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[T is probable that many of your IT Readers, educated at the Charter House, may be gratified by the perusal of a very just and eloquent Eulogy on the late Dr. Raine, headmaster of that Seminary, introduced in a Sermon preached on the last Anniversary (12th day of December 1811), by Dr. Philip Fisher; which, though partially in print, has not yet been published. By giving this Extract a place in your widely-circulated Repository, you will at least oblige, Yours, &c.

"I am persuaded (said the venerable Preacher of the day) I should not answer the expectations of my hearers, and certainly I should not satisfy the feelings of my own mind, if I were to pass over in silence the meritorious services of that Individual, who for so many years filled amongst us the chair of instruction, and whose approaching retirement from that duty had been announced as being, at this time, about to take place. It has pleased Almighty God, in the awakening visitations of his providence, to remove him from us by an earlier and more awful separation. A solemn and affecting lesson is here held out to us, of the uncertain tenure of human good, the vanity of earthly hopes and plans! Upon the point of receiving an honourable release from his labours, distinguished by the approbation of those who preside over our affairs, followed by the regrets, and cheered by the applauses, of all who have here profited by his instructions; He, whom we now deplore, was preparing to enter upon a state of dignified retirement, which he so well merited by his exertions, when, overtaken by disease, he was arrested in his course, and suddenly snatched from us.

"To part with such an instructor must, under any circumstances, and by whatever cause, have here been lamented as a loss; but to be cut off, finally, from all intercourse with him, when in full possession of his faculties, and arrived

scarcely beyond a maturity of years, by so unexpected and fatal a stroke, whilst we bow in humble submission to the all-wise disposal, and the chastising hand of Heaven, cannot but, even at this distance from the event, awaken in every well-constituted mind the most painful and distressing feelings. In being deprived of such a man, we have lost Him who, commanding our respect by the vigour of his understanding, and the extent of his attainments; conspicuous as an elegant and successful cultivator of classical learning; celebrated as an accomplished and profound scholar in wider walks, and more recondite departments of literature; admired and followed as an eloquent and impressive preacher; with talents of such rare acquisition, had the felicity to combine the more amiable and endearing one of exciting in the breasts of those with whom he most intimately conversed, a nearer and livelier interest by his moral and social qualities; by the urbanity of his manners, the liberality of his habits, the sincerity and the warmth of his friendships!

"As an Instructor of Youth, he shone forth with a lustre more peculiarly his own; he claims by the most appropriate right the tribute of our praise. Gifted • by nature with a serenity of temper, which not even the provocations incidental to his employment could disturb, eminently endowed with the art of smoothing to young minds the asperities of learning; and of exciting in them a spirit of emulation, and a thirst after excellence; tempering the authority of the master,' with the benignity of a friend,' and the tenderness of a parent; his name will stand recorded amongst the most distinguished in the annals of public teachers.

"Such was the departed Master of this school. To his numerous and afflicted friends is left the consoling reflection, that, in being taken from us, he has carried along with him the affectionate regrets and the heart-felt approbation of all those who take an interest in the prosperity of this antient seat of learning; that he has carried with him the

'well

our fleets convey our goods to and from the West Indies.

The expence of such a fortified station as is here proposed would be very moderate, in comparison with the advantages it would produce; and it would be easy to draw out a plan for it; but I do not think it would be proper to go into a detail here," non est hic locus."

It has been well observed, that Commerce is the key of Africa; and I shall only add, that if the plan I have suggested were carried into execution, these interesting regions of Africa, that have heretofore baffled the attempts of curiosity and enterprize, and remained for so many ages a "sealed book" to the inhabitants of Europe, would soon be explored and laid open. This is an object that cannot be indifferent to a prince, who has so evidently evinced a desire to patronize science, and who is undoubtedly desirous to encourage, to facilitate, and to encrease, still further, the vast geographical discoveries which have added such lustre to the reign of his august father.

To return to Mr. Jackson's book. This work contains, besides the information that more directly concerns the Statesman and the Merchant, much interesting matter for the natural and moral Philosopher, as well as for the general Reader. The author makes no pretension to fine writing; his style is plain, unaffected, and perspicuous, and there is as much new, authentic, and important matter in the book, as in the hands of the French writers of African Travels, (Golberry, Vaillant, and Savary, for instance), would have been spread over three times the space. Upou the whole, it is the most valuable work of the kind that has appeared for many years. I hope the Author will reap the reward which his labours have so well deserved.

be transported by the aid of man, those from whose coverings, flesh, and labour, we derive food, raiment, and convenience, we may easily conclude; but that serpents and other noxious animals should be conveyed by man from one continent to another, from one island to another, for the purpose of general propagation, is impossible to be conceived. And what other natural means is there by which they could be conveyed but the agency of man? Besides, there are some kinds of animals which cannot live out of that particular climate wherein they

are found. How came these then in that part of the world where Noah's Ark was built? And how did they survive the flood in that climate? These are difficulties, Mr. Urban, which I have never yet been able to get over; and I should be very glad if any man could rationally extricate me from them. We are not here treating of the mysteries of Religion, which are above our comprehension; nor any thing which requires supernatural knowledge to explain. This is a subject which is level to every man who has common sense; and therefore we must either find a solution of the difficulty by rational arguments, or at once reject the universality of the Deluge; unless, indeed, we choose to assert that the Almighty wrought a miracle both for the preservation of different animals during the time of the flood, and for their propagation afterwards.

I am myself a most sincere believer in the inspiration of the Pentateuch; and therefore feel a more than common anxiety to see such obstacles thrown in the way of others who may be less sound in the faith, by a pertinacity of opinion which might be most safely conceded, if they are desirous of it, to the advocates of infidelity. For the words of Moses do by no means necessarily require a belief that the flood was general. It is said, 'tis true," All flesh died that moved upon the earth and every man ;" but it is not said, " upon the

place, "from the face of the earth," but not of the whole earth. There is then no necessity for believing that every living creature, which had been created, was destroyed by the flood, but that they were only destroyed as far as the human race had extended in population;