We must now go back, and revert to the period at which we were, when the
expediency of introducing a discussion on the characters and qualities
of eminent female personages, suggested itself from our notes. Our
digression commenced at the time when we were about to notice, that
the presumed usefulness of our Sexagenarian’s literary labours and
pursuits, occasioned his being introduced to Archbishop Moore, to Bishops
Barrington, Porteus, Dampier, Tomline, and Burgess, &c. and others of the
Episcopal Bench. All treated him with kindness. Of all, if he has not
said it already, he has something to say, and of some not a little.
Of Archbishop Moore, the distance of rank was too great, and the
opportunities of forming any judgment too limited, for him to ascertain
much about the extent of his intellectual powers and accomplishments. But
there was a graciousness, an affability, a benevolence, tempered with
dignity, which could not fail strongly to impress, and effectually to
conciliate those who were admitted to his presence. There was, moreover,
obviously conspicuous, an ardent desire to discharge vigilantly and
accurately, the duties of his exalted station.
When the writer of these Recollections first saw him, the mighty monster
of the French Revolution was rearing its infernal brood of assassins,
infidels, and miscreants; and the Archbishop sagaciously foresaw and
predicted, the horrible calamities which would be produced, by letting
those hell-hounds loose upon society. It was his peculiar province and
duty, to guard against the circulation of the poison in this country,
as far as religion was concerned. He felt the full importance of his
station. The steady advocates of loyalty and truth, found in his Grace,
a friend, protector, and counsellor. He collected the ablest among
them under one banner, and by animating their zeal, encouraging their
efforts, and rewarding their exertions, formed a bulwark for the defence
and preservation of the church as connected with the state, which alike
defied the open and avowed attacks of foreign adversaries, and the more
formidable, because more disguised and secret, machinations of domestic
conspirators.
Peace to his memory. On the first introduction of our friend, he
anticipated him by graciously saying—“I know how assiduously and how
usefully you have exercised your time and talents, and acknowledge
your claim on the country and myself. Consider me as your friend.” He
testified his friendship and good opinion by something better than words.
Alike in their sense of the duties of their high stations, equally
attached to the constitution and ecclesiastical establishment of their
country, and resolved by every effort to support and defend both, in
the same degree administering protection and encouragement to those,
who in arduous and perilous times avowed their loyalty, and strenuously
vindicated their faith, Bishop B⸺, as far as talents and learning are
concerned, was cast in a yet higher mould. No further comparison need
be made. Without entering into any political disquisitions, which might
eventually lead to contrariety of opinions, it may be confidently
asserted in this place, without apprehension of dispute, that Bishop
B⸺’s character has been invariably and consistently, that of the
friend and patron of all who claimed his notice from the merits of
learning, talents, or virtue. In the different situations which he has
so honourably filled, his first care seems to have been to single out
those who merited his distinction, and without regard to the incidental
circumstances of rank, or external recommendation, to confer his favours
and his bounty, promptly and substantially upon them.
There are but few individuals who, within the last fifty years, have
been esteemed for their parts and learning, who have not been honoured
by his notice, and admitted to his table. But this is not all. His
Lordship has not unfrequently conferred rewards upon learned and useful
men, with no other knowledge of them than their works, communicated
with no other recommendation than their good name. Perhaps there is
not an instance beyond the limit of his own family, where there was
any excitement or inducement to the communication of his favours, but
the decided and unequivocal testimony of the merits or virtues of the
objects receiving them. This too at a time when it was too generally
understood, and it is to be feared too justly believed, that political
and parliamentary interest and interposition, presented almost the only
path to ecclesiastical promotion. The term _almost_ is used, because
there are some noble exceptions to the contrary in the conduct of Bishop
Porteus more particularly, hereafter to be mentioned, as well as of some
other ornaments to the Episcopal Bench.
But Bishop B⸺ must not be considered and estimated as the mere patron
of literature; he always and successfully cultivated it himself, was
ever deemed an excellent scholar; and the different Charges, Sermons,
and Tracts, which he has at various times given to the world, are to be
classed among our happiest specimens of elegance, purity, and simplicity
of diction.
If his Lordship had ever condescended to do, what is here, it is feared,
very imperfectly attempted, what an admirable miscellany he must have
produced. Having lived familiarly with the most learned, and most
eminent; learned himself, and by his example, courtesy, and affability,
inviting his friends to unfold their intellectual treasures, a Common
Place-Book from such a hand, must have afforded hints for many desirable
works; might have detected the sources of error, so as to prevent
their repetition, and correct their tendency; and must have preserved
innumerable anecdotes for the instruction and delight of posterity.
We leave this article very reluctantly, for nothing could be more easy,
from the knowledge communicated in these Recollections, of instances
on the part of the Bishop, of extraordinary zeal in the cause of
learning, and of most generous and benevolent interposition in behalf
of oppressed and suffering merit, than to extend these Remarks to an
almost indefinite length. No work of learning requiring patronage, which
promised illumination of what was before obscure, improvement of any
scientifical pursuits, increase of utility in any department of the arts,
was ever known to solicit Bishop B⸺’s countenance in vain. No case of
benevolence, where the circumstances claimed and merited assistance, ever
came before him without being relieved.
Two individuals who afterwards adorned the Episcopal Bench, were first
introduced to notice as his domestic chaplains. The stalls of Durham bear
strong and satisfactory evidence of his unlimited liberality in rewarding
learning and virtue. But we must turn aside from this agreeable and
cheering prospect, to contemplate another, which, if inferior at all in
any of the requisites to make a moral picture perfect, can only be so in
points of comparative unimportance.
Quid favor aut cætus, pleni quid honoribus anni
Profuerunt, sacris et vita quid artibus acta?
Abstulit una dies ævi decus, ictaque luctu
Conticuit Latiæ tristis facundia linguæ
Unica sollicitis quondam tutela salusque:
ille senatus
Vindex, ille fori, legum ritusque togæque.