an air of ease and generosity, without any affectation of magnificence or show. His house was hospitable, and his table plentiful, yet plain and simple. He wished to have every thing suitable to his rank, but would consent to nothing beyond it. He thought it right in one of his station and profession to discountenance as far as he could, all luxurious elegancies. He would therefore never give into several fashionable accommodations, nor admit extraordinary delicacies to his table, nor even accept them when offered to him. He received his company with politeness and good humour, and entertained them, when he was in health and spirits, with lively and improving conversation. He could make pertinent observations on almost any topic that happened to be started, how remote soever from the natural course of his studies. Men of eminent worth or learning he distinguished by peculiar notice, led the discourse to such subjects as called out their respective excellencies, and shewed that they spoke before one who could judge well of their merits.

Yet it must be owned that he was not always equally affable and obliging. There was

sometimes

sometimes a reserve and coldness in his manner, that threw a damp on conversation, and prevented strangers from being perfectly at their ease before him. This was by some imputed to pride. But in reality it arose from very different causes: sometimes from bodily pain, which he often felt when he did not own it; sometimes from his spirits being wasted or depressed by the fatigues of the morning; sometimes from accidental uneasinesses arising in the course of business, which he could not immediately shake off his mind. To this should be added, that the natural loftiness of his figure, and the opinion generally and justly entertained of his learning and sanctity of life, were of themselves apt to produce a kind of awe and constraint in his company, when he was far from wishing to inspire it.

It was remarkable that he chose always rather to talk of things than persons; was very sparing in giving his opinion of characters, very candid when he did. Of his own good deeds or great attainments he never spoke, nor loved to hear others speak. Compliments were very irksome to him. They visibly put him out of humour, and gave him actual pain;

and

and he would sometimes express his dislike of them in such plain terms, as effectually prevented a repetition of them from the same

person.

To his domestics he was a gentle and indulgent master. Many of them he suffered to continue with their families in his house after they were married. None of them were discharged on account of sickness or infirmity, but were assisted with the best advice that could be had at a great yearly expense. Those who had attended him in illness, or served him long and faithfully, he never failed to reward with an unsparing hand. Towards his other dependants, his behaviour was even and friendly. He expected every one about him to do their duty, of which he himself first set them the example; and, provided they did so with any tolerable care, they were secure of his favour. Of slight faults he took no notice; of great ones he would express his sense at the time strongly; but never suffered them to dwell or rankle on his mind, or operate to the future prejudice of those whose general conduct was right. To his relations he was continually doing the best-natured, the hand

somest,

somest, the most generous things; assisting them in difficulties, comforting them in affliction, promoting their interest, and improving their circumstances reasonably, not aggrandizing or enriching them invidiously.

The unaltered kindness he shewed to the two ladies that lived with him from the time of his marriage to that of his death, that is, for upwards of two-and-forty years, was a remarkable instance of steady friendship; and shewed that his soul was no less formed for that rare union of virtuous minds, than for every other affection. The younger generous of those two ladies, Mrs. Catharine Talbot, (who, to the finest imagination and the most elegant accomplishments of her sex, added the gentlest manners, and a disposition thoroughly benevolent and devout) did not long survive the archbishop. She died on the 9th of January last, in the 49th year of her age.

Thus much it has been judged requisite to lay before the world in relation to archbishop Secker; not with any view of exalting his character higher than it deserves, which is quite needless; but of making its real value more generally known, and of rescuing it from the

misrepre

misrepresentations of a few misinformed or malevolent men. To some, no doubt, the portrait here drawn of him will appear a very flattering one; but it will be much easier to call than to prove it such. Nothing has been advanced but what is founded on the most authentic evidence, nor has any circumstance .been designedly strained beyond the truth. And if his grace did really live and act in such a manner that the most faithful delineation of his conduct must necessarily have the air of a panegyric, the fault is not in the copy, but in the original.

After this plain representation of facts therefore, it cannot be thought necessary to enter here into a particular examination of the various falsehoods, which his grace's enemies have so industriously circulated, in order to fix, if possible, some stain upon his reputa tion. It would be very unreasonable to expect that he of all others, so high in rank and so active in the discharge of his duty, should, amidst the present rage of defamation, escape without his full share of censure; and it would be very weak to apprehend the least ill consequences from it. There is so little doubt

from