156 



The death of M. Guillaume Theophile Tilesius (elected 

 lS19),a memher of this Society, was announced by Dr. Bache. 



On motion of Dv. Bache, the followinp; biographical notice of 

 John Reynell, read June 17, by Dr. B. H. Coates, was ordered 

 to be printed: — 



The writer of this was, a few years since, invited by a deceased 

 president, to furnish to this Society a brief notice of the above named 

 member, for preservation in the archives. He has done so, in part 

 out of reverence for the wishes of the distinguished individual alluded 

 to, but also partly from a conviction that it is useful and honourahk^, 

 in associated bodies, to procure and retain such memoirs. "Stare 

 super anliquas vias" is pre-eminently the motto of learned incorpora- 

 tions; and, if it be thought to contain within it much that is objection- 

 able, let us not fail to gather from it its proper and praiseworthy fruits; 

 among whicli are stability, moderation, impartiality, and the opportu- 

 nity of benefitting by the example, for good and evil, of those who 

 have preceded us. 



John Reynell was the son of Sannuel and Sarah Reynell, and was 

 born at Bristol, England, June 15, 1708, old style; but was brought 

 up at Exeter, in Devonshire, the residence of many of his relatives, 

 at which individuals among them continued to reside after his death. 

 His family was, at one time, of some note;* and several branches of 

 it are said still to hold liege landed possessions. He was designed 

 and educated for a merchant; and was sent, in a commercial capacity, 

 to reside in the Island of Jamaica, at the early age of eighteen years. 

 His advisers appear to have set as high a valuation on the activity of 

 youth as is done at the present day; and Young England, in him, to 

 have not been inferior in enterprise to Young America. 



He was at that time under strong religious impressions. At his re- 

 moval to Jamaica, he is found a member of the religious Society of 

 Friends, in which it is inferred that he had been educated. He was 

 diligent in tho attendances expected of him in his religious connexion, 

 and in efforts to obviate breaches of morality which he believed to be 



* Barbe's Commoners ; IV. pp. 446, 450. &c. ; and Fuller's Worthies, 

 Article Devonshire. Sir Ilichard Reynell defended the City of Exeter and 

 Launcestcr Castle for Richard Coeur de Lion, against Prince John, afterwards 

 King .John Lackland. Sir Hugh Reynell Avas a INLaster and Governor (not to 

 be confused with Grand Master) among the Knights of St. .John of Jerusalem, 

 A. D. 1275; and the small harbour of Port Renelle, in the Island of Malta, 

 received its name from this Knight, and still retained it in 1838. 



