L30/14/315/13

From Beilby Porteus to 2nd Baron Grantham:

15 Apr 1776

From: 1776 To: 1776

The late Archbishop left his options [preferments claimed from the Diocese of every Bishop whom he consecrates and which may be bequeathed by Will] to three Trustees; the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishops of London & Winchester, to be disposed of at their discretion. One of the principal of these, The Mastership of a hospital near Winchester called St. Cross, recently became vacant. Porteus and Slinton jointly claimed it, Porteus acquired it, resigning to Slinton the Prebend of Peterborough. The Mastership is worth £150 per year, the Prebend about £200. Comments on Dr. Burney's `History of Musick' and Mr. Bryant's `Third Volume of Mythology'. In Burney's work the Greek, Chinese and Scotch Airs are all very much alike. Included also are drawings of an ancient instrument resembling a bagpipe and a curious Harp thought by Mr. Bruce to be 6000 years old. Discusses Mr. Gibbons' ‘History of the declension & Fall of the Roman Empire’. Would have deserved great praise if last two chapters omitted or "rendered more comfortable to Truth...representation...of progress of Christianity is unfair & indecent & will do great harm...has adopted the grave Irony of Hume & Voltaire on such subjects and is not inferior to his masters". Hume currently at point of death, Gibbon seems disposed to "finish the Good Work which he began". Mentions Gibbon's short term conversion to Popery and although "not the least afraid of your Lordships adopting his Principles" will send a copy of the anonymous ‘a View of the internal Evidences of the Christian Religion’. Description of Duchess of Kingston's Trial "one of the most splendid & Magnificent Sights that can be imagined". Queen present with five of her children, in the Duke of Newcastle's box. Duchess "dressed very becoming in deep mourning" etc.. pleaded Not Guilty and "objected to the Indictment on the ground of her having obtained a sentence in the Ecclesiastical Court" after debate, this was read by which it was decreed that she and Mr. Harvey were not man & wife. Her counsel consisted of two barristers, Mr. Wallace and Mr. Mansfield and two civilians Dr. Calvert and Dr. Lynn. They produced many cases in point to prove that the Temporal Courts had in all cases that come under Ecclesiastical Courts, especially marriages, considered the sentence of these Courts as final. Tomorrow Council for the Prosecution to be heard. Porteus "fully satisfied with one day in Court".

item

Slinton,
Burney,
Bryant,
Bruce,
Gibbon,
Hume,
Voltaire,
Chudleigh, Elizabeth,
Harvey,
Wallace,
Mansfield,
Calvert,
Lynn,
Bristol, Augustus John Hervey, 3rd Earl of

Winchester, Peterborough, Prebendaries, literature, courts, MARRIAGE