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described the nature of the libel,' and proceeded-"Scattered throughout this production are these gross and scandalous calumnies. And, gentlemen, upon whom is this calumny cast? Upon a man the most beneficent and inoffensive in the world! And in what manner inoffensive? Not from obscurity or poverty; no, he is the possessor of one of the most splendid inheritances in this island, which, by the accession of art and creative cultivation, he has converted into a sort of Paradisenot to riot there in criminal debauchery, unmindful of Him who placed him in it, but whose life is a pattern of modesty, piety, and goodness; whose first gratification in the great expence which he creates, is the relief and sustentation of the poor whom he feeds by it; and whose house, the seat of honest, virtuous, English hospitality, and the receptacle of everything which can render life comfortable or delightful, is at the same time, as it were, a house of prayer for the service of the Great Dispenser of all benefits and blessings. Gentlemen, I say this, and I am happy by the cause being late, that it was left me to say it, not from my brief, not from my instructions, not from the information of others, but I speak it from my own knowledge of what I say, from my childhood upwards, and an experience, fortunately, for me a very large and long one. Gentlemen, that such a man as this should be the object of such a calumny is horrible; more especially as I will prove to you, if the necessity of the case should call for it, that Sir Richard Hill has been brought into contact with this defendant, and been made the subject of his animadversions by his, the defendant, having been an object of his bounty. He recommended him in his profession, thinking well of him, in order to

1 It was a string of impertinent names not worth repeating.

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REMARK OF LORD KENYON.

VERDICT.

enable him to support himself and his family. But I pause here we are not upon the subject of ingratitude, we are upon the subject of guilt."

Lord Kenyon observed, when the evidence had been offered, "It is much to be lamented that this man should have written such a book, attacking the character of such a man. It is possible from a long acquaintance, one might think more of a man than he deserves; but to be sure, there never lived upon earth a better man." In charging the jury, the learned judge merely observed, "Gentlemen of the jury, I have nothing more to say than that you have heard the evidence of the publication, and will consider of your verdict." They immediately declared the defendant guilty, and Lord Kenyon pronounced the encomium on Sir Richard Hill which I have selected for the motto of this volume. To the libel on Mr. Rowland Hill the defendant pleaded guilty. Thus ended this singular affair, the only effect of which was to extend the knowledge and admiration of the characters assailed.

The two eminent lawyers just mentioned, whose distinguished abilities raised them to the highest judicial stations, and to the peerage, were frequent visitors at Hawkstone. Lord Erskine was often there before he even went to the bar, to which he was called at a later period of life than is usual. When he first came to Hawkstone, he was a young and lively officer, but shewed symptoms at that time of the talent for eloquence, which afterwards placed him in the very first class of forensic orators. I have heard Mrs. Rowland Hill say that she remembered his reading some sermons of his own composition, which were written in a style of great beauty, force, and pathos. His manners also were extremely vivacious and engaging, and rendered him a

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In the

welcome guest in the houses of his friends. power of attracting attention and winning his way with a jury, he has perhaps scarcely ever been equalled. His voice, his manner, and the interest he gave to the driest subjects, combined with an indescribable art of infusing into those whom he addressed, a happy selfcomplacency at their own comprehension of his illustrations, enabled him to convert into gratified listeners, men who had been reluctantly compelled to the performance of an unwelcome but necessary duty. These were the qualities that made him so brilliant as an advocate; and when they could be no longer called into exercise, in the higher and more dignified station to which they conducted him, it is no wonder that his genius seemed to have lost its lustre, and that a shadow passed over his once dazzling fame.

The reputation, legal acquirements, and high integrity of Lord Kenyon need no commendation here. He had the truest regard for Sir Richard Hill, and greatly enjoyed the pleasure of being his guest. He was remarkable for the plainness of dress and unaffected deportment, which often accompany distinguished abilities into the private walks of life. The terms in which he is constantly spoken of by those who remember him at Hawkstone, are such as convey assurance of the same admiration of his straightforward disposition by his social friends, that won him so much esteem and confidence in his exalted station as a judge. Sir Richard Hill became acquainted through this esteemed nobleman, with many other eminent lawyers, particularly Lords Thurlow, Alvanley, and Baron Eyre, who found a happy respite from the toils of public duty in his hospitable mansion. He was not only favoured with the company of these distinguished judges and statesmen, but several bishops,

428

GUESTS OF SIR RICHARD HILL.

as well as Dr. Moore, Archbishop of Canterbury, accepted invitations to Hawkstone, and were his frequent guests in London. No man of his day had a more extensive acquaintance, or succeeded better in drawing round him the talents of his age, all of whom, whether opposed to his views of religion or not, united with one consent in appreciating the excellence of his unbending and devoted character. At the same time that he was surrounded by persons of the first rank and ability, he was proud of being the friend of any humble and despised minister of the gospel, who was zealously employed in the sacred duties of his office.

Sir Richard Hill had not only the satisfaction of receiving as his visitors, the most distinguished of his own fellow-countrymen, but also entertained with great hospitality many eminent foreigners. When the Stadtholder and his consort were in England, they found a kind welcome at Hawkstone, and were exceedingly delighted with the wonders of the place and the hospitality of its owner. They came there without any parade, travelling in the quietest way; but Sir Richard Hill treated them in a manner most gratifying to their feelings. His hot-houses were celebrated for the prodigious grapes which they produced; and having at that time a most extraordinary bunch, he saved it with great care for the visit of their Highnesses. To their astonishment they beheld on his table this single bunch of grapes, suspended by an orange ribbon from an ornamental frame of wood-work; and their surprise was extreme, when they were told that the whole mass depended upon a single stalk, although its weight was then sixteen pounds and a half. It had weighed seventeen before some decayed berries were removed, and was probably the largest ever grown in this country. What they saw at Hawkstone

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greatly pleased this amiable pair, and their stay was rendered very agreeable to all parties by their unaffected and affable deportment, to which they added the most unequivocal demonstrations of real enjoyment of the natural beauties, as well as domestic comforts of the place. And in truth men of all descriptions who came there, expressed the same feelings. General Paoli, when he wandered over the varied and enchanting scenes it displays, exclaimed, "Well, truly it was worth while to have come all the way from Corsica, only to see Hawkstone."

Beautiful as Hawkstone is in itself, the recollections of a few days' wanderings amongst its woods and rocks, were made doubly pleasant by the cheerful spirit of its truly kind and hospitable host, who, while he loved religion, hated all that was morose. He had a perpetual fund of innocent humour, and was fond of giving vent to it in a way that the most austere could scarcely disapprove. Not only did it impart a lively tone to his conversation, but it appeared in the inscriptions he placed on remarkable spots in the wild scenery of the park, which, nevertheless, had a tendency to convey some useful moral lesson. Like all other men, he was not faultless; but it is the opinion of those who had the best opportunities of knowing his real character, that this country has not seen a nobler example than the one he presented, of the Christian Gentleman.

Notice has been before taken of the independent course of Sir Richard Hill as a Member of Parliament, a proof of which occurred in his determination to vote in opposition to Mr. Pitt, for the amendment of Mr. Wilberforce to the address on the war, the first day of the session of 1795. It was afterwards reported that he was sorry for having done so, upon which he published a declaration that he lamented the reason which