lawny, dated only a few days before his death, to vindicate himself from so absurd a charge *. From Whiston's "Historical Memoirs" it appears, that he was a great admirer of the "Apostolic Constitutions," and thought it no easy matter to prove them spurious; but it is there asserted, "that he was neither a deep Divine, nor a very acute Critic; Classical Literature being what he excelled in." Bishop Smalridge died, of an apoplexy, at Christ Church, on the 27th of September, 1719†; and was buried in the Choir of that Cathedral; where, on one side of a white marble column, affixed to the uppermost pillar between the two North ailes, joining to the Choir, is this inscription, written by his brother-in-law Dr. John Freind: "Hanc juxta Columnam S. E. GEORGIUS SMALRIDGE, S. T. P. Episcopus Bristoliensis, hujus Edis Ornamentum, Alumnus, "I have," says he, "from the Chair (while I supplied Dr. Jane's place), from the Pulpit, in Convocation, and upon all other proper occasions, expressed my sentiments about the Divinity of our Lord and Saviour, in opposition both to the Socinians and Arians. I did on Sunday last ordain some Clergymen, and I examined them particularly as to the points controverted betwixt the Catholic Church and the Arians, and said what to me seemed proper to confirm them in the Catholic Faith, and to arm them against the objections usually brought by the Arians. I have read over more than once, and, as well as I was able, have considered Dr. Waterland's late book, and have in conversation signified my approbation of it, and recommended it to my friends as a substantial vindication of the received doctrines and confutation of Arianism." +"Bishop Smalridge had been seized with a pain across his breast on the Saturday, which had returned at intervals during the day, but without any great violence. He was at Latin prayers at nine of the night, and then found his pain increase. He was let blood, which gave him relief; after which he went to bed, and slept as well as usual. He waked in the morning, and asked his lady what o'clock it was; who said, it was six: upon which he said God be thanked, I have had a very good night.' He then turned on his side, and immediately died, without a groan, or a word more." Mr. Robert Clavering to Dr. Charlett, Sept. 28, 1719.-See Ballard's Collections in the Bodleian Library, vol. VIII. 1-46, for this and some other curious particulars concerning Bp. Smalridge. Columen Columen atque Præsidium, Canonicus et Decanus. Huc e Scholâ Westmonasteriensi migravit, Literis Græcis præsertim et Latinis instructissimus, quas quidem non libârat modo, sed hauserat, concoxerat, in succum ipsum et sanguinem converterat. His fundamentis feliciter positis, statim inter Adolescentes Academicos in omni scribendi genere excelluit, in omnes scientias et ipse facilè penetravit, et aliis, pro eximiâ illâ quâ pollebat, et distinctè intelligendi, et dilucidè explicandi facultate, facilem aperuit viam. E sacris vero literis quos perceperat fructus, In Concionibus frequenter habitis, eloquentiam virilem pietate multâ perfusam; in Scriptis, quibus adhuc juvenis contra Pontificios tum insolentiùs se jactitantes certavit, doctrinam, nervos, gravitatem; in Cathedrâ, ubi Regii Professoris vices sustinuit, Ad novam itaque apud Westmonasterienses Capellam importunâ populi voce accersitus, suscepto a se muneri totus incubuit; idque, tum publicè docendo, tum privatim monendo, per annos ultra viginti multo cum audientium fructu explevit. Ad hanc rem dum esset unicè attentus, complurium ut animarum saluti consuleret, vocatus ad Curiam Regalem Capellanus, primò Carliolæ, deinde hujus Edis, bonorum omnium votis expetitus, Decanatum accepit. Enimvero Regina optima ne hic quidem suam in illum gratiam claudi voluit, sed eundem Episcopali dignitate auxit, jussitque ut Regias pauperibus largitiones Eleemosynarius erogaret. Plurima enim in illo emicuerunt, quibus pientissimæ Principi meritò placuit. Erat vultu apertus et gravis, moribus simplex, in precibus fervens, in rostris disertus. Affuit ei in totius vitæ tenore constantia ; in verbis fides; in colloquiis suavitas ; in reprehendendo candor; in præcipiendo autoritas : in discernendo quid quâque in re statui oporteret, tam subactum judicium, ut alios facilè secum ducere potuerit; tantâ vero modestiâ, haud rarò ut maluerit sequi; tanta in erratis aliorum ignoscendis humanitas, ut etiam in iis, quibus maximè adversabatur, quæsiêrit semper quod laudaret. Talis cum esset, quot sibi cognitos, tot sui amantes, tot propè amicos habuit, inimicum certè neminem. Lichfieldiæ natus est; Oxoniæ obiit, 27mo die Septembris, A. D. 1719, æt. 57. MARIA Vidua ab illo relicta marmor hoc Viri sui memoriæ semper chara, semper honorandæ After his death, Sixty of his Sermons were published by his Widow; who dedicated them to the Princess of Wales, 1726, folio; and reprinted in 1727. This amiable Widow (who died June 7, 1729,) was Mary daughter of the Rev. Dr. Samuel Del'angle, by whom the Bishop had two sons; Henry, who died in infancy; and Philip, a Prebendary and Chancellor of Worcester *; and two daughters. * Who was admitted a Scholar on the Foundation at Westminster 1714; elected to Christ Church in 1717; M. A. 1723; B. and D. D. 1742. He married, in 1730, a daughter of Dr. William Freind, who in the Lottery of 1714-15 got the great prize of 20,000l. See the "Literary Anecdotes," vol. V. p. 92; and Atterbury's "Epistolary Correspondence," vol. III. p. 430.—In 1731, by the patronage of Queen Caroline, he obtained a Prebend in the Cathedral of Worcester; and had the Chancellorship of the Diocese of Worcester conferred on him in 1742 by Bp. Hough, out of regard to his Father's memory. He was also presented to the Rectory of Christleton, near Chester, by Sir Roger Mostyn. Bishop Newton thus ably sums up the character of Bishop Smalridge, his quondam predecessor at Bristol: "This was truly a worthy Prelate, an excellent Scholar, a sound Divine, an eloquent Preacher, a good Writer both in Latin and English, of great gravity and dignity in his whole deportment, and at the same time of as great complacency and sweetness of manners; a character at once both amiable and venerable. 'Nemo illum amabilem, qui non simul venerabilem diceret.' SEN. Epist. cxv. He was so noted for his good temper, that succeeding Dr. Atterbury in the Deaneries of Carlisle and Christ Church, he was said to carry the bucket wherewith to extinguish the fires which the other had kindled. But, notwithstanding his merits, he never attained to any very great or lucrative preferments. He had Bristol, the poorest Bishoprick in the Kingdom; and Christ Church, the most expensive Deanery, Foreigners and persons of quality, who visit the University of Oxford, being usually recommended to the Dean of Christ Church. He was also Preacher at the New Chapel in the Broad-way, Westminster, which at that time was frequented by one of the best and politest congregations in town, several families of fashion and distinction living then in those parts. He was besides appointed Lord Almoner to Queen Anne, but was removed by the Ministers of George I. on account of party; though surely no man ever exercised greater candour and moderation than he did towards all parties and persons, and is particularly commended for it by Sir Richard Steele and Mr. Addison, in the Tatler * ; * "Favonius, in the midst of a thousand impertinent assailants of the Divine Truths, is an undisturbed defender of them. He protects all under his care, by the clearness of his understanding, and the example of his life: he visits dying men with the air of a man who hopes for his own dissolution, and enforces in others a contempt of this life, by his own expectation of the next. His voice and behaviour are the lively images of a composed and well-governed zeal. None can leave him for the frivolous jargon uttered by the ordinary teachers among the Dis senters, the latter of whom likewise makes very honourable mention of him, in a letter to Dr. Swift, dated from Bristol, Oct. 1, 1718: The greatest pleasure I have met with for some months is the conversation of my old friend Dr. Smalridge, who, since the death of the excellent man you mention, is to me the most candid and agreeable of all Bishops; I would say Clergymen, were not Deans comprehended under that title. We have often talked of you; and when I assure you he has an exquisite taste of writing, I need not tell you how he talks on such a subject.' The Bishop left a widow and three children; a son named Philip, and two daughters, both sensible clever women. Considering the nature of the Bishop's preferments, his hospitable manner of living, and his extensive charities, he cannot be supposed to have made sufficient provision for his widow and family but it was happy for him and for them too that, some time before his death, he grew much into the favour of Caroline Princess of Wales, who generously procured a pension of 300l. a year for the Widow, and a Prebend of Worcester for the Son. A subscription too was opened, and nobly promoted, for the publication of Sixty of the Bishop's Sermons; some of which, it must be confessed, are unequal to the rest, having never been designed for the press; but others are truly excellent, and worthy of him or any Author. The Widow very properly took the opportunity of addressing the Dedication to the Princess of Wales, with an humble acknowledgement of the many and great obligations which she and her family had received from her Royal Highness." senters, but such who cannot distinguish vociferation from eloquence, and argument from railing. He is so great a judge of mankind, and touches our passions with so superior a command, that he who deserts his congregation must be a stranger to the dictates of Nature, as well as those of Grace.-He abounds with that sort of virtue and knowledge which makes Religion beautiful, and never leads the conversation into the violence and rage of party disputes." Tatler, No. 73, and 114. |