1810.] 
scholar, nor aman of fashion with the 
attainments of a scholar, who knew Mr. 
Nicholls intimately, who would not will- 
ingly have adopted the words of the poet 
of Syracusa, and hailed him as the 
Tey Macaig pidoy avdec, toy B XagiTerciy 
aaexOn.* 
He was passionately, perhaps rather 
too much, devoted to music. He had stu- 
died it accurately as a science, under 
some of the greatest masters; and in the 
pursuit and cultivation of it he was un- 
tired, and indeed indefatigable. But he 
generously communicated his knowledge 
and his taste-to congenial, and particu- 
larly to yourg minds, in which he saw 
and marked the promise of genius and 
the ardour of application. 
His manners, habits, and inclinations, 
naturally led him to frequent the most 
polished society; but study and letters 
rendered the intervals of solitude useful 
aud agreeable. In his sphere of life and 
action, by his instruction, by his influ. 
ence, and by his example; he diffused 
over an extensive district an elegance 
and a refinement unknown before he re- 
sided in it. Asa county magistrate, one 
of the most important offices which a 
private gentleman can undertake, he 
was diligent and regular in his attendance ; 
and in the discharge of his duty in that 
function, which is indeed the unbought 
defence of civilized society, and unknown 
to other countries, he was useful, dis- 
cerning, temperate, and impartial. 
To those friends who visited Mr. Ni- 
cholls, and partook of his refined hospi- 
tality and of his entertainments at Blun- 
deston, it may possibly have appeared 
that his mode of life required a large 
command of fortune, and that an ample 
patrimony could alone supply the display 
of such generosity. Yet his inheritance, 
which was inconsiderable, and his pro- 
fessional income, which was not large, 
defrayed the whole. He had indeed the 
most discerning ceconomy which I ever 
observed in any man; an economy, 
which neither precluded liberality to his 
equals, nor, what is far more important, 
charity to his inferiors. ‘The fidelity, the 
attachment, and the conscientious ser- 
vices, of his valuable domestics, some of 
whom had grown old wnder his roof, 
made them rather humble friends than 
servants; and by the faithful discharge 
of their several duties, they relieved him 
from attentions which otherwise must 
# «6 Friend of each muse, and favourite of 
each Grace,” 
Letter on the Death of the Rev. Norton Nicholls. 427 
have been required. But his eye, his 
mind, and his heart, pervaded ali his 
concerns. In no private duty was he de- 
ficient; nor was any thing considered as 
too minute for his own inspection, if he 
thought it necessary; and he was aware 
of the wisdom which dictated this im- 
portant aphorism, that ‘ he who de- 
spiseth little thinys shall fall by little and 
little.” In the direction of his house, in 
the embellishment of the rural scenery, 
in his library, in his studies, and in all 
things which produced that integrity, 
order, and harmony, which proved that 
all was well within, and that every end 
whick he wished, was accomplished; 
in all these, [ would repeat it with 
earnestness, he relied invariably on that 
‘* magnum vectigal,” that possession in 
reserve, that subsidiary strength, the pa- 
rent of peace, the guardian of private 
life, and the support of all public go- 
vernment—discreet ceconomy, 
In that sacred and bounden duty 
which is owing froma son to a parent, 
he was eminently exemplary. Having 
lost his father so-very early in life as 
scarcely to have seen him, his attention 
and reverential attachment to his mother, 
to her extremest age, was singularly ate 
fectionate, unremitting, and unvaried ; 
and, with the pious choice of his illus- 
trious friend’ Mr. Gray, ‘in death he was 
not divided.” He always expressed his 
intention, and he directed it by his will, 
that one grave should enclose their res 
mains: and it does enclose them. I 
~myself, in company with another friend, 
solemnly attended them through the 
church-way path, with christian resig-, 
nation and with quiet obsequies, to the 
heuse appointed for all living. Yes; it 
is finished. 
Nihil oh tibi, amice, relictum ; 
Omnia solvuntur jam Matri, et funeris ume 
bris! 
If such a desire be indeed a weakness, it 
is at jeast honourable to our common na- 
ture; and Tenvy not the heart of him 
who is disposed to censure it. 
Of his higher and important profess 
sional duties, Mr. Nicholls was neither 
unmindful nor neglectful. He was re- 
gular in the discharge of his sacred offices 
as a clergyman in his parishes, in which 
he generally resided between nine ole 
ten months every year; and during his” 
residence he read prayers and preached 
twice every Sunday. There was a pecu- 
liar propriety and decorum in his manner 
of reading; and though his mode of 
preaching was not peculiarly eloquent, 
it 
