’May our Almighty God, three Persons, blessed for evermore, grant that we may meet hereafter in a blessed eternity!’

One more letter was written:—­

’Feniton Court, Honiton:  June 12, 1861.

’Oh! my dearest Right Reverend well-beloved Son, how I thank God that it has pleased Him to save my life until I heard of the actual fact of your being ordained and consecrated, as I have said more than once since I heard of it.  May it please Him to prolong your life very many years, and to enable you to fulfil all those purposes for which you have been now consecrated, and that you may see the fruit of your labour of love before He calls you to His rest in Heaven.  But if not, may you have laid such foundations for the spread of God’s Word throughout the countries committed to your charge, that when it pleases God to summon you hence, you may have a perfect consciousness of having devoted all your time and labour, and so far as you are concerned have advanced all the works as fastly and as securely as it seemed fit to your great Assister, the Holy Spirit, that they should be advanced.  Only conceive that an old Judge of seventy-two, cast out of his own work by infirmity, should yet live to have a son in the Holy Office of Bishop, all men rejoicing around him; and so indeed they do rejoice around me, mingling their loving expressions at my illness and approaching death....

’I shall endeavour to write at intervals between this and July mail.  It tries me to write much at a time.

’Your loving Father,

‘J.  Patteson.’

The calm of these letters was the pervading spirit of Feniton.  With perfect cheerfulness did the aged Judge await the summons, aware that he carried the ‘sentence of death within himself,’ and that the manner of his summons would probably be in itself sudden—­namely, one of the choking fits that increased in frequency.  He lived on with his children and relations round him, spending his time in his usual manner, so far as his strength permitted—­bright, kind, sunny as ever, and not withdrawing his interest from the cares and pleasures of others, but glad to talk more deeply, though still peacefully, of his condition and his hopes.  One thing only troubled him.  Once he said, and with tears in his eyes, to his beloved brother-in-law, Sir John Coleridge:  ‘Woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you,’ adding to this effect, ’Alas!  That this has been my lot without my deserts.  It pains me now!’

But as this popularity had come of no self-seeking nor attempt to win applause, it was a grief that was soon dispelled.  Perhaps if there was one strong wish, it was to hear of his son’s actually having been received into the order of Bishops, and that gratification was granted to him.  The letters with the record of consecration arrived in time to be his Whitsuntide joy—­joy that he still participated in the congregation, for though not able to be at church for the whole service, he still was always present at the celebration of the Holy Communion.