of the degree of Doctor in Divinity: an honour equally creditable to those who conferred it, and to him who received it. He was considered by most literary men as happy in the choice of a subject on which to employ his industry and embody its results. He delighted in his task; and subsequent to the publication of his work in three volumes, pursued the same subject with so much diligence, as to amass a quantity of most interesting information equal to one of the preceding volumes, which it was his design to incorporate with his work in a second impression, and which, by the adoption of a smaller type, he purposed to compress into two volumes. Many were the communications he received complimen tary to his talents. On his visit to Ireland, as President of the Confer ence, in the year 1830, he was congratulated by several members of the Dublin University, and the highest encomiums were pronounced on his performance. The whole of the first edition having been sold, all the Preachers of the Methodist Conference in Ireland gave their names as subscribers to a second edition, the publication of which would have proved generally acceptable, and was called for by many; but his circumstances did not warrant him, however desirous, to venture on a speculation so extensive: the additional matter, therefore, still remains in manuscript.

Doctor Townley was not insensible to the commendations bestowed upon his work; nor was he unmindful of the credit reflected by it on the body of Christians with which he was connected. Had he written solely for fame, he might have been content to desist from further authorship; but he still continued his literary pursuits in the same useful direction. In 1824 he published a volume of "Essays on various Subjects of Ecclesiastical History and Antiquity." Several of these elegant compositions had previously appeared in the Methodist Magazine and other periodicals; yet the volume was well received. It contains much curious information concerning the early corruptions of the Patriarchal religion, and on the subject of Christian antiquities, not to be found collected together in any other book in the English language.

The next contribution of Dr. Townley to the literature of his country was a translation into English of the "More Nevochim of Maimonides ; or, Reasons for the Law of Moses," with prefatory dissertations and appended notes, displaying considerable acquaintance with Jewish learning, and the results of much patient research. Rabbi Ben Maimon was a Jewish Physician, of great literary note in the thirteenth century. It appears to have been his object to show that many of the ceremonial precepts of the Mosaic institution were rational and just, independently of the spiritual meaning which may be conveyed by them. His book does

not assume a controversial form; and perhaps was not intended as an attack on Christianity, but rather to embody certain illustrations of the Levitical code, for the information of such Jews as might be curious in matters of their law. It was a boon to the world to present in an English dress a book so constantly referred to by Biblical critics, and without

which no library of Scripture criticism can be considered complete. For the composition of the Doctor's own portion of this volume, the best authors were consulted; the essays and notes are drawn up with great judgment and clearness, and drew forth the most gratifying commendations from high and respectable quarters. But works merely critical rarely acquire sudden popularity; they are but slowly introduced to the library of the studious; it takes time and frequent reference to discover their value. The Doctor had experience of this in the sale of this volume, which is yet only partially known; and it is not improbable, that the disappointment arising from this circumstance prevented the desired appearance of the second edition of his "Illustrations of Biblical Literature."

Doctor Townley's last publication was an "Introduction to the critical Study of the Old and New Testaments," embodying much of that correct and interesing information which bis peculiar taste and reading had rendered familiar to him. This volume has been very widely circulated, and is much admired. It is fully worthy of the piety and talents of its author. The book of God was his favourite study, and the productions of his pen chiefly tended to aid those who love to follow him in tracing its interesting history, and are desirous to understand its sacred contents.

In 1826 Dr. Townley removed from Bradford to London, and was associated with three others in the pastoral care of the Queen-street Circuit; and at the Conference of 1827 he was appointed to the onerous and responsible office of General Secretary to the Wesleyan Missionary Society. In this capacity he maintained the reputation of his previous life. His colleagues found him amiable and affectionate; he was ready for every public service; and he willingly bore a due share of the heavy responsibility connected with the management of the important interests of the Society at home and abroad: whilst the Missionaries found in him a faithful and wise counsellor and an unvarying friend.

Yet

Connected with the Missions, he entertained a wakeful solicitude for their welfare, and indulged a grateful exultation at their success. he almost necessarily took that view of the spread of Christianity which his reading and previous pursuits were calculated to suggest. He projected a History of Christian Missions, to embrace all the important facts on record, in every language, relating to any Mission of whatever Church, for the conversion of mankind to the knowledge and faith of Christ: a work which, if successfully executed, would have possessed uncommon interest and value. It would have brought out of obscurity the names of many who, in ancient times, were highly honoured of God in the instruction and moral subjugation of many savage and pagan tribes of Europe, as well as of Africa and Asia; it would have edified the church by memorials of the most active piety and patient zeal; it would have afforded the best means for comparing the modes of operation and the success of ancient and modern Missions; and would have placed in striking contrast the Missions of nominal churches, merely political in their bearing and character, with those

which have their origin in Christian zeal, and whose object is the glory of God in the salvation of the souls of men.

When Dr. Townley's habits of research and practised ability in the examination of ancient records are considered, and the facts already stored in his memory by extensive reading, and the friendly terms of correspondence with which he was favoured by one of the Librarians of the Vatican, and by other literati at home and abroad, as well as the constant communication he held with Missionaries in every part of the world, it cannot but be regretted very deeply, that, whilst holding the office of Secretary to the Wesleyan-Methodist Missionary Society, he had not leisure to carry his projected work into effect; and that, after he had retired from the labours of public life, his state of health never permitted him to resume those habits of arduous literary toil which he had formerly cultivated, and which were necessary to the accomplishment of so laborious and comprehensive an undertaking. Under the effects of a distressing and debilitating indisposition, and with the disadvantage of an entire exclusion from his own library, being then in temporary lodgings in Ramsgate for the recovery of his health, he drew up a very interesting sketch of the history of some of the most remarkable Missions of the Christian church, ancient and modern, which was first read in part at a meeting of the Local Branch Missionary Society, and afterwards adorned the pages of some successive numbers of the Methodist Magazine for the year 1834; affording, however, but a faint idea of what the projected work would have been, had circumstances favoured its execution.

At the Conference held in Sheffield, July and August, 1829, Dr. Townley was elected to the chair; and thus received the highest honour Methodism confers, and the most decided proof of the confidence and love of his brethren in the ministry.

His even piety, his amiable mildness, and his usual ability, were as conspicuous whilst he held the office of President of the Conference as they had been in a more private station. He was equally beloved and respected; his official visits to various parts of the Connexion were seasons of great religious enjoyment to those with whom he was called to associate, a remembrance of which is gratefully cherished in many hearts. The year of his Presidency was one of great peace, and of some enlargement to the Methodist society. The writer of this memoir had the privilege of being associated with Dr. Townley at the MissionHouse, for the whole of that year, and can personally testify the sacred anxiety with which he regarded every interest of the Connexion at home and abroad, and his daily attention to the various duties of his office.

Before the close of this year of honourable labour Dr. Townley's health began seriously to decline. By the preceding British Conference he had been appointed to preside at the Irish Conference of 1830. With this object he proceeded to Dublin in the month of June; and during his stay his attention to business was almost incessant; whilst his ster

ling character, his pleasing manners, and his interesting conversational powers, had the effect of endearing his society not only to the Preachers assembled in Conference, but also to the literary, intelligent, and pious, of every rank and denomination to whom he was introduced. It would appear, however, that his exertions were greater than his constitution was fitted to sustain. On his return to England he proceeded to Leeds, to preside, in the course of his official duty, at the Committees preparatory to the Conference then about to assemble; but it became apparent that he was struggling against pain and exhaustion; and when he was relieved by the election of his successor, it was found necessary to take medical advice, and for the present to avoid further exertion.

From this period his constitution never fully recovered its tone: for two additional years, however, he retained the laborious office of Secretary to the Missions; but retired as a Supernumerary at the Conference of 1832, when it was apparent that his days could only be prolonged by a total cessation from the cares and business of public life.

For this event his mind had been prepared by the painful and alarming character of his indisposition, which had been increasing for several months, and by the consequent inability to take the whole of his duties as Secretary vet it cannot be imagined that he was removed from a work of so much interest and responsibility, to a station of comparatively useless retirement, without deep emotions of heart. But he laid himself in the dust before God, and acknowledged that, after he had done all, he was an unprofitable servant.

In the autumn of 1832 he removed from London to Ramsgate; and, when settled there, resuming his privilege as a private member of society, he united himself to a class, and received his quarterly tickets with thankfulness. In the holy communion of this little Christian assembly, of which for a short time before his decease he became the Leader, he was accustomed to express himself in terms so humble and self-abasing as to excite the admiration and love of those who listened to him; and afforded a practical instance of the combination of exalted attainments in spiritual knowledge with true lowliness of heart.

Soon after his removal to Ramsgate the more distressing symptoms of his complaint in some measure subsided; his spirits resumed a cheerful tone, and a partial recovery of his strength encouraged the indulgence of hope that he might yet be spared many years to his family and to the church. He preached once in Ramsgate without experiencing any extraordinary weariness or other inconvenience he afterwards visited Margate, and preached at the Anniversary of the Missionary Society. The exertion, however, proved to be too great for his strength; he relapsed into a state of severe pain and great debility, from which he never afterwards recovered.

Meantime his spirit was evidently ripening for the holy society of heaven; he possessed his soul in patience, and his mind was graciously supported. Towards the close of his last illness his symptoms became

very distressing, and his sufferings were extreme; but his confidence in God was unshaken; he reposed on the satisfaction of Christ, and, rejoicing in the hope of everlasting life through Him, he could even "glory in tribulation also." His sufferings terminated, December 12th, 1833, when he died in great peace, and in the full triumph of faith. He was in the sixtieth year of his age.

Dr. Townley was twice married. His first union, with Miss Mary Marsden, of London, had a happy continuance of nearly thirty years, and was eminently conducive to his domestic happiness, and to his usefulness in the church of God. He had a mind very susceptible of social enjoyment; and therefore deeply felt the loss of his deservedly muchbeloved wife. At the time of her decease they had seven surviving children; their eldest son, a youth of much piety and of promising talent, having died before her, to the great grief of his parents, at the age of twenty-two.

He entered a second time into the marriage state with Miss Dinah Ball, of London; a lady well able to appreciate his character. It was her mournful gratification to minister to his comfort in his declining health, and to smooth his passage to the grave. She and his children are now left for a season to sorrow over a painful bereavement, and a temporary separation from one who must always live in their dearest affections. But they "sorrow not as those without hope;" they rejoice in the glorious state of their departed relative: in his life and death they have an example bright and attractive, urging on them an additional incentive and encouragement to be "followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises."

Dr. Townley possessed naturally an excellent disposition, which, sanctified and exalted by the power of divine grace, rendered him truly amiable. In all the domestic and social relations of life he was an object of affection to a degree not ordinarily attained: whilst the judgment which tempered the disinterested tenderness of his character procured for him reverence, as well as love, from those who composed the circle of his own family. His daughter Ann says, "The beauty of my dear father's home character could never be fully appreciated by those who had not come under its influence. In all the common occurrences of life he displayed a refinement of feeling, and a delicacy of consideration for the feelings of others, that is rarely met with. His friends knew him to be kind, generous, and sympathizing; but they little knew how tenderly affectionate, how free from every selfish thought, his family found him. During his last indisposition there was a rapidly maturing spirit strikingly evidenced in his manner of conducting family worship. His prayers, at all times characterized by child-like simplicity, became, during his long and painful illness, so full of faith and fervour, so evidently recognising the gracious intentions of his heavenly Father in taking the seat of the refiner, that many times have we risen from our knees with the overwhelming conviction that the furnace had not been heated in vain, that the silver was