142 
have fubfifted between the parties, thofe 
will beft determine who confult the fe- 
eret feelings of generofity and honor. 
In the year 4792, a literary fociety 
was infituted at the Globe inn, Fore- 
ftreet, Exeter; of which the firft mem- 
bers were Dr. Dowiman, prefident ; Mr. 
Poiwnele, author of ‘* The Hiltory of 
Devonhhire ;°*> Mr. Jackfon; the Rev. 
‘ Mr. Swete, of Oxton ; Mr. Hole, author 
of an “* Effiy on the Arabian Night’s 
Entertainments ;”’ Mr. Sheluon, the ana- 
tomift; and other ingenious gentlemen,’ 
refident in Exeter, or its environs. Each 
produced in his turn an eflay in profe or 
verfe, on fome ufeful fubje, to be read 
at the reguiar meeting of the fociety. 
An ogtavo volume of thefe pieces was 
printed in 3796, reflecting great honor 
en the talents ef whiclrthis laudable in- 
fiitution was compofed. — 
Mr. Jackion’s literary produétions not 
only pofiifs the advantage of a ciate, 
correct, and even elegant fiyle, but con- 
tain a fubftance and {pirit that. will not 
het the reader flumber over his pages, nor 
tay his volumes by without wifhing to re- 
cur to them often, and receiving at each 
yeview a new and lively pleature. 
His tine was devoted to mulic, painting 
and literature; and it is difficult to fay 
which of the three had the greateft. thare 
of his attention. But that his mufic derived 
much aid from his literary judgment will be 
wniverfally’ allowed. Indeed the tafte he 
confantly manifefted in the feleftion of 
his words forms an elegant and diftin- 
guifhing trait in his profeffional character. 
‘Fre native eafe of Shenftone, and the 
tender fentiment of Hammond furnifhed 
many of his fubjeéts; and the addrefs 
with which he has reduced the heroic 
Fines of the latter to lyric meafure is a 
merit that ought not to be omitted, when 
we are colleéting, the evidences of his in- 
genuity. 
The fubje&s ontwhich he chicfly de- 
Kehted to employ bis pencil were thole of 
Eand{capes ; in the colouring of which he 
was particularly firong and bold. Morn- 
mg and evening were his favourite fea- 
fons; becaufe in the fcenery of thefe he 
eould mduige his love of partial lights, 
and ftriking effects : his cattle were well- 
drawn, and the difpefition of his figures 
was judicious and happy: but his pic- 
tures on the whole had more of efe than 
fife, and rather difplayed a clear, maf- 
terly mind, than the refined touches of an 
elaborate hand. 
His. mufic, takem in the aggregate, 
fpeaks great jufinefs. of conception, much 
Memoirs of Mr. Fackfony of Exeter. . 
[Sept. 1, 
beauty and novelty of idea, confiderable 
powers of expreffion, a refource in com- 
bination and adjuftment ranking far above 
mediocrity, and a matured judgment in_ 
general efteét. But his melodies are not a/- 
ways free from that mechanical quaintnels 
and ruftic inelegance, which, perhaps, only 
an almoft.conftant refidence in. the metro- 
polis can wholly furmount; nor are his 
accompaniments of that artificial and de- 
licate texture, which gives new grace to 
the air; perpetually embellifhing that: 
beauty it ought never to conceal, and oc- 
cavonally varying from, without deferting, 
the fubjce&. His baffles are not untre- 
quently chofen with but Jittle art or de- 
fign, and his.elegies and choral /cores 
fometimes betray a want of facility in 
the intericr.difpofition of the harmony, 5 as 
well as embarraflment in an{wering the 
points. 
When playing on the organ or harpfi- 
chord, he {eemed lott to every thing around 
him. His performance was full, correct, 
and impaffioned ; and he had too jufta 
tafte, and was tes much a devotee to the 
good old {chool, ever to deftroy a fingle 
relijent beauty in a compoition, for 
the fake of unneceflary and furreptitious 
embellifiment. ; 
Mr. Jackfon, early in life, married Mifs 
Bartlett, a lady ot Exeter, who ftill re- 
fides in that city, and by whom he has 
had feveral children. Three of them, 
two fons and a daughter, are now living. 
The elder of the foys\went to India, and» 
returned with a competent fortune, which 
he intended to enjoy in his native city, 
in the bofom of his family ; but the ap- 
pointment of an embafly to the court of 
Pekin called him from his retirement into 
actual fervice; he accompanied Lord 
Macartney on that remarkable miffion, - 
and fince {his return has refided near Exe- 
ter. The other fon was employed for 
fume time at Turin, as fecretary of le- 
gation at that court, and was chargé daf- 
Jaires, at Paris, after the peace. | 
In temper Mr. Jackfon was precifely 
what he appears in his writings ; pleafant, 
focial, commuhicative, dryly facetious, 
and abounding in ufetul and judicious re- 
marks and entertaining anecdotes. His 
manner was modeft ; and in his conver- 
verfation he never even glanced at his own 
works. His reading was extenfive; and. 
he himfelf was moft ingenuous in confef- 
fing his obligations to thofe authors from 
whom he drew his knowledge ; but fo af- 
fluent was he in original ideas, and fo ealy 
and pleafant in his manner of, delivering 
them, that he never was more entertain- 
ing, 
