Pugh, the honest and intelligent author of Hanway’s life, tells us an
anecdote connected with our traveller’s history, which I will relate in
his words:—“To one of his books written for the use of the poor he
prefixed a description of the frontispiece, in which he says to the
gentle reader, ‘Here you see the grass grow and the sheep feed.’ The
reviewers fastened on this unfortunate sentence. ‘We remember,’ said
they (I quote from memory after a lapse of several years), ‘a miller,
who quitted his trade to take a public-house, and sent for a painter to
paint him the sign of the _mill_. “I must have the miller looking out of
the window.”—“It shall be done,” said the painter. “But I was never seen
to be idle; you must make him pop his head in if any one looks at him.”
This also the artist promised, and brought home the sign. “’Tis all
well; but where’s the miller?”—“Sir, he popped his head in when you
looked.” Even so,’ said the reviewers, ‘when we look on the benevolent
author’s frontispiece, the grass ceases to _grow_, and the sheep leave
off _feeding_.’”
Hanway died on the 5th of September, 1786. His last moments were those
of a Christian and a philosopher, calm and tranquil, indicating the
firmest reliance on the mercy and goodness of God, and a consciousness
of a life honestly and usefully spent. It might not be difficult to
collect from the history of his life materials for forming a correct
notion of his character; but in addition to the information to be
derived from this source, Pugh enjoyed the advantage of having lived
with him in the same house on terms of considerable familiarity. For
this reason, I prefer the adopting of the character which he has drawn,
and which appears to be sufficiently impartial, to the maintaining of an
appearance of originality, by conveying the same idea in different
words:—“Mr. Hanway in his person was of the middle size, of a thin spare
habit, but well shaped; his limbs were fashioned with the nicest
symmetry. In the latter years of his life he stooped very much, and,
when he walked, found it conduce to his ease to let his head incline
towards one side; but when he went first to Russia, at the age of
thirty, his face was full and comely, and his person altogether such as
obtained for him the appellation of the ‘handsome Englishman.’ His
features were small, but without the insignificance which commonly
attends small features. His countenance was interesting, sensible, and
calculated to inspire reverence. His blue eyes had never been brilliant,
but they expressed the utmost humanity and benevolence; and when he
spoke, the animation of his countenance and the tone of his voice were
such as seemed to carry conviction with them even to the mind of a
stranger. When he endeavoured to sooth distress, or point out to any
wretch who had strayed the comforts of a virtuous life, he was
peculiarly impressive; and every thing that he said had an air of
consideration and sincerity.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account