Lord Kenyon

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Description

Kenyon informs Chase of the death of G.W. Marriott.

Date

3-23-1833

Keywords

G.W. Marriott, Mrs. Marriott, Horace Walpole, Marianne Kenyon, Old Bowdler, Sydenham, Kent

Transcript

Putman Sq’r

March 23

1833

My dearest Bishop

I have long wished to write to you, but have not had the resolution to do so. Most truly however can I say, that the feelings of my heart towards you have never suffered the slightest [?] of respect and affection. I cannot fathom the depth of the conduct which has been [pressured] towards you, but of the continuance of your undeviating devotion to the most sacred of causes I have never for one moment doubted. No more has our dear excellent friend G W Marriott, of whose sorrows, sufferings, and blessed release from this world on the 1st of this Month I am desired by his most excellent widow to let you know. His piety resignation & cheerfulness remained with him & his last breath. In Horace Walpole’s worlds “Long [pining] illness proved his equal soul and patience like a Martyr’s crowned the whole” I saw him 5 times since I brought up my only rem’g precious daughter Marianne in the beginning of Feb’ry. The fourth visit I paid him I flattered myself he was really better, but his treacherous complaint consumption had laid hold too vitally on his constitution to allow of his recovery. So I say medically, but God’s goodness & wisdom no doubt led Him in His mercy to remove to HImself from further trial a faithful humble servant whose unvarying endeavour it was thro’ his life (as systematically as human imperfections allow) to submit himself to God’s will and to make that his own. Thro’out all his illness lasting thro’ a whole year, such was his marked disposition. The night before he died such disposition accompanied by unexampled cheerfulness was wonderfully displayed, and well justified the saying of his excellent friend Old Bowdler’s son “that it was a night much to be remembered.” His excellent widow and children are as well and as mercifully supported as we could wish. I hope they have a sufficiency for comfortable maintenance, and having enough [?] food & clothing they will be therewith content. The two sons are grown up, & both are pious young men and have been great comforts to their dear parents thro’ the trial of the last year, and I have no fear will continue to be so. The dear girls now 3 nearly grown up give no discomfort but occasionally from delicacy of health. All are truly amiable & conscientious, & the 4 younger boys are very good boys & great comforts. We may feel assured that the children of such parents will not be forsaken by Him whom they have always sought to make their Friend, by faith in His promises and resignation to His blessed will. Our excellent friend died at Sydenham in Kent abt 8 miles from London. Where they will settle is not yet determined, as many things require consideration in reference to so large a family. You my excellent friend will feel much I am sure for the state of this [?] Country. I am anxious [?] for the Church. If we are true to God’s Church He will support it, for its sake; and us for our devotion to it. Convinced as I have ever been that for its sake & from it we derived all the [?] eminent blessings wh. have been showered down on this Nation, every motive combining to ensure my fidelity to it. The spiritual comforts wh. it confers however are its highest claims to my attachment & affections; and the wh. those precious to me Wife Parents & Children gone before me, and the consolations wh. in my manifold afflictions, I have derived from it, would make me ungrateful in the extreme if any attachment to it ever failed. My 2 dear sons as well as my precious Marianne are my greatest earthly comforts. Hoping you & yours keep well and anxious to hear from you, I am Ever your most affec’te friend

Kenyon

Letter to Philander Chase

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