X'jgi. LITERARY INTEtLIGENCER. I73 



exaftnefs, the outlines that have been left to him, by the 

 annalill he copies from, — and thus the monftrous pic- 

 ture is perpetuated. 



The prefent age, however, is diftinguilhed from all 

 thofe that have preceded it, by more frequent attempts 

 to get the better of this delufion than formerly — Seve- 

 ral perfons of great talents, have ftepped forward in de- 

 fence of injured merit, and in fome caf^s have proved 

 far more fuccefsful than was expeiled. The champi- 

 ons of Mary of Scotland, have gone far to do away the 

 flanderous reproaches, with which fhe has been too long 

 loaded, — and an attempt to apologize even for Richard 

 the Third, has not been without its eitccls. 



But among all the confpicuous characters in the an- 

 cient flory of Britain, Thomas Becket has had fewer fa- 

 vourers than any other : — Fume and Lyttleton have 

 loaded him with blame without the fmallefl fcruple, — ■ 

 nor has any one till the prefent time, ventui'ed to fpeak 

 one word in his unpopular caufe. The character of him 

 we now prefent to our readers, is very different from 

 that they have been accultomed to read, — and Avhether 

 it be juit or not, it has an undifputable right to the 

 claim of being well written ; on which account, as well 

 as the new ideas it fuggefts, we think to do our readers 

 a pleafure by laying it before them. 



Chcira£Ier of Becket, hy the Reverend ATr. Berington. 

 " Thus, in the 53d year of his age, died Thomas a 

 Becket, Archbiiliop of Canterbury, and Primate of 

 England. Without incurring the imputation of a vai;i 

 Angularity, may I fay, that the character of this roan 

 has never been fairly appreciated ? When the Catholic 

 draws the portrait, all his virtues are emblazoned, and 

 his blcmillies are loft in the glare of light. They view 

 him as a faint ; and unfortunately, fo impofing has that 

 charafter been rendered, that the eflVntial ftains of mor- 

 tality ace not allowed to reft upon it. Since the recent 

 date of the reformation, it Ihould feem, that the moral 



