Our first attention must necessarily be directed to the Bishop of ⸺.
The ancestors and family connections of this learned and accomplished
prelate, were of the Roman Catholic persuasion, and rigidly attached to
those tenets. His Lordship was himself educated in them, and if we are
not misinformed, actually studied in the college at St. Omer’s, with the
intention of becoming a priest.
It happened, at least so our Brief instructs us, that whilst in this
situation, his vivacity and parts attracted the notice of a near
connection of the late Duke of ⸺, and that on his expostulation,
and promises of protection and assistance, young ⸺ was without much
difficulty prevailed upon to read his recantation, and become a member
and a clergyman of our Protestant communion.
He came over to this country, and accompanied his patron to Ireland, but
during his Grace’s administration, it does not appear that any preferment
became vacant, becoming the patron to bestow, or the client to accept. He
nevertheless availed himself of this interval to ingratiate himself more
effectually with his patron, to whom he was enabled to render various
services by the skilfulness and dexterity of his pen. He returned to
England with the Duke, through whose good offices he was, after no great
lapse of time, appointed to valuable preferment in some of the northern
provinces. This however not exactly suiting him, he, through the same
channel of interest, obtained an exchange for a valuable benefice in
Ireland, upon which he fixed his residence.
When Lord Fitzwilliam, the great friend of the Duke of P. was made Lord
Lieutenant of Ireland, Dr. ⸺ was admitted to the same sort of confidence
as he had enjoyed with his predecessor; and short as the residence of
Lord F. was in his exalted station, a Bishopric became vacant, to which
the Doctor was appointed.
It is but rendering him strict justice to say, that from the moment of
his entering upon his functions, he discharged them invariably, with
great usefulness and honour. He has been rather considered as too severe
a disciplinarian, and a proposition which he made to his diocese, to
attend quarterly lectures on the Greek Testament at the palace, excited
much murmuring and discontent.
When translated to the more extensive and more valuable See of ⸺ he
exercised the same vigilance, among other examples of which, the
following anecdote is related.
A young dashing clergyman of high connections, who had a curacy in
the diocese, did not think it important to be particularly rigid and
punctual in the discharge of his duty, but was too easily detained by
the allurements and blandishments of Dublin, from his too indulgent
parishioners. This at length reached his Lordship’s ears, who determined
to ascertain the fact himself.
Accordingly, on a Sunday, he proceeded to the church, where he heard no
bell knolling to church, saw no parishioners chatting in the porch, nor
any preparation for divine service. With some difficulty the clerk was
found, to whom his Lordship was known.
“Why is there no preparation for divine service?” asked the Bishop. “My
Lord,” said the clerk, “our young master has not been among us this
fortnight.” “Ring the bell immediately,” said the Bishop. Upon this a
congregation was soon assembled, to whom his Lordship read prayers, and
preached.
The Bishop presumed that intelligence of this matter would be
communicated to the defaulting curate, but he nevertheless chose to make
a second experiment of the kind, and on the following Sunday repeated his
visit to the same village. Here he found things precisely as before—no
bell knolled to church—no peasants sitting on the grave-stones—no visible
signs of population. The Bishop a second time sent for the clerk,
assembled the congregation, and performed the duty as before.
It does not however appear, that he was again obliged to repeat his
visit, and the shame and consternation of the curate, on finding who had
been his substitute, may be easily imagined.
The Bishop had a sister, a very rigid Roman Catholic, who remained
immoveably fixed in her religious tenets. She had, however, a son, who
was prevailed upon to accept of an Archdeaconry, and other preferment,
to the amount of almost two thousand a-year. An uncle also and a brother
were frequent visitors at the palace, who nevertheless resisted all
importunity to change their religious creed, although accompanied by
assurances of the greatest temporal advantages.
All circumstances being dispassionately weighed, no apology seems
necessary to be made for introducing the above distinguished personage in
the class of those who may be denominated “fortunate.”
Not less so, perhaps, was the Bishop of ⸺. This prelate’s[2] name is ⸺.
In his earlier life, he officiated as private tutor in some distinguished
family, which he left, however, with some abruptness. It is by no means
to his dishonour, that his origin was very humble, but he was invariably
remarkable for his elegant appearance, and truly engaging manners. Not
succeeding in his profession at home, he resolved to try his fortune
abroad, and accordingly, in the beginning of the American contest,
accompanied Lord Cornwallis to that country as an army chaplain.
In America he obtained an introduction to Lord ⸺, a friend of whose he
married, and to this connection he was unquestionably indebted for his
subsequent elevation in life.
This Prelate, like the foregoing, was educated in the strictest
principles of the Roman Catholic persuasion.
Dr. F. Bishop of ⸺, was son to the Archbishop of Dublin, who himself
might be introduced in the class of the more fortunate, being of very
humble origin.
The B⸺p of ⸺ had formed a connection with a scyon of a noble house, whom
nevertheless his father, the Archbishop, did not approve, and accordingly
refused his consent to the marriage. The son was at that time Archdeacon
of Dublin, and persevering in his determination to marry the lady, had
the banns published in his own church. The report was circulated, that
his Grace resolved to attend, and forbid the banns, on the third time of
their publication. The novelty of the circumstance produced so great a
crowd, that there was hardly standing room in the church. The incident,
however, did not take place, and the parties were in due time married.
The Bishop of ⸺ was promoted to his high dignity by Lord C⸺n, to whom
he had formerly been private tutor. Lord C. had invited Dr. Powis, Dean
of Canterbury, to accompany him to Ireland. On his declining it, his
Lordship made the same offer to Dr. B⸺r, which was accepted.
The Primate of Ireland was brother to the late learned and excellent
Bishop of St. Asaph, and was elevated to that station by Lord B⸺.
The excellent and very learned Bishop of C. was the tutor of Emanuel
College when Lord Westmoreland resided there, and was his Lordship’s
private tutor also. He had previously received his education at Harrow,
and was in every respect a very learned and accomplished man. When Lord
W. was appointed to the Lord Lieutenancy of Ireland, he necessarily
remembered his old preceptor and friend. He was accordingly, on the first
opportunity, appointed to the Bishopric of C⸺k, and afterwards to the
more lucrative see of C⸺e.
Whoever knew this amiable prelate in his early life, or have been
honoured by his friendship in his progress to his present dignity, cannot
but experience the truest satisfaction, from seeing the benefits of
fortune so honourably bestowed, and so discreetly enjoyed.
The majority of the Episcopal Bench in our sister country, is composed
of the younger branches of the more illustrious families. Such as, for
example, Elphin, Derry, Kilmore, Down and Connor, Waterford, Kildare,
Killaloe, Raphoe, Cork and Ross, Fernes, &c. &c.
The Bishop of Clonfert is or was a gentleman of the name of Butson, of
whom the only memorandum in our notes, intimates, that he was in early
life one of the under masters of Winchester school. Beyond all doubt
indebted for his promotion to his conduct and learning. He was educated
at Oxford, and was the author of a very fine poem on the Love of our
Country, which in 1772 obtained a prize at that University.
With the above names, the catalogue of those prelates, who may without
impropriety be denominated fortunate, concludes.
Concursu adcedere magno
Anthea, Sergestumque videt, fortemque Cloanthum
Teucrorumque alios.