2. On the Pactolus, vol. xxi. p. 19. 3. Remarks on the Medal of Xerxes, ibid, 404. 4. On the Infcription of Amydæ, vol. xxiii. p. 394. 5. Effay towards a Numifmatic Paleography, vol. xxiv. p. 30. 6. Differtation on the two Samaritan Medals of Antigonus, King of Judea, ibid. p. 49. 7. Remarks on Medals publifhed by feveral authors, vol. xxvi. p. 532. 8. Differtation on the Arabian Medals, ibid. p. 557. 9. Reflections on the Alphabet and Language of Palmyra, ibid. P. 577. 10. Memoirs on the Monuments of Rome, vol. xxiii. p. 579. 11. Reflexions on fome Phonician Monuments, vol. 30, p. 405. 12 Explanation of the Palestine Mofaic, ib. p. 503. 13. General Reflections on the Affinity of the Egyptian, Phoenician and Grecian Languages, vol. xxxii. P. 212. 14. Remarks on Medals publifhed by different Authors, ib. p. 671. 15. Explanation of an Egyptian Bas-relief, and of the Phoenician Infcription which accompanies it, ib. p. 725. 16. Remarks on the Number of Pieces which were reprefented in the fame Day on the Theatre of Athens. vol. xxxix. p. 172. 17. Remarks on the Medals of the Emperor Antonius, vol. xli. P. 501. 18. Letters to the Authors of the Journal des Scavans: on Phonician Medals and Infcriptions, in vol. Auguft, 1760, 4to. p. 495; Dec. 1761, p. 871; Sept. and Nov. 1763 on Samaritan Medals, April, '790. He wrote alfo many ar ticles in the Collection of Antiquities, by the Count de Caylus. In the Journal des Scavans for April, 1754, and June, 1760. He made the extracts of the Ruins of Balbec and Palmyra. He wrote for M. Bertin a Memoir on the Mexican Paintings; which was loft. He intended to have publifhed a collection of all his Differtations, with alterations and additions; which his nephew hopes one day or other to accomplish. Character of Erafmus, from Mr. Gibbon's Pofthumous Works, publifhed by Lord Sheffield. IF we confider the character of Erafmus, we fhall be immediately ftruck with his extenfive erudition; and that, heightened by two circumftances. First, that he was fcarcely ever fixed fix months in a place (excepting at Bafil;) that to this wandering life, which deprived him both of books and leifure, muft be added, a continued bad ftate of health, and the conftant avocation of a vaft correfpondence. Secondly, that his learning was all real, and founded on the accurate perufal of the ancient authors. The numerous editions he published fufficiently evince it; and befides, thofe convenient compilations of all forts, where a modern author can learn to be a profound scholar, at a very fmall expence, did not then exift; every thing was to be fought for in the originals themfelves. But befides this learning, which was common to many, Erafmus poffeffed a genius, without which no writer will ever defcend to pofterity; a genius which could fee through the vain fubtleties of the Aa+ fchools, fchools, revive the laws of criticifin, The catholics claim him, though treat every fubje&t with eloquence and delicacy; fometimes emulate the ancients, often imitate them, and never copy them. As to his morals, they had the poor merit of being regular. In the nobler part of his character I find him very deficient. A parafite of all the great men of his time, he was neither afhamed to magnify their characters by the loweft adulation, nor to debafe his own by the most impudent folicitations, to obtain prefents which very often he did not want. The adventure of Eppendorf is another proof how much dearer his money was to him than his character. Notwithstanding thefe faults, never man enjoyed a greater perfonal confideration. All the scholars, and all the princes of Europe looked upon him as an oracle. Even Charles the Fifth and Francis the First agreed in this. If we enquire why this happened to him rather than to fome other great men of a merit equal, and perhaps fuperior to Erafinus, we muft fay that it was owing to the time when he lived; when the world, awaking from a fleep of a thousand years, all orders of men applied themselves to letters with an enthufiafm which produced in them the higheft efteem and veneration for one of their principal reftorers. Befides, as the general attention, from piety, from curiofity, from vanity, and from intereft, was directed towards the religious difputes, a great divine was the fashionable character, and all parties endeavoured to attract or to preferve him. But to which of thofe parties did Erafmus adhere? His writings, and even his conduct, were often equivocal. they acknowledge that he was often indifcreet. Le Clerc challenges him for the Proteftants, though he blames him for not profeffing what he knew to have been the truth; and attributes his referve folely to timidity and felf-interest. Erafmus has certainly expofed all the groffer fuperftitions of the Romith worship to the ridicule of the pub lic; and had his free opinion heen taken, I believe he was a proteftant upon most of the contefted points. But many other motives might reftrain him from a declaration. He was always perfuaded, that any fpeculative truths were dearly purchafed at the expence of practical virtue and public peace. Befides, many confiderations might make him balance as to thofe truths: prejudices of education, the authority of the fathers, and a natural inclination to fcepticifm. Add to this, that really difapproving many things in the Proteftant communion, though more in the Romifh, by remaining in the loofe fituation of a man who was unwilling to quit the religion of his ancestors, he could blame many things in it with freedom; whereas, had he deferted it, he muft either have fet up a ftandard himfelf, or elfe have enlifted blindly under that of Luther or Ecolampadius. It is furprizing that Erafmus, who could fee through much more plaufible fables, believed firmly in witchcraft. Anecdotes of the late Dr. James Fordyce. From the European Magazine. THIS gentleman was one of the twenty children, by one wife, of Provost Fordyce, of Aberdeen. He received his education at the Ma rifchal rifchal College of that place, and early devoted himself to the miniftry. His first preferment, at leaft that we know of, was to be minifter at Brechin, where he officiated as early as the year 1752. He foon after became minifter of Alloa, where he remained until about the year 1760. At that period he came to London, and propofed himself as a candidate for a vacancy at the meeting at Carter's-lane, in which he was unfuccefsful. On this occafion it was objected to him, as ftrangely inconfiftent, for any perfon who had fubfcribed the articles of the Scotch confeffion of faith to offer himself in the character of a minifter to a diffenting_congregation which had fo very different a creed. This objection, however, was not fufficiently powerful to prevent hist being chofen as coadjutor of Dr. Lawrence, to the Paftorfhip at Monkwell-freet, where he continued to preach to crowded audiences, for a great number of years. In that year he was honoured by the Univerfity of Glafgow with the degree of Doctor of Divinity. In May, 1771, he married Mifs Henrietta Cummyng, and in 1775 was involved in a difpute with his coadjutor, the Rev. Thomas Toller, fon-in-law of Dr. Lawrence, at firft, as it appears in the letters published on the occafion, on account of the omiffion of fome ceremonials of politeness, which, by want of mutual conceffions increased, until the breach became too wide to be healed. On this occafion Dr. Fordyce took a ftep which was not univerfally approved of by his brethren the diffenters: he engaged to do the duty both of Mr. Toller and himfelf, and caufed the former to be ejected, without any charge against him (for he was a man of irreproachable character), from his office in the meeting. From this period, if we are not mifinformed, the meeting itself was lefs attended than before, and on Dr Fordyce's feeling the infirmities of age grow ing on him, the congregation by degrees dwindled away, and the houfe itfelf has been fince fhut up. Finding himself incapable of continuing his exertions as a preacher, in the manner he had been ufed, he retired, firft into Hampthire, and then to Bath, where he died the 1st of October; 1796, at the age of 75. Lawrence, who departed this life Oa. 1, 1760. With an Address at his Interment. 8vo. 1760. 7. Sermons to Young Women. 2 vols. 12mo. 1766. 8. The Character and Conduct of the Female Sex, and the Advantages to be derived by young Men from the fociety of virtuous Women. A Difcourfe in three parts. Delivered in Monkwellfireet Chapel, Jan. 1, 1776. 8vo. 1776. 9. Addreffes to young Men. 2 vols. 12mo. 1777: 10. The delufive and perfecuting Spirit of Popery. A Sermon preached in Monkwell-ftreet, on 10th of Feb. being a day appointed for a General Faft. Svo: 17797 11. Charge delivered in Monkwell-ftreet Meeting, at the Ordination of the Rev. James Lindfey. Svo. 1783.-Printed with the Sermon preached by Dr. Hunter on that occafion. 12. Addreffes to the Deity. 1785. 12mo. 13. Poems. 12mo. 1786. Account of the Royal Society of England, from Hutton's Mathematical and Philofophical Dictionary. The Royal Society of England is an academy or body of perfons, fuppofed to be eminent for their learning, inftituted by King Charles the Id, for promoting natural knowledge. This once illuftrious body originated from an affembly of ingenious men, refiding in London, who, being inquifitive into natural knowledge, and the new and experimental philofophy, agreed, about the year 1645, to meet weekly on a certain day, to difcourfe upon fuch fubjects. Thefe meetings, it is faid, were fuggefted by Mr. Theodore Haak, a native of the Palatinate in Germany; and they were held fometimes at Dr. Goddard's lodgings in Wood-ftreet, fometimes at a convenient place in Cheapfide, and fometimes in or near Gresham College. This affembly feems to be that mentioned under the title of the Invisible, or Philofophical College, by Mr. Boyle, in fome letters written in 1646 and 1647. About the years 1648 and 1649, the company which formed thefe meetings began to be divided, fome of the gentlemen removing to Oxford, as Dr. Wallis and Dr. Goddard, where, in conjunction. with other gentlemen, they held meetings alfo, and brought the ftudy of natural and experimental philofophy into fashion there; meeting firft in Dr. Petty's lodgings, afterwards at Dr. Wilkins's apartments in Wadham College, and, upon his removal, in the lodgings of Mr. Robert Boyle; while those gentlemen who remained in London continued their meetings as before. The greater part of the Oxford Society coining to London about the year 1659, they met once or twice a week in Term-time at Grefham College, till they were difperfed by the public diftractions of that year, and the place of their meeting was made a quarter for foldiers. Upon the Reftoration, in 1660, their meetings were revived, and attended by many gentlemen, eminent for their character and learning. They were at length noticed by the government, and the king granted them a charter, firft the 15th of July 1662, then a more ample one the 22d of April 1663, and thirdly the 8th of April 1669, by by which they were erected into a corporation, confifting of a prefident, council and fellows, for promoting natural knowledge, and endued with various privileges and authorities. Their manner of electing members is by balloting; and two-thirds of the members prefent are neceffary to carry the election in favour of the candidate. The council confifts of 21 members, including the prefident, vice-prefident, treafurer, and two fecretaries; ten of which go out annually, and ten new members are elected inftead of them, all chofen on St. Andrew's day. They had formerly alfo two curators, whofe bufinefs it was to perform experiments before the fociety. Each member, at his admiflion, fubfcribes an engagement, that he will endeaveur to promote the good of the fociety; from which he may be freed at any time, by fignifying to the prefident that he defires to withdraw. of fashion, as was alleged, might have the opportunity of coming to attend the meetings after dinner. Their defign is to "make faithful records of all the works of nature or art, which come within their reach; fo that the prefent, as well as after ages may be enabled to put a mark on errors which have been ftrengthened by long prefcription; to restore truths that have been long neglected; to push thofe already known to more various ufes; to make the way more paffable to what remains unrevealed, &c." To this purpofe they have made a great number of experiments and obfervations on moft of the works of nature; as eclipfes, comets, planets, meteors, mines, plants, earthquakes, inundations, fprings, damps, fires, tides, currents, the magnet, &c.: their motto being Nullius in Verba. They have registered experiments, hiftories, relations, obfervations, &c. and reduced them into one common ftock. They have, from time to The charges are five guineas paid to the treasurer at admiflion; and one filling per week, or 52s.time, publifhed fome of the most per year, as long as the perfon continues a member; or, in lieu of the annual fubfcripiton, a compofition of 25 guineas in one pay ment. The ordinary meetings of the fociety are once a week, from November till the end of Trinity term the next fummer. At first, the meeting was from three o'clock till fix after noon. Afterwards their meeting was from fix to feven in the evening, to allow more time for dinner, which continued for a long feries of years, till the hour of meeting was removed, by the prefent prefident, to between eight and nine at night, that gentlemen ufeful of thefe, under the title of Philofophical Tranfactions, &c. ufually one volume each year, which were, till lately very refpectable, both for the extent or magnitude of them, and for the excellent quality of their contents. The reft, that are not printed, they lay up in their registers. They have a good library of books, which has been formed, and continually augmenting, by numerous donations. They had alfo a mufeum of curiofities in nature, kept in one of the rooms of their own houfe in Crane Court, Fleetfreet, where they held their meetings, with the greateft reputation, for |