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the contest, at which time the firing was very brisk, and he unfortunately received the contents of a musket in his right side and immediately fell. The blood gushed from the wound as well as from his nose and mouth. He was directly carried to the sluice house, on the new river, and laid upon a bed where Mr. Leese the surgeon attended him; and afterwards Sir William Blizard, but he could not be removed from the house. On Friday and Saturday, sanguine hopes were entertained of his recovery. On Saturdy night he slept five hours and awoke greatly refreshed and free from pain. On Sunday evening, however, between six and seven o'clock he was taken extremely ill, and remained in the most excruciating agony till 12 o'clock on Monday night, when, after taking an affectionate leave of all his friends he sunk into the arms of death. The deceased was about twenty three years of age, had been married three years, and his only child having died a short time ago, he has left no children behind him. He retained his senses to the last. He bore an excellent moral and religious character; and contributed largely to the support of Sunday schools from his concern for the rising generation. During his illness he was perfectly reconciled to his fate, and said he torgave the hand which inflicted his death, assured that it was entirely the effect of accident; at the same time he regretted he should receive his mortal wound from a countryman, when his life might have proved a beneficial sacrifice had he lost it in repelling the enemies of his country. After every thing that mortal aid could do to save him, and all hopes of preserving his life had failed, he was told that nothing could be of use to him in his condition: he answered with astonishing fortitude, "yes, the comforts derived from the reflection on a well spent life, and the assur ance of meeting happiness in the next world can." And presently after expired.

7.] At Doddington, in the Isle of Ely, the Rev. James Hosler, B. D. Fellow of St. John's college, Cambridge, and Rector of Ratingdon, in Essex, to which he was presented, in June last, by the Hon. and Right Rev. the Bishop of Ely.

10.] The Rev. J. H. Dixon, A. M. late of Worcester College, and Chaplain of the late 112th Regiment.

At his house near Dublin, Marcus Cassidy, Esq. of the county of Monaghan; a gentleman eminently respected by all his acquaintance.

10.] Mr. Wm. Lister, of Halifax, Plumber and Glazier, as he was returning home from hunting, on a fine spirited horse, the animal took fright, and became restive in passing Cowper-bridge, when Mr. Lister was thrown over the battlement, and killed on the spot. He has left a disconsolate widow and three children to lament the sad catastrophe.

11.] In the Fleet Prison, aged 63, Mr. James Longman, formerly the principle partner belonging to the Musical Manufactory in Cheapside. Of a decline, aged 15, Miss Edwards, daughter of the Rev. Mr. Edwards, rector of Cressingham.

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A few days since died, in the 48th year, of a mortification in his foot, Mr. Thomas Pate, a respectable farmer at Freckenham, in Suffolk. is very singular that his father died of the same disorder about four years since, aged 56 years.

12.] In his 84th year, the Rev. Dearing Jones, rector of Navenby, Lincolnshire, and vicar of St. Andrew's, Cambridge, both which preferments he held 47 years. The former is in the gift of Christ college, and the latter of the Dean of Ely.

14.] At the Hot-wells Bristol, where he went for the benefit of his health, Capt. Charles Whyte, of the second Royal Lancashire Regiment of Militia.,

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15.] At his house in Manchester, Samuel Maitland, Esq. aged 44. His highly respectable character as a member of society, renders his death the subject of general regret..

17.] At Preshute, Wilts, after a long illness, John Clarke, Esq. one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for that County.

At his father's house in North-street, at the age of six years, Master Richard Hingston, whose death was occasioned by swallowing a brass nail, which, by entering his windpipe, brought on a suffocation. A serious caution to parents to discourage as much as possible, the putting any sort of play-thing into the mouths of their children.

At his Lordship's seat, at Bradley. Hall, Staffordshire, Lady Harriet Stanhope, eldest daughter of the Earl of Chesterfield. Her Ladyship in her 15th year, fell a sacrifice to the scarlet fever. Lady Harriet Stanhope was his Lordship's only daughter by a former wife, whose maiden name was Thistlewaire. The deceased was a young lady of the most valuable manners, and endowed with great accomplishments. She is consequently very much lamented, particularly by her noble father

who remains inconsolable for her loss.

At his seat in Hampshire, after a long and severe illness, in the 81st of his age, William Hornby, Esq. formerly governor of Bombay.

At Monkton Rectory, near Taunton, Somerset, the Rev. George Crossman, LL. D. Rector of Blagdon and Monkton, and one of his Majesty's Justices of Peace for that County.

At his apartments in Greenwich Hospital, after a few days illness, John Willet Payne, Esq. Rear Admiral of the Red, Treasurer of Greenwich Hospital, Commissioner General and Auditor General to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, brother to Lord Lavington, K. B. and Governor of the Leeward Islands. He served as midshipman on board the Eagle, of 64 guns, bearing the flag of Earl Howe, in the American war, from whence he was made Lieutenant, and promoted to the rank of post-captain on the 8th of July, 1780. He also commanded one of the ships in his Lordship's fleet, in the memorable action of the 1st of June, 1794; was made Rear-Admiral of the Red on the 14th of February, 1799, and the following year (on the resignation of Lord Bridport) was appointed treasurer of Greenwich Hospital.

19. At Halmerend, near Newcastle-under-Lyne, much lamented by his family and friends, Mr. Asagor a man of strict equity, and of the most benevolent disposition.

23.] At Kensington, aged five years, George Knight, second son of Mr. William Knight, Attorney of that place, and singular to observe, a favourite parrot of the deceased pined during his illness, and died at the same time.

25.] Mr. Wilton, the celebrated sculptor. His mind as an artist was too well established to need a comment; it placed him among the Royal Academicians, and procured him the lucrative situation of Keeper of the Royal Academy, which office has become vacant by his death.

ERRATUM.

IN our last Magazine, page 256, line 7, for "patron" read "pat,

tern."

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

WE have to apologize for the omission of many Articles of Correspondence this month; and more particularly for the Review of several Sermons on the Fast, &c. which, however, shall be duly regarded nexa Month.

THE

ORTHODOX CHURCHMAN's

MAGAZINE AND REVIEW,

FOR DECEMBER, 1803.

Μὴ πλανασθε αδελφοί με, είτις σχιζοντι ακολυθει βασιλειαν Θεὸ ἐ κληρονομεί. Be not deceived, my Brethren: If any one follows him that makes a SCHISM, he shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.

IGNATIUS Ep. ad Philadelph. p. 40, ed. J. Vossii, 1646.

ONCE

THE LIFE OF THE REV. PHILIP SKELTON.

Continued from Page 209.

a year he went to Lisburn, to see his relations, when he generally took with him sixty guineas, which he divided among them. In Derriaghy, there is a handsome rural place, called the Big Glen, near Collin mountains, which has been often celebrated in poetry, where he used every summer to give his friends a treat on the grass, who spent the day with him in innocent relaxation.

Derriaghy, the place of his birth, belongs, it is well known, to the Earl, now Marquis of **. Before that nobleman obtained the government of Ireland, he used frequently to say, as Mr. Skelton told me, that it was a shame for the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland not to make Skelton a Bishop. It was reasonable then to suppose, that these sentiments should operate with his Lordship, if an opportunity offered of putting them in practice. Consequently, when he went over Lord Lieutenant in the year 1765, Skelton might probably expect to be raised by him to that high office, for which, from his intense abilities, he was so eminently qualified. But if he entertained any sanguine hopes, they were disappointed.

On former occasions, when his Lordship paid a visit to Ireland, he used to send for Mr. Skelton, but, I believe, neglected to do it then. However, soon after his arrival, he passed a few days with him at Lord Loftus's, in the county of Fermanagh. His Excellency asked him what sort of a living he had. What was his reply?" A very good living, a very good living, please your Excellency, much better than I deserve."

In the disposal of his ecclesiastical preferments, his Excellency took no notice of Mr. Skelton, which might be owing to his declaring Vol. V. Churchm. Mag. Oct. 1803. Y y himself

himself content with his condition; for he might suppose there was no occasion to heap favours on a man who did not seem to desire them. In justice, however, to Lord H. it must be noted, that he gave his brother's son a commission in the army at his

request.

His charities, while he continued at Deunish, were equally extraordinary as before: they were even, if possible, more extensive, in proportion to the increase of his living. He was the same attentive friend to the poor, the same reliever of their distress, and assuager of their pain.

In 1766, the Bishop of Clogher promoted him again to the living of Fintona in the county of Tyrone, worth at least a hundred a year more than that of Deocnish. Neither Mr, Skelton, nor any one for him, asked the Bishop for this, or the other living; so that a regard for his merit, was the sole principle that induced his Lordship to bestow these benefices successively upon him. Such a Bishop was indeed an honour to the station he filled, and a blessing to the clergy who had the good fortune to be under him,

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When Mr. Skelton visited his Lordship on his promotion, he said to him, My Lord, I return you thanks for your kindness to me, and for putting so worthy a person in my room; but I know the chief pleasure you enjoy is in being able to do good."-" I am glad, Skelton," said the Bishop, "I have done what is agreeable to you."--" You are, my Lord, an instrument," he continued, "in the hands of the Almighty. God sent one of the royal family to the university in England, where you were a professor, that you might please him, and be raised high in the church. Then God Almighty, using him as an instrument, sent you over to Ireland, and made you Bishop of Ferns, and at length raised you to the see of Clogher, where you have great power, and many livings to bestow; and an horrible account you must give hereafter of the manner you dispose of them. Thus God sent you over to do good, and to promote worthy men. He sent you also, my Lord, to promote me, who, I hope, will not shame you before him and the world. You see now, my Lord, you are an instrument in the hands of the Almighty.""You are right, Skelton, you are right, Skelton," replied the good Bishop.

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When he got the living of Fintona, he was just fifty-nine years of age. "God Almighty," he used to say, was very kind to me: when I began to advance in years, and stood in need of a horse and a servant, he gave me a living; then he gave me two livings, one after another, each of which was at least worth a hundred a year more than the preceding. I have, therefore, been rewarded by him, even in this world, far above my deserts." Such was his humility.

Fintona is a market town, in the county of Tyrone, five miles distant from Omagh. The living has two hundred acres of glebe; seventy of which lie near the town; but the rest is mountainous, and consequently of little value. A third part of the parish is tithe free, which made the living worth scarce five hundred a year. Skelton received no more than four hundred neat ; as the curate's salary, which was at least sixty pounds, and the expence of collecting tythe, con. sumed the other hundred.

Upon entering on the care of this parish, he perceived that he had

but

but few hearers, the most of the people being Roman Catholics and presbyterians. In the town of Fintona, in particular, they were almost all presbyterians; but in a short time he brought over nearly the whole of these to the Established Church; which was no easy task, considering the firmness with which they usually adhere to their opinions of nonconformity.

Finding that his protestant parishioners were mostly dissenters, he used the following stratagem to entice them to come to church. Having invited their minister to dine with him, he asked his leave to preach in his meeting-house the next Sunday. The man gave his consent; but his people were so pleased with Mr. Skelton, that the greater number of them quitted their own teacher, and came afterwards to hear him. He then sent for him, and asked how much he lost by the desertion of his hearers. He told him, forty pounds a year; on which he settled that sum annually on him, and paid it out of his own pocket.

His practice of physic, at Fintona, was at least equally expensive to him; for his bestowing medicines on the poor, and prescribing to the people gratis, as at Peltigo, made the physician of the place complain, that by his means he lost a great part of his practice; which caused him also to settle forty pounds a year upon him. In both these instances, he not only took on him the toil of doing good, but also voluntarily paid for doing it.

When he obtained the living of Fintona, he seemed to have arrived at the height of his wishes. He had no ambitious notions; he wished to do good here, in hopes of getting to heaven hereafter. In no human breast was there ever a more settled contempt for the vain pomp of all sublunary things. A gentleman mentioned him once, with respect, to Lord Townshend, during his lieutenancy, adding, that he was content with what he had; on which his excellency observed, that he must be a very extraordinary man, and he would be glad to be acquainted with him; for he never knew any one in all his life content with what he had. Another gentleman of consequence, intimately acquainted with this nobleman, offered to introduce him to his excellency, but he refused, assuring him, he did not wish for any higher preferment in the church."

His people at Fintona being but little acquainted with religion, though well accustomed to whiskey and quarrelling, he found it necessary, first to visit every house in his parish, and then collect to a particular place the people of each town-land, that he might instruct them more conveniently. When he had visited the several families throughout his parish, he afterwards called to his assistance blind Carshore of Peltigo, who spent the whole winter among them, teaching them religion, for which he was paid by him. In summer, he catechized the children in church as usual, bestowing on them Bibles or Week's Preparations, according to their answering, or the distance they came, and accompanied his examination with improving lectures on the Catechism, introducing, in these, some of the most notorious bad deeds done in the parish the week before.

In his own conduct he set an example of strict piety and morality. Beside his private prayers, which were at least twice a day, he had family prayers every evening, to which he summoned the people of the town by the ringing a hand bell.

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