Memoir of HIS GRACE THE ARCHBISHOP OF YORK. (With a Portrait.) “Optimus quisque posteritati servit." Or the Archiepiscopate of York, the crosier has more than once been in the hands of royalty; though on some occasions it has been brandished by others, both against the coronet and the sceptre. In the hands of the present eminent prelate, it is a genuine symbol of that pastoral care, which he has manifested in promoting the best interests of those over whom Providence has placed him. The Hon. EDWARD VENABLES VERNON, LL. D., who is the eighty-third Archbishop of York, was born October 10, 1757. His Grace is the third son of George Venables, Lord Vernon, Baron of Kinderton in Cheshire; by Martha, sister of George Simon, Earl of Harcourt. In his twelfth year, he was sent to Westminster school. Thence he removed to Christ-church, Oxford, where he was admitted Student in 1775. In 1778, he was elected Fellow of All Souls' college, in that University.-In June 1781, he was ordained deacon by the Bishop of Oxford; and, in the October following, priest by the Bishop of Peterborough, on letters dimissory from the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry. Immediately after which, he was instituted to the family living of Sudbury in the county of Derby. Perhaps the first step to his present eminent station was laid in 1782, when his late Majesty George III. appointed him his chaplain. In February, 1784, he married Anne, third daughter of George Granville Leveson, Marquis of Stafford; by Louisa Egerton, the only sister of the late Duke of Bridgewater. In 1785, he succeeded to a canonry in Christ-church, and shortly afterward, on the presentation of the Lord Chancellor Thurlow, to a stall in the cathedral of Gloucester. When Dr. Douglas, Bishop of Carlisle, was translated to Salisbury in 1791, Dr. Vernon was promoted to the vacant see, 120.-VOL. X. | " [1828. which he filled for the space of sixteen years. This promotion virtually aided the interests of the celebrated Dr. Paley, though the circumstance is not stated by that eminent divine's biographers. In a Memoir of the late Rev. Dr. Zouch, prefixed to the edition of his works by the Ven. Archdeacon Wrangham, who has been from 1814 sole Examining Chaplain to the Archbishop, it is stated, that to this prelate the admirable writer in question was indebted, not only for a benefice in that diocese (the first, which his lordship had in his power to bestow), but also indirectly for his more valuable preferments -the rectory of Bishopwearmouth, and the sub-deanery of Lincoln. The patrons of these preferments acted less disinterestedly than the Bishop of Carlisle: for they had the sagacious prudence to stipulate for the presenting to the benefices which Dr. Paley would vacate; though they had affluent patronage of their own in abundance, and the see of Carlisle has not much, under the most favourable circumstances, to bestow. It may be farther added, that the judgement and generositythus exerted were honourable to both parties, as appreciating and rewarding the divine, to whom English theology is under such deep and complicated obligation. For it is only an occasional age, that produces a mind capable of adding a Hora Pauline to the evidences for the truth of Christianity. The descendents of the venerable Archdeacon of Carlisle have not been overlooked or neglected, as his son Edmund was presented by his Grace to the vicarage of Easingwold, his first option from the see of Chester. It is supposed to have been his late Majesty's intention to translate the subject of this Memoir from Carlisle to the see of Worcester, when Dr. Hurd was spending the remainder of his days in otio literato: but Dr. Markham, Archbishop of York, dying in 1807, Dr. Vernon was elevated to his present high station. Ever since the commencement of his archiepiscopal labours, they have been performed with so much dignity toward his clergy, that they look up to him more as a father than as a 3 x Or the Archiepiscopate of York, the crosier has more than once been in the hands of royalty; though on some occasions it has been brandished by others, both against the coronet and the sceptre. In the hands of the present eminent prelate, it is a genuine symbol of that pastoral care, which he has manifested in promoting the best interests of those over whom Providence has placed him. The Hon. EDWARD VENABLES VERNON, LL. D., who is the eighty-third Archbishop of York, was born October 10, 1757. His Grace is the third son of George Venables, Lord Vernon, Baron of Kinderton in Cheshire; by Martha, sister of George Simon, Earl of Harcourt, In his twelfth year, he was sent to Westminster school. Thence he removed to Christ-church, Oxford, where he was admitted Student in 1775. In 1778, he was elected Fellow of All Souls' college, in that University.-In June 1781, he was ordained deacon by the Bishop of Oxford; and, in the October following, priest by the Bishop of Peterborough, on letters dimissory from the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry. Immediately after which, he was instituted to the family living of Sudbury in the county of Derby. Perhaps the first step to his present eminent station was laid in 1782, when his late Majesty George III. appointed him his chaplain. In February, 1784, he married Anne, third daughter of George Granville Leveson, Marquis of Stafford; by Louisa Egerton, the only sister of the late Duke of Bridgewater. In 1785, he succeeded to a canonry in Christ-church, and shortly afterward, on the presentation of the Lord Chancellor ThurIow, to a stall in the cathedral of Gloucester. When Dr. Douglas, Bishop of Carlisle, was translated to Salisbury in 1791, Dr. Vernon was promoted to the vacant sce, 120.-VOL X. [1828. which he filled for the space of sixteen years. This promotion virtually aided the interests of the celebrated Dr. Paley, though the circumstance is not stated by that eminent divine's biographers. In a Memoir of the late Rev. Dr. Zouch, prefixed to the edition of his works by the Ven. Archdeacon Wrangham, who has been from 1814 sole Examining Chaplain to the Archbishop, it is stated, that to this prelate the admirable writer in question was indebted, not only for a benefice in that diocese (the first, which his lordship had in his power to bestow), but also indirectly for his more valuable preferments -the rectory of Bishopwearmouth, and the sub-deanery of Lincoln. The patrons of these preferments acted less disinterestedly than the Bishop of Carlisle for they had the sagacious prudence to stipulate for the presenting to the benefices which Dr. Paley would vacate; though they had affluent patronage of their own in abundance, and the see of Carlisle has not much, under the most favourable circumstances, to bestow. It may be farther added, that the judgement and generositythus exerted were honourable to both parties, as appreciating and rewarding the divine, to whom English theology is under such deep and complicated obligation. For it is only an occasional age, that produces a mind capable of adding a Hora Pauline to the evidences for the truth of Christianity. The descendents of the venerable Archdeacon of Carlisle have not been overlooked or neglected, as his son Edmund was presented by his Grace to the vicarage of Easingwold, his first option from the see of Chester. It is supposed to have been his late Majesty's intention to translate the subject of this Memoir from Carlisle to the see of Worcester, when Dr. Hurd was spending the remainder of his days in otio literato: but Dr. Markham, Archbishop of York, dying in 1807, Dr. Vernon was elevated to his present high station. Ever since the commencement of his archiepiscopal labours, they have been performed with so much dignity toward his clergy, that they look up to him more as a father than as a 3 x |