LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 129 



inu$t have in the like cases, his reasons for pre- 

 ferring in his private thoughts, some before 

 others ; and w^ishing success to one rather than 

 another. And as he was always of a frank open 

 temper, and never studied artful reserves, it is 

 likely he might not conceal a propensity of re- 

 gard and favour (when he had it) for one more 

 than another. But what is meant by his ad- 

 herence to this rule is this, that he never in- 

 terested himself by requests, or by his agents, 

 or by his letters. He neither used his own 

 authority, nor suffered his name to be used on 

 these occasions. He left all his Clergy, and all 

 his officers and dependents, as well as his friends 

 and acquaintance, at their full liberty to act as 

 they pleased. He neither gave them any pre- 

 vious encouragement, or used any dissuading 

 motives to bias them, 7ior shewed any after dis- 

 like on account of their following their own in- 

 clinations in election matters. 



It was no doubt a great satisfaction and plea- 

 sure to all his Clergy, that notwithstanding the 

 influence he had over them, they were left free 

 to vote always according to their own discretion, 

 or their several private obligations, without 

 fearing their Diocesan's displeasure, or any 

 resentful or discouraging consequences from 

 him oi. so doing. And it was, likewise, an 

 instructive and noble pattern set to them all, 



K 



