L A T 



601 



L A T 



consequence of his extreme deafness, as well as bis in- 

 defatigable application to study. He was continually 

 visited, however, by persons of various professions; 

 and maintained a very extensive correspondence both 

 with the learned of other nations, and with the most 

 eminent literary characters of his own country. He 

 was honoured with the friendship of many respectable 

 clergymen of the church of England, and received re- 

 peatcd testimonies of their esteem for his character; 

 especially from Bishop Waddington, Lord Harrington, 

 and Archbishop Seeker. His private deportment was 

 peculiarly amiable and decorous ; and hi= manners in 

 every respect polite, gentle, and obliging. In commu- 

 nicating with hi? visitors, it was requisite for them to 

 propoMf tin-ir remarks in writing; to which he replied 

 with great frankness and cheerfulness. As a preacher 

 be was not held in much estimation ; and his pulpit 

 at were seldom attended by a numerous au- 

 Tbough serious in his manner, and perspicu- 



in his language, he was utterly devoid of eloquence 

 1 elocution. His utterance was in fact rather un- 

 pleasing, perhaps in consequence of bis deafness ; but 

 bk sermons themselves, ss far as can be judged from 

 those which have been published, were too dry and 

 didactic in their whole strain of sentiment and expres- 

 sion to interest ordinary hearers. In theological learn- 

 ing, critical skill, patient research, and sound judg- 

 ment, as far as regard the external evidences of Chris- 

 tianity, he holds a moat distinguished rank as an au- 

 thor ; and has rendered by his writings the moat essen- 

 tial nukes to the cause of revealed religion. As a 

 private Christian, his whole character was peculiarly 

 exemplary ; and his humble piety, unostentatious be- 

 nevolence, unaffected candour, unassuming disposition, 

 of tamper, purity of life, and modesty of 

 may be propasta to universal imitation. He was 

 cially devoid of all literary vanity and ambition ; 



uniformly shewed a disposition to estimate the 

 virtues of the Christian spirit above all the powers of 

 intellect and (tares of learning, even when exerted in 

 behalf of Christian truth. " I have lately pul.li 

 he said on one occasion, " the seventh volume of the 

 second part of the Credibility ; but a temper and con- 

 duct worthy the doctrine of the Gospel are more va- 

 luable than any written defences and apologies for it or 

 explication of it. I beg that I may be more and more 

 possessed of that temper of humility and meekness, 

 which shall bear good fruits." He was peculiarly cha- 

 racterised by an ingenious snd candid mind, a calm 

 and dispassionate inquiry after truth, a temperate 

 and humble statement of his sentiments ; virtues which 

 are the man worthy of being recorded, as being so 

 rarely exemplified in almost all the numberless con. 

 tiu elites which agitate the literary, the political, 

 or the theological world. His learning was mixed 

 with diffidence, his seal tempered by prudence, and 

 bis faith accompanied by benevolence. Thus far all 

 parties and persons in the Christian church concur 

 in estimating the character of Dr. Lardner ; but, 

 while they acknowledge the excellent spirit which per- 

 vades his writings, and the eminent services which his 

 productions have rendered to the general authority of 

 the sacred records, they cannot il.il to lament, that he 



" I have been able to extract from the page of 

 nothing better than Uie creed unism; a 



I.atimer. 



creed which a Socrates might have taught, and almost Larduer 

 did iti fact teach, without any revelation at alL* (q) _ II 



LARISTAN, is the name of a small province of Per- 

 sia, which stretches along the northern shore of the 

 gulf of the same name, from the 55th degree of East 

 Longitude to the 58th. It is bounded by Pars on the 

 north-west, and Kerman on the north-east. The pro- 

 vince is diversified with plains and mountains. It 

 is poor and unproductive, and is so extremely arid and 

 destitute of water, that the inhabitants are barely ena- 

 bled to cultivate the date tree, and a little wheat and 

 barley. The coast is in the possession of several pira- 

 tical Arab tribes, who reside in small towns and mud 

 forts on the shores of the Gulf. Their sheiks pay a 

 small tribute to the king. 



Lars, the capita! of the province, was formerly a mag. 

 nificent city, but is now in ruins. It is situated in East 

 Long. 52 3 45', and North Lat. 27 30', at the foot of 

 a range of hills, in a wide plain, covered with palms. It 

 contains many elegant buildings ; and the bazar is said 

 to be the noblest structure of the kind in Persia. It is 

 built on a much greater scale than that of Shiraz, with 

 loftier arches, and of superior workmanship. The 

 houses in the town are convenient, and well furnished. 

 Each of them has a badgeer and surdab ; the former to 

 cool the inner apartments, and the other as a place of 

 retirement from the insupportable heats of summer. 

 The residence of the khan is in the middle of the town, 

 and is encircled with a strong wall, flanked with towers. 

 The ruins of the famous ca-tle of Lars, are still to be 

 seen on the summit of a hill, immediately behind the 

 town. The principal manufactures of Lars, are muskets 

 and cotton cloth ; and the population is about 12,000. 



The city of Tarem contains about 12,000 inhabitants. 

 It stands on a plain on the banks of a salt river, and is 

 a mean town, consisting of a mud fort, encircled by 

 wretched huts, formed of the branches of the date tree. 



The port of Congoon contains about 7000 inhabitants, 

 and has an excellent roadstead. See Mscdonald Kin* 

 /< innir of the Persian Empire, p. 81. 



I. \KVN v ..MY, vol. i. p. Sx'7, and vol. 



ii. p. ^1. 



I. \.s.SA. See THIBET. 



LATAKIA, the ancient Laodicea, is a sea-port town 

 of Syria, in the pachalic of Tripoli. It stands on the 

 southern side of a small peninsula, which runs about 

 half a league into the sea. The harbour, which is a sort 

 of basin surrounded by a mole, is capable of holding 

 from 25 to 30 vessels ; but it is now choked up. This 

 place carries on a considerable trade in olives and to- 

 bacco, of the last of which about 20 cargoes are annual- 

 ly sent to Damitlla, tor which rice is obtained in return. 

 Population about 5000. East Long. 35" 44' 15", and 

 North Lat. 35 32' :;0". See Volney's Travels. 



LATHE. See T HIM so. 



LATIMKK, Huriii, bishop of Worcester, was tin 

 son of an honest yeoman at Thurcostun, in Leicester- 

 shire, and was born about the year 1 70. At the age 

 of four year*, he gave so great proofs of a ready appre- 

 hension, that his parents, having no other son, resolved 

 to educate him for a learned profession ; and at the age 

 of fourteen, he went to the university of Cambridge, 

 whore he applied himself chiefly to the theological 

 studies of those times. Having taken priest's orders, 

 he distinguished himself, at a very early period, by his 



of uw vorfct at Dr. I.ninCT, in ekren roluroM, tiro, with a life of tlie author, by the Ucv. Andrew Kippis, wai 

 ITW mt s nor c&tioo in in lhan, *to ku just been printed for T. Hamilton, PaMaMM Row, London. 



VOL. XII. PART II. * G 



