button to main menu  Gents Mag 1747 p.325

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Gentleman's Magazine 1747 p.325
consistently with his Interest and Ability, he destin'd his fifth, agreeably to his own Inclination, which he very early discover'd, to the Sacerdotal Function. To qualify him for that by a liberal Education, he entred him in June 1688, in Edmund-Hall, in Oxford, (which was then govern'd by the celebrated Dr John Mill,) under the Tutorage of Dr White Kennet, afterwards Lord Bishop of Peterborough. There did he first testify the pleasing Sense, which he ever after retain'd, of the happy Revolution, among those Academicks, who printed congratulatory Verses on King William's victorious Return from Ireland. Having pass'd thro' his Degrees in Arts, he became domestick Chaplain to Dr Tho. Smith, then Lord Bishop of Carlisle, by whom he had been ordained and collated to the Vicarage of Aspatria in that Diocese, as he was soon afterto the second Prebend in the said Cathedral Church. In 1705, he was collated to the Arch-Deaconry, in 1727, was promoted to the Deanery, and in 1734, was advanced to the bishoprick of Carlisle; so that, in one and the same Diocese, he made a gradual Progress thro' all the Orders and Dignities of the Church; and as, in each Step, his Merit preceded his Promotion, so did he adorn, as well as fill, his several successive Stations. He had not wore the Mitre two Years, when, on the Decease of his eldest and only surviving Brother, without Issue Male, he succeeded to the title of Baronet, and the paternal Estate od his ancient Family.
-- With this Accession of Honour and Fortune, he was nevertheless that wellbred Gentleman he ever shew'd himself, in every Quality forming that Character, which was never more eminently united, than in him, with that of a Pious and truly Christian Prelate. As no one could conduct himself with a better regulated Tenderness and Affection, in the nearer Relations of LIfe, so could no one demean himself, with a more exact, and yet easy, Address, to all Ranks and Degrees of Mankind.
His Example, in which a Medium was nicely observ'd, with an Accuracy that descended to the minutest Article, was a constant Lesson of Instruction, and his House, under its Influence, was the best School of Wisdom and Virtue. As he always preserv'd a Neatness about his Person, which was of itself comely and graceful, so, by a special Guard against Habits, and with a continual Presence of Mind, he kept himself intirely free from all little Peculiarities, in Words, Gestures, and Actions, which, tho' not criminal, in any moral Turpitude, would be better wanting in many, whom they distinguish, not to their Advantage. A certain Awefulness surrounded him, which would have commanded more Fear, than Love, had it not been soften'd and sweeten'd with Affability. As he cou'd address his Superiors and Equals, with all the Ceremony and Complaisance of Good-Breeding, so was he easy of Access, and of Discourse, to his Inferiors, to the lowest of all; and never dismiss'd any, but with an attendant Liking and Approbation of him, even when he denied a Request, which he could do with a better Grace, than many grant one. Never wanting to be advised, nor reminded, in what was fit and convenient for him to do on any Occasion, he had as much Resolution, as Ability, to be directed by his own Judgment, and was ever cautious, tho' not jealous of Imposition. As he hardly ever bestow'd his Preferments thro' Dint of Solicitation, or the Intervention of any powerful Interest, but was always pre-determin'd in his own Breast; so did he double every Favour by his Manner of conferring it, and seemingly shared, with the Person he obliged, in his Pleasure and Satisfaction. His Tongue was ever as ready to encourage the Afflicted, as his Hand was to relieve the Indigent; and as no Object of Compassion ever presented itself to him in vain, so did no Design, favourable to Religion, Learning, or Publick-Good, ever fail, on the first Application, of his generous Assistance. With a Revenue, not more than adequate to his Expences, which he ballanced with a most laudable Oeconomy, he was frugal without Parsimony, and liberal without Profusion; and, whilst he put its just Value on Money, he esteem'd it, not for its own Sake, but for the good Uses of it, and as it enabled him to gratify his ample and ardent Desires, in Acts of Charity, Beneficience, and Hospitality, which consum'd his Income, as it accrued, and might seem to require, and would, but with his Managemant, a much larger Fund.
-- Though his Sensations were quick and strong, and his Temper naturally warm; yet, what was therefore the more meritorious, Raeson constantly maintain'd its proper Sway over his Passions; and a settled Equanimity, founded on the Basis of Piety and Prudence, still shew'd itself, in one uniform Appearance, amdist all the various Events and Occurrences of his LIfe. As he was not elated with Acquisitions, so was he not dejected with Losses, but bore both with an even and steady Spirit; and tho' no one could possess a Blessing with a more true and thankful Sense of its Worth and Importance, yet could no one resign it with more Patience, or reconcile himself to the Want of it with more Acquiescence and Alacrity. This amiable Moderation, as well amidst the Enjoyments, as the Sufferings, of the World, was never more its own Reward in any Man, than in this excellent Prelate, who, by means of it, under God, enjoy'd all along a sound Mind in a sound Body, the Sum Total of human Wishes in the present State. In this Tranquillity, tho' in his last Years he had to conflict with Incident of a most affecting Nature, did Old-age come upon him:
-- It came gently, and alone, unattended by those Infirmities, which often make Life a Burden long before its End.
-- Tho' his Frame had never been a robust one, but owed its Duration, under divine Providence, to his own prudent Care of it, all his Senses, his Sight, Hearing, &c. continu'd unimpair'd, and their Organs discharg'd their respective Functions, without any Helps of Art; whilst his Intellects, his Apprehension, Judgment, and Memory, remain'd good, as they always had been, to the very last. When,
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