had been named after his sponsor Dean Jackson, who was almost as inconsolable as his parents at the circumstance of his death.

On the death of Dr. Smallwell, in 1789, the vacant bishopric was offered to the dean of Christ Church, who declined that honour. Lord Grenville, however, it is understood, complimented the dean with requesting that if he did not choose to accept the episcopal chair himself, he would recommend a proper person for it; in consequence of which Dr. Jackson mentioned his friend the professor, who was accordingly advanced to that dignity.

The worth of the regius professorship of divinity, which is attached to Bishop Randolph's canonry, is not very considerable; and in consequence of it a great deal of responsibility devolves upon him; no member of the university of Oxford can enter into holy orders in the establishment, unless he produces a certificate of his attendance at these lectures of the professor, which are delivered three times a week during the whole of Michaelmas Term, and the former part of Lent Term, and in which he treats summarily upon all the several heads of divinity, interweaving such instructions and directions as he judges most proper.

His lordship bas ranged himself with his right reverend brethren of Lincoln, Bangor, and others, in opposing those clergymen who profess to hold Calvinistic doctrines, and are distinguished by the appellation of gospel preachers and evangelical ministers. In the latter part of his charge to the clergy, before referred to, be decries their principles and practice with

1.

great

great strength, and ranks "the mischievous effects of their preaching next in malignity to those of infi delity itself." We forbear to give any opinion upon the subject.

The Bishops of Oxford and Lincoln, however, have lately had a dispute concerning certain parishes which are situated in the diocese of the former, and entirely out of his jurisdiction, and are called peculiars. It is very well known that Oxfordshire originally formed part of the diocese of Lincoln, in consequence of which several of its parishes are still properly appendages of that diocese. We understand, however, that Bishop Randolph wished that his brother of Lincoln would give up his right of ccclesiastical jurisdiction in them, which the other peremptorily re fused to do; and in consequence some unpleasant circumstances ensued. The Bishop of Oxford, though probably without just reason, considered himself as much aggrieved in this affair, and complained publicly thereof to his clergy in the following terms: "Of this I must complain that ecclesiastical persons or bodies high in dignity and office in any episcopal church should refuse to bring the question before the legal tribunal in an amicable and summary way, and in a mode pointed out by the advice of the best lawyers, and should throw every obstruction in the way of the assertion of the right on my part. Of this I do complain, and lament that the case has happened."*

In consequence of the publication of Theological Tracts, by the regius professor of divinity in the university of Cambridge, which was said to contain sentiments by no means orthodox, it was judged necessary for the Bishop of Oxford, as divinity professor there, to publish something in opposition to it, which might be supposed to contain the sentiments of that university; accordingly his "Enchiridion Theologica" appeared some time ago before the public, and it is a very useful selection from the writings of the most approved divines of the church of England.

The bishop frequently preaches before the university, and is generally well attended. His style is clear and perspicuous, and his sermons are sensible and learned; his voice, however, is weak, and his manner of delivery not sufficiently energetic to render him an eloquent preacher. We believe he has only spoken once before the house of lords, which was upon the subject of the late "Clergy residence Bill," when he moved that those fellows of colleges who had benefices should be compelled to reside on them, as there was no good reason for their spending so much time in the university; in this he was seconded by a noble lord, who also moved that the prebendaries of Oxford (meaning, as we conjecture, canons of Christ Church), should likewise be obliged to reside upon their benefices, if such they had elsewhere.

Bishop Randolph is a strenuous patron of Westminster school, having imbibed that predilection which almost every one entertains in favour of the place

where

where he has received his education. He preached a sermon before the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge the year after the Bishop of Meath had, upon the same occasion, censured the neglect paid to religious instruction in our public schools; and, as far as it was in his power, endeavoured to counteract the effects of that charge.

And in the dispute which happened in the same society on occasion of the Bishop of Meath's note to a sermon preached before them, in which an unqualified charge was exhibited against public schools in general, the Bishop of Oxford proposed that for the future nothing should be added to any printed sermon delivered before that body but what was actually delivered from the pulpit. This motion, though unquestionably just, and, well calculated to preserve the honour and peace of the society, was warmly opposed by some members, and as strenuously supported by others; it was, however, carried in the affirmative, and the harmony of that most useful and venerable body was perfectly restored.

His lordship has since been engaged in a controversy with the learned Mr. Marsh, of St. John's College, Cambridge, and the well known translator of Michalis, on the subject of that critic's hypothesis respecting the origin of the four gospels. When the late enlarged and valuable edition of that translation was published, a pamphlet came out anonymously indeed, but universally attributed to the Bishop of Oxford, and not disowned by him, entitled "Cautions to the Readers of Michelis," &c. This performance

roused

roused the acute and erudite powers of the translator, who has replied to the author in a series of letters, replete with comprehensive learning, and as strong in argument as they are caustic in language. In the opinion of sound and impartial critics, the fellow of St. John's College has more than an advantage over the King's professor of Oxford.

The bishop has also published a Fast Sermon before the House of Lords, and a Sermon before the Society for propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts.

J.

APPENDIX,