CHARACTERS. 



473 



and prejudices of the mass of man- 

 kind ; it was the error of a mind 

 sublime and generous : the great- 

 est benefactors of their species have 

 invariably cherished an equal en- 

 thusiasm. And whilst the cen- 

 sures of the venal and the base are 

 heard but for a moment, the name 

 of Sydney will live in the memory 

 of the just, and his conduct will 

 excite the emulation of the ho- 

 nourable ; while his character and 

 his principles will be applauded 

 by every friend to the liberties of 

 Britain. 



And if, in the revolving annals 

 of her history, that day shall ever 

 arise, when the despotic prince, 

 and the profligate minister, shall 

 again prompt the patriot of noble 

 birth to do or die for his country ; 

 then may the image of Algernon 

 Sydney rise up to his admiring 

 eye : and against the darkness of 

 fate, whether its smile or its frown 

 awaits his " well considered eii- 

 terprize," kt him fortify iiis spi- 

 rit by an example of magnanimity 

 so choice and so complete. 



EPITAPH 



On the late 



SIR WADSWORTH BUSK, 



BURIED IN THE 



Church of the Middle Temple, 



LONDON. 



Hoc Turaulo requiescunt Ci- 

 neres Wadsworth Busk Equi- 

 tis, Jurisconsulti, praeclarae hujus 

 Societatis Consessoris et multis 

 annis Regiarum Causarum Pro- 

 curatoris in Mona Insula ; Obiit 

 Die XV. Decembris, Anno Salutis 



MDCCCXI. JETAT. I.XXXII. 



Py the faithful and assiduous 



dischargeof his officiid duties, and 

 by an unremitting attention to the 

 true interests of the Island, which 

 was the scene of his professional 

 engagements, he merited and ob- 

 tained the rewards of his Sovereign, 

 and conciliated the esteem, grati- 

 tude, and veneration of the inha- 

 bitants. 



Qualified to shine in any station 

 of public trust, he preferred, in 

 philosophical retirement, the path 

 of virtue and piety, which led to a 

 more enviable and lasting pre- 

 eminence. 



In private life his virtues were 

 conspicuous — not ostentatious ; his 

 conduct exemplary — not austere ; 

 his deportment dignified — not as- 

 suming ; his benevolence warm 

 and comprehensive, but not indis- 

 criminate ; his manners invariably 

 gentle, unaffected, and sincere. 



In conversation he was instruc- 

 tive, animating, and impressive; 

 in composition nervous, perspicu- 

 ous, and elegant ; his acquirements 

 were solid, classical, useful, and 

 extensive, and his knowledge of 

 the human mind penetrating and 

 profound. Zealous for the pro- 

 motion of civil and religious free- 

 dom, (the foundation of all human 

 excellence), he accounted it a sin- 

 gular blessingtohaverankedamong 

 his steadiest friends some of the 

 ablest advocates of Liberty and 

 Christianity. A firm believer in 

 the truths of revealed Religion, he 

 unceasingly endeavoured to pro- 

 mote its genuinedoctiines and prac- 

 tical influence by prayer, by pre- 

 cept, and by example ; for his life 

 was passed in the exercise of every 

 social duty, of every moral obliga- 

 tion, of every christian charity ! his 

 end was marked by calm content, 



