button to main menu  Gents Mag 1760 p.318
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Gentleman's Magazine 1760 p.318
heard a good deal of it related before. But I must confess myself astonished at the alacrity and good humour that appeared both in the clergyman and his wife, and more so, at the sense and ingenuity of the clergyman himself. My curiosity tempted me to make an enquiry into his benefice, with all his temporalities, of which he gave me, I really believe, a true and just account; and they are as follows. His fix'd salary (which has of late years been augmented by Queen Anne's bounty dropping into it) is now between 10 or 11, or near 11l. a year. About this time he visits his neighbours, who are very fond of him, and they present him with a fleece or two of wool each, which gratuities he tells me may amount in the whole to the value of 3l. the remainder of his income, and all his temporalities consist in some small matter of cash he had left him, as a legacy I believe, and what is very surprizing, of some which he has spared out of his income, besides maintaining his family, which is now placed out at interest, and which interest, when added to his benefice, and the gratuities above-mentioned, will not make the whole 20l. per annum.
It amazes me to think how he procures a maintenance for such a family, out of so small a matter; and yet he does it to the admiration of all that know him; his industry causes him to be loved by his flock, his honesty to be trusted, his function to be respected by them, and his genius to be admired by every one.
W.F.
SIR,
HOW glad I am to find poor Mr W---'s affecting circumstances so deservedly taken notice of, which are so well known in these parts, that upon application to any reputable person hereabouts, you will be told, he is as honest, worthy, well-meaning, industrious a poor clergyman, as any in these northern parts. Last Saturday, on delivering yours to Mr W---, at his house at L-----, would you believe it? I found him at one of the most servile of this country's employments, which, out of regard to persons of our profession I shall forbear to mention: His good moral conduct and meek behaviour among his neighbours, has gain's him an uncommon respect; and were it not for some trifling presents they make him of hay, wool, and the like, he could never pretend to maintain a sickly wife, and seven or eight chargeable small children, out of the poor income of his yearly salary. His family throughout, not excepting himself, is cloathed with stuff of his own manufacturing, and if I add that necessity has put him upon working them out of the fleece, even to the making them up into wearing apparel, it is but what I have been credibly told, and upon the strongest evidence of ocular demonstration have good reason to believe it. Yet, notwithstanding the narrowness of Mr W---'s circumstances, I don't apprehend that his family wants the common necessaries of life; but what will not the fear of want put a man upon doing? and how commendable is honest industry to prevent such a terror? By his frugality and good management, he keeps the wolf from the door as we say; and if he advances a little in the world, it is owing more to his own care, than to any thing else he has to rely upon; I don't find his inclination is running after further preferment: He is settled amongst a people that are happy amongst themselves, and lives in the greatest unanimity and friendship with them. and I believe the minister and people are exceedingly satisfied with each other; and, indeed, how should they be dissatisfied when they have a person of such known worth and probity for their pastor? A man, who, for his candour and meekness, his sober, chaste, and virtuous conversation, his soundness in principle and practice, is an ornament to his profession, and an honour to the country he is in, and bear with me if I say, the plainness of his dress, the sanctity of his manners, the simplicity of his doctrine, and the vehemence of his expression, have a sort of resemblance to the pure practice of primitive christianity. I have been now at B---n near five years, and never once have heard any one speak an ill word of Mr W---; but what is hardly to be met withal in a clergyman of the like circumstances, all treat him with the greatest respect, good nature, and humanity; and this must be certainly owing to the purity of his morals, and innocence of his life. Nay, Mr W---'s character is so well established in the neighbourhood, that I'll venture to say, the best and worthiest genetleman hereabouts take a pleasure in doing him any favour he requests.
T.[C].
January 31, 1755.
TC is probably Timothy Cooperson, vicar of Broughton in Furness.
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