Andrew Van Rymsdyck 1753/4-1786. Portrait of Peregrine Dealtry. Drawn at York in 1783. Watercolour on laid paper laid onto card. Some age related timestaining, pin mark to sitters forehead. 7.5 by 11 cms. Image. 18.2 by 21.3 cms. Mount overall.
Extract from Dr Parrs Memoir:
This excellent man was at Ryde, in the Isle of Wight, at the time of his decease, on the morning of Thursday, September 15th 1814. He had complained of a slight indisposition, on the preceding evening; not of such a nature as to excite any serious concern in himself or his friends. But when his servant entered his chamber, on the following morning, he found him a corpse.
“Mr. Dealtry, who was usually mentioned among his numerous friends by the name of Perry Dealtry, was a gentleman of very amiable character. His manners were simple and unassuming, without the smallest foppery or parade. None of the varied lines of affectation, or of vanity, ever discoloured any part of his conduct. The good which he did, and he did much, was done without any view to publicity, or any of the common stimulants of ostentation. His mind had not been very laboriously cultivated; but he was far from being wanting in discrimination; and he possessed much sterling good sense, without any of the glitter of superior illumination. He never made any pretensions to literature; but in fact his knowledge was more extensive than it appeared to a casual observer; and his remarks often indicated sagacity, and reflection. “He was a steady friend to civil and religious liberty; and in earlier life had mingled a good deal with men, whose politics were different to his own. Mr. Dealtry loved liberty, as a practical good; in the enjoyment of which all orders of the state had a common interest. He could think for himself, and had opinions of his own; but he never evinced any narrow-minded antipathy to persons, whose sentiments were opposite to those, which he espoused. He could bear and forbear; hence his company was uniformly acceptable. His fortune was ample; and he knew how to observe the right medium between parsimony and extravagance. There was one virtue in which he particularly excelled, and it is not of every day’s occurrence in these times—this was hospitality. But he was not hospitable by fits, or for the occasional gratification of his own pride. His table, which was emblematical of his beneficent disposition, was never scantily supplied. There was always an abundance of viands, and of the best quality, without any profuseness or ostentation. No man was ever more happy to see his friends; no one entertained them, with more unfeigned cordiality. The stranger saw the good-humoured complacency of his host and soon felt himself at home, in his house. In short, he was a man made up, not of showy ingredients, but of all the bland elements. The several good qualities, which constitute a gentle master, a kind neighbour, a warm friend, and a tender relative, were his in no ordinary degree. And the tears which will bedew his grave, are those which are the constant homage of the heart to a character of genuine worth.”