But sepulchres, with sculpture deckt, Let me proclaim that Grandsire mine, Could you but shew me such a shrine, And with rapt zeal could wandering go, But Fame, to all our Males averse, No panegyrick will rehearse. "A CONVERSATION, IMPROMPTU, BETWEEN THE HEAD AND THE HEART OF G. H. "Said the Head to the Heart- Pray, what is it you mean > You are almost the same that you were at sixteen: So alive to sensation-such vigour—such glow; The sly Heart, with dissembled concern, thus replied: The Head felt the reproof-yet a something would say: I would have you attend with more zeal to your prayers; Here the Heart gave a sigh:-and the Head fell asleep." G.H. Letters to Mr. HARDINGE, from eminent Prelates, and other distinguished Literary Characters. From Dr. JOHN MOORE *, Abp. of CANTERBURY. "Lambeth, Jan. 27, 1784. A thousand thanks, my dear Sir, for your kind remembrance of me this morning, and for a great deal of information and amusement it has afforded me this evening t. I had much pleasure in hearing your argument on the India Bill; and shall sit down to it with a good appetite when you are so good as to favour me with the opportunity of reading it. "I have the honour to be, with the utmost regard, dear Sir, "Your faithful humble servant, J. CANTUAR." "DEAR SIR, Lambeth House, Monday, March 20, 1786. "When I offered Mrs. Moore's name and mine for Miss Williams's publication, I paid the subscriptions to the person who brought your letter. The bearer of this received from me, and paid into his hands, the two guineas. I supposed it was a servant of yours; but my servant (the bearer, a man entirely to be depended on) says that he does not think it was a servant of yours. On looking at your letter, which I happen not to have destroyed, the receipts being wrapt up in it, I find you desire my subscription to be sent then. I think my servant would know the man he paid the money to. Inclosed is a ticket for Westminster Hall. "I am faithfully, your humble servant, J. CANTUAR." "MY DEAR SIR, Lambeth House, March 21, 1786. "I am sorry you had the trouble of writing more than a single line of answer to my letter of yesterday. I said the more on account of my man, who fancied he might be suspected of not having paid the money I gave him to pay. I considered it merely as a matter between him and the man he paid it to. That, with your various engagements, a matter so trifling should have made no impression on your memory is very natural.. "Yours faithfully, "DEAR SIR, J. CANTUAR." Lambeth House, March 6, 1788. "I apprehend that a Dispensation cannot be had to hold the Livings which you mention. I take the distance between them to exceed what is allowed by law very considerably. The utmost allowance is thirty computed miles; and I believe it has been adjudged that the thirty computed miles may be construed to extend to forty-five measured miles, but no farther. I am, faithfully, "Your humble servant, J. CANTUAR." See the "Literary Anecdotes," vol. VIII. p. 94. This was Mr. Hardinge's famous Speech on Mr. Fox's India Bill. Two small volumes of "Poems" were published in 1786 by HelenMaria Williams, under the patronage of a very numerous and respectable list of Subscribers; which was warmly promoted by Mr. Hardinge. Dr. From Dr. BEILBY PORTEUS, Bishop of CHESTER, and afterwards Bishop of LONDON. "DEAR SIR, Great George-street, April 13, 1782. "Although I was hard-hearted enough to deny your request, yet I will not deny myself the pleasure of congratulating you on the honours which the papers say are to be conferred upon you. The way is now fairly open before you, and if you give yourself wholly up to your profession, and exert the whole force of your talents in the prosecution of it, there is no situation in it which you may not look up to. I am,' with much regard, "Your faithful and obedient servant, B. CHESTER." "George-street, Jan 29, 1784. The Bishop of Chester presents his compliments to Mr. Hardinge, and returns him many thanks for the obliging present of his book *, from which he promises himself much information and entertainment, and which he will take the first opportunity of reading with that attention which every thing that comes from Mr. Hardinge deserves." Hunton, Dec. 24, 1785. "DEAR SIR, "I thank you for your many obliging expressions of partiality towards me, and am willing to flatter myself that it is not any abatement of esteem on either side, but the distance we are at from each other, the business we are both engaged in, and other casual circumstances, which have interrupted the intercourse that formerly subsisted between us. "Miss Williams's † history is a very interesting one, and she has an Historian whose powers of description are worthy of the benevolent cause in which they are engaged. If my subscription was to bear any proportion to her merits and your eloquence, it would be a very large one; but the numberless claims that come upon me from various quarters (to which duty, as well as compassion, demands my first attention) necessarily restrain my donations on other occasions within very narrow limits. "You will, therefore, I hope, accept the inclosed guinea as a small testimony of the high opinion I entertain of Miss Williams's talents and virtues, as well as of that regard with which I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient, &c. B. CHESTER.” Jan. 10, 1794. "DEAR SIR, "Your letter found me in the midst of bills, trunks, and pareels, preparing for our removal to London next week. This, added to the usual pressure of my business, prevents me from giving any immediate answer to your queries. As soon as I feel myself a little at leisure in London, I will endeavour to satisfy them, and, in the mean while, have the honour to be, Sir, "Your most obedient servant, B. LONDON." “Fulham, July 1, 1795. The Bishop of London presents his compliments to Mr. G. Hardinge, and incloses him a draft for five guineas for his protegè; and desires Mr. Hardinge will inform him by a penny-post letter to Fulham whether he received it safe." + See before, p. 148. From * His Speech on Mr. Fox's India Bill. From the Hon. Dr. B. NORTH, Bp. of WINCHESTER. "MY DEAR SIR, Farnham, Jan. 16, 1786. "Your good word very strongly recommends any object of relief to me, and your approbation bears an ample testimony to the excellence both of the morals and writings of Miss Williams; but I am sorry you should have had the trouble of writing in this instance, because Mrs. Bates hath already taken my name and guinea on Miss Williams's account. Had not this been the case, I should have begged for a place in your list. I am, with great esteem, dear Sir, your faithful servant, B. WINCHESTER.' Bognor, Sept. 10, 1800. "DEAR SIR, "I must in gratitude return you my thanks for the hint you gave me on the subject of 'The Essence,' &c. I have just read it, and have been very much amused. Gossiping Historians are surely fair game; for inaccuracy and self-contradiction, those constant ornaments of a gossip, are the bane of an Historian. "I am, dear Sir, very faithfully yours, B. WINCHESTER." Farnham, Sept. 7, 1803. "DEAR SIR, "Although I profess myself well prepared by partiality, I think you have no occasion to call for it in favour of your Charge. Such animated sentiments, poured with your natural spirit into the breasts of Welshmen, must have produced an absolute explosion of Patriotism. I had heard of it, and much wished to see it, and thank you for your flattering attention in sending me a copy. I think it, as Fashion expresses the idea, extremely appropriate, very good, pointed, and elegant; and it was very commendable in you to improve so apt an occasion of doing service to the cause. I am persuaded that, if Government will furnish system, the people want neither sense, honesty, spirit, nor zeal to pursue it. I hope Ministers are beginning to think so, but as yet, we in the country do not think ourselves sufficiently enlightened. I am, dear Sir, "Very truly and faithfully yours, B. WINCHESTER." From Dr. SAMUEL HORSLEY *,Bishop of ST. DAVID'S. << SIR, Upper Seymour-street, June 7, 1792. "I return you many thanks for the 'Extracts from Dr. Priestley's late Writings,' which are certainly very much to the purpose. I have no doubt of the propriety of exhibiting such a man to the publick in his true colours; that, if the vehemence of his invective against the Constitution of the Country should at last call for the vengeance of the Laws, the people may not be liable to be imposed upon by the outcry which he and his friends will make; and may clearly understand that he is not persecuted for * See the "Literary Aneedates,” vol. IV. p. 673. his religious scruples, or from any speculative opinions-but punished for attempts to excite sedition. I send with this a volume, of which I desire your acceptance. In the Sixth Chapter of the Remarks upon Dr.Priestley's Second Letters you will find passages that breathe the same spirit with those of your selection (pages 402-411). But with this aggravation, that your specimens are taken from what he wrote under a strong resentment of real injuries- mine are the cool, unprovoked effusions of an habitual philosophical malignity. "I remain, Sir, with the greatest respect and regard, "Your very faithful and obedient servant, SAMUEL ST. DAVID'S." From Dr. RICHARD HURD*, Bishop of WORCEester, "SIR, Hartlebury, Dec. 12, 1800. "I beg leave to acknowledge the receipt of your polite letter of the 1st, and of the ingenious satire mentioned in it, which caine to hand some days after. I know nothing of the Gentleman concerned in it, and have never looked into any of his writings. But, to judge of the Work by what you quote from it, it must be owned that the Author has laid himself open to much ridicule, and that your lively censure is not misplaced. “You mention our good friend Mr. Mainwaring. I have not seen him this summer; which accounts for his not having deli vered to me the obliging message you left with him at Stretton. -He is now at Cambridge, and, as I hear, but not from himself, in tolerable health.-Believe me truly, Sir, "Your obedient humble servant, R. WORCESTER." Aug. 5, 1801. The Bishop of Worcester has received from Mr. Hardinge a second part of his Criticism; and, from turning over some pages, observes in it the same vivacity of wit and humour which distinguished the first. He desires Mr. Hardinge to accept his thanks for this additional favour." "SIR, Hartlebury, Aug. 20, 1801. "I have your favour without date, together with printed copies of your Charge' and Address,' for both which I return you my thanks. — I had no reason to doubt that one who could laugh in season, could be wise also in season. Your Speeches are proofs of that wisdom, as well as of that religions spirit which so well becomes the Magistracy at all times, but especially the present. I am, with true respect, Sir, &c. R. WORCESTER." From the Hon. Dr. JAMES YORKE, Bishop of ELY, "Ely, Sept. 20, 1803. The Bishop of Ely presents his compliments to Mr. George Hardinge, and returns his best acknowledgments for his polite letter, and excellent Charge. The latter he has distributed to the Loyal Ely Associators, and doubts not of its being much approved by them, and useful in the town." *See "Literary Anecdotes," vol. VI. p. 465. From |