and a highly rational occupation of leisure in his most valuable library. I have also good reason to believe that Mr. Lewin was equally reserved, as to 'numerous instances of his benevolent consideration for want and misfortune. But it is his ready attention to the call of friendship, on an occasion which could not fail to interest me, and which cannot easily pass from my recollection, which I would now record in your pages. This I knew my friend's disposition too well, to have attempted, till he was beyond the reach of human approbation.

My intimacy with Mr. Lewin was much advanced by our mutual attachment to Gilbert Wakefield, especially when he became the subject of a Court prosecution. Our friend's trial came on at Westminster, Feb. 21, 1799. The Attorney-General of that day has long ago reached the splendid goal which urges a court-lawyer's progress either through primrose-paths or miry ways, just as the service of his masters may require. He now connected his name with that of one of the first scholars of his age, prevailing with a willing jury, to consign to the tender mercies of the King's Bench, (as, according to legal calumny, a false, scandalous and malicious libeller,") an unguarded, because a fearless censor of "wickedness in high places," whose life had been devoted to the investigation of truth and the promotion of virtue. The Court-Prosecutor, however, was in no haste to worry the prey of which he was sufficiently secure. He readily consented to suffer Mr. Wakefield to be at large till called up for judgment.

66

In this emergency, for which no provision had been made, I was anxious immediately to find a colleague who would publicly appear with me in the Court, as Mr. Wakefield's bail. There was probably in that Court no individual more disposed than Mr. Lewin to shrink from such publicity, and the usual consequent exhibition in the newspapers. He, however, came forward most promptly, and, by such a seasonable assistance, not a little relieved our friend and his family.

To Mr. Lewin I ought, also, to acknowledge my peculiar obligations for the highly gratifying success of the project which I was led to form,

on the result of our friend's trial. This projected subscription (of which there is an account in the Memoirs, II. 155) was first mentioned by me in a conversation with Mr. Lewin. His immediate approbation encouraged me to proceed, while his own very liberal contribution to the design afforded an early example, without which I have always doubted whether that tribute of regard to a victim of ministerial vengeance would have become, at length, so worthy of the occasion.

I beg leave to add, that I have acted with Mr.. Lewin in various societies, and he was one of those whose silence I peculiarly regretted. Yet this indisposition to publicity I have observed him to overcome on a few very particular occasions, when, by a declaration of his opinion, beyond a silent vote, he would either recommend some liberal proposal, or else bear his testimony against some servile compliance or courtly adulation.

I cannot help regretting that you are yet unfurnished with a few dates, such as are expected from an Obituary, and some notices of Mr. Lewin's family, such as only his immediate connexions can easily supply.

SIR,

J.T. RUTT.

Wolverhampton, April 19, 1823. ROM a perusal of the interesting

ther with the advertisement of Dr. Thomas Rees, both prefixed to the Monthly Repository of December last, I was led to expect that an active and liberal subscription would have immediately commenced in aid of the cause of Unitarian Christianity in India. It is, however, to be presumed that contributions have been received for this purpose by the different gentlemen named in Dr. Rees's advertisement. But, excepting the solitary instance of your correspondent C. B., [p. 11,] the Unitarian public has yet to learn whether any subscriptions have been received or not. Since this time a most important communication has been made by the Rev. W. Adam, from Calcutta, to the Secretary of the Unitarian Fund, and I fully agree with him, that "all these considerations combined seem imperiously to call on English Unitarians to exert them

selves, according to their ability, in spreading the gospel in this country." I rejoice to find that the Committee of that Fund "have pledged themselves to bring Mr. Adam's application for assistance before their brethren in this country." I flatter myself the Unitarian body will not suffer themselves to be appealed to in vain, and from their number, consequence, wealth and liberality, an ample fund will be promptly created for carrying on this great work with success. But, independently of the zeal and exertions of the Committee, I think a direct public appeal may be made to advantage, through the medium of the Monthly Repository and other channels, and congregations and individuals invited, without any further delay, to furnish contributions. Being fully convinced that the most happy and important results will follow our united endeavours, I very cheerfully inclose you Ten Pounds to be applied exclusively to the promotion of the Unitarian cause in India, and shall be glad to become an annual contributor whenever a plan is properly organized for carrying on this great work.

J. P.

GLEANINGS; OR, SELECTIONS AND REFLECTIONS MADE IN A COURSE OF GENERAL READING.

No. CCCCIII. Anecdote of Dr. Ironsides. Dr. IRONSIDES was one of the High Churchmen in the time of Charles I., who wrote against the morality of the Sabbath: a zealous Independent, of about the same period, has preserved the following tale relating to him.

"It is storied of Dr. Ironsides, that, riding on the Lord's-Day with a gen

Seven Questions of the Sabbath. Oxon. 1637, 4to. On the Restoration, he was raised to the See of Bristol. He died there, Sept. 19, 1671. Wood. Athen. Oxon. 4to. III. 940.

tleman, he saw some people on the highway before him, with their Bibles under their arms. Said the Doctor to his companion, Here are wise Precisians; I do not believe they can tell me how many commandments `there are, as zealous as they seem to be.' Up gets he to them: You are going, suppose,' said the Doctor, to hear some sermon this afternoon,' Yes, we are,' said they. You cannot stay at home with your neighbours, to divert yourselves!" 'No, we cannot and will not.' Pray,' said he, 'how many Commandments are there?" One that knew him stepped up and said Eight.' 'I told you,' said the Doctor to the gentleman, how wise these zealous Precisians are.' 'Nay,' said the plain, honest man, 'I know there were Ten Commandments; but the Papists blotted out the Second, Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image, &c.; and one Dr. Ironsides blotted out the Fourth, Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy: and between the Papists and him, they left but Eight.' You may easily imagine how the Doctor looked; and how merry the gentleman was, that he was so caught in trying ignorant, zealous Precisians.'-Vindiciae Anti-Baxterianc. 12mo. 1696, pp. 21, 22.

No. CCCCIV.

6

Virtuous Earl of Pembroke.

When Queen Anne ascended the throne, the Earl of Pembroke resigned his post of Lord High Admiral of England, to make way for her consort, Prince George of Denmark. From this circumstance, he was offered a large pension, to which he replied, "That however convenient it might be for his private interest, yet with his principles, and, therefore, the accepting of it was inconsistent

since he could not have the honour of serving his country in person, he would endeavour to do it by his example."

but

(Continued from p. 167.) OT the least interesting portion of these "Memoirs" is that which relates to Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey, with whose private life Mrs. Cappe was intimately acquainted. A great part of what she here communicates was given by herself to our readers (Mon. Repos. III. 637, and VII. 109); but some further particulars are added. On this subject the writer has felt warmly, and expressed her feelings with considerable energy; much as she admired Mr. Lindsey, she could not overrate his moral worth. It has been coldly remarked, by a living orthodox divine, that he did no more than his duty in quitting a church whose doctrines he had ceased to believe. True, but though every virtue is a duty, some virtues are of high praise, and the highest praise of all belongs to that integrity which, for the sake of a pure conscience and for the glory of God, welcomes the prospect of poverty and degradation in society. Mr. Lindsey, indeed, was not suffered to remain in obscurity or to endure want; but when he made his magnanimous sacrifice of his ecclesiastical rank and emoluments, he went out into the world "not knowing

whither he went."

"Mr. Lindsey had no private fortune; his father, who had been proprietor of some salt-works in Cheshire, had been deeply injured in his circumstances by the extravagance of his eldest son, the child of a former marriage; and the remaining property, which would have devolved on him, he had generously given up, on his coming of age, to his only sister, who was married, and had a family in Leicestershire. Mrs. Lindsey's fortune was also at this time very incon. siderable, and they had not saved any part of their income; it being their constant habit to give away in books and medicines, and sometimes in money, whatever they could spare to the sick and needy in the parish. Neither did they at this time make any alteration in

intention now carried into effect of inoculating, at their own expense, for the small-pox, then very fatal, all the poor decided proof. children of Catterick and its vicinity, is a This undertaking was her excellent husband on the business of begun by Mrs. L. during the absence of the petition, to whom, in zeal for unwearied usefulness, in ability to accomplish it, and in utter disregard of money, whether for its own sake or as the means of procuring any selfish indulgence, she was not inferior."—Pp. 150, 151.

It is well known that the fate of the Clerical Petition, in 1773, decided Mr. Lindsey's mind. He was in London attending its presentation, and the memorable debate to which it gave rise.

"One characteristic anecdote of Mr.

Lindsey I must here mention, merely for the purpose of shewing that he excelled as much in the smaller as in the greater and more exalted virtues. After the fate of the petition was decided, anxious as he was to return, oppressed by disappointment and harassed by fatigue, he yet took the trouble, on the morning of his leaving town, of going to the Tower to purchase a quantity of new half-pence, to be given to the poor children as rewards for taking their medicines.”—Pp. 151, 152.

Amongst Mr. Lindsey's friends was Mr. Mason, the poet; and this gentleman used all his influence to prevent the conscientious divine from

plunging himself into worldly difficulties by a step which probably appeared to him the fanaticisin of virtue.

"One of the first persons, I believe, to whom Mr. Lindsey fully communicated his intention of resigning his living, was his former college friend, the late Rev. Wm. Mason, who was at that time precentor in the Cathedral of York, and so justly celebrated for his fine poetical talents. It happened in the following manner: Sir Marmaduke Wyvill, a friend of Mr. L.'s, being High Sheriff, he was requested to preach the assize sermon in the Minster, in July, 1773; and, being invited to lodge in the house of Mr. M., their former intimacy induced Mr. L. to impart to him the resolution he had made.

Mr. Mason was electrified with astonishment and grief. He really loved his old college friend, thought justly of the soundness of his head, and very highly appreciated the goodness of his heart; he was himself a very worthy, respectable character, but, having devoted his time more to the study of belles lettres than of the Scriptures, mixing much in the world, and viewing the subject through the false medium of its mistaken principles, he could not feel the necessity nor comprehend the duty of making such a sacrifice. Strict integrity, he was ready to admit, in all the transactions of social or commercial life, was an indispensable duty; it had ever been the rule of his own conduct; in respect to these, no mental reserve, however slight, ought on any account to be allowed; but to extend this to the usage of mere forms, by which no one was injured, and which might be considered as being simply official, was, in his mind, to the last degree visionary and absurd. He was indefatigable, therefore, in his endeavours to dissuade his friend from persevering in his resolution: he stated to him the deprivations he must suffer; the difficulties he would have to encounter; the obloquy to which he would subject himself; and, at length, when he found him immoveable on every consideration that respected his own sufferings, he changed the mode of attack, and asked him if he had a right to subject Mrs. L. to so many inconveniences and hardships? Here he found that his friend was not invulnerable; his final resolution, indeed, being the calm and deliberate result of many an anxious hour, he could not shake, but he could pour into the appointed cup a tenfold portion of bitterness. I was at Catterick when Mr. L. returned thither, and never can I forget his altered looks and depressed countenance :-his recollection seemed to be impaired, as he answered our anxious inquiries about his health, as he feebly ascended the few steps leading from the garden to the entrance: how is all this,' he said, can one indispensable duty ever really be incompatible with another?'-We did every thing in our power to sooth and calm his mind; and in a very few days he was

very

enabled to recover his usual serenity.This was in truth his hour of darkness, but it happily soon passed away."-Pp.

156-158.

the liberality and friendship of the late Earl of Huntingdon upon this occasion. It is, I believe, well known that, revolted probably by the superstition and enthusiasm which mixed with the genuine piety of his otherwise excellent and exemplary mother, he had run into the opposite extreme, and had become a decided uubeliever. It is probable that he considered the foreign appendages unhappily interwoven in the Established Creed, as a part of the religion of the gospel. • What became of the universe,' he was wont exultingly to inquire of Mr. Lindsey, when its great Creator hung lifeless upon a tree in Judea ?'-' I am not concerned, my Lord, to answer that question, the foundation on which it rests not forming any part of my creed.'-' But the belief of it forms a part of the creed of that church in which you weekly officiate as a minister,' was the heart-piercing reply. To the honour, however, of Lord Huntingdon, when he heard of Mr. Lindsey's determination to leave the Church, he wrote him a very handsome letter, saying, that how indifferent soever he might be respecting subjects of mere theology, he greatly honoured the integrity which could lead to such a sacrifice; and he offered Mr. L. to appoint him his Librarian, with a handsome salary, and an apartment entirely to himself, where his time for literary pursuits should be completely at his own disposal."-Pp. 161, 162.

Our biographer became an inhabitant of York in the year 1782, and became the wife of the late Rev. Newcome Cappe in 1788. Never, perhaps, was a matrimonial connexion entered never was conjugal union more sacred into from purer or higher motives, and or more happy. The reader must consult the volume for the details of this interesting event, which Mrs. Cappe relates with all the ingenuousness and simplicity of a mind conscious only of Christian sentiments. Mr. Cappe would under any circumstances have been respectfully remembered by the denomination of which he was SO bright an ornament; but it is chiefly owing to Mrs. Cappe's affectionate claim upon the veneration and gratiindustry that he has established a tude of posterity by his eloquent Discourses, and his learned and original critical Dissertations. His Memoirs, by the pen of his widow, is one of the best tributes of conjugal affection which English literature contains.

Neither her temper nor her Chris