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Gentleman's Magazine 1811 part 2 p.507
By the byrde and best under the firmament,
Say what excuse mayest thou lay or finde,
Thus you art made by God so excellente,
But that you oughtest again to hym be kinde.
Among the eminent men who have possessed the dignity of Dean
of Carlisle, may be reckoned Dr. Francis Atterbury; Dr.
Percy, the late venerable Bishop of Dromore; and the present
Dr. Isaac Milner, who is beneath none of his predecessors in
profound or elegant knowledge, in piety, virtue, and the
most amiable demeanour in private life.
As the present Dean of Carlisle is known, in the Southern
part of this kingdom, as an eminent natural philosopher, and
the continuator of his brother's History of the Christian
Church, only, it may not be out of place to give your
Readers some idea of his great powers as a pulpit orator. He
makes a point of preaching every Sunday, at some of the
Churches in this city, during his residence, which continues
from the latter end of June to the latter end of September.
But his principle attendance is at the Cathedral; above an
hour before the service begins, the numerous congregation
have taken their seats; and by the time he ascends the
pulpit, there is scarcely standing-room. His congregation,
we may aver, consists of several thousands; such a numerous
and steady attendance bespeaks the best disposition of the
people of Carlisle; and we may hope that he has been the
means of 'turning many from the power of Satan unto God.'
The style of his eloquence is suited to the different
classes which he addresses. It is at once elegant, nervous,
clear, and simple; and the subjects of his discourses are
generally of a nature to interest both the understanding and
the feelings of his audience. It is not in my power to do
justice to his transcendant merits; but I have some pleasure
in paying this well-mertited tribute to the abilities of one
of the first Divines of the age.
The Deanery-house enjoys a most beautiful prospect up the
Vale of Caldew; the background is formed by that grand
amphitheatre of mountains, of which Skiddaw forms the chief
feature. The more immediate vicinity is composed of the more
cheerful, but less picturesque, scenes of bleach-fields,
print-works, cotton-mills, and the busy employment of
manufactures.
In the immediate neighbourhood of the Deanery are the
Refectory, part of the Dormitory, and the Cloisters, which
open towards the South side of the venerable Cathedral. The
present worthy Dean and Chapter have done much to adorn the
precincts of the Abbey, by constructing broad gravel walks
winding under the shade of venerable lime trees.
The Cathedral is partly Saxon and partly Pointed Gothic
architecture. The East window is a beautiful piece of
tracery; indeed the appearance of the choir is elegant and
grand; the style of its architecture is extremely light. It
has been repaired at many different periods; the principal
contributors to its improvement were Bishop Smith and Bishop
Lyttelton. The present Dean and Chapter have added an organ,
which is said to be inferior to none in the kingdom. The
Earl of Lonsdale has presented to this Cathedral two fine
paintings, of the Resurrection and St. John preaching in the
wilderness, which are placed on either side of the altar.
There are in this Cathedral monuments of the following
Bishops. A marble figure, in pontificals, of Bp. Stirkland,
temp. Henry IV.; of Bp. Barrow, temp. Henry
V.; of Bp. Bell, temp. Edward IV.; of Bp. Robinson,
temp. Elizabeth and James I.; of Bp. Smith,
temp. Queen Anne; of Bp. Fleming, temp. George
II.; of Bp. Law, temp. George III. Those of Bishops
Bell, Robinson, Smith, Fleming, and Law, are furnished with
inscriptions, which shall be presented to your Readers in
some future number. Drawings of this ancient structure (the
Cathedral) have been made at different periods by Mr.
Hearne, Mr. Gayfere, Mr. Carlyle, Mr. Clennel, Mr. Fielding,
&c. &c.
Yours, &c. CLERICUS
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