Methodists in his Memoirs. In 1806 he removed from Alvestone to Taunton, the town in which he served his apprenticeship, where he purchased some houses, and expended 3000l. in erecting a chapel for the use of the Wesleyan Methodists, to which he added a salary of 150l. per annum for the preacher. In front of this building appears the following inscription: "This Temple is erected as a monument of God's mercy, in convincing an Infidel of the important Truths of Christianity. 66 'Man, consult thy whole existence, and be safe." The Wesleyan Methodists continued to preach in this chapel until 1810, when a dispute arose between Mr Lackington and the Conference, respecting the conveyance of the same, according to the Wesleyan scheme of church government, from which the latter could not deviate. The terms upon which the conveyance was required being deemed illiberal by Mr Lackington, he requested the president of the New Connection, named Kilhamites,* to send him a preacher. His request was attended to, and a Mr Henley was despatched to Taunton to preach in Mr Lackington's chapel; and, as he possessed considerable eloquence and abilities, it was much frequented during the year that he officiated. At the expiration of that period, however, being informed that the principles of Mr Henley bordered on Calvinism, Mr Lackington applied once more to the Conference, who sent him a Mr Beaumont, with whom he soon after engaged in a paper war, which at length terminated in the purchase of the chapel by the Wesleyans for 10007. Mr Lackington continued to reside at Taun *So called from Alexander Kilham, formerly a Wesleyan preacher of some note; but, dissenting from his brethren on the subject of church government, he was expelled the Connection, on which event he raised a society of his own, which has since been called "The New Connection." ton for two years longer, when his health declining, he determined to live by the sea-side, and finally chose Budleigh Sulterton, in Devonshire, for his future abode. Here he built another chapel, which cost him 20007., and appointed Mr Hawkey, a retired captain in the army, whose father had been recorder of Exeter, his minister, with a salary of 1507. per annum. This salary, with the use of the chapel, Mr Hawkey was to enjoy for his life, after which, the latter was to fall to the Wesleyan connection, and the money appropriated to secure the salary to be divided among the donor's relations. Soon after this event the health of the eccentric subject of this little volume rapidly declined, and he became subject to epileptic fits. These were succeeded by apoplexy and paralysis, under the effect of which he survived longer than might have been expected, until at length his decease took place on the 22nd of November 1815, in the seventieth year of his age, and his remains were interred in Budleigh church-yard. It is easy to find more important autobiographies than that of this pertinacious bookseller, sceptic and methodist, but few are more lively, curious, or characteristic. INDEX. becomes a backslider forms a friendship with Mr John Jones strange mode of life. AUTHOR'S motives for publishing his Life.. Author's gratitude to his customers Author's thanks to some booksellers. Additions since the first edition, why not printed sepa- rately All alive, alive O! in W- cathedral PACE 14 2478 22 39 Author's birth not predicted, nor his nativity calculated 31 learns to read; is born again his rigid application to study of divinity.. thodist sermon arrives at Bristol 50 leaps out of a two-story window to hear a Me- 67 79 89 99 composes songs before he could write 92 relapses into Methodism converts his friends 94 96 falls in love with a dairy-maid; his spiritual attaches himself to Hannah Allen, another holy Author begins the world with a halfpenny lives on water-gruel to support his sick wife is shocked at the wickedness of London; his PAGE 115 118 121 122 goes to receive his legacy, loses part, commits 125 turns bookseller; his motive for so doing 130 .... folly, not modesty A man believes himself to be the Holy Ghost. mode of stating his profits and expenses. Amorous gentleman and blundering ostler, a story. An old buck tempted by his maid and the devil A man to speak less of himself than he really is, is Anecdotes very curious of very spiritual ladies answers 258 290 84 158 190 49 75 261 188 138 142 227 Authors should be careful in choosing their publishers ib. Black and white devil, a story Bowden family, characters of; their library Bowden, George and John converted select, only for such as are perfect Booksellers are benefited by our authors selling cheap 263 42 50 55 .... 74 ....... .76 Baldwin, Mr, a strange story of 86 Bookselling succeeds with our hero 133 Bottomly, Shaw and Wheeler, save the author from ruin 149 |