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LIFE OF WILMAM JAY
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table and legitimate triumph . . ..-. From the day on which Austria declared L , ombardy finally united to the Austrian Empire , she was in a state of warfare with the Italians ; thus was created the necessity of violating the sovereignty of other states , and the princes of Italy were placed in a false and perilous position . To oppress and repress has . been her rule of Government from that time till now .... During twenty-five out of the forty-five years immediately succeeding the Vienna treaties , her troops were stationed beyond the limits assigned thein by these treaties , occupying first one and then another of the Italian ¦ States ,, with a view to stifling the manifestation of the just desires of the population expressed the more tuinultuously , in proportion ^ as Austria took every means to suppress their legitimate manifestation . "
" To this cause may be ascribed the revolutionary movements of 1820 and 1830 ; and the disturbances and political sects arising out of them are to be placed to Austria ' s account . That the tyranny exercised failed of producing the effect . -desired , was abundantly manifested by the events of ' 47 and ' 48 . In ' 56 the Austrian occupation of Tuscany ceased after six years' continuance ; the Crimean war rendered Austria doubtful as to the course she should pursue , and the fate of Em-ope -was uncertain and threatening . According tp the -authority from which we quote , after the withdrawal o . f the troops , Tuscany
remained" Miserable and comfortless in the present , hopeless as to the future . "While suffering from evils -common to all Italy , her injuries were embittered , her ills aggravated by the wound inflicted upon her strongest , -most ardent , and imperishable sentiment-Tier nationality- But these trials were not unprofitable . From them we learned and were enabled io testify to Europe that it must ever be fatal to us and perilous to her that foreign force should be implanted in our soil , ready to impose restraint upon the people and release governors from their duties . We learned that blood and sweat may be lavished in vain in the struggle to attain or retain internal Tights ; nothing will be effected until we succeed in
opposing that external force which undoes all that we do . We learned that the prime necessity of a people is to be ; that it cannot be unless it is independent ; that its independence cannot be maintained if it is not free ; otherwise we should constantly ¦ witnes s the grievous spectacle of a slumbering people gratefully pressing the hand which pretends to remove its chains , and awaking under the increased pressure of that hand to find itself yet more heavily manacled . We learned and awaited , resigned ; resigned , because our sorrows and humiliations were maturing events ; resigned because we were secure in the justice of our cause and that of the whole nation But now that Piedmont has
proved , by the regular and wise exercise of liberty , that the Italian people are worthy of liberty—are matured for liberty—now that , fighting for the cause of civilised Europe by the side of the most valorous nations of the West , she has demonstrated that the Italian people merit independence , we raise our voices to declare that henceforth magnanimous Piedmont ought hot tp be left alone to suffer and combat for all ; that when she has to fight the foreigner for Italy , Tuscany ought and will take her part , remembering that when she shared not the honour of battle , she did not escape the humiliation of the conquei'ed . Downtrodden with Italy , with Italy will Tuscany arise . ..... If Europe is compelled to
de--claro war in order to obtain a stable and secure tranquillity founded upon justice ; if wo again see our cause committed to the fortune of battle , as Italians wo must and will take our part in such enterprise , nor will wo lose confidonco ; for even should fortune once more fail us , Austria will have a stronger and more invincible enemy in Italy than fortune , —the destinies which time is maturing , and the ' necessities which are becoming fulfilled . in tha progress of universal civilisation . " Siyiicd—Coaimo Kidolfl , Bettino Kicasoli , Ubaldino Peruzzi , Tommaso Corei , Lcopoldo
Ccmpini , Celestino Biunchi . '¦ " Florence , March 10 . " Such is a , general ' view of the treatment this subject 1 ms received from the above great mon , whose names are all well known in , the world of politics or literature . Though perhaps soureoly pointed and practical enough to satisfy English Ideas of utility and matter of fact , the object and poope of the pamphlet will meet with the sympathy and approval of thoso who wish to see Italy take her legitimate standing among the nations .
Life Of Wilmam Jay
LIFE OF WILLIAM JAY . Jiecolldctiona qf William Jay , of Batli ; with Occasional Glances at soma of Ms Contcmporai'icn and Friends . By his So » Cyrus Jay . Hamilton , Adams and Co . It will bo recollected that the- reverend Mr . Jay
wrote his autobiography ; but that work , not having the benefit " of a diary or memoranda of any kmd , ° was rather meagre in anecdote—a want which . his son , in these recollections , has endeavoured to supply . No need therefore exists for any tracings , by us , of the events and accidents , of Mr . Jay ' s Jifb , the grand outline of ¦ which is familiar to the public by means of his own-narrative . The son of an industrious mason , he was early taken by h
the hand as a precocious youth , and began to preac at the age of sixteen years . By that j _ of nineteen , he had acquired metropolitan popularity , and continued to enjoy it during a long life . He belonged to the church of Independents , by profession , but was the least sectarian , of men , whether by the original bias of Iris ' . mind * , or his education . His intellect , indeed , had all the free play of geniusan attribute wholly incompatible with bigotrywork
Anecdotes are the desiderata of such a as the present , and the compiler has been careful to collect what he could . The following may amuse :-s" In the year 1 S 03 Mr . Jay preached a sermon before the Correspondent Board in London of a society , incorporated by royal eharter , for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland ; and the Duke of Athol and other distinguished individuals formed part of his congregation on that occasion . At a meeting of the board , the noble duke being in the chair * it was unanimously
resolved that tlieir thanks should be given to Mr . Jay for the sermon , and that he should be requested to porniit the same to be printed for the use of the society . Such permission was given . The text was , ' Skin for skin ; yea , all that a man hath will he give for his life . ' When the proof-sheets of the sermon were sent to Mr . Jay for correction , he found that the printer had printed the text thus , ' Skin for skin ! yea , air that a man hath will he give for his wife . ' Instead of correcting the error in the usual way , he wrote in the margin , underlining the word ' wife , ' ' That depends on circumstances . ' ' "
Another may likewise be ventured . " On the death of tlie Princess Amelia , the youngest daughter of George III ., Mr . Jay selected his text from the second of Kings , ninth chapter , thirty fourth verse : ' Bury her ; for she is a king ' daughter . ' Whilst the preacher was in the midst of his discourse , a curious incident occurred . One of the fashionable visitors at Bath , attracted no doubt by his popularity and general repute , having overcome her scruples of entering a Dissenting place of worship , was of course accommodated with a seat in a conspicuous place of the chapel . Mr . Jay began by portraying the diabolical character of Jezebel , to whom the text
immediately referred . This was merely his dark background upon which he designed to bring out in strong relief a modern specimen of female excellence , also ' a king ' s daughter . ' The lady , however , would not wait for the cheering conti-ast of character ; but got up , lef t the pew , slamming the door , and indignantly walked out of the chapel , the eyes of the congregation and px-eachor , who was nothing disconcerted , being fixed on her as an object to be pitied . She had come ito hear of Amelia , she . had only heard of Jezebol , Had she retained her seat but for a short period longer , she would have been delighted by one of the most beautiful , affecting , and deserved eulogiums ever pronounced . But she left befpre the preacher had
turned the angle of his discourse : " If Jezebel , being ' a king ' s daughter , ' was deserving of burial , rather than that her ignominious remains should be mangled and desecrated by the very dogs in tho street ; how infinitely more meritoriously entitled to sepulchral respect , veneration , find a nation ' s mourning , was a princess , whose greatest lustre was her piety , her filial and domestic affection , and the unobstrusivo and varied benevolence characteristic of her brief and sorrowing career . "" Mr . Jay often related this circumstance , smiling at tlio folly of tho lady , whoso name was duly reported to him , and thanked Providence that as he grew older a more tolerant spirit existed between tho various sects of the Christian
family . " Mr . Jay was a great admirer of Cobbott'a u Register 5 " and , to his astonishment , found that Mr . Wilberforce agreed with him in tho same taste . Tho following anecdote is . capital :- — " On one of my visits to Mr . Jay , when speaking of Cobbett , and his strong prejudice against many persons , especially Quakers , —for whom Mr , Jay entertained great respect , so much so that he sent me to a Quaker ' s sohool , where I was tho only soholar not of that persuasion , —I rolatecl to him tho following anecdote , which I had from Cobbett's own lips , as illustrative of his prejudice against Quakers , whom ho unjustly regarded as liars .- ' I was , ' said he , whilo residing in Long Ialimd , in America , acquainted with a well-disposeX young gentleman of largo furtuno .
whose only fault was the habit of swearing , —such a habit that lie often declared that he would give half his fortune to get rid of it . This desire came to the ears of a Quaker , who thereupon ha * an . interview with the young gentleman , and said , 'I can cure thee of that bad habit ; ' whereupon the youth caughfliolft of the Quaker ' s hand and gave it a hearty shake , saying , 'How can you perform that miracle ? ' Thereply , was , ' I can tell thee . I have heard that thou art going this day to travel for a period of six weeksthou art just my size ; nobody will know thee ; thou shalt come to my house , put on the cocked-hat , the coat withoutbuttons , the knee-breeches , and the shoebuckles ; and thou wilt find that the strangeness of the dress will have such an effect on thee when thou
art going to talk , that it will restrain thee from swearing , —as thou perhaps knowest , my friend , that we Quakers never swear . ' The young man cheerfully assented to the proposal , and accompanied the Quaker to his house , where after changing his clothes hotook his departure in the garb of a Quaker , and vent , his way rejoicing . The period of tlie young gentleman ' s tour having elapsed , the Quaker all anxiety started 011 the road to meet him . Having met him , he said , ' Well , friend , how hast thou got on ? ' Tlie reply was , . ' Very welL' ' Hast thou s \ roraso much with that dress on thee V inquired the Quaker . The young man , rubbing the coat sleeves of his coat , replied , ' Certainly not ; but I feel a d—d inclination to lie . '" .
Miv Jay had a horror of the narcotic weed ; but endured it in the company of Robert Half , who was a most inveterate smoker , and of John . Newton , the rector of St . Mary , Woolnotli . In fact no preacher assumed less of the " The Reverend . '' Iii the title page of his works he simply styled himself William Jay;—not even adding D . D ., after having obtained the degree . When the diplonia reached his hands , we are told , -his ¦ . family , described him as Dr . Jay ; but he forbade the use of the title . The same was the case with Hall , of whom we have here several anecdotes . Tlie eccentricities of Kowland Hill also diversify these pages .
As a specimen of Mr . Jay ' s manner of preaching we may give the following beautiful and striking excerpt from an ordination sermon . Pointing to the- Rev . James Strettbn , the subject of tlie
discourse . — ¦ " It is , my . dear brother , the sublime and momentous end of your function that reflects such honour iipoir it , and attaches so much importance to it . Things common or mean in themselves may acquire unspeakable excellence and grandeur by association and destiny . Your office is frequently held forth in the Scripture by images derived from employments abstractedly considered rather humble than glorious j but the weight it acquires from relation and design is never for a moment loft out . You are a < soldier , ' but it is in ' the good fight of faith ; ' you are a ' fisher , labourerbut
but « a fisher of men j' you area ' , a . labourer together with God ; ' you ( ire a 'bunder , but it is in ' God ' s building ; ' you arc a ' watchman ' hut you ' watch for souls . ' Thus a small insignificant ; piece of paper is converted into a bank-note , and by a . sovereign impression becomes current for a thousand pounds ? Thus Raphael took a roll of canvas , ot which the weaver thought nothing , and the vendor nothing : but he threw down upon it Ins . immortal tints , and bade it become the admiration pf Hie world . And thus , sir , your office rises into iiicfhible greatness by taking the soul of man for its subject , and eternity for its aim . "
That was -true eloquence ; and d *> ol ° W" £ of the popular kind . It lived on illustration * rather than conceptions . Indeed Mr . . Jny , novoi affected metaphysics ; and , when asked about them , would reply— "Why , sir , I ma n Jay , and not aa owl , and therefore cannot see jn the dark , iiere was undoubtedly a defect in his mind , and a corresponding one in-his office , which , in llio wonte oi an apostlo , ought to have cmbmeed . tho iaculty o « " seeing thing ! invisible . " He had ac cordingly little ideality , 1 mt much picturosquo expression , nna a considerable amount of wit 5 and therefore accepted the symbols of things ibr their lmnodt ami entire essences . Such symbols however , mi- necessarily suggestive of tho integrities that tJ oy represent , and avail tho preacher or omtoi uu beyond his own design . In tliia m ' } " ° V' , V " 2 frequently communicate the truth of which ho a i .. vLi « >; ,. n « .. ont Tn thn fiicutv of dealing wmi
these symbols Mr . Jay was unrivalled ; imil jut . Foster , the great essayist , wae right ™ ien iw called him "fie Prince of Preacher * . " As siiU > , this biography of him by his eon would bo vij liiuwo * —but it is oaneoially so , inasmuch ns it is wau executed , and forms a book of moderate IcugUji which may bo read with pleasure us well » w pioiw .
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492 THE LEA PER . ___^
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), April 16, 1859, page 492, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2290/page/12/
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