fhop Gibfon, at Fulham in Middlesex. Her diforder fhewed no dangerous tendency, till the preceding autumn; but, from that time it rapidly increased and defeated the power of medicine. The affections of her husband sustained a very fevere shock in her death; and the irreparable blow which that event gave to every focial enjoyment, greatly affected his health.

He visited Bath in the following spring, and had not returned home many weeks, before he was feized with a fever, which, after about ten days, becoming putrid, proved fatal. He died on the 10th day of July, 1786, at his vicarage-house at Halftead, in the forty-ninth year of his age, and was buried on the 23d of the fame month, in the chancel of his parish-church. A plane ftone, bearing the initial letters of his name, is placed over his grave; and a monument, of white marble, has very lately been erected to his memory, with the infcription preserved at the close of these pages.

Mr. Disney had preached in his own parish-church on the 25th of June preceding b 2

his

his death, and delivered that difcourfe which is placed the eighteenth, in this volume.* He had propofed to fet out on a journey into Yorkshire on the very day on which he died.

The character of this excellent man will improve upon examination; and, what is the test of true worth, an increased acquaintance with the most private actions of his life, which gives us the most accurate knowledge of the human heart, will greatly advance that character in our estimation, to which, at a greater diftance, we only afcribe general respect. Neither my near relationship to him, nor my friendship for him while living, nor his particular remembrance of me in the laft act of his life, fhould induce any fufpicion of unjust partiality: for, I am not only expofed to contradiction, while I am writing to the world; but am not confcious of the leaft inclination to deviate from truth. To offer the incense of flattery, is to infult friendship, to leffen true defert, and to degrade the human intellect :

it

See p. 315.

it argues a want of principle in the offerer, and prefuppofes the want of understanding in those to whom it is addreffed. But, independent of thefe obfervations, there is, in the present case, no temptation to hazard the use of such a wretched expedient. The occasion does not require it, and the ordinary motives to it do not fubfift. Paft favours are become irrevocable by death; and by death future ones are impoffible. In a facrifice after fun-fet, I have only to moderate the effufions of a grateful heart.

It may 'generally, and no lefs justly, be observed, that Mr. Disney had a good taste for literature. He was particularly fond of the belles lettres, and was not wholly regardless of the mufes. *But his attention to these

b 3

*The following fpecimen of his talent for poetry, though never adopted at any of the theatres, is felected, as being replete with fentiments worthy of a chriftian, and a friend of human kind.

EPILOGUE TO THE PADLOCK.

MUNGO fpeaks.

"TANK you, my Maffas! have you laugh your fill". Then let me fpeak, nor take that freedom ill. E'en from my tongue some heartfelt truths may fall, And outrag'd nature claims the care of all.

My

these studies and exercifes, were the amufement of vacant hours ; for he gave into them only becaufe he found his health unequal

My tale, in any place, would force a tear,
But calls for stronger, deeper feelings here.
For whilft I tread the free-born British land;
Whilft now before me crouded Britons stand;
Vain, vain that glorious privilege to me,

I am a flave, where all things elfe are free.

Yet was I born, as you are, no man's flave,

An heir to all that liberal nature gave;

My thoughts can reafon, and my limbs can move,
The fame as yours; like yours, my heart can love :
Alike my body food and fleep sustains;

Alike our wants, our pleasures, and our pains.
One fun rolls o'er us, common fkies furround;
One globe fupports us, and one grave must bound,
Why then am I, devoid of all to live,
That manly comforts to a man can give?
To live untaught religion's foothing balm,
Or life's choice arts; to live, unknown the calm
Of foft domestic ease; those sweets of life,
The duteous offspring, and th' obedient wife.
To live, to property and rights unknown;
Not e'en the common benefits my own.
No arm to guard me from oppreffion's rod;
My will fubfervient to a tyrant's nod.

No gentle hand, when life is in decay,

To footh my pain, and charm my cares away ;

But

unequal to feverer applications, but never fuffered them to obtrude on the more important duties of life. In every thing he did, he acted as much under the influence of religion, and as being in the continual prefence of God, as any man I ever knew. Piety was the leading feature in his character; and his defire to promote it in others, the first object of his mind and thoughts. b 4 The

But, helpless, left to quit the horrid stage;
Harrafs'd in youth, and defolate in age.

But I was born in Afric's tawny strand,

And you in fair Britannia's fairer land.

Comes freedom then from colour? Blufh with fhame,
And let strong nature's crimson mark your blame.

I fpeak to Britons-Britons, then, behold

A man by Britons fnar'd, and feiz'd, and fold.
And yet no British ftatute damns the deed,
Nor do the more than, murderous villains bleed.
O fons of freedom! equalife your laws;
Be all confiftent-plead the negro's caufe;
That all the nations in your code may fee,
The British negro, like the Briton, free,
But, fhould he fupplicate your laws in vain,
To break for ever this difgraceful chain;
At least, let gentle ufage fo abate

The galling terrors of this paffing state,

That he may fhare the great creator's focial plan;
For though no Britain,-Mungo is a man!