438 Account of the late 
Roman Enipire,” was submitted toMr. Whi- 
taker’s inspectiqn. But what was his surprise, 
when, as hesread the same volume in print, 
that chapter, which has been $9 obnoxious to 
the christian world, was then first introduced 
to his ‘notice? That chapter, Gibbon had 
oe anus in the manuscript, oversawed by 
Whitaker’s high character, and afraid of 
bis censure. And, jin fact, that the historian*® 
should have shrunk from his indignant eye, 
may well ‘be conceived, whea*we see his 
christian principle and his manly spirit 
wniting in’ the rejection of a living of consi- 
derable value, which was at this time offered 
him by @ uhitarian patron.—He epurned at 
the temptation, and pilied the  seducer. 
Of his inteprity, however, some recompense 
was now at hand; and, about the year 1778, 
he succeeded, as Fellow’ ef Corpus Christi 
College, to the Rectory of Ruan-Lanyborne, 
Cornwall, one of the most valuable livings ia 
the gift of that College, where he had pro- 
eceded to his degree of B.D. and into that 
county he went, Coieiside tp< His rectory, 
Phere, it might have been expencd, that re- 
tivement and leisure would greatly favour the 
pursuits of literature; and that, though * the 
converser,” (to use an expression of Mr. W.) 
had disappeared, the author would break forth 
with new energies. But Ruan-Lanyhorne was, 
for several years, no tranquil seat of the Muses. 
That pleasant seclusion was now the scene of 
eontest—but of contest which (in the opinion 
of the writer of this Memoir) was absolutely 
unavoidable. Mr. Whitaker had proposed a 
tythe-composition to his parishioners by no 
méans unreasorialle. This they refused to 
pay: but Mr. Whitaker was steady to’ his 
purpose. A ruptuye ensued between the par- 
ties—the tythes were demanded in kind— 
disputes arosé upon disputes—animosities:were 
kindled—and ‘litigations took place. That 
Mr. Whitaker was finally victorious, afforded 
pleasure to the friends of the recjor, and, let 
us ada, to the friends of justice and-of truth, 
Wet it was long before harmony was restored 
to Ruan-Lanyhorne, That his literary schemes 
had been so difagreeably interrupted, svas the 
Subject of general regret. But the conscien- 
tious pastor” looked with a deeper concérn to 
the spiritual welfare of his parishioners. He 
saw with sorrow their aversion from: his 
preaching—their indifference to his instruc- 
tjons—their -repugnance to his‘dauthority ; and 
*¢he laboured more abundant}y;” till; a ter 
a few years, heshdd the satisfaction to perceive: 
a visible -alteration in-the behaviour of the 
principal parishioners 5 5 and a mutual good 
udderstanding was established between the 
pastor and his flock. His cordial, his fami, 
iiar manner, indeed, was always pleasing to 
those whom prejudice had ‘not armed against 
him 5 and, in proportion a5 they: became ac- 
quainte d with his kind disposition, the tran- 
sitoriness of his-resentments, and, after inju- 
fics, his promptuess to forgive, ands anxious 
Ree J. Whitaker. 
[Dec. 4 
Wish to be forgiven; they endeavoured more’ 
and more to cultivate his friendship, and at 
length loved and revered him aa their father. 
Nothing can more fully display the warmck 
of his affections, his zeal as a Minister of 
Christ, or his'impassioned style of eloquence, 
than those ¢* Sermons,”” * which he published 
in 1783; after having preached them to his 
parishioners, we doubt not with a voice and 
manner to penetrate the conscience, and strike 
conviction into the soul, to awaken the tears 
of penitence, and elevate the hopes of the 
Christian to the abodes of immortality. That 
he should have published so little in the line 
of his profession, is, perhaps, to be regretted ; 
though ‘his ** Ouigin of Arianism” be a large 
volume, it is a controversial tract; full of 
erudition and ingenious argumentation. ~ We 
have read no other work of Mr, W. in divi- 
nity, extepe «\ The Real Origin of Govern- 
ment,’  (expgnded i inte a considerable treatises, 
trom a sermon which he had preached before 
Bishop Butler, at his lordship’s primary visi- 
tation), and ** The Introduction to Flindell’s 
Bible.” 
masterly piece of eloquence In the mean 
time, the Antiquary was not at rest. His 
~ €© Mary Queen of Scots,” published in 1787, 
in three octavo volumes; his * Qourse ‘of 
Hannibal over the Alps,"—-his ‘* Ancient 
Cathedral of Cornwall,”"—his « Supplement 
to Mr. Pulwhele’s Antiquities of Cornwall,” 
—his ‘‘ London,” and his ‘* Oxford,” (both 
as yet in MS.) jurnish good evidence of an 
imagination-continually occupied in pursuits 
which kindled up its brightest flame, though 
not always of that judgment, discretion, or 
candour, which, if human characters had 
been ever perfect, we should have expected 
from a Whitaker, In criticism, however, 
{where writing anonymously, he would pro- 
bably have written as temper or caprice sug-' 
gested,) we find him, for the most part, 
candid and good-natured—enot sparing of cen- 
sure, nor yet lavish of applause—and afford- 
ing us, in numerous instances, the most 
agreeable proofs of genuine benevolence. 
Even in, the instance of Giobon,> where he 
has been thought severe beyond all former 
example, we have a large mixture of the 
‘sweet with bitterness. Jt was the critique 
on Gibbon that contributed greatly to the 
reputation of ‘* Vhe English Review,” in 
which Mr, W. was the author of many valua- 
ble articles. To his pen, also, ¢¢ The British 
Critic,” and ** The Antijacobin Reyiew,”* 
were incebted -for various. pieces of criticism, 
—-But the strength of his principles is no 
where more apparent than in those articles 
where he comes forward, armed with the 
* Trey are entitled ‘ Sermons upon Death, 
Judgment, Heaveo, and Hell” 
+ Whitaker's Review of Gibbon’s History, 
(vols ive-v. and: vi. )- originally appeared in 
Lhe Englisn-Review. 
paneply 
This has ween much admired as a | 
