He particularly disliked gossip. At Kirby Underdale the old sexton used to relate how Mr Thirlwall said, ‘I never ’ears no tales’; and the following story shows that he maintained the same wise discretion after he became a bishop. One of his archdeacons thought it right to tell him that a certain clergyman in the diocese, who was a clever mimic, was fond of entertaining his friends with imitations of the Bishop. Thirlwall listened, and then inquired, ‘Does he do me well?’ ‘I am sure I cannot say, my Lord,’ replied the informer; ‘I was never present myself at one of these disgraceful exhibitions.’ ‘Ah! I should like to know, because he does _you_ admirably,’ replied the Bishop. It is needless to say that no more stories were carried to his ears. Footnote 70: _An Earnestly Respectful Letter_, 8vo. 1860, pp. 20-23. See also _The Life and Letters of Rowland Williams, D.D._, London, 1874, chap. xv., where his determination to make the Bishop declare himself, under the belief that he really agreed with him, is expressly stated. Footnote 71: _A Letter to the Rev. Rowland Williams_, 8vo. 1860, p. 19. Footnote 72: Dean Stanley’s preface to the _Letters to a Friend_, p. xi. Footnote 73: _Letters to a Friend_, p. 54. Footnote 74: Review of ‘The letters of Bishop Thirlwall,’ _The Times_, 23 November, 1881. Footnote 75: _The Edinburgh Review_, for April, 1876, p. 292. Footnote 76: These words are inscribed upon Bishop Thirlwall’s grave. RICHARD MONCKTON MILNES, LORD HOUGHTON[77].