§807.] 
it; but whether from want of capital, or 
from what cau<e I cannot explain, he seems 
afterwards to be discouraged fiom pursuing 
it, and endeavoured to gain a decent and in- 
dependent subsistence in a very humble retail 
trade. From this situation he was suddenly 
and unexpectedly called, by what he always 
accounted a providential interposition, to the 
- exer.ise of his own proper business. By the 
persuasion of a friend he was induced to engage 
in a very difficult undertaking,* one which 
the principal architects of the kingdom had 
estimated at an expence infinitely greater than 
he afterwards executed it for. The manly and 
independent spirit which he afterwards dis- 
played through life, was evinced in his re- 
, Jecting an extra donation from his employers, 
‘ 
alleging that be was content with his fair 
profits. Their friendship and gratitude how- 
ever accompanied him through life, and from 
this circumstance he was accustomed to date 
his rise. It would be impertinent to recount 
to you, who were most of you witnesses of 
it all, the further particulars of his success- 
ful lite. Your suffrages placed him in the 
Corporation of this city ; and your unanimous 
voice afterwards raised him to a still higher 
dignity. In the office of chief magistrate he 
was happy in the approbation of his sove- 
reign, and the universal applause of his fel- 
low-citizens. He retired from public life to 
pass a quiet and comfortable old age in the 
midst of his friends and relations ; and died 
full of years and-of honours. His general 
character was so well known among you, 
that it is unnecessary to expatiate much upon 
it. He was a sincere, I may say a devout 
Christian ; and I believe never neglected the 
duty of worship public or private. He seems 
early to have imbibed serious opinions—He 
thought much upon religion, and thought 
for himself. The goodness of Providence 
was with him a favourite topic, and he en- 
tertained the most enlarged notions upon 
this subject. He did not confine his views 
‘to a general Providence, but always asserted 
in the fullest extent a particular Provi ence, 
which guided and dire€ted every event in 
this world, agreeably to the expression of 
our Lord and Saviour—‘* That the hairs of 
our heads are all numbered, and not a spar- 
row falleth to the ground without our hea- 
venly father *—H-nce he attributed every 
Success in life to the Divine Providence, and 
his expressions of gratitude to that Good 
Being ‘* who gave him all things richly to 
enjoy,” were both fervent and frequent. 
Yet his religion was not of a morose or 
austere character. His temper was social, and 
many of you know that he entered with ease 
and pleasantry into scenes of innocent and 
temperate conviviality. His cheerfulness ren- 
ted him an agreeable companion, and con- 
ciliated a numerous circle of private friends. 
But if there wa a feature particularly con- 
Spicuous in his character, it was his charity 
——— 
, * The repair of Bow-steeple, 
Montrury Mac. No. 162. 
Account of the late Sir William Staines. 
‘ dicly recorded. 
295 
and active beneficence, of which a noble moe 
nument stands in this parish, and another in 
a distant part of the kingdom, where he had 
some connection in trade.* Not to speak-of 
his private charities, which I have reason to 
think were very extensive, you all know 
and must remember his great and well di- 
rected charity to the poor in all times of 
scarcity, even while he was a liberal sube 
scriber to public institutiuns for their relief. 
As a magistrate, lie was active and attentive; 
and as a private many this parish has many 
obligations to him, some of which are pub. 
Such was the man whose. 
loss we at present deplore. We will now 
draw some practical inferences from what I 
have advanced on this subject ; and as being 
of less importance, I shall commence with 
the moral qualities. First, From the rise 
and progress of this good man, all young 
persons must see the inestimable value of 
industry. It is our happiness to live in a 
country, where the road to wealth, lionours, 
and prosperity, is Open to every one who 
will be steady, active, and industrious. Let 
no young man, however obscure his origin, 
with whatever difficulties he may have to 
contend, after such an example as this, dee 
Spair of successs but let him remember, that 
if he trusts in God, and uses the proper 
means, even the blessings of this life will 
ultimately be not denied him. Secondly, - 
We may see from what has been said, the 
value of a good character. It was character 
that raised thé person in questioa to opu- 
lence and rank; and indeed I believe with- 
out it there is no chance of success. It was 
character that recommended him to your 
faveur and your suftrages. Character agtend> 
ed him through life, and rendered him re- 
Spectable in every station. Lastly, Let it 
impress you with the absolute necessity of 
religious principle, not only with regard to 
that great object of all our hopes and wishes, ° 
that salvation which was wrought for us 
by Christ Jesus, but even with a view to 
worldly success. ‘That lively faith which 
was ever predominant in the mind of our 
departed friend, unquestisnably brought down 
a blessing upon all his endeavours. That 
trust in Providence which he so strongly felt 
and expressed, might probably (even in a 
moral view) invigorate his endeavours; 
and the earnest hope of success, which 
he grounded on the hopes of the Divine 
Favour, might be a means of atchieving it. 
J hus far at least is evident, that a firm be- 
lief in all the doctrines and precepts of the 
Gospel, is the most certain means of escaping 
sin and temptation, and infallibly keeps the 
professor of Chiistianity out of that dissipa- 
tion and profigacy which commonly lead to 
ruin in this world and the next.” 
oe 
* Alms-houses built and endowed by aim 
in his life-time in Cripplega.e p.rish, aud at 
his quarries in Yorkshire, 
Q 4 
FROV NCIAL 
