The sexagenarian; or, the recollections of a literary life (Volume 2 of 2) — John Shaqi
The sexagenarian; or, the recollections of a literary life (Volume 2 of 2)Beloe, William
General
The sexagenarian; or, the recollections of a literary life (Volume 2 of 2)
Beloe, William
Authors, English; Beloe, William, 1756-1817; English literature -- Anecdotes
The fair and reasonable presumption is, in the clerical profession, as in
that of the law—certain offices must be filled, to which it is natural to
suppose that the most eligible will be appointed. Moreover, the longer
the catalogue may happen to be, of ecclesiastics who have risen to the
most exalted stations from humble beginnings, the stronger the argument
will be, to disprove the assertion generally made, and too universally
believed, that such stations are only to be obtained by political
interest or intrigue.
Of these distinguished personages, many have before been more or
less circumstantially mentioned. The following is merely a sort of
recapitulation, bearing upon the single point of extraordinary success in
the procurement of worldly honours.
The circumstances and causes which led to the elevation of the late
venerable Archbishop Moore, are too well known to require repetition, and
the dignity which he obtained was too well merited to excite discontent,
or provoke invidious remark. His Grace’s ultimate station in life must
however far, very far, have exceeded his most sanguine expectations, when
first entering the world.
The honours also of the excellent Bishop Porteus, however well deserved
and beneficially exercised, beyond doubt, much exceeded all the possible
calculations and hopes of his early life. The successes of such an
individual command the greater admiration, because they were not obtained
by any interposition of the great, by any political connection, or
indeed by the exertion of interest of any kind. They were the result of
a zealous, pious, uninterrupted attention to the general duties of his
profession, with a particular regard to those of the stations, which
he immediately filled. He may nevertheless, with strict propriety, be
introduced in the class of those, who have eminently been distinguished
by good fortune.
The Bishop of L. has been already spoken of, and in terms with which it
is hoped his Lordship will express no dissatisfaction. He surely can have
no reluctance to confess, that his name is not improperly inserted in
this catalogue.
This may be no unsuitable place to insert a whimsical anecdote of his
Lordship, which though of a humble and indeed insignificant denomination,
may surely be called a fortunate incident.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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