pow 
_than his words. 
1808.] 
were not always blameless; but she would 
not desert them in their distress, if it were in 
her power to extricate them, till by a repeti- 
tion of some offence they had forfeited her fa- 
vour. She was truly religious herself, and 
Rever countenanced those who slighted or 
neglected the duties of religion. In a word, 
whatever disadvantages resulted from the er- 
rors of her education, were essentially eorxect- 
ed by her religious principles. ‘fo dress she 
Aever paid much attention, and was often cen- 
surably neglectful in that particular. Her 
conversation was unaffected, but sensible, and 
always perfectly correct. ] 
Further particulars of the Rev. William 
Wood, whose death was announced at p. 367 of 
our last volume,This excellent man was 
born onthe 29th day of May, O. S. 1745, at 
Collingtree, in Northamptonshire. Having 
passed through the usual education of a gram- 
mar-school, he entered the Dissenting Aca- 
demy at Hoxton, near London, which was 
then under the direction of some of the ablest 
men amongst the English Presbyterians, By 
means of goed natural abilities, united with 
great diligence, he went through the appoint. 
ed course of academical education, with much 
credit both to himself, and his tutors; and at 
the age of twenty-two, settled as a dissen- 
ting minister at Stamford, “in Lincolnshire. 
From this place he afterwards removed to 
Ipswich, and upon the resignation of Dr. 
Priestley, was unanimously invited to fill the 
respectable situation which that great man 
had occupied in Leeds. During. five and 
thirty years he filled this situation with the 
highest honour to himself, and with singular 
satisfaction and benefit toa numerous and en- 
lightened congregation. Fromarich and va- 
luable store of theological knowledge, derived 
from a patient investigation of the word of 
God ; he drew the most sublime und intereste 
ing topics of instruction; and whatever 
truth he illustrated—whatever precept he en- 
forced—it received from his vigorous imagi- 
nation—his correct taste—his simple elo 
quence—his impressive elocution, a charm 
which fixed the attention of the most wan- 
dering mind, and opened the most obdurate 
heart. Nor was his example less powerful 
The duties which he in- 
culcated upon others, he exemplified in his 
own conduct. He was ambitious to be what 
his office required that he should seem 5 and 
noone could bring any charge against reli- 
gion, or justify any irregularity in temper or 
behaviour, from any thing that was seen in 
him. What he appeared tothe world, such 
he was in private and domestic life; pious, 
cheerful, affectionate; kind and judicious as 
a husband anda parent ; mild and considerate 
asa master. Whilst he preserved the dig- 
nity of an intelligent and exemplary minis- 
ter of the gospel, he manifestedthe high va- 
lue of the pleasing views which the gospel af- 
forded lim of the character of God and his 
moral government, aad he ¢ rejoiced everr 
Account of the late Rev. William Wood. 
179 
more.” In his own breast reigned cheerful- 
ness almost unruffled, and through every s0- 
cial scene, he diffused the same cheerfulness 
which befelt himself. They who knew him 
best, loved him most; .and they who loved 
him, felt no small inducement to follow his 
example, Firmly attached to the religious 
Opinions which he had embraced after the 
most serious and unprejudiced examiination, 
he always shewed a due respect to those who 
maintained opinions most~ widely differing 
from his own. He claimed the invaluable 
right of private judgment for hinself, and 
he had no desire to deprive others of that 
right, or in the slightest degree to molest 
them in the exercise of it. With persons of 
@ifferent religious denominations, he main- 
tained’ the most friendly intercourse; an@ 
without making the smallest sacrifice of in- 
tegrity and a good conscience, he obtained ° 
from the candid cordial esteem, and unfeigned 
respect even from thebigotted. othe study 
of the works of nature, he formed an early 
attachment: “and he pursued that study with 
all the ardour consistent with the important 
-duties of his station, and attained to conside- 
rable eminence in this pleasing department of 
science. His labours have lately enriched 
one of the first scientific works of which this 
country can boast, and justly entitle him to 
the high rank which he has obtained amongst 
the botanists of the present agé, Yet not to the 
worlss of nature alone were the Kours not de- 
voted to his profession confined. His enlarged 
mind embraced a great variety of subjects, 
and his store of genetal knowledge was unu- 
sually large. Upon every ‘subject also, the 
originality of his genius,and the accuracy of his 
judgment, enabled him to throw some new 
light, and had the state of his health, and 
the occupations in which he was unavoidably 
engaged, allowed him sufficient strength and 
leisure, it is prebable that he would have 
carried much nearer to perfection some cu- 
rious and useful branches of literature, A 
long and severe illness, aggravated by a do- 
mestic loss of a most afflictive nature, shook 
to its very foundations a constitution which 
had been gradually weakened by repeated at- 
tacks of disease, and when least expected, 
‘© the earthly ltouse” of a mind still vigorous 
and unimpaired, was suddenly dissolved. 
This event will long be lamented, not by his 
nearest friends alone, but by society at large. 
In this and in every similar case, the princi- 
pies which he believed and taught, afford the 
firmest consolation: the principies which en- 
courage all the wise and good to look for ** a 
house not made with hands, eternal in the 
heavens.” } 
[Further particulars of the late Rev. Fobn 
Newton, whose death was announced in Vol. 24, 
p- 599-—This venerable man was born in Lon- 
don in 1795. His father being commander of a 
vessel in the Mediterranean trade, and conse= 
quently little at home, the care of his carly 
years devolved entirely om his mother, whe 
began 
