E PREFACE. THE years 1832 and 1833 were a season of great and affecting mortality among the Wesleyan Ministers. During this period several men of leading influence in that body were separated from their brethren and the church, and called to resign a charge which they had fulfilled with superior fidelity and success. Of this number the most distinguished were, Dr. Adam Clarke, and the Rev. Richard Watson; both of whom were universally esteemed and beloved for their piety, attainments, and usefulness. The loss of these excellent men has been painfully felt; and their memory will long be cherished by a large circle of friends, and by the numerous congregations to whom they were accustomed to preach the word of life. In the following pages an attempt is made to trace the personal history of Mr. Watson; and though the narrative has been compiled under many disadvantages, chiefly arising from the pressure of other engagements, it is presumed that the work contains a faithful, though inadequate, record of his life and labours. The writer will always consider it as one of his greatest privileges, and one for which he will ever be thankful to divine Providence, that he was favoured with the friendship of this great and good man, and for several years lived in habits of constant intercourse and correspondence with him. They have conversed together on almost every subject of theology, and of public interest, as well as upon all the literary projects in which Mr. Watson was engaged. To give an honest and just view of his habits, character, and opinions, has been the writer's aim; but no one is more sensible than himself that his descriptions fall vastly short of the original. It would have required a pen like his own to do full justice to Mr. Watson's intellectual endowments, and his great exertions in the cause of Christianity. To those friends who have kindly furnished materials for this volume, the cordial thanks of the writer are due, and are very sincerely tendered. It is unnecessary to specify the names of the parties in this place, as they are generally mentioned in the body of the work, in connexion with their respective communications. Mr. Watson's correspondence, of which many specimens are given, will be found to possess a more than ordinary value, on account of its piety, elegance, and variety. No man was more deeply impressed than the subject of these memoirs, with the conviction, that devotedness to God is the principal end of human life; and it is earnestly hoped that the exhibition of his own character will tend to promote this most important of all objects. Such an example of sanctified talent, and of holy zeal, in the midst of pain and wasting disease, has seldom been witnessed. had learned the great practical lesson of connecting the labours of time with the awards of eternity; and hence arose his impressions concerning both the sacredness and vanity of the present life. "Sacred how high, and vain how low, He knew not here, but died to know." LONDON, March 25th, 1834. He CONTENTS. Mr. Watson's Parentage-Birth-Delicate Health-Early Educa- tion-Religious Training-Death of a Sister-Fraternal Conduct -Removal to Lincoln-Education in that City-Proposal that he should enter the Army-Love of Reading-Apprenticed to a Developement of Mr. Watson's mental Character-Death of his Grand- mother-Beginning of his Ministry-State of the Villages near Lincoln-Labours as a Local Preacher-Opposition-Visit to Newark-Freedom from his Apprenticeship— Labours in the Newark Circuit—Appointed to the Ashby-de-la-Zouch Circuit— Character and Usefulness-Thirst for Knowledge-Desultory Nature of his Studies-Removal to the Castle-Donington Circuit Mr. Watson's removal to the Leicester Circuit-Method of Study— Case of strong Temptation-Poetical Composition-Appointment to the Derby Circuit-Success of his preaching in Derby-First Publication-Disputes in the Methodist Connexion—Character and Labours in the Derby Circuit-Admission into full Con- nexion with the Conference-Appointment to the Hinckley Cir- cuit-Begins the study of Hebrew-Theological Studies—Indiscre- tion-Reported to have embraced heterodox Opinions—Unkindly treated-Retires from the Itinerant Ministry-Did not hold the Page. Page. Divine Call to the Ministry-Becomes a private Member of Mr. Watson's Satire upon the immoderate Use of Instrumental Music in Public Worship-Approval of the Discipline of the New Con- nexion-Memoirs of William Bradbury and John Cash-Sermon on Religious Meditation-Sermon on Sunday-Schools-Letter to Mr. Edmondson-Zeal and Labours-Appointed to the Liver- pool Circuit Letters to the Messrs. Faulkner-Verses on Charity -Admitted into full Connexion with the Conference-Writes the Annual Address to the Societies-Appointed to Liverpool- Writes a History of that Town, and of the Reign of George III. -Jeu-d'esprit-Commences the Liverpool Courier-Letter to Mr. John Faulkner-Writes the Address to the Societies in 1808- Failure of Mr. Watson's health-Returned to Liverpool as a Super- numerary-Letter to Mr. John Faulkner-Writes Verses entitled “Enjoyments”—Memoir of the Rev. James Parry—Mr. Watson's Views of Church Government-The Rev. Robert Nicholson- Providential Escape-Appointed to the Manchester Circuit- Publishes a Letter on Lord Sidmouth's Bill-Character of that Measure-Failure of Mr. Watson's Health—Retirement from the Mr. Watson returns to the Wesleyan Itinerancy-Appointed to the Wakefield Circuit-Character of his Preaching-Assists at the re-opening of the Methodist Chapel at Halifax-Letter to his dying Father-Letter to Mr. Makinson—Preaches at the opening of a new Chapel at Armley-Letter to Mr. Makinson-Matthew |