Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

not the current opinion of the day. But what is unfashionable is not always false. It is thought by some to be in all cases a sufficient proof that nothing beyond natural disease has happened, because, when by medical aid bodily health has been restored, the mind is again perfectly free and tranquil. He esteemed this argument by no means satisfactory. There are persons who will converse with you coolly and rationally on any subject whatsoever, who yet have occasionally propositious darted into their mind (as they believe and express themselves) as distinct from their own train of thoughts, as if they were pronounced by another person. To allege that the body occasions these things, is surely to assign an effect without a cause, or (which is the same thing) without an adequate cause; for it is not, I hope, the body that creates thoughts and forms propositions. To say, again, that the mind itself is the sole agent in the business, is to argue against the consciousness and conviction of that mind; for the person thus molested shall at the same instant be talking with you cheerfully on a subject totally different; shall be reading, or praying. If these momentary interruptions are seldom experienced but when the body is more or less indisposed, and cease when it has regained the full tone and vigour of health, this only shews that a disordered body was the predisposing occasion or organ, but does not prove it to have been the immediate or efficient cause. It will not be denied that there are malignant beings, who watch every opportunity, and eagerly seize every permitted mode, of assaulting us; and where then is the absurdity of supposing they may be able to harass us, when one part of the machine is disordered, in a different manner or degree, from what is in common cases possible, when the whole moves in perfect harmony? When a wicked monarch was troubled by a more wicked spirit, the melody of the harp composed and refreshed him, and he was well; and his foiled assailant departed from him.In what I have stated, I am assured, I represent facts; and I know, as to the probable cause of those facts, I express his sentiments, whose opinions, as well as actions, 50 far as it is material to record the one or the other, it is my duty to exhibit with all fidelity. We cannot pronounce with certainty what is merely natural disease, what demoniacal possession, and what the occasional mofestation of the powers of darkness; for we have not, as one has justly remarked t *1 Sam. xvi. 23.❞

"Bishop Newton, in his Dissertation on the Demoniacs. See his works, vol. iii. p. 191."

GENT. MAG. July, 1810.

on the subject, that miraculous gift, the discerning of spirits; but it is right surely to pray for deliverance from the more extraordinary degrees of temptation or trouble, as well as from those which are less uncommon, provided it be done with a condition expressed, that the case be what to us appears probable: and a better prayer for the purpose will not easily be devised, than that which precedes and occasioned these remarks."

About the year 1766, and for some time afterwards, he employed him self in composing an exposition of the Apocalypse. This he finished, but never published. "It was his humble request to God, that if his system were wrong, the work might never see the light; and it so proved, that whenever he thought of revising hispapers and preparing them for the press, something still intervened, and tainty as to the probable success of hindered his design." In this uncerhis undertaking, it was suffered to lie quiet in his study, with a direction to be burnt, which he never rescinded. He found leisure, however, while employed on it, to attend to the controversy of the Confessional, and published, but without his name, 1. "Doubts concerning the Authenticity of the last Publication of the Confessional, and the current Editions of certain books cited in it: addressed to the Author of that learned Work."

1767. 2. "A Defence" of them, "in answer to Occasional Remarks, &c." 1768; and 3. in the same year, "A Dialogue between Isaac Walton and Homologistes; in which the character of Bishop Sanderson is defended against the Author of the Confessional." Mr. Churlon has bestowed what we believe to be a very just encomium on all these pamphlets, which are here reprinted.

In Sept. 1768, at the earnest request of his friend and patron, Mr. Drake, Dr. Townson went abroad with his eldest son, Mr. William Drake, a Gentleman Commoner of Brazen-nose college, and perfo med nearly the same tour which he went over twenty-six years before. After recording this, Mr. Churton introduces his own connexion with Dr, Townson in these words:

"The writer of these memoirs was the younger son of one of Dr. Townsous pa rishioners, a yeoman. At a proper age be

A

he was put to the grammar-school in Malpas, with wishes, I believe, rather than any just hopes, of bringing him up for the church. It pleased God that both his

parents died: but he continued at school; and his worthy master, the Rev. Mr. Evans, mentioned him to Dr. Townson, who made him presents of books, and frequently assisted and directed his studies. By Dr. Townson's recommendation, he was entered at Brasen-nose in 1772; and the same generous hand contributed one half towards his academical expences. In 1778 he was chosen fellow of his college; and his kind friend and benefactor lived to congratulate him on being presented by that Society, March 12, 1792, to the rectory of Middleton Cheney, in Northamp

tonshire."

After Dr. Townson's return to Malpas in October 1769, he studied and produced his Discourses on the Four Gospels." They originated in a Sermon first preached in the parish church of Blith field, and afterwards before the University, June 2, 1771, where he was desired to publish what had been heard with so much satisfaction. This induced him to reconsider the subject; and, by a progress which every literary man will readily understand, it grew under his revision to its present form and size, and was published in 1778, in a quarto volume, and received with the universal approbation of his learned brethren. Bishop Lowth's testimony to its merit may be selected from a number: "it is a capital performance, and sets every part of the subject it treats of in a more clear and convincing light than ever it appeared in before." But, adds his Biographer, he received testimony to the merit of his book, on which he set a higher value than on the commendation of any individual, however exalted in character, or dignified by station. This was the degree of Doctor in Divinity by diploma, which was with perfect unanimity conferred on him, in full convocation, by the University of Oxford, February 23, 1779. This honour will appear the greater to our readers, when they are told that diploma degrees are very rarely conferred by this University.

der the part of the Gospels which relates to that subject; but he did not at this time pursue it. In the summer of 1778, he published a Sermon, intituled, "The Manner of our Saviour's teaching," preached before Dr. Porteus at his primary visitation of the see of Chester; and two years after the Bishop bestowed on him the Archdeaconry of Richmond. The Archdeacon of Richmond has a stall in the Cathedral at Chester, and his portion in the duties of the church; but in other respects he has really no authority or charge belonging to him; for the Bishop is himself, in effect, Archdeacon both of Chester and Richmond; the endowments of which two Archdeaconries constitute

The Discourses on the Gospels were scarcely published, when some eavils respecting one of the Evangelists, and an attack made upon Mr. West's book on our Lord's Resurrection, induced Dr. Townson to consi

the principal revenue of the see. The Bishop, however, laudably solicitous for the good of his diocese, gave him a special commission, April 25, 1782, to visit the five Northern Deaneries within the Archdeaconry of Richmond, in the execution of which Dr. Townson rode, by his own computation, being then almost seventy years of age, 572 miles, and from the information obtained in this journey, com posed a very elegant and methodical register, exhibiting a full and distinct view of each parish and chapelry, under the several heads pointed out for his examination.

In 1783, the Divinity Chair of the University of Oxford, then vacant by the death of Dr. Wheeler, was offered to him by Lord North, Chancellor of Oxford, in a letter so ho nourable to that Nobleman, that we cannot content ourselves with merely referring our readers to it.

"Lower Grosvenor-street, Aug. 11, 1783.

"SIR, "Although I recollect our former acquaintance with great pleasure, it is not on account of that acquaintance, nor of

your long and intimate connexion with those whom I shall ever love and esteem, that I trouble you with this letter. Upon the death of Doctor Wheeler, the King commanded me to look out for a proper successor; by which words his Majesty understood some person confessedly wellqualified for the Divinity Chair, whose promotion should be acceptable to the publick at large, and, particularly, to the University of Oxford. I have since endeavoured to execute his Majesty's commands, and, after the most minute enquiries, I cannot find any person in the

kingdom

kingdom who corresponds so exactly to his Majesty's definition of a Divinity Professor, as Dr, Townson; a gentleman, whose character is universally beloved and esteemed, and whose general learning, and particular knowledge in theology, has been acknowledged in the most distinguished manner by the University, where the Professorship is now vacant. You will, therefore, I hope, give me an opportunity of acquiring credit to myself, of promoting theological knowledge, and of giving satisfaction to the publick and to his Majesty, by accepting a situation which, by the public testimony of the University of Oxford, and by the general consent of all who are acquainted with you, you are the properest person England to fill. I have the honour to be, with the greatest respect, Sir, your most faithful, humble servant, NORTH."

in

This very handsome offer, however, Dr. Townson was obliged to refuse, as he was now so far in the decline of life, that he was very apprehensive, or rather satisfied, that he was not equal to the exertions which a faithful discharge of the duties of that office would require."

During the same year, when the attention of the reading and literary world was occupied by the controversy between Dr. Priestley and Dr. Horsley (then Archdeacon of St. Alban's) Dr. Townson sent to the Archdeacon some remarks on his opponent's letters, which were printed in the Appendix of Dr. Horsley's Letters to Dr. Priestley, published in 1784, but without his name, which he concealed.

In the Northern part of the Diocese of Chester, the Roman Catholics form a considerable body. This induced our Author to turn his mind to examine the claims of the Church of Rome, and he accordingly composed a dissertation on the subject; but, although this work was highly approved by his friends, and was even transcribed for the press, he deferred the publication with his wonted diffidence; nor did he at last, when the question was put to him, pronounce decisively whether it should or should not be printed*. In 1784, however, he printed part of the work on the Resurrection, already noticed as begun in 1778, under the title of "A Discourse on the Evangelical Histories of the Resurrection and First * This, however, was done in 1797; and it is now reprinted in these volumes.

Appearances of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." 53 pages, 4to. Of this he dispersed six or eight copies among those in whose judgment he placed confidence; but the final publication was posthumous. He departed this life April 15, 1792, in the presence of his Biographer, who has related the circumstances of his pious and placid departure in a manner that is truly interesting and exemplary; and concludes with a character of the deceased, admirably drawn, and rich in those qualities which, we trust, will ever endear the memory of such men as Dr. Townson to posterity.Besides the narrative of his life, which we have briefly abridged, Mr. Churton has interspersed much valuable biblical criticism, and incidental notices of Dr. Townson's friends, &c.

The contents of these volumes are, vol. I. The Discourses on the Four Gospels; to which is subjoined, A Sermon on the Manner of our Saviour's teaching. But the original part of this volume will probably first engage the reader's attention, and we may venture to say will afford him ample satisfaction. This consists of a Sermon, intituled, "The Quotations in the Old Testament considered;" preached before the University of Oxford at St. Mary's, May 31, 1807, by Mr. Churton; and, as he informs

us,

"the result of an enquiry, carefully pursued, at intervals of leisure, during the space of five or six years or more." It is now pu lished, “in humble hope that it may form no improper introduction to the Discourses of Dr. Townson on the Gospels, by shewing that what is there maintained, in the case of the Evange lists, was the known and established practice of Revelation, from the days of the first Prophets that succeeded Moses." Prefixed to this excellent Discourse, is an introduction of very considerable length, principally in vindication of Dr. Townson from the attack lately made on his work by the Author of "Discursory Considerations on the Hypothesis of Dr. Macknight and others, that St. Luke's Gospel was the first written." In handling this controversy, Mr. Churton displays abilities of which it is certainly not too much to say that they place him in the first rank of biblical scholars; but, what is perhaps yet more valuable, they exhibit that uni

form

of his pursuits in that country, directed his particular attention to the laws and commerce of the place; and, from the investigation of the former in their antient and modern state, he insensibly became well acquainted with the nature of the Government: in the same way, considering the commeree carried on by the inhabitants with the rest of the world, he soon acquired a knowledge of the productions exported, the regulations of trade, and the several bearings of political connexions: hence, he adds in his Preface, "Many important facts, and valuable commercial documents and calculations, relative to these interesting countries, were gradually collected and arranged."

66

[ocr errors]

In his travels or excursions to dif ferent places within the territories described, Mr. Gray attentively observed the customs and manners of the people, as arranged into different classes of society; "and the natural beauties of the country, which are every where conspicuous, were not regarded with indifference." The grand and imposing forms assumed by Nature in Canada, are no sooner seen than sentiments of surprize and admiration arise. The climate, and the surface of the district, abound with peculiarities, and the phænomena of the winters are extremely curious. These," observes Mr. G. "were investigated with all the attention they seemed to deserve." On returning to England, the Author found the political relations of the Northern parts of Europe and the United States of America with Great Britain so unsettled and precarious, that any part of the world became interesting which could supply those articles withheld by those countries. "Such is C nada, and such are our other North American colonies. To point out the value of the latter more forcibly, there are added in the Appendix the petitions and memorials from Nova Scotia and New Bruns wick to the British Government, in which the productions and resources of those countries are stated, and the line of policy pointed out which they imagine mos. likely to promote their welfare." The English nation, Mr. Gray truly observes, knows little of the vast regions of America where the dominion of their Monarch still exists, and yet this extensive terri

form candour and calmness of temper, which, if they do not end in conviction, would certainly make many controversies end in peace. It would be foreign to our plan to enter upon the points at issue between Mr. Churton and Mr. Dunster; but so far as the character and learning of Dr. Townson are implicated, we may be allowed to add that, in our opinion, he is defended by an advocate whom it will not be easy to answer.

Vol. II. contains Dr. Townson's "Discourse on the Evangelical History, from the Interment to the Ascension of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ," first edited by Dr. Loveday in 1792.-Three "Sermons," 1. On Religious Meditation; 2. The History of the Rechabites; 3. The Righteousness and Peace of the Gospel. These were selected from his MS Sermons by M. Churton, and for reasons stated in a short preface to them. 66 Babylon in the Revelation of St. John, as signifying the city of Rome, considered with reference to the claims of the Roman Church," first published in 1797. "Doubts concerning the Confessional, &c." "A Defence of these Doubts," and "A Dialogue between Isaac Walton and Homologistes; in which the character of Bishop Sanderson is defended, &c."-Such are the contents of these volumes, which, we doubt not, will find a place in every theological library, and perpetuate a name which the scholars of past times were accustomed to mention with respect, and which the friends of Revelation will at all times recollect with gratitude.

4. Letters from Canada; written during a Residence there in the Years 1806, 1807, and 1808 shewing the present State of Canada, its Productions, Trade, Commercial Importance, and Political Relations: illustrative of the Laws, the Man ners of the People, and the Peculiarities of the Country and Climate: exhibiting also the Commercial Importance of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Cape Breton; and their increasing Ability, in conjunction with Canada, to furnish the necessary Supplies of Lumber and Provisions to our West India Islands. By Hugh Gray. One Volume; 8vo. Long mau and Co. 1809.

THE Gentleman to whom we are indebted for the "Letters from Canada," through the peculiar nature

tory

tory offers an ample field for the exercise of the talents of the philosopher, the statesman, and the politician. To excite the requisite attention to so important a subject was, "in a great measure, the object of the present publication."

The weak, cruel, and abortive policy of forcing nations to resign all their commercial pursuits, in order that France or England may be ruined with more or less certainty or rapidity, lately adopted, is particularly and irresistibly demonstrated in the instances of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Russia, and the United States of America. Nothing can more decidedly contradict the universality of genius for governing attributed to the present Ruler of France, than his own decrees for the blockade of England; and he has found to his cost, but more to the vassal nations around him, that the veriest plodder in trade can outwit him, England will now use her own inexhaustible resources of timber, tar, &c. contained in Ame rica; and he confesses the above fact in every licence granted by him to supply us with the necessaries we require. In returning to the Letters before us from this digression, we should be deficient in gratitude did we not return our thanks to Mr. Gray for his laudable attempt to frustrate one of the designs of our enemies, aimed at the Navy of Great Britain.

The Author had an opportunity of witnessing a most extraordinary confict, which frequently occurs in the river St. Lawrence. The thresher, a species of flat fish about twenty feet in length, called by the Canadians Un Fleau, whose back is black and belly white, assisted by the swordfish, attack the whale, and contrive by superior address to elude the vengeance of their vast adversary, and at length to kill him. Mr. Gray illustrates this fact by giving an instance of the amazing force with which the sword-fish strikes when exasperated : the Pennsylvania Packet was taken into Dock to discover the cause of a leak, in Philadelphia, in 1806, when the carpenters found part of the beak of one of these fish had penetrated the copper sheathing, splintered a plank, and had reached the inner planks or cieling; fortunately the fish could not disengage the sword, which remained

broken off, or the vessel must have sunk.

Mr. Gray is inclined to attribute the mortal combats thus produced, to mere antipathy and mischief on the part of the lesser combatants: we think, on the contrary, that it arises from an instinct of self-preservation, which prevails throughout animated nature; besides, the whale is so enormous, and requires such quantities of food, that, were their numbers not lessened, the sea might lose almost all its tribes of fish. The manner adopted by these daring assailants is extremely sagacious, and shews, that though man alone is endowed with reason, other creatures have a something nearly approaching that noble faculty. The sword-fish remains at a convenient depth for his operations, below the whale, and darts with all its force at the huge mass above; the latter immediately rises to the surface, where the thresher waits, and, raising the greater portion of his body out of the water, the tail is seen in violent motion, flapping the back of the whale, who, terrified, escapes from his enemy head foremost, but, at the same time, striking tremend ous blows with his own, one of which would instantly destroy the fugitive thresher, did he not keep aloof, till another wound from his assistant, or the want of air, induced the whale to rise again. "It is impossible," says Mr. G. "to conceive any thing more desperate than the conflict appeared to be. To see the tremendous animals in contact, part of both raised high out of the water at the same time, the black back and immense head of the whale, contrasted with the long white and black tail of the thresher, in constant action, literally threshing the whale most unmerci fully; every blow resounding like the noise of a cannon: feeling the blows, and galled on all sides by creatures he might well despise, he flounces about, blowing, aud making a tremendous noise, dashing the water to a prodigious height, and occasioning a sort of local storm."

Canada was discovered by Jacques Cartier, in the year 1535; and, entering the vast river which penetrates the country on St. Lawrence's day, he honoured it with the name of the Saint. The etymology of the word

Canada

« ПредишнаНапред »