Individual Details

Death

Last Sabbath Morning died here, and was decently interr'd the Day following, amidst all the Sable Expressions of Grief, Mr. Charles Peronneau, Merchant, in the 28th Year of his Age. - A Name that will always be mention'd with Honour by all who have felt the Influence of his Acquaintance - He was a dutiful Son, a loving Brother, a sincere and steady Friend, and indeed an Ornament to his Country; which has produced but few of his Equals, and ought to be this publickly acquainted with the Loss it sustains by his Death. - By a laudable Industry, and quick Capacity for Business, under the smiles of Providence, he had amass'd a considerable Interest, and laid a probable Foundation for all the little Happiness this World can promise; but was not so immers'd in Business, as to forget the Improvements of a Genius, for which Nature had distinguish'd him: - No; instead of prostituting his Leisure-Hours to the common Vices and vain Amusements of Youth, he devoted them to reading, and had collected and perused many Writers of the first Class and Character - He had a good Taste in Poetry, and had well digested several excellent Pieces, as well Theological as Philosophical - As he had a Thirst for Learning in all it's most valuable Branches; so with a just Balance, and due Mixture of Judgment and Imagination, he became a great Master of his Pen; which he discover'd in several occasional Letters to his intimate Friends, of that Spirit, Elegance and Correctness, that they might bear Examination of the severest Criticks of the Age, and could not fail of the Applause of all candid Judges; And if he arriv'd to this Perfection in Writing by the mere Force of his own Powers and Application, what might we not have expected from him, had he stood nearer the Fountains of Science, convers'd more freely with Academics, and dwelt among the Muses - Nor had he less of the Gentleman than of the Scholar; for he understood all the Forms of Civility, the Rules and Decencies of Conversation; and how to indulge an innocent Freedom, without and Breach or Inroad upon Religion and Modesty. - To sum up his Character, he was of an admirable natural Temper, of much social Virtue, and more than a Tincture of serious Religion; which he was of too catholick a Spirit, and had too much Grandeur of Soul to confine to a Party, or Points of more Indifference. - A Man of such Merit, and so many natural and moral Accomplishments, snatch'd away in his Prime and Flower, is no private Loss; but a monitory and affecting Instance of the Vanity of Human Life; while his Character deserves immortality, and survives for the Imitation of young Gentlemen, who, with him , would live beloved and die lamented; without which, the most pompous Funeral-Procession is but the Burial of an Ass. (Thursday, October 23, 1740) (Salley 15-16).