The Sexagenarian; or, the recollections of a literary life, in two
volumes. Vol. II.
THE
SEXAGENARIAN;
OR, THE
RECOLLECTIONS
OF A
LITERARY LIFE.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. II.
London:
PRINTED FOR F. C. AND J. RIVINGTON,
NO. 62, ST. PAUL’S CHURCH-YARD;
_By R. and R. Gilbert, St. John’s Square, Clerkenwell_
1817.
Pelliculam veterem retinens et fronte politus
Astutam vapido gestas sub pectore vulpem.
CHAPTER I.
The next personage of whom some detached and mutilated memorandums
present themselves, must be an object of conjecture, but the
peculiarities concerning him are very striking, and the changes of his
character and conduct so very considerable, that it may not be unamusing
to some readers, to look back on the last twenty-five years, and
endeavour to discover to whom they will apply.
The individual alluded to in our Manuscript, is mentioned as having been
educated in the principles of the Dissenters, and to have officiated in
earlier life as a clerk in some manufactory, or with some merchant, at
Liverpool. It may be questioned, whether he ever entirely got rid of
his former prejudices, but on some occasion or other, he chose to offer
himself to the Bishop of Landaff as a candidate for orders. By him he
was ordained, and he rendered himself so acceptable to the Bishop, that
he made him his Chaplain. Preferment he had none to give him, at least no
opportunity of making provision for his Chaplain presented itself, and
the subject of this article was for a long series of years confined to a
scanty income, obtained from laborious curacies, and from the not much
more tolerable labour of pen-drudgery for booksellers.
With his entrance into holy orders, the spirit of orthodoxy and loyalty
did not immediately accompany him. His more intimate associates were
still those, who, on all occasions, avowed and practised hostility to
the Established Church, and friendship for French principles; and he so
far forgot himself, that for a time, at least, he was an active member
of the famous, or rather infamous, Corresponding Society. His very
particular friends were Mr. Stone, Helen Maria Williams, Mr. Holcroft,
Mrs. Wolstoncroft, Dr. Priestley, Dr. Kippis—_et id genus omne_.
In this interval he published sermons, which were well received,
some essays, rather heavy, but which indicated powers of thinking.
He translated a very popular theological work, and this with so much
success, that it introduced him to the notice of an excellent and
venerable prelate, who has before been named, and who always eagerly
sought opportunities of distinguishing and rewarding literary exertions,
particularly such as promised to be useful to the Church.
Our gentleman had then the discretion to withdraw his name from the
above-mentioned society, and demonstrated a little more circumspection,
with respect to those with whom he associated. He however married a rigid
Dissenter, to whom he eventually owed the prosperity, which attended his
close of life.
By a concurrent series of fortunate circumstances, he was finally
introduced to the Premier, and employed by him in some confidential
services. The consequence of this was preferment so considerable as to
secure a perfect independence.
His publications were very numerous, and he had obtained a sort of
name among publishers, which occasioned many manuscripts of authors
to be confided to him for revision and correction. Among others, he
superintended the very popular work by Colonel Drinkwater, on the siege
of Gibraltar. It is, however, to be apprehended, that he sometimes
allowed his name to be prefixed, when he had not a great deal to do with
the substance and body of the work.
And so much for Dr. ⸺.
His primum studium est ciere risum
Ex re qualibet, et leves cachinnos
Movere, et recitatione ficti
Lingas nobilium excitare laudes.
Norunt scommatibus placere salsis
Et mordacibus irritare dictis
Si quem simplicioribus notarunt
Vitæ moribus esse, et institutis
Aptant denique, punctum ad omne, frontem.