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scholar, nor a man of fashion with the attainments of a scholar, who knew Mr. Nicholls intimately, who would not willingly have adopted the words of the poet of Syracusa, and hailed him as the Τον Μωσαις φίλον άνδρα, του

απέχθη, κα

• Χαρίτεσσιν

He was passionately, perhaps rather

too much, devoted to music. He had studied it accurately as a science, under some of the greatest masters; and in the pursuit and cultivation of it he was untired, and indeed indefatigable. But he generously communicated his knowledge and his taste to congenial, and particularly to young minds, in which he saw and marked the promise of genius and the ardour of application.

His manners, habits, and inclinations, naturally led him to frequent the most polished society; but study and letters

rendered the intervals of solitude useful and agreeable. In his sphere of life and action, by his instruction, by his infiuence, and by his example, he diffused over an extensive district an elegance and a refinement unknown before he resided in it. As a county magistrate, one of the most important offices which a private gentleman can undertake, he was diligent and regular in his attendance; and in the discharge of his duty in that function, which is indeed the unbought defence of civilized society, and unknown to other countries, he was useful, discerning, temperate, and impartial.

To those friends who visited Mr. Ni cholls, and partook of his refined hospitality and of his entertainments at Blun deston, it may possibly have appeared that his mode of life required a large command of fortune, and that an ample patrimony could alone supply the display of such generosity. Yet his inheritance, which was inconsiderable, and his professional income, which was not large, defrayed the whole. He had indeed the most discerning economy which I ever observed in any man; an economy, which neither precluded liberality to his equals, nor, what is far more important, charity to his inferiors. The fidelity, the attachment, and the conscientious services, of his valuable domestics, some of whom had grown old under his roof, made them rather humble friends than servants; and by the faithful discharge of their several duties, they relieved him from attentions which otherwise must

"Friend of each muse, and favourite of each Grace."

have been required. But his eye, his mind, and his heart, pervaded all his concerns. In no private duty was he deficient; nor was any thing considered as too minute for his own inspection, if he thought it necessary; and he was aware of the wisdom which dictated this im

portant aphorism, that "he who de spiseth little things shall fall by little and little." In the direction of his house, in the embellishment of the rural scenery, in his library, in his studies, and in all order, and harmony, which proved that things which produced that integrity, all was well within, and that every end which he wished, was accomplished; in all these, I would repeat it with earnestness, he relied invariably on that

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reserve, that subsidiary strength, the pamagnum vectigal," that possession in life, and the support of all public gorent of peace, the guardian of private

vernment-discreet œconomy.

which is owing from a son to a parent, In that sacred and bounden duty he was eminently exemplary. lost his father so very early in life as Having scarcely to have seen him, his attention and reverential attachment to his mother, to her extremest age, was singularly af fectionate, unremitting, and unvaried; and, with the pious choice of his illustrious friend Mr. Gray, " in death he was not divided." He always expressed his intention, and he directed it by his will, that one grave should enclose their remains and it does enclose them.

I

myself, in company with another friend, solemnly attended them through the church-way path, with christian resig nation and with quiet obsequies, to the house appointed for all living. is finished. Yes; it

Omnia solvuntur jam Matri, et funeris um

Nihil oh tibi, amice, relictum :

bris!

If such a desire be indeed a weakness, it is at least honourable to our common nature; and I envy not the heart of him who is disposed to censure it.

Of his higher and important professional duties, Mr. Nicholls was neither unmindful nor neglectful. He was regular in the discharge of his sacred offices as a clergyman in his parishes, in which he generally resided between nine and ten months every year; and during his residence he read prayers and preached twice every Sunday. There was a peculiar propriety and decorum in his manner of reading; and though his mode of preaching was not peculiarly eloquent,

it was impressive, and often affecting. The matter of his sermons tended more to the discussion and enforcement of the moral duties of the gospel, than to the consideration of the subtle points of theology. His compositions for the pulpit were, as I think, formed chiefly on the model of Massillon and Flechier, in whose writings he was conversant. He conscientiously adhered to the church of Eugland from principle, and had an aversion to all dispute and controversy. He maintained and recommended, publicly and privately, every doctrine which upholds legitimate government, and prevents confusion political and theological. He loved his country; he loved her laws, her ordinances, her institutions, her religion, and her government: for he knew that they have made, and still make, England to be what it is. He abhorred every troubler of the state: the specious reformer, the obstreperous tyrannical demagogue, and the disorganizing sophist. He dreaded also the influence and the principles of the Romish church; and, however they may be softened or explained away by modern statesmen, he deprecated their encouragement or their revival among us but he loved that to leration and freedom which the church and constitution of England, steering between opposite extremes, grant with evangelical discretion to every sect of christianity, however distinguished. Indeed, it may be said to his honour as a clergyman, a scholar, and a man of uncommon attainments, that he was mo derate, enlightened, indulgent, and li beral. "Nullius obscuravit gloriam, nullius obstitit commodis, nullius obe strepuit studiis; dignitates non ambivit;

quæstum non venatus est.'

"

When he was a child his constitution was delicate; but as years advanced, by care, by exercise, and afterwards by fo reign travel and change of scene and of climate, by a scrupulous attention to his person and to a neatness never exceeded, and by an even placid temper, his frame acquired a strength, an alacrity, and a springy activity, which I think accompanied him to the last, and gave a zest to his pursuits, and vigour to his faculties. But on all the labours, the troubles, and the enjoyments of our nature, the night, in which no man can work, advances fast; and, however unwilling,

we must all hear

-The due beat

Of time's slow-sweeping pendulum, that

marks

The momentary march of death on man,

The hour was now approaching rapidly when his sun was also to set; for an unperceived decay was undermining his constitution, and many a flaw hinted mortality. Yet it must be confessed, that, with all his cheerfulness of temper, with every internal assurance of a wellspent life, and with every assistance from philosophy and from religion, Mr. Nicholls, like many other good and blanieless men, could never sustain in thought the shock of final separation from the world, without a visible reluctant emotion when he spoke of death. But ere we make any remark, surely we may ask, who is sufficient for these thoughts? Can we answer, One of a thousand? However, if there were any weaknesses about him (and who is exempt?) I think one of them was that of flattering himself with an extended prospect of longcontinued health and strength beyond what is permitted to man:

Quæ facili sperabat mente futura Arripuit voto levis, et presentia finxit. His appearance indeed never bespoke word, I think he was always young. his age; and in the best sense of the

1809, Mr. Nicholls was attacked by a speIn the spring and summer of the year cies of cough, the nature or the cause of which he could not ascertain. His coun bore marks of great indisposition, and of tenance, during that period, sometimes a tendency to what is called a breaking up of the constitution. But still he continued his accustomed occupations; he enjoyed, as usual, the company of his But his infirmity evidently increased, yet friends, and he promoted their happiness. without any alarm or apprehension of its fatal tendency. I think, indeed, that he had by no means a distinct view or ex beginning or in the progress of his malady. pectation of his dissolution, either in the

nation which was so soon to take place, A very few days before that termi he returned home, much indisposed, to Blundeston, where he received every as. sistance from his faithful and afflicted domestics, and experienced every affec tionate attention and relief from a physician, for whom, I know, he uniformly and constantly expressed his esteem, and in whose care and skill he placed a confidence unlimited and unvaried. But

his complaint, which was bilious, increased beyond the reach of art; a dissolution of strength, without a pang which tortured, or a pain which exhausted him, succeeded; and, from the sudden

* Dr. Girdlestone, of Yarmouth in Norfolk.

bursting

1810.]

bursting of a blood-vessel, he breathed out his virtuous spirit by an instant and quiet expiration.

I now, my dear sir, close my letter.
Much I have omitted, and many an in-
cident have I suppressed which your re-
collection will supply; as I am unwilling
to lessen general interest by minute am-
plification, nor would I by too eager a
zeal frustrate the labour of love. I have
never, in the whole course of my life,
offered praise to any man when living, or
flung incense on his tomb, from the un-
qualified consideration of his rank, of
his connections, or of his wealth; but to
genius, to learning, and to virtue, in
what station soever united, I have always
paid, and (however unworthy. I may be
to do so) I hope I always shall pay, my
inost deliberate homage. I feel that
this tribute is due to my deceased friend;
and I know that my pen has been guided
by a pious and disinterested affection,
I hope also that you, or any of our friends
into whose hands it may fall, will either
approve or excuse this little memorial of
a most valuable and accomplished man,
whom I loved and esteemed when living,
and whose departure I most sincerely
and most deeply regret.

For the Monthly Magazine.
On the PROPOSED PARLIAMENTARY CON-
SIDERATION of the SITUATION of the

INFERIOR CLERGY.

THE

HE king, in his speech at the open-
ing of the session, recommended
to the consideration of parliament, the
situation of the inferior clergy; and for
some time past there has, I think, been
on foot an enquiry respecting all livings
and when lord
under 150l. a year;
Harrowby, in the house of lords, made
a motion on the subject, it was for an
account of the number and value of
livings of the poorer clergy.

Thus, it would appear, that it is only
the beneficed clergy that are intended
to be relieved by the proposed consider-
ation of parliament. But there is a de-
scription of the clergy, more numerous,
more laborious, and more importantly
useful, whose situation calls more loudly
for consideration and relief, than even
the lowest of the beneficed clergy-I
mean the officiating curates of England,
by whom, I believe, the greater part of
the parochial duty in the country is per-
formed; and to whom, in a great mea-
sure, it is left, under necessity and ob.
scurity, perhaps neglect and contempt,
to elude or oppose the perverse passions

and prejudices of mankind, to support
the interests of virtue and religion, and
to promote morality, decency, and order,
in society. For, however little observed
or acknowledged, it is to the divine in-
stitution of the sabbath, and the constant
and general exercise of the duties and
services of religious worship, perhaps
more than to every other cause, that
we owe the preservation of both public
world. This is a cause, of which
and private morality and order in the
though the operations be silent and un-
marked, they are constant and universal;
and however little their effects may appear
in particular instances, it is not easy to
calculate how great and extensive they
are on the civil, moral, and religious
characters and lives of the people, and
To estimate these effects aright, let
on the interests of the public in general.
us only suppose the institutions and
public services of religion entirely abo-
lished for a short time, and endeavour,
in thought, to trace what the probable
consequences would be. In the lower
and ordinary ranks of life, (in this coun-
try at least, where private and domestic
religious instruction, admonition, and
example, are so shamefully neglected,)
we should probably soon see all regard
to God, all sense of religion, and even of
decency and morality, lost; and the most
debased and abandoned depravity of
character and morals, and finally bar-
barism itself, to prevail.

Now, however light statesmen and
politicians may hold all these in a merely
moral and religious point of view, they
must be miserably ignorant of the nature
of man, and of the history of the world,
if they do not know how important they
are in a civil and political view. It
is presumed the British parliament are
respect.
fully sensible of their importance in every
Yet this great and all-in-
teresting concern is left almost entirely
to the neglected and disregarded curates
of England!

For instance: the place from which I now write consists of two parishes; the one living is a little above, the other a little below, 150l. Of the incumbents, the one has not visited his living for these fifteen years; he has indeed age and infirmities to plead in excuse: the other, without any such plea, has not seen his living, heard from, nor been heard of in it, not even by his curate, for I believe more than seven years; though both of them reside within less than sixty miles of their livings, the whole duty and

charge

charge of which is entirely left to a curate, or most deserves, consideration and rea gentleman, for respectability of charac- lief? But perhaps it will be said that ter as well as general learning, inferior the incumbent, who thus consigns his perhaps to few of his profession; yet, charge so entirely to another, is himself after thirty-nine years laborious and di- discharging equally necessary duty elseligent exercise of that profession, and where. Perhaps he is. And if so, he now approaching to threescore years has also other sources of income elseand ten, he has never possessed the where; perhaps benefice on benefice, till smallest endowment, nor even au occa- he must have a dispensation from the sional income amounting to fourscore laws of his country to enable him to hold pounds a year in his profession. And them. If incumbents are thus so enwhile neither of the rectors, I believe, tirely unconcerned about their cures and in fifteen years, has bestowed a shilling curates, it would surely be a good reguin charity or hospitality, to encourage lation, that whatever increase of provimerit or relieve distress, in their parishes, sion the legislature may think fit to make, the curate has bestowed many pounds. should be attached to the immediate And yet it seems that such situations as performance of the parochial duty. the former are thought an object of royal Then, if the incumbent is dependent on and parliamentary consideration, while such a living alone, it will be an inducesuch as the latter are thought below all ment for him to reside on his benefice, concern! Nor is the above mentioned and do the duty of it; if he can live in as a peculiar case, but only as what is dependent of his profession, or has other most immediately under the eye of the preferment, a decent competency and writer. It is true, few curates have votes respectability in his station, may thus be for members of parliament, or much bo- secured for him who shall do the duty. rough or corporation interest or influ- And I think it were a further good and ence, to recommend them to the notice of just regulation, that wherever an instatesmen and ministers. But the incumbent, either to follow his pleasures fluence, or want of influence, of the parochial clergy with respect to the interest of the public, and even of the statesman and minister, if he have the wisdom to know it, and to estimate the value of morals and order among the people, is of more importance than that of all the archbishops, bishops, and dignitaries of the church, put together.

It must indeed be allowed that 150l. a year, or under, at the present rate of every article of living, is but a moderate provision for one who must support the character and appearance of a gentle man. But what shall we then say of the curate, who must support the same character and personal appearance, on a provision perhaps under 501.; or, if he does not, in the eyes of the unthinking multitude, must become contemptible, and of course, in a great measure, unprofitable in his station?

If an incumbent has 1907. or upward, which he receives as a sinecure, and consigns entirely not only the clerical duty (or what is called, perhaps not very properly, cure of souls), but also the obligations to hospitality and charity, and the charge of supporting decency and order by example and influence, to a curate to whom he allows perhaps 251. or 301.; which of the two is the object of most importance to the public? or whose situation of the two most requires,

or being engaged with other preferments, consigns his charge entirely to another, to perform all the duty, and sustain all the responsibility, he who thus sustains the whole charge, should at least receive half the emoluments. If the living be of great value, the incumbent may afford either to live upon it without other preferment, or to allow half the income to his curate. If he has other preferment, or the living be of small value, it is the more reasonable, and even necessary, that the curate should have half of it at least. If, as seems proposed, an augmentation be granted to all livings under 150. still the curate's share of the bipartite division must be allowed to be the best deserved, and most properly bestowed. And, if all livings are to be raised to 1507. and a curate serves two cures, which in the country is very ge nerally the case, he will then have 1504 also: less than which, indeed, no paro chial clergyman can, in these times, live upon as becomes his station and charac ter. Thus, by these two simple regula tious, at least a decent provision would be secured for every officiating clergyman in the kingdom. MONITOR.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

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rather to have suggested the means of transmitting the time of future compositions, than of any regulation or amend ment of the terms now in use. For which reason I beg leave, through the means of your truly useful publication, to submit whether a table might not be formed of the different degress of time both of ancient and modern music so arranged, that on either of the quickest degrees being ascertained by the means of a pendulum (of which the specific gravity as well as the length should be determined,) the other degrees might be deduced from them, as in an arithmetical table; and instead of the indefinite terms now used, that the quickest time might be named tempo primo,the next degree tempo secundo, &c. which, for the sake of convenience, might be represented by figures, placed in the usual situation of the terms.

It is meant by this arrangement to ascertain, for instance, at one view, the difference between the ancient and modern adagio, &c. and that the degrees should be placed in order as they are usually understood. By this means it would be possible to make such small divisions throughout the table, that every possible difference might be determined with the greatest precision; and, after a little practice, without the necessity of so often using the pendulum.

Thus it will be possible to hand down to futurity the proper time of the music we now so much admire; not suffering it to be lost, as observed of the music

of our ancient ecclesiastical compo

Bers.

As to the execution of this object, the question may arise, Who can undertake it that will be sufficiently regarded to make an alteration of this sort generally adopted? To this it may be answered, that the standard is already in a great measure fixed, but the various degrees require regulation and arrangement: and as Dr. Crotch has already written on this subject, this hint may not be deemed unworthy his consideration, since I need not say of what infinite utility some plan of this description would be to that science of which he is so eminent a professor; at all events, his excellent specimens of style evince him to be the person that will obtain the degree of deference required, every one being sensible of the effect of different time on any style of composition. R.

Guildford, April 13, 1810.

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Clut, glutted. c.

D.

Co! co! an exclamation. C. D. Coad, caud, unhealthy; consumptive ; cored like a rotten sheep. Coajerseend, a cordwainer's end. D. c. Coajerswax, cordwainer's pitch. C. D.. Coaivarty a bed, to, to warm the bed with a Scotch warming-pan. Exm.

Coander, a corner. Exm. c.

Cob, clob, mud; loum and straw. D. C. Cob-wall, a mud-wall; a wall made of loam and straw. D. C. It is cus

Cobble-dick-longer-skin.

tomary to call apples by the names of those who have produced a new variety, by seedlings or otherwise. At Stratton, and in the neighbouring parts of Devon, an apple was some time since distinguished by the name of a cobble-dicklonger-skin. The man's name, I suppose, was Dick Longerskin; and probably he was a cobler. There is an excellent pippin in Cornwall, (almost equal to the golden) called "Borlase's," or "the Treluddra-pippin," from Berlase, who

3

lived

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