CAMPBELL TO THORPE.

283

CHAPTER IX.

Campbell and Thorpe on Thomas Wedgwood's Death-Dr. R. W. Darwin on the same Subject-Love of Children and BenevolenceHis Legacies-Peter Holland-Sydney Smith-Poole and a Mourning Ring- Last Conversations - Metaphysical Essays-Farming and Philosophy-Neglect of Sir James Mackintosh-Coleridge and Leslie -Thomas Wedgwood's Essay on Our Notion of Distance-Josiah Wedgwood to Mackintosh-Mackintosh to Wedgwood-Mrs. Coleridge's Letter—George Coleridge as to his Brother-Francis Horner— Preparations for leaving Dorsetshire-Francis Wrangham-Wardenship of Dulwich College-Henry Holland in Edinburgh-His Agricultural Survey of the County of Chester-Sale of Gunville-Willmott-His Valuable Services-Poole on Vaccination.

A LETTER from Campbell to Benjamin Thorpe preserves the clearest account we have of Thomas Wedgwood's death; 'My dear Sir,' he wrote, 'I ask your pardon for not immediately answering your polite and attentive note to me on Wedgewood's death. I know not what bundle of anxieties, such as I have had, should weigh so heavy on my attention as to make me neglect the decent ceremonial of acknowledging your friendly enquiries. Wedgewood has left an existence of little value to himself. His organs of happiness, if we may say so, were impaired, almost annihilated. His heart, however, as it regarded sympathy with others, was not impaired. He died without a struggle, or any symptom of pain. It was, perhaps, an alleviation of his fate, or rather of the feelings of his relations, that he died among their hands, and had not begun his intended voyage. In thinking of In thinking of poor Thom. Wedgewood, I deplore the loss of a man who gave me every

reason to call him my friend, and whose intellect I revered, while I loved his feeling dispositions. I regret, also, that the world he has left contains so few similitudes of this departed philanthropist; for such he was, though he felt the coarser grains of human nature sometimes so sorely as to appear half worthy of the opposite name. But that Wedgewood ceases to exist, I cannot, on deliberate reflection, on the whole, lament. I shall be happy to see you soon, and have a long conversation with you, and remain, with great esteem, your sincere friend, T. Campbell.”1

And all the many friends 2 who communicated on this occasion thought in the same way, that death, to new and unpainful life, was great gain. 'I have just received your kind letter,' wrote Dr. Darwin, from Shrewsbury, to Josiah Wedgwood, and am glad you feel and think upon the loss you have sustained in the manner you do. A thousand circumstances at present will hourly remind you of him, but in time you will have the recollection of him impressed upon your mind with melancholy, though less painful, associations. My wife, I am happy to say, only feels as she ought; she is anxious to see your mother and sisters. . Your poor Brother having appointed me executor with you is a great mark of respect. Feeling it such, I could wish to do everything in my power in respect towards his memory, as well as to save you any trouble. You,

1 Thos. Campbell to B. Thorpe, kindly communicated by the receiver a short time prior to his lamented death.

2 His old and attached friend Richard Sharp gave facilities to Mr. Howship, the head clerk in York Street, for the necessary arrangements with the shipowners, and writing from 17 Mark Lane to Josiah W., he said, 'I need not say how greatly I regret your loss, and your brother's early departure from a world which he was so well fitted to benefit by his talents and virtues.' July 31, 1805. Mayer MSS.

however, with your usual active kindness, I know, will do everything that is necessary, and therefore I have only to say, if you wish me to do anything, you will have the goodness to instruct me. . . My wife desires I will say she has felt much for you, and wished to have written to you, but could not.'1 In a previous letter the Dr. had said: 'I have written both to Eastbury and to Worcester, in the hope of prevailing upon your mother and sisters to come to us. My wife is very much afflicted, and I think being with Mrs. and Miss W. they may all help to console and comfort each other. There were three modes of termination to be expected in your poor unfortunate brother's state of health, and that which has occurred was by far the least deplorable, as it was without pain. The moment the paralysis took place all sensation would cease. Febrile action and phrenzy were the other two.'2

Of Thomas Wedgwood's personal appearance no account remains, except that one of his nieces remembers him as a tall, thin, pale, sickly gentleman, moving feebly, by the aid of a stick, about the grounds at Eastbury ; staying occasionally to watch, with interest, his brother's children play, and remarking, as he did so, that he would give half his fortune if he could possibly partake of their health and buoyancy of spirits.

1 R. W. D. to J. W., July 17, 1805. Mayer MSS.

2 Ibid. July 14, 1805. Mayer MSS.

He seems to

To an enquiry made to the late Mr. Thorpe respecting Thomas Wedgwood, the former replied: 'I never saw Thos. Wedgwood. All that I know having reference to him forms a very short episode in my early career. My first employment was in the counting-house of an Insurance Broker and Underwriter, who had 7 full-grown daughters, the youngest of whom (Matilda) afterwards became Mrs. Campbell. The family was Scotch, and T. C., when I first knew him, had recently come from Glasgow. He was an old and intimate friend of the family in question, and thus our acquaintance began. I had never heard of T. W.

286

THOMAS WEDGWOOD'S BENEVOLENCE.

have been intensely beloved by children, and no man had ever a greater share of attached personal friends. His large fortune was liberally divided amongst his family. To the playfellows of his childhood, Mary Willett, otherwise Holland, and Jane Willett, otherwise Turner, he left handsome legacies; the former was dead, but her children were benefited. Mrs. Drewe's daughters were legatees, and Coleridge and Leslie were continued in their annuities. He left the sum of 500l. to be distributed amongst poor bearers of his name, and of these there were a large number in Burslem and the Potteries. Of the legacy to his children, Peter Holland thus wrote to Josiah Wedgwood. After referring to Thomas Wedgwood's death, he continues: 'I feel much gratified by the proof he has left of the regard he had for the excellent mother of my children, Henry,1 Mary, Bessey, and Lucy. The two first are old enough to feel, as they ought, the obligation. Henry spent the last winter in Glasgow; he is now busily employed in Liverpool. Mary is with her aunt Turner, at Newcastle."2 His liberal subscriptions to certain London Societies and Charities were continued by his family for many years, and soon after his death those who had interested

until Campbell expressed the wish that I would accompany him to Jamaica. For me, a clerk with 501. or 607. a year, the offer of 3007. per annum, free of any expense, was not to be rejected without deliberation. I did, however, eventually reject it. Nevertheless Campbell pressed me to accompany him to Salisbury to meet T. W., and make his personal acquaintance. I yielded to his wish, and we started with the intention of proceeding thither; but, from some cause or other, after going to all the places where post-chaises were to be hired, we could not get one, all being away. The consequence was, we gave up the intention, and thus ended my chance of acquaintance with T. W. Communicated March 8, 1870.

1 The present Sir H. Holland, Bart.

2 P. Holland, Knutsford, to J. W., Gunville, July 22, 1805. Mayer MSS.

LIBERALITY TO CAMPBELL.

287

themselves in his intended West Indian voyage were handsomely remunerated. Standert, who had been engaged by Anthony Carlisle, was at his instance paid 100%.,1 and through the graceful agency of Sydney Smith Campbell received a liberal honorarium. Of this, and of Thomas Wedgwood's death, Sydney Smith wrote in this wise: Many thanks for yr Game-of great intrinsic merit; but greater as a proof of yr kindness and good nature. I have had no opportunity of saying anything about yr poor Brother's death; indeed, it is very difficult to know in what light to consider it. It is painful to lose such a man; but who would have wished to preserve him at such a price of misery and pain? He will not easily be forgotten. I know no man who appears to have made such an impression upon his friends. Mrs. S. and her little ones. are quite well. We all unite in kind regards to Mrs. W. and yourself. Yrs very truly, and with the most respect and regard, Sydney Smith.'2 In December, he writes of Campbell; I thank you very kindly for yr liberality to Campbell, and upon that subject will implicity follow yr directions. Many thanks for remembering my former application.3 I will see Mr. Byerley to-morrow, and you shall hear from me as soon as I have mastered the business, in doing which I will take as little time as possible. My great difficulty, I perceive, will be Andrews; but I think I can get at him. We have not heard of any governess yet for Lady M.,4 but I hope we shall soon. One we have rejected on account of her beauty. I write to save this post. You shall hear

Mayer MSS.

1 A. Carlisle to J. W., July 13, 1805. Mayer MSS. 2 Doughty Street, October 5, 1805. 3 As to the Chapel in York Street. made an application at the same date. 4 Lady Mackintosh.

A Mr. Wallach, an auctioneer,