He had a fine, sonorous voice, good delivery, and some eloquence. The Bishop of Exeter, Dr. Phillpotts, heard him on one occasion, and said to a lady, a connexion of Mr. Russell, "That was really a capital sermon." "Ah! my lord," she replied, "you have only heard him in the wood—you should hear him in pig-skin giving the view-halloo!"
Bishop Phillpotts came to the diocese resolved to suppress the hunting and sporting of his clergy, but found it impossible to do so. His efforts were wrongly directed; the hunting put down would not have altered the propensities of his clergy. He could not convert them to earnest and devoted parish priests. Thus hearts could not be reached. It was only as this class of men died out that a better type could be introduced. The Bishop sent for Mr. Russell, of Swymbridge.
"I understand that you keep hounds, and that your curate hunts with you. Will you give up your hounds?"
"No, my lord, I decline to do so."
He then turned to the curate, Sleeman, and said, "Your licence, sir, I revoke; and I only regret that the law does not enable me to deal with the graver offender of the two."
"I am very happy to find you can't, my lord," said Russell. "And may I ask, if you revoke Mr. Sleeman's licence, who is to take the duty at Landkey, my other parish, next Sunday?"
"Mr. Sleeman may do it."
"And who the following Sunday?"
"Mr. Sleeman again," replied the Bishop, "if by that time you have not secured another curate."
"I shall take no steps to do so, my lord; and, moreover, shall be very cautious as to whom I admit into my charges," replied Russell.
