The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1821-04-27 00:00:00

KKIEF SKETCH OP
THE REV. JOSIAH STREAMLET.

[Fronk " Bleekware

' Some twenty yeses ago. I remember a call of
business led me to the dwelling of the Rev. Josiah
Streurnlet. • lie was then wh it might be termed
the Parish Priest. Frugality in early life, a chap-
laincy in the Collegiate Church, aided by other
emoluments,conjointly flowing frum his avocations
as old book-vender, classical preceptor, surrogate
and civilian—had raised him fur above want. The
house which' he inhabited had long been his own
by purchase; and, with • reputable external tur;-
-pearance, contained all the substartial blessings
which render life comfortable. Yet the faded relics
of • large bough, some few months before green
and inviting, hung above the door, and gave no
fayoutreble presage of the beings that were within
it. Year after year was this emblem renewed ; and
Year after year did its veteran possessor recruit his
Shattered strength, and falsify the mortal predic-
tions of his neighbours and friends.
His domestic economy was peculiar and laughs
able. His establishment consisted of n well-fed
housekeeper, verging towards three-score : a pert
damsel (her niece). two cuts, three pigeons, and a
monkey. Latterly, however, the monkey was dis-
carded, for he claimed relationship with the girl,
and his master could not arbitrate between two of a
species. Himself • confirmed bachelor, notwith-
staiidieg the itesierwericres of a world that lives upon
scandal, he expected those that were about hint to
humour his whims, indulge his captices, and, fray-
ing done so, to gratify their own, without learr of
control.
Thus habituated for years, he sought to regulate
the world, as lie managed has own penetralis ; and
often, with the best intentions, subjected himself
to ridicule and abuse, merely by the thoughtless-
ness that characterized his interruptions. pars-
ing along the streets, not • squabble could occur
in which he did not speedily participate; no ima-
ginary abuse could exist, which he dill not feel
authorised to reform. Hence, u zeal, praiseworthy
enough in its origin. but tempered by no pru-
dence, nor re-tranied by any coils:iterations of
time and place. often drew upon hint the sarcasms
and ridicule of a population, Not the•asost
and, what was worse, created an unehristim chap°.
sition towards his order in general.
This unfortuaste propensity, if faults, like di,.
eases, be hereditary, he inherited Irons his father ;
although the more cultivated associations of r cle-
rical life, prevented its appearing in such outrage-
ous acts, as are attributed to the sire*. Often, too,
has lie been known, alien engaged in the most
sacred offices of religion, to mistier against irre-
gularities which hail caught his eye ; or, even, in
the temporary respite of a clieunt, to descend from
the reading desk, and correct them himself. Once,
indeed, upon an occasion of this kind he allowed an
exclamation to intrude between the connecting words
of a passage in the burial service, which furnished
the subject of a laughable caricature. This was
speedily exhibited in the booksellers' windows ; and
against the original publisher be very properly
cosnmenced a prosecution. In the end, he ob.
tallied • handsome sum of money; whether as a
compromise, or by verdict, is now immaterial ;
alitch lie liberally presesented to a charitable insti-
tution. In relating this circumstance (fur he made
no scruple in repeating a juke, even at his own ex.
" he wished," he said, " lie had kept it t
for a great flood shortly afterwards carried away the
boundary wall of my premise., and the purse its
lilleSill,ll would have built it up again nicely."
Yet, lie was a man, than whom none were deeper
versed iii the lore of the church, or held its sucred
iiistitutions iii more reverence and awe. fits enun-
ciation, though extremely rapid, was clear and em-
phatic; to the reading of the sacred Scriptures, he
imparted a delightful pathos, arid the most dis-
criminating euphony ; and although his manners
awl cast of feature did not challenge a very fa-
vourable estimate of the sensibilities of his heart,
there were particular parts of the Bible, through
which the conflict of his feelings invariably pre-
vented him from proceeding. Ile bad that sacred
Depository, indeed (to use a common phrase) " at
his huger ends;" and with a memory surprisingly
tenacious for his years, he would dwell, to the de-
light and edification of his juniors, upon the trea-
sured bi tattier of the classic page, or recount, with
singular fidelity, the past occurrences of his own
reentful life. Not his least remarkable character-
keit., was the precision with which, he could detail
the dote or star dim( of old university men ; or, in
his usual phrase. " who were ordained in the year
of our Lord. 1781, iii June, in J dee in the third
week, by Bellow Ponca.at Arburnham, when
Nette oas vicar, and Dickson preached the ordi-
natioil seraimi, and Watts read the prayers ; lie
did, I know." The extol-san) "he did, I know;
aye, lie did"—almost invariably terminated Isis chro-
tio!ogiral narratives. Whenever accident, or the
turn of conveisation, iutroduced him to a r old
brother, the OxIoi•il or Cambridge calendars were
pooluced at slit first opportunity : his college,
offices, and degree, were soul ascertained, mid by
the rank which lie then held, the estimate of his
peseta elvissucter was formed. Thus, its a series of
years, he had acquired • tolerably correct know-
ledge, of almost every web. r of the profession
within au extrileive circle; and as his own elevation
had been attained by the unbeaten tray k of study
and perseverance, lie was particularly jealous
of its arida assumption. or ostentatious dis-
play, when heel 110/IllUrllbly gotten. A fellow-
minister, will) more vainly than discretion. had