Memoirs contained in the former Volumes of this Work. XXI. HIS EXCELLENCY JAMES MONROE, LATE MINISTER PLENIPO- XXII. ROBERT R. LIVINGSTONE, LATE AMBASSADOR FROM AMERICA XXIII. REAR-ADMIRAL SIR EDWARD PELLEW, BART. 592 ib. ib. 593 ib. ib. 594 ib. ib. 595 597 PUBLIC CHARACTERS. Memoirs of the following Personages have appeared in the former Volumes of this Work, either of which may be had of all Booksellers, price Half a Guinea in Boards, with Portraits, &c. The Earl of Moira The Earl of Liverpool Lord Hood VOL. I. for 1798-1799. Mr. Jackson of Exeter The Bishop of Llandaff Sir G. L. Staunton Sir W. Sydney Smith The Earl of St. Vincent Lord Kilwarden VOL. II. for 1799-1800. Dr. Samuel Arnold Mr. Justice Grose Ld. Chancellor of Ireland The Bishop of Salisbury The Duke of Norfolk Lord Thurlow The Marquis Cornwallis Miss More Mr. Alderman Boydell Mr. David Williams Mr. Granville Sharp The Duke of Grafton Memoirs contained in the former l'olumes of this Work. The Earl of Westmore- General Vallancy land The Marq. Wellesley Adm. Sir John Borlase Warren, K. B. Sir Francis Baring, Bt. Sir Henry Grey, Bt. M. P. General Moore Lord Keith Hon. Mrs. Damer Mr. Whitbread Lord Cathcart VOL. VII. for 1804-1805. Major Topham VOL. VIII. for 1805-1806. Sir Thomas Manners wan Sir Home Riggs Pop- The Young Roscius VOL. IX. for 1806-1807. of the Turkish Order Dr. Stock, Bp. of Killala James Monroe, Minister Lord Barham, Ad. of the Rev. Mr. Wyvil Red, &c. The Earl of Elgin, Kt. Vice-admiral Sir J. T. The Bishop of Oxford Appendix. Miss Seward The Bishop of Meath Lord Whitworth The Hon. Alan-Hyde the Royal Academy Admiral Sir James Sau marez Rev. Hen. Bate Dudley Madame D'Arblay Mr. Alderman Combe Appendix. Containing Additions and Corrections. bassador from Ame rica to France Mr. Sergeant Hill Captain Israel Pellew Sir Robert Tho. Wilson Sir William Scott, K. B. PUBLIC PUBLIC CHARACTERS OF 1808-9. THOMAS, LORD BISHOP OF ST. DAVID'S, AND PREBENDARY OF DURHAM. "I venerate the man whose heart is warm, "Whose hands are pure, whose doctrine and whose life, "That he is HONEST in the sacred cause." COWPER. THE remote situation of England, added to the invasion of the Saxons, and the inevitable confusion incident to that event, for a long time precluded its inhabitants from reaping the blessings of Christianity. This doctrine, so admirably calculated to soothe the afflicted, and to humble the haughty; which presents such a variety of consolation to believers, while it holds out so many inducer ments to the practice of every virtue, was not introduced among us until the conclusion of the sixth century. Gregory the Great, who, with all the power of the triple crown, united a patrician descent, appears to have been the first Pope that had conceived the idea of including Britain within the 1808-1809. B Christian pale, and thus obtaining a rich inheritance for the successors of St. Peter. During his time we find, from well authenticated records, that in most cities of Europe there was a mart for slaves, and that white men were accustomed to be sold at Rome, in particular, with as little ceremony as those of a different complexion are at this moment disposed of in Jamaica or Barbadoes. Indeed, our ancestors are said to have been indebted to this very circumstance for their conversion; and an adventure in the slave market,* suggested the idea of a mission into Britain, for the express purpose of subverting the altars of paganism, and erecting the cross of Christianity on their ruins. The zeal of the pious monk,† selected upon this occasion, proved fortunate; he was entertained in a kind and hospitable manner by Ethelbert, king of Kent; the heptarchy by degrees received the light of the gospel, and Canterbury, where he had preached the doctrines of our faith with success, in process of time became metropolitical. Unhappily, however, the successors of Pope Gregory, actuated by interest and ambition, began to convert religion into a vile traffic. A tribute, under the denomination of Peter's Pence, was exacted * Happening to be told of the children of some English pagans, who were exposed to sale, the good Pope, who about this period was præfect of Rome, is reported to have exclaimed, in the true spirit of humanity, conveyed with a happy alliteration, "Non Angli, sed Angeli, forent, si essent Christiani," + St. Augustin, or Austin. |