136 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



however, he was remarkable for the vigour of his intellectual powers, 

 and his love of knowledge. He married and settled at Elford, 

 where he conducted a paper-mill to the end of his life. 



His desire of knowledge increased with his years ; and at inter- 

 vals of leisure from his business, he studied and became a proficient 

 in the modern languages. He afterwards turned his attention to 

 the more abstruse branches of the mathematics, and engaged a 

 teacher at Birmingham, with whom he spent an evening every week 

 till he obtained the requisite instruction. 



From his retired situation, he was but little accustomed to the 

 manners of elegant society ; hence, his productions are rather those 

 of a man of reflection, than a close observer of men and manners. 

 He wrote five novels, namely, Mount Kenneth, Barham Downs, 

 The Fair Syrian, James Wallace, Harmsprong, or Man as He is Not, 

 and Man as He Is. 



Mr. Bage was happy in his matrimonial connection, and left two 

 sons ; one promising youth died before him. He died in the year 

 1801, aged 73 years; his character for benevolence and integrity 

 was high, and his friends, who were much attached to him, describe 

 his temper as open, mild, and social. He was kind to his domestics, 

 and his humanity even extended to the domestic animals around 

 him, particularly his horses when past work. Such a man deserves 

 a brief memorial, yet the boast of his friend Hutton, that he was 

 " barely a Christian," might better have been omitted in his pane- 

 gyric, for much greater and wiser men than either Mr. Bage or 

 Mr. Hutton, have gladly and gratefully acknowledged themselves 

 humble believers in that most merciful dispensation of the Deity, 

 the revelation of his will by the Saviour of the World. 



Elford Church, dedicated to St. Peter, is a fine old structure, 

 with windows in the pointed style of gothic architecture. There 

 are some fine paintings on glass in the windows, and several anci- 

 ent monuments, particularly an alabaster tomb of an Arderne and 

 his wife. The statue of Sir John Stanley lies under an arch, in 

 armour, with both hands supplicatory : his head rests on a helmet, 

 with the eagle and child, the cognizance of the Stanleys. Under 

 another arch is the eldest son, a child with curled hair, in a long 

 gown, recumbent : one hand points to his ear, the other holds a 

 ball, the unfortunate instrument of his death. 



A rich altar tomb is ornamented with three recumbent figures, 

 namely, that of Sir William Smith, in full armour, and his two 

 wives, Isabel and Anne ; the former of whom wears, a coronet. 



