ae ae eee eee eee 
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280 The Rev. R. Penneck— 
avheeled through all the town, amidf the ac- 
clamatiens of the populace. Soon after this, 
‘Mr. Leefon exchanged his lieutenancy fora 
eornetcy of dragoons. It may feem a little 
extraordinary, that aman who had hitherto 
efcaped thofe {nares that are ftrewed in the 
paths ef youth, fhould fallinto them at a 
time when prudence began to affume her in- 
fluence over the heart. The gaming table 
now prefented itfelf in al! its feduétive 
charms. He could not refit them; and an 
almoft uninterrupted feries of fuccefs led him 
to Newmarket, where his evil genius (inthe 
name of good luck) converted him in a fhost 
time into a-profefled gambler. . At one time 
he had acomplete ftud at Newmarket; and 
his famous horfe Buffer carried off all the 
capital plates for three years and upwards. 
As Leefon tvas a man of acute difcernment, 
he was foon initiated into all the myfteries of 
the turf. e was known to all the black- 
legs, and confulted by them on every critical 
occafion. Having raifed an independent re- 
giment, he was promcted toa Majority. He 
continued for fome time to maintain the dig- 
nity of his rank, and even expreffed a wifh 
to refume that condu€t which had endeared 
him for many years to the good and the 
brave; but the temptations which gambling 
held out were too trong to be refifted, and a 
train of il! luck preyed upon his fpirits, 
foured his temper, and drove him to that laft 
refource of an enfeebled mind—the brandy- 
bottle. As he could net fhine in his wonted 
fplendour, he fought the moft obfcure pub- 
lic-houfes in the purlieus of St. Giles’s, 
where he ufed to pafs whole nights in the 
company of his countrymen of the lowef, 
but induftrious, clafs, charmed with. their 
fongs and native humour. It is needlefs to 
point out the refult of fuch a habit of life— 
Major Leefon, that was once the foul of 
whim and gaiety, funk into a ftate of ftupor 
and irritability. On fome occafions, it ‘is 
trae, he emerged from this ftate; but it was 
the emergence of a meteor that vanifhes as 
it expands, and only left thofe that wit- 
neffed it to lament the fall of a man that 
once promifed to be an ornament to a pro- 
feffion that was dear to him in his laft mo- 
ments. Having contraéted a number of debts, 
he was conftantly purfved by the terriers of 
the law, and alternately imprifoned by his 
own fears, or confined in the King’s Bench. 
About three years fince he married a Mifs 
Mullett, who fhared all his affliftions; and _ 
difcharged all the duties of an affeétionate 
wife. When fober, his manners were gentle 
arid conciliating; and his converfation on 
Many occafions evinced confiderable mental 
vigour. He was generous and fteady in his 
friendfhips, but the dupe of flattery, hav- 
img experienced all thofe viciffitudes attend- 
ant on a life of diffipation. He was fenfible of 
the immediate appreach of his diflolution, 
and talked of death as a isiend that would 
Robert Fairfax, cfg. [April 1, 
relieve him of a load that was almoft infup- 
pertable. He expired in the midft of a con- 
verfation with a few friends, and waved a 
gentle adieu with-his hands, when he found 
that his tongue could not perform that office. 
{ Additional Particulars relatiwe to the late 
Rev, R. Penneck, whofe death was angounced in 
aur lafi Number. Mr. Penneck was defcended 
from a very refpectable and ancient family in 
the county of Cornwall. He was the fon of 
a younger brother; was educated for the 
church, and entered early in life at Trinity- 
cae Cambridge. When the Earl of Brif- 
tol went Ambaflador to Madrid, Mr. Pen- 
neck was chaplain of the embafly, but did 
not, as is ufual in fuch fituations, receive 
any patronage from Government, and he was 
too ciffident and too delicate to prefs his pre- 
tenfions. His chief and indeed only patron 
was the late Earl of Godolphin, to whom his 
father was feward. By the intereft of this 
Nobleman, Mr. Penneck became reétor of 
St. John’s, Bermondfey, and of Abinger, in 
the county of Surrey. By the fame friendly 
patronage Mr. Penneck obtained his fitua~- 
tion in the Britifh Mufeum. The gratitude 
of Mr. Penneck towards this Nobleman never 
abated through life, but to his lat moment 
he fpoke of him with veneration and regard. 
Mr. Penneck was alfo chaplain to the Earl of 
Orford, who immediately preceded the late 
Horace Walpole, and fucceeded Dr. Stebbing 
as lecturer of St. Catharine Cree, in which 
fituation his abilities as an eloquent preacher 
were highly diftinguifhed. - He has. left 
many manufcript fermons, which it is hoped 
will not be lott to the public. Mr. Penneck 
was habitually fubjeé& to an hereditary gout, 
which difabled him from all aGive exertion 
for fome months in every year, and finally 
put a period to his life. If he had not fuf- 
fered under this fevere malady, his conftitu- 
tion would moft probably have prolonged his 
life toa very late period. As a proof of the 
benevolence of his difpofition, it fhould be 
mentioned, that he propofed to three of his 
friends he, formation of a Club, for the pur- 
pofe of affifting any unfortunate perfons that 
might be known to any of the parties, con- 
ceiving that though one man could do little 
to encourage genius or relieve diftrefs, four 
perfons might co-operate in fuch a defign with 
effect. This amiable affociation confifted of 
Mr. Penneck, Dr. Warner, Mr. Ramfay, all 
clergymen, and Mr. Carr, preceptor to Sir 
John St. Aubin, and to Sir Abraham Hume. 
‘The good offices which were effected by this 
benevolent combination, many perfons now 
have reafon to remember with gratitude. 
-Mr. Penneck, the founder, was the laft fur- 
vivor of this truly humane Inftitution. He 
was a man of eminent talents, and impref- 
fed with the higheft fenfe of probity and 
honour. | 
{ Additional Particulars of the late Rt. Fairfax, 
elg. of Newton Kyme.. ‘Yhe great foundation 
upon 
