544 
Dr. Tucker, Dean of Gloucefter. In 
this work the Dean attacks. the political 
fentiments of Mr. Locke, and endeavours 
ta. overturn thofe principles of govern- 
ment which had been laid down by that 
great man. Our author’s pamphlet con- 
fits of one hundred. and fifty oftavo 
pages, and is intitled «* A Vindication 
of the political Principles of Mr. Locke, 
an Anfwer to the Objections of the Rey. 
Dr. Tucker, Dean of Gloucefter.:, This 
work difcovers a perfect kn: Owiedee of the 
fubjeét, and. is writ'en with much force 
and animation. - Dr. Towers herein ma.- 
nifeiis the fame ardent fpirit in defence of 
Mr. Locke, of whom-he thought highly, 
and in fupport of his fentiments, as had 
diftinguilhed his former publications on 
fimilar or analogous fubjects. . Both par- 
ties were vet ores Babionet es to contro- 
verfy, and poffeiied of confiderable know- 
ledge and talents; bee vell meaning, 
though widely different in point of prin- 
ciples ; the one firaining every point in 
fayour of prerogative, and the monarchi- 
cal branch of the Britith Conffitution ; 
and the other, with firmoe!s, defending 
and fupporiing the democratival branch, 
and popular fide of the queltion. 
In the autumn of this year, Dr.Tow- 
ers became one of the members of a fo- 
ciety, which confified of tome of the firft 
nobiity, and of men the mo‘, diltin- 
guifhed for abilities and public fpirit that 
the kingdom could produce ; it was call- 
ed “ The Society for Confiitutional In- 
formation.”?. Thefe were affociated with 
our author upon terms of equality, for 
his f{pirit was too great to permit him 
fubmiffively to bear with a contrary treat- 
ment; on no other ,would he aflociat 
with them. The leading principle of this S 
fociety was to diffufe more widely among 
the people the knowledge of their rights 
and duties, as members. of commu- 
nity; a prea which Dr. Towers held 
facred, and never would abandcn, be- 
caufe he had) a fuli conviction, founded 
upon the hiftory of man, that the igne- 
rance of the people ever has ‘been, and 
ever muf be, the mother both of fuper- 
ftition and cf defpoiifin. He remained 
in, and was an 2étive member of, this fo- 
ciety, until the time of its diffolution, 
which cecurred in 1794, when the books 
and papers were feized by order of Go- 
vernment, and the Secretary was taker 
#nto cuflody. On the 13th of June in 
this year, the Dodtor received an order to 
attend the Privy Council on the day fol- 
Jowing, which he accordingly cout 
and was examined relative to the Socicty’s 
7 
ne 
Memoir of the late Dre Fofeph Towers. 
[ Jan. 1, 
proceedings; and, fome tani alleged to 
have been given at a large meeting im the 
Londoa Tavern, on fome recent. popular 
occafien, when the late Mr. Serjeant 
Watlox, afterwards appointed an Eaft 
India Judge, was in the chairy.and at 
which the Door was prefent. Although 
he was aflictei with the. yellow jaundice 
toa great degree, a dileafe which debi- 
litaizs, and commonly much. depreffes 
the fpirits, he behaved, in this infance, 
with his ufual furmoets and perfect felf- 
pofleffion, met.with fomething of an in- 
dulgent civility, and wis difmifled with. , 
out “being obliged to give bail. He often” 
{poke o} the treatment he received on this 
occafion from the worthy prelate who oc- 
cupies the hizheft department of the 
Chureh, as.,.pe culiarly mild and, cour- 
teous. 
The year 1783 was, we believe, prin. 
cipally taken up by our author's attea- 
tion to, and making prepwations for,'the 
publication of the third volume of the 
Bi graphia, which came out the year fol- 
lawl ing,.and to which he contributed tea, 
moitly | long Lives, with additions to two 
mre that had appeared in the former. 
edition -of the work. .He alfe, in: the 
courfe of, the fame »year,, executed the 
part afl igned him in the New Annual Re- 
gilter ot the year. preced'ns, except part 
of the Chroni ‘cle, which was finifhed by | 
nother hand , and he alfo brought out 
a ean pam; phlet, written at the. requeit 
of a gentleman who was principally inte- 
refed in the lubject of it, being ‘* Odjer- 
vations relative to the C ns iately tried 
in the Court of Common Pleas and 
King’s Bench, and afterwards removed” 
by Writ of Error into the Houle of Peers, 
between the thes Bifhop of Londen, and 
Hee Dilney Ffytche, .Efq. concerning 
he Legality a aie: Bonds of Refig- 
nation; with fome Remarks relative ni 
the Corduct of the Bifhop refpeéting 
that Caule.” This pamphlet fully flates 
all the circumfances of the cafe, and 
clearly fhows, that the Bifhop, with the 
aid of the majority of his bretaren, car- 
ried this caule ah Mr. Ffytche but 
by one vote, in oppofition to the known 
and eftabliined law of the land!” Te ista 
be obferved, that the queéftidn was nof, 
.whether bonds of refignation, given with 
no bad purpofe, fhould in. farure be va- 
lid, but au they -had not been fo 
adjudged by the courts of law, uninter- 
ruptedly, for time immemorial, whereby 
their legality became unqueltionable ; 
confequenily, the Bifhop was not jultified 
in re'ufing Mr. pees his right of prefen- 
tation, 
= 
