Memoirs of the life and writings of the Rev. Richard Watson, late secretary to the Wesleyan missionary society

Front matter

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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 connection 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.

PREFACE.

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. He 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,

Chapter I

Mr. Watson's Parentage — Birth — Delicate Health — Early Education — 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 Joiner — Personal Appearance — Moral Character — Conversion — Fervent Piety — Singular Accidents, . . . . Page 11

Chapter II

Developement of Mr. Watson's mental Character — Death of his Grandmother — 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 — Henry's Method for Prayer — Winchesterianism, . . . . ~ 22

Chapter III

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 Connection — Character and Labours in the Derby Circuit — Admission into full Connection with the Conference — Appointment to the Hinckley Circuit — Begins the Study of Hebrew — Theological Studies — Indiscretion — Reported to have embraced heterodox Opinions — Unkindly treated — Retires from the Itinerant Ministry — Did not hold the Tenets imputed to him — Enters into Business — Marriage — Divine Call to the Ministry — Becomes a private Member of the Methodist New Connection — Enters upon the Ministry in that Body — Appointment to the Manchester Circuit, 35

Chapter IV

Mr. Watson's Satire upon the immoderate Use of Instrumental Music in Public Worship — Approval of the Discipline of the New Connection — 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 Liverpool Circuit — Letters to the Messrs. Faulkner — Verses on Charity — Admitted into full Connection 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 — Returned a third Year to Liverpool — Nature of his Preaching — Publishes an Answer to Mr. Roscoe, 52

Chapter V

Failure of Mr. Watson's health — Return to Liverpool as a Supernumerary — 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 Methodist New Connection — Returns to Liverpool — Unites himself to the Wesleyan Body — Letters to Mr. Absalom Watkin, 76

CONTENTS.

Chapter VI

Mr. Watson returns to the Wesleyan Itinerancy — Appointed to the Wakefield Circuit — Character of his Preaching — Assists at the reopening 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 Shackleton — Letters to Mr. Watkin — Outline of a Sermon on the Trial of Faith,

Chapter VII

Departure of Dr. Coke from England — Formation of a Methodist Missionary Society in Leeds — State of the Methodist Missions — Mr. Watson's Sermon on that Occasion — Writes an Address in behalf of the Methodist Missions — Speech at a Missionary Meeting at Halifax — Assists in forming a Missionary Society in Hull, and another at Sheffield — Speech on a similar Occasion in Wakefield — Letters to Messrs. Makinson and Watkin, 105

Chapter VIII

Restoration of Peace in Europe — Mr. Watson's Sermon on that Occasion — Missionary Societies formed in various Places — Mr. Watson's Zeal in the Missionary Cause — Diversity of Opinion concerning Missionary Meetings — Decision of Conference on the Subject — Influence of Missionary Meetings upon the Methodist Connection — Mr. Watson's Conduct in his Circuit — Reproof to an impatient Hearer — Removal to the Hull Circuit — Opening of a new Chapel in Hull — Mr. Watson's Usefulness — His Views of congregational Singing — Letter to Mr. Walton, of Wakefield — Missionary Meeting in London — Letter to Mr. Walton — Tale of Robbery — Death of Dr. Coke — Mr. Watson opens the new Chapel at Newark — Attack upon him in one of the Hull Newspapers — His Letter in self-defence — Letter to Mr. Walton — Mr. Watson's Conduct as a Colleague — Providential Deliverance, . 1 . . . 121

Chapter IX

Mr. Watson visits London to assist at a Missionary Anniversary — His Sermon in the City-Road Chapel — Missionary Anniversary at Hull — Extract from the Report — False Alarm— Difficulty in preparing for the Pulpit — Mr. Watson's Removal to London — Appointed one of the General Secretaries to the Wesleyan Missions — Manner in which he discharged his official Duties — Letter to Mr. Edmondson — Letter to Dr. Ellis — Letters to Mr. Garbutt — Extracts from the General Missionary Report for the Year 1816, 139

Chapter X

Attacks upon the West India Mission — Mr. Watson's Defence of that Mission — Speech at the Anniversary of the Bible Society — Conference of 1817 — Mr. Watson's reappointment to London — Letter to Dr. Ellis — Missionary Report for 1817 — Mr. Watson preaches at the opening of a new Chapel in Oxford — Singular Adventure on that Occasion, 156

Chapter XI

Mr. Watson's Pamphlet on the Eternal Sonship of Christ — Extracts on the Use of Reason in Religion — Mr. Robert Hall's Opinion of Mr. Watson's Pamphlet — Unkind Reply to it — Consequences of Dr. Clarke's Theory — Resolution of Conference in regard to the doctrine of the Eternal Sonship of Christ — Plan of the General Wesleyan Missionary Society — Arrival of two Priests of Budhoo from India — Letter to Mr. Walton — Conference of 1818 — Formation of the Gene, ral Chapel Fund — Mr. Watson's removal to the London West Circuit — Preaches before the Sunday School Union— Extracts from his Sermon — Attends an Ordination of Missionaries at Bristol, . . . . . . . ,172

CONTENTS.

Chapter XII

' Mr. Watson's Address in the City-Road Chapel, on the appointment of a Number of Missionaries — His views of the Missionary Character and Work — Report of the Missionary Society for the Year 1818 — Unsettled State of the Nation — Mr. Watson's loyal and patriotic Exertions — Letter to Miss Smith — Embarrassed State of the Mission Fund — Appeal to the Public in its behalf— Annual Meeting of the Missionary Society in 1819 — Sir Alexander Johnston — Conference of 1819 — Pastoral Address to the Methodist Societies — Instructions to the Wesleyan Missionaries — First Report of the General Chapel Fund, . Page 190

Chapter XIII

Missionary Report for the Year 1819 — Letter to Mr. Garbutt — Mr. Watson visits Cornwall, accompanied by Mr. Bunting — Mission in Southern Africa — Anniversary of the Missionary Society in the Year 1820 — Letter to Mr. Walton — Conference of 1820 — Visit of Mr. Emory, from America — Pastoral Address to the Methodist Societies — Mr. Watson's Appointment a third Year to the London West Circuit — His Correspondence with the Missionaries — Letter to the Rev. William D. Goy, 215

Chapter XIV

Mr. Southey's " Life of Wesley"— Brief View of Mr. Wesley's Doctrine — Mr. Southey's defective Views of Religion — Mr. Watson publishes " Observations on Southey's Life of Wesley" — Extracts from that Work — Death of the Rev. Joseph Benson — Missionary Report for the Year 1820 — New South Wales — New- Zealand — The West Indies — Anniversary of the Missionary Society in 1821 — The Rev. William Ward — Remarks on Missionary Meetings — Letter to Mr. Walton . 230

Chapter XV

The Conference of 1821— Letter to Mr. Walton— To his Daughter— Mr. Watson's Appointment to the Office of Resident Missionary Secretary — Becomes a private Member of a Class — Letter to the Rev. Robert Young — Missionary Tour in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire — Letter to Mrs. Watson — Mr. Watson's Contributions to the Wesleyan Magazine — Doctrine of the Witness of the Spirit — Sermon on Man Magnified — Begins to write his Theological Institutes — Missionary Report for 1821 — Mission in Ceylon — New-Holland — New-Zealand — Western and Southern Africa — Income of the Missionary Society — Mr. Watson visits Cornwall —Letter to Mr. Walton, 248

Chapter XVI

Mr. Watson's spirit at Missionary Anniversaries — Anniversary of the Missionary Society in 1822 — Speech of the Rev. George Collison — Instruction of Missionaries — Letters to Dr. Ellis — Letter to the Rev. Elijah Hoole — Missionary Report for the year 1822— Letter to Dr. Ellis— Mr. Watson publishes the first part of his Theological Institutes — Anniversary of the Missionary Society in 1823— Letter to Dr. Ellis— Letter to Mr. Walton— The Rev. Messrs. Sargent and Lloyd killed on their way to the Conference — Letter to Mr. Walton — Letter to Miss Walton, on the Death of her Sister— Death of the Rev. William Ward- Projected Mission in Palestine— Letter to Dr. M'Allum — The Rev. Charles Cook's Visit to Jerusalem — Mr. Watson writes in Defence of the Witness of the Spirit — His Sermon on " Man Magnified by the Divine Regard" — Letter on Organs in Methodist Chapels, 259

Chapter XVII

Mr. Watson publishes the second Part of his Theological Institutes — Letter to Mr. Walton — Persecution in Barbadoes — The Argument a priori in proof of a First Cause — Dr. Samuel Clarke's Demonstration— Divinity of Christ — Mission-

CONTENTS.

ary Report for 1823 — Projected Mission to Jerusalem — Mission in Ceylon — In the West Indies — Catechisms of the Wesleyan Methodists — Mr. Watson preaches on the Mission to the Negroes at the Anniversary of 1824 — Letters to Miss Watson, Page 278

Chapter XVIII

Mr. Watson visits Oxford — Conference of 1824 — Letters to his Daughter — First Report of the Anti-Slavery Society — Agitations in the West Indies — Letter to the Right Hon. Wilmot Horton — Letter to the Rev. Elijah Hoole — Letter to the Rev. Frederick England — Missionary Report of 1824 — Anniversary of the Missionary Society in 1825 — Letter to Mr. Garbutt — Debate in the House of Commons on the Riot in Barbadoes — Sir R. W. Horton — Singular Impression — Conference of 1825 — Address to the Societies — Letter to the Rev. Robert Young — Mr. Watson publishes the third Part of his Theological Institutes — Notices concerning it, 289

Chapter XIX

State of the Mission Fund at the End of the Year 1825 — Appeals for farther Exertions — Missionary Report for 1825 — Mr. Watson publishes a Tract against Popery — Anniversary of the Missionary Society in 1826 — Loss of the Maria Mail Boat and of five Missionaries, &c — Panic of 1825-6 — Mr. Watson assists in opening a new Chapel in Manchester — Letter to Dr. Ellis — Death of Joseph Butterworth, Esq. — Mr. Watson preaches and publishes his funeral Sermon — The British Senate — Abolition of Slavery — Mr. Watson is elected President of the Conference — Letters to Mrs. Watson — Mr. Watson's Conduct as President — Letter to a young Preacher — Mr. Watson attends a Missionary Meeting at Leeds — Letter to Mrs. Watson — Letter to Dr. Ellis — Mr. Watson publishes the fourth Part of his Theological Institutes, . . . . . . 307

Chapter XX

Missionary Report for 1825 — Letter to Mrs. Watson— MrT Watson's Visit to Scotland — Letter to Mrs. Watson from Glasgow — Mr. Watson visits Cornwall and Ireland — Letter to Mrs. Watson — Attends the Conference in Manchester in 1827 — Letters to Mrs. Watson — Delivers an Address to the Young Preachers— The most useful kind of Preaching — Mr. Watson's Appointment to Manchester — Private Studies — Ministry — Conduct as a Superintendent and Christian Pastor — Sermon against a Musical Festival — Personal Character — Attention to his Circuit, 323

Chapter XXI

Missionary Report for 1827 — Anniversary of the Missionary Society in 1828 — Benefit of the Scriptures — Mr. Watson publishes the fifth Part of his Theological Institutes — Remarks on Calvinism — Anecdote of the Rev. Rowland Hill — The Conference of 1828 — Attempts to subvert the Methodist Discipline — Mr. Watson publishes his "Affectionate Address" — Pamphlets of the Rev. Daniel Isaac — Two Replies to Mr. Watson's Address — Character of those Publications — Letter on Mr. Watson's early History — Letter on his future Appointment — Report of the Missionary Society for 1828 — Letter to Mr. James Nichols — Mr. Watson publishes the last Part of his Theological Institutes, and presents that Work to the Connection — The Conference of 1829 — Tribute to the Memory of Thomas Thompson, Esq. — Mr. Watson's Removal to London — Address at the Ordination of Missionaries — Letter to the Rev. John Hannah — Report of the Missionary Society for the year 1829 — Persecution in Jamaica, . . 337

Chapter XXII

Mr. Watson publishes his " Conversations for the Young" — Annual Meeting of the Missionary Society in 1830 — Mr. Watson's Speech — Letter to the Rev. Samuel Entwisle — Meeting of the Anti-Slavery Society — Resolutions of Con-

CONTENTS.

ference on Slavery — Letter to Dr. Emory — Address to the Congregation at City- Road, on Slavery — Mr. Watson's Sermon on God with us — Missionary Report for 1830 — Speech at the Anti-Slavery Meeting — Address to the Methodists on Slavery — Supplement to the Methodist Hymn Book — Mr. Watson publishes the Life of Mr. Wesley— Conference of 1831, ....... Page 361

CHAPTER XXIIL

Appearance of the Cholera in England — Fast Day observed by the City-Road Congregation — Watch-Night at the City-Road — Letter to Mr. Edmondson — Report of the Missionary Society for 1831— Persecutions in Jamaica — Mr. Watson visits Brighton for his health — Completion of his Biblical Dictionary — Doctrine of Christian Perfection — Missionary Anniversary in 1832 — Mr. Watson's Speech —Literary Projects — Mr. Watson begins an Exposition of the New Testament — The Conference of 1832 — Letter to Mrs. Watson — Mr. Watson presents his Works to the Methodist Connection — His Appointment to the Office of Resident Secretary to the Missions — Dr. Adam Clarke — Mr. Watson's resignation of his Pastorship at City-Road, .......... .396

Chapter XXIV

Letters to Mr. William Shaw — Circular Letter addressed to the Missionaries — Death of Dr. Adam Clarke — Death of the Rev. Thomas Stanley — Literary Project — Letter to Mr. Benjamin Blaine — Mr. Watson's last Sermon — Death of the Rev. John James — Mr. Watson's Exposition — Rapid Decline of Mr. Watson's Health — State of the Anti-Slavery Question — Letter to Mr. Buxton, on Negro Emancipation — Notices of Mr. Watson's last Sickness, by Mrs. Bulmer, Mr. Beechara, Mr. Marsden, Mr. Ince, Mr. Dixon, and Mrs. Dixon — His Death — Resolutions of the Missionary Committee — Mr. Watson's Funeral — Mr. Bunting's Sermon on his Death — Tribute to his Memory in the Missionary Report — His Character by the Conference — Publication of his Exposition, ...... 417

Chapter XXV

Mr. Watson's personal Appearance — Manners— Mental Character — Attainments — Judgment and Imagination — Fine Taste — Versatility of his Talents — Practical Habits — Uprightness and Consistency — -Diligence — Pastoral Visitation —Kind Attention to Children — Temper — Effect of Disease upon his Spirits — Forgiving Temper — Generosity — Conduct in the Domestic Relations — Letter to his Son — Qualifications as Missionary Secretary — Usefulness in that Office — Catholic Spirit — Modesty — Powers of Conversation — Submission to the Authority of Scripture — Letter to a Speculatist — Character of his Preaching — Manner in the Pulpit — Examples of powerful Eloquence — Manner of conducting Public Worship — Attachment to his own Denomination — Conduct as a Methodist Preacher — Was not a theoretic Dissenter — Regard for the established Church — His deep Piety — Honour put upon him in Death, ..... 460

THE

MEMOIRS

OF

REV. RICHARD WATSON

Chapter I

Mr. Watson's Parentage — Birth — Delicate Health — Early Education — 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 Joiner — Personal Appearance — Moral Character — Conversion — Fervent Piety — Singular Accidents.

Few subjects of inquiry excite deeper interest than the personal history of men who have been distinguished by learning, genius, or any peculiarities of character and conduct. The Church and the world, therefore, have each their favourite biographical works, in which their respective heroes are exhibited ; and to these they are accustomed to pay a more than ordinary attention. To meet the public demand for some authentic record of one of the most eminent men of modern times, the following narrative has been prepared. It suggests many important lessons of practical instruction ; and presents, in a very striking view, the power and excellence of true religion, as giving strength and elevation to the human intellect, sanctifying a life of affliction, inspiring universal charity, and affording consolation and hope in the prospect of death and eternity.

The Rev. Richard Watson was the son of Thomas and Ann Watson, and was born at Barton-upon-Humber, in Lincolnshire. His father, who was a native of Ledenham, near Lincoln, was the son of a respectable farmer ; and as the family was somewhat large, and could not be all conveniently employed in agriculture, he was brought up to the business of a saddler. The earlier years of his life were spent in Not^ tingham ; where it is probable he served his apprenticeship. In this town he was connected with the Methodists. He subsequently removed to Bawtry, and from thence to Barton.

Mrs. Watson, the mother of Richard, is still living, (1834,) and resides in Nottingham. She was born in London ; but removed in early life with her parents to Finningley, near Bawtry, where she became acquainted with Mr. Watson, and was married to him in the parish church of that village. Though far advanced in years, she is in full possession of her faculties ; and in her features greatly resembles her son. She presented her husband with eighteen children, of whom Richard was the seventh. They all died in their infancy, except Richard, and three sisters who are still living.

Richard was born February 22d, 1781. His father at that time was connected with the dissenters; yet, being a freeman of the city of Lincoln, and thinking that the parish register might be of advantage to his son in future life, the child was baptized at St. Peter's church in Barton. During his infancy his health was exceedingly delicate ,

IIFE OF THE REV. RICHARD WATSON.

his death was almost daily anticipated ; he was taken to the church to be baptized on the fifth of March, being then only eleven days old ; and his parents, who were passionately fond of him, had scarcely the slightest hope that he would be spared to arrive at manhood. He was so extremely weak, that his mother was for a long time compelled to nurse him upon a pillow ; his feeble and attenuated frame not being able to bear the slight pressure of his own weight upon her arms.

When he was about three or four years old, so as to be able to walk, he became very lethargic. If his mother suffered him to leave the house for the purpose of play, a messenger generally arrived in a very short time, informing her that her son had reclined his head upon the threshold of some neighbouring house, and was there fast asleep. This drowsiness was only temporary, and was succeeded by unusual playfulness and vivacity. At a proper age he was placed under the tuition of an old lady who kept a school witlun a few doors of his father's house. The very earnest and vehement manner in which he repeated the letters, when learning the alphabet and beginning to form syllables, greatly interested his governess ; who often exclaimed, " Bless thee ! Thou wilt be a great man." The prediction has been amply verified ; and the kindness and generosity under the impulse of which the prophetess thus oracularly spoke were honourable to her character ; although the attainments of her pupil at that time could not be regarded as any proof of future eminence.

Having acquired the rudiments of instruction under the care and encouragement of his female teacher, Richard was sent to a school which was kept in a room adjoining St. Peter's church, by the curate, whose name was the Rev. Matthew Barnett, the clergyman by whom he had been baptized. He was then about six years of age ; and during the first quarter of his admission, his intelligent tutor, seeing the capabilities of the boy, waited upon his parents, and proposed that he should immediately enter upon the study of Latin. With this suggestion they readily complied ; although they had not previously contemplated, in the education of their son, any thing more than a bare preparation for some ordinary business. A higher Power, however, designed him for more important employment ; and had it not been for that sound classical training which he received in early life, he would have been very inadequately qualified for those momentous services in the Church for which he was intended. The parties concerned in conducting his education, at this period of his life, were unconscious instruments in the hands of a wise and gracious Providence, which Wias preparing him for extensive and permanent usefulness in the world. He had great aptitude for the acquisition of learning ; so that he could freely indulge himself in play, which, considering the peculiar delicacy of his constitution, was necessary to his health, and yet he was always ready to obey the call of his master, when the time arrived for repeating his lesson. His mother often reminded him of the length and difficulty of his classical tasks, and of the consequent necessity of application; and his general reply was, "I can say my lesson." Fearing that he did not pursue his studies with sufficient diligence, she inquired of Mr. Barnett respecting the proficiency of his pupil; who told her that she might lay aside all anxiety on that subject, inasmuch as the improvement of her son was to him perfectly satisfactory.

Richard remained under the efficient tuition of this clergyman about two years, when the family removed from Barton.

During his residence in this town, Mr. Watson, sen., was accustomed, when the tide served, to cross the Humber from Barton to Hull on the Sunday morning, to attend the preaching of the Rev. Mr. Lambert, an eminent dissenting minister in that town ; and also that of the Rev. Joseph Milner, the ecclesiastical historian. In Mr. Milner's church he often heard Mr. Stillingfleet, of Hotham, and other evangelical clergymen of celebrity. On these occasions he was frequently accompanied by his son Richard, who thus early in life was trained to an attendance upon the public worship of almighty God, and enjoyed the means of Christian instruction ; and that salutary impressions were then made upon his tender mind, he afterward gratefully acknowledged. His father's sentiments, at this period, appear to have been Calvinistic ; and as he was anxious that his neighbours should enjoy such a ministry as that which he conscientiously preferred, and to which he attached so much importance, he united with some other persons, like minded with himself, in the erection of a small chapel at Barton, in which a minister belonging to the connect tion of the late countess of Huntingdon was invited to officiate. He lodged in the house of Mr. Watson during his stay in Barton ; but as he did not succeed in raising either a congregation or a church, so as to obtain adequate support, he at length left the place, and the attempt to raise a dissenting interest was abandoned. The sale of the chapel became necessary ; and Mr.

Watson would not consent to this measure, unless his fellow trustees would dispose of it to the Methodists,, that it might still be used as a place of religious worship. To this they agreed ; and this humble structure is believed to have been the first Methodist chapel in Barton. By this attempt to introduce a dissenting ministry, Mr. Watson offended many of his customers, who therefore withdrew their patronage from him. His business, in consequence, declined ; and he was ultimately induced to leave the town. He was an upright man ; and among those who were personally acquainted with him in those times, he had the reputation of possessing considerable powers of memory ; while his general intelligence, and especially his knowledge of divinity, raised him considerably above the greater part of his contemporaries of the same rank in society. The discipline which he maintained in his family was strict. His children were trained up in a regular attendance upon religious worship ; were restrained from evil company, from Sabbath-breaking, and from the use of profane songs ; and regularly instructed in the Assembly's Catechism. His parental care and solicitude were not in vain. Though often called to follow his infant offspring to the grave, in one of them, at least, he was favoured with a signal display of the power of Divine grace. He had a daughter who was a very remarkable example of early piety. She was a year or two older than her brother Richard ; and they were tenderly attached to each other. They were accustomed to sing hymns together ; and when they were left in the dark, she often told him that they need not be afraid ; for that good angels, who sing hymns to God continually, would always take care of them. She had strong presentiments of an early death ; and frequently told the family that she should soon die, and go to heaven.