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Smith (SYDNEY an English clergyman)

SYDNEY, an English clergyman; born in Woodford, Essex, England, SMITH June 3, 1771. Educated at Winchester School, Sydney, in 1789, entered New College, Oxford, where he took his degree of M.A. in 1796, becoming fellow a few years afterward. In 1797 he obtained the bury Plain, where he passed a secluded life for about two years. He then went to Edinburgh as tutor to a young gentleman, continued there for five years, and was one of the founders in 1802 of the "Edinburgh Review," being also one of its most influential contributors. In 1804 he removed to London, about the same time married, and became renowned as one of the wittiest and most genial of In 1806 he was presented to the men. living of Foston-le-Clay, in Yorkshire.

In 1807 appeared anonymously his cele brated "Letters of Peter Plymley," in tended to further the cause of Catholic emancipation. His liberal views on politics excluded him for a long time from church preferment; but in 1828 he was presented to the rectory of Combe Florey, in Somersetshire, and in 1831, during the ministry of Earl Grey, he became one of the canons of St. Paul's, London, where ided. A few years behe henceforth resided . fore his death a collected edition of his writings was published under his own supervision, including papers contribes of Moral Philosophy," etc. He wrote a es of Moral Philosophy," etc. He wrote a Atomic Theory up to his Time"; "Air and Rain: the Beginnings of a Chemical Cli- Rain: the Beginnings of a Chemical Climatology"; "Loch Etive, and the Sons of ter"; etc. He died in London, Feb. 22, 1845.