“My grandfather had great respect and regard for a very amiable and
excellent minister of the Gospel, who lived in his neighbourhood, the
Rev. Joshua Gilpin; and it was mainly through his exertions and
personal interest that Mr. Gilpin was presented to the living of
Wrockwardine. He also enjoyed the acquaintance of many scientific
and well-informed men. His manners, as a host, were courteous and
dignified, and his conversation, when he was perfectly at ease,
animated, and often diversified with a quaint wit and humorous
satire. His fine countenance beamed with intelligence and kindness;
his eyes were piercing, and were remarkable for the brightness which
seemed literally to flash from them under strong emotion. It was
something almost fearful to meet their glance in anger or
indignation, whilst equally striking was their beautiful expression
under the excitement of admiration or affection.”
In the short sketch we gave of Mr. Reynolds in the “Severn Valley,” we
said, “the stamp of heaven’s nobility was visible in his face, and the
free and open features with which nature had endowed his person were not
dwarfed by the uniform look and expression sometimes demanded by sects.
Eyes of liquid blue, full-orbed, gave back the azure tint of heaven, and
lighted up a manly face, fair and ruddy. To these indications of a Saxon
type were added others, such as light brown hair, that in flowing curls
fell upon the shoulders of a tall and full-developed figure.”
The portrait we have hereafter described was obtained with some
difficulty, as Mr. Reynolds refused for a long time to concede to the
wishes of his friends on the subject; and the first attempt made was by a
miniature-painter, who made a sketch from the garden as he sat reading by
candle-light. This was not successful, and a second attempt, made as he
sat at meeting, being no better, he was induced to sit to Mr. Hobday.
The books shown in the background were favourites of his, and they are
arranged in the order in which he regarded them.