DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70302#0182
158 LIFE OF LORD CAM'eLFORD.
till he expired, his lordship-expressed his confidence in
the goodness and mercy of God ; he said he received
much comfort in reflecting, that however he might have
acted, he had never really felt ill-will towards any man.
In the worst moments of his pain, he cried out, that he
sincerely hoped that the agonies he then endured might
expiate the sins he had committed. “ I wish,” says Mr.
Cockburne,<c with all my soul, that the unthinking votaries
of dissipation and infidelity could all have been present at
the death-bed of this poor man; could have heard his
expressions of contrition, for past misconduct ; and of
reliance on the mercy of his Creator; could have heard
his dying exhortation to one of his intimate friends, to
live in future a life of peace and virtue ; I think it would
have made an impression on their minds, as it did on mine,
not easily to be effaced.”
He lingered free from acute pain from Thursday till
Saturday evening, about half past eight, when a mortifi-
cation having taken place he expired, apparently without
sense of pain.
Thus died Thomas Lord Camelford, in the prime and
full vigour of life. He was a man whose real character
was but little known to the world ; his imperfections and
his follies were very often brought before the public, but
the counterbalancing virtues he manifested, were but
seldom heard of. Though too violent to those whom he
imagined to have wronged him, yet to his acquaintance
he was mild, affable, and courteous ; a stern adversary but
the kindest and most generous of friends. Slow and
cautious in determining upon any important step, while
deliberating, he was most attentive to the advice of others
and easily brought over to their opinion; when however
his resolution was once taken, it was almost impossible to
turn him from his purpose. That warmth of disposition,
which prompted him so unhappily to great improprieties,
prompted
till he expired, his lordship-expressed his confidence in
the goodness and mercy of God ; he said he received
much comfort in reflecting, that however he might have
acted, he had never really felt ill-will towards any man.
In the worst moments of his pain, he cried out, that he
sincerely hoped that the agonies he then endured might
expiate the sins he had committed. “ I wish,” says Mr.
Cockburne,<c with all my soul, that the unthinking votaries
of dissipation and infidelity could all have been present at
the death-bed of this poor man; could have heard his
expressions of contrition, for past misconduct ; and of
reliance on the mercy of his Creator; could have heard
his dying exhortation to one of his intimate friends, to
live in future a life of peace and virtue ; I think it would
have made an impression on their minds, as it did on mine,
not easily to be effaced.”
He lingered free from acute pain from Thursday till
Saturday evening, about half past eight, when a mortifi-
cation having taken place he expired, apparently without
sense of pain.
Thus died Thomas Lord Camelford, in the prime and
full vigour of life. He was a man whose real character
was but little known to the world ; his imperfections and
his follies were very often brought before the public, but
the counterbalancing virtues he manifested, were but
seldom heard of. Though too violent to those whom he
imagined to have wronged him, yet to his acquaintance
he was mild, affable, and courteous ; a stern adversary but
the kindest and most generous of friends. Slow and
cautious in determining upon any important step, while
deliberating, he was most attentive to the advice of others
and easily brought over to their opinion; when however
his resolution was once taken, it was almost impossible to
turn him from his purpose. That warmth of disposition,
which prompted him so unhappily to great improprieties,
prompted