The National Register.
London, England, 1812-06-21 00:00:00

'These observations naturally introduce the lamented loss of one,
whose private virtues shed as much
.honour on humanity, as his public
talents yiekled advantage to his country, and whose character is drawn
in the following extract, ss ith a fidelity of description and excellence of
style which, while they du justice to the departed Statesman, cannot
fail to gratify the heart and mind of every man of feeling and taste.
" They who have been accustomed to attend this sacred place, cal
bear testimony to the genuine, unostentatious piety, the strong devotionsl
feelings of the mind, inanitested in his habitual attendance on the public
service of the Church, in his frequent participation of the Holy Commie.
Mon, and in his stedfast adherence to the pure apostolical docniue and
' discipline of our venerable Ecclesiastical Establishment. And in proof
that these indications of piety were not assumed for mere outward slim,
or tor secular interests, we find him carrying the substance as well as the
form of religion into his daily occupations and concerns ; intent Keel
the examination of its proof and evidences; finding leisure, even in the
midst of his laLorious public duties, for the pursuits of a contemplative
student; not only attentive to the word of GOD, as a part of the ordi-
nary duty of a practical Christian, but occasionally extending his re-
searches into the more ditfisult departments of biblical inquiry ; incul-
cating also its sacred truths, and its perfect rules of conduct, on all
within the sphere of his influence ; fearlessly avowing its principles in
public ; and modelling his domestic and personal habits in conformity
with its injunctions.
46 From the religious principles thus deeply rooted within him, sprang
also that pure benerolence, which is its proper fruit, and which in the
full and genuine acceptation of the term, may be considered as almost
exclusively a Christian virtue. If, indeed, any one virtue shone, in this
exalted character with more distinbuished lustre than another, it Stillli
to have been that of charity, in its more enlarged sense ; an unbound:l
and ever active charity, exercised in humble imitation of that all perftet
Pattern, who " makethl his sun to rise on the evil and the goose and
sendeth rain on the just and the unjust." m To seek for and to relieve
the indigent and distressed, and even to anticipate applications to him
for their relief, were among the labours and the purest pleasures of his
life ; and though worth and virtue were more especially sure to find in
him a strenuous friend ; yet were not his kindnesses refused to those
whose claims upon his bounty might seem to be forfeited by their mis-
conduct, and even by their injurious treatment of himself. Nor was !his
truly Christian spirit discernible only in the almost unparalleled exteet
of his daily charities, but also in every species of prompt assistance, of
advice, of kindness, affection and good-will, that an extensive intercourse
with mankind, and a constant inquiry into their various exigencies could
suggest. Here, too, every thing was done with that Christian grsce,
which doubly enhanced the value of the benefit ; in a way so modest,
i so unobtrusive, so little desirous to be seen of men, that oftentimes it
. i I might with truth be said, " the left hand knew not what the right
hand did ." t
" In the same unaffected and unassuming manner, Was exercised tbat
most difficult, perhaps of all Christian attainments, sell-controul, the
mastery over the turbulent and unruly affections of the mind,w hich furmi
another conspicuous feature in his character. Daily eneaged ire public
business; perpetually called into conflict with keen and powerful opps.
nents ; ever at his post of duty ; shrink tug not from personal toil or
personal obloquy ; we yet find his very assailants acknowledsi!el:3
candour, his gentleness, his never failing equanimity, under every i.e•
vocation."

• Matthew v. 45.' t Niatth. vi. 3.

MR. PERCTI',IL.

Among the fusions of admiration and esteem that have been pomel
forth to the memory of the ever-to-be-deplored. Pk:RCS:VAL, the
" TRIBUTE TO THE 1\ lEMORY OF THE HONOURABLE
SPENCER PERCEVAL,"
•
BY A FR:END,
appears to us triumphantly to bear away the palm. But let:the followirg
extract from the above beautiful little Poem serve as the tent I.;s

assertion
" Yet not for thee—Oh SPENCFIO. not for thee
Doth gAitle pity mourn—for thou, though tuna
In life's meridian—suddenly, Ahts °
num all the world deems fair, bast but exchanged
A poor, a pt rishable teneintnt,
For joys, that to the heart of man surpass
Conception—that the eye hath not beheld
The ear not heard—eternal! intinite!—
No—'tis thy country's loss we thus deplore;
Fur thee, sad widow, and thine offTritig, Oita
Bereft, these tears are shed.—for _ye, Alas !
This stroke hath sorely smitten ; and this stom
Bath, with a whirlwind's fury, your support,
r
• The source of all your tairest hopes, laid low.
Ye tender ohjcets of his fond regard,
'Who mourn thus deeply for a father's loss,
Ye who were wont to tevi his ii,uarcliati