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
But this personage’s great work was a volume of Dissertations or
Lectures, the subject of which was a comparison between Paganism and
Christianity. They were obviously intended for the benefit of a great
public seminary, to which among other things it had been objected, that
more was taught the pupils, of Heathen, than of Christian theology. The
avowed object of the work was to illustrate the Christian Religion, and
explain the errors and follies of Heathen superstition, and it is really
a powerful production.
The other successful candidate for clerical honours arrived at equal
dignities, but with claims very dissimilar. He was a servitor at one of
our universities, and though of remarkable steadiness and unimpeachable
conduct, discovered no talents which justified his expectation of college
distinctions.
He accordingly took orders, and went to a village remote from the
metropolis, to discharge the honourable and useful office of a curate.
Here fortune befriended him also. A noble family had a mansion in the
vicinity, the head of which laboured under a sort of imbecility, which
disqualified him for active business.
The curate, if respectable, always receives more or less notice from the
heads of a parish, and in this instance Mr. G. was found so attentive,
obliging, and assiduous, that great intimacy and confidence followed.
There was also a General election, in the event of which the family
greatly interested themselves, and the curate, by his zeal, activity, and
ardour, was very instrumental in procuring the matter to terminate, as
his patrons desired.
The first bonus received in testimony of their attachment, was the living
of the place where he had officiated as curate, which was worth little
less than twelve hundred pounds a-year. But this was far from all. The
intimacy was increased on one side, as the usefulness was experienced
on the other; and as the political influence of the family was very
considerable, one of the best Prebendal stalls in the kingdom was added
to the Rectory, and at no very great distance of time, a Deanery. But
here an act of justice remains to be done.
This ecclesiastical friend of the Sexagenarian, though not a man
remarkable for his learning, his talents, or his accomplishments, was
eminently so, for his mild and amiable manners. His memory does not
deserve to be followed with scorn or disdain, because he owed his
elevation to a concurrence of fortuitous and fortunate circumstances.
Rather let it receive the tribute of respect which it merits, from
his being, which he really was, friendly, benevolent, charitable, and
zealously anxious to promote the comforts and improve the interests of
his poor and dependent neighbours.
A third clerical personage may not improperly be introduced among those,
whose progressive success in life far surpassed their earlier claims and
expectations. His history is succinctly this.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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