310 The History of Longleat. 
not, I trust, be considered unbecoming if I take the liberty of saying 
a few words about himself. He died in the year 1837, nineteen 
years ago, but his memory is still fresh amongst us, and well may 
it be so, for few men in his position of life lived less for themselves, 
and more for others. In the funeral sermon, preached in the parish 
church of Frome, upon the occasion of his death,’ he was pro- 
nounced to have been not only a titled but a Christian gentleman. 
Where lay the proof? It lay in these things. To any scheme of 
public benefit he lent ready assistance: one instance of which may 
suffice, as a sample of the rest. A certain improvement in the 
neighbourhood was on foot, but before it could be completed, it was 
necessary to consult him, as the proposed line of road was to pass 
through his estate. The application was made with some natural 
apprehension as to the result. The answer was to this effect, “You 
may cut through my estate in any direction which will be most for 
the public advantage. I will give you my aid in Parliament, and 
I have directed my steward to send you £500.” 
Upon his liberality to churches, charities, and the like, I will not 
dwell, for happily such bounty is not unusual amongst men of 
fortune; but two or three other features of his character, considering 
the circumstances of rank and position, are necessarily more rare, 
and will account in great measure for the peculiar respect with 
which he was regarded. One was his consideration for those in a 
lower rank of life: an example of which he showed not long before 
his death, when upon the decease of a faithful servant, he closed 
Longleat house for three days. Another was the free access which 
he afforded to all; the poorest person who considered himself 
agerieved was welcome here to tell his tale, and then to partake of 
hospitality. The noble Lord invariably enquired personally into 
the truth of the statement, and saw justice done. ‘Thus was hea 
father to the poor, and the cause which he knew not he searched 
out.” He was naturally silent, and the poor who were acquainted 
with his habit, when they made an application, were accustomed to 
place themselves before the steps of the house, with their request 
in writing: and their case being attested by some known signature, 
1 By the Rey. Hill Wickham, M.A., now rector of Horsington, county of 
Somerset. 
