party colouring of any of the histories as yet published of of the late important and eventful reign; having been drawn up by the author, in the vigour of his powers, and having subsequently received those corrections which were suggested by the mature age of the author under a consciousness that his connexion with this bustling world was approaching to a conclusion. It is not necessary farther to detail the literary occupations in which Dr. Aikin was engaged during his residence at Stoke Newington. While the infirmities of age pressed only with a light hand, the greater part of every day was devoted to writing or reading. Painful and trying was the period when the decay of the mind, in consequence of a paralytic attack, began to precede that of the bodily frame, when the memory became less and less capable of recalling the past, and the intellect of receiving the impress of the present; one ray, however, still enlightened the gloom, and when all besides was dark, conjugal love still connected him with the external world. He died Dec. 7, 1822, having nearly completed his 75th year. Dr. Aikin was endowed by nature with a good constitution; and this original advantage he was always careful to preserve by strict temperance and abundant exercise: to this was united an intellect of great activity in acquiring, and facility in communicating ideas; and a temper calm, well regulated, and cheerful, though far from sanguine. Hence he possessed in a very eminent degree the inestimable blessing of a sound mind in a sound body. The abstractions of mathematical investigation and the minute dissection of almost evanescent ideas, which characterises the metaphysician, either were not adapted to his faculties, or did not agree with his taste, which was strongly attracted to the useful in morals, in politics, and in the general conduct of life; and to the agreeable, the harmonious, and the elegant in objects of amusement. Hence his stores of knowledge were all produceable in the intercourse of society, and this gave him a wide range of subjects for conversation. These were communicated in simple and easy though flowing language, and regulated by a goodness of temper, a decorum and practical politeness not often equalled, never excelled. The ruling principle of his conduct in great as in small affairs was equity, - that equity which is best expressed by the Christian maxim of "doing to others as we would wish others to do to us." Kind, generous, compassionate to all with whom he was connected either by ties of kindred or acquaintance, or in the exercise of his profession, he had no personal enemies; and the love and attachment of his friends was in proportion to their intimacy with him; for there was nothing in his moral character (using the expression in its widest extent) which required to be managed - to be kept out of view - to be glossed over. 362 No. XXIII. THE REV. JOHN OWEN, Μ.Α. ONE OF THE SECRETARIES OF THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY. THE question concerning the distribution of the Scriptures, as a primary means of diffusing the light of the Gospel, has given rise to much discussion among Christians of various denominations. Some are disposed to consider it as a work of the most exalted charity, which will draw down a twofold blessing, on "him that gives and him that takes;" and to hail it as a propitious dissemination of sacred truths, which cannot fail to be followed by an abundant and glorious harvest. Others, no less anxious for the accomplishment of the great end proposed, are apprehensive that the Scriptures, if extensively circulated without any elucidatory accompaniment, may be perverted from their right use in the hands of ignorance and enthusiasm, while in becoming too common they may cease to be regarded with that veneration which is due to them. It is also urged in support of this objection, that as the divine command given to the Apostles was to preach the Gospel, the performance of that duty, both by precept and example, on the part of their successors, should by all means precede any attempt to circulate among heathen nations the written evidences of the Christian religion. The question is certainly one of the highest interest and importance; but whatever difference of opinion may exist respecting it in the minds of conscientious and pious Christians, there can be no doubt concerning the purity of the motives which induced the subject of this memoir to devote the best and most valuable part of his life to a cause which in his view was identified with that of Christianity itself. John Owen was born in London about the year 1765. His father, a man of pious habits, and a distinguished member of the congregation which attended the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Romaine, at Blackfriars' Church, was particularly zealous for the propagation of the Gospel among heathen nations, and was in the constant habit of public and private prayer for the success of missionaries and others engaged in that sacred vocation. The example of such a parent had probably a considerable influence in producing the strong inclination which Mr. Owen, at an early period of his life, evinced for the Christian ministry, and which determined his father to obtain admission for him into St. Paul's School, where he acquired the rudiments of a classical education. From thence he went to Cambridge, at which University he prosecuted his studies with such success, as to obtain several prizes, and to be elected fellow of Corpus Christi College. He was now enabled to gratify his early predilections by taking holy orders, and soon afterwards obtained considerable celebrity as a preacher. According to the testimony of one of his particular friends *, who was his fellow-student at the University, it was even at that time impossible to listen to one of his discourses without being impressed with the persuasion that he was a man of no common abilities, and of no ordinary character; and from the same source we learn, that for many succeeding years the manner in which he discharged the parochial duties of a minister warranted the supposition, that had he continued in such a situation, with competent leisure, he would have stood in the first rank among his brethren. By these and other excellent qualifications he appears to have attracted the notice of Dr. Porteus, Bishop of London, who bestowed on him the living of Cogglesham in Essex, and through whose patronage he obtained the curacy of Fulham, which he held until the • The Rev. Mr. Dealtry, who preached his funeral sermon. death of that venerable prelate in 1808, when the rector of the parish dispensed with his services. Of these, after fifteen years' experience, the inhabitants testified their grateful sense, by presenting to him, on his departure from among them, a handsome testimonial of their attachment. He afterwards became the minister of Park Chapel, near Chelsea, where he continued in the active and zealous discharge of his sacred functions as long as health remained to him. From the first institution of the British and Foreign Bible Society, he appears to have devoted himself to its support with that disinterested zeal which deems no personal sacrifice too great, and which, conjoined with his eminent abilities, entitled him to rank among the most efficient of its founders. In the public meeting which was held at the London Tavern on the 7th of March, 1804, to deliberate on the formation of the society, he gave proof of talents which might have rendered him no less formidable as an adversary than he proved powerful as an advocate. From the relation of a gentleman who was present, it appears, that after two or three gentlemen had spoken in favour of the proposed establishment, Mr. Owen, then unknown to most of the company, rose, and in the exordium of his speech, before he explained his own views, displayed such forcible eloquence, that one, and perhaps many of his hearers were constrained to avow mentally, "if this man is against us we are ruined." This anxious suspense was soon relieved by a manly declaration on the part of Mr. Owen, approving the plan, and announcing his determination to cooperate heartily in the measures requisite for carrying it into execution. The relation above cited states that the favourable report made by him and Mr. Granville Sharpe, the chairman of that meeting, to the Bishop of London, on their return to Fulham, probably prevailed with the venerable prelate to give the benefit of his exemplary sanction to the Bible Society, which he constantly patronised until the day of his death. Faithful to the cause which he had espoused, Mr. Owen dedicated to it eighteen of the best years of his life, foregoing |