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OBITUARY.Sir William Elias Taunton.

tieth year, that his R. H. unexpectedly commanded him to kneel, and conferred on him the honour of Knighthood. He had many years before this event retired from the practice of his profession, retain ing only the principal affairs which connected him with the County, the University, and the City. While engaged in the discharge of his duties as an attorney, Sir W. T. was distinguished not only for his superior knowledge of the Law, but by his zealous devotion to the interests of his Clients, and above all, by his strict and incorruptible integrity. He was a truly honest man, of sound and upright principles, in public a steady supporter of the Constitution in Church and State, and exemplary in the highest degree in all the relations of private life, performing in every particular his duty towards God and his neighbour. During the latter part of his life he amused himself with writing several little pamphlets on matters of public policy, and with re-publishing one of a religious nature. He had indeed during his whole life distinguished himself by a facility in composition; and during the long period that he filled successively the offices of City Solicitor and Town Clerk, scarcely an Address had the seal of the City of Oxford attached to it, which did not proceed from the pen of Sir Wm. T. He was twice married; first, to Frances, daughter of Stephen Grosvenor, gent. descended from a branch of the ancient family of that name, and, secondly, to Charlotte, daughter of the Rev. Thomas Haw. kins. By his first wife he has left eight surviving children; William Elias, a King's Counsel and Recorder of Oxford, Thomas Henry, Daniel, both Attornies at Law; George, in holy orders, and fellow of Corpus Christi College; Frances, married to the Rev. Henry Smith; Eliza-Charlotte, married to William Warren, of Truro, esq.; and Ann. During his life Sir Wm. T. made a considerable benefaction to the City of Oxford, the trusts of which, by his will, he has declared to be for the benefit of a limited number of the widows of poor Freemen.

This worthy old gentleman met with a providential escape in February last, the particulars of which he communicated to us in the following narrative, induced thereto by the accidents which had then lately befallen Lady Mostyn and Mrs. Brodie :

"Sir William and Lady Taunton had been dining with a gentleman in Brewer'sJane in Oxford on Thursday the 23d of February last. Soon after ten o'clock in the evening, it being quite dark, their carriage was announced, and they left the party, and had scarcely seated themselves in the carriage (the coachman and footboy being on the box) before the sudden

[Sept.

plunging of one of the horses caused one of the reins to soap, and the coachman in endeavouring to recover them lost his seat and fell to the ground. The horses immediately went away at full speed, grating the walls of Pembroke College as they passed along; at the end of Brewer's-lane they turned up the street towards Carfax, there they turned the corner, and went down the Butcher-row; again they turned another sharp angle into the turnpike-road towards Botley, when Sir William placed his hope that the horses would be stopped by the turnpike-gate, but they went against the gate with sach force that they instantly burst it open. The people at the gate endeavoured to overtake them, but their pace was too ra pid for any one to reach them; from thence they proceeded along the Botley causeway, and passed five bridges, a mailcoach, and a waggon. During this peri lous journey the little foot-boy contrived to get from the box and reach the footboard, from the foot-board he walked along the carriage (the horses still continuing at full speed) and got to their heads, and then by laying hold of the reins, stopped them just at the moment when they were on the point of crossing the bank leading into the meadow adjoining the road.

But

"To those who are acquainted with the road, it will appear next to a miracle that they travelled so far without the slightest injury, having turned in safety all the sharp corners between the place from whence they started and where they stopped; having passed a waggon and a mail-coach in a narrow part of the causeway, and run against the chain or curb stones of the different bridges on one side or the other. above all, the little boy so managing in the dark, having nothing but the carriagelamps to light the way, and the borses being in full gallop, to walk along the pole of the carriage and get at the reins, is something above praise, and exceeds all belief. The space the horses ran is upwards of three quarters of a mile, and, except as to a very short part, is without any boundary-fence on either side; and thus to escape without any accident should afford a lesson to all who may be placed in a similar situation, not to leave the carriage, but wait patiently for what may befal them."

THOMAS SMITH, JUN. Esq. B. A.

July 30. At the house of his father, North End, Little Ilford, Essex, in the twenty-second year of his age, Thomas Smith, jun. esq. youngest son of Thomas Smith, esq. Distillery, Whitechapel

road.

This young man, no less distinguished by natural endowments, than by his literary acquire→

1825.]

Obituary.—Thomas Smith, Jun. Esq. B.A.

acquirements, acute, learned, amiable, and good, ought not to be allowed to sink silently into the grave, and then be forgotten; or to live only for a season in the fleeting recollection of his more immediate friends and acquaintance. To genius and merit like his, a more lasting memorial may be offered, which shall record his own deservings, and influence, perhaps, the conduct of others.

At the age of six and a half, this youth was placed under the care of the Rev. Dr. Hooker, an able and experienced teacher, who has long kept a private seminary of great respectability at Rottingdean, near Brighton. He had previously, under the care of his excellent mother, made some proficiency in the rudiments of learning; and to the attention thus early bestowed on the culture of his mind, may be traced, in some measure, those habits of application, and that taste for literature, by which he was afterwards distinguished. With Dr. Hooker he continued five years, making, for his time of life, great progress, and manifesting an ardent passion for classical learning. The master fully appreciated the talent of the scholar, and upon his removal, fearing that his father might design him for trade, wrote an expostulatory letter, declaring that such a destination would be a kind of literary homicide, and strongly urging that he should be sent to a public school, to be educated for one of the English Universities.

The step thus recommended according with his father's views, he was in consequence entered at Harrow, and boarded in the house of the Rev. Dr. Butler, the Head Master, having for his private tutor the Rev. S. E. Batten, one of the Assistant Masters of the school. Here, he soon obtained those highly prized tokens of merit which mark the progress, and call forth the exertions of the youth educated in our best public seminaries. The periodical letters to the parent from the Head Master (whose kindness and attention to him were unremitted), as well as the communications of the Tutor, were full of the son's praise.

At Midsummer 1820, he quitted Harrow, bearing with him the esteem of all, and numerous school prizes. The last of these was of peculiar distinction, given by the Governors for the best Greek Ode on the opening of the school-rooms after their enlargement. The Ode, publicly recited before a polite, a numerous, and respectable audience, was honoured with the approbation of the late Rev. Dr. Parr, and other distinguished scholars, who were present on the occasion.

After leaving Harrow, and at the age of seventeen, he was placed for one year under the care and private tuition of the Rev. George Millett, then resident at Dunmow. From him he received testimonials of entire

279

approbation, with every encouragement to hope for distinction in his future progress.

He was admitted of Trinity College, Cambridge, Christmas 1819, and in October 1821 (at the age of eighteen) commenced residence.

In 1823, he gained, at his first sitting, a College Scholarship. This to him was a valuable acquisition, for without it he could not have aspired to a Fellowship, which had ever been one great object of his ambition, and which, in Trinity College, is known to be the reward only of the most distinguished merit, ascertained upon strict examination, and comparative trial. He did not, however, reach the time, when, by the statutes of the College, he could have become a competitor for that high honour.

With a frame of body never robust, and a mind much alive to sensibility, in the Autumn of 1824 he began to exhibit symptoms of that malady which, either entirely generated, or greatly aggravated by intense study, in the end proved so fatal to him. As the time of his public examinations approached, this malady rapidly encreased; and when that period had arrived, he was advised by many of his friends to forego the perplexity and anxiety of the trial. Others, aware of the mortification, and, with reference to his health, of the probable injury which this would occasion to him, urged him on. He soon decided on the course he should take; and though so enfeebled as to require to be daily carried to the Senate House (the severity of his complaint having rendered the most critical time for reading nearly unavailable) he obtained in January 1825, when taking his degree of B. A. a respectable mathematical honour, that of senior Optime. Nor did this content him; for, at the voluntary classical examination of commencing Bachelors in the succeeding month, he again presented himself. In that tripos, amongst the competitors from the whole University, he appears to have gained the second place; and, amongst those from his own College, the first. Here, he ought to have stopped; and it is to be regretted that he did not. To establish his reputation as a scholar, enough had been done. Those who knew him best, doubted not that, had he been blessed with a better state of health, he had been capable of satisfying their most sanguine wishes, and thought that his unhappy condition ought to have precluded his contending immediately afterwards for the Chancellor's medals; in which content, with very formidable competitors (the strength of his disorder encreasing rapidly, accompanied with high symptomatical fever) he proved unsuccessful.

Shortly afterwards, leaving Cambridge, he repaired for a while to the sea side, to recover, if possible, his health: but in vain; his complaint had gotten the better of his

con

280

OBITUARY.-T. Smith, Jun. Esq.-Miles Barne, Esq.

constitution. In this retirement, therefore, having for some time endured pains scarcely supportable, he laid down his life amidst the bitter wailings of his family, the deep regret of his friends, and the disappointed expecta tions of all his acquaintance, who looked upon him as a youth of unusual promise.

As he approached his latter end, his sufferings called forth new virtues, or made his actual virtues more apparent. His torturing pains never forced from him a murmur of complaint, or a sigh of selfishness; "If I am to die, God's will be done! I have indeed a wish to live, not for myself, but for you (my parents) that I may by my death occasion you no sorrow, and by my life, some time or other, repay your many many kindnesses." His own motto, "Mediis tranquillus in undis," may thus, in him, be said to have been illustrated. No person could suffer more, or complain less.

It was the painful duty of the writer of this article, to wait upon this youth, and to administer, upon a bed of sickness, the last consolations of religion, the blessed memorial of the death and passion of our Saviour. He was aware that he had to visit no common person. He expected to be interrogated "respecting the faith that was in him," and "he was prepared to give an answer." The questions were indeed, many, pertinent, and important. The replies appeared to give satisfaction, and to accord with the youth's own notions of religion. But the wonder was, how one so young, so devoted to other studies, and so occupied by them, should have become so versed in Scriptural doctrine. This was accounted for by the fact that he had never neglected to read some portion of the Scriptures daily, and to meditate upon them.

He made his will: for, with allowances neither great, nor unusually liberal, but with moderation in his wants, and fixed habits of frugality and method, he had property to bequeath. To his most esteemed College friends he leaves, amongst other things, some of his books. To one of them, three days before his decease, he addressed a last letter. He wrote nothing afterwards, and the letter is too characteristic of what has been said of this excellent youth, to be here omitted. "My dear I write to you, while lying on a bed of sickness, scarcely able to hold my pen. I am very ill, and suffer great pain-very great indeed. My flesh and strength have almost utterly departed from me, and I fear that I cannot live much longer. It would have been a comfort and a gratification to me to have seen you in the midst of this my severe trial; but I suppose that you are unable to leave Cambridge. Still, be assured, that if this painful distemper carries me to the grave, you shall not be without some token of my remembrance. Farewell, and believe me, living

[Sept.

or dying, my dear your very affec tionate friend,

THOMAS SMITH."

To this an answer was received in course of post, breathing, with respect to him, the strongest attachment and kindest feelings. It did honour alike to the head and the heart of the writer, who, though he quickly followed in person, unfortunately did not arrive until an hour or two after the decease of his friend.

Besides rings to various individuals, including his several teachers, he has left in particular instances, small sums of money; and to the writer of this article, a legacy in the following terms, words too dear ever to be forgotten-"to the Rev. of from whose visit to me in the country, I have derived much spiritual consolation and comfort, the sum of one hundred pounds; which sum I hope he will consent to accept in humble token of my gratitude."

Would to God, this legacy, as unexpect ed as it was undeserved, had remained for ever unheard of,

Testamentum ad Græcas Kalendas tesignandum!

Such is the outline of the brief history of this short-lived, but long and fondly to be remembered young man! Ostendunt terris hunc tantum fata, neque ultra

Esse sinunt.

His mortal remains are deposited in a private vault in the Church-yard of Little Ilford, Essex.

MILES BARNE, ESQ.

The

Sept. 8. At Sotterley Hall, Suffolk, in his 80th year, Miles Barne, esq. He was born in Grosvenor-square, May 22, 1746, O.S. the only son of the late Miles Barne, esq. by his first wife Elizabeth, sole daughter and heiress of Nathaniel Elwick, esq. of May-place, in the parish of Crayford, Kent, and sometime Gorernor of Madras in the East Indies. deceased served the office of High Sheriff for the county of Suffolk in 1790, and in the following year was returned to Parliament for the family borough of Dunwich, for which he continued to sit till the general election in 1796, when his second brother, Snowdon Barne, esq. (of whom we gave a memoir in our July Magazine, p. 89), was chosen in his room. From that time he resided almost constantly at Sotterley, in retirement, seeing very few persons except his near connections and relations. Though penurious in some points with regard to his own comforts, he was liberality itself with regard to those of others, of which numberless and irrefragible proofs might be advanced. He was a most kind and generous landlord, and never could be induced to distrain

any

1825.]

OBITUARY.-T. Giddy, Esq.-Mr. R. Graves.

any of his tenants. He was a firm believer in the doctrines of our most holy religion, and, unless prevented by severe illness, never failed to attend its ordibances at his parish church. Having died a bachelor, he is succeeded in his paternal estales, which are situated in Suffolk, and in the City of London, by his next brother of the half-blood, Barne Barne, esq. late Commissioner of the Tax Office; and he has devised those which he inherited from his mother, to his youngest brother, the Rev. Thos Barne, Chaplain in Ordinary to his Majesty, and late Rector of Sotterley.

THOMAS GIDDY, ESQ.

July 22. At Penzance, Cornwall, aged 84, Thomas Giddy, Esq. He was born on the 9th of October, 1741, (0. S.)-the youngest son of Mr. John Giddy, of Trelayse, near Truro, and brother of the Rev. Edw. Giddy of St. Erth, the father of Davies Gilbert, Esq. M. P. for Bodmin. His classical education he owed to that excellent master of the Grammar-school at Truro, Mr. George Conon; and such was bis ardour in the pursuit of knowledge, that in running the school-boy's race, he soon left all competitors behind him. His early inclination was to the Church; but. as one of the family was already destined for the clerical profession, he was placed with Mr. George Treweek, at Penzance, with whom he acquitted himself to the entire satisfaction of that eminent surgeon. Nor was it less gratifying to observe his assiduity in attending the hospitals, and lectures on the different branches of medical science, in London. Among the celebrated men of that day, were Dr. Hugh Smyth, and Dr. William Hunter; and of Hunter's splendid abilities, both as a Lecturer and an Orator, Mr. Giddy spoke always with pleasure. From London returning to his native county, Mr. Giddy commenced his medical career at Truro, aud not long after married Mary, daughter of Mr. John Wolcot, of Penryn, who was nearly related to Dr. John Wolcot, the notorious Peter Pindar. She is now the last lineal descendant of the Wolcots. His professional skill was soon appreciated and crowned with success. About ten years he resided at Truro; whence, owing to a polmonary affection, he removed, in 1774, to Penzance, a climate more congenial, where he had formerly enjoyed uninterrupted health. When he left Truro he was apparently in the last stage of pulmonary consumption. Yet from that time even to the age of 84, he passed this life without the least complaint, except slight casual attacks of gout.-In 1782, he was admitted a member of the Corporation of Penzance: he held the office of Chief GENT. MAG. September, 1825.

281

Magistrate of the Town no less than ten times, an event probably unprecedented in a charter similarly constituted, where no Mayor can stand over for two years together. During his Mayoralties, two additions were made to the Chapel-yard; and he had the honour of attending Bishops Ross and Pelham to the Consecration. The Recordership of the Town becoming twice vacant, it fell to his lot to swear the late and present Lords Falmouth into that office. In 1792, when the country was deluged with the effusions of Paine, Volney, and other Deistical writers, assisted by Corresponding Societies in league with republican France, with the view of introducing anarchy amoug mankind and all its train of evils, for the cowteracting of which a society was established in London at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, called "the Society for protecting Liberty and Property against Republicans and Levellers," Mr. Giddy came forward a champion in the cause of sound Religion and of good government; a very extensive branch was formed at Penzance by his exertions, and many valuable tracts obtained and circulated through the neighbourhood. Ile was a retiring, unobtrusive character: yet he enjoyed society; and from his comprehensive mind and literary acquirements he was eagerly sought after by those who were acquainted with his social talents. In convivial meetings be was lively and entertaining; and amidst genuine wit, which was sure to excite mirth and hilarity, he was not so fastidious as to despise a puo, however low a pun may be in the view of pretended wisdom. never did he use an expression to wound the feelings of those with whom he conversed. His mind was of that firm class that no irritation could for a moment throw him off his guard. In domestic life he was an affectionate husband, a kind parent, and a friend ready to submit to any privation to promote the welfare of others. To sum up the whole, he was unaffectedly learned, unostentatiously benevolent. Innovation he disliked in any shape; but he was not a bigot. And of his opinions he made no popular display. His Religion was the Religion of the heart. It was built, indeed, upon a thorough knowledge of those sacred truths which were sealed by the blood of his Redeemer. Thus, then, he lived, "doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with his God." And he died as he had lived; for he died a Christian!

MR. ROBERT GRAVES.

But

Sept. 2. At his house in the Hampsteadroad, aged 56, Mr. Robert Graves, well known for his intelligence in subjects connected with the fine Arts.

He was the son of Mr. Robert Graves, of

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OBITUARY.-Robert Preston, Jun. Esq.

of Catharine-street in the Strand, whose
most curious collection of Books and
Prints were sold after his death in 1802
by Messrs. Leigh and Sotheby, and Mr.
King, in a sale of more than 50 days.—
The subject of the present memoir en-
tered into the Navy in early life, and
during several years' actual service he
visited various parts of the globe; but the
bias of his mind inclining to the Arts, he
withdrew from the Navy, and commenced
a close application to Chalcography. At
the sale of his father's extensive collec-
tion he commenced the forming of a Se-
ries of Engravings, which he continued
for several years, aud rendered it nearly
complete. in the finest works of the dif-
ferent schools. This Mr. Graves sold in
1812 to Mr. Woodburn; and they have
since been dispersed among the different
great collections.
After having disposed
of this, which had been the labour of
many years, he persevered in his favour-
ite pursuit, and until within a few days

of his death he continued to add to his
stores.

was a

But his principal amusement work, which at present remains unpublished, a Biographical Catalogue of all those illustrious Foreigners who have visited England, or are materially connected with English History, extracted from almost all possible sources of information. It was begun by the late Joseph Gulston, esq. who employed continually a number of persons to extract from works in all languages the names of those connected with this object, and since his death continued first by Mr. Graves's father, and then by himself. It contains also a description of all the engraved Portraits (in the manner of Bromley) known to exist of such distinguished characters. He has likewise left many other MSS. relative to this interesting study.

Few ever equalled the deceased for acuteness of judgment, good taste, and deep historical knowledge; his opinion was so universally allowed in regard to engravings, that almost all the celebrated collections sold of late years by pub-. lic auction were submitted to him for arrangement; amongst many others, the Catalogues of Ibbot, Townley, Bindley, Dowdeswell, and Sir Mark Sykes, attest his superior intelligence, which contributed greatly to the high prices obtained in these sales. His great attention to portraits led his eye with certainty to deter mine the resemblance, and many hundred such original pictures bave been ascertained by his diligence and study. His death is much regretted by his numerous family and friends.

ROBERT PRESTON, JUN. Esq.

[Sept.

July 22. Whilst proceeding to France, on board the steam-packet Eclipse, aged 33, Robert Preston, jun. Esq. of Liverpool, Distiller.

He was the only son of Robert Preston, Esq. of Liverpool; and after having endured a long state of deprivation and suffering from a complaint in his chest, in which he exercised uncommon fortitude, was induced to proceed to Paris, to consult Professor Laenec; in which attempt be unhappily fell a victim to his disease.

If private talent and worth were sufficient to perpetuate a name, that of the deceased would be imperishable. He was mild, affable, beneficent without ostentatation; he was scrupulously exact in fulfilling all his engagements, and manifested a most perfect sense of honour and propriety. As a husband and parent, he was kind and indulgent; as a friend, steadfast and true; tolerant and liberal in his opinions, he was a friend to all mankind. Though disease had enfeebled bis body, his mind seemed to shine with additional Justre.

As a man of business, few possessed such eminent qualifications; his quickness of parts enabled him to plan and execute with astonishing facility, till disease para. lyzed his personal exertions. Of unsullied integrity, his frank demeanor and ingenious disposition invited and justified confidence.

He has left a widow and three children. He was buried at Broadstairs.

MR. JAMES EATON.

Sept. 19. At Islip, Northamptonshire, aged 25, Mr. James Eaton, a compositor in the printing-office of Messrs. Nichols and Son. He was early left an orphan; but had the happiness of being initiated in religion and useful learning, first by a kind uncle, who acted the part of a parent by him, and secondly, by being placed in that excellent seminary, Christ's Hospital. He was from that establishment bound apprentice with the Printers of this Miscellany; and soon so ingratiated himself into their good opinon, as to be looked upon more in the light of a son than a dependant. The precepts he imbibed at home and at school had an evident good effect on his life and conduct; and from the Christian patience and resignation evinced by him in his long illness we may humbly hope, that though he has died young, he has lived long enough to secure his eternal happiness. His relatives and his friends cannot, however, but la ment their loss.

CLERGY

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