him, that the miseries to which they have become heirs through man's rebellion, ought not to suffer aggravation from human despotism. He was ever prompt, therefore, to alleviate their condition, as much as in his power, feeling that while "it is glorious to have a giant's strength—it is tyrannous to use it as a giant." "The wretch," he used to say, "who is bad enough to maltreat a helpless beast, would not spare his fellow man, if he had him as much in his power."
He travelled much, (always resting on the Sabbath) and greatly enjoyed the observation of endlessly varied character which he thus met with. Edification was his constant pursuit. One day, a fellow passenger, impatient at the delays on the road, burst out into immoderate rage, with many oaths. Sharp was silent at the time; but next morning he sought out the angry traveller, and earnestly remonstrated with him.
In his youth, he was the intimate friend of Sir William Jones; and when that admirable man was departing for the East Indies, Granville, in a fervent interview, urging the duty and privilege of prayer, said to him, "We have talked together on many subjects—but not sufficiently on the most material of all, the perfect reliance which we ought to feel upon the will of our Creator." Sir William delighted him, by replying, that "he was constant in prayer." These brother spirits, seem both to have entered deeply into the full import of the blessed injunction, "Whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."
In manners, Sharp was full of courtesy and of attentiveness to others—but his urbanity was subject to no modes of men—it was the gush of undissembling love, warm from his heart. It was the politeness of the Christ-like man, and not of the man of the world.
His mental faculties continued vigorous until the beginning of 1813, his seventy-eighth year, about half a year before his death. A rapid and painful decay then came on. His affections were as lively, and his sense of duty was as strong as ever; but his understanding tottered, and his memory failed. He was not himself, however, aware of
