attended its first promulgation. But the Bible Society, by the simplicity of its object, and the comprehensive catholicism of its constitution, so consonant to the unbounded liberality of his views, commanded his unqualified approbation; and having been chosen one of the Secretaries for the Northern Auxiliary Branch, in the county of Northampton, from its first formation, he directed the entire force of his mind to it; attending regularly, as long as his health would permit, the varions meetings held in the vicinity. The sensation produced by his speech at the first meeting at Northampton, where his Grace the Duke of Grafton presided, will never be forgotten.

Mr. Toller's addresses to the Supreme Being, in public worship and in family devotion, were copious, without being redundant, fervent without extravagance, elevated, without the least appearance of turgidity or pomp.

What he was as a preacher, may, in some measure, be conceived from his single sermons, and from the volume now submitted to the public. Hence we may judge of the general nature of the subjects which he selected, of his manner of treating them, and of the characteristic features of his style. His discourses were never vapid, tedious or uninteresting: nor was the effect of them injured by his delivery. A certain intensity of devotional feeling, a deep and solemn pathos, accompanied with tones expressive of the greatest sensibility, sustained the attention of the audience in full vigour.

For the present, we decline to notice the copious remarks of the biographer on Mr. Toller's preparations for the pulpit, and addresses from it: this topic will be more conveniently

* An opinion not peculiar to Mr. Toller.

+ Of these a very small number appeared from the press: nor has Mr. Hall mentioned them. We recollect to have seen one, of considerable excellence, on "the Evidences of Christianity." Two others have come to our knowledge; a Funeral Sermon for Mr. John Hennell, 1809, and a discourse of the same class, for the Rev. S. Palmer, of Hackney, 1814.

discussed, when the posthumous sermons themselves are reviewed. We are desirous that, in the first instance, our readers direct their thoughts exclusively to the life and character of the late minister of the Independent congregation at Kettering. These, we trust, will be very gratifying and salutary themes of contemplation; and it is not until after they have produced their appropriate effect upon the mind, that we wish to select from the Memoir any extracts which we cannot bring forward with unmixed pleasure.

The following passage (p. 3), completely approves itself to our judgment and our feelings it is a charining sketch of the character of a tutor in the academy at Daventry :

:

"Among many other mental endowments, he [Mr. Robins] was remarkable for delicacy of taste and elegance of dietion; and perhaps my reader will excuse my observing, that the first perception of these qualities which the writer of these lines remembers to have possessed,, arose from hearing him preach at Northampton on a public occasion. It is to be lamented that he has left none of those productions behind him, which a correct and beautiful bodied in language u imagination, empurity, rendered so impressive and delightful. The qualities of his heart corresponded to those of his genius; and though loug before his death, his bodily infirmities obliged him to relinquish a commanding station and retire into obscurity, he retained to the last such an ascendancy over the minds of his former pupils, and such an interest in their affections, as nothing but worth of the highest order can command.Ӡ

most classic

There is some incongruity in this transition of the biographer from the first person to the third. "Delicacy of taste," however, and "elegance of diction" strongly characterise Mr. Hall's style, and perhaps are the most prominent of his intellectual and literary excellencies. The Memoir before us, has "careless beauties," but is altogether a very attractive composition.

It was not the reviewer's happiness to be one of the pupils of Mr. Robins, whose conversation, nevertheless, he had frequent opportunities of enjoying, and from whom he personally experienced a candour and a kindness, never, he trusts, to be forgotten. In the manners of this

The sentences (43, 44,) that we proceed to extract, will gratify and impress every reader of sensibility:

"His [Mr. Toller's] most affecting illustrations (and the power of illustrating a subject was his distinguishing faculty) were drawn from the most familiar scenes of life, and, after he became a father, not unfrequently from the incidents which attach to that relation. An example of this will afford some idea of the manner in which he availed himself of images

drawn from the domestic circle. His text was Isaiah xxvii. 5: Let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me, and he shall make peace with me. "I think,' said he, I can convey the meaning of this passage so that every one may understand it, by what took place in my own family within these few days. One of my little chil. dren had committed a fault for which I thought it my duty to chastise him. I called him to me, explained to him the evil of what he had done, and told him how grieved I was that I must punish him for it: he heard me in silence, and then rushed into my arms, and burst into tears. I could sooner have cut off iny arm than have then struck him for his fault he had taken hold of my

most valuable person there was a rare union of unaffected dignity and gentleness, a pre-eminent degree of that mitis sapientia, which at once instructs and charms. His memoir of Mr. Strange and his Preface to the Abridgment of M. Henry's Posthumous Treatise, (M. Rep. V. 364,) are fine examples of his taste and judgment, as a writer.

strength, and he had made peace with me.'

With one further quotation we conclude: it is Mr. Toller's address to the Duke of Grafton, at the first meeting of an Auxiliary Bible Society at Northampton (pp. 25, 65). :

"I am confident I shall not offend

your Grace, if I venture to aflirm, that you never appeared in a situation more truly dignified than at the present momeut. As a member of the great senate illustrious civil assembly in the realm,) of the nation, (unquestionably the most you appear under the honourable title of a British peer; but here under the still more dignified character of a Christian believer there you take your seat as one of a body of legislators to an individual empire; but here as a friend to à perishing world: there you are the subject of a venerable, but alas! disabled earthly sovereign; here you appear as the loyal tate'-King of kings and Lord of subject of the blessed and only Potenlords, who only hath immortality: there sulting the well-being of the country; you are stationed as a counsellor, conbut here you preside at the head of a

band of advocates in the cause of human salvation, nor would an angel from heaven think himself demeaned by occupying the chair which your Grace fills, on an occasion like this; for if there be joy in heaven over one singer who repents, what must be the emotions of those benevolent spirits, in witnessing the proceedings of this day, which have for their object the repentance and sal

vation of millions ?"

[To be continued.].

Died, Nov. 11, 1823, at his residence in Washington County, Alabama State, North America, aged 58, the Hon. HARRY TOULMIN, late a Judge of the District Court of the United States for the Mississippi District. The subject of this memoir was the eldest son of the late Rev. Joshua Toulmin, D. D., and was born at Taunton, in the year 1766. He was from an early period destined for the ministry, and was carefully educated with that view, by his excellent father. At a proper age he was placed at Hoxton Academy, where he pursued and completed his studies, under Drs. Rees, Kippis and Savage, who then superintended the Institution. At the age of twenty-one he received and accepted an invitation

to undertake the pastoral office at the village of Montou, in Lancashire. Here he continued only about a year, when he removed to Chowbent, in the same county. His sphere of usefulness was there greatly enlarged. He was in the midst of a very populous neighbourhood, and his services in the ministry were highly and deservedly valued. He frequently addressed a congregation of eight hundred hearers. The time of his residence at Chowbent, was distinguished as the era of politicoreligious persecution. The French Revolution took place, and was followed, in this country, by the strenuous efforts of Government to suppress every independent expression of public opinion. The ingenuous mind of Mr. Toulmin could ill

brook the coerced silence imposed in this reign of terror. He became obnoxious to the partizans of the ruling powers, and was threatened with personal injury. His place of worship was at one time attacked while he was engaged in the pulpit, but his coolness and energy prevented the commission of any act of serious violence. On another occasion, a tumultuous assemblage surrounded his house, determined to drag him forth: he was absent at the moment, but being informed of the state of alarm into which his household was thrown, he hastened homeward, and, disregarding the solici tations of his friends, rode fearlessly into the midst of the riotous multitude. Awed into silence by the intrepid energy of his manner, the rude rabble listened to his calm, but forcible vindication of himself, and at length, forgetting the rage into which they had been hurried, they quietly dispersed, blessing the man whom they came with intent to destroy.

Various reasons concurred to induce Mr. Toulmin to emigrate with his family to America, which he did in the year 1793. He had some time before married Ann, daughter of Mr. Laurence Tremlett, of Totness, in the county of Devon, by whom he had several children, of whose number two died soon after their arrival in America. His first settled transatlantic residence was at Lexington, Kentucky, where he occasionally officiated as minister; but gave his principal attention, as became a settler, to agricultural pursuits, employing his leisure hours in the study of law and medicine. His proficiency in both these pursuits was considerable. The latter he ever continued benevolently and successfully to exercise in his neighbourhood; the former was, it may be presumed, early known and properly appreciated, for he was offered the situation of Secretary to the State and Government of Kentucky. In this office Mr. Toulmin continued till the removal of the Governor, when he again changed his residence, transporting his family to the Mississippi Territory, near the Alabama State. Here he extended, with successful results, his agricultural speculations, and was shortly after honoured with the office of Judge of his District, which he held for many years, discharging its laborious duties with credit to himself and benefit to the community. His qualifications for this high office were evinced by his undertaking, at the desire of the Government, to revise and digest the laws of the Mississippi Territory. This important task he accomplished, much to the satisfaction of his employers, and his abridgments were published, in a cheap and accessible form, for general information.

About

the year 1813, Mr. Toulmin lost his wife, and, after the lapse of some time, took for his second, a lady who had emigrated from England at the same time with himself. This unison was productive of the greatest happiness, both to himself and to the children of the former marriage. He now enjoyed to a great degree that kind of happiness which is most desirable to an active and virtuous mind. An extensive cultivator of land; the holder of a public function of high importance; and the head of a numerous family of children and dependents, his establishment was almost patriarchal. He had become, in his political principles, thoroughly American; and his letters to his friends in this country breathe strongly the spirit of republican independence, and abound in expressions of continued satisfaction at his emancipation from the thraldom of European governments, and of admiration of the excellent qualifications of the public institutions of his adopted country. Nor was this high estimate materially affected by his own removal from office, which was neither called for by any demerit, nor handsomely effected. On this topic he writes thus in the year 1821: "Of this, [the very moderate remuneration for his public duties,] I am all at once deprived; and this rather unexpectedly; for I did think that long, faithful and arduous services gave me a title to a re-appointment; [the office having ceased by law, on the conversion of the Mississippi Territory into a State;] but it was no such thing. All offices in the new State in the gift of the federal Government, were distributed among the partizans of the Secretary of the Treasurer, (similar to the English Chancellor of the Exchequer,) who aims to be President, a few years hence. But I was not of that class. *✦✦✦✦ Remember that intrigue, that ambition, that sycophancy, that corruption, prevail in republics as well as in monarchies, for both are governed by man; and the main difference is, that in republics, these passions and the men who are governed by them, can be checked and controuled by the people; and often are so.”

Mr. Toulmin was not without his share of domestic afflictions; some years before the death of his first wife, he suffered heavily from the loss of his eldest daughter, an amiable and excellent young woman, who was married to Colonel (now General) Gaines; but the heaviest trial seems to have been the loss of his son Joshua, a fine and interesting youth, whose progress in every useful branch of study, and the excellent qualities of whose mind and heart, endeared him to all who

Whrew him. On this event, the letters of the sorrowing parent were filled with the deepest expressions of feeling, tempered by those consolatious to which the Christian philosopher knows so well how to have recourse. During the last three years of his life, Mr. Toulmin's health had visibly declined, and he was a decided and suffering invalid, for six months previous to his dissolution. His brother, Mr. John Butler Toulmin, hearing of his increasing infirmities, hastened to see him, and arrived at his residence on the 10th of November last; the day before his death. He witnessed the closing scene, and in a letter written ou the following day, thus sketches the public character of his brother: "His usefulness and benevolence was exemplary. He was always endeavouring to benefit his fellow-creatures. He had, by a long course of study, acquired an extensive medical knowledge, which was devoted gratuitously to the benefit of his friends and neighbours. As a political character he was firm aud independent; his talents too, were of a high order, and commanded the respect of all. He had lately been elected to the General Assembly of this (the Alabama) State. It is to meet next week. He had set his heart upon attending it, for he thought he could do much good in the revision of bad laws, and in simplifying the mode of proceeding hitherto adopted in courts of justice. Had he been well, he would have done good, for he would have been the leading member in the House of Representatives. But all is now over, and his reward will be hereafter." His private character was "distinguished by mildness and benevolence, by primitive simplicity, cheerful pleasantry and extensive hospitality. His attachment to his English connexions was unabated by time or distance. Though he relinquished the exercise of the pastoral function, as the consequence of his emigration to a new country, he was never backward in the practice of the most valuable Christian virtues. To these were joined inflexible firmness and integrity, which never suffered him to be blind to public delinquency, however speciously disguised. He was an accurate and attentive observer of passing events, and an indefatigable inquirer, when any curious facts presented themselves. Residing in that part of the United States which is still disgraced by the permission of slavery, he, like all others, had a property in human beings, but he had too high a regard for them as fellow-creatures, to allow them to feel their bondage oppressive, and was consoled by the reflection, that his Negroes were better off than persons of the labouring classes in England.

Mr. Toulmin had a large family of children, several of whom are married, and settled in different parts of the United States, all of them, as might be anticipated, respectably filling the situation allotted to them by Providence. His death leaves a void in his family which will long be painfully felt; nor, as a public calamity, is it lightly appreciated by the population of an extensive and improving district. W. H. S.

1824. Feb. 2nd, in Air Street, Piccadilly, in his 75th year, Mr. JOHN SIMCO, bookseller, a worthy, honest man, long known and respected for his love of antiquities, and his curious catalogues of topography and biography (from 1788 to the present time). Mr. Simco particu larly devoted his attention to the sale of books and prints relating to topography and biography. He was patronized by F. Barnard, Esq., his Majesty's Librarian ; Sir R. C. Hoare, Bart; the late Mr. John Townley; Mr. Nassau; and many other eminent collectors; for all of whom honest Simco collected many a curious article. Mr. Simco carried his love of collecting antiquities beyond the grave; by bequeathing to Dr. Williams's Library, in Red Cross Street, an inlaid copy of Wilson's History of the Dissenting Churches, in eight volumes, folio, illustrated with an immense number of portraits of ministers and other persons connected therewith: to the Society of Antiquaries, a Port-Folio of Views of Churches and Palaces in Holland, Germany, &c.: and he offers to the Trustees of the British Museum his interleaved copy of Bridges' Northamptonshire, in 4 vols. folio, full of Engravings, with three port-folios of Drawings of Churches and Monuments in Northamptonshire, beautifully executed. Also, his Lysons's Environs of London, illustrated in 11 vols., and 4 vols. of Drawings, and his History of St. Albans, and History of Derbyshire, 3 vols, folio, illustrated with Prints and Drawings, upon condition of their paying his executors a certain sum of not half what they cost him. The remainder of his Books he orders to be sold by Mr. Evans, and his Prints and Books of Prints by Mr. Sotheby.-Gent. Mag.

We can confirm the fact of Mr. Simco having bequeathed his Illustrated copy of Wilson's Dissenting Churches to Dr. Williams's Library; and we can add, froin our own knowledge, that during his lifetime, he was a liberal benefactor to the same institution. The Library owes to him some valuable manuscripts, and a large collection of rare Funeral Sermons. The Trustees, we know, feel grateful to his memory, and hope that his example