such was the harmony and union of their sentiments and feelings. While the duties of his parish, and studies of his sacred calling, weaned Mr. D. from worldly solicitude, and proved a perpetual source of gratification to his mind, his affectionate partner was the agent and promoter of every good work, the liberal dispenser of his charities, and compassionate friend of the poor;-the grace of Christian humility (which she possessed in an eminent degree), a simplicity of heart, and an unaffected piety, adorning the other excellent qualities which were inherent in her character. Mr. D. suffered severely at this period from a nervous complaint, to the return of which, throughout his after life, he was often subject; and as the damps of the country were considered prejudicial to him, they passed the winter season in Bath; leaving the parish to the care of a resident Curate; for whose com fortable accommodation, the Parsonage house, which was at a small distance from the Vicarage, and inhabited by a farmer, was rebuilt, and fitted up by the Vicar. Mr. and Mrs. D. never entered into the fashionable company or amusements of Bath, but lived very retired; their society being the greatest consolation to the declining years of Mrs. Barnston, Mrs. D.'s mother, who had been several years a widow; a lady endued with great firmness and integrity of mind, and exemplary piety. She lived to the advanced age of 85. Her excellent daughter, Mrs. M. Barnston, survived her many years; living always with her brother and sister.-Bradley was this lady's favourite residence; there she died, and at her own request was buried in a family vault, in the parish church-yard. For several years Mr. D. was anxiously engaged in promoting a plan, which originated with himself, to erect a free Church in the city of Bath, where accommodation for the lower classes was grievously wanted. After inviting the attention of the public by some letters in the Bath paper, he preached his first sermon on this subject at Queen-Square Chapel, which so deeply interested his hearers, that £1200 were immediately subscribed; he was indefatigable in promoting this pious work, drawing all It has been already observed, that Mr. D.'s discourses on Schism and the unity of the Church, were originally composed for his parishioners at North-Bradley, and afterwards arranged for the press, under the title of a "Guide to the Church." This, the principal of his literary productions, addressed to W. Wilberforce, esq; M.P.+ was published in 1798—and an Appendix, constituting a second volume, in 1799. The latter, "in which the principles advanced in the Guide were more fully maintained," was in answer to objections brought against them by Sir Richard Hill, bart., in his letters to the Author, under the title of "an Apology for brotherly love." A second edition, with a new introductory preface, was published in 1804. Connected with this work, was Mr. D.'s Vindiciae Ecclesiæ Anglicana, published in 1803-"in which some of the false reasonings, incorrect statements, and palpable misrepresentations, in a publication entitled "The Free Churchman ascertained,' by John Overton, A.B. are pointed out." The Guide to the Church, from the important subjects which are involved in it, excited considerable interest in the public mind-while its utility to the younger Clergy, for whose information it was chiefly designed, established it as a standard work. Its extensive circulation and favourable reception by all those A Prayer composed for this occasion is marked No. 6 at the end of the 2d vol d who considered Church discipline to be derived from Apostolie authority or example; and consequently, a wilful departure therefrom, to be schismatical; was productive of much interesting correspondence during subsequent years, between the Author, and contemporary Divines and Laymen of distinguished eminence. Their approbation of the "Guide to the Church” (by which appellation Mr. D. was afterwards much distinguished) and acknowledgements for so seasonable a work, were rendered acceptable to the Author, and gratifying to his friends, by the consideration, that many of the letters which were addressed to him upon the occasion, were from individuals to whom he was previously unknown, or known only by name. Such were the letters of Dr. Hobbert, Bishop of New York in America; and Dr. Bowden, Principal of the Episcopal Academy in Connecticut, who thus expresses the sentiments of the Convocation of that State :-" It was resolved unanimously, to return you their hearty thanks for your excellent book, entitled a 'Guide to the Church,' and they have directed me to express to you the very high sense they entertain of your piety, learning, and zeal; and also their most ardent wishes and prayers, that so good a work may be productive of beneficial consequences to the Church of Christ in general, and in particular to the orthodox and pure Church of England, from which we have descended, and for which we entertain every sentiment of respect, reverence, and affection." Dr. Bowden adds, "I am confident it will have a great currency among churchmen at least; and we are determined it shall be a standard book for all our candidates for holy orders. Clergyman brought up at the feet of Leslie, Horne, Jones, and Daubeny, will not fail to be orthodox in their faith, pure in their lives, and zealous to promote the kingdom of Christ."Similar communications were received by the Author from Bishops Skinner, Glegg, and Drummond, of the Scotch Episcopal Church; and it is not improbable that the deep interest which Mr. Daubeny subsequently took, in the prosperity of the Episcopal Church of Scotland, as one of the purest branches of the Church of Christ, had its origin in this correspondence, which was kept up during many years; and demonstrates the grateful sense which was entertained by those respectable Prelates of almost primitive character, of the late Archdeacon's exertions in effecting an union of the English Clergy in Scotland, with its Episcopal Church; particularly by his letter to the Earl of Kinnoul on the subject of ecclesiastical unity,` which was afterwards annexed to a valuable little work, denominated "a Layman's faith and practice, as a member of the Episcopal Church of Scotland." This allusion to the sentiments of foreign or distant Divines, in preference to those of the Prelacy, and others of literary distinction in England, is introduced, because the former could not have been influenced by private friendship or acquaintance. The communications received from the latter, and from strangers, were also numerous. The writer of the present Memoir is too sensible of his de ficiencies, not to feel that any obtrusion of his own ideas upon literary subjects which are necessarily involved in it, would be ill-judged, and even censurable. Admitting even that this were not the case, and that from an anxious desire to communicate all that might be expected from him on the present occasion, he were emboldened to think he might, without risk of animad version, occasionally express any sentiments which he may have imbibed upon such subjects, during the latter years of the Archdeacon's life, when living under the same roof in the enjoyment of his friendship; still he would feel apprehensive of allowing himself to be influenced by those feelings of gratitude and affection towards his late father-in-law, which must ever impress his mind. For reasons of delicacy, which may readily present themselves, the communications of literary friends and corres pondents, ought not to be brought forward, without much discrimination. He considers therefore that, in general, the duty which he has imposed upon himself, will be best discharged by› referring to the sentiments of contemporary reviewers, whose Church of England orthodoxy and literary reputation, stand upon the highest ground; and this he is induced to do, `especi-` ally in his notice of the "Guide to the Church," less from any desire to eulogise the Author, than from the consideration that a work, which was chiefly designed for students in divinity, and has been out of print many years, might be made more fully known to them. The publication of the Guide first led to an acquaintance and literary correspondence between Mr. D. and that most pious and single-minded Christian, Mr. John Bowdler-the Rev. Jonathan Boucher, the orthodox and learned Author of "The Causes and Consequences of the American Revolution" and the Rev. J. N. Colville, a gentleman well known for his literary attainments and accomplishments. They addressed him as strangers; but with those feelings of friendly confidence which unite men of religious principles, zealous in the same good cause. To two of these gentlemen, Mr. D. afterwards submitted the manuscript of his Appendix, and some other works, previous to their being sent to the press. No apology, therefore, seems necessary for placing in the Appendix some extracts from their letters to Mr. D. respecting these publications-added to which are extracts from three Reviews of the same work, and of Mr. Daubeny's Vindiciae Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ. These are noticed in sequence, on account of their connection with each other.* In 1799 Mr. D. published his letter to Mrs. H. More, upon her Istrictures on female education-subjoined to which is a discourse on Genesis xv. 6, preached at Christ's Church, Bath. Some extracts from a review of this publication, are placed in the Appendix.t In 1802 Mr. D. published his "Eight Discourses on the connection between the Old and New Testaments, considered as two parts of the same divine Revelation, and demonstrative of the great doctrine of atonement; accompanied with a preliminary discourse respectfully addressed to the younger Clergy, containing Vide Appendix, No. 8. + Vide Appendix, No. 9. |