approbation of Dr. Porteus, Bishop of London, was much more distinctly expressed, and his recommendation more warmly urged, in the following passage of his eloquent Charge to his Clergy, in 1799:

"This great and momentous truth, that the course of human affairs has ever been, and still is, (notwithstanding the present appearance of confusion and disorder in the world) under the guidance and the controul of an Almighty and Allrighteous Governor, directing them to these important purposes designated in the prophecies of holy writ, (more particularly in those relating to the rise, progress, and establishment of the power of Anti-Christ) the reader will find most ably elucidated and confirmed in Mr. Kett's View of Scriptural Prophecies, and their Accomplishment in the past and present Occurrences of the World.' This very ingenious, and in several parts original work, is, in these times of general anxiety and dismay, peculiarly interesting and seasonable; as furnishing the best grounds of belief and confidence in a divine superintendence, the most awful and animated warnings to the infidel and libertine, and the most substantial consolation and support to the sincere Christian, to whom is held out this most encouraging assurance, that whoever, or whatever church or nation, shall continue firmly attached in faith and practice to the Lord and Saviour of the World, in an age when he is crucified afresh, and put to open shame; and whoever shall resist the enticements of deceit, the sword of terror, and the torpor of indifference, shall come forth as silver that is tried in the furnace: for he that endureth unto the end, the same shall be saved."

This work went through several editions, and had a wide circulation. The application of prophecy to what Mr. Kett calls the infidel power of Anti-Christ is very ingenious. It has frequently happened that authors have, for various reasons, flung a veil of mystery over their works. Such was the case with respect to the Letters of Junius, and the Pursuits of Literature; and such was the case with respect to "History, the Interpreter of Prophecy." Mr. Kett acknowledged ob

ligations to some concealed coadjutor, and probably he had one, in the plan of the work at least.

The journal of "A Tour to the Lakes of Cumberland and Westmoreland, performed by Henry Kett, B. D., in August, 1798," was published by Dr. Mavor in his British Tourist. It is not very long, occupying only forty duodecimo pages. This was one of several similar tours which Mr. Kett was accustomed to make during the long vacation. At the beginning of the revolution he visited France, intent on observing the changes then in progress, which made a deep impression on his mind.

In 1802, appeared "Elements of General Knowledge, introductory to useful Books in the principal Branches of Literature and Science, with Lists of the most approved Authors, including the best Editions of the Classics; designed chiefly for the junior Students in the Universities, and the higher Classes in Schools." This work, which was the result of Mr. Kett's studies for many years, contains much valuable information compressed within a moderate compass, and is by far the most useful book of the kind. It is adapted, indeed, for readers of almost every description, though more peculiarly suited to young academics, by whom it is still held in deserved estimation.

"In docti discant, et ament meminisse periti."

It went rapidly through several editions, and, to adopt the language of Johnson on another occasion, "that tutor may be said to be deficient in his duty who neglects to put it into the hands of his pupil." It reflects, indeed, no small credit on the abilities of Mr. Kett, that Dr. Barrow, the acute and elegant author of an Essay on Education, should decline to treat a subject which falls within his consideration, because it had been discussed by our author. "I found my intended observations on foreign travel so ably anticipated in the Elements of General Knowledge, that I must have been under the necessity either of transcribing Mr. Kett's elegant pages, or of

giving the same arguments in a different and probably a less attractive form." * Notwithstanding the general merit of the work, on its first appearance Mr. Kett was assailed by a host of critics, great and small; and it was remarked that few men could have kept their temper so well as he did in refraining from any reply, or have acted so judiciously in availing himself of all their corrections and suggestions which appeared worthy of adoption for the improvement of the later editions, without even deigning to notice his opponents. The ninth edition has been very lately published.

In 1809, he published "Logic made easy, or a short View of Aristotle's Method of Reasoning." Some palpable inaccuracies in this treatise arising from haste, and too great compression of the subject, exposed him to a very smart attack; but, as usual, he offered no apology, and silently withdrew the work from circulation. In the same year appeared.

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Emily, a Moral Tale,” of which a second edition, much enlarged, was published in 1812. A new edition of "The Beauties of English Poetry," by Mr. Headley, who had been a scholar of Trinity College, was undertaken by Mr. Kett in 1810; to which he prefixed "A Sketch of the Life” of that elegant and accomplished scholar. A translation of Chateaubriand's work on the spirit or genius of Christianity, under the title of "The Beauties of Christianity," published in 1812, has been ascribed to Mr. Kett. We believe, however, that it was not written by him; although he certainly furnished the preface and notes, and probably revised the whole. In 1814, appeared, in two volumes 12mo., "The Flowers of Wit, or a Collection of Bon Mots, Ancient and Modern." For several years before his death, Mr. Kett was employed in preparing an edition of the Greek Proverbs, by Lubinus, with an English translation and notes; and we understand this is left among his manuscripts, which will be noticed in the sequel.

In 1808, Mr. Kett relinquished the office of Public Tutor of Trinity College (in which he was succeeded by Dr. Ingram,

* Advertisement to the second edition of an Essay on Education.

now President of Trinity College), and he shortly afterwards gave up all college offices, though he continued to reside in college during a great part of the year. Even when he found his health declining, he still lingered in those academic shades which had become familiar and dear to him from his earliest youth; and having surrendered his rooms in college, he took lodgings in Oxford. Here he remained until his marriage in December 1823, with Miss White, of Charlton, near Cheltenham, a lady of considerable accomplishments; after which period he lived chiefly at Charlton, making occasional excur sions to visit his friends. It was on one of those excursions that the fatal accident occurred which put a period to his existence. Having been for several days, in the latter end of June last, at the seat of his friend Sir J. Gibbons, Bart., at Stanwell, on the 30th of that month he, as usual, breakfasted with the family party in excellent spirits. About noon, the weather being hot, he proceeded to take a cold bath, when it is supposed that venturing out of his depth he was seized with cramp, and sank to rise no more. His clothes were found on the bank where he had undressed for bathing.

Mr. Kett's first preferment was the small perpetual curacy of Elsfield, near Oxford, for which he is said to have been indebted to the kindness of Dr. Chapman, the President of his college. He was also a king's preacher at Whitehall. In 1814, his friend and patron, Bishop Tomline, presented him to the perpetual curacy of Hykeham, in the county of Lincoln, the only preferment of which he died possessed; and which, as having neither church nor parsonage-house, partook very

much of the nature of a sinecure.

During the last twenty years of his life, Mr. Kett, however, had the option of all the best places of preferment belonging to his college; but he constantly relinquished them without hesitation in favor of his juniors; and after he might have been considered eligible to the presidentship, he twice saw it given to others without an expression of disappointment. But the same was the case in regard to that distinguished scholar and amiable man, Thomas Warton, B. D. and poet laureate,

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who was passed over in an election to the headship, and at the time of his death held no other college preferment than a small donative in Somersetshire. Mr. Kett, indeed, was so far from aspiring to any thing his college had to bestow, that he made it some very handsome presents, which were acknowledged by having his coat of arms put up in the hall among other benefactors; and at one time, it is believed on good authority, that he had made a will, in which a considerable sum of money was left for the purchase of an advowson for the benefit of the society to which he belonged. But in consequence of his marriage, it now appears that the bulk of his fortune, sworn to be under 25,000l., after the payment of some small legacies on the demise of his widow, to whom the interest and income are left for life, is bequeathed to three public charities (one of which is the Radcliffe Infirmary at Oxford) in equal portions, thus evincing the benevolence of his disposition, by what may be regarded as the last act of his life.

It is known from an inspection of his testamentary papers, wholly in his own hand-writing, that he has left several manuscripts, among the rest a considerable number of sermons, all of which he directs to be submitted to the decision of his friend Dr. Mavor, of Woodstock, whether they are worthy of publication or not. That the lamented author intended them for the press there can be little doubt; and it is to be hoped that, in due time, they will see the light, or, at least, such of them as appear likely to be acceptable to the public, and to add to the well-earned fame of the writer. As a man of correct taste and an elegant scholar, whatever Mr. Kett produced could not be destitute of a considerable portion of merit; and as a divine, at once sound and deep, his works will be duly appreciated by impartial posterity. To his Right Reverend and venerable friend and patron, the present Bishop of Winchester, he has left the copyright of his "History, the Interpreter of Prophecy," which, as we have already remarked, has been highly spoken of by the best judges, and, among the rest, by the bishop himself.