His free theological opinions were not the only hindrances to his advancement. He felt a lively interest in the great political events which occurred, especially in his latter years,

-events

"Of which all Europe rings from side to side.”

Rejoicing, in common with some of the greatest and best men of his time, at the appearances (however they may have proved delusive) of freedom recovered and enjoyed in a neighbouring nation, he boldly reprobated maxims and measures which he thought subversive of the liberty and happiness of his own country. This, it appeared, was not to be done with impunity, under an administra

trines of our holy religion want not the aid of human laws for their support. When Christian magistrates assume to themselves the right of interpreting doubtful passages of scripture in a definite sense, they pollute the altar of the Lord, though with a view, perhaps, of adorning and defending it, and often sanctify error by the authority of civil laws. The history of the church, from the time of its civil establishment, affords a thousand proofs of the truth of this remark." "A Charge delivered to the Clergy of the Diocese of Landaff, June 1791," p. 19.

See, likewise, some valuable observations on the great importance of free inquiry on subjects of religion, by Dr. Paley, in the Dedication of his Mor. Phil. to the late Bishop Law.See also his chapter "on Religious Establishments and on Toleration," 2d vol. of that work, pp. 303, &c. 8th edit.

tion, by whose influence in the late House of Commons, as a great statesman has remarked, "more was added to the public burdens, and more taken from the public liberties, than at any period since the Revolution."

The severities which he now sustained were tempered by the habitual seriousness of his disposition, which suggested motives to cheerfulness and hope from sources to which too many are utter strangers. The awful, but animating, consideration of the omnipresence of the DIVINE BEING was seldom absent from his mind in the season of silence and solitude;" and the prospect of immortality was a never failing resource.

He

Such a man was Gilbert Wakefield. may be justly ranked among those who in their lives, as well as their writings, have shewn that the principles of Christianity happily accord with every mental accomplishment which rea

The following is an extract from his private papers, written while in Dorchester gaol:

"A dignified consolation of solitude is, to regard oneself as more immediately in the presence of the Supreme Being; and as we strive to recommend ourselves to human society by a blameless, kind, and accommodating demeanour; so to render our conduct as acceptable as possible to our omnipotent associate, by the utmost purity of thought and propriety of action."

son values or virtue approves; animating to the duties of life, and consoling in the expectation of death. Though his date was short, it was extended by unceasing exertions; and though cut off in the midst of his years, he fell not immaturely: for, as it has been beautifully expressed, "Honourable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years: but wisdom is the gray hair unto man, and an unspotted life is old age.

CHAP. XVI.

Respect paid to Mr. Wakefield's Memory -Letter from Dr. Parr-Funeral-Sketches of his Character-Verses on the Occasion of his Death.

1801.

THE death of such a man as Mr. Wakefield, under circumstances so affecting, would naturally call forth expressions of regret from his various connexions.

Among numerous letters received on this occasion, the following from Dr. Parr, which we have obtained his permission to publish, does equal honour to the amiable sensibility of the writer, and to the memory of him who is the subject of it. This letter was written to an intimate friend of Mr. Wakefield in reply to one which announced the circumstance of his death.

SIR,

I was yesterday evening honoured with your letter; I read the contents of it

with inexpressible anguish; I passed a comfortless night; and this morning I am scarcely able to thank you, as I ought to do, for your delicacy in averting the shock which I must have suffered, if intelligence so unexpected, and so distressing had rushed upon me from the newspapers.

In the happiness of the late Mr. Wakefield I always took a lively interest: many are the inquiries I made about the state of his health, and the course of his studies, while he was at Dorchester; great was my anxiety to see him after his sufferings were at an end: and when his name was announced to me at my lodgings in Carey-street, I seized his hand eagerly, I gazed stedfastly upon his countenance, I was charmed with the freshness of his spirits, and the apparent stoutness of his constitution; I anticipated for him a succession of years after years, during which he might have smiled at the malice of his enemies, and enjoyed the sympathies of his friends: and at parting I received from him a book, which the circumstance of captivity under which it was written, endeared to me, and which his death has now consecrated.

Auget etiam molestiam, quòd magna sapientium Civium bonorumque penuria, vir egregius, conjunctissimusque mecum studiorum