The Sun.
London, England, 1824-06-23 00:00:00

REV. GEORGE STRAIJAN, D.D.

IFT()ffi the Gentleman's Magazine.]
Died, May 13, at Islington, in his 81st year, •the Rev. GEO.
ST EAll AN, D.D. Prebendary of Rochester, Rector of-kings-
down, Kent, and Vicar of Islington., Dr. S. was the second of
the three sons of the late eminent Printer, Wm. Strahan, Esq.
M.P., and elder brother to Andrew StrAlian, Esq. the prthnt
Printer to the King, and many. years M.P. He was educated
at University College, Oxford, where he was contemporary
with the two celebrated brothers, the present Lords Stowell
and Lord Chancellor Eldon ; and through a long life en-
joyed the honour of their friendship. He took the de-
gree of M. A. April 17, 1771.; and the degrees of
B. and D. D. 'as a Grand Compounder, June 18, 1807. He
was presented to the Vicarage of Islington in 1772 ; 'to the Rec-
tory of Little Thurrock, in Essex, in 1783 (which he afterwards
resigned) ; and of Cranham' in the same county, by dispensa-
tion, in 1788 (also afterwards resigned). In 1805 he was elect-
ed one of the Prebendaries of .Rochester ; by the Dean and
Chapter of which Cathedral he was presented, in 1820, to the
Rectory of Kingsdown, in Kent. One of the most interesting
events in Dr.• Strahan's life was- his close intimacy with. the
celebrated Dr. Samuel Johnson.—Between the father of Dr.
Strahan -and Dr. Johnson, there existed along and sincere
friendship, which was extended •by the 'good Doctor to the
young Divine, •to , whom in early life he shewed the
strongest mark- of affection, and who was, during Dr.
Johnson's last illness, his daily attendant. Of the Doc-
tor'a visits at Islington, Mr. Boswell thus speaks :—" On
Wednesday, May 5, 1784, T arrived in London, and
next morning had the pleasure to find Dr. Johnsonsreatly re-
covered. I but just saw him ; for a coach was waiting to carry
him to Islington, to the •house of his friend, the Rev. 31r.
Strahan, where he went sometimes for the benefit of good air,
which, notwithstanding his having formerly laughed at the ge-
neral opinion upon the subject, he now acknowledged was con-
ducive to health. The Rev. Mr. Strahan, who had been always
one of his great favourites, had, during his last illness, the sans-
-faction of contributing to south and comfort him. That gentle-
man's house at Islington afforded Johnson occasionally and
easily an agreeable change of place • and fresh air ; and he
also attended On him in town in. the discharge of the sacred
offices of his profession. Various prayers had been composed by
Dr. Johnson at aiarent periods, which, intermingled with pious
reflections and some short notes of his life, were entitled by him
Prayers and 31editations '%l These were, in pursuance of Dr.
Johnson's earnest-requisition, in the hopes of doing good, pub-
lished in 1785 -by Mr.- Strahan,- to whom he delivered them.
This admirable collection evinces, beyond all his compositions
for the public, and all the eulogies of his friends and admirers,
the sincere virtue and piety of Johnson. Dr. Bray's associates
were to receive the profits of the first edition, by the Author's
appointment ; and any further advantages that might accrue
were to be distributed among Dr. Johnson's relations.—Mr.
Strahan was a:witness to Dr. .Tohnson's will ; and in a codicil
to the same he bequeathed to him, " Mill's Greek Testament,
Beza's Greek Testament, by Stephens, all his Latin Bibles,
and his Greek Bible, by Wechelius." The remains of
Doctor Strahan were interred on the 24th May in
Islington Church, with the respect which was justly due
to the exemplary discharge of his sacred duty for more
than half a century. The funeral ceremony was solemn
and impressive. The hearse, drawn by six horses, was 1.01-
lowed by five mourning coaches, in which were the immediate
relatives, and some of the Doctor's particular friends ; and
those were followed by the family carriages, and by those of
the Lord Chancellor and several private friends, anxious to
shew their esteem for so worthy a man. Both the Parish Church
and toe Chapel of Ease were hung with black ; the Children
of the Parish School attended to sin a funeral hymn ; and
most of the tradesmen in the town'had their shops entirely
closed, as were the houses of many of the other parishioners.
Dr. Strahan married, June '25, 1778, Miss Robertson of Rich-
mond ; and by that accomplished lady, who survives to lament
an' affectionate husband, had two daughters, both married on
the same day, July 23, 1812—(See vol. I,xxxii. part ii. p. 82.)
• To authenticate the Work, Mr. Strahan deposited the
original MS. in the library of Pembroke College, Oxfor.:.

Thus far hare we extracted from the pages of our venerable
friend, Sylvanus Urban.
On Sunday, the 30th of Slay, a funeral sermon on Dr.
Straban was preached in Islington Chinch by his old and
highly respected friend, Dr. Philip Fisher, Master of the
Charter-house, and Precentor of Salisbury, to one of the most
crowded and attentive audiences we have ever witnessed, near-
ly the whole of whom attended in mourning. Front Citron.
xxix. 15. Dr. Fisher discoursed in a perspicuous and masterly
manner on death; and concluded with an elegant eulogium on
the character of r. Strahan, of which the following will give
but a very faint outline :
•" Few or none of the congregation could be ignorant of the
event that had occasioned the melancholy appearance mound
them—the death of their excellent. and venerable Pastor; a
man of whose character lie knew not on which portion first to
enlarge. If he regarded his youth, a time of life too often de-
voted to levity and dissipation, he .(Dr, Fisher) could, from an
intimacy of more than 51.1 years, bear witness to his excellencies.
At that period he was the admiration of the society he adorned,
a society which he enlivened by his wit, benefitted by his ad-
vice, and instructed by his example. From this society
he was early removed, having been appointed to an office
of the highest importance—that of Pastor to this exten-
sive and populous parish—this office, of a parish Priest,
though it ranked not with the higher dignities of the Church,
yielded to none of them in importance and utility. The man-
ner in which he discharged this arduous duty was best known
to those present, to those who had heard, known, and lived
with hint. The greater part of the congregation could Neal to
mind the many times they had heard his pastoral advice in those
walls, could remember the clearness of his pronunciation, the
melodious accents of his voice, and the excellence of his dis-
courses, clothed in language neither rendered unintelligible
by .too flowery ornaments, nor burthened with metaphors,
nor yet disgraced by mean and low expressions. Most would
recollect his assiduous attention in the care of the poor, the vi-
sitation of the sick, and the establishment of schools; his pri-
vate charities were known only to his own breast, and to those
who had experienced their benefit. He could not omit to
notice one most honourable attestation of the worth of the de-
ceased ; this was, that in early life he had been encouraged
by the notice,. and honoured by the friendship of the greatest
moralist of the age. By the express desire of that truly pious
Philosopher, he had given to the world those prayers which
will ever be a memorial of the sincere piety of their author,
and which ought to be preserved in the closet, and cherished in
the bosom, of every devout Christian. Their lamented Pastor
had died full of years, and rich in good works ; he was gone,
therefore, we might trust, to that place where he would receive
his reward, and be greeted by the welcome of his heavenly
Father, " Come, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou
ito the joy of thy Lord." •

SOLEMN CEREMONY.—The new Church of St.
Matthew, at Brixton, was yesterday consecrated, and Divine
IVorship performed. Considerable interest was excited on this
occasion, and many of the principal people in the neighbour-
hood
attended. The Church is a simple but elegant structure,
of the Doric Order. To some it may appear that the interior
is hardly embellished so much as the prevailing taste re.
quires ; but there is an air of solidity and convenience about
it which we cannot too highly praise, and the chaste consistency
which prevails throughout accords well with the important
but unostentatious rites of which it is to be the scene,
and reflects great credit on the Architect, Mr. roaDEN,
a gentleman who is already well known to the admirers of the
fine arts. A large assemblage of persons was brought together
on this occasion. The Church was filled by eleven o'clock.
Shortly after that hour the Bishop of Winchester arrived and
performed the solemn ceremony in a most impressive man-
ner. His Lordship afterwards, attended by the Commissary,
Registrar, Rector, and Churchwardens, proceeded to a
tent provided for that purpose in the Burial Ground, which
was consecrated to the reception of the dead, with the usual im-
pressive • ceremonies. The whole of the spectators seemed
deeply interested in the business of the day, and the parishioners
were not a little gratified at seeing one of their four new
Churches in a state to receive them for purposes so intimately
connected with their present comfort and eternal welfare.

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tpni preyingthe principally on. fish, which they catch by sitting pa.
projecting over the stream, from which they
a sbir(aiencohf
the
dart, and with almost unerring certainty seize their pray, bring-
ing up the small fish, and which they strike against a bough or
stone, and beat to death previous totwallowing. They make their
Kentidt Gazette.)
river, generally in a hole made by the
and lay from live to nine eggs; except in the breed-
saotii this bird is seen alone, flying near the surface of
tiwlnlagetewsre-aarter with the rapidity of an arrow, and like a brilliant
meteor darting along with surprising velocity, exposing its
brilliant plumage to the sun."—(