WILLIAM JONES was born at Lowick, in Northamptonshire, July the 30th, 1726. His father was descended from an ancient Welsh family of great respectability, and his mother was the daughter of a Mr. George Lettin, of Lowick. From his earliest youth he was distinguished for the patience and unwearied attention with which he devoted himself to study. This disposition for learning was fortunately met by the favourable circumstances in which he was placed for its encouragement. On the nomination of his Grace the Duke of Dorset, he was admitted as a scholar into the Charter-House; and although a public school is not always found to foster a natural inclination to learning, it was the case with him as with several other eminent men, that his studious disposition increased under the discipline of that excellent seminary, and he soon rendered himself conspicuous by the rapidity with which he rose above his fellow-students.

The advantages which a large public school frequently offers, for forming valuable connexions, were not lost on Mr. Jones. While at the Charter-House, he became acquainted with the Earl of Liverpool, then Mr. Jenkinson, who was his chum, and whose friendship he enjoyed through life. But a still more useful acquaintance to him at this period was Doctor Zachary Williams, who was the father of Mrs. Williams, rendered famous by Doctor Johnson. This gentleman was deeply versed in philosophical science, and the experiments which he made in some of the abstruser parts of mathematics were learned and ingenious. Young Jones, it appears, was from his earliest youth an inquisitive observer of every object which passed before him. Williams, therefore, was the very man to secure his regard, and he cultivated an intimacy with him which served to confirm his natural inclination for philosophical studies.

At the age of eighteen he was removed from the CharterHouse, to which seminary he was greatly indebted for his respectability and usefulness in after-life, to University College, Oxford, having been presented with an exhibition belonging to his school. The studious habits for which he had distinguished himself at the Charter-House secured his success at the Uni

versity; and it is probable, he would have become a still more conspicuous member of that learned Corporation, had not his ideas taken a direction which was for the future materially to affect his opinions on philosophy as well as religion. At the time of his entering the University, a party existed there which was devoted to the study and defence of the celebrated Hutchinsonian theory. There was something in this system of Theology strongly adapted to attract the attention of Jones. A compound of philosophy and religion, in which speculation, though bold in its flight, was humble in its faith and devoutness, was well calculated to secure him as an ardent admirer, even had it not come recommended to him, as it did, by men eminent for their united genius and sincere piety. Among these, was that great and good man Bishop Horne, who had just rendered himself conspicuous by his pamphlet, entitled, An Apology for certain Gentlemen in the University of Oxford.. The friendship which existed between him and Jones was of the closest kind, and while it was sanctified, it was also made closer and firmer, by the communion of their deep religious principles. In a seminary like Oxford, or the sister University, it is surprising that intimacies of this nature are not more frequently formed; but we believe there are few instances of permanent friendships being established during the residence of young men at these institutions: whether this be owing either to the want of regularity in their discipline, or any other cause which leaves the bond of union too slack, we cannot tell, but it is a circumstance to be lamented, as any thing which should more unite the members of a University together would further its most important purposes.

In the year 1749, Mr. Jones took his degree of Bachelor of Arts, and was shortly after ordained Deacon, by the Bishop of Peterborough, and Priest, by the Bishop of Lincoln. The first situation which he held as a clergyman, was the Curacy of Finedon, in Northamptonshire. While occupying this station he commenced his career as a writer, his earliest published production being a little work, entitled, A Full Answer to Bishop Clayton's Essay on Spirit: it was printed in the year

1753, and was dedicated to his Rector, the Rev. Sir John Dolben. This work is of great interest, and manifests the various talents and learning of which the author was possessed. In 1754, he married the daughter of the Rev. Nathaniel Bridges, and having changed his residence to Waddenhoe in Northamptonshire, he undertook the charge of the parish, his brother-inlaw being the Rector. The union which he thus formed was one of those in which purity and virtue are seen inheriting the promises, and during the long life which these excellent persons passed together, they were equally blessed by their common and unvarying affection.

While residing at Waddenhoe, he composed the admirable little work for which his name is best known to the generality of religious readers. The Catholic Doctrine of the Trinity, is a treatise which may be read with profit by every class of persons, and the man of learning, as well as the most uneducated inquirer, will be edified by its perusal. The composition of this work was not the employment of any fixed time, but was the result of a long attention which he paid to the investigation of the doctrine of the Trinity; and to collect whatever the Scriptures say on the subject, it was his custom to pay particular regard to the passages which he met with in his daily and ordinary reading, and which he considered illustrative of this important subject of his thoughts. In the third edition, which was published in the year 1767, he inserted A Letter to the common People in answer to some popular arguments against the Trinity. But while paying the most serious attention to the studies which were directly applicable to his professional station, he still retained his love of investigation, and his earnest desire to render the scientific knowledge he had acquired available in the general defence of truth. In order to carry on the extensive system of experiment which it was his wish to institute, it was necessary to employ a much larger capital than he had it in his power to expend. But so convinced were his friends that it would be greatly to the benefit of mankind, if he were enabled to pursue his design without interruption, that the sum of three hundred pounds annually, for three years, was promised him, in

order to provide him with the materials and apparatus necessary for the object he had in view. The persons who thus generously stepped forward were fully rewarded by the success with which the labour of their philosopher was crowned. In the year 1762, he sent forth a work, entitled, An Essay on the First Principles of Natural Philosophy, in which he endeavoured to demonstrate the connexion between the second causes by which the universe is governed, and the sublimest operations of a present Creator. In 1781, he published another similar work, but on a more extensive plan, with the title of Physiological Disquisitions, or Discourses on the Natural Philosophy of the Elements.

Public attention was speedily drawn to these labours of Mr. Jones, and he had the satisfaction to find himself admired and patronized by many of the most eminent men of the time. To the honour of the celebrated Lord Bute be it recorded, that he sent to inform the Author that he need be discouraged by no expense which his experiments might oblige him to incur, as he would willingly support his labours by any assistance in his power. This generous intimation was followed up by a direc tion to desire Mr. Adams, the well-known Mathematical Instru ment Maker, to provide him with whatever apparatus might be found necessary. Mr. Jones was, from the earliest period in which he could form an opinion, most ardently attached to the loyal part of the nation; and he expressed his sentiments on this subject on all occasions with the utmost warmth of feeling. The generous conduct of the Earl of Bute was well calculated to call forth his ideas on points connected with these considerations, and we find him, in writing to a friend about this time, remarking, "Such is the man whom the king delighteth to honour;" and then, after some severe remarks on the violence and licentiousness which were rooting up the peace and morals of the people; and on Wilks, who was the object of popular admiration, he continues to observe, that "such is the man whom the people delight to honour." An interesting observation is made by Lord Bute in the course of his correspondence with Mr. Jones, in which he remarked, that when he was pursuing his literary avo

cations, and sometimes relaxing himself by being the tutor of his children, the day was even then not long enough for his employment, but that since he had entered upon the busy career of a statesman, he had scarcely known one hour's enjoyment. Mr. Jones observed upon this, but not with that spirit of serene feeling which was common to his character, "What reason have I, who am at the bottom of the world, to complain that life is troublesome and favour uncertain, if his Lordship, who is at the top of it, finds so much dissatisfaction."

We consider that this reflection should not have escaped from a man of the piety and learning of our Author. Although not raised to an eminent station, nor rewarded in a manner equal to his deserts, he had yet ample reason for contentment. He was respected and even honoured; and though it was consistent in the statesman who had resigned peace and every thing for the world, to complain when it neglected or deceived him, it furnished no reason for the Christian minister to justify a complaint, or pride himself on his resignation. But Mr. Jones was soon after this advanced in his circumstances, by the living of Bethersden, in Kent, being presented to him by Archbishop Secker, in the year 1764; which preferment was followed by that of the rectory of Pluckley, which, as well as the former, was in the county of Kent. To the latter place he immediately removed with his wife and family; but it appears he was disappointed in the value of the living, as he, about this time, began to receive pupils. In the year 1766, he was appointed to preach the Visitation Sermon before Archbishop Secker; on which occasion he delivered, in substance, the arguments which subsequently composed the treatise which he published under the form of A Letter to a young Gentleman at Oxford, intended for Holy Orders, containing some seasonable Cautions against Errors in Doctrine. About this period also a work, called The Confessional, was published, which was, in fact, a libel on almost every thing connected with religion, or its profession. Our Author had the honour of being directed, by the Archbishop, to answer this work, and he made some remarks upon the subjects which it contained, but either want of health, or sufficient leisure,