noble families (Northumberland and Devonshire) are said to have subscribed 1000l. each towards the equipment. *

At length this branch of the Sheridans returned once more to England, where he acted for a short time as manager of Drury Lane: but it was found not only convenient but highly desirable, on account of the climate, to accept the office of colonial paymaster at the Cape of Good Hope, the salary of which has been estimated at 12007. sterling. His health, however, continued to decline, and he fell a martyr to disease at this settlement on September the 12th, 1817. His body has been since transferred to England.

Thus perished at an early age, Mr. Thomas Sheridan, but a short time after the demise of his father, and a few months antecedent to that of his mother-in-law; in short, all three Idied within twelve months of each other. He has left a widow and several children wholly unprovided for, to deplore his premature fate; for his wit, his humour, and his repartees produced nothing but barren applause; and as for his convivial talents, by attracting company, and producing late hours, although they served to embellish, they at the same time shortened life.

* It has been recently stated, in Vol. i. p. 492. of the “ Memoirs of the Right Hon. R. B. Sheridan, that "a subscription, amounting to 10,000l. was raised by several of the royal family, and principal nobility," for Mr. T. Sheridan, " on account of his loss at the theatre, (by the conflagration of Drury Lane,) and to enable him to visit a warmer climate for his health."

THE

No. XLI.

THE REV. SIR ADAM GORDON, BART. M.A.

PREBENDARY OF BRISTOL. &c.

HE ancestors of this Baronet came originally from France, and were first known by the appellation of De Gurdon. The eldest branch of the family, called "the Muckle Gordons,” seated themselves in the south of Scotland; another attained ducal honours on the banks of the Spey, while a third, settling in Ireland, one of its members procured a Baronetcy in 1764.

Sir Adam Gordon was born in 1745, a year not a little memorable both to England and Scotland. After receiving a liberal education, and attaining the degrees of B. A. and M. A., he closely addicted himself to the study of divinity, and became first a deacon, and then a priest of the Church of England, to which he was afterwards an ornament, by his example, his talents, and his writings.

If we mistake not, long after entering into holy orders, he officiated for some time as a curate to the populous - and opulent parish of St. Mary-le-Bone, which now possesses a splendid chapel, in addition to the small place of worship which then only existed. Soon after this he married *, and retired into the country. In respect to benefices, Sir Adam obtained in succession, the rectory of Hinchworth in Hertfordshire, a prebendal stall in the cathedral of Durham, and the living of West Tilbury in the county of Essex. In these several capacities, he distinguished himself by an earnest and unvarying attention to his various duties: and, accordingly, we find him not only preaching to all, but also catechising and

* Lady Gordon died but a short time before her husband, who entertained so high a respect for her memory, that he left a very considerable legacy to a lady who lived with her as a friend and companion, and resided afterwards with himself, until his demise. Notwithstanding his numerous and extensive charities, Sir Adam appears to have died

rich.

1

instructing after the manner of the primitive Church of Christ, both the young and uninformed.

This reverend Baronet endeavoured also, to dedicate his pen, as well as his pulpit, to the service of public morals, having, many years since, fairly and openly combated all the pernicious positions laid down in a very seductive book, generally placed in the hands of our youth on entering the world, which shall be named hereafter. He was moreover a zealous and courageous defender of the Church of England, whose fasts and festivals he elucidated, enforced, and explained, in his printed discourses. He also celebrated our triumphs during the late war, particularly by a thanksgiving sermon on the victory over the combined fleet, while he dedicated another to the praise of His present Majesty George III., on attaining the fiftieth anniversary of his reign; an occurrence seldom commemorated, even by the sovereigns of Europe.

It was thus that Sir Adam spent a long and useful life, which was at last terminated, in what may be fairly termed, "actual professional service," for he was smote by the hand of death, when in progress from his prebendal residence at Bristol, to his rectory at West Tilbury. This melancholy occurrence took place, November 2d, 1817, at the Castle Inn, Salt-Hill, after a short illness, in the seventy-second year of his age.

The following eulogy was penned by the hand of friendship: "Of the character of this excellent man, little need be said among those who personally knew him. But beyond that circle it is necessary that a few particulars should be conveyed; that the benefit of eminent example may not be limited to the boundary of private friendship. Such of his professional labours as have been committed to the press, exhibit him as one who was ever desirous of contributing to the welfare of his fellow-creatures. But the brightest view of his character was to be obtained, by observing how he lived in the two parishes of which he was successively rector; Hinchworth in Hertfordshire, and West Tilbury in Essex. In these retired situations, he filled up the measure of pastoral duties, with an exemplariness which must endear his memory

to every inhabitant whose taste has not been vitiated by habits of profligacy. He was ever ready to render the temporal condition of his parishioners more comfortable. This, however, was not the whole of his worth. He never forgot the principal object of his vocation, the eternal happiness of his flock. For this he took the utmost pains in the composition of his sermons; that they might forcibly inculcate Christian principles, expose vice, cherish hope, and be intelligible to every member of that humble peasantry committed to his care; for to persons of this condition in life, it was his lot to minister in sacred things, except in the short intervals of his residence at Bristol; where to the last he was honoured with a crowded auditory, whenever he ascended the cathedral pulpit. But it was not to preaching that his pastoral labours were confined. He was observant of the duty of catechising youth. He paid out of his own pocket for the education of poor children. He visited the sick as an instructor. He endeavoured to restrain the profligate; and not only countenanced the sober and industrious, but endeavoured to help them forward in their worldly concerns, as well as to further their religious improvement. With all this, there was no sectarian mixture. Of the necessity of making his parishioners rightly understand the present state of human nature, and the remedies which infinite wisdom and mercy has provided for the evils to which it is ex

posed, he showed himself fully aware. But this end he pur

sued in such a manner, as never presented him to the world under any other aspect than that of a clergyman of the Church of England. As a husband, a master of a family, a friend, he was not only respected, but beloved, by those who had the greatest interest in his possessing the virtues which adorn these relations. Nor was it on these only that the benevolence of his nature flowed. His charities to the poor of his neighbourhood were much beyond what his means of relieving their wants would encourage us to expect. In addition to these, he generally had some case of foreign distress in hand; in the management of which, he was often laboriously employed, by writing a number of letters, and by applying in other forms to the humane, in behalf of his client. To which expense

of time must be added, what it cost him to set the example of that charity he solicited: an expense from which he never excused himself. In this brief account, the partiality of friendship has not produced a single exaggeration. It is a simple relation of facts, to which many can bear witness; and to the soothing recollection of which, amplified by numerous instances which have passed under their own observation, they often resort, now that the intercourse they had with one in whom so many endearing qualities resided is at an end." Gent. Mag.

List of the Works of the Rev. Sir Adam Gordon, Bart.

1. The Contrast, or an Antidote to the pernicious Principles disseminated in Lord Chesterfield's Letters to his Son, 2 vols. 12mo. 1791.

2. Affectionate Advice from a Minister of the Established Church to his parishioners, 12mo. 1791.

3. The plain Duties of Wise and Christian subjects, (preached on the commencement of the War with the French Republic,) 8vo. 1793.

4. Plain Sermons, on Practical Subjects, 2 vols. 8vo.

5. Sermons on the Fasts and Festivals of the Church of England, 8vo. 1796.

6. Homilies of the Church of England, modernized, 2 vols. 8vo.

7. Assistant for the Visitation of the Sick, 12mo.

8. The Fear of God, a sure ground of Confidence and Hope, two Fast-day Sermons, 8vo. 1803.

9. A Sermon on the Victory over the combined Fleets of France and Spain, 8vo. 1806.

10. The Righteousness of a King, the Blessedness of his People, a Sermon on the 50th Anniversary of His Majesty's Accession, 1809.

Sir Adam Gordon has also left behind him a number of MS. sermons, divinity tracts, &c., some of which he had intended to publish.