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EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE.

OCTOBER, 1812.

MEMOIR

OF

THE LATE DANIEL PARKEN, ESQ.

THAT Ignorance is the mother of Superstition, has been demonstrated by the experience of mankind in every age of the world; and it is only by confounding superstition with religion that the latter can be supposed unfriendly to literature. That the learning of Greece and Rome declined during the progress of Christianity in those regions, arose from po litical, not religious circumstances: but it is certain that the barbarous nations which subverted the Roman empire derived the first rays of learning and science from Christianity; that religion and literature afterwards sank together among them, and that the revival of learning was the grand instrument which it pleased God to employ in recovering them from the darkness of Popery to the genuine light of the Gospel.

These reflections naturally result from the contemplation of a life devoted, during the most active season of it, to the joint interests of learning, science, and religion. If they enhance our regret for the loss of one well qualified to promote objects of such importance, they should proportionably excite our thankfulness for the good that has been done, and our concern to supply the loss that has been sustained. The former will reconcile us to the very remarkable and solemn dispensation of divine Providence which we have to record; the lat ter may prompt us to an imitation of the excellent example which we have to describe.

Transient as was the course of the subject of this Memoir, it exhibited contrasts of the most affecting and instructive kind; and, if delineated in detail, would furnish a very interesting narrative. But the undertaking would far exceed our limits; it would require also a variety of information, not speedily to be obtained with accuracy, and it would, moreover, involve the concerns of many survivors to a degree improper for publicity. A mere outline of his short course must suffice.

Daniel Parken was born at Dunstable, in Bedfordshire, of parents in a respectable commercial situation, who retained 3 D

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the attachment to evangelical religion for which their respective families had been distinguished. They had a numerous offspring, to all of whom they gave every advantage of education within their power; and in whom, generally, à greater portion of talents was evident than is often comprised within a single family. Daniel, the eldest son, particularly attracted notice by early proofs of genius; and, being designed for the Bar, pursued his classical studies at a school of high reputation, through a considerable portion of his youth. An unexpected reverse of their temporal circumstances seemed, however, to blast all his prospects. He had also, shortly before, lost a highly valuable and affectionate mother, and one of his sisters, who were endeared to him both by amiable and eminent qualities; all but one successively became victims of consumption. They left, however, a happy evidence, That so severe a loss to others was their inestimable gain.

In a distant retreat the remaining branches of the family submitted to unavoidable privations, without murmurs or de spondency. The energies of Daniel's character especially, were, in this situation, demonstrated perhaps beyond any precedent at so early an age. To re-establish the only practicable line of business with which he was acquainted, he devoted himself to the severest manual labour. His conduct surprised all who observed it, though strangers to the indul gences which he had formerly enjoyed, and to the prospects which he had entertained.

From this obscurity he was called, when barely arrived at years of maturity, to take charge of a work of periodical criticism, designed to counteract the prevailing scepticism, false doctrine, and licentiousness of the age. It had been established twelve months before, by the exertions of a few gentlemen of property and learning, and some ministers of different religious denominations. One of them, at the urgent desire of the rest, had accepted the arduous office of directing the publication; but the incessant application which it demanded, impaired his health so greatly as to render his resig nation of it indispensable. Among many who were qualified and willing to have taken up th burden, no one could be found whose time could be sufficiently devoted to the purpose. The Editor had lived in the vicinity, and was acquainted with the family of Parken. He had admired his early genius, knew his literary attainments, and claimed his assistance in the Re view. The articles on Marsh's Juvenal, and Lord Teignmouth's Life of Jones, were written by Parken during his laborious retirement. The industry, stedfastness, and perseverance, which he manifested in that situation, encouraged his friend to recommend him to the supporters of the Eclectic Review, as qualified to the utmost that his youth and the mea

sure of inexperience inseparable from it could admit, for the charge of so important an undertaking. He accepted it with mingled diffidence and zeal; and acquitted himself of its duties to the entire satisfaction of those who entrusted it to his care. The improved execution, the increased reputation, and the extended circulation of the work, while under his direction, render needless any encomium on the diligence, the prudence, and the fidelity with which he discharged his office. He acquired the cordial esteem of all with whom it brought him into connexion; and the warmest friendship of many, whose names, were it permitted to publish them, would be allowed to do honour to all who could enjoy the privilege. He repeatedly received, from numbers who felt an interest in the Eclectic Review, public testimonies of their approbation: and on one of these occasions he wrote to his family (with which he constantly maintained an affectionate intercourse) 'I know not that I am wiser or better than I was a few hours ago; but I am sure that I am happier.

Of the weight of his charge he was fully sensible; and the reverses which he had sustained, with privations of his dearest kindred, doubtless contributed to that moderation and tenderness of spirit which he preserved in so distinguished a situation; while the affectionate friends whom he had acquired watched, with a parental care, both over his spiritual and his temporal interests. To his predecessor in the charge, who had recently lost his dearest earthly connexion, he addressed the following reflections, evidently resulting from his habitual feelings; and at the same time as appropriate to future contingencies as if he had anticipated the termination of his

course :

To part from long endeared friends is painful; but to leave them behind to lament our loss, seems to me still more bitter and distressing. If I were deprived of these objects of love, I hope that I should, for I think that I ought to reflect, that I was delivered from sources of anxiety. The idea has struck me continually, in travelling, that I carry about with me too much treasure. I carry with me the happiness of many whom I love most dearly; and of late I have carried the concerns of the Eclectic Review, which I feel to be no small charge. I should seem comparatively safe in the bustling crowd of dangers, if I had not these. valuables about me. When the worst event is clearly ascertained to be the simple loss of one's own life, or rather the exchange of it for a better, it would seem as if every evil of life had lost its sting.-I have to thank you, my dear friend, under divine Providence, as the means of giving my contemplations a prevailing bias towards serious objects, of making me careful about the end of my faith. It would grieve you to know how much there remained to do when I came to London, nay, how much there remains to do, within me. I dare not trust myself upon the subject; yet I cannot deny you, under your present depressing circumstances, the consolation of knowing my conviction, that my occupations and associa tions here have been considerably useful, as they were exceedingly neces sary to me in moral concerns; nor can I refuse expressing my gratitude to you for contributing to form and encourage my hope of obtaining the unspeakable gift.'

Such was the genuine language of his heart, in circum stances which those who best knew him are aware would alone have drawn from him this modest avowal of his progress in real religion. In the knowledge and belief of its truths, he had been educated from infancy; nor is it known that his conduct ever disgraced his creed. In trials of the raost opposite kinds, and of the greatest force, he had certainly acted so as to adorn it. But he had formed so high an estimate of the Christian character, and so low an opinion of osentatious pretensions to it, as to maintain an habitual reserve, which might have been painful to his friends, if his conduct had left room for any doubt of the motives by which he was actuated. The solemn and affecting event which prompted the impressions we have quoted, would supply an additional warrant, were it necessary, to the fulness and force of their meaning. He had apparently, at a very early period, attained to those high points of Christian practice,-In whatever state he was, therewith to be content; and to do all things appropriate to it, through Christ, who alone could strengthen him.

The concern which the friends of Parken testified for his eternal welfare, might have seemed questionable, if at the same time they had been indifferent to his temporal interests. The emoluments of his office could not be considered as a com pensation for his indefatigable exertions; much less as a per manent reward for them. He commenced therefore, Student of Law, in one of the Inns of Court, in order to take the gown as a Barrister when the exigencies of the Review should admit. For this occupation he was originally designed; and seemed to be peculiarly qualified, by the promptitude of his conceptions, and his readiness in argument. He engaged in it, consequently, after having persevered in the conduct of the Review longer than he had pledged himself to the charge, and till he could recommend to its supporters the gentleman who relieved him from its burdens.

He entered on the studies and duties of his profession, if not with pleasure equal to that which he had derived from his literary occupations, yet with the same intense application which, in the most opposite stations, had invariably marked his conduct. It had, indeed, become the more needful, from his pro-tracted services to the Review; and from the consequent deJay of his attention to that popular elocution, which often supplies the place of other requisites in every sphere of public exhibition. In this, however, as in every qualification for usefulness, the laborious perseverance to which he was habituated, left no doubt on the minds of those who knew him, of his attainment to eminence, had it pleased God to prolong his life. Of its continuance to a length of years, there appeared, to most of his friends, a strong probability. His make was robust; and his health had sustained exertions under which most con

stitutions would have failed. It had seemingly improved of late, notwithstanding unintermitted employment for 17 out of the 24 hours, which precluded even his favourite (and almost. sole) relaxation of music.. His sedentary occupations were interrupted only by attendance in the courts, and at the country assizes. He had twice travelled the circuit through Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire, where he was received by the, neighbours of his youth with demonstrations of affectionate remembrance. On a third excursion of this. kind, he was snatched from all earthly connexions and pursuits.

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The circumstances attending this catastrophe,' says one of his most intimate friends, are such as strongly mark the finger of Providence. He had left Aylesbury in a single horsechaise, with his brother; and about seven miles from that place they met a country cart loaded with hay. While passing it, a slight gust of wind blew a handful of hay upon the head of his horse, who took fright, and became (in our friend's apprehension) unmanageable. He therefore jumped out; and one of his feet being caught by a hole in the road, his ancle was wrenched from its position by the force with which bis, body fell on the ground. He was soon after taken up by a postchaise, and carried to his friend Mr. Harris's, at Aylesbury," where every care was taken; and appearances were, for some days, favourable. At length, nervous irritation came on, and high delirium ensued, till a few hours before his death. He then became calm, was sensible of his situation, resigned himself to the hand of God, and expired.'

Thus were the earthly prospects of this distinguished youth exchanged, according to the persuasion of those who knew him best, for a crown of glory that fades not away. The former, though bright, were precarious, and must, at the utmost have been transient.

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Some of his most intimate friends contemplated his rapid advances toward eminence with mingled sensations of pleasure and of pain. had always,' says one of them, regarded him as intended to form the subject of a course of dispensations, somewhat out of the ordinary routine. His mind was too penetrating in its energies, and too excursive in its range, for the texture of his bodily frame; and at no period of our friendship bave I been without having my fears for his health or life excited, in proportion as I witnessed the expansion of his faculties.'

This judgment, being founded on close observation during his residence in London, is likely, to have been just. It differs, however, from that which the writer of this memoir had form ed, from an earlier acquaintance with its subject, and a confidential correspondence continued to his death. From that irritability of the nervous system, which is usually a concomi tant of genius, Parken was certainly not exempt. It appears, indeed, to have occasioned his catastrophe; but the ardour which characterized his mind was as remote from rash impetuosity as from morbid insensibility. It was directed and re3 E

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