The sexagenarian; or, the recollections of a literary life (Volume 1 of 2)Beloe, William
General
The sexagenarian; or, the recollections of a literary life (Volume 1 of 2)
Beloe, William
Authors, English; Beloe, William, 1756-1817; English literature -- Anecdotes
He had once a poor scholar at his table, who, among various things, had
published some which were acceptable to his Lordship. He introduced the
subject of the author’s different works, and, addressing him, observed,
“I liked such a book of yours exceedingly—it did you much credit;
but what could possibly induce you to print ⸺” here he named another
book. The guest bowed, and merely replied, “Res angusta domi.” Lord
Loughborough replied, “I am perfectly satisfied with your answer.”
It has, however, been imputed to Lord Loughborough, that he gave the
literary men whom he distinguished, a mouthful only; and did not, even
with respect to the few for whom he professed the greatest esteem and
regard, make any efforts to raise them to the more elevated honours of
their profession. There may be some truth in this, and more particularly
so, as to one individual, who enjoyed, very deservedly, much of his
society and friendship. Thurlow certainly did not lose sight of Horsley
till he saw him seated upon the Episcopal bench. But at that period, the
public attention was much directed to the controversy between Priestley
and Dr. Horsley: it was well known that Thurlow hated Priestley from
the bottom of his heart; and, indeed, whatever he might be practically
himself, he on all occasions manifested a consistent determination
to support the Established Church. He was familiarly acquainted with
Beaufoy, the Member for Yarmouth, in Norfolk, who was known to be a
strict Dissenter, and the conversation one day turning on the subject of
religion, he said to Beaufoy, “I would support your d⸺d religion, if it
was that of the state.”
Beaufoy ought to have known him better; but having had a Yarmouth
Clergyman very particularly recommended to him by his Norfolk
Constituents, he thought he could not more effectually promote his
clients’ interest, than by introducing him to Thurlow, with whom he
was going to dine. The scheme, however, failed altogether; for after
the first salutations, Thurlow turned to Beaufoy, and asked him why he
brought his d⸺d parson to him.
The contrast between such rude and unfeeling abruptness, and the
courteous and conciliating manners of Lord Loughborough, is particularly
striking. The latter always received the humblest clergyman with
graciousness and affability, and has often been heard to lament that
his situation as Chancellor was very painful to him, from his being
perpetually compelled to refuse petitions which had the strongest claims
on his humanity. He would facetiously observe, that his greater livings
gave him no trouble; their designation was either anticipated, or easily
determined. But for his smaller livings, he had always a multitude of
applications, and seldom or ever one, without “seven or eight small
children at the end of it.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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