128 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 



before granted to other gentlemen, and would 

 have granted to some or other upon every elec- 

 tion, if he had not had a son, or any relation to 

 recommend. And it is further to be remem- 

 bered, that even here, w^here he did allow him- 

 self to move in the elections, he was utterly 

 averse to any methods of coercion or discourage- 

 ment, but contented himself with a bare request 

 in favour of the person he approved. 



Thus the whole of his conduct with regard to 

 elections, is fairly represented ; which, notwith- 

 standing, will probably be variously judged of 

 by those who do, and those who do not enter 

 into those prudential reasons and motives, upon 

 which he proceeded. For if these be duly con- 

 sidered, it will be found to be a conduct worthy 

 of an Archbishop, highly acceptable to his dio- 

 cese, and advantageous to himself ; as not only 

 securing to him the interest and esteem of all 

 parties, but enabling him to do more real service 

 to the public in his station, than he possibly 

 could have done by being warm and busy in 

 elections. 



There may be truth, indeed, in what has been 

 observed of him upon this head ; viz. that he 

 was not always wary enough to carry the mat- 

 ter so equally between the contesting candidates 

 as never to discover his own inclination as to 

 the issue of the dispute. He had, as all men 



