often imagined he was just going to die, when he had no bodily ailment; yet when he was seized with his last illness, he did not expect it would be the cause of his death. His method of getting rid of a cold was somewhat curious; he lay in bed and ate little or nothing, and thus drove it away by hunger. This bears some resemblance to what is mentioned by Lucian, of a poor man's frightening away a fever by gulping down water. He was also not troubled in his old age with doubts about his salvation, and observed to a friend who mentioned this, that he was now too old to be disturbed by such gloomy apprehensions. In the course of the narrative, a short account and separate character has been given of each of his works. It only remains to make some general observation on the whole. They discover him to have possessed strong natural powers, which were enriched with a complete knowledge both of sacred and profane literature. Had his taste been equal to his learning and imagination, or had he employed more care in polishing his compositions, they would certainly have been more agreeable, and of consequence more durable. But his arrangement is somewhat confused, and his style, though strong and masculine, is often harsh and obscure. It is however observable, that the style of his two last volumes is far superior to that of the other five. He seems at length to have been sensible of his defects in this particular, and has been tolerably fortunate in avoiding them. The style of the last is so different in point of perspicuity from that of the first volume, that if there did not appear a similarity in the mode of thinking, you could scarce suppose them to be both the production of the same author. The style of his private letters, which are remarkably instructive, is plain and unaffected; here he seems to throw aside his stilts, and to walk upon his feet with an easy equable carriage. If his attempts at wit and irony be sometimes unsuccessful, yet he is scarce ever deficient in good sense, which he draws abundantly from his own natural fund, for he is no servile copier even of the thoughts of others. He is therefore entitled at least to the character of an original writer. His writings are also animated with an ardent zeal for the happiness of his fellow-creatures. The subject on which he employed his pen is of a nature the most noble and excellent, either to prove the truth of divine revelation, or to point out to man the conduct that will render him acceptable to the great Author of his being. From the specimen of his ability in explaining the Scriptures exhibited in his Senilia, we have reason to lament that he did not write a commentary on that sacred volume. If he had, we may suppose he would not have been so tedious and un-. entertaining as the generality of our commentators, whose dulness and verbosity give us a distaste for a critical study of the Holy Scriptures. Though he was so eminent for his pulpit eloquence, his productions in defence of revelation, and the exemplary sanctity of his private life, yet he remained, it has been shewn, at least twenty years a curate. At length he obtained, by powerful interposition, a small living from bishop Clayton in a wild part of the country; where probably he would have continued all his days, had not Providence placed Dr. Garnet in the see of Clogher, who was remarkable for promoting men distinguished for literary qualifications. In the Irish church, it is well known, that fortune or powerful relations are the chief requisites for. preferment, and that learning and abilities are too often neglected and disregarded. Had Skelton been born in England, even with the disadvantage of his humble birth, it is allowed, he would have risen to a bishopric. But his being a native of Ireland, the condition of his parents, and the honest freedom of his language, contributed to prevent his advancement to ecclesiastical honours. It is to be lamented, that the merits of a poor Irish clergyman can hardly be so famed as to reach the royal ear, that lends so favourable an attention to literature in the English church. The following panegyric on Mr. Skelton, taken from the Philosophical Survey of Ireland, may naturally be subjoined. "Mr. Orr, published a volume of Sermons, which procured him the friendship of Hoadly, bishop of Winchester; they discover a free and original cast of thought, and are composed in a manly nervous style. The present bishop of Clogher has the honour of prometing him to an arch deaconry, when he governed the see of Ferns. And to the same excellent prelate Mr. Skelton owes his preferment. "This gentleman though ungraduated, but as a Bachelor, by any of the universities, is the living glory of the Irish church. He has published five volumes, mostly in defence of revelation, which though ably written, shed but a secondary lustre on the character of this excellent person, to whom I have had the happiness of being introduced. His learning is almost universal, and his language uncommonly fluent and vigorous; nature formed him a poet, but a bishop prematurely ordained him a divine; and no sooner did he assume this function, than his feeling heart was penetrated by the nicest sense of duty. He resigned himself wholly to the service of his Master. Such a servant could not long escape notice; he became eminent; he was followed in London as a preacher. He dedicated two volumes of sermons to the citizens of that metropolis, at a time when he languished upon a curacy of 401. ayear; but then he was as rich as he is now, for he knows no use of money, but to relieve distress. In one of those seasons of calamity, which neglect of tillage in this country renders so frequent, he sold his books, his only worldly goods wherein he took delight, to buy bread for the poor. He is now advancing towards seventy, yet he preserves an uncommon share of vivacity. If he sometimes descends into the ludicrous, his flashes of wit keep the table in a roar. His powers of description are beyond what I could have conceived; he has a stock of imagination sufficient to set up ten modern tragic poets. Had he been educated and lived in England, a stage little enough for his great abilities, he would have long since obtained the first niche in the temple of fame; now he is known only in Ireland, and by a few inquisitive men elsewhere." A marble tomb-stone has been placed over him at the expense of Miss Leslie, whom he appointed his residuary legatee, with the following inscription, the composition, it is said of the Rev. Robert Burrows, junior; fellow of Trinity College, Dublin. This is a mistake; for he had the living of Pettigo at that time. "Beneath this stone are deposited the remains of The Reverend Philip Skelton, Prebendary of Donacavy in the Cathedral of Clogher, He did not suffer them to lie waste through Inactivity, Invigorating it by exercise and enriching it with And pursuing the noblest ends by means the best Adapted, He laboured industriously to promote the happiness Of Mankind, By advancing the influence of the Christian Religion. His arguments evinced the reasonableness of its Doctrines; While his example shewed at once The practicability and amiableness of its precepts; For As his opinions were orthodox his manners were Primitive. His conversation was candid and unreserved; For he harboured no thought which required Concealment. His preaching was forcible and dignified, Impressing on his hearers the rightful authority of Virtue, And with indignant elocution and nervous diction, Holding out her Adversaries To contempt and detestation. Pious without superstition, and zealous without His life was practical devotion, And his controversies the earnest efforts of Leading infidels to truth, and sinners to salvation. With a heart which felt for the distresses of the Indigent, He had a hand still open to relieve them, Denying himself even moderate gratifications That he might more liberally provide for the Necessities of others. Without ambition he acquired celebrity, And without ostentation he long continued to enjoy It. A friend to the poor, an ornament to the church, Admired for his talents and revered for his virtues, He was at length called to the rewards of a Patriarchal life, In the immediate presence of that God, Whose name he had worshipped with such piety, And whose word he taught with success." |