Ut enim in corporibus magnæ dissimilitudines sunt, alios enim videmus velocitate ad cursum, alios viribus ad luctandum valere, itemque in formis, aliis dignitatem inesse, aliis venustatem, sic in animis exsistunt etiam majores varietates.CHAPTER XXX.
Ut enim in corporibus magnæ dissimilitudines sunt, alios enim videmus velocitate ad cursum, alios viribus ad luctandum valere, itemque in formis, aliis dignitatem inesse, aliis venustatem, sic in animis exsistunt etiam majores varietates.
Our first attention must necessarily be directed to the Bishop of ⸺.
The ancestors and family connections of this learned and accomplished prelate, were of the Roman Catholic persuasion, and rigidly attached to those tenets. His Lordship was himself educated in them, and if we are not misinformed, actually studied in the college at St. Omer’s, with the intention of becoming a priest.
It happened, at least so our Brief instructs us, that whilst in this situation, his vivacity and parts attracted the notice of a near connection of the late Duke of ⸺, and that on his expostulation, and promises of protection and assistance, young ⸺ was without much difficulty prevailed upon to read his recantation, and become amember and a clergyman of our Protestant communion.
He came over to this country, and accompanied his patron to Ireland, but during his Grace’s administration, it does not appear that any preferment became vacant, becoming the patron to bestow, or the client to accept. He nevertheless availed himself of this interval to ingratiate himself more effectually with his patron, to whom he was enabled to render various services by the skilfulness and dexterity of his pen. He returned to England with the Duke, through whose good offices he was, after no great lapse of time, appointed to valuable preferment in some of the northern provinces. This however not exactly suiting him, he, through the same channel of interest, obtained an exchange for a valuable benefice in Ireland, upon which he fixed his residence.
When Lord Fitzwilliam, the great friend of the Duke of P. was made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Dr. ⸺ was admitted to the same sort of confidence as he had enjoyed with his predecessor; and short as the residence of Lord F. was in his exalted station, a Bishopric became vacant, to which the Doctor was appointed.
It is but rendering him strict justice to say, that from the moment of his entering upon his functions, he discharged them invariably, with great usefulnessand honour. He has been rather considered as too severe a disciplinarian, and a proposition which he made to his diocese, to attend quarterly lectures on the Greek Testament at the palace, excited much murmuring and discontent.
When translated to the more extensive and more valuable See of ⸺ he exercised the same vigilance, among other examples of which, the following anecdote is related.
A young dashing clergyman of high connections, who had a curacy in the diocese, did not think it important to be particularly rigid and punctual in the discharge of his duty, but was too easily detained by the allurements and blandishments of Dublin, from his too indulgent parishioners. This at length reached his Lordship’s ears, who determined to ascertain the fact himself.
Accordingly, on a Sunday, he proceeded to the church, where he heard no bell knolling to church, saw no parishioners chatting in the porch, nor any preparation for divine service. With some difficulty the clerk was found, to whom his Lordship was known.
“Why is there no preparation for divine service?” asked the Bishop. “My Lord,” said the clerk, “our young master has not been among us this fortnight.” “Ring the bell immediately,” said the Bishop. Upon this a congregation wassoon assembled, to whom his Lordship read prayers, and preached.
The Bishop presumed that intelligence of this matter would be communicated to the defaulting curate, but he nevertheless chose to make a second experiment of the kind, and on the following Sunday repeated his visit to the same village. Here he found things precisely as before—no bell knolled to church—no peasants sitting on the grave-stones—no visible signs of population. The Bishop a second time sent for the clerk, assembled the congregation, and performed the duty as before.
It does not however appear, that he was again obliged to repeat his visit, and the shame and consternation of the curate, on finding who had been his substitute, may be easily imagined.
The Bishop had a sister, a very rigid Roman Catholic, who remained immoveably fixed in her religious tenets. She had, however, a son, who was prevailed upon to accept of an Archdeaconry, and other preferment, to the amount of almost two thousand a-year. An uncle also and a brother were frequent visitors at the palace, who nevertheless resisted all importunity to change their religious creed, although accompanied by assurances of the greatest temporal advantages.
All circumstances being dispassionately weighed, no apology seems necessary to be made for introducing the above distinguished personage in theclass of those who may be denominated “fortunate.”
Not less so, perhaps, was the Bishop of ⸺. This prelate’s[2]name is ⸺. In his earlier life, he officiated as private tutor in some distinguished family, which he left, however, with some abruptness. It is by no means to his dishonour, that his origin was very humble, but he was invariably remarkable for his elegant appearance, and truly engaging manners. Not succeeding in his profession at home, he resolved to try his fortune abroad, and accordingly, in the beginning of the American contest, accompanied Lord Cornwallis to that country as an army chaplain.
In America he obtained an introduction to Lord ⸺, a friend of whose he married, and to this connection he was unquestionably indebted for his subsequent elevation in life.
This Prelate, like the foregoing, was educated in the strictest principles of the Roman Catholic persuasion.
Dr. F. Bishop of ⸺, was son to the Archbishop of Dublin, who himself might be introduced in the class of the more fortunate, being of very humble origin.
The B⸺p of ⸺ had formed a connection with a scyon of a noble house, whom nevertheless his father, the Archbishop, did not approve, and accordingly refused his consent to the marriage. The son was at that time Archdeacon of Dublin, and persevering in his determination to marry the lady, had the banns published in his own church. The report was circulated, that his Grace resolved to attend, and forbid the banns, on the third time of their publication. The novelty of the circumstance produced so great a crowd, that there was hardly standing room in the church. The incident, however, did not take place, and the parties were in due time married.
The Bishop of ⸺ was promoted to his high dignity by Lord C⸺n, to whom he had formerly been private tutor. Lord C. had invited Dr. Powis, Dean of Canterbury, to accompany him to Ireland. On his declining it, his Lordship made the same offer to Dr. B⸺r, which was accepted.
The Primate of Ireland was brother to the late learned and excellent Bishop of St. Asaph, and was elevated to that station by Lord B⸺.
The excellent and very learned Bishop of C. was the tutor of Emanuel College when Lord Westmoreland resided there, and was his Lordship’s private tutor also. He had previously received his education at Harrow, and was in every respect avery learned and accomplished man. When Lord W. was appointed to the Lord Lieutenancy of Ireland, he necessarily remembered his old preceptor and friend. He was accordingly, on the first opportunity, appointed to the Bishopric of C⸺k, and afterwards to the more lucrative see of C⸺e.
Whoever knew this amiable prelate in his early life, or have been honoured by his friendship in his progress to his present dignity, cannot but experience the truest satisfaction, from seeing the benefits of fortune so honourably bestowed, and so discreetly enjoyed.
The majority of the Episcopal Bench in our sister country, is composed of the younger branches of the more illustrious families. Such as, for example, Elphin, Derry, Kilmore, Down and Connor, Waterford, Kildare, Killaloe, Raphoe, Cork and Ross, Fernes, &c. &c.
The Bishop of Clonfert is or was a gentleman of the name of Butson, of whom the only memorandum in our notes, intimates, that he was in early life one of the under masters of Winchester school. Beyond all doubt indebted for his promotion to his conduct and learning. He was educated at Oxford, and was the author of a very fine poem on the Love of our Country, which in 1772 obtained a prize atthat University.
With the above names, the catalogue of those prelates, who may without impropriety be denominated fortunate, concludes.