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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Untitled Article
fox-hounds wad kept , not sd inach for "the amusement of their master , although he WHS himself partial to the exercise of hunting , as for a sort of rallying point that should draw around it the neighbouring gentlemen . But it was at Christinas that the resemblance' ta the seat of the ancient baron wa&most striking . At this cheerful season , open house was kept
-for three days ; all the farmers and cottagers upon the estate were invited along with their wives to dine in the great -hall , precisely at two o ' clock ; where the worthy master of the whole family ( for they all appeared as his children ) presided at one long table witty the men , and his amiable daughters at a second table with the women .
' «• The venerable boar's head , decorated "with evergreens and an orange in his mouth * according to ancient custom , was the centre dish at each table . A band of music played during dinner ; after which , the particular circumstances of every farmer and cottager were carefully inquired into , and many little plans formed for the alleviation or relief of their various
anxieties or distresses . In the afternoon , -some of the daughters of the most respectable farmers were invited to partake . of tea , coffee , cakes and sweetmeats ; aud the evening concluded with a dance , in which they were permitted to join with the young ladies of the family aud their
other visiters , of whom there were several from Wakefield , Pontefract and the surrounding neighbourhood . At nine , the dancing ceased ; the farmers' wives and daughters returned home , and the family and their guests adjourned into another apartment to supper .
; " The broken meat was regularly distributed three times a week , ^ nd mills giyen . ev $ ry day to the poor inhabitants of two large villages , which adjoined the west side of the park . I do not affirm that this mode of charity was , of all others , the most useful or enlightened , but to a passing observer it was strikingly impressive ; and the whole effect on a
young mind was greatly increased by the other appendages of a large establishment , such for instance as the number of orderly attendants , all arranged in their proper ranks , and the respectful manner of , the neighbouring gentry . The fascination , however , would not have been
complete / or at least it would have continued but a -very short time , had not the appearance , character , manners and occupations of the possessor himself mrppliedf the finishing' charm . His person was singularly graceful , fris countenance beamed With benevolence , ; and in his address there was all thfe politeness , without ihe . formality , of what is catted the old School .
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He had been early left' a minor , under the guardianship of his uncle , my mother ' s father , and of Drw Tnmaell , Bishop of Winchester , who had married one of his aunts ; his father and mother having both < lied at Bristol , within a week x of each other , when he was very young . - He was sent by his guardians to Geneva , where
he principally received his education , and where he imbibed those principles of civii and religious liberty which afterwards united him in close friendship with the late highly revered Lord Rockiugham , and the upright , virtuous Sir George Savile . Before their day , however , / about the year 1732 , ) he stood a contested
election for the county of York , on the Whig interest , against Sir Miles Stapleton ; but losing his election , and not choosing to represent a borough , he never had a seat in parliament ; but as a magistrate , Ue was active , judicious and indefatigable , regular in his hours of doing business , exact in the distribution of justice , and very careful of his time . It was his constant custom to
rise early in a morning ; in winter , long before day-light , and to kindle his own fire . His letters were usually written before the family breakfast , which wa £ always exactly at nine o ^ clock ; and he afterwards gave audience to a crowd of various descriptions of persbns , in succession , who were generally in waiting for
his assistance or advice . He was not possessed of shining talents , or eminent fojf literary attainments ; but his judgment was accurate and discriminating ; and although he was uniformly cheerful and condescending , yet there was an air of dignity about him which forbad every approach to undue familiarity . No one
ever thought of asking him an improper question or of making him an impertinent reply : and he possessed a certain readiness arid point in his manner which seldom failed of producing the desired effect . I shall give the following specimen related to me by oue of his daughters . -
" Being in want of a servant to attend upon his person , one , who he ' thought would suit him , declined the place , because he could not submit to clean his master ' s shoes . * If that be the whole of your objection / returned the baronet , * it maybe easily removed ; you can fetch the brushes and the blacking and I I can the * brushes and the blacking and can
cteati tnVshoe * n ^ ySelC The difficulty w # s instantly overcome t tljeinan ashamed of his folly , requested that he might be engaged on any terms life future master migfit think proper , ajid he lived with hiifi . afterwards fcbdtfe' thirty years , until the tinife of Ms dfeatflr . ** Sir ytovftMn attatV * h ! m $ eif Vith great eartteathe&Si W the Fcm ^ dlitw ^ Hos ^
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1616 Ii € viekc \ ' ^ Memoirs q / the Li / e of the late \ Mf ^ CatAdrbut ( teppfe *
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1823, page 166, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1782/page/38/
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