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WALKER's

HIBERNIAN MAGAZINE:

OR,

Compendium of Entertaining Knowledge,
For APRIL, 1796.

Memoirs of WOOD GIBSON, D.D. late Rector of Cappagh. (With bis Portrait, beautifully engraved.)

IN N attempting to delineate a charac- him, and fpared no expence on his ble for its virtues, or diftinguished by made fuch a confiderable progress in any excellence, it is hardly poffible, the claffics, that he might then have from the nature of its claims, to efcape the imputation of exaggerated panegyric. The perfon, who undertakes to prefent the public with the following fketch of Dr. Gibfon's life and character, is confcious that he labours under this difadvantage; and his embarraffment is not a little heightened by a fenfe, that his endeavours muft after all prove very inadequate to the tafk: the motive, however, by which he profeffes himself to be actuated, muft operate ftrongly in his favour, and that is a fincere defire of doing fome degree of juftice to the memory of that venerable gentleman.

The doctor was the eldeft fon of a refpectable merchant in Fleet ftreet, Dublin, where he was born in the year 1711. From the earlieft dawn of reafon, he exhibited proofs of a very fupe. rior understanding, which he cultivated by a clofe and unremitting attention to books; infomuch, that thofe hours which health feems to demand for relaxation, were by him ufually dedicated to fiudy; and whenever he was prevailed upon to join in any puerile recreation, it was generally with apparent reluctance, as if he thought it a mifemployment of his time. His father, as might be expected, did not reprefs this ardent difpofition to learning, nor difcourage his affiduous exertions, but employed the ableft mafters to inftruct Hib. Mag. April, 1796.

entered college with credit; but it was
judged advifable to poftpone it for ten
months longer, an interval which he
laid-out to fuch advantage in preparing
himself, as effectually to overcome any
fcruples which might be entertained on
account of his tender years. On enter-
ing the univerfity, he juftified the warm-
eft expectations of his friends, in being
diftinguifhed with the firft place; and
for the firft four years of his under-
graduate courfe, he regularly obtained
a premium and a certificate, befides
other marks of honourable teftimony.
The fuccefs which attended his acade-
mic ftudies, while it attracted the notice
of his acquaintance, naturally pointed
his views to a fellowship, and he looked
forward with well grounded confidence,
toward the attainment of that truly
dignified fituation. In the fellowship
courfe he had made fome proficiency,
when a misfortune occurred, which
feemed to darken his moft flattering
profpects. Sitting up late one night
reading, he was attacked by a violent
nervous complaint, occafioned by his
fedentary life and intenfenefs of appli
cation, which fo affected his organs of
fpeech, that he spoke not without a
thickness and impediment ever after-
wards. From that period he difconti-
nued his lucubrations, and except on
very particular occafions, never again.
fludied after the proper feafon of going

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to reft. But it was not neceffary: the into her mind, that it feemed to efface materials he had laid up already in his from it all impreffions of a softer namind from the ftores of Science and Hu- ture. In her grief for her brother, manity, required rather to be digefted every other paffion was abforbed, and than added to: and as his ftudies be- that love for his friend, which he had came thenceforward lefs intenfe, fo helped to cherish in her breaft, fubfided they took a greater fcope and variety. to the level of efteem. She ftill reHis leifure hours he devoted to polite tained for him the highest regard, though literature, and even paid his court, oc- uninfluenced by thofe fentiments of cafionally, to the mufes. When he tender affection, which a happier day was in his 19th year, he fat for a infpired. So that when the doctor fellowship, and fucceeded with the came to renew his addreffes, at fuch a greater cafe, as there were three va- diftance of time as decency prefcribed, cancies, and but five candidates. He he had the mortification to find her had now reached the fummit of literary deaf to his folicitations. Her objection diftinction, at a period of life when to him could arife from no other caufe others have hardly fet out on their eareer. His acquaintance was fought after and folicited by perfons of the firft confequence, whether for genius, fortune, or ftation. He was even complimented with the tuition of the fon of a duke, then lord lieutenant of Ireland; but either from a difapprobation of his grace's minifterial conduct, or on account of the diffipated habits which his pupil had contracted, in a few months he relinquished his truft, though much to the diffatisfaction of the noble father; at the fame time he refigned a deanery to which he had been preferred, on learning, about a fortnight after he had taken poffeffion of it, that it was originally intended for another. The duke, both then and fome few years after, on his being appointed a fecond time to the government of this kingdom, endeavoured by the mediation of friends, to conciliate the doctor; but fo deeply rooted was the prejudice of the latter, that all efforts proved ineffectual, and he remained inflexibly obftinate.

than that of too great fenfibility, as the doctor, though now eight years a fenior fellow, was only about thirty-five years of age, rather handfome, of refined manners, and moft generally admired and careffed. This repulfe from his miftrefs, for which he was fo ill prepared, preyed upon his fpirits and affected his health fo much, that he was ordered abroad by the phyficians, for his recovery. Upon this occafion he spent four years on the continent, when he alfo availed himself of the opportunity. of enlarging his knowlege and improv ing his tafte, by travelling through the principal parts of Holland, Germany, Swifferland, France, &c. On his return, he felt the veteris veftigia flamma, unabated by abfence or length of time, and found the transfer of his affections impracticable.

He recommenced his fuit, but ftill the lady continued obdurate; nor was it without the kind intervention and earneft importunity of fome very particular friends, that he was at length induced to yield. The doctor He had in his chambers a favourite by this time had attained his 41ft year, pupil of the name of Holt, the only fon and the college living of Cappagh, in of the then rector of Paineflown, whom the diocefs of Derry, happening to behe fo effectually affifted in reading for a come vacant, he gladly accepted of it, fellowship, as to enable him to fucceed in order to have it in his power to be to one with great credit. To this in- united to one, who had been fo long timacy he owed his introduction to that the object of his tendereft regard. Acgentleman's fifter, Frances, a young cordingly, the nuptials were folemnized lady of many amiable qualifications at the houfe of Mifs Holt's father, a and perfonal accomplishments, to whom clergyman of exemplary piety and virhe paid his addreffes, which were at tue. firft favourably received; but the untimely death of Mr. Holt, about a year living, he found the parifh in fo low a after he became a fellow, funk fo deeply ftate in almoft every refpect, moral,

When the doctor went firft to his

civil, and natural, as to call forth all his exertions of mind and body, to reclaim and improve it. The bulk of the inhabitants were wretchedly poor, ignorant and unprincipled; the church and glebe house both in a decayed condition; and hardly a paffable road through the parish, though upwards of twenty five miles in circuit. With an activity and energy fuited to the importance of the occafion, and invigorated by a fenfe of duty, he perfevered, till by his well-adapted exhortations, both public and private, which he illuftrated by his own example, he wrought a moft ftriking and fubftantial reformation in, the morals of the people; while, by his charities, which he bettowed with a liberal, but difcriminating hand, he contributed to alleviate the diftrefs, and promote the comfort of numberlefs families. He endeavoured to excite a fpirit of induf try amongst them, and as far as was in his power, gave them employment. The education of their children, was one of his principal objects. He eftablished schools, wherever the neighbourhood was fufficiently populous to furnish pupils, and appointed to each an approved mafter, with a competent falary. In order to facilitate a communication and carriage between the different parts of the country, he repaired old roads, made new, and conftructed bridges where neceffary, to accomplish that most useful end, He built a very excellent parfonage houfe, and another comfortable one for the curate, befides a number of fnug cottages for labourers. But what will remain for centuries a ftanding monument of his laudable zeal and high fenfe of parochial duty, is the magnificent church and fteeple he was the means of erecting; towards which he not only contributed with an almost unbounded munificence, but Superintended the work in perfon, while it was carrying on; at the fame time that all the difburfements went through his hands, and the accounts, even to the minuteft article, was kept by himself. His conduct, on this occafion particularly, was confidered to be fo highly meritorious, as to gain him the public thanks of the grand jury of

the county, of his grace the primate, and of the bishop of the diocefs.

Thus had he the happiness of seeing in the courfe of a few years, the falutary effects of his exertions in his paftoral vocation. Under his foftering care, the caufe of virtue and religion was advanced in a manner hitherto unexamplified in thofe parts, and by the right principles, which he was ever inculcating on the minds of the rifing generation, a fair profpect was opened of its ftill farther improvement. Population and agriculture were in a flourishing ftate; and the bleffings of honeft labour, fobriety, good order and civilization, were extended all around him. Thus he continued until his 77th year, refpected, efteemed, and beloved by all, and enjoying thofe refined and exalted pleasures, which flow from a wellfpent life. As yet his days feemed to be unclouded by any material affliction, and to have paffed on in an uninter rupted ferenity. But the more lengthened the life, the lefs profpect can there be of exemption from the viciffitudes incident to mortality.

It now pleafed Heaven to deprive him of that wife, with whom he lived in the most perfect union for upwards of thirty five years, on whofe account he endured fo much, and had waited fo long; and whofe lofs was the more. heavy and fevere, as he had no child to foothe and mitigate his forrows. He was not deftitute of friends and relations, who by their kind offices, contributed all in their power to render the refidue of his days fupportable: but the endearing attentions of one, whom mutual tenderness, as well as the habitude and intercourfe of fo many years, had rendered indifpenfable to him, could be but ill fupplied by any, the moft feeling fubftitutes. He fought relief from his anguith in philosophic retirement, pious meditation, and the fociety of a few chofen intimates; but the firoke he had received, inflicted a wound as deep, as it was hopeless. His conftitution, though naturally robuft, unequal to the ftruggle, funk beneath it; a decline was visible, though gradual, and he languished till his 84th yearwhen, no longer able to fuftain the 002

preffure

preffure of mental and bodily infirmity, he betook himself to his chamber and his bed, fully fenfible of his approaching departure, and waiting for it with meek refignation: his confinement, however, was fhort, and scarcely accompanied with any symptom of pain; four days only, did he linger in this fate, and on the fifth expired, September 18, 1795.

If we may dwell with pleasure on any part of his character more than another, it is on the unblemished purity of his morals, and the rational fervour of his piety: and yet, exempt as he was from every vice himself, he was refrained by charity, from being too fevere in his reprehenfions on the criminal conduct of others. His moft obvious foible (as who is free from every fhade of imperfection?) was

WITH refpect to the general charac- a certain faftidioufnels with which ter of doctor Gibfon, we have little to he fometimes treated thofe with whom add to what has been already obferved.: he converfed. But this arofe more Neither his talents, nor his virtues were from natural temper and long inof the oftentatious kind; but the former dulged habits, than from any arrogated were estimable, and the latter amiable claim to perfonal, Or profeffional and ufeful. At a very early age, his fuperiority. If he poffeffed pride, fagacity enabled him to difcover the it was unmixed with vanity; for, moft approved principles for the regu- however ambitious he might have. lation of his conduct, to which he been to establish a memorable recontinued through life to adhere with the putation, he delicately, but determimoft undeviating fteadiness: and he nedly, declined the tranfmiffion of was not content with mediocrity, in it to pofterity, through any monumental any object of his purfuits, but aimed at medium, when ftrongly folicited to excellence in them all. He formed it by a He formed it by a perfonage of high literary his judgment, both of men and books, character, and flattering difcriminaby the best models; and attained to a tion. degree of accuracy and refinement, which, as well in common as in literary matters, rendered him a moft intelligent advifer and valuable friend. It muft, however, be confeffed, that he had more of honefty than of infinuation in his manners; and though his converfation was not without charms, yet, perhaps, there was difcoverable in it fomewhat of that ftudied air, which even the politeft fcholars are apt to contract in retirement, and to which, in his cafe, the impediment in his fpeech already men-. tioned, might not a little have contributed.

Of his abilities in compofition, we are precluded from forming an adequate idea, as whatever productions of his pen he permitted to come before the public eye, were under a feigned fignature; and thofe fpecimens of his. writings which he left behind him, (confifting chiefly of a few fermons, aphorifms, religious tracts and hymns) he impofed an inviolable obligation on his executors, to deftroy; but we may with truth affirm, that his taste. was critically, exact, and his reflections . folid, and enlarged.

Life of James Usher, Author of "Clio, or a Difccurfe on Tafie," &c.

T is too often the fate of genius, that

when it comes unattended by thofe fecondary qualities which generally introduce it to the world, it advances flowly to maturity, and fometimes, like the flower to which it has been beautifully compared by Gray, "wastes its fweetnefs on the defart air."

Of this laft defcription was the object of this page. Though the Author of fo elegant a compofition as Clio, and many others of equal character; though well educated, and endued with morals and manners illuftrative of that education; his whole life was little better than a feramble for the fupport "of the day that was paffing over him?" his death obfcure; and the remembrance of his talents principally depending on the memory of thofe few of his cotem-' poraries whom Providence has permitted to furvive him.

JAMES USHER was the fon of a Gentleman farmer in the county of Dublin,"

where

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