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patronised by the late and the present Dukes of Rutland; and resided for some time, as domestic chaplain, at Belvoir Castle; and afterwards lived, till his removal to Trowbridge, almost beneath its walls as Rector of Muston. To the passages which we are about to quote from Mr. Crabbe's Life by his son, we will not add a single word of comment; first, because Mr. Crabbe was so kind, venerable, and conscientious a man, that we should feel pained in making his name the text for remarks which belong rather to a class than to an individual; next, because we should feel doubly pained to append those remarks to a filial narrative written with much frankness, and which we perused when it was published, some nine years ago, with an interest which we have not yet forgotten, especially those parts of it which relate to the poet's early difficulties and struggles in life; and lastly, because we conclude that our readers will perceive the links by which the following citations are connected in our mind with the subject of this paper, without any special application. Forty years ago for we will avoid the invidiousness of Mr. Paget's more recent era-Mr. Crabbe was considered a patterncard of a clergyman, at Belvoir Castle, and for many a mile round Melton-Mowbray; and if clergymen of this class are still prominent in Lord John Manners's recollections of his boyish days; and he never heard of another class but as the monstrosity which Mr. Paget professes to describe in "the Evangelical Curate of Berkingholt ;" he is in a very apt frame to oscillate towards Tractarianism, as the only panacea for the wants and woes, and the only corrector of the vices, of an irreligious population; and to substitute "holidays" for Protestant Sabbaths, to promote the moral, religious, 90

cial, and physical welfare of the people. The following extracts are of course detached and desultory. Mr. Crabbe, we should mention, was born in 1754.

"It was now considered desirable that Mr. Crabbe, as the chaplain to a nobleman, should have a University degree; son) very kindly entered his name on and the Bishop of Llandaff (Dr. Watthe boards of Trinity College, Cambridge, that he might have the privilege of a degree, after a certain number of rangement, however, had hardly been terms, and without residence. This armade, when he received an invitation to dine with Lord Thurlow; before he left the house, his noble host, telling him Adams, as twelve to a dozen,' gave him that, by G-d, he was as like Parson the small livings of Frome St. Quintin, and Evershot, in Dorsetshire; and Mr. Crabbe, that he might be entitled to tained the degree of LL.B. from the hold this preferment, immediately obArchbishop of Canterbury (Dr. Moore), instead of waiting for it at Cambridge.

"Mr. Crabbe returned to Belvoir, and again went to London with the faBeing now in circumstances which mily at the latter end of the year. enabled him to afford himself a view of those spectacles which he had hitherto abstained from, and with persons who went occasionally to the theatres, espeinvited him to accompany them, he cially to see Mrs. Siddons. Of her talents he expressed, of course, the most unbounded admiration; but I have heard him also speak of Mrs. Abingdon and the character of Sir Harry Wildair), in Mrs. Jordan (the latter especially, in such terms as proved that he fully appreciated the exquisite grace, and the unrivalled excellency, of those comic by Mr. Thornton into the box of the actresses. Being one night introduced Prince of Wales's equerries, his Royal Highness enquired, with some displeasure, who he was that had so intruded chaplain of his friend the Duke of Rutthere ; but hearing it was the poetical land, he expressed himself satisfied, and a short time after, Mr. Crabbe was pre

sented to his Royal Highness by his noble

patron."

"In accordance with the usual habits of the clergy then resident in the vale of Belvoir, he made some efforts to become a sportsman; but he wanted precision of eye and hand to use the gun of the first hare he saw killed, struck with success. As to coursing, the cry him as so like the wail of an infant,

that he turned heart-sick from the spot : and, in a word, although Mr. Crabbe did, for a season, make his appearance now and then in a garb which none that knew him in his latter days could ever have suspected him of assuming, the velveteen jacket and all its appurtenances were soon laid aside for ever." "During the whole time my father officiated in Suffolk, he was a popular preacher, and had always large congregations; for, notwithstanding what I have observed on this subject, and that he adopted not what are called evangelical principles, yet was he deemed a gospel preacher but this term, as it was applied then and there, fell short of the meaning it now conveys. It signified simply a minister who urges his flock to virtuous conduct, by placing a future award ever full in their view, instead of dwelling on the temporal motives rendered so prominent at that time by many of his brethren."

"But among other prose writings of the same period, some were of a class which, perhaps, few have ever suspected Mr. Crabbe of meddling with, though it be one in which so many of his poetical contemporaries have earned high distinction. During one or two of his winters in Suffolk, he gave most of his evening hours to the writing of Novels, and he brought not less than three such works to a conclusion."

"On one occasion, happening to be at Cambridge during the Newmarket season, my father was driven by his son John in a tandem to the course; and though he booked no bets, I have reason to think he enjoyed his ride quite as much as many of the lads by whom he was surrounded. Ever tenacious of important points of morality, no one looked with a more enlarged and benignant eye upon such juvenilities."

"My brother and I (now both clergymen) having curacies in the neighbourhood, still lived at Muston, and all the domestic habits which I have described at Glemham were continued, with little exception. When the evening closed, winter or summer, my father read aloud from the store which Mr. Colburn, out of his circulating library, sent and renewed, and nineteen in every twenty of these books were, as of old, novels."

"In the summer of 1813, my mother, though in a very declining state of health, having a strong inclination to see London once more, a friend in town procured us those very eligible rooms for sight-seers, in Osborne's Hotel, Adelphi, which were afterwards occupied by their sable majesties of Otaheite. My father's favourite resorts CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 63.

were the Botanic Gardens, where he passed many hours; and in the evenings he sometimes accompanied us to one of the minor theatres, the larger being closed. He did not seem so much interested by theatrical talent as I had expected; but he was one evening infinitely diverted at the Lyceum by Liston's Solomon Wiseacre, in Sharp and Flat,' especially where he reads the letter of his dear Dorothy Dimple, and applies his handkerchief to his eyes, saying, 'It is very foolish, but I cannot help it.' He pronounced Liston a true genius in his way.'

66

Notwithstanding his flattering reception among the principal people of Trowbridge (in 1814) he was far from being much liked, for some years, by his new parishioners in general: nor, in truth, is it at all difficult to account for this. His immediate predecessor, the Curate of the previous Rector, had been endeared to the more serious inhabitants by warm zeal and a powerful talent for preaching extempore, and had, moreover, been so universally respected, that the town petitioned the Duke of Rutland to give him the living. His Grace's refusal had irritated many even of those who took little interest in the qualifications of their pastor, and engendered a feeling bordering on ill-will towards Mr. Crabbe himself. The perfect openness of his nature,-that, perhaps, impolitic frankness which made him at all times scorn the assumption of a scruple which he did not really feel, -led him to violate, occasionally, what were considered, among many classes in that neighbourhood, the settled laws of clerical decorum. For example, though little delighting in such scenes, except as they were partaken by kind and partial friends, he might be seen occasionally at a concert, a ball, or even a play."

The above might suffice for our purpose; but as "twenty-five years ago" is Mr. Paget's era, and Lord John Manners was born at that period, we turn to the memoir to see what Mr. Crabbe (the Rutland chaplain) was doing about that time; and we find the following entries in his Journal during a visit to London in the summer of 1817. The whole is in the same strain.

his "June 24th. - Mr. Rogers; brother, and family. Mr. and Mrs. Moore, very agreeable and pleasant people. Foscolo, the Italian gentleman. 2 A

Dante, &c. Play, Kemble in Coriolanus.

an

"27th.-Breakfast with Mr. Brougham and Lady Holland. Lord Holland to speak at Kemble's retiring, at the meeting at Freemasons' Tavern to-morrow. Difficulty of procuring me admission ticket, as all are distributed. Admission ticket, procured by Lady Holland's means: whether request or command I know not. Call on Mr. Rogers. We go to the Freemasons' Tavern. The room filled. We find a place about half way down the common seats, but not where the managers dine, above the steps. By us Mr. Smith, one of the authors of the Rejected Addresses. Known, but no introduction. Mr. Perry, Editor of the Morning Chronicle, and Mr. Campbell, find us, and we are invited into the Committee-room. Kemble, Perry, Lord Erskine, Mr. Moore, Lord Holland, Lord Ossory, whom I saw at Holland House. Dinner announced. Music. Lord Erskine sits between me and a young man, whom I find to be a son of Boswell. Lord Holland's speech after dinner. The Ode recited. Campbell's speech. Kemble's Talma's. We leave the company, and go to Vauxhall to meet Miss Rogers and her party. Stay late.

"29th (Sunday).- Breakfast at the Coffee-house in Pall Mall, and go to Mr. Rogers and family. Agree to dine, and then join their party after dinner. Mr. Stothard. Foscolo. Drive to Kensington Gardens in their carriage. Grosvenor Gate, Effect new and striking. Kensington Gardens have a very peculiar effect; not exhilarating, I think, yet alive and pleasant. Return to my new lodgings. Enquire for the There is one, I understand, in the country. Am at a loss whether my damsel is extremely simple, or too knowing.

master.

"July 1st.-I foresee a long train of engagements. Dine with Mr. Rogers. Company : Kemble, Lord Erskine, Lord Ossory, Sir George Beaumont, Mr. Campbell, and Mr. Moore.

"6th. (Sunday.) -Call at Mr. Rogers's, and go to Lady Spencer. Go with Mr. Rogers to dine at Highbury with his brother and family. Miss Rogers the same at Highbury as in town. Visit to Mr. John Nichols. He relates the story of our meeting at Muston, and enquires for John, &c. His daughters agreeable women. Urban wealthy. Arrive at home in early time. Go to Pall Mall Coffeehouse and dine. Feel hurt about Hampstead. Mr. Rogers says I must

dine with him to-morrow, and that I consented when at Sydenham; and now certainly they expect me at Hampstead, though I have made no promise.

"7th.-Dinner at Mr. Rogers's with Mr. Moore and Mr. Campbell, Lord Strangford, and Mr. Spencer. Leave them, and go by engagement to see Miss O'Neil, in Lady Spencer's box. Miss O'Neil natural, and I think excellent.

"20th. (Sunday.) I wake ill this morning, and nervous; and so little do we judge of the future, that I was half inclined to make apologies, and not join the pleasantest of all parties. I must go from this infatuating scene.-Walk

in the Park, and in some degree recover. Write two hours. At seven go to Sir Harry Englefield. A large house, that overlooks the Park and Serpentine River. Disappointed of Mr. Spencer; but Mrs. Spencer, and Miss Churchill, and Miss Spencer, dine with us. Mr. Murray and Mr. Standish. Nothing particularly worthy of remark at dinner; but after dinner, one of the best conversations since I came to town. Mr. Spencer and Miss Churchill chiefly; on the effect of high polish on minds; chiefly female; Sir Harry sometimes joining, and Miss Spencer. A very delightful evening. Sir Harry's present of Ariosto's inkstand. Of a double value, as a gift, and from the giver. Mr. Standish and Mr. Marray leave us. Part painfully at one o'clock. Yes, there are at Trowbridge two or three; and it is well there are. Promise (if I live) to return in the winter. Miss Churchill a very superior and interesting woman. Take leave of my friend Sir Harry.”

We hope what we have written respecting Sundays and holidays, and the duties and enjoyments of the poor man, is incapable of misrepresentation, unless it be wilful; but to obviate all pretext for it, we will add a recapitulating paragraph.

We repeat that we highly value the festivals retained by the Church of England; and we wish to see them better observed than at present, both by rich and poor. Further, we do not grudge the labouring man a day of recreation as often as his health or real happiness requires it; and we bitterly lament that in a densely populated land like ours, where the difficulty of procuring a livelihood causes a painful competition and beating

down of wages in the market for labour, large numbers of the people find themselves constrained to toil, bodily or mentally, or both, beyond the limits of salutary endurance; and if Lord John Manners can find some legislative remedy for this, he will deserve a golden statue to his memory; or, far better, the gratitude and the prayers of every patriot, philanthropist, and Christian. But Sir Andrew Agnew began at least at the right end. Let us secure, said he, annually fifty-two days of rest to the poor man; these God has given, and nothing can compensate for the loss of them-not to add the impiety of desecrating them. God also gave to the Jews other days of sacred rest and holy worship. We may profit by this example, as the Church of England has done; but under the New Testament dispensation there is no Divine specification of such days; whereas God himself, knowing what is in man, and what is conducive to his own glory, has expressly enjoined, as a perpetual ordinance, that one day in seven shall be set apart for rest from secular labour both bodily and mental; and this divinely enjoined repose, if duly enjoyed and appreciated, is no mean boon; nor are we prepared to say, where the hours of labour are moderate, so as daily to allow of reasonable domestic and social intercourse, or of innocent recreations, that many other "holidays" are ordinarily indispensable for health or happiness. We do not grudge them--if well used :—and opportunities are often found for obtaining them even among our busiest mechanies; more often than, considering the manner in which they are too frequently abused, is always good either for soul or body. But all that we mean is, that, be these things as they may, there is an essential difference between the Lord's Day and Church holidays;

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and that much of the revived zeal which is shewn for the latter is suspicious; its real object now, as its avowed object was in the days of Charles the First, being to depreciate God's day to the level of a merely ecclesiastical appointment; for the purpose of "unprotestantising" the nation, and, in the words of the Declaration of Sunday Sports so approvingly reprinted by Lord John Manners, "to rebuke some Puritans and precise people" who would prohibit our good people using their lawful recreations and honest exercises "-such as dancing either men or women," "May-games, Whitsun-ales, Morris-dancing, and the setting up of May-poles, and other sports therewith used" (a conveniently large category) "upon Sundays and other holidays." We purposely "harp upon the words of this Proclamation; because it is frivolous to use no harsher term-for Mr. Paget, or Lord John Manners, or any other writer, after holding up this edict to public admiration, to hope to avoid inconvenient identification by declining to decide whether the Sunday part of the ordinance was perfectly judicious. Dr. Heylin found himself and his archiepiscopal patron strong enough to speak without any such "reserve;" and as despotic edicts upon parchment could not break down the fortresses of British law, or deter Anglican Protestants from the Puritanism of remembering the Sabbath-day to keep it holy, energetic deeds were added; and Laud, after "nearly choking" judge Richardson "with a pair of lawnsleeves," for standing up for the glory of God and the rights of the king's subjects, set himself to "harry" those who would not dance round the May-pole on Sunday, in the cruel manner which we have so frequently described. We do not know what cheap amusement for the poor after church and sacra

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ment Lord John Manners proposes to substitute for horse-racing, the "excellence" of which has done so much to moralize and refine "the higher orders ;", but whether it be donkey-racing, which seems the most germane representative, or biped racing in a sack, "by women or men," "for a red plush waistcoat for the gentlemen, or some useful article of female apparel for the ladies; too probable it is, that recusant Puritans, Methodists, and Evangelicals," who declined such blessed sports on week-days, and shuddered at them on Sundays, would be exposed, if not to legal penalties, as in the days of Laud, yet to the rough Lynch law of what Baxter calls "a vulgar rabble;" such as abused his venerable father, a consistent and attached churchman, as a "Puritan, Precisian, and hypocrite," "only for reading the Scripture, when the rest were dancing, on the Lord's Day; and for praying by a form out of the end of the CommonPrayer Book, and for reproving drunkards and swearers," and suchlike enormities. Whether, when such scenes shall be revived, these demure people would be duly protected by their Tractarian patrician neighbours, can only be guessed by the pages of "the old almanac;" but we shrewdly suspect that Mr. Paget would as much "enjoy the fun of seeing the Methodists pelted," as did certain "justices of the peace," not to mention some laughter-loving clerics, in the days of Mr. Wesley.

We respectfully invite Lord John Manners to throw off the modest coyness which induces him, being only a layman, to refrain from stating his mind respecting the right or the wrong of King Charles's Proclamation for the violation of the Lord's Day. Why should he be less communicative (except that he has not a Laud at Lambeth to appeal to as an autho

rity) than Dr. Heylin, who boldly declares that the Declaration of Sunday Sports, now reprinted for public edification by his Lordship, was a "pious and princely act, nothing inferior unto that of Constantine, or any other Christian king or emperor," (Hist. of Sabbath, Part. ii. C. 8.); an act "of tender care for the Church's safety" (Ibid. Preface); "to restrain those men who have so long dreamt of a Sabbath-day, that now they will not be persuaded that it is a dream;" including, alas! not only ignorant laics, but, adds Heylin, with deep sorrow, "some who should have been examples to their flocks," but who unhappily did not rightly appreciate his Majesty's "most Christian purpose," being "so settled in the opinion of a Sabbath-day," "that they chose rather to deprive the Church of their pains and ministry [being sequestered and silenced] than yield unto his Majesty's most just commands." We covet a little of this plain speaking. Froude was the man for us. He wished his friends "to speak out;" he hated their pedetentim measures, their feeling the public pulse, and cautiously protruding their antennæ to know how far they might safely venture.

We will only ask Lord John Manners, in conclusion, what, after all, does he mean by Saints' Days and Holidays? Does he, for instance, include St. Thomas à Becket's Day among Saints' Days? He speaks very highly, and without any drawback, of the "British Critic;" he quotes "its nervous language," and "recommends the whole article on pews to attentive consideration." Does he also approve of its declaration that Thomas à Becket is one of the most blessed saints and martyrs of the Most High God? Does he agree with this "unprotestantising" Critic, that Becket and Innocent iii.

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