African slavery; and although prejudice and interest still guarded the ground against the attempts of philanthropists, considerable access to liberal minds had been gained by the assiduous and affecting eloquence of these new pleaders in the cause of humanity. The committee for effecting an abolition of the slave-trade assumed its denomination in June, 1787, and immediately dispersed circular letters, giving an account of the institution. These letters soon procured the friendly notice of the Quakers at large. In order to diffuse a more general knowledge of the subject, the committee deemed it right to adopt the publication of a work which Mr Clarkson had presented to them, entitled, 'A summary View of the Slave-trade, and of the probable consequences of its Abolition.' Numerous copies of this useful tract were dispersed, and the curiosity of the public became every day more excited by the authentic information thus unexpectedly laid before them. The new class of moral revolutionists in France warmly espoused the cause of the abolition. Brissot and Claviere-his friend and afterwards his fellow-sufferer under Robespierre's tyranny-requested to be admitted members of the association.

At the first general meeting for the formation of the British and foreign Bible society, Granville Sharp presided. The year 1813, the last year of his life, was distinguished by an association denominated the Protestant Union, formed for the purpose of defending, by the sole weapons of argument and reason, a cause which the members held most sacred, the cause of religious freedom.

Mr Granville Sharp had uniformly opposed the system of Popery, most conscientiously believing that it was utterly subversive of the principles of genuine liberty, as well as of our Protestant establishment. When, therefore, the Roman Catholic question was agitated, from the lively interest which he took in it, and from his frequent conversations with several friends on its great importance to the united kingdom, it was at length agreed to convene a meeting of respectable persons firmly attached to the principles of the constitution, as established at the Revolution; but unconnected with party, and having no political purposes whatever to serve; and calmly and dispassionately to consider the subject. A meeting was accordingly held at the Crown and Anchor tavern in the Strand, on the 22d of January, 1813, when Mr Sharp was called to the chair. After some discussion, the address and resolutions, published by the Protestant Union in their first paper, were unanimously adopted. These resolutions were reprinted and circulated in Ireland, and had a great effect in rousing the dormant spirit of Protestantism in that country. The Protestant Union was encouraged by the warm approbation of many eminent characters throughout the united kingdom, and Mr Sharp received many high eulogiums on the principles developed in their papers.

As Granville had continued unmarried, his brothers' houses were for many years his general residence; and it was not till the beginning of the year 1792, that he took chambers in the Temple for the purposes of various business that pressed upon him. In the exercise of his religion, he was careful to preserve a behaviour free from ostentation ; but it was at the same time firm, and profoundly reverential. As he rose early, his first employment was either reading the Holy Scriptures, or chanting a portion of the Hebrew Psalms to his harp. His evenings

were closed in the same manner. When in London, he regularly attended the service at St Paul's, and joined in the choral part. In the respective families of his relations he regularly attended, and generally read the morning and evening prayers from the Liturgy. Nothing was more remarkable in Mr Sharp's social intercourse, than the firmness with which he delivered his most serious opinions on many ordinary occasions, and the unembarrassed simplicity with which he uttered them, blending religion with almost every topic, both in conversation and in writing. Some of his religious views were singular. The near approach of the millennium was a favourite idea with him; and his belief in Satanic influence was carried to an extraordinary length.

In the month of June, 1813, having made an offer of some books to the Temple library, he thought it requisite to attend in person to the delivery of them, and proposed a visit to London for that purpose. Every argument which affection could dictate, was urged to dissuade him; but all proved ineffectual. The offer of the family-carriage was then withheld, in the hope that forgetfulness might prevent the apprehended evil; but at breakfast-time the next morning he did not appear as usual, and on inquiry it was found that he was gone to London in the stage-coach. A servant was immediately despatched after him; but he had left his chambers also. He returned with the stage to Fulham in the afternoon; said he had packed and sent his books, but had had no food, and was nearly exhausted. His danger had been imminent. It appeared that the coachman who conveyed him to town, perceiving his altered state, had felt considerable anxiety on his account, and as soon as he had settled the business of the coach, went in search of him to his chambers, at the door of which he found him, wandering about in a state of incertitude, being unable to guide himself to the part of the town that he designed to reach. He was easily persuaded by the coachman to go back to Fulham, and was thus happily preserved from more distressing accidents. On the day preceding his death, he breakfasted as usual with the family. His weakness was much increased; and he was several times compelled to lie down on his bed during the course of the afternoon. He appeared often to labour for breath. Night and partial repose came on. In the morning his countenance was changed-in colour only; in expression it remained unaltered. About four o'clock in the afternoon, he fell into a tranquil slumber, in which, without a struggle or a sigh, he breathed his last.

His remains were on the 13th of July, 1813, deposited in the family vault at Fulham. The following epitaph, written by the Rev. John Owen, rector of Eaglesham in Essex, was placed on the north side of the tomb: " Here, by the Remains of the Brother and Sister whom he tenderly loved, lie those of Granville Sharp, Esq. At the age of seventy-eight, this venerable philanthropist terminated his career of almost unparalleled activity and usefulness, July 6th, 1813; leaving behind him a name that will be cherished with affection and gratitude, as long as any homage shall be paid to those principles of justice, humanity, and religion, which, for nearly half a century, he promoted by his exertions, and adorned by his example."

Mr Granville Sharp was learned in languages from principle, not from curiosity, or the mere pleasure of literary research. His objects in the study of Hebrew and Greek were exclusively the love of truth,

the glory of God, and the good of his fellow-creatures. No man's mind was ever less actuated by vanity and ambition. He was singularly fortunate in the application of his learning to the illustration of the original languages of Scripture. His doctrines of the Greek article, and of the Hebrew conversive vau, and of other particularities of the Hebrew language, though not unknown to scholars before his time, had all the merit of discovery, and more than that merit in the valuable use which he made of them. His doctrine of the Greek article was violently opposed by Socinian writers, but without the least injury to its principle, and with a strong presumption in its favour.

Sir William Medows.

BORN A. D. 1738.-DIED A. D. 1813.

SIR WILLIAM MEDOWS was born on the 31st of December, 1738. He was the grandson of Sir Philip Medows, knight-marshal. His eldest surviving brother, who succeeded to the estates of his uncle, the duke of Kingston, in 1788, took on that occasion the family-name of Pierrepoint, and was elevated to the peerage in 1796, by the title of Lord-viscount Newark.

The subject of this notice entered the army as an ensign in the 50th regiment in 1756, and obtained a lieutenancy in the November following. In one of the expeditions to the coast of France in 1758, he acted as aid-de-camp to Lord Ancram. When the 50th regiment was ordered to Germany early in 1760, he repaired thither with it, and joined the allied army under Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick and the marquess of Granby. In March, 1764, after his return from the continent, Lord Ancram obtained for him a troop in the 4th regiment of horse, of which his patron was lieutenant-colonel; and in October, 1766, he succeeded to the majority of the same corps. On the 31st of December, 1769, he procured the lieutenant-colonelcy of the 5th regiment of foot, but was removed to the 12th light dragoons in September, 1773.

On the breaking out of the American war, he exchanged into the 55th in September, 1775, and repaired with it to America. The commander-in-chief appointed him to the command of the first brigade of grenadiers. At the head of this gallant body of men-on which the brunt of every brilliant action fell, particularly that of Brandywine, fought September 13th, 1776-Colonel Medows highly distinguished himself. The lieutenant-colonelcy of the 5th regiment of foot was conferred upon him in November, 1777; and on the 25th of that month he obtained the rank of colonel by brevet.

The cap

When it was determined by the English cabinet to strike a blow at the French West India islands, and Major-general Grant was appointed for this purpose, with a body of chosen troops, Colonels Medows and Pres、 cott were nominated brigadier-generals of the little army. ture of St Lucia—which from its excellent harbours had proved of great service to the enemy in these seas-was deemed an important object. In December, 1778, General Grant with 500 men, and the two brigadier-generals, left English harbour in Barbadoes, and on

the evening of the 13th, the troops effected a landing in St Lucia. Brigadier-general Medows' brigade, consisting of the 5th foot, together with the grenadiers and light infantry companies of the different regiments, in all about 1300 men, formed the reserve of this little army. The place he landed at was the Grand Cul de Sac, on accomplishing which, he pushed forward to gain possession of the heights on the north side of the bay, where the French regular and militia forces were strongly posted. Though this was a very arduous task in so hot a country, and peculiarly difficult from the nature of the ground, yet the brigadier-general, at the head of his gallant followers, forced the passes, and soon after carried the Vizie, a most important post, and repulsed the French troops under Count d'Estaing, who attempted to relieve the island. Medows received a severe wound in the right arm on this occasion, but refused to quit the field. Observing that part of his troops had been driven into disorder by the desperate attack of the French, he waved his sword in his left hand, and, pointing to the standard, exclaimed, "Soldiers, as long as you have a bayonet left to point against your enemies, defend these colours." The conduct of Brigadier-general Medows was warmly applauded by his majesty, who, as a reward for his meritorious services, appointed him colonel of the 89th regiment, on the 15th of November, 1780, and ordered him to England to command a body of forces to be employed on a secret expedition.

66

In the spring of 1781, Commodore Johnstone was appointed to direct the operations of a squadron, the object of which was to seize on the Cape of Good Hope, which would have proved an important acquisition for Great Britain. It appears, from an anonymous pamphlet, assuredly written by Commodore Johnstone, and published in 1787, in which part of the secret instructions are detailed, that the commodore and general were to concert the necessary measures for carrying into immediate execution, and exert their utmost endeavours to take the Cape of Good Hope, with all its defences, fortifications, and works thereunto belonging." No attempt was, however, to be made unless the scheme appeared feasible to both officers. On the 13th of March, the squadron, with thirteen Indiamen under convoy, sailed from St Helen's, and on the 10th of April they anchored in Port Praya bay, St Jago, one of the Cape de Verd islands. The French cabinet soon learned the destination of this fleet, and endeavoured to counteract it, by sending Suffrein with a powerful force after the British. Suffrein, after being repulsed in an attack upon the British squadron, made the best of his way to the Cape, where he had landed a reinforcement before the British fleet hove in sight. Commodore Johnstone thought, notwithstanding Suffrein's arrival, it was possible to succeed in taking the Cape; and that for this purpose the troops should be landed at Saldanha bay, forty-two miles from the Cape, to which they ought immediately to march. General Medows, on the other hand, now considered the expedition against the Cape impracticable, after the arrival of the succours under Suffrein; and having received intelligence of the defeat of the British army in India, by Hyder Ali, proceeded under convoy of part of the squadron to Madras. To this spirited determination the preservation of the Carnatic, and perhaps all India, may be ascribed. The men-of-war also which were detached with them served as a powerful reinforcement to Admiral Hughes, and enabled him to

cope with Suffrein, who possessed a superior fleet. On his arrival in India he was nominated governor of Madras, as well as commander-inchief of the forces in that presidency. He took uncommon pains to organize the army before he led it against Tippoo Sultan, who had succeeded to the throne of Mysore by Hyder Ali's death. In the accomplishment of this object he met with many obstacles, but by his skill and perseverance he overcame them all. The plan he formed was, with the Carnatic army of 15,000 men, to occupy the Coimbatore country, cut off Tippoo's supplies, and by that quarter penetrate into the Mysore through the Jujulhatty pass, while Major-general Robert Abercromby was, with the Bombay army, to reduce the territory west of the Gauts, and if necessary form a junction. In the mean time, the Carnatic was left to the care of Colonel Kelly, with a small army stationed between Madras and the passes leading to the Mysore. Tippoo had now recourse to negotiation. He wrote to Medows congratulating him on his appointment to the government of Madras, and proposing to send some confidential person to explain, as he observed, several important circumstances, so that the dust which had obscured the general's upright mind might be removed." The general's answer was: “I received yours, and understand its contents. You are a great prince, and but for your cruelty to your prisoners, I should add an enlightened The English, equally incapable of offering an insult as of submitting to one, have always looked upon war as declared from the moment that you attacked their ally the king of Travancore. God does not always give the battle to the strong, nor the race to the swift; but generally success to those whose cause is just. On that we depend."

one.

After repeated attacks on different points by Tippoo, and the capture of several important posts by the British army, General Medows judged it prudent, on the commencement of the rainy season, to desist from any further operations. The following year, Earl Cornwallis, who had been appointed governor-general, assumed the direction of the army at Vellant. One of the most brilliant actions in this campaign was the capture of Nundydroog, a fortress seated on a hill, 1700 feet high, and accessible only on one side where it is defended by walls and redoubts. Major Goldie, who was sent against it, after a fortnight's toil and hazard, at length breached the walls, but the commandant refused to surrender. Lord Cornwallis then sent General Medows with

a party to make the assault. On approaching, some person remarked, that a mine was supposed to be near the breach. The general promptly replied, "That if a mine was really there, it was a mine of gold," and rushed without delay to the attack and carried the place. After va rious efforts on the part of Tippoo, the British succeeded in driving him within the walls of Seringapatam; but on the 24th of February, hostilities ceased, and on the 19th of March, 1792, a pacification took place. The commander-in-chief in his letter to the East India company, dated the 4th of March, says: "No words can express the sense that I shall entertain through life of the ability, refined generosity, and friendship with which General Medows has invariably given his support and assistance." After the termination of this war General Medows returned to England, and as a reward for his signal services, his majesty was pleased to invest him with the insignia of the order of the Bath.

On the 12th of October, 1793, he was made a lieutenant-general,