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mas Sampfon, dean of Chrift Church, Oxon, 
who boldly oppofed fuperftition and tyranny 
fn the reign of Queen Elizabeth. He was 
born at Luppit, near Honiton, Devon, His 
immediate anceftors were perfons of worth 
and piety. His own festiments and turn of © 
mind were formed under the inftruétions of 
the venerable Towgood*, and the academi- 
cal letures of the judicious and liberal Dr. 
Amory. Under fuch tuition he imbibed an 
early, ftrong, and permanent attachment for 
the caufe which involves in it the rights of 
confcience, the freecom of religious inquiry, 
and the fole authority of the Scriptures. 
To this caufe he was a firmand upright ad- 
herent ; though not fafhionable in the higher 
sanks, and treated by fome with fcorn. To 
a fteady regard to religious liberty, he united 
- a virtuous patriotifm, for the uncorrupted 
conftitution of his country ; not to be warp- 
ed by intereft, nor to be intimidated by po- 
pular cenfure and odium. There was a time 
when not merely the members of a venal 
borough, but the fenfe and wifhes of 
fome of the mo refpeétable gentlemen of 
the county of Somerfet, would have called 
him to a‘feat in Parliament ; but as he would 
not purchafe a feat, for his mind difdained 
yenality, fo he declined a fituation which he 
conceived would be inconfiftent with the re- 
gular difpofal of his hours, and a due atten- 
tion to his health. But ke availed himfelf 
of occafions that offered, to give his fenti- 
ments againft meafures, in his opinion, inju- 
rious to the interefts of his country, though 
the popular cry was forthem. The writer 
of this article recolleéts the time when, if 
his. voice,.and the voice of a few refleéting 
independent perfons, could have been heard, 
the nation would not have now to lament 
the lofs of ‘its treafures, and of the blood of 
its citizens, in a deftru&tive and difaftrous 
war. Mr. Hawker peffefied a mind enlight- 
ened by knowledge, reading, and reflection, 
* A diffenting minifter at Exeter, author 
of ** Thediffenting Gentleman’s Letters to 
Mr. White,” and whofe wife was his pater- 
nal zunt. 
> In December 1793, when the admini- 
firztion, to prepare and ftimulate the public 
mind for war, created an alarmon the danger 
from republican. principles, and meetings 
were held, and affociations formed, through- 
oot the kingdom, againft republicans and le-~ 
vellers; et fuch a meeting: Mr. Hawker, 
and another refpe&tabie gentleman. of the 
neighbourhood, (deceafed feveral years fince, 
Richard Crofle, efg.a learned, clafical {cho- 
Jar, 2 juftice for the county, a firm Whig, 
and a gentleman of liberality * and. pro- 
bity,} warned the affembly of the war, and 
jts confequences, in which their mifguided 
geal would, eventually, involvethem. -But 
they were not heard, but infulted; and two 
only voted with them againft the refolutions 
of the day. 
' Somerfet/bire. 
/ 
fApril 1, 
to direct his judgment of men and things. 
He poffcffed and cultivated an independence 
of fpirit fuperiorto the influence of common 
opinion. He poffeffed and exercifed a forti- 
tude of foul, in following the diétates of 
rectitude. He was impartial and upright as 
a magiftrate*. He was fincere as a friend : 
his profeffions of regard were valuable, be- 
caufe they were always in unifon with his 
heart; and were founded on difcernment. A 
fobriety of manners, always confined within 
the ftri€ rules of temperance, and fome- 
times, perhaps, verging on abftemioufnefs, 
was adiftinguifhing feature in his conduét. 
He was alfo remarkable for pun&uality in his 
pecuniary trarfaGtions, and the readinefs of 
his payments. Tothe virtues of a feverer 
afpeé&t were joined deeds of beneficence that of- 
ten fell not under the notice of the public eye. 
A peculiar kindnefs in his attentions to chit 
dren and youth, indicated an inward amiable 
benevolence of heart,. He loved virtue; he 
efteemed and refpefted enlightened and virtu- 
ous chara&ters: they were his chofen friends. 
On the mention of perfons of peculiar worth 
and benevolence, adorhing their limited and 
private fpheres with their good deeds, he 
would remark, «* That fuch charaéers re- 
concile us to’ this world.” In his domeftie 
connections, an equal, fteady, and mild ex~ 
ercife of authority, diftinguifhed his deport- 
ment as a mafter. A judicious love, free 
from weak and falfe indulgencies, diftinguifh- 
ed his conduét as a parent. The order and 
regularity of his family, the attachment and 
long fervices of his fervants, fpoke his praife 
and evinced his wifdom, His religious opi- 
nions were formed not on education only, 
but on inquiry: his fentiments’on particular 
quecitions w-re adopted from an apprehenfion 
and conviction, that they were moft honour- 
able to juft and exalted ideas of the benevo- 
lence and re¢titude of the Divine Being, and 
mott confiftent with the unity of God. - His’ 
attendance on the public fervices of religion 
was regular and conftant: and every day 
when his family could, in the evening moft 
eafily, be convened together, the members 
of it, whoever were his guefts, were led to 
the throne of that Being of whom the whole 
family in heaven and earth is named. Ina 
word, “* a man of his retitude and integrity 
of mind, and truly confiftent refpe€tability 
of character, in his general deportment and 
the great tranfactions of lifé, muft carry 
with him the fincere regret of his family, of 
his friends, and of all his ,connections.” 
Mr. Hawker married the only daughter and. 
heirefs of Thomas Wellman, efq. of Poun- 
disford Lodge; by this lady, amiable and 
* Toqualify himfeif to aét in that eapa- 
city, he had, in an early period of his life, 
taken the teft; but the wiiter of this has 
heard himdeclare, that on farther confider- 
ation of the matter, he would not do it 
again. - 3 ee 
much 
