and to express for me my ardent wishes for the welfare and prosperity of the University; which, from my first admission into it, I have constantly loved and respected, and to which I have now motives of stronger attachment, if possible, than ever. "I am, Mr. Vice-Chancellor, With the highest regard, Your and the University's And most obedient humble Servant, "March 5. 1779." "T. TOWNSON." In the summer of 1778, Dr. Porteus, Bishop of Chester, held his primary visitation in the cathedral of his see, and Dr. Townson, by His Lordship's desire, preached on the occasion. He was requested by his diocesan to publish the sermon; and the request of a lawful superior carrying with it, in his construction, a positive duty, it was published, as he expresses it, "in obedience to His Lordship's command." Whether it were command or intreaty, those who read the discourse, and observe the many marks of sagacity and judgment which are interspersed throughout it, will no doubt, as His Lordship "assured himself, think themselves obliged to him, for following the writer up close, and not suffering his modesty to stand in the way of public utility." By a similar act of violence, but without equal authority, those who had the care of the second edition of the work on the Gospels added this sermon to it, as being, in their judgment, a proper appendix; and one of them affixed, with the author's approbation, the title it bears, “The Manner of our Saviour's Teaching." Three years after this, the Archdeaconry of Richmond became vacant by the death of Dr. Peploe; and the same worthy Bishop offered it to Dr. Townson; or, to speak more exactly, he pressed him to accept it, with so much civil earnestness, when he was under His Lordship's own roof, that he could not refuse it. Two years subsequently, he received the fol lowing letter, which requires no introductory comment: "Lower Grosvenor Street, August 11. 1783. "SIR, "Although I recollect our former acquaintance with great pleasure, it is not on account of that acquaintance, nor of your long and intimate connection with those whom I shall ever love and esteem, that I trouble you with this letter. Upon the death of Dr. Wheeler, the *Bishop of Chester's letter to Dr. Townson, Jan. 8. 1779. King commanded me to look out for a proper successor; by which words His Majesty understood some person confessedly well qualified for the divinity chair, whose promotion should be acceptable to the public at large, and particularly to the University of Oxford. I have since endeavoured to execute His Majesty's commands; and, after the mos. minute inquiries, I cannot find any person in the kingdom who corresponds so exactly to His Majesty's definition of a divinity professor, as Dr. Townson; a gentleman whose character is universally beloved and esteemed, and whose general learning, and particular knowledge in Theology, has been acknowledged in the most distinguished manner by the University, where the professorship is now vacant. You will, therefore, I hope, give me an opportunity of acquiring credit to myself, of promoting theological knowledge, and of giving satisfaction to the public and to His Majesty, by accepting a situation, which by the public testimony of the University of Oxford, and by the general consent of all who are acquainted with you, you are the properest person in England to fill. I have the honour to be, with the greatest respect, "Sir, Your most faithful Humble Servant, "NORTH." He returned the following answer : "MY LORD, "Malpas, Cheshire, Aug. 16. 1783. "It is hardly possible for me to express the sense I have of Your Lordship's goodness to me, and of the honour Your Lordship has done me in thinking of me for the vacant divinity professorship. But I am now so far in the decline of life, that I am very apprehensive, or rather satisfied, that I am not equal to the exertions, which a faithful discharge of the duties of that office would require. Regard therefore for Your Lordship's credit and the good of the University, both which I am highly bound to consult, as well as the peace of my own mind, lays me under the necessity of intreating Your Lordship, that, with that goodness, with which you have offered me this preferment, Your Lordship will permit me to decline it. "It is a most pleasing consideration to me, that a Place which I have the strongest reasons to value and esteem, is under the protection of a nobleman so studious, as well as able, to promote its welfare, and to second His Majesty's royal care for his University, as a seat of religion and literature. I hope and trust it can without difficulty supply a person more in the vigour of his age, and every way qualified to answer His Majesty's and Your Lordship's expectations in this charge and dignity. "Lord Bagot has promised to call here in a day or two, on his way into Wales. But I could not think of delaying a moment to make my acknowledgments to Your Lordship. Nor indeed did I wish to have any personal conference with him till the matter was decided. I am already sufficiently distressed with the thought that I must thus answer an offer made me in such a manner, and in such terms; happy only in this, that Your Lordship retains a remembrance of our former acquaintance, and is pleased to notice it. "I am, my Lord, With the utmost gratitude and respect, Your Lordship's most obliged, And faithful humble Servant, "T. TOWNSON." In 1778, his attention having been particularly drawn to the subject of our Lord's resurrection, it engaged, at intervals, his best thought and pains for the remainder of his life. In 1784, he printed a few copies of a part of his work, for distribution among his friends; that he might obtain their free opinion of the whole, and their objections to any particular part. He afterwards |