To evince that we are not inattentive to our Fair Readers, we have procured an accurate Drawing of the most elegant Ladies Head Dreffes that appeared at the Court at St. James's on the laft Ball Night, which we bave caufed to be engraved, to embellijb this Month's Magazine. An Account of the Life and Writings of Dr. courfe of it the author lamented that his en John Jebb. R. John Jebb was the fon of Dr. John deavours to call the attention of youth to the ftudy of the feripture, had in fome inftances been treated in a manner far different from DRich Dean wa Chell, by a fifter of what might be expected from men born to the late General Ganfell, and was firft-coufin to Sir Richard Jebb, at present one of the phyficians extraordinary to his Majefty. He was born about the year 1735 in Ireland, as it is fuppofed, in which kingdom it is likewife imagined he received the first rudiments of his education. At a proper age he was fent to Trinity College, Dublin, where he continued two years, after which he came to England, and was placed at Peter-Houfe, Cambridge; a college in which his uncle Dr. Samuel Jebb, a very learned nonjuring phyfician, and editor of Fryar Bacon's celebrated Opus Majus, had been educated. Here he continued several years with confiderable reputation, and took the degrees of Batchelor and Mafter of Arts. He also was chofen a Fellow of that society; and after having taken orders was prefented to the Rectory of Homersfield and Vicarage of Flixton, in the diocese of Norwich. On the 21st of November, 1763, he began to deliver a courfe of theological lectures, which for fome time were well attended and generally approved. In the year 1770 he published A Short Account of Theological Lectures now reading at Cambridge. To which is added, a new Harmony of the Gospel, 4to." This work deferves much commendation. In the Hib. Mag. April, 1786. the enjoyment of civil and religious liberty. That confidence however, he observed, with which the uprightness of his intention and the approbation of many worthy and learned perfons had infpired him, enabled him for a time to perfevere, regardless of the clamours of his adversaries. But when he was informed that a charge of the most invidious nature was folemnly urged in a manner which was likely to do him great fervice, he was no longer able to refrain from attempting å vindication of himself from thofe calumnies with which the untempered zeal of some otherwife well disposed brethren had aspersed his character. The circumftances here alluded to are too recent, perfonal, and unimportant to merit a detail; we shall therefore proceed to obferve, that on December 28, 1772, he preached before the University of Cambridge a fermon, which in the fucceeding year he publifhed, under the title of "The Excellency of the Spirit of Benevolence, 8vo." dedicated to the ingenious youth who had honoured with their attendance the Theological Lectures, then lately inftituted at Cambridge. He had a fhort time before publifhed "A Letter to Sir William Meredith, upon the Subject of Subscription to the LiY turgy, turgy, and Thirty-nine Articles of the Church of England, 8vo." His publications by this time had shewn that he was not very firmly attached to the orthodox fyftem, and contributed, it may be prefumed, to that oppofition which he afterwards met with in fome pla of reformation at Cambridge. He had oblerved at Dublin the importance of annual public examinations of those who received academical honours at that Univerfity, and therefore wifhed to introduce the fame regulations into the difcipline of Cambridge. He accordingly publifhed in 1773, "Remarks on the prefent Mode of Education in the Univerfity of Cambridge. To which is added, a Propofal for its Improvement, 8vo." and made feveral attempts to have his proposals admitted. Thefe however were all rejected, and he in the fame year published "A Conftitution of the Narrative of Academical Proceedings, relative to the Propofal for the Establishment of Annual Examinations in the Univerfity of Cambridge with Obfervations upon the Conduct of the Committee appointed by Grace of the Senate on the 5th of July 1773, 8vo." In the fubfequent year he publifhed "A Propofal for the Establishment of Public Examinations in the Univerfity of Cambridge, with occafional Remarks. 8vo." Though ftill anfuccefsful, he perfevered; and fo late as 1776 published "An Addrefs to the Members of the Senate of Cambridge, 8vo." preparatory to another effort, which in the end met with the fame fate as the former. His doubts of the propriety of continuing in the communion of a church which held doctrines as he conceived repugnant to fcripture, at length determined him to quit it, and relinquifh the preferments he held. Accordingly in September 1775 he wrote the following letter to the Bishop of Norwich, preparatory to his refignation, which fully defcribing the ftate of his mind, we fhall infert at large. "MY LORD, "I think it proper to give you this previous information, that I propofe to refign the rectory of Homersfield and vicarage of Flixton into your Lordship's hands upon the 29th or 30th of the prefent month. to lay me under any obligation to relinquish my prefent station. The author of the Confeffional, my Lord, had convinced me of the unlawfulness and inexpediency of requiring a fubfcription to fyftematic articles of faith and doctrine, from the teachers of the gospel in a Protef tant church. "My own obfervation in the University of Cambridge further tended to fatisfy me with refpect to the impropriety of fuch a requifition: and the vifible neglect of the study of the fcriptures in this age and country, feemed in a great measure to be derived from that reftraint of the exercife of private judg ment, which is the unavoidable confequence of this unedifying impofition. "With thefe convictions it was impoffible for me to decline engaging with those diftinguifhed friends of religious liberty, who af fociated for the purpofe of foliciting for themselves and their brethren of the church of England, an exemption from the obligation of declaring or fubfcribing their affent to any formulary of doctrine which fhould be propofed as explanatory of the word of God." "It appeared to me to be a fufficient reafon for fuch application, that the doctrines contained in the 39 Articles being the deduc tons of frail and fallible men, and expreffed in unfcriptüral terms, were effentially dif ferenced, in point of authority, from thofe holy fcritures, to which we have profefled an abfolute and unreserved fubmiffion, as the only rule of religious faith and practice ;→→ and that the requifition of affent to them was eventually fubverfive of the right of privaté judgment; a right on which every Proteftant church was founded, and the exercife of which our own church in particular, in one of her terms of ordination, not only allows us, but enjoins. Articles ex "It allo appeared evident to me, that the enquiry, whether or no the 39 prefs the genuine fenfe of fcripture, was a queftion of a very different nature from that to which the petitioners invited the attention oppofite opinions, with refpect to the docof their brethren ;-that perfons of the most trine of the Articles, might unite in a decla ration, that every attempt to effect an uniformity of fentiment concerning the fenfe of fcripture, by other means than the force of argument and rational conviction, was utterly unwarrantable, and bore too ftriking a refemblance to that ipirit of intolerance, which forms the diftinguishing character of "In the first place I think it neceflary to Antichriftian Rome; and, laftly, that many allure your Lordship, that although I ef- members of our church might be truly fenfiteemed it to be my duty to take an active part in the late petition of the clergy, the ble of the inexpediency of requiring this fubfcription, might addrefs a competent principles maintained in that just remontribunal with a view of effecting an aboliti France do not, in my apprehenfion, appear on of the practice, and yet continue to hold As the motives which induce me to embrace this refolution may poffibly be mifconftrued, it will not I truft be thought impertinent if I ftate them to your Lordfhip. and 1786. "My objections, my Lord, to the accepting and the holding of preferment in the church of England, bear no relation to the caufe of the petitioning Clergy-the reafons which influenced me in the forming of the refolution now communicated to your Lordship, are entirely my own, "After the most ferious and difpaffionate enquiry, I am perfuaded, my Lord, from the concurrent teftimony of reafon and revelation, that the SUPREME CAUSE of all things is, not merely in Effence, but alfo in Perfon, ONE. "By the force of the fame evidence I am convinced, that this Almighty Power is the quly proper object of religion. "The Liturgy of the church of England is obviously founded upon the idea, that in the divine nature is a TRINITY of Perfons, to each of which every fpecies of religious adoration is addreffed, as well as fuch powers afcribed as are the incommunicable attributes of God." "Under my perfuafion of the erroneoufnels of this doctrine, I cannot any longer with fatisfaction to myfelf officiate in the eftablished fervice: and as I certainly can have no claim to the emoluments of my profeffion, unless I am willing to perform the duties of it, I therefore refign my pre ferment. "But my Lord, although I find myself under an obligation to relinquifh my prefent ftation in the church of England, I do not renounce the profeffion of a CHRISTIAN. On the contrary, penetrated by the cleareft convictions of the high importance and divine authority of the Gospel, I will labour to promote the advancement of fcriptural knowledge with increafing zeal; and will ever be ready to unite with heart and hand, any juft and legal attempt to remove that burden of Subfcription to Human Formularies, which I efteem one of the moft power ful obftructions to its progrefs." I am, &c. J. J. After writing this letter he refigned his livings, and in 1775 published "A fhort State of the Reafons for a late Refignation. To which are added, Occafional Obfervations, and a Letter to the Right Rev. the Bishop of Norwich, 8vo." In the course of this Pamphlet he obferves, While I held preferment, it certainly was my duty to officiate in the fervice of the church. But, confcious that my fentiments were diametrically oppofite to her doctrines, refpecting the object of devotion, the reading of thefe addrefies was attended with very great difquiet. I therefore embraced that meafure which alone feemed to promife me tran 177 Writings of Dr. John Jebb. On his feparation from the Church, he joined in communion with the Rev. Mr. Lindfay, and immediately betook himself to the ftudy of Phyfic. He at one period had thoughts of adopting the Law for his profeffion, and with that view entered himself of one of the Inns of Court. After fome time, he détermined to devote himfelf to the medical line; and in purfuance of this refolution, took the degree of Doctor of Phyfic, and engaged in the practice of it. He alfo became an active member of the Conftitutional Society, and from time to time gave to the Public feveral small pieces difperfed by that body. In 1782 he published A Letter to Sir Robert Bernard, 8vo.". and in the fame year," Select Cafes of the Disorder commonly called the Paralyfis of the lower Extremities, 8vo." In 1784 he published "Letters addreffed to the Volunteers of Ireland, on the Subject of a Parliamentary Reform, 8vo." In this performance he lamented the defection of Mr. Fox from the public caufe, and expoftulated with him very energetically on his union with a party inimical to America-to Ireland-to the real interefts of Britain-to the facred caufe of civil and religious liberty-to the human fpecies. Such was the Doctor's ftrong language. He adds, that when he confidered his exertion in the caufe of freedom, he feemed to think the dark tranfaction an illufion. "Alas!" he cries, "it was my lot to lament over him, while o thers furrounded him with congratulations." The coalition between Mr. Fox and Lord North, Dr. Jebb always confidered as injurious to the interefts of his country, and therefore never could reconcile himfelf to it, or to the principal parties in this unnatural union. He therefore declined all intercourfe with his late friend, and ever afterwards profelled himself adverfe to his meafures. About this period Dr. Jebb's health began to be unfettled, and after lingering a contiderable time, he died on the 2d of March 1786, at his house in Parliament-ftreet. On the 9th he was interred at the Burying-Ground in Bunhill-nelds; his corpfe being attended by the Duke of Richmond, and a Committee of the Conftitutional Society, together with a numerous train of friends, many of whom were of diftinction. The following character of Dr. Jebb is faid to have been written by a celebrated Patriot. "Humanity, the brighteft diadem of Y 2 Heaven, Heaven, found in Dr. Jebb's heart, a fource always unexhaufted, tho' conftantly flowing in every channel, where nature in diftrefs called for the comfort of advice, the affistance of a friend, or hand of benevolence.--Such calls, even from a fellow-creature in rags, found the Doctor as anxious and as attentive, as the vain man would be to folicit a title, and to accomplish such, bend, smile, or eagerly embrace the arm of a Minifter. The humanity of the Man of Rofs, whilft it is recorded, exalts not only the character of the individual, but enriches the name of a kingdom. The amiable qualities of that good man were inherited by the Doctor as a facred patrimony which he distributed among his fellow-creatures; and as a faithful guardian of human nature, when he could not remove diftrefs, he confoled the fufferer; and often when his purse was unable to annihilate poverty, ftill his benevolence never ceafed to leffen the fting of it. Though Dr. Jebb had in his manners the meeknels of a child, yet the fpirit of a lion was manifefted in his political conduct. As he was always difinterefted, he was conftantly firm in the fupport of every measure which could add fupport to liberty, or ftrength to a conftitutution to which he was a fincere friend; and if from zeal to cherish whatever carried happinefs to the public, with a contempt of every perfonal advantage, made the illuftri ous character of a Roman, the Doctor has irrefutable claims to that of an English Patriot. His expanded foul would not be confined to the narrow pedantic rules of a cloister, and he therefore quitted the gown, and from a confcientious regard to truth, which he difcovered by the light of experience, he changed his profeffion, from reafons which he public ly gave; and though they might not convince others, they affuredly guided him in the choice he made. As a political man, the Doctor never courted any Minifter what ever, nor would he ever accept a favour to leffen his free agency. To establish a more cqual reprefentation was one of the moft leading objects of his heart; and he endea voured in the newfpapers to communicate every information by which he could inftruct the people, that by the nature of the conftitution, the rights of election ought not to be bartered by the venal, or oppreffed by the families of power. His next favourite object was the establishing a law, in conformity to the boafted notion of English freedom, to prevent a creditor from claiming the liberty and perion of a fellow-creature for life, if his fortune fhould be by chance, or even indiferction, unable to pay his debts. Ile was fond of employing his pen in the fervice of the people, and did not blush to own, that he often wrote in the public papers, which are relpected as the centinels of liberty. "In his political friendship he was mild, firm, and condefcending, though not convi vial. He was attached particularly to Dr. Northcote, Mr. Williams, and Mr. Loft; he once had a great partiality for Mr. Fox, but never could be prevailed on to forgive the Coalition, which he confidered as a confederacy of intereft; and if juftifiable in one, it might be fo on every occafion, and the people be never certain of the objects of their confidence. A heart fo truly devoted to accomplish the profperity of merit, and fo anxious to fee both good men rewarded, as well as excellent measures promoted, could not but be continually stabbed to the foul by feeing the reverse of the medallion. Such frequent mortifications preyed on his health, and the exertions he made to promote the good of his country, wore out his conftitution, and deprived mankind of a friend and ornament. His attention to the happiness of others made him neglect his own intereft, at leaft in a worldly fenfe; but the fame good God who gave him fuch difinterested virtues, has the power to reward them in a more exalted flation, to which they cannot fail to lead him, and where alone fo good and valu able a citizen can receive justice.' The Singular Adventurts of Monfieur de Jardin. Jardin, one of his gentlemen, to TIE Count de Montalto fent Monfieur Naples, with five hundred piftoles, to buy lady, 1786. 173 you are The fingular Adventures of Monfieur de Jardin: lady, or even lived in Naples, yet prefum- coul |