LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 253 



shall be disposed to interpret it. If it be meant 

 that he did not understand mankind well 

 enough to [prevent their deluding him, or that 

 either through the weakness of his judgment, 

 or easiness of his temper, he was liable to be 

 practised upon; whatever reasons the bishop 

 might have to induce him to take up this opi- 

 nion, yet they who knew the Archbishop per- 

 fectly, will be apt to judge that the historian 

 knew hbn not ; and that how skilful soever he 

 might be in drawing characters, he missed the 

 point in this particular instance. 



But if his lordship only meant (and consider- 

 ing his style, it is the most natural to think he 

 meant no more,) that Dr. Sharp was not tho- 

 roughly versed in the policies of the court, nor abso- 

 lutely attached to a jparty, there is great justice 

 and truth in the remark. And though it might 

 perhaps, in the learned historian's view of things, 

 even under this light, derogate from his character, 

 so far at least as he is represented upon the 

 comparison inferior to Archbishop Tillotson in 

 those respects, yet all people have not the same 

 ways of thinking. It will serve rather to in- 

 crease than lessen his reputation with others, 

 who are likewise capable judges both of men 

 and things; and discerning enough in this case 

 to see what was the most becoming his function 

 and station. 



