lisle, was successively his pupil and assistant; and, for many years afterwards, successfully pursued the steps of his master, in the conduct of the grammar school at Wittonle-Wear, Durham. Thus was Mr. Yates, for more than half a century, engaged in discharging the arduous duties of a schoolmaster, and influencing in no small degree, both the religious and classical instruction of the north of England. He was approaching towards his eightieth year, when Mr. Paley was instituted to the vicarage of Appleby, in 1777; but an intimacy was soon formed between these eminent men, whose attention had been equally devoted, though in a different sphere of utility, to the instruction of youth. Mr. Yates was an alderman of Appleby, though, as he did not attach himself to the prevailing interest, he never attained the mayoralty: he was also a surrogate under Dr. Burn, chancellor of the diocese of Carlisle. Having acquired, by marriage, some property in the parish of KirbyStephen, he became, during his latter years, the principal in an action, brought by several of the land-owners of that parish, against the vicar, who claiming the payment of haytythe in kind, instead of the accustomed modus, refused to give them a release for their separate payments, when duly tendered. After a long trial, in which the rival talents of Mr. Lee and Mr. Wallace were strenuously exerted for their respective clients, Mr. Yates gained his own and the publick cause. In the prime of life Mr. Yates must have been a very handsome man; for he was fair, tall, and upright, venerable and prepossessing in his personal appearance to the last. He commonly wore a clerical dress, and, at one time, a wig flowing rather loose behind, in the style of the preceding age. With the dress he combined the manners of the old school of politeness; and to the manners he united the sentiments, and independent spirit of a gentleman. He was by habit an economist; but notwithstanding this, he has been known to do many acts and offices of generosity to his scholars and friends. Mr. Yates died in December 1781, and was buried at Kirby-Stephen; but the following just and expressive Eulogy, written by Mr. Paley, was soon after inscribed on a monument, erected to his memory in Appleby church. To preserve the Remembrance of a long and valuable Life, spent in the most useful of all Employments, of RICHARD YATES, M. A. Fifty-eight Years Master of the Grammar School in this town; whom an accurate Knowledge of Roman Literature, and a serious Attention to the moral and religious Improvement of his Pupils, for the important Station which he held. After Mr. Yates's death, Mr. Paley being consulted as to the propriety of publishing his Latin translations from the Spectator, dissuaded it, as a work not likely to excite interest or engage attention, except amongst a few of those for whose instruction it had been originally designed; in consequence of which the intention was given up. By his wife, Miss Hartley of Kirby-Stephen, who survived him many years, Mr. Yates left two daughters, whom he lived to see married into respectable families. Jane, the elder, was married to Mr. Reed of Hurworth, in the county of Durham; and Ann, the younger, to Mr. Munkhouse of Winton, in Westmoreland. They both died in middle life. The only son of Mr. Reed, a sensible spirited youth, was a short time under Mr. Paley's care at Carlisle in 1794, but unfortunately lost his life in the Humber, in the following year, whilst under the tuition of Mr. Milner of Hull. The family of Mr. Munkhouse, therefore, are now the only surviving descendants of Mr. Yates. G. W. M. A SHORT MEMOIR OF EDMUND LAW, D. D. LORD BISHOP OF CARLISLE. EDMUND LAW, D. D. was born in the parish of Cartmel in Lancashire, in the year 1703. His father, who was a clergyman, held a small chapel in that neighbourhood; but the family had been situated at Askham, in the county of Westmoreland. He was educated for some time at Cartmel-school, afterwards at the free grammar school at Kendal; from which he went, very well instructed in the learning of grammar schools, to St. John's college in Cambridge. Soon after taking his first degree, he was elected fellow of Christ's college in that university*. During his residence in which college, he became known to the publick by a translation of Archbishop King's Essay upon the Origin of Evil, with copious notes; in which many metaphysical subjects, curious and interesting in their own nature, *He took the degree of B. A. 1723, M. A. 1727. are treated with great ingenuity, learning, and novelty. To this work was prefixed, under the name of a A Preliminary Dissertation, a very valuable piece, written by the Rev. Mr. Gay, of Sidney college. Our Bishop always spoke of this gentleman in terms of the greatest respect. In the Bible, and in the Writings of Mr. Locke, no man, he was used to say, was so well versed. He also, whilst at Christ college, undertook and went through a very laborious part, in preparing for the press, an edition of Stephens's Thesaurus. His acquaintance, during his first residence in the university, was principally with Dr. Waterland, the learned master of Magdalen college; Dr. Jortin, a name known to every scholar; and Dr. Taylor, the editor of Demosthenes*. In the year 1737, he was presented by the university to the living of Graystock, in the county of Cumberland, a rectory of about 300l. a year. The advowson of this benefice belonged to the family of Howards of Graystock, but devolved to the university for this turn, by virtue of an act of parliament, which transfers to these two bodies the nomination to such benefices as appertain, at the time of The late Archdeacon Blackburne was three years his juniour in the university, taking his first degree in 1726; and, as he did not afterwards reside in college, may not properly be classed among his literary friends there, at this time.-But their friendship commenced early in life, and was improved by the joint interest they afterwards took in the question concerning the intermediate state. It was cemented by a long and unreserved correspondence, and by personal intercourse; and also by the general agreement of their opinions concerning the right and expediency of requiring subscriptions to articles of faith. Bishop Law owed much to the learned labours of Archdeacon Blackburne. In the latter part of their lives, a coolness existed between them, which, prob. ably, was lamented by both but which it would be difficult, perhaps, satisfactorily to explain. their vacancy, to the patronage of a Roman Catholick. The right, however, of the university was contested; and it was not till after a law-suit of two years continuance that Mr. Law was settled in his living. Soon after this, he married Mary, the daughter of John Christian, Esq. of Unerigg, in the county of Cumberland; a lady, whose character is remembered with tenderness and esteem by all who knew her. In 1743, he was promoted by Sir George Fleming, Bishop of Carlisle, to the archdeaconry of that diocese; and in 1746, went from Graystock to reside at Salkeld, a pleasant village upon the banks of the river Eden, the rectory of which is annexed to the archdeaconry. Mr. Law was not one of those who lose and forget themselves in the country. During his residence at Salkeld, he published, Considerations on the Theory of Religion; to which he subjoined, Reflections on the Life and Character of Christ and an Appendix concerning the use of the words, "soul and spirit," in Holy Scripture, and the state of the dead there described*. Dr. Keene held at this time, with the bishoprick of Chester, the mastership of Peterhouse in Cambridge. Desiring to leave the university, he procured Mr. Law to be elected to succeed him in that station. This took place in the year 1754; in which year Dr. Law resigned his archdeaconry in favour of Mr. Eyre, a brother-in-law of Dr. Keenet. Five years before this, he proceeded to his de * In his controversy on the intermediate state between death and the resurrection, Dr. Law was ably and eminently supported by the assistance of Archdeacon Blackburne, Mr. Pekard afterwards dean of Peterborough, and Master of Magdalen college, Cambridge, and Dr. B. Dawson, rector of Burgh in Suffolk. † In consequence of his mastership of Peterhouse, he was vice-chancellor of the university, 1755. |