1310.] 
ver offensive wit, he still devoted the greater 
part of every day to the discharge of his pro-: 
fessional duties, or the cultivation of letters. 
He was for some time an officiating minister 
at the Spanish chapel in Manchester-square 3 
but the continued attacks of a pulmonary 
complaint, to which he was early subject, 
Scon compeiled him to relinquish ‘his situa- 
tion as a regular preacher ; but, as often as an 
interval of health occurred, he willingly lent 
his aid in the catholic pulpits of this town. 
Whenever he did so the place of worship 
was crowded, and christians of all denomina- 
tions listened with pleasure and edification to 
his discourses, which, free from bigotry and 
intolerance, and emanating from the true spi- 
rit of the gospel unadulterated, breathed the 
purest morality, and were delivered with all 
the animating. warmth of impressive elo- 
guence. In literary composition his abilities 
were not,less conspicuous; and if the friend 
on whom falls the meiancholy task of record- 
ing the merits of one whose premature loss he 
shall never cease to deplore, could, without a 
violation of the confidence reposed in him, 
declare what he knows on this subject, the 
public would discover, perhaps with surprise, 
how often they haye been indebted to the 
elegant pen of Mr. Roberts. His modesty 
was extreme; and while most of his works 
were sent into the world anonymously, even 
their success did not persuade him to claim the 
praise to which he was justly entitled. He 
affixed however his name to an admired 
Defence of the Principles of the Church of 
Rome, which heconceived had been misre- 
presented in a pamplilet supposed to be writ- 
ten by an Irish prelate of high reputation, un- 
der the assumed title of ‘ Melancthon.” 
Every reader of taste who peruses that able 
answer, will observe in it the marks of a sub-" 
lime mind, and will readily believe that the 
author had in him all the requisites of literary 
excellence. Ill health marred his fairest 
prospects ; and the growing symptoms of decay, 
which neither the aid of medicine, nor the 
habits of extreme temperance, were able to 
arrest, induced him to try the effects of a 
Warmer climate, and through the friendly re- 
commendation of the chevalier de Susa, the 
Portuguese ambassador, he obtained permis- 
sion to embark ‘on board the frigate which 
conveyed Mr. Villars, his majesty’s envoy, to 
Portugal. That gentleman soun discovered 
the uncommon qualities which distinguished 
his companion, and on their arrival at Lisbon, 
he offered him, in the handsomest manner, 
the situation of his private secretary. As the 
first wish of Mr. Roberts’s heart was to serve 
his country, he did not allow even. sickness 
and debility to be an apology for his declining 
a post for which his talents and his knowledge 
ot the European languages rendered him so 
peculiarly fic. He cheerfully accepted the 
appointment, and devoted himself with un- 
Deaths Abroad. 801 
ceasing assiduity to the discharge of its duties 
How ably he fulfilled this important stationg 
Mr. Villars (of whose liberality, good sense, 
and enlightened views, he always spoke with 
grateful praise) will, doubtless be ready to 
certify 3 while many eminent persons, both 
Portuguese and English, will confirm his tes~ 
timony. His weakened constitution sunk un- 
der the pressure of business ; and the exces= 
sive heat of summer in Portugal compelled 
him, though most reluctantly, to take his 
leave of Mr. Villars and-of Lisbon. Here- 
turned in August last to England, a greater 
invalid than ever 3 and as winter approached, 
he determined to go to Madeira, with little 
hope of recovery, but anxious to save his 
family and his friends the pain of witnessing 
his dissolution. He embarked towards the 
end of October, on board the Larkins 3 and, 
after interesting his fellow-passengers by the 
admirable patience which he displaved under 
the increasing attacks of pain and sickness, and 
by the social spirits which amidst all his suf- 
ferings never abandoned him, he expired on 
the 13th of November, three days beforeithe 
ship reached the Island of Madeira. ‘Thus 
died one of the dest, wisest, and most accom- 
plished, of men. His sentiments, moral, po- 
litical, and religious, were great and liberal. 
His genius was luminous; his taste excele 
lent; his judgment sound; his wit playful 5 
his learning profound and various; and his 
heart noble, generous, and affectionate. In 
one word, he possessed every quality which 
we admire ina public or love in a private 
character. 
In the West Indies, in the 65th year of 
his age, sit John Bernard, bart. He was see 
cond son of the late sir Francis B, bart. go. 
vernor of New Jersey and Massachuset’s Bay 3 
and succeeded, in 1779, v0 the title, which, 
as he died’ without issue, now devolves to his 
next brother, Thomas B. esq. of Wimpole- 
street, and Roehampton, one of the vice-pres 
sidents of the Foundling-hospital, and well 
Known for his attention to the various and - 
numerous charities and useful public institu- 
tions of the metropolis. 
“At Vizagapatam, in the East Indies, Bene 
jamin Roebuck, esq. (son of the late Dr. Roce 
buck, of Kinniel), of the honourable compae 
ny’s civil service. A more faithful and zea~ 
lous servant the company did not possess 3 his 
active, well-informed, and enterprising, mind, 
amply stored with ancient and modern lite- 
rature, was ever exerted for their and the pub- 
lic good. The mint of Madras, and the vab- 
lic docks at Coringa, are monuments not less 
of his ingenuity than of his indefatigable and 
‘unceasing labours. Public and private cha- 
rity ever met a most liberal support from his 
hands. In mechianics, chemistry, and mine- 
ralogy, he had few superiors 3 in other polite 
and useful attainments his comprehensive 
mind had acquired very considerable know- 
ledge ; 
. ° 
