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latter part of his life he was solaced by an event of a very pleasing nature. He had long promised the people of Guernsey to visit them; and he determined to fulfil his promise. The people who so many years before had parted from him with sorrow, and erected a memorial of their gratitude, prepared to greet him with affectionate testimonials of respect. He was received with honours and acclamation, and so accompanied to his hotel: the members of the state were, however, absent, yet they were sitting. "What could this mean?" was on every tongue. In two hours they arrived in his presence, and apologised, by informing him that when he landed they were occupied on a road bill, and they thought he would be more gratified by their leaving him to the congratulations of the people until they should be enabled to say they had decided in its favour, it being the final completion of his own plan.

There is reason to believe that the anxiety attending the imprisonment of his nephew, Sir John Milley Doyle, in Portugal, by the orders of Don Miguel, and other subsequent occurrences, shook his powers, for they were weakened considerably before his death, which was fully expected; and he was resigned to the care of his affectionate niece, Miss Doyle. He died on the 8th of August, 1834, in Somerset Street, Portman Square, in the 78th year of his age.

No man ever lived more universally esteemed and beloved than this gallant officer.

His baronetcy has of course become extinct. His nephew, Sir Francis Hastings Doyle, was advanced to the same dignity in 1828.

From "The United Service Journal," and "The Gentleman's Magazine."

258

No. XX.

THE RIGHT REV. ROBERT GRAY, D.D.

LORD BISHOP OF BRISTOL, ETC. ETC.

THE late Bishop of Bristol, Dr. Robert Gray, was born in London in the year 1762. He was the contemporary and friend of Porson at Eton, and kept up, in after life, an intimate friendship with that distinguished scholar. Shortly fter leaving Eton, he entered at St. Mary Hall, Oxford, and in due course of time took his several degrees at that University.

In the year 1790 he published the "Key to the Old Testament and Apocrypha, or an Account of their several Books, their Contents and Authors, and of the Times in which they were respectively written," which at once established his reputation as a scholar and a divine. This work has gone through nine editions, with increased reputation: it is a text book at the universities, and with candidates for orders, and is one of the many standard works in which our church glories. In 1796 he preached and published his Bampton Lecture Sermons, in which he elucidated and defended the principles of the Reformation of the Church of England.

At this time he held the vicarage of Farringdon in Berkshire, to which he had been presented by his friend Mr. Hallett. His reputation attracted the notice of that munificent patron of merit, Dr. Barrington, the late Bishop of Durham; and at his request Mr. Gray took charge of his nephews, the late Sir William and Sir Thomas Clarges, then about to enter at Christ Church. In the year 1802 the Bishop presented him to the rectory of Craike in Yorkshire, and in the year 1804 to the seventh stall in the cathedral

church at Durham, which he retained up to the day of his deatu. Upon the demise of the celebrated Dr. Paley in the year 1805, the same munificent patron removed him from Craike to the valuable living of Bishop Wearmouth in the county of Durham.

In this important post he was zealous in the promotion of every good work, in opening schools, and introducing the Madras system of education, to which public attention was then first drawn by the celebrated Dr. Bell, in the establishment of an auxiliary Bible Society, in the institution of a savings' bank, in the building of chapels to meet the increased population of the parish, and of an infirmary, which was much needed in that populous and commercial district. His benevolent heart and liberal hand were ever active in labours of love, in relieving the temporal necessities, and administering to the spiritual wants, of his parishioners.

As a preacher, he set forth the great doctrines of Christianity with the force and energy of truth, and illustrated them with the rich treasures of a scholar's mind. Many sermons are in print which were written by him when at Wearmouth upon occasions of national and individual joy and woe. He seized the opportunities which the events of public and private life offered to impress on the minds of men that here they have no abiding place, and to warn them of judg

ment to come.

In the year 1808 he published "The Theory of Dreams," in which an enquiry is made into the powers and faculties of the human mind, as they are illustrated in the most remarkable dreams recorded in sacred and profane history. In 1819 his work entitled "The Connection between the Sacred Writings and the Literature of Jewish and Heathen Authors, particularly that of the Classical Ages, illustrated, principally with a View to Evidence, in Confirmation of the Truth of Revealed Religion," upon which he had been engaged for some years, appeared before the public, and placed the author still higher in public estimation as a scholar and divine. When at Wearmouth he had the singular good fortune to

call the attention of the late Sir Humphry Davy to the practicability of devising means for the prevention of explosions in coal mines; which, before the discovery of the safety lamp, were of frequent occurrence in the north of England, and were attended with disastrous consequences to the miners. That distinguished philosopher visited him at Wearmouth, and soon afterwards gave to the world the greatest boon of which modern science can boast.

ance.

In 1827 the see of Bristol was offered to him by the late Lord Liverpool, with whom he had little previous acquaintThis was almost the last act of that minister. Dr. Gray was consecrated bishop on the 25th of March in that year, and shortly after took up his residence in that city. He found the clergy of his diocese ready to co-operate with him in every good work. A diocesan society for building and enlarging churches, and district visiting societies, for the purpose of more effectually visiting and relieving the poor, by aid of local committees, under the direction of the clergy, were established at his suggestion, with the happiest results. He laboured earnestly to promote residence, and the building and improvement of the houses of his clergy. In the exercise of his episcopal functions he was not wanting in vigour, when occasion for reproof arose; but the essential characteristics of his mind were kindness, charity, and brotherly love. In his place in Parliament he was a firm and consistent supporter of the Church, and advocated her rights and privileges with zeal and ability. His opinions upon public matters were grounded upon his convictions of their tendency to promote or injure the welfare and happiness of society. His conduct upon the occasion of the Bristol riots is alluded to in the following address, which was presented to him by the Venerable Archdeacon England, in the name of the clergy of his diocese, some time after the destruction of his palace by fire:

"MY LORD, I have the gratification of presenting, in the name of the clergy of Dorset, this testimonial of our respect

to your Lordship as our revered diocesan, not only on account of the high esteem for your Lordship's private virtues, but of our admiration also of the pious fortitude which your Lordship displayed during the disgraceful riots in Bristol, on Sunday, October 30th, 1831; when, with your life endangered by an infuriated mob, and your palace threatened, your Lordship evinced the true character of a Christian bishop; preferring whatever danger might attend the discharge of your duty to the counsel which urged your flight from the cathedral.

"Your Lordship's answer, Where can I die better than in my own cathedral?' will remain a lasting memorial of pious resignation to the will, with perfect confidence in the protection, of Almighty God. This piece of plate, which I have the honour of offering to your Lordship's acceptance (delayed as it has been from particular circumstances), is peculiarly adapted to the character of a bishop, a lover of hospitality, - a quality which, amongst the many other requisites, your Lordship is well known to possess in the best and widest sense; a quality not exercised towards the clergy alone, but, on proper occasions, extended in acts of charity to the poor destitute.'

"This memorial of attachment to your Lordship's person will, we flatter ourselves, be received with the kind feelings which your clergy constantly experience from you. I need not, I trust, express the personal satisfaction which I feel in being deputed to act as their representative on this gratifying

occasion."

At the time of the lamentable occurrence here referred to, he was living in happy intercourse with his clergy, entertaining towards them sentiments of high regard for their virtues, and inspiring in their minds mingled feelings of respect for his office, and of affection for the individual who filled it.

In the summer of 1833 he was attacked, when in London, by the influenza, which at that time prevailed to a great extent. Before he had recovered from its effects he went to

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