , Dr. o..was well
known to Lord Kinnoull, who had often proposed
to make us acquainted. We discussed a great many
other topics; for the, conversation, as before ob-
served, _lasted for upwards of an hour, without any
intermission. The Queen -bore a large share in it.
Both the King and her Majesty shewed, a great deal
of good sense, acutetiess, and knowledge,' as well -as
of good nature and aftibility. At last the -King took
out his watch (for it was now almost three o'cfock,
his hour of dinner), which Dr. Majendie and I took
as a signal to withdraw.. We accordingly bowed to
their Majesties, and I addressed the King in these
words : " I hope, Sir; your Majesty will pardon :ate,
if I take this opportunity to return you my humble
and most grateful acknowledgments for the honour •
you have been pleased 'to confer upon me." He
immediately answered, " I think I could do no less
for a man who has done so much service to the cause
of Christianity. I shall aiways.be glad of an oppor-,
tunity to, shew the-good opinion
,Lhave of you."--
The Queen sat all the while, and the King stood,
sometimes walking about a little. Her Majesty
speaks the English language with surprising elegance.
and little or nothing of a foreign accent. There _is
something' wonderfully captivating in her 'manner,
so that if she were only of the rank of a private gen.,
tlewoman, one could not help taking notice of her
as one of the most agreeable women in the world.
Her face is much more pleasing than wny of her pic-
tures ; and in the expression of her eyes, and in her
smile, there is something peculiarly engaging. When
the Dodor and I Carrie out, " Pray," said I, " how
did I. behave ? Tell me honestly,. 7)1. I am not ac-
customed to conversations of this kind." " Why,
pettedly -well," answered he, a' an_t just as you
ought to do."—" Are yOu sure Of that ?" said I.—
" As sure," he. replied, '" as of 'my own existence;
'and von may be assured of it too, when I tell you,
that if there had been any thing in your manner or
conversation which was not perfealy. agreeable,
your conference would have been at an end in. eight
or ten minutes at most." The Doctor after Wards
told. me, that it- was a most, uncommon thing fora
'private man and a commoner toe be honoured with
so long an audience. I .dined with Dr. and Mrs.
Majendie, and their family, and returned to town in
the evening very much pleased with the occdrrences
of the day."

1 The ydung man who was ,wounded on WOdnes-
F day night by two Foreigners( in an eledlion squab-
ble, in Long acre, proves.to be Wm. Broad, a jour-
neyman Printer. He .was, 'on the same .evening,
taken to. St. Bartholemew's Hospital, where here-.
mained yesterday, by no means out of danger. He
received two wounds, one in his arm, ail(' one in his
it thigh... It is supposed the offence will come under
Lord ELLENBOROUGIT'S Ad.

INIIUMANITY`:—Yesterday a most-distressing scene
took place near Great Cllarlotte-street, Blackfriars-
road : A Lady, upwards of fbrty years of age, dressed
in mourning, cal Kid a coach ; she had not gone far
'before she be an to rave, and show violent symp-
toms of insanity. The coachman (not knowing
what to do) was advised to take the. Lady to the
Workhouse of the Pari4h, where, strange to tell,
every assistance was refused, and the Superintendant
of that expensive, and to be hoped' liberal provision,
. for the distresses of our fellow creatures, nut only
rudely refused to give the least- assistance to this
affecting objets of pity, but likewise refused to
inform some Gentleme!,, who were passing by, and
'seemed all-eCted by the situation-of the Lady, where
assistance might be had. his due to the hackney-
Coachman to state, he tonduCted himself in the most
humane and proper .manner. A rich lace, upon a
black silk pence, a very fine shawl, I,liite cam-
bric handkerchief, as well as the other parts of her
dress, and likewise her countenance, shewed her to
be a Gentlewoman. She had with her a large Bible
and a Prayer-book, the latter bound in red and gilt,
from which it is to .be apprehended' religion has had
some effect to her malady.---,Since writing the above,
the writer of this ts happy. to find, that by the exer-
tions of some huniane Gentlemen, this Lady was at •
last admitted, and placed under• the protection of
Proper persons, till her friends should be found.
On Saturday morning, the body of a blanket-
maker, from the neighbourhood of Leeds, of the
name of Wetherill, way found floating on the water,
near Ferrybriclge : and we are sorry to add that there
is every reason to believe .he has been most barbar-
ously murdered, his head being in a very mangled
state. At the time of his leaving Terrybridge, early
on Friday evening, he was known to, have 81. or 91.
of which it appears he has been robbed, having only
9s. left in his pocket.

*\,'"Vith *la a list of apitai t'rrzes is_the preseri
Lottery boa-ts of, tLe time has been when Tickets
would have-rqlitedrhe Bpecutators-sixty or seventy
Guineas. The Wheel goes round on MOndav next,
at ten b'elock precisely, and will
,iiuish drawing on
Saturday. The„very few real fining Shares to be
disposed of ‘v ill be all sold long before the conclu-
sion. Warranted undrawu Tickets and ShareS may
be- had, so long as any remain, 'at 1-101U4SBY and
Co.'s, No. s 6, Cornbill No. 52, Charing:Cross ;
and St. Margaret's-111, Borough.

S it 11'

POOLE, 110 V EMBIR 6.

Passed iw—the Little (ai►c, Greek; from NOrway:
Saded'—tbe Traveller, Koper, or Madeira;
novan, for Buenos Ayres; Regulus, Hamilton, for Gibral-
tar ; Paul and Catharine, ZachralsOn,, for Nonyay ; Hero,
Thorlas, and Eiiia, Garland, for litrOtin.

• BI4TIIS.
On Sunday latt, the wife of Henry Brown; Esq. of North
Minims Place, Herts, of a Daughter.
On the sth of September, at St. Christopherrs, West In,
diesi'the Lady of Stedrilan Rawlins, Esq.' of a Son and Heir
•