By the late Rev. Edward Wilton, M.A. 77 



that one or both of them, may be ancestors of some of the wealthy 

 and respectable families bearing- the name of Tanner, at this date, in 

 onr county. The late Mr. Joseph Tanner of Erchfont certainly 

 understood that there was some connection between his ancestors 

 and Bishop Tanner ; it was a family tradition, bnt he could give me 

 no particulars. 



In conclusion : If any one should object that investigations like 

 this are incompatible with clerical occupation of time, I can only 

 produce the apology, quaintly but pertinently supplied by Bishop 

 Tanner himself. After mentioning that he had just completed a 

 List of Christ Church Students, up to Oct, 1735, little more than 

 a month before his death, he adds : " These are amusements, in 

 which I hope innocently, if not usefully, I have employed, and do 

 employ the time and health God is so good as to allow me ; with as 

 much satisfaction to myself as others do, in play, hunting, and other 

 diversions. Whatever be the event of one's pains this way, herein 

 I imagine I do in some measure discharge a duty one owes to the 

 noble foundation of which he is a member ; and to the worthy men 

 that have gone before us : to save them from the curse of the 

 Psalmist, and that ' in the next generation their names may not be 

 clean put out.'' 33 



Edward Wilton. 



Nov. 17, 1716. — Also his Testimonial signed by several eminent Physicians and 

 Surgeons. Other Notices of him in the references to Tanner's Correspondence. 

 At the back of a letter [" Tan. cxiv. 35 "] is the following : " To be left at Mr. 

 Tanner's, Surg, in Fenchurch Street, London." 



