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Obituary.-Mr. James Crowe.

which produced a cough and hoarseness. These continued, with occasional remis sions, until he determined to return to his native air. He arrived at Warrington on Sunday, March 13, when his friends were most painfully confirmed in the alarming apprehension that he was approaching the last stage of a consumption, by the heart-rending opinion of the physicians who were consulted. The ra vages of his disease proceeded with a rapidity scarcely paralleled, which baffled all medical aid and the tenderest assiduities of friends. Thus, in the flower "His sun has of youth, was he cut off. set while it was yet day." The life of this most amiable young man offers but little to catch the public eye: he was of a retired disposition, and loved not to obtrude himself upon general notice. But his death, to those who knew him, to an affectionate father, a numerous train of relatives, and an extensive circle of friends, is a subject of the most agoInnizing grief and poignant sorrow. tegrity most inflexible, generosity most disinterested, philanthropy most universal, and piety most sincere and fervent, formed the most distinguished features in his character. His love of peace and the diffusion of happiness prompted him to soften asperities of temper and to perform unbounded acts of kindness. Although indisposition much impeded his studies, his mind was well stored with knowledge; and at one period of his life he was inclined to devote himself to the Christian ministry. In the Unitarian congregation at Warrington he was an active, valuable and zealous member, and it always afforded him a pious pleasure to hear of the successful spread of genuine, unadulterated Christianity. It has been justly observed, by persons but little acquainted with him, that his countenance was a perfect index of his heart; it beamed, on all occasions, with a glow of benevolence. During his short confinement he received his friends with his accustomed smile of serenity and delight, and the grateful expressions of acknowledgment of the soothing attentions of friends ministering to his comfort, though uttered in the feebleness of extreme debility, arose from a heart overflowing with the sincerest gratitude, and glowing with the tenderest love and friendship. As was his life, so was his death-not a murmur escaped from his lips; and he breathed his last sigh with as much composure and quiet as if he had been falling asleep. In the removal of such a character as this, in the midst of usefulness, the light of nature offers not a ray of consolation or of hope to cheer and enlighten the darkness and gloom of the grave. Mysterious indeed it does appear.

But, as this excellent youth lately re-
marked, on an awfully sudden bereave-
ment of a near relative, "all is wise and
right." The Christian revelation dispels
every doubt and dissipates every fear. In
God's all-wise designs nothing premature,
nothing fortuitous can ever occur. Under
this delightful, this animating assurance,
survivors have only to follow the example
which their lamented young friend has
exhibited for their imitation, and to wait
with pious confidence for the blissful
period when they and he will be re-
united in brighter worlds, and in scenes
and circumstances which will not again
be beclouded or disturbed by death.

H. G.

"At Stockton-upon-Tees, on the 31st ult., (March,) Mr. JAMES CROWE, merchant, aged 69 years, a member of the Unitarian congregation of that place. His piety was genuine and sincere, uncontaminated by moroseness or bigotry. His attachment to the Dissenting interest was candid and liberal, embracing universal charity. In private life he exhibited a most amiable character, as an affectionate relation, kind master, and sincere friend. In business he evinced the strictest honour and integrity, and his whole conduct was an eminent example of the practical effects of the religion he professed."-Durham Chronicle, April 9.

This is a strong but not overcharged or undiscriminating portrait of a character, whose removal from the sphere of virtuous exertion in the present state, has occasioned a chasm in the circle of his relatives and friends not easily to be supplied. In the particular incidents of the life of this excellent individual there uniform and consistent tenor formed its is little to call for a detailed notice; its crowning ornament. His sphere of action was comparatively limited, but if, to have lived less for himself than for others, to have declined no exertion of body or mind which might subserve the interests of his friends, his ueighbourhood, his country, or his religion; to have fearlessly encountered obloquy and suspicion by the assertion of unpopular principles in difficult times, can stamp the character of public spiritedness, few have more nobly merited the title of a "public man" than the deceased; few have better deserved to be held up as an example of the benign influence of unsophisticated Christianity upon man as a social being, at once enlarging his views and awaken. benefit of his fellow-men. ing and directing his sympathies for the

Mr. Crowe was, on his mother's side, descended from the family of Cooke, one of the oldest and most respectable in

Stockton, and from which, being of the Established Church, the office of mayor of the borough had not unfrequently been filled. His father was a leading member of the congregation of Protes tant Dissenters, the services of which were, for many years, conducted upon a neutral principle, including various shades of religious sentiment. The subject of the present obituary does not appear to have embraced any very decided theolo gical opinions until the accession of the Rev. B. Evans to the ministry in that place, whose ingenuous avowal of the principles of Unitarian Christianity, whilst it offended the prejudices of several of the weaker brethren, contributed to settle and establish a consistent, rational faith in some of the more enlightened. From this time Mr. Crowe continued in the steady and fearless profession of a creed "every where spoken against." In the last attempt made by the Dissenters to obtain the repeal of the Test and Corperation laws, he acted as one of a meeting of deputies at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and Mr. Pitt's treatment of their claims finally dissolved the warm attachment which Mr. Crowe had felt towards him upon his first entrance into political life. In relation to this great question, Mr. Crowe never experienced that apathy which has so extensively circulated amongst Protestant Dissenters, and he therefore hailed the recent symptoms of a disposition to sleep no longer under the operation of proscriptive and stigmatizing enactments. Though his property and the influence of his character qualified him to take the same lead as his ancestors in the civil affairs of his native town, the existence of that profanation, called the sacramental test, effectually precluded his offering himself as a candidate for the office of mayor, whilst it was not unfrequently filled by persons whose qualifications were nominal in every point of view. Thus, upon a small scale, we see exemplified the baneful operation of intolerant laws in excluding from opportunities of social usefulness men whose talents and public spirit would otherwise have ensured to them the suffrages of their fellow-citizens. The cause of the Abolition

of the African Slave-Trade found in Mr. Crowe an early and an active partisan. 'His zeal and exertious on this subject are amongst the earliest and most salutary recollections of the present writer.

The dawnings of liberty in Frauce were hailed by the deceased with that enthusiasm experienced by every warm friend to the interests of his species; and his sympathy, with the cruel persecutions which Priestley, Winterbotham, Palmer, and other excellent men underwent, during the reign of anti-jacobinism, was

cordial and sincere, and, as might have been expected, rendered him for a time an object of suspicion, if not of dislike, amongst his ultra-loyal neighbours.

An incident which occurred about this time may illustrate the manner in which political feeling intercepted the ordinary courtesies of life towards those whom the soi-disant friends of government chose to brand with disaffection. The workmen employed by Mr. Crowe, in pulling down an old house, discovered in a chimney, a bag containing nearly £100 in old English coins; the occurrence was soon reported to the Bishop of Durham, by whom the money was claimed in the character of the Lord of the Manor, as treasure-trove. With the exception of some few pieces, which Mr. Crowe, in ignorance of the bishop's rights, had previously distributed to friends as curiosities, and which he offered to reclaim, the whole contents of the bag were im mediately transmitted to the bishop, whose wonted munificence was, however, on this occasion, restrained to a dispensation with the offer to reclaim→→→ not extending to the return of a single coin for Mr. Crowe's own use.

It was not assigned to the deceased to sustain the parental relation in its natu ral sense, but it pleased Providence to call forth his exemplary prudence and his affectionate counsels for the benefit of many who yet live to bless his memory, not only as the faithful guardian of their temporal interests, but as the main source and spring (under the Divine blessing) of every thing estimable and honourable in their character and principles. Such was his striking regard to justice, and his zeal in whatever he undertook, that he was very frequently placed in situations of trust, and on one occasion, was unexpectedly appointed an executor of the will of a gentleman of large property, whose only previous connexion with him arose out of a matter of arbitration in which Mr. Crowe had decided in favour of the opposite party. Indeed most truly descriptive of the predominant habit of his mind are the lines of Virgil,

"Justissimus unus Qui fuit in Teucris et servantissimus æqui."

To his continued zeal and attention the present small but improving society of Unitarian Dissenters in Stockton, is, in a great measure, indebted for its existence. Under very difficult circumstances, in many respects resembling those in which the Wolverhampton congregation has long been placed, the Stockton Unitarians were for a time compelled to make use of a large room, in which Mr. Evans, after a long secession from the

services of the pulpit, regularly officiated in the morning, and Mr. Crowe conducted the devotions of the afternoon, reading, generally, some well-selected discourse. And here, it should not be forgotten, how animating and beneficial have been the effects of that association, however imperfect, which has resulted from the establishment of the Unitarian Fund. It is not too much to say, that in circumstances like those above referred to, something of despondency must have paralyzed the insulated efforts of the most zealous and enlightened friends of truth; but by means of the occasional visits of missionaries, and the opportunities of contact and extended sympa thy which the anniversary meetings supply, the smallest country societies are upheld and bound together, however discouraging their local circumstances may be. The deceased had ultimately the gratification to see his fellow-worshipers restored to their accustomed meeting house, and under more promising auspices than before their expulsiou. To promote the success of their little institutions was the leading gratification of his latter years; to hear of their proceedings was the most pleasing solace of a tedious illness; and almost his last thoughts, indistinctly articulated, appeared to have reference to the proper arrangement of a Sunday-school recently established amongst them. A few days before his death the Lord's supper was, at his request, administered to him and several members of the family, by the Rev. Mr. Meeke, in attending to whom the expiring energies of his nature were for the last time exerted. His funeral was numerously attended by his townsmen, whose respect was as marked as it was merited. The Rev. Mr. Wellbeloved, of York, most kindly accepted an invita tion to conduct the services of the chapel on the ensuing Sunday morning, and delivered a very acceptable and consolatory discourse from 2 Cor. i. 3, 4, to a numerous auditory, and has since added to the obligation of the deceased's friends by allowing them to print a few copies for distribution, as the most grateful memorial of this solemn occasion.

R.

April 20, at Poole, of hydrocephalus, aged 12 years, WILLIAM OLIVE NAISH, only child of Mr. Thomas Naish. He was interred in the ground belonging to the Unitarian chapel in this town.

May 8, Mrs. HORSEY, wife of the Rev. John Horsey, of Northampton.

11, in the twentieth year of his age, after an illness of between three and

four months, JOHN HARDY, second son of Thomas Hardy, Esq., Walworth. This excellent young man had made attain. ments, both intellectual and moral, which seemed to promise a career highly honourable to himself and extensively useful to others. He had strengthened his mind by application to the severer sciences, but his delight was to exercise it, and it was exercised successfully, on the great truths of divine revelation. He was a practical illustration of the connexion of those simple and rational views of scripture doctrine which were the object of his firmest faith, with deep and fervent piety, with moral purity, and with all the best affections and noblest charities. He also experienced, to the fullest extent, their consolatory power under the pressure of disease, and in the agonies of death. Although the hope that such principles and acquirements would have adorned life is thus prematurely blighted, there is yet the soothing conviction that they destroyed the sting of death. He has fallen asleep in Jesus. May his example influence the young, leading them "to know the God of their fathers, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind," and strengthen his deeply-afflicted parents and relatives to say, Father, not our will, but thine be done!

F.

Lately, the Rev. PETER ELMSLEY, the celebrated Greek scholar. He was boru in 1773, and educated first at a school at Hampstead and afterwards at Westminster. His extraordinary proficiency in classical learning caused him to be placed in the sixth or highest form at this seminary; but he was precluded by his age from becoming a member of the foundation. He went, therefore, on his own resources, to Oxford, where, without any of its rewards or emoluments, he obtained a reputation for deep and extensive learning which no under graduate had for many years obtained. He took orders soon after leaving the University, and proceeding M. A. in 1797, was presented, in 1798, by W. J. H. Blair, Esq., to little Horkesley, a small chapelry in Essex, which he retained to his death; but the whole emoluments of which, after ceasing to reside there, he bestowed on his curate. He never held any other preferment in the church. By the death of his uncle, Mr. Peter Elmsley, the well-known bookseller, he shortly after inherited an independent fortune, which left him at liberty to devote his mind to those literary researches which were its resource and delight, especially to Greek philology, which he soon chose

as his favourite province. He resided for some time at Edinburgh, and became intimately acquainted with the distinguished young men who set on foot the Edinburgh Review in 1802. To this publication he contributed several articles on Greek literature: the Critique on Heyne's Homer in the 4th No, on Schweighauser's Athenæus in the 5th, on Bloomfield's Prometheus in the 35th, and on Porson's Hecuba in the 37th. In the Quarterly Review he wrote, among other articles, that on Markland's Supplices. The only instance (it is believed) of his taking up his peù for a political purpose, was in a Critique on Lord Clarendon's Religion and Policy in the 38th Number of the Edinburgh Review. His more ostensible contributions to classical literature are well known: an edition of the Acharnanes in 1809; of the Edipus Tyrannus in 1811; of the Heraclidæ in 1815; of the Medea in 1818; of the Bacchæ in 1821; and lastly, of the Edipus Coloneus in 1823. For the sake of collating MSS. he visited France and Italy several times, and spent the entire winter of 1818, in the Laurentian Library of Florence. In 1819 he accepted of a sort of commission from our government jointly with Sir Humphrey Davy, to superintend the developement of the papyri found at Herculaneum. The experiment, as is well known, proved abortive, and Mr. Emlsley returned to England in 1820, his constitution impaired by a fever with which he was seized at Turin. Henceforward he lived principally at Oxford: he took the degree of D. D., became

Principal of Alban Hall and Camderi Professor of History in 1823, and was justly expected to succeed on the next vacancy of a canonry of Christ Church. His astonishing comprehensiveness and exactitude of learning was united to a sound and clear judgment and an habitual impartiality. Averse to all that wore the appearance of passion, or even of as much zeal as men of less phlegmatic temperaments cannot but mingle with their opinions, he was generally inclined to a middle course in speculation as well as practice, and looked with philosophic tranquillity on the contending factions, religious or political, whom history displayed to him, or whom he witnessed in his own age. If he spoke with asperity or marked contempt of any, it was of hotheaded and bigoted partisans, whose presumptuous ignorance is so often united with disingenuous sophistry. These were frequently the objects of a vein of pleasantry, wherein he particularly excelled. In the quick perception of the ludicrous, and in fondness for comedies and other light reading, as well as in his erudition and sagacity, he bore a resemblance to Porson. His life was uniformly regular, and his conversation, though free from solemnity, was strictly correct. His last months called forth the qualities which support and dignify the hours of sorrow and suffering: a steady fortitude that uttered no complaint and betrayed no infirmity; with a calm and pious resignation, in that spirit of Christian philosophy he had always cultivated, to the pleasure of his Creator. (Gent. Mag.)

INTELLIGENCE.

DOMESTIC. RELIGIOUS.

Somerset and Dorset Unitarian

Association.

THE half-yearly Meeting of this Association, was held at Honiton on Thursday, April 14th, 1825. The chapel of the Rev. Mr. Hughes was opened for divine service twice in the day. In the morning, the Revds. Acton and Wright performed the devotional parts, and Dr. Davies preached a very interesting discourse from John xvii. 3. Its defence of Unitarian principles, and its truly Christian spirit, gratified all who heard it. In the evening the Rev. Mr. Smethurst introduced the service, and the Rev. H. Clarke, of Frenchay, gave a sermon in his usual extemporaneous manner, which possessed great merit, and was heard with deep attention.

The business of the day was more than usually interesting. Several members of the Society, and the committee in particular, have been anxious to extend its usefulness by the introduction of missionary preaching; and an address was circulated in the month of March, with a view of obtaining the general assistance of the Society to the measure. [See Christian Reformer for March, p. 107.] A copy of the report &c., may not be uninteresting.

Report.

The business of this Committee has, in former years, been of a nature which did not require the presentation of a formal report of their proceedings. A change in this respect renders it expedient that, in resigning the power entrusted to them, they should advert to the course of their transactions during the past year.

The circulation of cheap tracts has

been continued; and the Committee in making a recent distribution, have been induced to recommend a change in the mode. It appears to them expedient to allot to every subscriber, one copy of each tract which the Society may publish or circulate; and to place the remainder at the disposal of the minister of each congregation, or of a Committee, with an understanding that subscribers who can distribute the tracts advantageously, will reuder material service to the Association by applying for them, and employing them in this way.

The printed circular drawn up by the Secretary at the suggestion of the Rev. S. Fawcett, and sauctioned by the Committee, has no doubt made it known throughout the district, that a plan is in contemplation for promoting the objects of the Association, by the employment of a supernumerary or Missionary Preacher. The Committee are enabled to report that, since the above-mentioned circular was printed, a liberal subscription has been entered into at Bridport, and at Taunton, for providing pecuniary means to accomplish the plan; and they confidently hope that the ministers of Unitarian Societies, in the other places immediately concerned, will express their concurrence by such additional subscriptions, as will render the execution of the scheme easily practicable. Encouraged by promises of support already received, and desirous that there should be no unnecessary delay, the Committee have been employed in obtaining information as to the practicability of engaging suitable agency for carrying the intended plan into effect. They have had some correspondence with the Gloucester, Wilts, and Somerset Unitarian Missionary Society (at whose late meeting the secretary attended). The members of that Society are very desirous of all possible union and co-operation; and will readily concur in a plan for the exchange of Missionary Preachers, which exchange would ensure to the Somerset and Dorset Association the services of Mr. H. Clarke. Your committee have likewise ascertained, that the Society may obtain during some months in the approaching summer, the assistance of Mr. Howarth, a senior student at Manchester College, York, of whose qualifications very favourable accounts have been, from various quarters, received.

The Committee cannot retire from the station assigned to them, without expressing their satisfaction at the improved prospects which are opening to the Society; and the devout hope that the blessing of heaven will prosper its endeavours to advance the cause of pure and undefiled Christianity in the world.

Messrs Wright, H. Howse, and E.

Nias, having attended this Meeting as a
deputation from the Somerset, Glou-
cester, and Wilts Association, and stated
the desire of that Association to co-ope-
rate with this Society,

Resolved, That this Meeting duly ap-
preciate the expression of friendly regard
offered by the Somerset, Gloucester, and
Wilts Unitarian Missionary Association;
and will be eager to concur with its
members in promoting the common cause,
by the exchange of Missionary Preachers,
the joint publication of tracts, and any
other advisable mode of co-operation.

Resolved, That this Society are desi-
rous of uniting, in a similar way, with the
Devon and Cornwall Unitarian Mission-
ary Society.

Resolved, That it appears to this
Meeting desirable for the Association to
connect itself with the London Unitarian
Fund.

More than forty friends of the Society,
among whom were several ladies, dined
together between the services. In the
course of the afternoon, the Meeting was
addressed by Messrs Acton, Maurice,
Smethurst, Wawne, Wright, and others;
and the sentiments which the occasion
called forth were highly honourable to
the speakers, and to the cause they ad-
vocated. Several allusions were made to
the morning's discourse; its spirit was
commended and enforced. Charity in-
deed, seemed to pervade all hearts. To
an ardent desire for the diffusion of
Christianity in its purest and most unex-
ceptionable form, was united a love for
all the brethren who profess that holy
religion. Those who were present will
not readily lose the impressions they
received-impressions of philanthropy
which nor time nor circumstance should
ever efface.

E. W.

Somersetshire, Gloucestershire, and
Wiltshire Missionary Association.
(Established at Bath, Sept. 8, 1824.)

IT has often, and with much truth, been observed, that though Unitarian Christianity is making rapid progress in various parts of this kingdom, yet there are many districts wherein it is but little known, and others, where, although there are a few Unitarian congregations, little or no effort is made to increase them, or to extend the beneficial influences of the doctrines they profess to places where they are scarcely known. These observations are particularly applicable to the counties of Somerset, Gloucester, and Wilts. Influenced by this state of things, some respectable individuals, seriously concerned for the wider diffusion of Uni

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