1810.] 
it will be interesting, if only for the dates 
and facts it furnishes to those who either re- 
member the extraordinary charms of his con- 
versation (and who dees not remember them 
that ever knew him?) or have read and ap- 
pretiated his eloquent writings. His writings 
indeed were not many nor voluminous; but 
his was the singular ptaise of establishing a 
splendid and durable reputation on publica- 
tions, which, if the work of an ordinary man, 
would net have survived the occasion that 
gave them birth, He was born at Shetlield, 
in Yorkshire, in January, 1732, and was the 
second son of William and Hannah Radcliffe, 
of that place. At the age of twelve years, he 
hhad the misfortune to lose his father, a man 
respectable for his property and situation in 
life, but more distinguished for the universal 
esteem in which he was beld for uprightness 
and moral worth. His mother, whom he 
always spoke of in terms of very peculiar af- 
fection and régard, lived many years after 
this ; and had the satisfaction of seeing her son 
usefully and honorably settled in the) world. 
Tie was initiated in classical learning by the 
Rev Mr. @liffe, of Sheffield ; and afterwards 
became a pupil of the Rev. Mr. Lowe, of 
Norton, in Derbyshire, with whom he read 
the Greek and Roman Classics, made himself 
master of Euclid, and studied algebra,’and the | 
mathematics, At an early age, he commenced 
his academical! stusies, at Northampton, under 
Dr. Doddridge, with whom he continued tii] 
the doctor’s death, in 17515 and from whom 
he derived advantages as a student in sacred 
literature, which it is the happiness of few to 
enjoy. He had just gone through the whole 
of his tutor’s usual course to students:in divi- 
nity, when that excellent man was taken 
away, in the midst of his pious labours, to the 
inexpressible grief of all the friends of religion 
and virtue, both in the establishment and out 
of it. How well the subject of this memoir 
had improved his time ano talents, at school, 
may be concluded from the fact which he 
himself relates, that he was entered at North- 
ampton in the second class, in consequence of 
being acquainted with those subjects. which 
usually occupied the first year. After the 
death of Dr. Doddridge, Mr. Radcliffe went 
to Edinburgh, where he continued one session, 
a period cf his life, which on account of the 
society he met witti there, and the opportu- 
nities of improving himself in general know- 
ledge, he was accustomed to speak of as pecu- 
liarly agreeable and happy. Nothing, how- 
ever, could divert him from the object which, 
with his characteristic ardour of mind, he had 
all along kept in view—the office of aminister 
‘of religion amongst protestant dissenters, an 
office which he sustained for 26 years ‘of his 
life,, and with an ability which few ministers 
of any church nave been known toequal. A 
tall commanding figure, a manly and forci- 
ble utterance, a plain, simple, nervous style, 
peculiarly adapted to. sacred subjects, and a 
luminous comprehensive view cf every topic 
Montrary Mas. No. 193, 
Account of the late Ebenezer Radcliffe. 635 
and argument, such as familiarly presents 
itself to a mind of first-rate powers, combined 
‘to render him (especially on interesting occa- 
sions) an admired andeloquent preacher. His 
first settlement was at Boston, in Lincolnshire, 
where (to use his own words) ‘¢ Istaid seve- 
ral years, endeavouring to discharve the duty 
of my profession to the best of my abilities, 
and receiving, in return, every instance of 
respect an aftectionate people could give.” 
Whilst at Boston, Mr. R, published three ser- 
mons 3 two on occasion of the disastrous cir- 
cunistances of the war then carried on, onthe 
continent, in aid of the king of Prussia, and 
the other in celebration of the v ctoryat Min- 
den, on the ist of Av-ust, 1759. The pro- 
testant interest was supposed to be at stake 
upon the issue of this conflict, and the hopes 
and tears of the nation were alternately raised 
to anexcee “igly high pitch. The discourses 
bear the same character of high-toned patrio- 
tism and fire, both of language and sentiments 3 
a fire which was so characteristic of their au- 
thor, that it was never extinct, even in the 
latest periods of his life. 1n 1759, Mr. R. re- 
moved from Boston to the neignbourhocd 
of the metropolis, being chosen afternoon 
preacher to an opulent, and at that time a nu- 
merous, congregation of dissenters at Waltham- 
stow; in connexion with the celebrated Hugh 
Farmer,whose talents as a preacher, and whose 
writings on Christ’s temptation, and on mira- 
cles, had gained him a high and deserved re- 
putation. At this time it was that Mr. R. 
renewed the intimacy that had commenced 
while they were fellow students at Northamp- 
ton, with Mr., now Sir Wadsworth, Busk, 
who is the last, excepting perhaps two, of all 
Dr. Doddridge’s pupils- The two friends, 
though pursuing: diffrrent professions, yet 
united in the same views on the most impor- 
tant subjects, lived together for some years 
in the Temple, and afterwards married into | 
the same family. The sudden death of the 
king, in 1760,-in the fullness of glory, fur- 
nished a subject for panegyric; Mr. R.’s dis- 
course on the occasion was published, and very 
highly applauded. His own modesty led him 
to say of it, that it was received with more 
respect than it merited. On new year’s day 
inthe following year, he preached-and printed, 
“at the request of the managers of the free 
school, in Gravel Lane, in’ the Borough, an 
excellent charity sermon in behalf of that 
institution, entitled ‘* The Charitabie Man,. 
the best Economist, Patriot, and Christian.” 
In the course of this year (1761) Mr. R. 
succeeded to the pastoral charge of the congre- 
gation in Jewry-street, which had long been 
under the care of those illustrious ornaments 
of the Christian church, Drs. Lardner and 
Benson. Lo the former, who has been em- 
phatically styled ‘* the Prince of Modern 
Divines,” he paid a noble tribute of respect, 
in an oration, which to say every thing ina 
word, was worthy of the occasion which call= 
ed it forth. Ic bas been in a great part tran- 
4 NS acribed 
