Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

There is no affectation of attitude or drapery, but the essential looks sadly yet brightly through the human. Their grief is not lachrymose: it is the grief of spirits. On the left hand of the spectator is Genius, with his old funeral emblem, the reversed torch: climbing the steps to the right are, in rich combination, Literature and Science. These are the mourners at this tomb, as they have been the hired mourners at so many others. But all that is foreign or meretricious about their look or office is here gone. The figures seem as if they were rightly here-the proper spirits grieving at this eternal door. The more they are looked at, the more they resolve into the essences which they embody. The perfect simplicity of their presentment is full of pathos. The scroll is in the hands of Literature, and that of Science rests upon her wheel; but these things are scarcely seenseen only at last-and not wanted as interpreters. The whole is greatly and beautifully monumental. Over the doorway of the tomb, the keystone, enriched by a coiling serpent (the old emblem of eternity), assists to support the cornice, from which rise a rusticated pediment and pedestal. On the latter is placed a colossal bust of the deceased Lord; and on either side of the tomb are bassi relievi representing severally Charity and Justice. The monument is twenty feet high, eleven feet six inches wide, and has six feet of projection from the wall. The architectural portions are of Sicilian marble. It will be placed, we understand, to the left of the west door of Westminster Abbey."

Juvenile Vagrancy.-In his speech, in the House of Commons, on the state of the juvenile poor, Lord Ashley stated, that on the books of certain Ragged Schools from which he had obtained returns, there appeared 2345 names, but the average attendance was 1600. Sixteen hundred young persons on an average attended the schools. How were they brought up? 162 of them, onetenth of the whole, confessed that they had been frequently in prison; 116 had run away from home; 170 of them slept in lodging-houses, which were the nests of every thing the human mind could conceive of abominable; 253 avowed that they lived altogether by begging; 216 had no shoes or stockings; 280 had no caps, hats or bonnets; 101 had no body linen; 249 never slept, or had no recollection of having ever in their lives

slept, in a bed; 68 were the children of convicts; 125 had step-mothers, to whom might be traced much of the misery that drove them to the commission of crime; and 306 had lost either one or both parents. The average attendance in the Ragged Schools last year was 4000. If to that number were applied the same relative proportion of calculation, these results would follow. It would be seen that amongst the 4000 there were 400 who confessed that they had been often in prison; 660 lived by begging; 178 were the children of convicts; and 800 had lost either one or both parents.

Oldbury Lecture.

At this anniversary meeting, on Tuesday, Sept. 12, the religious service was introduced by the Rev. Samuel Bache, who read a portion of the Scriptures and prayed. The sermons were preachand the Rev. James Cranbrook; the ed, severally, by the Rev. John Palmer former taking as his subject [Is. ii. 2— 4], "the predicted improvement of hu

man affairs shewn to be in accordance Man's constitution and history;" the with the Divine perfections, and with latter [John vii. 48, 49], "Nonconformity to State Churches justified and

recommended.".

It was understood that the preachers at the next anniversary [D.V.] are the Rev. Alexander Paterson and the Rev. Thomas Bowring.

REMOVAL OF MINISTERS.

Huddersfield.-The Rev. GEO. HEAP STANLEY, who has been minister of this congregation from its formation in April 1846, has signified his intention of retiring at Christmas next, before which time the congregation are desirous of meeting with a suitable successor, in order that the movement so promisingly commenced in that town may be crownLetters ed with permanent success. may be addressed to Mr. Wm. Hornblower, Huddersfield.

The Unitarian congregation at King's Lynn are in want of a minister, in consequence of the resignation of the Rev. W. MOUNTFORD, which took place at Michaelmas.

* Much of the preacher's argument was referable to the massacre at Paris, Aug. 24, 1572, and to the Act of Uniformity, August 24, 1662; and those events had, avowedly, suggested to him the topic of his discourse.

OBITUARY.

1847. Dec. 24, at Shelton, Staffordshire, ISAAC WHITEHOUSE, aged 71 years. The deceased was a worthy but poor man, who got his living for many years as a gas-fitter. The deleterious effects of this occupation, in which lead and its preparations are much used, ultimately shortened his days. His history, not otherwise remarkable, may probably obtain a brief notice for him in the Christian Reformer, from the circumstance that he resided with Dr. Priestley as a servant boy at the time of the wicked riots of 1791. On different occasions he has conversed with the writer of these lines, and communicated circumstances respecting his revered master, whom he honoured even to his old age, impressively say ing of him, that "he should never live to see such another man." Notes of these conversations were committed to paper at the time. And, although some pieces of information which clung so long to the relator's memory may appear trifling in themselves, still, to the admirers of Dr. Priestley, Whitehouse's disconnected recollections may not prove wholly unacceptable.

Isaac Whitehouse was born at Coseley Old Mill, in the parish of Sedgeley, Staffordshire, April 20th, 1776. Previously to his going to live with Dr. Priestley, he was for a short time in the Messrs. Russells' warehouse in Paradise Street, Birmingham, when he boarded and lodged with Mr. Gibson, superintendent of their establishment, who lived in a house adjoining the warehouse. When at Messrs. Russells' warehouse there was another person there of the name of Whitehouse, who afterwards became a Unitarian minis

[blocks in formation]

The name of Dr. Priestley's residence was Fairhill, situated nearly two miles from Birmingham. His laboratory was a very complete one. He used to do any light iron work on his own anvil; heavier articles he had forged in Birmingham. He had a printed catalogue of his own writings, a copy of which he gave to Whitehouse. The Dr. composed in a short-hand, and a Mr. Birtles, a writer in an attorney's office, used to come occasionally to copy this out in long-hand, after the Dr. had read the short-hand to him. Sometimes Mr. Birtles would stay writing for a fortnight, and sleep at Fairhill. When the short-hand MSS. were done with, being written upon on one side only, the Dr. would give them to Whitehouse to use in writing upon the other side. The Dr. was very kind to Whitehouse; he desired his son William to teach him to write, arithmetic, and the use of the globes. He gave him a pair of globes, having himself got a new pair, with Capt. Cook's tracks marked on them. These Whitehouse kept in his bedroom, with many books and maps of Palestine, &c., the Dr. likewise gave him; but the rioters destroyed all, throwing the globes out of the window. Indeed, Whitehouse's bed-room was more like a library, the walls being covered with Dr. Priestley's books. The Dr. also gave him permission to read any book in his library, making only this condition, that he carefully put the book back again into its place when he had done with it. Whitehouse read many volumes on this kind permission. The Dr.'s son Joseph was with his mother's brother, Mr. Wilkinson, at Bradeley iron-works. There were two women servants kept in the house besides Whitehouse. The Dr. did not keep a horse. He generally walked to town, and had a hackney carriage when Mrs. Priestley went with him. The Dr. went twice to London each summer Whitehouse was with him. He rose early, particularly in summer, often at five o'clock, and went to bed at ten. There were family prayers in an evening at nine o'clock, and frequently in a morning. The Dr. had a little bit of an impediment in his speech, which you might discover when he was in a great hurry in speaking. He was never idle for five minutes at a time, but engaged in reading, or some other

way. When reading, he always had a pencil in his hand, with which he made notes in the margin of the book. The Dr. kept a good deal of company, and many persons of all religious denominations about Birmingham visited him. Mr. Berrington, the Catholic of Barr, used frequently to call to see him, and many other Catholics. He was particularly friendly with Mr. J. Proud, the Swedenborgian minister of the Temple, and was accustomed to lend him books, which Whitehouse conveyed backwards and forwards. The Dr. had a catalogue of his library, with references to the shelves, as well as the numbers on the books. The Dr. had three sons, Joseph, William, who was short-sighted and wore spectacles, and Henry.

Mrs. Priestley was a very industrious woman, never at rest except when she was asleep. She used to assist in all household duties except washing, and always made pastry herself. She frequently came to direct and assist Whitehouse in the garden in weeding and planting. She managed all pecuniary matters, and if the Dr. was going out, he used to ask her for money. On Sundays he stayed in Birmingham to dine.

When the rioters came to Fairhill, there was much difficulty in persuading Mrs. Priestley to get into a coach to go away; her friends were almost obliged to use force. The rioters broke all the glass apparatus in the laboratory,--retorts, alembics, carboys, &c.and there was a cart-body full of broken glass on the floor. They found some wine in the cellar-raisin wine, made by Mrs. Priestley, who used to prepare many sweet wines. They broke off the necks of the bottles and drank the wine, frequently getting their lips cut in the struggle and contention that was going on. One man was ascending through the cellar window, with a bottle of wine in each hand and a bread loaf under his arm, when some of the rioters who had got upon the roof of the house were pushing the copingstones off the parapet. One of these stones fell upon the man's head, struck a portion off one side and broke his arm; he died in a few minutes. They had much difficulty in getting lights to set things on fire. They tried by rubbing phosphorus upon the floors. At length they got a candle and set fire to the house in different parts. It burnt as long as it would, not one attempting to put it out. There was a sun-dial on

the grass-plot at the front of the house; the rioters heaped the Dr.'s books around this, and set them on fire. Most of the mischief was done by youths between boys and men. Whitehouse saved a telescope about six feet long, and a very powerful burning lens, so powerful that it would melt a brick. He carried them to a labourer's house in the fields till a period of safety. The Birmingham authorities did not interfere to put a stop to the work of destruction. Mr. Russell carried information to London, and letters were sent from thence to Nottingham for soldiers to proceed to the spot. soon as the rioters heard that soldiers were coming, they collected in groups of five or six, and skulked off across the fields. The rioting continued for three or four days, during which Whitehouse remained on the spot.

As

At the time of Dr. Priestley's going to America, Whitehouse received a present of three guineas from Mrs. Priestley. She also came down to Mr. Wood's, the Unitarian minister, when she called upon his mother to inquire whether she would allow him to go with them. He, however, had been put apprentice to a shoemaker, and his mother would not consent to his going to America, which he always regretted since. People thought as much of going to America then, as we do of going to Australia now. Whitehouse's father was the owner of the windmill at which he was born, and likewise of a bit of land. He had twelve children.

Whitehouse subsequently lived_at Warwick, where he frequently saw Dr. Parr. It was Dr. Parr's custom, when riding out, to get his servant to ride before, instead of behind him, having once been attacked by a bull.

Isaac Whitehouse has left a poor and infirm widow, with whom he had been united nearly fifty years.

J. B. D.

It is with feelings of deep sorrow that we record the decease of Mr. RUSSELL ScorT TAYLOR, the proprietor of the Manchester Guardian. This melancholy event took place in the night of September 15, at his residence, the Laurels, Pendleton, near Manchester. By his premature decease in the 24th year of his age, in addition to the irreparable bereavement to his family, society has lost an able and public-spirited man, whose principles were pure, whose wisdom was far beyond his years, and the Unitarian denomination has been de

prived of one whose attainments and dispositions gave promise of much usefulness, and whose well-directed liberality was never denied to deserving cases. He was the eldest son of the late John Edward Taylor, Esq., of Manchester, and grandson of the Rev. Russell Scott, of Portsmouth. The moral and religious principles which he inherited were his guidance and delight. Brief as his course has been, his friends are consoled by the reflection, that it was as happy and useful as it was virtuous. His death excited throughout the city and neighbourhood of Manchester the deepest regret. The tribute to his memory which we subjoin appeared in the Manchester Guardian the day following the funeral.

"It is now less than five years since we had the melancholy duty of announcing the death of the late Mr. John Edward Taylor, the founder, proprietor and principal editor of this journal; and we have now the still more afflicting task of recording the death, at the early age of 23 years, of his eldest son, Mr. Russell Scott Taylor, who had succeeded to the duties and responsibilities, and who was, in every respect, the inheritor of the talents and virtues of his deceased parent. The present is the more grievous bereavement, because, although Mr. John Edward Taylor, at the time of his death, had not reached a very advanced age, yet, measuring his existence by the extent and utility of his public and private labours, rather than by lapse of time, he might be said to have lived a long life, and to have gone down to the grave, if not full of years, at all events with the honour of having rendered much good service to the community in which he lived. His son, on the other hand, has been suddenly cut off in the prime of his youth, and when he had had just sufficient time to manifest the possession of those mental and moral qualities which promised a life of great public and private usefulness, but before he had enjoyed any extended opportunities for their practical employment.

"Mr. R. S. Taylor was born on the 22nd of February, 1825, and received his education partly in private schools, partly in the Manchester College, and lastly, at the London University, where he took the degree of B.A. Though not remarkable for the extent of his acquirements in any one department of learning, Mr. Taylor made a very respectable progress in all the usual branches of study; but he was most

remarkable, even at a very early age, for a sound judgment and a well-balanced mind, which estimated every species of knowledge according to the ends which it was calculated to subserve, and gave to every pursuit its due weight and importance. In him the judgment and the reasoning powers were as fully developed at twenty-one years of age, as in most men at thirty or thirty-five; and with this early maturity of judgment, he combined a degree of prudence and forethought rarely acquired without a long acquaintance with the world. In these respects, he greatly resembled his father, who, as some few of our readers will probably remember, was not only conspicuous as a public man, but enjoyed the full confidence of an important and influential portion of his fellow-townsmen before the expiration of his minority.

"Nor were the moral qualities of Mr. Russell Taylor less remarkable than his intellect and his judgment. From a very early period in his life, he evinced the most sincere and active benevolence, which displayed itself in his efforts for the promotion of education, and of every plan for ameliorating the condition of the poorer classes of his neighbours. At an age when most young men are solely or principally intent upon amusement, he was labouring earnestly, and to the full extent of the opportunities afforded him, to promote the well-being of his fellow-creatures. only a zealous and ardent friend and promoter of education, but was remarkable for his kind, yet careful and discriminating, private charity, and was ever ready with his personal services, or his purse, to promote any sound and judicious scheme of benevolence.

He was not

"In temper and disposition, Mr. Russell Taylor was remarkably amiable and engaging. With great firmness of character, which was, perhaps, the necessary result of sound judgment and exemplary prudence, he combined great modesty, purity of mind and delicacy of feeling, and was so uniformly gentle and courteous in his personal deportment, that he never gave pain or offence, even to the most sensitive mind, by his mode of refusing a request, or by the expression of a difference of opinion. Indeed, we never heard of his having, at any period of his life, provoked an enmity, however slight; and we believe he had the good fortune to retain, perfectly unimpaired, to the last day of his life, every friendship which he once succeeded in acquiring.

"Gifted with these qualities of intellect and disposition, and placed in an advantageous position for their beneficial exercise, Mr. Russell Taylor appeared to have before him a career highly creditable to himself, and of great utility to his fellow-creatures. But, alas! mental endowments are sometimes gained at the expense of physical strength. An unusually early maturity of the intellect and the judgment is almost incompatible with a very robust frame; and, although Mr. Taylor enjoyed general good health, those who knew him best were but too well aware that his organization was comparatively feeble and delicate. When attacked, as he was early last week, by typhus fever, of the most malignant type, he rapidly sunk under its virulence, after a confinement to the house of four days only.

"At the time of his death, Mr. Taylor had been married about thirteen months, and he leaves a widow and an infant daughter."

June 1, aged 71, Mr. DRAYTON, of Leicester.

June 2, at his house, Hinckley, Leicestershire, of consumption, Mr. CHAS. ESTLIN, Son of the late Mr. Jas. Estlin, of the same place, leaving a widow and five children to deplore his loss.

July 15, at Brakenthwaite, near Cockermouth, after an illness of eleven months, JANE, eldest daughter of the late Mr. John WOOD, of Shacklewell.

Aug. 1, after a very short but painful illness, SAMUEL JOB WRIGHT, Esq., of the Limes, near Derby, in the 53rd year of his age.

Aug. 13, at Reading, Berks, Mrs. MILLICENT EATON, in the 66th year of her age.

Aug. 15, aged nine months, MARY, daughter of S. D. DARBISHIRE, Esq., of Greenheys, Manchester.

Aug. 16, at her house, Falkner Street, Liverpool, Mrs. WOODHOUSE CROMPTON.

Aug. 29, at West Kirby, Cheshire, JOHN D. THORNELY, Esq., of Liverpool.

Sept. 13, aged 10 years, MARGARET, younger daughter of the late Nathan GASKELL, Esq., Ox House, Heys, Upholland, near Wigan. She was a child of great promise, and possessed an amiable disposition.

Sept. 15, at her residence, Ravensworth Terrace, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Miss MARY RANKIN, daughter of the late Robert Rankin, Esq., merchant, of that town.

Sept. 19, in the 50th year of her age, ELIZABETH, wife of Mr. R. T. GRUNDY, solicitor, Bury.

Lately, Mrs. SARAH FLOWER ADAMS, younger daughter of the late Mr. Benjamin Flower, the well-known political writer and printer. The Athenæum, in announcing with regret her death, speaks of her "as known to the readers of our contemporary poetry by her drama entitled Vivia Perpetua,' and adds, "In a day when so many voices challenge the world's ear, it is not surprising that an utterance as delicate as hers should have found but delicate reponses. But many who were grateful for its music then, will mourn over its silence now."

MARRIAGES.

1848. Sept. 16, at St. Saviourgate chapel, York, by Rev. H. V. Palmer, Mr. WILLIAM WHEATLEY to Miss EMILY MARY FOX, both of York.

Sept. 18, at the Unitarian chapel, Cheltenham, by Rev. H. Solly, Mr. JAMES ALEXANDER, of Birmingham, to Miss SELINA HEYWARD, of Cheltenham.

Sept. 19, at the New Gravel-Pit chapel, Hackney, by Rev. John Boucher, G. S. KENRICK, Esq., of West Brom

wich, to SARAH, only daughter of the late John STEVENSON, Esq.

Sept. 20, at the Old chapel, Ipswich, by Rev. T. F. Thomas, Mr. WILLIAM

CANHAM to Miss EMILINE LUCY SCOPES.

Sept. 21, at George's meeting, Exeter, by Rev. Thomas Hincks, Mr. Exos WILSON to EMMA AZILE, eldest daughter of Mr. Thomas MURCH, of Wonford, near Exeter.

« VorigeDoorgaan »