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nation was plunged in mourning for the loss of the illustrious Princess , who , because her excellences commanded the respect , was lamented by the hearts of a free people . The
beginning of the present month is marked by the death of a personage who acted on the theatre of life a most distinguished and important part , and who is associated , in our imagination , with all of what we can conceive as venerable , noble , wise anci good .
" It were an absurd attempt in me to endeavour to draw the character , whether public or private , of Romilly —I who have been but most transiently in his society ; who have
enjoyed but rarely the privilege of listening to the impressive accents of his voice , and who know no more of him than all the nation knows , that he -was , in the truest sense of those words , a husband , a father , a patriot !
" Who will put his trust in man , or anticipate with confidence the accomplishment of the noblest purposes of the noblest of his race ? Were the rights of the nation with daring or
with subtle hand invaded , every one expected to find Romilly in the foremost rank of its defenders ! Was the private citizen oppressed ? He looked , and he never looked in vain , to
Romilly . Was the man of misfortune weighed down to the dust by sorrow succeeding sorrow , bitter and more bitter : did the walls of his prison deepen the wretchedness of his heart , distracted by expectations blasted , property lost , children beggared , home despoiled of its comforts and
in desolation—the voice , the name of Romilly forbade him to despair . Touched by his hand , the door of his prison opened , and , recalled by him to hope and to exertion , he held on his way , if not rejoicing , at least with cheering anticipations of the future . Even the poor criminal blessed him , and had more cause to bless him than
he comprehended ; for he would have made the law which doomed him to a violent death , the destroyer , not of his life , but of his vices ! ** The great man who has been
snatched thus suddenly from usefulness and life , by a dispensation so tremendous , was not only a man of principle , but was so nobly distinguished for adherence Iq principle , that baseness itself would bave blushed
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at the attempt to lure him from thfe path of rectitude- Incorruptible integrity was the cardinal virtue of his life . Of the cause of reform he was a
temperate , but firm , steady and enlightened advocate . Attached to the glorious institutions of his country , he thought , and he justly thought , that the best evidence he could give of his veneration for them was to endeavour
to make them in practice what they are in theory , and to remove the corruptions , by the influence of which the whole intention of their founders is frustrated . When , in his place among our legislators , he spoke on
this subject , the ear drank in his words with greediness , and the understanding , which was not convinced , was enlightened by his arguments , and the will , which was not altered from its purpose , was at least shaken in its confidence . While in his
impressive manner he poured forth the thoughts of his luminous and experienced mind , all who listehed to him , felt that they flowed not only from an unclouded intellect , but from a pure heart . And this , on all occasions , his political opponents were emulous to acknowledge . I say opponents , for enemies he had none .
** That reform which he endeavoured to effect in the House , of which he was so distinguished a member , he wished with equal earnestness to extend to our penal code . In this work of humanity and justice he was an indefatigable labourer . No trouble how interminable soever deterred
him—no failure wearied him . It was as though the defeat which would have extinguished the zeal of others , served but to feed the flame of his benevolence . " The names of his opponents in this cause , will go down to posterity ,
at least to a certain distance , with his own , affording an instructive contrast . Gradually , however , the shades of oblivion will deepen on those " unhonoured" names , till , to the succeeding generations of men , they will be as though they had never been—the best fate their best friends can wish
them—while he will have taken his place among those illustrious dead who will live in the memory of the wise and good , till the last record of our country shall have perished , to guide the youthful and to animate the
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14 Conclusion of a Sermon on the Death of Sir Samuel Romilly .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1819, page 14, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1768/page/14/
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