LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 141 



this diocese, where he either discouraged or re- 

 warded any clergyman, purely for his being of 

 this or that party, but from some nobler con- 

 sideration. He considered them in the relation 

 they bore to the Church and himself, and not 

 according to their interests in private families 

 and parliamentary elections. If, indeed, they 

 went inconsiderately so far in their politics as 

 to do any thing disreputable to their function, 

 then they came within his consideration as party- 

 men ; and which side soever they espoused, were 

 pretty sure to know his sentiments of their way 

 of proceeding. For the example which he set 

 himself, gave him sufficient authority to reprove 

 upon such occasions. 



He was curious to know, as far as he could, 

 their talent in the pulpit ; and omitted no op- 

 portunity that offered itself of hearing them 

 preach. His cathedral, to which he resorted 

 three times a-week, (viz. on the Litany days,) 

 for several years after he came to the See, 

 though he lived two miles out of the city, served 

 him well for this purpose. For in that church, 

 besides the preaching courses distributed among 

 the Prebendaries and Archdeacons, on all the 

 Sundays and holidays in the year, there are 

 ^ sermons likewise on every Wednesday and Fri- 

 day in Advent and Lent. So that during those 

 seasons, at least, he had an opportunity of hearing 



