AO 
Dr. Kippis was eminently distin- 
guished for the virtues and accom- 
plishments which form the chief 
ornaments of private life. With a 
suavity of manners and urbanity of 
behaviour peculiarly attractive, he 
united that knowledge of men and 
books which rendered his conver- 
sation uncommonly entertaining 
and instructive to the circle of his 
acquaintance and friends. As a 
minister he wes not less eminent 
for his profound acquaintance with 
every branch of theology, than for 
the happy manner in which he ap- 
plied it. to the improvement of 
those who attended his ministry. 
His sermons were remarkuble for 
perspicuity, elegance, and energy ; 
and his elocution was unaffected 
and very impressive, particularly at 
the close of his discourses. But the 
superior powers and vigour of 
mind which he derived from na- 
ture, and which he had cultivated 
with unremitting diligence and pe- 
culiar success, were not to be con- 
fined to the narrow limits of private 
life and the duties of the pastoral 
charge, however important ; they 
were designed for more extensive 
and important services to his coun- 
try and.to mankind. The interests 
of literature, science, and religion, 
have received from the exertions 
of his talents, as a writer, the most 
essential advantages.—His first ef- 
forts in literature were made in the 
Gentleman’s Magazine; a periodi- 
cal publication called the Library ; 
and the Monthly Review : to each 
of which he contributed many im- 
portant articles, especially in the 
historical and philological depart- 
ments of the last, He was the au- 
thor of three important tracts, viz. 
«« A Vindication of the Protestant 
Dissenting Ministers,’”” &c, ‘* Ob. 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 
servations on the late Contests in’ 
the Royal Society ;’’ and ** Consi- 
derations on the Treaty with Ame- 
rica’? &c. His improved edition 
ot Dr. Dodderidge’s Lectures, is a 
work of great value; and he like- 
wise wrote ‘* The History of 
Knowledge, Learning, and Taste, 
in Great Britain,’’ prefixed to the 
New Annual Register. He publish. 
ed, at different times, several single 
sermons; among which, that on 
the death of his triend, the rev. Mr. 
Laugher, is entitled to very high 
Praise. he greater part of these 
he republished, with other prattis 
cal discourses, in the year 1794; 
but the work which, next to the 
studies immediately connetted with 
his office as a Christian minister, 
engaged his principal attention, 
and by which he has long been 
distinguished, is, the improved 
edition of the ‘‘ Biographia Bri. 
tannica.’? In this great national 
publication, the comprehensiveness 
and powers of his mind, the cor- 
. reétness of his judgment, the vast 
extent of his information, his inde- 
fatigable researches and unremit- 
ting assiduity, his peculiar talent of 
appreciating the merit, and analyz. 
ing the labours of the most emi. 
nent writers, and his unshaken in_- 
tegrity, unbiassed fidelity, and im~- 
partial decision on the characters of 
the philosopher, statesman, poet, 
scholar, and divine, are strongly 
displayed and! universally acknow~ 
ledged. His style, formed on the 
models of sir William Temple and 
the classical Addison, is remarkable 
for its perspicuity, elegance, and 
purity ; and gives a peculiar lustre 
to the rich stores of knowledge 
treasured in the volumes now pub. 
lished. This work has given him 
a high rank among the literari re 
tals 
