On the Want of Patronage to British Artists. Shee's FLOW'RETS of LITERATURE, from numerous Sources Eccentricities of a Masquerade. Lathom's Human Beings 458 Abelard and Eloisa. Curiosities of Literature, 3d Edition 463 Moorland Mary. Panorama of Youth OF THE LITERARY CHARACTERS WHOSE PORTRAITS ARE GIVEN WITH THIS VOLUME. BEILBY PORTEUS, D. D. LORD BISHOP OF LONDON. THE learned and upright subject of the present memoir is a native of Yorkshire, and was born in the year 1781. His father was a reputable tradesman, who at an early age sent his son to the Rippon grammar school under the Rev. Mr. Hyde. Having here received the necessary preparation, he was at the proper age sent to Cambridge, where he was entered a student of Christ's college, and where he commenced a close application to his studies, particularly to those of theology, for which he, from the earliest period, had felt a strong propensity, and in which he so conpicuously shines. In 1752, he took his degree of B. A. and in the same year obtained one of the medals given for the best classical essay, by the Duke of Newcastle, at that time chancellor of the university. His next advancement was in 1754, when he was appointed one of the esquire beadles of the university. This office he resigned in July 1755, and, in the same year, took his degree of master of arts. About the same period he was also elected fellow of his college, and was appointed one of the preachers at Whitehall chapel. In the year 1759, he gained the Seatonian prize for the best composition on Death. This being the only poem of his that ever appeared in print, excepting a few verses on the late king, the reader will, doubtless, be glad to meet with the following extract from it, which is the concluding prayer of the poet. "At thy good time, Let death approach; I reck not---let him but come In genuine form, not with thy vengeance arm'd, Too much for man to bear. O rather lend Thy kindly aid to mitigate his stroke, And at that hour, when all aghast I stand Then shed thy comforts o'er me; then put on "Far be the ghastly crew !---and in their stead And pouring o'er my wounds the heav'nly balm Bursts from the thraldom of incumb'ring clay, And, on the wings of ecstacy upborne, Springs into liberty, and light, and life!" These verses are replete with harmony; a rich imagery runs. throngh the whole, and the beautiful climax at the close cannot fail to strike with admiration. In the year 1760, there was published a singular piece of in fidelity, entitled, "The History of the Man after God's own Heart," the author of which was Peter Auriel. The object of this gross production was to expose to contempt the sacred history, on account of the aberrations of David. In point of argument it was poor and mean; but it was, nevertheless, calculated to do considerable mischief on the dark mind and on the hardened; heart. Its sophistry was such as to impose upon the weak, while its presumption and levity could not fail to gratify the prophane and reprobate. To check the evil tendency of this work, our divine, among several other able writers, stood forth. He published a sermon, which he had preached Nov. 29, 1761, before the university of Cambridge, and entitled, "The Character of David, King of Israel, impartially stated." It was this discourse, we believe, which procured him the patronage of the learned Dr. Secker, then archbishop of Canterbury; for, about this period he appointed him one of his domestic chaplains, and, in the following year, he presented him to the rectory of Wittersham, in Kent. The friend. ship of the good prelate still followed him. In 1764, he gave him the rectory of Bucking, in the same county; also a prebend stall in the cathedral church of Peterborough. On May 13, 1765, Mr. Porteus entered the marriage state. The lady of his choice was Miss Hodgson, of Parliament-street; and in the same year he obtained the valuable living of Hunton. On July 7, 1766, he was created doctor of divinity, and in the month following the archbishop gave him the rectory of Lambeth, va cant by the death of Dr. Denne, and with this he was permitted to retain the rectory of Hunton. In 1768, he lost his friend and patron Dr. Secker, who by his will intrusted him and Dr. Stinton, (his other chaplain,) with the revision and publication of his lectures on the Church Catechism, Sermons, &c. This trust was most faithfully executed. The Sermons, printed in 1770, were prefaced by an elegant memoir of their author, and this was written solely by Dr. Porteus. This was afterwards printed in a separate form with additions. In 1776 Dr. Porteus became master of St. Cross, on option of Archbishop Secker; and, in the following January, he was ad vanced to the episcopal bench, by the translation of Dr. Markham from the see of Chester to the archbishopric of York. This pro motion, it is generally understood, was procured by the imme diate solicitations of the queen, who, during her illness, had admired Dr. Porteus, as a private chaplain. Observing with great concern the almost total neglect of the day which the early churches had appropriated for the commemoration of the sufferings and death of the Redeemer, especially in the metropolis, his lordship printed, “ An earnest Exhortation to the religious observance of Good-Friday, in a letter to the inhabitants of Lambeth," which excited considerable notice; and he had the satisfaction of finding that his exhortation was attend ed with great success.----He was strongly seconded in the laudable attempt by the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge. They caused his pamphlet to be printed in a cheap form, and circulated in great numbers, by which means thousands were roused to pay a proper attention to that day; so that from this period it has been kept, in London and its vicinity, with great strictness. On the death of Bishop Lowth. which happened in the year 1787, Dr. Porteus was translated to the see of London; an event which every party, whether of the established church or of the dissenters, rejoiced at with unanimous satisfaction.---.. His lordship instituted a society for the conversion of the negroes in the British islands, and which, we rejoice to say, has not failed, although it is known that many of the planters used every means in their power to impede the gracious attempt, by receiving the small tracts and extracts from the Bible, and instead of distributing them among their wretched slaves, either locking them up, or destroying them. It is impossible to conceive a conduct more destitute of christianity, and more depraved by guilt than this. In 1797, his lordship, in order to stop the gigantic strides of infidelity, commenced a course of Lectures on the Truth of the Gospel and the Divinity of Christ's Mission, which he preached in St. James's church every Friday, to crouded and admiring audiences. His unaffected, but persuasive eloquence, his warm and impressive manner, engaged the attention and excited the interest of every hearer. Many who came from curiosity went away with applauding hearts. His exertions in the cause of christianity have continued to be unremitting, and conducted upon principles the most liberal, not seeking to " Lord it over the consciences of any." Men of all parties have been ever ready to concur in the praise of his candour, faithfulness, moderation, and liberality. Dr. Porteus is, we believe, a more frequent preacher than the rest of his mitred brethren. During his summer residence in the country, he often ascends the pulpit to explain the principles and to enforce the practice of our divine religion. Not only ready to preach charity to others, he is himself forward to practise it; not shutting his ears against the voice of distress, nor withholding his hand from its relief. In politics his lordship is 'ever guided by moderation. He uniformly voted with Mr. Pitt's administration, and, we doubt not, from principle. But he has on no occasion manifested a party spirit; on the contrary, he has steered himself in peace, as becomes a follower of the "Prince of Peace." Dr. Porteus is not less em' wat for his piety than for his literary attainments, which justly rank him among the first scholars of the age. His style is remarkable for its classical purity, while it is extremely plain, disdaining all ornaments but such as tend to il lustration. Besides the productions already noticed, he has pub. lished two volumes of excellent sermons, and several charges and small tracts on religious subjects. |