reward every man according to his works, without respect of persons.

"As members of the Church of England, you will never forget that that Church should be not only the sanctuary of sound doctrine, but the centre of union, and the seat of charity. The discordancies, inconsistencies, and contrarieties of opinion subsisting in the various sects without her pale, should serve as continual motives for concord and exertion to those within. Between the extremes of error, which unhappily prevail in this land of freedom-where too many imagine themselves authorized to worship God, not as He has required to be worshipped in his revealed Word, but according to any dictates of their bewildered fancies, and rend in pieces the body of Christ, the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood by their widely opposing tenets-the middle ground of truth should be kept in the meekness of wisdom by the members of the Church. With the law of love for their guidance, their only strife should be in offices of love, and for the prize of holiness. So would the influence of religion spread rapidly

* Acts xx. 28.

among our own people, and more zeal be testified to promote the Redeemer's kingdom in foreign lands. It would not be only an annual subscription we should give, in behalf of those important designs, which we have been recommending; nor the occasional donation to further their efficacy; but the actual exertions of each member individually in that sphere, wherein he is appointed to move, would help to transfuse the spirit of piety and charity kindled in his own breast to the breasts of others. Thus would the engaging form of our holy religion defy the imputation of formality, and the scandal of being a political establishment; and with all her fair appendages, her simple but solemn rites; her converting and confirming ordinances; her font and her altar; her creeds and her common-prayer-with these for her handmaids, she would go on to new conquests over the hearts and affections of men-her triumphs would be seen far and nearacknowledged as the genuine descendant of heaven, the offspring of holiness and truth, all the inhabitants of the earth, as many as experience the sweet vicissitudes of day and night, would call her blessed; and from the rising to the setting sun her name would be glorious." P. 25.

Memoir of the Rev. Duke Yonge, Rector of Sheviock, in the County of Cornwall, and Vicar of Cornwood, in the County of Devon.

Ir is a common and true observation, that the biography of eminent persons belongs to their country: a faithful portraiture of their actions, their habits of life and modes of thinking, of the difficulties they have surmounted, the snares they have avoided, and the temptations they have resisted, seems to be the best means of extending the benefits which they have conferred on society, by at once provoking and facilitating the imitation of those who may come after them. These reasons appear to us to apply with REMEMBRANCER, No. 63.

peculiar force in the case of good men of ordinary means and acquirements in the middle classes of life. Their story, indeed, wants the brilliant interest of the biography of great men; but examples are useful, in proportion as they are generally imitable. Few of us can ever hope to be illustrious as generals, statesmen, or writers; but we may all become good and useful in our respective stations; and the example of one who lived in the same rank with ourselves, eminent only for superior goodness, applies itself to every one of us, may be useful to us all, by challenging our zeal and industry, encouraging our hopes, and smoothing the path for our progress in virtue. It is on this

Ꮓ

principle that we present to our readers the present Memoir: we have drawn it up partly from our own knowledge, and partly from unquestionable documents and authorities; we trust we shall not be thought to dwell on them at too great length, or to attach undue importance to the subject. Certainly we write under feelings of great affection and veneration, but we write also under a sentiment of great responsibility; we would far rather say too little than too much, for exaggerated praise of himself would have been the last thing which the subject of our Memoir would have been willing to pardon; the truest and the simplest statement will be the most just to his memory, and of the greatest use to society in general.

Duke Yonge was born at Puslinch, the seat of his father, the Rev. John Yonge, on December 3, A.D. 1750. He was the youngest of three sons; and, after such education as the free school of Plymton could afford, he went with his second brother, James, to study medicine and surgery under the roof of his uncle, Charles Yonge, then a surgeon and apothecary in great practice at Plymouth. After a few years thus spent, the prospects of James were suddenly changed by the accidental death of his elder brother, John; and he was removed to the University of Oxford, that he might take orders, and fill the living of Newton Ferrers, the advowson of which had descended to him as part of his patrimony. Duke Yonge, who was affectionately at tached to his brother James, upon this renounced also the profession for which he had been preparing himself, and accompanied him to Oxford. They both entered at University College, and became the pupils of the present Lord Stowell, and contemporaries of Lord Eldon, Sir W. Jones, Sir T. Plumer, and the many other dis

tinguished young men who then adorned that Society. He took the degree of A.B. there, June 13, 1775, and that of M.A. at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, in 1782; at the age of twenty-four, in the year 1774, was admitted deacon upon the populous curacy of Charles, in Plymouth; and, in 1776, was ordained priest upon the curacy of Yealmton, in that neighbourhood. In the following year he married Catharina Crawley, sister of the late Sir Thomas Bolvey Crawley, of Flaxley Abbey, in Gloucestershire, by whom he left four sons and four daughters surviving him. His mother had been a Miss Duke, of Otterton, in the county of Devon; and, in 1783, the vicarage of that place, which was in the gift of her family, becoming vacant, he was presented to it. In 1793 he effected an exchange with the incumbent of the vicarage of Cornwood, his principal object being, as on a former occasion, to bring himself near to his brother James, then residing at Puslinch. Here he lived uninterruptedly till his death for thirty years. In 1808 he was presented to the rectory of Sheviock, in the county of Cornwall, by the Right Hon. R. P. Carew, who had been his school-fellow at Plymton, and college mate at the University, and with whom, to the day of his death, he maintained an intimate and unbroken friendship. He died, after a lingering illness of many months, at the age of seventythree, on December 3, 1823, the anniversary of his birth-day.

The events of his life are thus summed up in a very few words: they flowed on in an even tenor; many worldly blessings were bestowed on him, and his afflictions were only those natural dispensations of Providence which every man who lives so long as he did must expect to receive, and which his cheerful temperament and intimate belief in religious truths enabled him easily to bear.

A

His habits of life were also simple and uniform: he rose early, and generally turned the key of his study door at seven for his private devotions; at eight he summoned his whole family to prayers; after breakfast he returned to his study, where he generally applied himself to his Bible and to sacred reading till twelve then he went out to visit the sick and infirm of his parish, or to transact such other business connected with his situation as required his presence. He liked to dine at three, and wherever and so far as it was in his power he adhered all through his life to the early dinner hours which were usual when first be entered into society. Being of a cheerful temperament, and fond of social intercourse with neighbours and friends, he very much disliked the introduction into the country of those late hours which, while they broke into the order of families, seemed also contrived under the notion that all visiting was a tax and burthen, and that the guests were to be kept the shortest possible time in the house. We mention this circumstance because we think it not so trifling as it may appear at first sight: if it be not one of the causes, it is, at least, a sign of that great change which has been working in country habits, by which they are daily becoming more similar to those of the city, without the same reason or excuse, and losing much of the simplicity which was their greatest charm. Generally, excepting when any of his sons were at home, or when he had any occasional visitors, he retired to his study after dinner until summoned to tea; after which time he mixed in the conversation of his family, or read some work of lighter literature: at ten his family were summoned to prayers, and he retired to rest soon after.

But he was no slave to his habits, nor did he ever suffer them to interfere with the wants or claims of

others. Thus his mornings were often almost entirely occupied in settling the disputes of his neighbours, and in discharging the duties of a magistrate. For very many years he acted in the commission of the peace; and he united, at once, such an acquaintance with business, such a clear mode of seeing and explaining things, with such a prompt decision, and such a general repu tation for integrity, that he was the only lawyer in his parish, and was very much resorted to on all occa. sions in which the interference of a magistrate was necessary. His early studies in medicine made him, too, in all common cases, the only apothecary in his parish; and he was ready, at all hours of day or night, in spite of any engagements, to attend the sick in any part of his scattered and wild parish. This he did upon principle. In some loose papers which were found after his death, he expresses himself on this subject thus: "When called to visit a sick person, by night or at any time whenever it may, from circumstances, be disagreeable to me, let me reflect what great things my Saviour hath done for me; that the apothecary or the lawyer, for a piece of money, would not hesitate a moment, but be glad to be so called; and shall not a nobler principle than avarice, or the reward of money, make me more willing to obey the call?"

His manners in general (and the observation will equally apply to his performance of his church duties) were simple and plain, but affectionate and energetic: he feared not, either in or out of the pulpit, to hold the language of reproof where he thought circumstances required it, and himself authorized to use it; but he was known to act from motives so pure, and his character stood so high, that few were long offended with him on this account He was fond of simplicity and plainness in all things-in his furniture,

his liveries, (from which, some years after he settled at Cornwood, he stripped all the lace,) the apparatus of his table, and his own attire. No severity of weather ever induced him to go to Church in his carriage; he always walked; and he specially directed, in two papers, written at intervals of twenty years, that no coach or hearse should be used at his funeral, but that he should be carried by twelve poor men of the parish, whom he named, and be buried in the church-yard. Yet, rigid as he was in denying to himself the slightest superfluous expence, he was indulgent to all the innocent wishes of his family and those about him. Liberal in the education of his children, he furnished also amply the means for every innocent or suitable accomplishment, recreation, or pleasure. Neither his temper nor his religion were gloomy or austere; he thought, that to use this world' as not abusing it, was one mode of showing a grateful sense of God's goodness.

It was impossible not to know, generally, that his charities were large and constant; because, not only in his own parish and neigh bourhood was his hand ever open, but his contributions to all useful public institutions, and on public occasions, were of the most liberal description. But few had any idea of their extent, or the wise system on which they were regulated; and none, not even the wife with whom he lived so many years in the most entire confidence, knew their whole extent, till the same papers to which, we have once before referred were found after his death. From these it appeared, that, for the last twentyfive years of his life, he had devoted, with a very slight reservation, the whole of the income which he derived from the Church to purposes of charity. In August, 1797, he writes thus: "I am now forty-six years old; I have been blest by the kind providence of God with more

of the good things of this life than I could reasonably desire or deserve; a plentiful supply, not only of the necessaries, but even the conveniences and luxuries of life, and almost an uninterrupted course of health to enjoy them. What reflections ought to arise in my mind? Gratitude and thankfulness to God the giver of all good things. What return ought I to make for his blessings? I surely ought to make my whole life a course of pious praise to him; and, since I have it not in my power to give any more substantial mark of my gratitude immediately to him, I ought to contribute towards bestowing comforts on my fellow-creatures; for God doth not open his hand to fill a few with good, but that all his creatures may be partakers of his bounty: and my blessed Saviour hath declared, that inasmuch as we do acts of kindness and charity to our fellow-creatures, he will consider those acts as done unto himself.— I am, therefore, in the eye of reason, as well as religion, but a steward of these good things; and it is incumbent on me to employ them with moderation and thankfulness upon myself, with prudence to encourage honest industry, and to relieve the necessities and wants of those who need. May God, of his infinite mercy, give me grace always to remember these things, and to act accordingly, that I may be able to give an account of my stewardship."

In May 26, 1798, appears the following entry: "It is my resolution to bestow upon useful works, for the benefit of others, the emolu. ments arising from this living of Cornwood, which shall accrue after Lady-day, that is to say, which shall be payable at Michaelmas next, only deducting the interest of 5007. laid out upon the house, and the insurance fee of 17. 18s. 6d. for my life. I mean by useful works, such as making a granary, &c. by

which the poor may be benefited, or any charity; my intention being not to enrich myself henceforth by any emoluments arising from the Church. So, too, I may, in case of infirmity, apply part to the stipend of a curate. And I shall account to this dedication the rent of the glebe, at the value put upon it by the surveyor. May the Almighty accept this humble mark of my gratitude, which I offer to his service for all his gifts to me. And let me not think, at any time, if proper objects demand more, that I am to be restrained by this sum: may He ever give me the spirit to consider all I have as his bounty, which he hath a right to reclaim; but, on the other hand, if I should fall into distress, and this should remain, I do not mean that I have so bound myself that, in such a case, I am not at liberty to appropriate to my support this income, which would then be come necessary."

We hardly know which to admire most in these extracts, the piety and liberality, the practical faith in God's bounty, and the grateful return made for it, or the simplicity and good sense, the total absence of all fanaticism, and the adherence to the plain domestic duties of a father and husband. Mr. Yonge, at this time, had eight children, many of whom were in the course of receiving an expensive education; and, therefore, though God's bounty was predominant in his thoughts, and he was most anxious to manifest his sense of that bounty, yet he knew that he was bound to protect his own household, and that he had no right to be generous to others at the expence of justice to them. But these extracts furnish us with another trait of his character, which it would be injustice to his memory to omit; and, if these pages should happen to fall under the eye of the person alluded to in the anecdote that follows, we trust he will acquit us of any design to wound his feel

ings; we should ill have studied Mr. Yonge's character, and to little purpose, if we could be actuated by any such intention. Some years after the date of this last entry, a portion of underwood of one of the tithe-payers of Cornwood was cut, and the tithe was demanded; it was refused on a mistaken notion that no tithe was due. Mr. Yonge, in repeating his claim, observed, that he was not at liberty to concede a matter of right, which might prejudice his successor; the tithe-payer, in his answer, which was by letter, said, he felt indignation at this hypocritical cant; and, in a subsequent letter, said, that he applied that expression to a man who, under the specious pretext of protecting the rights of his successor, was really securing a little sordid gain for himself. How little did he know the man whose motives he thus condemned. Mr. Yonge was wounded, and, to his family and common friends, complained of the harshness of this insinuation; yet, to no one, not even to his wife, did he state the fact, which would have put the charge to silence in a moment, that at that moment he was, and for years had been, only the steward of these tithes for the poor.

The course which he adopted with regard to Cornwood, he, for the most part, pursued with regard to the profits derived from Sheviock; at least, he adhered to his resolution of not enriching himself by any emoluments arising from the Church.In disposing of this income he comprehended the adjoining parish of Antony, of which the patronage belongs also to Mr. Carew, and which had been conferred on his (Mr. Yonge's) eldest son. seemed to be to improve the two parishes and the Church property to the uttermost thus he contributed largely to the erection of a free chapel in the populous hamlet of Torpoint, in the latter parish, which lies at an inconvenient dis

His object