1802, ] Memnirs of the late 
endearments. In his conduét to his chil- 
dren, he blended together, with great fe- 
licity, authority and love. The fuavity 
and playfulnefs of his mind difpofed him 
to participate in all their amufements; 
yet he. could refume the parental autho- 
rity, whenever it was liable to injury 
from familiarity or condefcenfion. The 
profperity and happinefs of his intimate 
connections were almoft as dear to him 
as his own; and he deemed no exertions 
* for their intereft too painful or laborious, 
when the claim was important or reafon- 
able. He had ample means of furthering 
their views, by the very numerous corre- 
fpendences which he enjoyed with men of 
every rank and ftation throughout thefe 
kingdoms. The powers which Mr. Bay- 
ley poflefled of forming acquaintances, 
and his affiduity in preferving all that 
were valuable, conftitute a remarkable 
trait in his character. With a perfon 
and addrefs truly engaging, he recom- 
mended himfelf at once to attention and 
regard ; and having much general know- 
ledge, he could adapt. his converfation 
with eafe and propriety to the turn of 
mind, the purfuits, or the occupation, 
of the individual with whom he conferred. 
Early habits of multiplied bufinefs had 
alfo trained him to all the varieties of in- 
tercourfe. Soon after his firft entrance 
into the magiftracy, he was appointed 
High Sheriff of Lancafhire; an office which, 
by its dignity and duties, neceffarily in- 
troduced him to almoft every one of con- 
fequence inthe county. Afterwards, he 
was made collector of the King’s re- 
venue, under the chancellor of the Duchy; 
and his frequent calls to ferve on Grand 
Juries, the applications to Parliament, 
a which at different times he was en- 
gaged, with various circumftances of a 
private nature, contributed to enlarge ftill 
more the {phere of his focial relations, and 
confequently to aid his capacity for ufe- 
fulnefs, both to his friends and the com- 
munity. 
_ In this fhort biographical fketch of a 
beloved friend, it would be highly unjuf- 
tifiable to pafs over in filence his religious 
character. The virtues and honours of 
a tranfitory life dwindle into infignifi- 
cance, if they are not made to refer toa 
ftate of futurity, and to the eternal fa- 
vour of God. This fentiment, at all fea- 
fons, actuated the pious mind of Mr. 
Bayley: and his hopes of immortality 
were founded on a full confidence in the 
Divine Goodnefs, and a firm perfuafion 
ef the truth of Chriftianity. His devo- 
tion was fincere and fervent, but devoid 
T. B. Bayle, Eq. 43 
either of enthufiafm or fuperftition. To 
the communion of the Church of England 
he was cordially attached, not from the 
influences of early education, but from 
mature reflection and deliberate judg- 
ment. Yet though he cherifhed her doc- 
trines and difcipline, he was uniformly 
hoftile to the {pirit of bigotry, and full 
of candour and benignity to other modes 
of faith and worfhip. He honoured pro= 
bity alike in the individuals of every 
fect; and held the rights of confcience 
and of private judgment to be inviolable. 
On the awful day of refurreétion, he be- 
lieved the final inquiry will not be, What 
creeds have you adopted, or what eccle- 
fiattical fyftem have you efpoufed? but, 
Have you cloathed the naked: have you 
fed the hungry: have you miniftered to 
the fick: or have you ferved God, by 
doing good to your fellow creatures, who 
are his offspring ? | 
In politics, Mr. Bayley was a whig of 
the old fchool, devoted to the eftablithed 
principles of the Britifh Conftitution; in 
f{upport of which, he difplayed fuch zeal 
and activity, during the late eventful and 
turbulent period, as to receive the warm- 
eft approbation from his Majefty’s -Mi- 
nifters, 
Such are the lineaments of an exalted 
charaéter, which friendfhip has endea~ 
voured, with powers too feeble, to pour- 
tray. The fhades that mixed themielves 
with the brighter colourings, will not, in 
the eye of reafon, be viewed as darken- 
ing the picture. For the condition of 
humanity admits not of perfection; and 
alrnoft every excellence is occafionally 
blended with fome kindred defe&. This 
conftitutes at once the trial and the 
triumph of virtue. In the revered man, 
whofe lofs is fo deep.y lamented, provo- - 
cations fometimes excited refentful emo- 
tions, which the occafion might not per- 
haps entirely juftify, But thefe occurred 
not on the judgment-feat, ner at any 
feafon when duty imperioufly required 
felf-command. His warmth alfo was thort- 
lived, and was fucceeded by the moft 
amiable relentings. The forgivenefs of 
injuries he carried almoft to the literal 
extent enjoined in the gofpel, pardoning 
the offences of a brother, not only feven 
times, but feventy-times feven. A ver(a- 
tility of mind and of purfuits was fome- 
times obferved in Mr. Bayley, beyond 
what is confiftent with the firmneds of 
purpofe, fuppofed to be charafteriitic of 
wildom ; but let it be recollegted, that, 
inthe multiplicity of concerns, which cc- 
cupied his atention, new and unexpe&ted 
Ps V.ews 
