2.66 
ufficient pertion of time to claffical, mo- 
Yal, and theological ftudies, to become 
€ven a tolerable adept in them; and I 
Fefer to the general ignorance of the ma- 
jor part of w ranglers i in thefe branches, 
for a proof of my iad It is a no- 
torious fact, that in moft colleges the 
elaffical and moral leétures are hurried 
ever in the moft ilovenly manner, and 
withcut the leaft regard to the improve-~ 
ment of the ftudents : and all thofe un- 
der-graduates, who, either from an aver- 
fion to a rigid courfe of mathematical 
fiudies, ora predileétion for the purfuits 
More connected with the profeffions they 
are defigned for, make mathematics their 
inferior purfuit, however extenfive their 
ftudies may be in general ae are 
dubbed ox-reading men ! 
That the attention paid by fome 
> claffics, in preference to mathematics 
a mere pretext for idlenefs, I pofitiv 
deny : for thofe who are difpofed to in- 
dulge for three years, in indolence and 
diffipati ion, do not blufh to avow their 
averfion to every {pecies of ftudy. Dur- 
ing my refidence at the univerfity, anda 
confant intercourfe with both reading 
and non-reading men, 1 never met with 
one, who profefied himfelf attached to 
claffical fudies, with a view of {creening 
an indolent difpofition ; but, on the con- 
trary, have always See the zouz-readers 
as diligent and ftudious, as the moft pled - 
ding mathematicians. As the qualifica- 
tions, which entitle a perfon to bea can- 
didate fur the medals, wholly preclude 
the zon -reading men from a competition, 
no comparifon between them, in their 
claffical abilities, can be inftituted; nor 
does this, in the leaft, argue their inabi- 
Hty to try for them. I do not pretend 
to difpute the propriety of making the 
elements of mathematics and natural 
philofophy, a part of an academic edu- 
cation 3 but am of opinion, that a partial 
fy fem of education, and that not calcu- 
lated to prepare the ftudents au their re- 
fpective profeffions, is not only errone- 
ous but unjuft. -Your’s, &c. 
April 4, 1797- ie. bre 
ti 
tl 
fits 
t 

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SER, 
Er has been recommended to me, by a 
much-efteemed friend, to offer, for a 
place in your Mitcellany, fome account 
of the rev. Joun Parmer, many years 
a proteftant diffenting Ee to a con- 
gregation in New Broad- fireet, London ; 
and a correct lift of his works. This, 
Studies at Cambridge....Rev. F. Palmer. 
- 
[April, 
it is juftly judged, is a tribute, he well 
deferved: and a tribute, which, refpeét 
to his character, and a grateful remem- 
brance of his friendly attentions to me, 
in the courfe of my academical life, 
prompt me to pay: and to fupply, as 
far as I am able, the defeétive notice of 
him in the Gentleman’s Magazine for 
June, 1791. Tam, fir, your’s, 
JosHuA TouLMIN. 
Taunton, March 31, 1797- 
Mr. JouN PALMER was, it is appre- 
hended, born in Southwark. Under 
whom: he received his claffical education 
is not known. In 1746, he began to 
attend lectures, for academical learning, 
under the rey. Dr. David Jennings, in 
Well-clofe fquare, London. Soon after, 
leaving the academy, about the year 
Ugice. “he was, on the rev. James Read’s 
being incapacitated, by growing difor- 
ders, for his tated ufual labours, chofen 
efiifiant to his-colleague and co-paftor, 
the rev. JoHN ALLEN, M.D. to officiate 
to the fociety of proteftant diffenters, in 
New Broad-ftreet. Mr. Read dying, 
in 1755, and Dr. Allen, not long after, 
removing to Worceiter, Mr. Palmer fuc- 
ceeded him in the peftoral office ; and in 
1757, or 1758, was publicly recommend- 
= his fathers and brethren 1n the 
aah to the Divine favour, in the 
duties of that charaéter. On that occa- 
fion, as the writer of this recolleGs, Dr. 
Berfoa delivered to the congregation, a 
fermon, on the duties which Chriftians 
owe to their minifters ; and Dr. Samuel 
Chandler addrefied Mr. Palmer, in a 
difcourfe on the nature of the minifterial 
character, offering obfervations on the 
beft methods of fupporting it with re- 
putation and ufefulnefs. Mr. Palmer 
continued in this conneétion, till a few 
years before his death, when the fociety, 
greatly reduced in its numbers, was dif- 
folved. Fora great part of this time, 
before he married, which was not till, 
it is fuppofed, he was about forty years 
of age, he filled the poft of librarian, at 
Dr. Williams’s library, in Red-Crofs- 
ftreet.™ 
He difcovered in early life an ingui- 
fitive and liberal turn of mind; and, 
when he entered on his public charaéter, 
was as Open and explicit in avowing his 
fentiments,as he had been free and un- 
thackled in- his religious inquiries. 
To the laft he maintained the charaéter 
of a man of integrity: was the ftrenuous 
advocate for religious liberty; and ar- 
dent in the caufe of freedom. ‘* He was 
avery 
