lordship. This iniquitous scheme was so artfully contrived, that for the security of himself and his family, the bishop thought pro per to file a bill in chancery against Fournier; and after a long trial, it was decreed, "That the note set up by the defendant, Fournier, against the plaintiff, the bishop of Winchester, appears to be, and is a gross fraud and contrivance of the defendant Fournier." This decree however did not deter or abash the defendant, who appears to have been dead to all sense of shame. He had still the effrontery to outbrave conviction, and to treat the bishop with unparalleled audacity; whereupon his lordship finding that he continued to be troublesome, and to enjoy at the same time, the countenance of his old patron, (Mr. Chevallier, a gentleman of character), judged it necessary to publish a detail of the proceedings, and his reasonings upon them. This he accordingly did in the year 1758, in, A Letter from the bishop of Winchester, to -Clement Chevallier, esq." wherein he gave a very particular and spirited account of this extraordinary transaction, this complicated and wicked contrivance. The admirable accuracy and precision with which his lordship's narrative was penned, bore a pleasing testimony to the vigour of his mental powers, and shewed, that a venerable old age had not yet exhausted that warmth and spirit peculiar to him; that spirit which many years before, animated the pen of liberty, and gave so great a check to civil and ecclesiastical tyranny.→→→It was indeed an astonishing performance for a divine turned of 81 years of age; and he received many compliments on that account, both by visits and letters, from several of the greatest lawyers of the age. We are informed by the bishop's narrative, that Fournier pretended to be a convert from popery, and to have escaped from a monastery, under which pretence he found it not difficult to raise patrons in England; the common receptacle of refugees and adventurers of all sorts. In May, 1740, he was introduced to the bishop, with whom he lodged an appeal from a sentence given in the ecclesiastical-court of Jersey, by the dean of Jersey and his assessors. The bishop being of opinion, that the sentence was just, and finding his appeal irregular in point of time, advised, him to go to his curacy, and spend no more of his money and time upon such an affair. But he alleging, that the irregularity proceeded from the refusal of his appeal from the court below, and being importunate, the bishop with great good nature, told him, that he should write to the dean, to know the reason of such refusal; and that so soon as he should receive an answer, he would, if Fournier still insisted upon it, give him his judgment. Soon after the bishop went to Farnham, and during his stay in the country, Fournier forced him into a correspondence by letters about his cause. When he came to town, he told Fournier, that he saw no reason to alter his judgment; and added, that it was necessary for him to go immediately to his curacy in Jersey, or to quit it, To this Fournier made no objection, but ran into complaints about the expences of his cause, and of his journey, &c. whereupon the bishop generously gave him five guineas to assist him in his return; hoping that their intercourse would now be at an end, l -We are farther told, that in the year 1741, Fournier arrested the dean of Jersey upon four promissory notes; but that the dean made oath they were a forgery; upon which affidavit, Fournier's own attorney had the honesty to decline the cause. This disappointment however, did not shock the courage or conscience of this scrupulous convert; for soon after, the bishop discovered that he had shewn a note over his name, for no less a sum than £8800. In some time, the bishop found means to gain a sight of this note, together with those over the dean's name, which were brought to him by one Mr. Tyrrell, accompanied with a clergyman. Tyrrell pressed the bishop to burn these notes, "that their falsity might not,” as he said, "appear in a court of justice to the man's utter ruin.'; The bishop however had too much discretion to follow such inconsiderate advice, His lordship then takes notice of the various and inconsistent stories which Fournier told concerning the consideration of this pote; and in particular of the contradictory accounts which at dif ferent times he gave to Mr. Chevallier himself. But notwithstanding all these variations and falsehoods, Fournier was hardy enough to brave the bishop, and defy detection: upon which his lordship (as we have seen) was obliged to call him and his note into chancery, where he obtained a judgment in his favor, together with all costs of suit, amounting to £150, and upwards. The circum stances which incontestably proved the note to be counterfeit, are accurately related by his lordship; and it appeared from the parti culars, which were confirmed by depositions in the cause, that the ingenious Mr. Fournier had drawn up at least three notes over the bishop's name, on the franks in which his lordship's letters were inclosed, when he was artfully led into an epistolary correspondence. In short, the concurring evidence of his guilt, was more than sufficient to warrant the decree of a court of equity against Fournier, Our prelate, with some warmth, expresses his amazement that Mr. Chevallier, who had the character of a man of unblemished integrity, should patronize Fournier, after the strongest assurances of his guilt, even from the contradictions which he heard from his own mouth; and he imputes a part of the trouble he had in the affair, to this encouragement and protection. He likewise, with great tenderness, takes notice of some inconsistencies and contradictions in Mr. Chevallier; and concludes, with a truly christian temper, that he forgives him as fully and as sincerely as it is his duty to do. Bishop Hoadly died at the great age of 85, at his palace at Chelsea, on the 17th of April, 1761. He was a man of great abilities, which he employed in the service of religion, and in promoting the common rights of mankind; and his private character was very amiable. He was twice married; and by his first lady he had five children. His son Benjamin became a physician, and was author of the celebrated comedy, called, "The Suspicious Husband." Another of his sons, Dr. John Hoadly, became chancellor of the diocese of Winchester. He was editor of a complete edition of the works of his father, which was published in three volumes, folio, in 1773, A few years before bishop Hoadly's death, the following Ode was addressed to him by Dr, Akeņside; and which it has been observed, is a more lasting monument of him, than that which was executed by Mr. Wilton, and erected to his memory in the cathedral of Winchester: ODE to the Right Rev. Dr. BENJAMIN HOADLY, Bishop of Winchester. 1. 1. For toils which patriots have endur'd, For treason quell'd and laws secur'd, The palm of honorable praise. May strive: but what, alas! can those To faithful story and persuasive verse? I. 2. O nurse of freedom, Albion! say, I. 3, To him the Teacher bless'd Who sent religion, from the palmy field, By Jordan, like the morn to cheer the west, And lifted up the veil which heaven from earth conceal'd; "Go thou, and rescue my dishonor'd law, From hands rapacious, and from tongues impure: Let not my peaceful name be made a lure Let not my words be impious chains to draw II. 1. No cold nor unperforming hand Was arm'd by heaven with this command. To William's ear, with welcome joy, For not a conqueror's sword, Nor the strong powers to civil founders known, Were his but truth by faithful search explor'd, And social sense, like seed, in génial plenty sown, Wherever it took root, the soul restor'd To freedom, freedom too for others fought. Not monkish craft the tyrants claim divine, Not regal zeal, the bigot's cruel shrine, Could longer guard from reason's warfare sage; Not the wild rabble to sedition wrought, Not synods by the papal genius taught, Nor St. John's spirit, nor Atterbury's rage, III. 1. But where shall recompence be found? Wears the bright heroine her expected spoils, |