tage under which the members of his noble and magnificent college labour, on account of the exclusive system of its lectures, he determined to participate in those severer sciences for which the University is so celebrated. Having already enlarged his imagination and refined his taste by the varied stores of Greek and Roman literature, he resolved to keep the balance even in his mind, by cultivating those sciences which impart accuracy, strength, and soundness to the reasoning faculties. He knew that the ablest men in the annals of the University had distinguished themselves in utraque Minerva, and he knew that several of the brightest ornaments of his own college had deeply regretted their neglect of philosophical studies when it was too late to repair it. Careless therefore of any ridicule which he might provoke from his contemporaries, and undismayed by the difficulties which mathematics generally oppose in limine to the student, he engaged an able tutor, under whose direction he read the principal branches of this abstruse science: nor must we omit to mention, that in this laudable resolution he was encouraged and imitated by his excellent friend and biographer, as well as by another contemporary, who is at this time advancing rapidly to honour in the paths of diplomacy. The effect of these invigorating studies is, we think, very perceptible in the generally clear reasoning, logical precision, and lucid arrangement of Mr. Rennell's compositions. His society at the University, as in after life, was much courted on account of his animated and interesting conversation, whilst the excellence of his principles and his amiable disposition contributed to preserve the friendships which he formed. His very emulation was free from malevolence, and though he aimed at superiority, he never attempted to depreciate the talents or the attainments of his rivals. Soon after taking his B.A. degree he entered into holy orders, under a deep sense of his responsibility, and was shortly afterwards appointed by his father assistant preacher at the Temple church: but he did not yet entirely give up his college residence, where he casually relieved his more important studies by some valuable contributions to the Museum Criticum, a work conducted by some eminent scholars of the University. Engaged in the service of religion, he soon began to wield with no common force and dexterity the weapons of sound learning, against the strong holds of scepticism and impiety. In 1811 he published his first controversial work under the modest title of "Animadversions upon the Unitarian Translation or Improved Version of the New Testament, by a Student in Divinity." "The author however (as his biographer observes) was not concealed from those who took a particular interest in such matters, and their attention and hopes were in consequence earnestly directed to one, who in such early youth had shewn himself so able a champion for the truth as it is in Jesus." About this time also he undertook the editorship of the British Critic, and contributed much in establishing the high character of that Review. At length the merits of this distinguished scholar and excellent man found an appropriate patron in the present Bishop of London, who in 1816 called him from the Temple Church to the vicaràge of Kensington, the arduous duties of which populous parish he discharged with a zeal and devotion rarely equalled, never excelled. In the same year he was elected Christian Advocate in the University of Cambridge, the members of that learned body being well aware of his peculiar fitness for the office, from the able manner in which he had already performed that of a select preacher in the pulpit of St. Mary's. Two valuable and well known works were the fruit of his labour in this honourable post. In the first of them he ably combated those doctrines of materialism which have been deduced from mistaken notions of organization and life, and thus timely arrested the torrent of infidelity which was rapidly flowing from the medical schools of France and England. For this good service rendered to soeiety, his antagonists paid him the singularly high compliment of endeavouring to prevent his election as Fellow of the Royal Society. "The attempt, however, as might have been expected, only served to shew the impotent hostility of its authors, and more fully to set off the triumph of religion." The other work which Mr. Rennell published in his capacity of Christian Advocate was entitled "Proofs of Inspiration, or the grounds of distinction between the New Testament and the Apocryphal Volume, &c." in which he clearly exposed the insidious attack made by Hone upon the authority of the New Testament itself, through the medium of the apocryphal writings, and provided a very valuable manual for the use of those who may have need of a compendious, yet satisfactory information, as to the grounds on which the canon of the New • Testament was framed. In the former of these official publications he was greatly assisted by his knowledge of anatomy and medicine, sciences which he studied with delight, and to which, in the intervals of his more important avocations, he turned as to sources of rational amusement and useful knowledge, but above all as auxiliaries to piety. Nor were these studies his only relaxation: he was a zealous co-operator in all plans for ameliorating the condition and improving the morals of the lower classes: prison discipline, the parochial instruction of children in the pure principles of our Establishment, the internal arrangement and administration of hospitals, infirmaries, and other charitable institutions, occupied much of his thoughts and time. We happen to know, and we are anxious for the example's sake to declare, that during a visit made by Mr. Rennell to the French capital in 1821, he spent a great portion of that time which most travellers give up to frivolous amuse+ ments, in visiting and examining the principal medical establishments and hospitals of that city, and in conversing with their directors or superintendants: to these persons he recommended himself so much, by the interest which he took in their affairs, and by the urbanity of his manners, that they freely gave him not only all the printed papers connected with their regulations, but transcribed with their own hands many important documents for his better information. All this labour was undertaken by Mr. Rennell with a view to the improvement of similar establishments in our metropolis, with many of which he was intimately connected, and where his advice and assistance were eagerly sought and duly appreciated. Thus both at home and abroad was this excellent man engaged in the endeavour to promote the welfare of his country. In 1823 his public merits and his private services were to a certain degree rewarded by the late Bishop of Salisbury, whose examining chaplain he had long been, and who now promoted him to the mastership of St. Nicholas's hospital and a prebendal stall. In the same year " he shewed how well he deserved such promotion by a most able and seasonable defence of the church and clergy against a systematic series of attacks directed against their property and character, by enemies of no inconsiderable importance. This was done in the form of A Letter to Henry Brougham, Esq. M.P. &c." We quite agree with his biographer in opinion, that "never was a more triumphant appeal made to the wisdom and justice of mankind;" but we are not quite convinced by the reasons which he assigns for regretting that the author did not give it the sanction of his name, since we think it would rather have contracted than enlarged its sphere of usefulness. In saying so, however, we are far from wishing to depreciate the value of such a sanction; but in this, as in most cases, Mr. Rennell acted with singular sagacity and good taste. An anonymous defence, especially when so ably conducted as this was, comes with a kind of mysterious authority; it assumes the nature of a public document; it attracts attention and awakens curiosity; but more particularly it obviates those cavils, which however malignant and unjust, are generally urged by virulent adversaries against the defence of our Establishment from interested motives: we therefore applaud the delicacy of the advocate who thus sacrificed the meed of public fame at the altar of utility; and we are confirmed in our opinion by observing the conduct of another bright luminary of our church, the present learned Bishop of Chester, who, at the same time, and in the same cause, published, without his name, a masterly defence of our Ecclesiastical Establishment. 2 In addition to various sermons made and recited on public occasions, and which are republished in the volume now before us, Mr. Rennell preached, though he did not publish, the Warburtonian Lectures at Lincoln's Inn. In short, if we did not know what effects may be produced by the order, and regularity of a well-disposed mind, we should look with perfect astonishment at the multitude of his labours, especially as we know that he entered freely into society, and was not deterred by a single atom of gloomy fanaticism from participating in rational and innocent amusements. But the earthly course of this truly Christian pastor was des tined soon to terminate, and that at a time when the full blaze of prosperity had just opened upon it. In the autumn of 1823; he was united by marriage to a very amiable and excellent lady, the eldest daughter of the late John Delafield, Esq., of Kensington. But at the very period when his cup of blessings was full to the brim, when to the affection of numerous friends, to independence of circumstances, to the sincere attachment of his parishioners, to the respect which his talents and his virtues attracted from the world at large, and to the certain prospect of rising to the highest distinctions in his profession, was added the inestimable jewel of domestic love, he was seized by a fever, which kept him for some time in imminent danger. Though he recovered from the immediate attack of the disease, his constitution, never a very strong one, though it rallied at intervals, gradually succumbed. "But while his body languished, his mind was still active; and, anxious that no part of his life should be without its fruits, he employed the intervals of ease which were afforded him, in preparing a last tribute to the holy cause which he had so earnestly embraced and so effectually supported." This last legacy, which he bequeathed to his fellow-creatures, was Munter's Narrative of the Conversion and Death of Struensee, a work which he thought well calculated for the counteraction of irreligious and licentious principles, which he enriched with valuable notes, and prefaced with an introduction filled with the purest spirit of piety and benevolence. "Illa tanquam cycnea fuit divini hominis vox." The time of his departure was now at hand. Christianity had long taught him to consider death as the wise and merciful appointment of his heavenly Father; and with that perfect acquiescence in the divine will, which arises from the clearness and steadiness of belief in the perfect goodness of the Creator, he resigned his soul into the hands of Him that made it, on the last day of June, 1824. He was buried with great privacy in his favourite cathedral of Winchester, where a monument is about to be erected to his memory by a considerable number of his most intimate and attached friends. Εὔδεις ἀλλ ̓ ἐσεῖο λελάσμενοι ἔσμεν Α similar compliment has been paid to him by his affectionate and sorrowing parishioners, in the church of Kensington. The character of this exemplary man is concisely summed up by his biographer with great taste and feeling, and felicity of expression; due testimony being given to his fervent piety, his engaging conversation, his charitable disposition, his Christian humility, and his sincere attachment to the Church, of which he was so bright an ornament and so able a defender. Here, however, one of those slight imperfections, which are ever to be found in the best of human characters, is gently touched upon and properly palliated by his amiable friend. "Though (it is said) he would sometimes express himself in strong general terms of the adversaries of our Establishment, he was ever ready to shew to them individually the most conciliatory kindness; and to make the largest allowance for what he would willingly regard as involuntary error." We know that by some persons, equally friendly with himself to that Establishment which is one of the greatest blessings of this favoured land, he was thought to be slightly tinged with bigotry, attached to prejudices and fixed opinions, deferring rather to authority than to reason, and determining, with a nervous apprehension of any thing like innovation, that what was esta blished was not to be disputed. Perhaps he might have entertained a few notions rather too antiquated for the present state of society; but it must be remembered that he lived at a time when those powers, which had overturned the neighbouring erections of despotism, began to attack with almost equal vigour the only free constitution of Europe; that he was nurtured in the deepest veneration for what are called high Church principles; and that he was engaged during great part of his life in controversy with the enemies of all establishments whatsoever: if this, together with his unquestionable integrity and disinterestedness be duly considered, we shall rather wonder that he kept |