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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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