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MEMOIR OF

botany, and a general fondness for scientific pursuits; and thus the excellent library he possessed was, throughout life, a gource of pleasure and recreation that lightened the graver duties he so faithfully discharged.

He married, in 1802, Ann, daughter of the Rev. Ralph Harrison, a Presbyterian divine, and Ann Touchet. This divine, himself the son of a minister, and great-grandson to the Rev. Cuthbert Harrison, who, as a famous non-conformist teacher, is noticed in Dr. Calamy's account of ejected ministers,^[1] attained a high reputation in Manchester as a preacher, an author, and scholar, In the academy there, he was appointed professor of the Greek and Latin languages, and of polite literature. He produced many able works of an educational character; and left behind him a volume of discourses that fully bear out his claim to the affectionate regard in which his character and ministration were held. Of these sermons, which, with a biographical memoir, were first printed in 1813, a new edition appeared in 1827. It may here be mentioned, as a somewhat rare occurrence in the life of a Presbyterian minister, that this reverend person, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, realized, by fortunate speculations in land and building, a large fortune, leaving behind him upwards of 60,000l.

Of this union two sons were born; the eldest named William Harrison, the youngest Thamas Gilbert who, distinguishing himself at Cambridge; and taking a scholarship there, unfortunately fell into ill health from over-study,

↑ From another sources a manuscript, to which we have had access, we derive some particulars relative to this said Cuthbert, far too curious to omit. Cuthbert, the youngest son of Richard Harrison, who resided at Newton, was born about 1627, and was regularly ordained. In 1672, he obtained the king's licence to preach in Elswick Lees, according to the doctrines of "the persuasion called Congregational;" but this licence served him but for a short time, the Parliament declaring the meetings illegal; and he preached as before, in his own house at Bankefield, and also at others, "very privately in the night, to such as would venture to hear him." The following extract from a letter, written by one of his descendants, explains the rest, and fully develops at once his character and his persecutions:─"Mr. Richard Clegg, vicar of Kirkham, fell violently upon him, first, in the ecclesiastical court, for preaching, marrying one James Benson, and baptizing his child, and got both him and Benson excommunicated. [He was absolved from this censure in 1677.] He sometimes repaired to the parish church at Kirkham, particularly one Lord's day, whilst he was under the aforesaid censure, and took his place amongst the gentlemen in the chancel. Mr. Clegg, the vicar, who wrote his prayer before sermon, and all his sermons also, in characters, was got into the pulpit, and looking aside and seeing him come in and place himself, lost the end. He could not find it again, and was silent for some time; then ordered the churchwardens to put him out. They went to our father, and told him what Mr. Clegg had ordered, and desired he would go out. He refused; and said that except Mr. Clegg himself would put him out, he would not go. Mr. Clegg then desired Mr. Christopher Parker, who was justice of peace, and then in church, and sat within six foot of our father, to put him out; but Parker refused, and said he would not meddle. Then Mr. Clegg went to our father and took him by the sleeve, and desired him to go out. He went along with Mr. Clegg, and opened the chancel door, and was no sooner out, but with a strong voice, said, 'It's time to go when the devil drives.' Thou canst scarce imagine a greater disorder than was reported to have been in the church at that time. Shortly after, the vicar sued our father at common law, upon the statute called Qui tam, for 201. a month, for six months' absenting from the church , and the case was brought to a trial at the assizes at Lancaster; but I could never know the judge's name. Our father in his defence, proved that he was at church one Lord's day in one of the months , on his jornall to Chester, being cited to appear and answer a libel of Mr. Clegg's, a Lord's day in another month, and under the church censure for the other time, and that he went to church and was put out as aforesaid. The judge was hearty, and after he had summed up the evidence, he told the jury 'There was fiddle and be hanged, and there was fiddle not and be hanged. The defendant was under church censure, which might prevent his going to church. Gentlemen, pray consider it.' The jury brought in for the defendant, and all costs were thrown on Mr. Clegg, with many affronting scoffs." There are other characteristic stories of this veteran nonconformist. The war was continued even to the writing of his epitaph.

[1] From another sources a manuscript, to which we have had access, we derive some particulars relative to this said Cuthbert, far too curious to omit. Cuthbert, the youngest son of Richard Harrison, who resided at Newton, was born about 1627, and was regularly ordained. In 1672, he obtained the king's licence to preach in Elswick Lees, according to the doctrines of "the persuasion called Congregational;" but this licence served him but for a short time, the Parliament declaring the meetings illegal; and he preached as before, in his own house at Bankefield, and also at others, "very privately in the night, to such as would venture to hear him." The following extract from a letter, written by one of his descendants, explains the rest, and fully develops at once his character and his persecutions:─"Mr. Richard Clegg, vicar of Kirkham, fell violently upon him, first, in the ecclesiastical court, for preaching, marrying one James Benson, and baptizing his child, and got both him and Benson excommunicated. [He was absolved from this censure in 1677.] He sometimes repaired to the parish church at Kirkham, particularly one Lord's day, whilst he was under the aforesaid censure, and took his place amongst the gentlemen in the chancel. Mr. Clegg, the vicar, who wrote his prayer before sermon, and all his sermons also, in characters, was got into the pulpit, and looking aside and seeing him come in and place himself, lost the end. He could not find it again, and was silent for some time; then ordered the churchwardens to put him out. They went to our father, and told him what Mr. Clegg had ordered, and desired he would go out. He refused; and said that except Mr. Clegg himself would put him out, he would not go. Mr. Clegg then desired Mr. Christopher Parker, who was justice of peace, and then in church, and sat within six foot of our father, to put him out; but Parker refused, and said he would not meddle. Then Mr. Clegg went to our father and took him by the sleeve, and desired him to go out. He went along with Mr. Clegg, and opened the chancel door, and was no sooner out, but with a strong voice, said, 'It's time to go when the devil drives.' Thou canst scarce imagine a greater disorder than was reported to have been in the church at that time. Shortly after, the vicar sued our father at common law, upon the statute called Qui tam, for 201. a month, for six months' absenting from the church , and the case was brought to a trial at the assizes at Lancaster; but I could never know the judge's name. Our father in his defence, proved that he was at church one Lord's day in one of the months , on his jornall to Chester, being cited to appear and answer a libel of Mr. Clegg's, a Lord's day in another month, and under the church censure for the other time, and that he went to church and was put out as aforesaid. The judge was hearty, and after he had summed up the evidence, he told the jury 'There was fiddle and be hanged, and there was fiddle not and be hanged. The defendant was under church censure, which might prevent his going to church. Gentlemen, pray consider it.' The jury brought in for the defendant, and all costs were thrown on Mr. Clegg, with many affronting scoffs." There are other characteristic stories of this veteran nonconformist. The war was continued even to the writing of his epitaph.

[1]