MISCELLANEOUS MEMORANDA.

Some additional, though less important, memoranda, taken from Mr. Sharp's MS. Notes, for which no place in the narrative obviously presented itself, are proper to be here added, as contributing to the display of his opinions and affections, and of his constant and various actions.

66

1786. May 26.

Met Dr. B——, who talked of Dr. Johnson in the highest terms. When I replied, that I thought he was apt to build arguments on false foundations, and contrary to natural rights, he said, 'Dr. Johnson thinks, that the garrulosity of the people about their rights did infinite harm, and is injurious to good government and morality.' Thus the quondam professed advocate for popular rights and liberty has swallowed the perverted notions of the pensioner, and indiscriminately adopted his groundless sophistry, in favour of passive obedience, and, in his own words, garrulosity."

July 1. Attended Serjeant Rook, Lincoln's Inn, on the arbitration for damages in favour of John Cambridge, a Negro, against Captain Holman.'

9th. Waited on Lord Dartmouth, in behalf of Daniel Simon, a Nasaganset Indian, and in Orders. His Lordship gave me ten guineas for him."

"1786. January 10. Mr. Strasburg, a Jew, read the two texts on Jeremiah exactly like myself."

"11th. Called on Mr. Shiph, priest of the Portuguese synagogue." "12th. On Mr. Moses, priest of the Dutch synagogue."

" 16th. Read to Mr. Shiph, the priest of the Portuguese synagogue, the answer to the queries which he gave me."

"1793. July 16. Attended at Guildhall, and was bound to prosecute the young man and boy who picked my pocket on the 11th. Jocelyn, the constable, swore to the fact. I only swore to my property, and that I had lost my handkerchief.-(The trial about the 3d of September.)"

September 11. Old Bailey. Attended the grand jury at eleven o'clock, against George Whiteman and Mackey, two pickpockets. The bill was found. Afterward, at three o'clock, I attended the sessions. The Recorder, Sir John Rose, ordered the trial immediately. Both were convicted. I told the Recorder I wished the prisoners might be permitted to enter the King's service, and I would clothe them. He promised to respite their transportation till the next sessions, to allow time for their entering and getting employment."

1794. March 17. Fulham. Employed in making remarks on Lord Hawkesbury's plan of militia, &c."

"1796. January 20. This morning Antonio Barrat, alias Molasco, called on me. He was just returned, exchanged by cartel, from a French prison-ship. I saved this man, and another Negro, Henry Martin Burrows, from on board the ship Albion, Captain Jeremy Barton (on the 4th of February, 1788), where they were concealed, to be sold as slaves. Both had escaped from prison in the Havannah to a boat, in which they put to sea, without provisions; were ten days without eating or drinking; and were taken up at sea by the Albion. I sent Antonio to Sierra Leone, in the Myro brig, in 1788 (about July), and he stayed at the settlement with the first settlers, till it was destroyed by the Natives; after which, wandering on the coast, he went on board a slave-ship, where he was detained, until taken by the French."

1796. March 26. Sent letters to two Sierra Leone settlers in Haslar Hospital."

"1797. March 23. Left with the Archbishop of Canterbury the papers on divorce. Wrote in the catalogue of books sent to Sierra Leone about the necessity of a test."

April 12. Rev. Mr. Trowers; and delivered to him Remarks on his works, and also Remarks on Evans."

"June 28. Called on Mr. King, the American Ambassador, to enforce the necessity of frank-pledge in America."

"1798. May 18. Society for Propagation of the Gospel spoke to the Archbishop about schools at Sierra Leone."

66

September 3. Colonel Tatcham called about his new work of embanking fens, &c. Sat the whole morning, from half past eleven to three o'clock, in searching etymology of words for him."

"1800. At a general meeting, chosen one of the Trustees of the London Library."

"1804. December 8. The Bishop of St. Asaph called on me, and has consented to form a compendium of my rules for the Hebrew Syntax."

"1806. October 8. Wrote to the Bishop of St. David's about forming a compendium of Hebrew Grammar and Syntax, which the Bishop of St. Asaph (Horsley) had undertaken, of whose death I was informed last night."

"1813. January 14. The whole morning with Mr. Way, at my chambers, talking on religious subjects.”

CHAP. II.

IT now remains to relate that humiliation of mental and corporeal faculties, through which many, even the holiest men, have been ordained to pass to eternal life. After the last meeting of the Protestant Union in 1813, Mr. Sharp's efforts were few. He had for some months experienced a failure of quick recollection, wholly unusual to his ready and methodized intellect. At the meetings of the African Institution, he rarely took any share in the discussions; and, though he was welcomed with a respect approaching to veneration, the advantages, which his powerful mind had so long continued to afford, were no more to be gained from his presence. At those of the Bible Society, though he did not wholly forbear to express his sentiments, his arguments were vague; his reason wandered from its aim; and regret and silence were all that was left to his hearers, when he ceased to speak. He seemed, however, less aware than his friends, of the rapid change that was taking place, and he persevered in a strict attendance on the public meetings of both establishments. These exertions were contemplated by his anxious family with a dread which the affections of our nature prompt on such occasions. They entreated him to desist; but in vain: he could not consent to yield a post which he thought it his duty to maintain. One effort, at length, which had nearly proved fatal to him, turned the scale, and compelled him to submission.

Since the death of his brother William he had principally resided with his widow, at Fulham; from whence he made many occasional excursions to his chambers in the Temple.

In the month of June, 1813, having made an offer of some books to the Temple library, he thought it requisite to attend in person to the delivery of them, and proposed a visit to London for that purpose.

Every argument, which affection could dictate, was urged to dissuade him, but all proved ineffectual. The offer of the family-carriage was then withheld, in the hope that forgetfulness might prevent the apprehended evil. But at breakfast-time the next morning he did not appear as usual, and, on inquiry, it was found that he was gone to London in the stage-coach. A servant was immediately dispatched after him; but he had left his chambers also. He returned with the stage to Fulham in the afternoon; said he had packed and sent his books, but had had no food, and was nearly exhausted. His danger had been imminent. It appeared that the coachman who conveyed him to town, perceiving his altered state, had felt considerable anxiety on his account, and, as soon as he had settled the business of the coach, went in search of him to his chambers, at the door of which he found him, wandering about in a state of incertitude, being unable to guide himself to the part of the town that he designed to reach. He was easily persuaded by the warm-hearted coachman to go back with him to Fulham, and was thus happily preserved from more distressing accidents.

The term which bounds mortality now rose to Granville's view. But, although formed, by the fixed habits of a pious mind, to a submissive acknowledgment of the dispensations of Providence, and a cheerful resignation to the Divine will, he beheld the approach of death not wholly without emotion. The ardent prosecution of his religious studies had gradually led him to indulge a persuasion, which many of sainted memory have felt, that the epoch foretold in Scripture, when the reign of holy men shall be established on the earth, was on the eve of its commencement. He conceived that it might even precede the natural period of his own earthly existence. The encouragement of this favourite idea had tended insensibly to exempt him from the apprehensions of a time, when the consciousness of Being was to be suspended under the hand of death. That expectation was now shaken;-in what degree shaken, or how far the soothing image might yet have continued to impress his soul with belief, during