friend to our excellent conftitution, he ever labored to
preferve it entire; this induced him to petition for the
reform of fome abufes during the adminiftration of Lord
North, at a period when the influence of the crown
was fuppofed to have exceeded its due bounds; this
brought him forward in later times, with additional energy,
to reflft the democratic fpirit, which menaced tenfold evils.
The duties o f a magiftrate he exercifed with candor, with
a temperate yet zealous warmth to protect the opprefled.
His benevolence to the poor was unbounded, his repeated
exertions to relieve the wants of a populous neighbourhood,
by the importation of corn, in times of fcarcity, were truly
munificent. Temperate in diet, he enjoyed the fruits of
abftinence, and, until a few years previous to his deceafe,
poflefled an unufual ihare of health and vigor. His conver-
fation was lively, replete with inftrudtion, and brilliant
with fallies of true humour; yet too great fenfiblity at
times lowered his natural flow of fpirits, and occafioned
fevere dejedtion.
O f
O f his literary character the public is the impartial judge,
and that public not only in this, but in foreign countries
has fixed on it the ftamp of approbation. Blefled with a memory
the moft retentive, his powers of compofition were
rapid; his works were generally printed, as they flowed
from the pen, with little or no corredtion, hence, fome inaccuracies
may be expeded, but their numbers are trifling.
Such, candid Reader ! is the true but imperfedt Iketch of
the charadter of a man who to fuperior talents united
the utmoft goodnefs of heart.
Accept, fainted fpirit! this unavailing tribute of filial
duty! May the example of thy virtues ftimulate my exertions
! May my latter end refemble thine !
D A V I D P E N N A N T .
D o w n in g ,
April 12, 1800.
b. 2