Peace to his memory. On the first introduction of our friend, he anticipated him by graciously saying—“I know how assiduously and how usefully you have exercised your time and talents, and acknowledge your claim on the country and myself. Consider me as your friend.” He testified his friendship and good opinion by something better than words.
Alike in their sense of the duties of their high stations, equally attached to the constitution and ecclesiastical establishment of their country, and resolved by every effort to support and defend both, in the same degree administering protection and encouragement to those, who in arduous and perilous times avowed their loyalty, and strenuously vindicated their faith, Bishop B⸺, as far as talents and learning are concerned, was cast in a yet higher mould. No further comparison need be made. Without entering into any political disquisitions, which might eventually lead to contrariety of opinions, it may be confidently asserted in this place, without apprehension of dispute, that Bishop B⸺’s character has been invariably and consistently, that of the friend and patron of all who claimed his notice from the merits of learning, talents, or virtue. In the different situations which he has so honourably filled, his first care seems to have been to single out those who merited his distinction, and without regard to the incidental circumstances of rank, or external recommendation, to confer his favours and his bounty, promptly and substantially upon them.
There are but few individuals who, within the last fifty years, have been esteemed for their parts and learning, who have not been honoured by his notice, and admitted to his table. But this is not all. His Lordship has not unfrequently conferred rewards upon learned and useful men, with no other knowledge of them than their works, communicated with no other recommendation than their good name. Perhaps there is not an instance beyond the limit of his own family, where there was any excitement or inducement to the communication of his favours, but the decided and unequivocal testimony of the merits or virtues of the objects receiving them. This too at a time when it was too generally understood, and it is to be feared too justly believed, that political and parliamentary interest and interposition, presented almost the only path to ecclesiastical promotion. The term almost is used, because there are some noble exceptions to the contrary in the conduct of Bishop Porteus more particularly, hereafter to be mentioned, as well as of some other ornaments to the Episcopal Bench.
But Bishop B⸺ must not be considered and estimated as the mere patron of literature; he always and successfully cultivated it himself, was ever deemed an excellent scholar; and the different Charges, Sermons, and Tracts, which he has at various times given to the world, are to be classed among our happiest specimens of elegance, purity, and simplicity of diction.
If his Lordship had ever condescended to do, what is here, it is feared, very imperfectly attempted, what an admirable miscellany he must have produced. Having lived familiarly with the most learned, and most eminent; learned himself, and by his example, courtesy, and affability, inviting his friends to unfold their intellectual treasures, a Common Place-Book from such a hand, must have afforded hints for many desirable works; might have detected the sources of error, so as to prevent their repetition, and correct their tendency; and must have preserved innumerable anecdotes for the instruction and delight of posterity.
We leave this article very reluctantly, for nothing could be more easy, from the knowledge communicated in these Recollections, of instances on the part of the Bishop, of extraordinary zeal in the cause of learning, and of most generous and benevolent interposition in behalf of oppressed and suffering merit, than to extend these Remarks to an almost indefinite length. No work of learning requiring patronage, which promised illumination of what was before obscure, improvement of any scientifical pursuits, increase of utility in any department of the arts, was ever known to solicit Bishop B⸺’s countenance in vain. No case of benevolence, where the circumstances claimed and merited assistance, ever came before him without being relieved.
Two individuals who afterwards adorned the Episcopal Bench, were first introduced to notice as his domestic chaplains. The stalls of Durham bear strong and satisfactory evidence of his unlimited liberality in rewarding learning and virtue. But we must turn aside from this agreeable and cheering prospect, to contemplate another, which, if inferior at all in any of the requisites to make a moral picture perfect, can only be so in points of comparative unimportance.