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perfect a character as this excellent man has perhaps very seldom been exhibited. Others, many we would hope, may have made a proportionable progress, and some may have attained to equal degrees of excellence; but few have begun their course of virtue and religion so early, few have continued it so long, and few, in a retired station, have had the opportunity of exercising it to so great an extent. From his earliest youth to the age of 78, his life was an uniform series of undissembled piety, uninterrupted, perhaps, by the deviation of one day. He discharged the several duties of private and domestic life with the most exact justice and the most comprehensive liberality, with the most constant affection and tenderness as a friend, a parent, and a husband. So warm and diffusive was his philanthropy, that he felt the happiness or misfortunes of others as forcibly as if they were his own. With the most consistent strictness of virtuous and religious sentiments, his manners were those of the most accomplished gentleman, and his conversation was easy, chearful, and instructive. His erudition was solid and various; his mind active, capacious,

Dr. Charles Aldrich was rector. You will find nothing of Atterbury's there*, as I apprehend. For scarcity of covers, you will excuse me for writing to the Doctor under yours.

Ever Mr. Nichols's faithful and affectionate, JOHN LOVEDAY." "As to " curious remarks" in Registers †, see the two following publications of Hearne, both in the library of our good friend Dr. Ducarel: 1. "The History and Antiquities of Glastonbury," p. 272-284. By the by, the Clergyman of my name, oсcurring in the last page, was no relation of my family; pardon this uninteresting minute. See also the preface, p. xxxi, &c. 2. "T. de Elmham Vita Hen. V." p. 423. Not improbably there may be somewhat on this head, worthy of attention, in a 4to tract, printed in 1764.." Observations on Marriages, Baptisms, and Burials, as preserved in Parochial Registers, &c. By Ralph Bigland, esq. Somerset Herald." I need not say that this gentleman is now most deservedly Garter King at Arms."

"These notes, of little concern, had made part of my last letter, had the queries under consideration then reached my hands; which was not the case till last Saturday. J. L. March 22, 1785."

* Bp. Atterbury's "Epistolary Correspondence" was then in the press. † "Illustrations of Antient Manners and Expences in England, 1797."

and

and persevering, directed principally to the cultivation of sacred learning, but employing and delighting itself continually with whatever was great and excellent in literature; and the vigour of his intellectual enjoyments accompanied him to the last. He was one of those few remaining private gentlemen, who, constantly residing in the country, have made it their object, by their authority, their example, and their beneficence, to promote the good order and comfort of their parishioners. He was a true member of the Church of England, whose institutions and discipline he thoroughly understood, and whose worship he most conscientiously attended, till increased infirmities rendered him incapable. His memory will remain for the good of those who survive him, as a man whose piety and obedience to his Maker was most zealous, whose faith in his Redeemer was most pure and unshaken, whose affection to his family and his friends was most exalted, and whose charity and benevolence was most extensive and universal.

The preceding article, which first appeared in the Gentleman's Magazine, led to the following communication from a gentleman who knew him well, and very sincerely respected him,

"The following letter was printed in the Reading Mercury of May 23, 1789; and I have no doubt you will be glad, on every account, to preserve it in your valuable Magazine. The incomparable person who is the subject of it, never, I believe, gave any thing in his own name to the publick; for the tract which is called his in the Archæologia, vol. I. was inaccurately published without his knowledge or consent, and had not received his last hand. But the hints which he suggested, and the information which he most liberally communicated to others, frequently enriched the Gentleman's Magazine, as well as other learned works. Mr. Hearne *, in many of his publications, acknowledges his obligations to

* The monument of Mr. Thomas Hearne at Oxford was well restored by Mr. Loveday in 1750.

him; and in the Preface to his " Liber Niger Scaccarii," printed in 1728, he mentions Mr. Loveday, then a gentleman commoner of Magdalen College, Oxford, as optimæ spei juvenis, literarum et litteratorum amantissimus. It is needless to say that, throughout the course of a long and honourable life, he amply verified the early expectations of his judicious friends. Dr. Johnson, with the satisfaction natural on such an occasion to a great and good man, has mentioned some persons, who, at an advanced time of life, with a debilitated body, have retained strong mental powers. Such instances, perhaps, are not very uncommon; Mr. Loveday certainly was one. If some small allowance is made for memory in regard to recent occurrences, he possessed to the last his admirable understanding and recollection in all their vigour. But I detain your Readers from what is much more worthy their attention. R. C.

Yours, &c.

"When the world is deprived of men of eminent virtue and great abilities, it becomes an act of justice to pay that tribute of applause to their memory which is due to their superior merit. It may likewise reasonably be hoped that, by presenting such characters to the public eye, others may be incited to emulate their virtues, and copy their bright example. I shall, therefore, make no apology for laying before your numerous readers some further account of the late Mr. Loveday of Caversham, whose death was recorded in your paper of last week. Mr. Loveday possessed a most excellent understanding, which he carefully improved by study, and an unremitting attention to letters, during the course of a long life. He read much, and had well digested and made his own whatever he read. Hence he had acquired an extraordinary fund of knowledge, particularly with respect to history, antiquities, the original languages of the Sacred Scriptures, and all kinds of philological learning. His merit was so conspicuous and well known, that, perhaps, few great works have been lately undertaken

taken in these branches of literature, concerning which he was not previously consulted. Indeed he was always ready to communicate useful information in this way, either in conversation or by letters. Hence his friendship and correspondence were solicited by men of the first rank in literature; and he numbered among his intimate acquaintances, Mr. Hearne the Antiquary, Bishop Tanner, Bishop Lowth, Dr. Ward of Gresham College, Dr. Kennicott, Mr. James Merrick, Mr. Granger, and many others equally eminent. His judgment both of authors and their works was just and accurate. If he ever erred, it seemed to arise from excess of candour; which, perhaps, sometimes disposed him to judge more favourably of publications than they appeared to merit. Authors, of whatever rank and reputation, who endeavoured to injure the cause of religion and virtue, he always spoke of with the contempt and abhorrence which they deserved.

"Nor were his goodness of heart and rectitude of conduct inferior to his natural and acquired abilities. In true piety and fervour of devotion, in the most strict and scrupulous attendance both on the solemn offices of the church, and the domestic and private duties of religion, few of the present age have equalled, perhaps none have surpassed him. This spirit, as might reasonably be expected, pervaded his whole conduct, and influenced all his actions. He was in himself humble and unassuming, without guile, of the greatest candour, and most amiable simplicity. With respect to others, he was a man of the strictest justice and integrity to all persons, of boundless hospitality to his friends, of munificence and charity to the poor and necessitous, almost without example.

"In his relatives and nearest connections no man could be more truly fortunate, or deserved more to be so. As a husband and a father, he was strict and exemplary without severity, kind and affectionate without culpable indulgence or misplaced partiality. The long continuance of the servants in his family fully fully evinces the propriety of his conduct as a master. "Such was the man, of whose character this short sketch is attempted. May each of us endeavour to imitate him as far as we are able, that, like him, we may live beloved and respected, like him may be lamented at our death!

CRITO."

"P. S. If a much inferior hand might add one feature, which is not distinctly exhibited in the above portrait, I would say, that, besides other qualities, in themselves perhaps more valuable, and therefore here very justly noticed, I revere Mr. Loveday in this respect, that time had neither blunted his feelings, nor soured his manners. With the stability of years, he possessed a sensibility of heart scarcely equalled in any period of life, a fervour of affection never surpassed: and his unparalleled cheerfulness and true piety shed a kind of heavenly lustre on all he said or did. In the gaiety of youth, the mere want of thought, or vigour of health, may give a temporary flow of spirits. But it is Christianity alone, planted in an honest heart and sound understanding, that can crown old age with uniform serenity, and, on the very verge of the grave, array the countenance with smiles. R. C."

DR. JOHN LOVEDAY,

only son of the preceding gentleman, by his first wife, Anna-Maria, eldest daughter of William Goodwin, esq. of Arlescote, co. Warwick (by his second wife Abigail Bartlett), was born Nov. 22, 1742; and for a twelvemonth received instruction at the Grammar School in Reading, under the Rev. Haviland John Hiley, M. A. " a name," as Mr. Coates observes, " still remembered and revered as the Busby of that seminary." Mr. Hiley having resigned the School in 1750, Mr. Loveday continued and completed his school education under his successor, the Rev. John Spicer, M. A. a man of considerable ingenuity, talents, and worth, who was a frequent contributor, in prose and in verse, to Mr. Urban's pages. In the year 1760 he was entered as

a Gen

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