work, which he declared cost him more time and It is, indeed, a pains than any of his former ones. Sed unde fulget largior ætheris Neutonus illic plurima cogitans Stare decus Borealis ora. Dilecta sylvæ filia, turgidis Ducis opes medicata flammis. Liquente torrens en! pice turbidus Fert gravidas oleo favillas. Mox arboris tu proditor intima, chain, which like that of the poet reaches from earth to heaven; conducting the reader by an almost imperceptible gradation from the phenomena of tarwater, through the depths of the ancient philosophy, to the sublimest mystery of Christianity. It underwent a second impression in 1747, and was followed by Farther Thoughts on Tar-water' published in 1752. This was his last performance for the press; and he survived it but a short time. 6 Queis lympha prægnans particulis micet, Ignea prætereunte succo. Notam medelam da, puer, ociùs; Jam, jam æstuantes frigus amabile Æthereo recreat medullas. Formas medendi, mille vafer modis, Porrigitur medicina simplex; Cohors recedit torrida febrium, Durare nimbos sic ratis impotens Secura si portu occupato Induerit piceos amictus ; Relapsa in æquor fert latus arduum, Fiditque costis nauta tenacibus Impunè, nec circum furentes Uncta ratis metuit procellas. In July 1752, he removed, though in a bad state of health,* with his lady and family to Oxford; in order to superintend the education of his second son George,† then newly admitted a student at Christ Church. The remainder of his days he was anxious to spend in that city, with a view of indulging the passion for a learned retirement, which had ever strongly possessed his mind. But, as no one could be more sensible of the impropriety of a Bishop's non-residence, he previously endeavoured to exchange his high preferment for some canonry or headship in the University. Failing however of success in this project, he actually wrote to the Secretary of State, to solicit that he might have permission to resign his bishopric, which was at that time worth at least 1,400l. per ann. ‡ So * He was carried, from his landing on the English shore, in horse-litter to Oxford. + This gentleman afterward took holy orders, and in August 1759, was presented to the vicarage of Bray in Berkshire. The late Archbishop Secker, who had a high respect for the father's character, honoured the son with his patronage and friendship, both at the University and afterward. By his favour he subsequently obtained a canonry of Canterbury, the chancellorship of the collegiate church of Brecknock, and in exchange for his vicarage of Bray the vicarage of Cookham, Berks: to which was afterward added, by the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury, that of East Peckham, Kent. In 1758, he took the degree of LL.D. In 1760, he married the daughter of the Reverend Mr. Frinsham, rector of White Waltham, Berks; and by this lady left issue two sons. The Bishop had in all three sons, and one daughter. The difficulty, it is believed, was how to dispose of his right of acting as a Lord of Parliament. Among the Papists, whose Bishops are not Lords of Parliament, this difficulty does not occur: when they wish to resign, the Pope translates them to a see in partibus infidelium, which preserves their title and uncommon a request excited his Majesty's curiosity to inquire, Who was the extraordinary petitioner?' Being told, that it was his old acquaintance Dr. Berkeley, he declared that he should die a Bishop, in spite of himself;' giving him, at the same time, full liberty to reside where he pleased. His last act, before he left Cloyne, was to sign a lease of the demesne-lands in that neighbourhood, to be renewed yearly, at the rent of 2001. This sum he directed to be distributed annually, until his return, among the poor housekeepers of Cloyne, Youghal, and Aghadda. At Oxford he lived highly respected by the members of that University, till the hand of Providence unexpectedly deprived them of the pleasure and advantage derived from his society. On Sunday evening, January 14, 1753, as he was sitting in the midst of his family, listening to the lesson in the Burial-Service (1 Cor. xv.) which his lady was reading, and on which he was commenting, he was seized with what the physicians termed a palsy in the heart,' and instantly expired. The accident was so sudden, that his body was quite cold and his joints stiff before it was discovered, as he lay on a couch, " dignity. In 1763, Dr. Pearce Bishop of Rochester and Dean of Westminster, being then seventy-three, wishing to interpose "some interval between the fatigues of business and eternity,' desired leave of his Majesty to resign both. After the lapse of two months, the King informed him, that Lord Mansfield saw no objection, and that Lord Northington's doubts upon the subject were removed.' The Bench however, disliking, and the Ministry from some political motive opposing the resignation, his Majesty resumed the permission which he had granted. Five years afterward, he was allowed to relinquish the deanery. (Nichols' Anecdotes.) and seemed to be asleep; till his daughter, on presenting him with a dish of tea, first perceived his insensibility. His remains were interred at Christ Church, Oxford, where an elegant marble monument* was erected to his memory by his widow. In person, he was a handsome man, with a countenance full of meaning and benignity, remarkable for great strength of limbs, and till his sedentary life impaired it, of a very robust constitution. He was, however, frequently troubled with the hypochondria; and in his later years, as abovementioned, with a distressing nervous cholic. The all but enthusiastic energy of his character, which is displayed in his public works, was also apparent in his private life and conversation. But notwithstanding this animation and spirit, his manner was invariably mild, unaffected, and engaging. The opinion of the world with regard to the acute * The inscription on his monument was drawn up by Dr. Markham, the late Archbishop of York, then head-master of Westminster School: Gravissimo præsuli, Seu ingenii et eruditionis laudem, Si amans patriæ, Utroque nomine gloriari potes Obiit annum agens septuagesimum tertium Natus Anno Christi M DC LXX IV. L. M. P. By mistake for sexagesimum nonum. |