thropic deeds. Lucien Bonaparte, although not a politician in its technical sense, is certainly the wisest and most politic (even in a worldly point of view) of his illustrious race, for whilst many have their own ideas on both Napoleon I. and III., none have ever been known to speak any evil of Lucien, philanthropist, philologist, and Prince. His laurels have been plucked from the fields of Peace. His legend is "Ora et Labora.”

THE LORD BISHOP OF ST. DAVID'S.

WHEN Connop Thirlwall, Bishop of St. David's, resigned his see, the eyes both of Churchmen and scholars anxiously watched for a sign that the feet of no unworthy successor should desecrate the historic corridors of Abergwili. The old city was fragrant of the presence of that remarkable figure who had wielded the mitre over the diocese for near upon four and thirty years, and it is no exaggeration to say that none but a divine and scholar of the venerable bishop's parts would have dared accept the vacant throne, (considering the traditions of the diocese of St. David's). The writer vividly remembers the first time he entered the precincts of the library at Abergwili. So sensitive was Dr. Thirlwall lest any unhallowed dust should penetrate into and disfigure this miniature Bodleian, that all those who were privileged to obtain admission had first of all to doff their boots, putting on a pair of soft slippers, of which a goodly supply was always kept outside the library door. The historian of Greece was equally careful in all his other domestic arrangements, but the library was his sanctum sanctorum, his very holy of holies. He almost seemed to say to his guests as they entered the apartments where his books were stored, "Sic itur ad astra." The successor of Dr. Thirlwall, as one hundred aud nineteenth Bishop of St. David's, was happily a divine of the same mental calibre, although, theologically, and politically, not exactly of the same views.

The Right Reverend William Basil Jones, Doctor in Divinity, is the eldest son of the late William Tilsey Jones, Esq., of Gwynfryn, Cardiganshire, by Jane, daughter of the late Henry Tickell, Esq., of Leytonstone, Essex. He was born in the year 1822, and was first educated at Shrewsbury School under Doctors Butler and Kennedy, being elected in 1840 to a Scholarship at Trinity College, Oxford, where he obtained the Ireland University Scholarship in 1842, taking his B.A. degree, with Second Class Honours in Classics, in 1844, and M. A. in 1847. Dr. Jones also held a Michel Fellowship at Queen's College, and a Fellowship at University College. In 1848, the Right Reverend prelate received deacon's orders from the hands of the eminent Wilberforce, Bishop of Oxford, ultimately being ordained priest by the same prelate. In the same year he became Examining Chaplain to the Archbishop. The pastoral office, however, was scarcely in harmony with the bishop's idiosyncrasies (at least so it seems to us), and the various University and other offices held by Dr. Jones prior to his entering upon parochial work are proofs that those in whom patronage was vested were under the same impression. Like Dr. Connop Thirlwall, Dr. Basil Jones was a schoolman, and only the atmosphere of the Academies was life to him, for there he could pursue his studies and also assist others in the same delightful quest. A scholar of the type of Dr. Jones sighing his life away in the midst of a rural population would have been as out of character as Socrates amongst the unappreciative Athenians.

"Here studious let me sit,

And hold high converse with the mighty dead,

Sages of ancient times, as gods revered:

As gods beneficent, who bless'd mankind
With arts, with arms, and humanised a world."

We find Bishop Jones acting as tutor of University College in 1854, and in 1859 he became a Prebendary of St. David's. Dr. Jones' next sphere of pastoral duty was in the historic parish of Bishopthorpe in which is located the Palace of the Archbishops of York. Dr. Jones had been installed Prebend of Grindall, in York Minster, two years previously, and in 1869 he became Rural-Dean of Bishopsthorpe, filling, in addition, the dignities of Archdeacon of York (ie. the West Riding), Chancellor of York Cathedral, and Prebendary of Loughton-en-le-Morthen. In 1873, Dr. Jones became Canon Residentiary of York. He has

also filled the offices of Select Preacher on two occasions at his University.

When Dr. Thirlwall resigned the Bishopric of St. David's, in 1873, many names were mentioned, and it was more than once feared that some clergyman would have been consecrated to succeed him who did not understand the requirements of the Welsh people. For ourselves we believe that the Church of England never can be the Church of the majority of the Welsh nation. It is Calvinistic to the back-bone, its Nonconformist ministers being as potent in the spiritual sphere as its Radical M.P.'s are in the political. This being the case it was in the highest degree essential that a man of genius, and also one of themselves, should get the mitre of the chief cathedral city in the Principality. None but a Welsh speaking bishop was practicable, and when it was gazetted that the choice had fallen upon the erudite subject of this memoir, all lovers of the Established Church felt that a political and righteous appointment had been made, whilst at the same time a severe blow was necessarily dealt at the presumptuous arrogance of the Puritans of the Principality. Not long after his ordination as deacon Dr. Jones had shown his abilities as an archæological scholar by publishing his "Vestiges of the Gael in Gwynedd," and two years later his "Christ College, Brecon, its History and Capabilities considered with Reference to a Measure now before Parliament." In 1856, Dr. Jones published (he being joint-author with E. A. Freeman, the eminent historian) the "History and Antiquities of St. David's," and as this was nearly twenty years prior to his elevation to the episcopate, he could then have scarcely predicted his ultimate chief-pastorship of that cathedral city. From the titles of these learned works it will be seen that Bishop Jones is something more than a nominal Welshman. And how has this successor of the Apostles reigned over his vast flock? His diocese includes the counties of Pembroke, Cardigan, Brecknock, forty-six parishes in Radnorshire, and Carmarthen, and twenty-six parishes in Glamorgan. The population of these is some 440,000 souls, the acreage being computed at 2,272,790, deaneries 18, benefices 400, curates 120. Notwithstanding this vast family of which the bishop is the spiritual father, there may scarcely be counted an undutiful child (in the sense of rebellion). As we have seen, the Dissenters are in the majority, but their attitude, if not an attitude of friendli

ness, is apathetic rather than hostile, whereas a spiritual ruler who had been cast in a different mould would have created hosts of enemies, and done the Church of England in Wales a signal and grievous amount of harm. To thrust a Ritualistic or Rationalistic prelate into the Principality would be to alienate thousands of even Churchmen; but a bishop of the golden-mean views held by Dr. Jones is calculated to make the Establishment popular and win over many from the state of Schism. The bishop has also this great advantage. He can speak to his people in that glowing language which they both understand and love. To speak to a Welshman (at any rate on things appertaining to his spiritual welfare) in English is not likely to make very much impression upon him, and we venture to think that had the Welsh clergy, or, rather, the English clergy who have been sent over to fill Welsh benefices, been more like the Roman Catholic priesthood in Ireland-of the people to whom they were appointed to minister-the Establishment would not have had such an humiliating series of defeats at the hands of an uncultured, (but native) Nonconformity. It has been stated, however, that the seven years of Dr. Jones' rule in St. David's has nullified forty years of the work of the Liberation Society. The Bishop of St. David's was consecrated in Westminster Abbey on the Feast of St. Bartholomew, 1874.

Besides the learned volumes enumerated on a previous page, Dr. Jones is the author of "Notes on the Edipus Tyrannus of Sophocles, adapted to the text of Dindorf," 1862, and which has gone through several editions; "The Clergyman's Office"-a Sermon-1864; "The New Testament illustrated with a plain Explanatory Commentary for Private Reading" (jointly with the Venerable Archdeacon Churton, 1865; "Judgment, Mercy, and Faith" (University Sermon), 1866; "An Archidiaconal Charge," 1867; several Papers in Literary and Antiquarian Journals; "Church Rates and Church Expenses" (a Charge), 1869; "The Peace of God" (Sermons preached chiefly before the University of Oxford), 1869; and other books and tracts. In addition to these, and episcopal charges, Dr. Jones is a contributor to the "Speaker's Commentary," now in course of publication, and to Dr. Smith's "Dictionary of the Bible."

The Bishop of St. David's married Frances Charlotte, younger daughter of the late Rev. Samuel Holworthy, Rector of Croxall, Derbyshire.

MR. WILLIAM GRAY, J.P., (OF WEST
HARTLEPOOL).

THERE can be no sort of doubt that the commercial position of England is due in great measure to the fact that that Providence which "shapes our ends" is more or less recognized by its leading merchants and traders. There are two ways of recognizing the Divine Government of the world. The first may be called an official way, viz., through an Established, or State Church; the second, a private recognition on the part of the individual, and which (at any rate in the region of Commerce) seems to be more prevalent, contradictory as it may seem, amongst those who are not members of the Establishment. Without any inviduous comparison, we cannot but notice that the "Christian. Merchant" is more often found amongst the ranks of Nonconformists than amongst Church of England men—we speak with regard to numbers-although the Hubbards, Fosters, Allcrofts, and Jacombs are saving exceptions with regard to the English Church. Nonconformists, however, as a body, seem to accept the condition of a more personal responsibility to the Giver of all Good, and this is, perhaps, to be accounted for through their different sects not being "official." An Establishment sometimes is made but the ramparts which are fondly imagined will prevent the necessity for a personal hand to hand combat with Sin. It is so easy to say "we." But the "I" can never be merged in any confraternity in the sense of taking away the liability for the actions of the individual.

What the Morleys, M'Arthurs, the late Sir Frances Lycett, and many similarly familiar names are in London, the name of Gray is in the North of England, and especially in West Hartlepool. "Matthew Gray"-as he was called-father of the subject of this memoir, was a well-known draper and shipowner at Blyth, in Northumberland, where he amassed a considerable fortune. Space will not permit of our telling any of the innumerable anecdotes which cluster around the name of " Matthew," but he was beloved and admired in his day and generation. The immediate subject of this biography, William Gray, was born at Blyth, in the year 1823, and was educated at Dr. Bruce's school, Newcastle-on-Tyne, a well-known teacher and preceptor of youth. At an early age young Gray was apprenticed to his father, and he after