LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 167 



And indeed he was happy in making no 

 enemies, at least none that thought proper to 

 appear so, by his reproofs. He was wont to 

 press his arguments, drawn both from reasons 

 of religion and worldly considerations, with 

 so much tenderness and charity, and would 

 make such handsome apologies for interposing 

 his judgment and advice, that whatever 

 good he might do upon the parties concerned, 

 yet, he never did, apparently, hurt himself 

 by his pastoral monitions ; but his addresses 

 and expostulations were taken in such 

 good part, that he had generally the justice 

 done him to be thought a real friend by the 

 persons themselves to whom he thus applied 

 himself. 



He seldom had recourse, as was before ob- 

 served, to his authority and powers by law ; 

 and never till he had found all persuasion and 

 gentler advertisements vain. But he was not 

 afraid of giving disturbance to persons of good 

 figure among the gentry, if they did not, upon 

 reasonable notice, remove any scandal that was 

 notorious in the country. 



The following letter was sent by him previous 

 to a prosecution of this nature, which was well 

 enough known at the time it was carried on. 

 But as it may now be in great measure forgotten, 

 the name of the Baronet to whom it was written. 



