Memoir of the late Dr. Fofeph Towers: 
‘without a firuge¢le, and almoft without a 
groan, he breathed his laft on the 2oth 
day ot May, 1799, but a few weeks after 
his entrance into the 64th year of his age. 
His remains. were interred in a moft re- 
{peétful manner in Bunhil-Fields, and to 
evince their affectionate regard to the me- 
mory of tkeir late paftor, the expences of 
his funeral’ were defrayed by his congre- 
gation; five mourning coaches, and two 
gentlemen’s carriages, followed the hearfe3 
and thofe who attended in perfon, ta pay 
the la(t mark of regeri to their deceafed 
friend, were, like him, diftinguifhed for 
their learning and their worth. 
* Doétor Towers had never more than 
two children, a fon and a daughter; the 
Jatter died young ; and the former has al- 
ready diftinguilhed himielf as a writer on 
an interelting and difficult fubject, being 
the author of a work, publifhed in 1796, 
entitled, “* Tiluftrations of Prophecy.’* 
Mrs. Towers, who furvived Dr. Towers, 
until January, 1803, as a wife, was ac- 
tive and affectionate, ever attentive to his 
interelts, and diftreet in the management 
of his concerns. A partner of fuch a cha- 
racter and difpofition was to him of effen- 
tial importance, he being, as isnot uncom- 
monly the cafe with literary men, but lit- 
tle difpofed to attend to pecuniary matters, 
and thofe minute circumftances, which, 
when once neglected, often embarrafs fa- 
milies, whole finances admit not of unne. 
ceflary expence. 
' We have before noticed Dr. Towers’s 
funeral {ermon, preached by the Rev. Mr. 
Lindfay, and which, with an oration pro. 
nounced at his interment, by the Rev. 
“Thomas Jervis, have been ‘publifhed to- 
gether: the compofition of thefe pieces is 
of a very fuperior kind; they difcover abi- 
lities, not often difplayed upon fuch occa~ 
fions; in both, his character is faithfully 
delineated, with the pen of genius, and 
the feelings of friendfhip, from perfonal 
knowlejge, acquired by frequent and fami- 
liar intercourfe for near 30 years paft; the 
prefent writer canghowever, affert, that the 
excellencies thofe gentlemen have noticed, 
and the encomiums they have beftowed on 
the deceafed, were neither dictated by 
partiality, nor fprung from the impreffions 
of the moment; they did not exceed his 
merit. To thefe memorials of his virtues, 
and his worth, we refer the reader ; it 
would indeed be difficult to follow the 
fame track, to occupy the fame ground, 
which they fo well have trodden, without 
appearing to confiderable difadvantage. — 
_ With refpec&t to his general character, 
we fhall only obferye, that its molt promi- 
673 
nent features were, a deteftation of every 
{pecies of tyranny; an inflexible, incor 
ruptible integrity; a facred regard to 
truth; a f{pirjt that difdained meannefg 
and fervility : a benevolence that knew no 
bounds; a fortitude of mind which ne. 
thing could fhake; a zeal for the beft in- 
terefts of mankind, that never relaxed, 
and which led to attive, unremitting ex- 
ertions for the public good, through the 
whole extent of his life. Probably there 
was not any perfon of his time, of whom 
it could with greater propriety be faid, 
than of him, that 
‘¢ He would not fide where juftice is oppos’d, 
Call falfehood truth, to Freedom give a wound, 
Or yield to Vice the meed to Virtue due, 
An empire to obtain: and all the wealth, 
The pomp, and pow’r, that kingdoms can be~ 
ftow ; " 
Penury’s dread form, with hollow 
eyes, Nei 
And all her meagre train, of Laffitude, 
Debility, and dire Difeate thould ftare’ 
Him in the face, to fhake his firm refolve.* 
Doétor. Towers was in the pulpit, ani. 
mated, practical, and argumentative ; he 
reafoned powerfully, and aimed more te 
imprefs and fecure the underftanding on 
his fide, than to agitate the feelings, In- 
deed, pathetic defeription, or {cenes of 
feigned diftrefs, is, in oo part of his nume- 
rous publications to be found. Accuf- 
tomed, himfelf, to aét from xeafon’s dice 
tates, a conviction of the intrinfic excel- 
lence of virtue, and the perfection of chrif- 
tian morality ; he exe:ted not his endea. 
vours to work on the paflions of his audi~ 
tory, or to takethem by furprize. 
The ufual ftyle of his compofitions was 
more ftrong than brilliant. His biogra- 
phical writings poffels peculiar merit, the 
ttyle being diftinguifhed by its neatnefs 
and per{picuity 3 though. plain, itis for- . 
cible and though familiar, it is never flat 
or infipid. His voice was ftrong, but far 
from being harfh or unpleafing. Conf- 
dering how much and well he wrote, the 
great variety of works of different authors, 
Though 
*in almoft every department, which came 
under his infpeétien, and required accurate 
inveltigation to enable him to judge of 
and appreciate the merits of the writers ; 
it may be faid, that his underftanding was | 
of the firft clafS, his mind uncommonly 
vigorous and comprehentive, and that his 
muft, indeed, have been a life of affiduous 
ttudy and laborious exertion. 
Doétor Towers was in ftature rather be- 
low the middle fize, his features were rega. 
lar, hiscomplexion fair, and his countenance 
open and engaging, denoting that Tae 
fr) 
