440 
duced in oppofition to the principal tenets 
of Calvinifm ; in which our author had 
been early inftruéted by his parents, but 
which on examination he faw realon to 
renounce : and it proves, that, amidft h’s 
various purfuits,the facred writings had not 
efcaped his ferious at ention ; that he was 
well acquainted with the different fubj: és 
of controverfy in the Chriftisn Church, 
and had even then acquired a perfpicuous, 
correct, and forcible fiyle of compofition. 
The merit of this performance brought 
him into notice, procured him the coun- 
tenance of feverai liberal and well-in- 
formed Diffen’ers, particularly among the 
Prefbytcrians, and probably laid the foun- 
daticn of his afterwards afpiring to and at- 
taining the fituation of an acknowiedged 
and regular publ teacher in one of the 
churches of that denomination. 
In the following year, he left Sher- 
borne, with an eftablifsed character for 
uncommon fteadinefs, and the regard of 
many of its ishabitants, fome of whoin 
are ftiil living, and fpeak of him in teims 
of greatrefpea. 
On his airival in London, where abili- 
ties have the bef chance of meeting with 
encouragement, he took up his freedom, 
and fixed his abode in Silver-tireet, near 
Cheapfide ; thereshe continued tor rather 
more than two years, chiefly fuppoiting 
himlelf by working as a journeyman in the 
bufinefS to which he had ceen brought up. 
He ftill found leifure, however, to pro- 
fecute his fludies, and with inereafing ar: 
dour Jaboured to enlarge the boundaries 
of his knowledge. 
As our author’s views of Chriftianity 
were hberal, fo aifo were his opinions on 
political fubje&ts. He was throvgh life 
a ftrenuous and fleady defender of the 
conititutional rights of his countrymen ; 
and a hearty well-wifher to the beit inte- 
yells cf every individual of his {pecies. 
He loved frzedom, becaule he confidered 
it as that blefling which can alone confer 
dignity on individuals and communities ; 
but the liberty, for which he warmly con- 
tended, was fuch only asis rational and 
well-regulated ; founded upon juftice, 
confiftent with the rettraints neceflary to 
general fecurity, directed by wifdom, and 
leading to the happinefs and improvement 
of fociety. 4 
At an early period of his life, he turn- 
ed his thoughts to the ftudy of Englith 
hidory and the Englifh confitution ; and 
that he had. paid great attention to thete 
fubjects, is evident ; for about the latter 
end of the year 1764, while the principal 
part of his time was neceflarily occupied 
Memoir of the late Dr. Fafeph Towers. 
[ Dec. 1, 
in his employment as a printer, he found 
opportunities tocompofe and prepare for the 
prels, his fecond pamphlet, titled ** An 
Enquiry into the Queftion, whether Ju- 
ries are, or are not, Judges of the Law, 
as well as of Fact ; with a particular Re- 
ference to tne Cafe of Libels.”” This en- 
quiry was occalioned by fome recent pro. 
fecutions at the fuit of the crown, which, 
in their final. 1ffue, were attended with 
circumftances eminently remarkable. The 
queftion was important ; men eminent for 
their legal knowledge, were divided re- 
fpeéting it; and the directions of the 
judges, delivered to juries, had at diffe. 
rent periods been at variance. Our au- 
thor took the conftitutional and: afiirma- 
tive fide, and {upperted his o,inion with 
ability and fpirit. Some years afterwards 
when this queftion was again agitated, 
he wrote mere fully and learnedly on the 
rights and duty of juries, as will be noticed 
her: after. 
In 1765, his late matter, Mr. Robert 
Goadby, formed the defign of bringing 
outa ferices of volumes on Britith bio- 
graphy, and turned his thoughts te our. 
author, asa perfon well qualified to be 
employed in the work. He accordingly 
communicated his intentions, and Mr. 
Towers readily engaged in the undertak- 
ing ; indeed, no fervice could be more 
fuited to his talents and inclinations, as it 
afforded him an opportunity of bringing 
forward to mere general notice, and doing 
juitice to, the charaéters of many illuftri- 
ous men, whole lirerary labours and po- 
litical exertions, at critical feafons, were 
highly honcurable and ufeful to the com- 
munity 3; whole memory he held in vene-" 
ration; and whole principles he withe 
to fee fpread and become popular: while, 
on the other hand, he was eager to mark. 
with fevere reprehenfion the conduct of 
fuch as, from motives of ambition or fel- 
fifimefs, had facrificed their integrity, and 
profiituted their talents, to enflave er op- 
prefs the people. Accordingly, early in 
the year 1766, he produced two octava 
volumes, the title of which at large will 
be found inthe note.* This work is in- 
troduced 
* <6 Britifh Biography 5 or, an accurate 
and impartial Account of the Lives and Wri- 
tings of Eminent Perfons in Great Britain 
and Ireland ; from Mr, Wickliff, who began 
the Reformation by his Writings, to the 
prefent Time; whether Statefmen, Patriots, 
Generals, Admirals, —Philofophers, Poets, 
Lawyers, or Divines, in which the feverat | 
Incidents and Remarkable Aétions of thei¢ 
Lives, and the Particularities of their Deaths, 
that 
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