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and capable of appreciating Dr . Allan ' s acquirements , formed the most agreeable part of bis society , and the principal acquaintances that he here made , were among them . For . some time cireum ^
stances went on favourably ; he enjoyed the moderate emoluments of his profusion without rivalry ; he instituted a literary society ; and in his library , and in the bosom of his family , he sought and found , those gratifications the dearest to his heart .
The time for trying the . spirits of men was , however , drawing near . The Dissenters having been repulsed in a former endeavour to obtain from the Legislature the repeal of the Corporation and Test Acts , mustered all their strength for a new attempt ; vainly trusting that their great acknowledged inferiority in
numbers , wealth . and influence ,, might be supplied by strength of argument , and by an appeal to the equity of their countrymen . Dr . Aikin , although not agreeing in religious opiuions with any class of Dissenters , felt strongly the iniquity of excluding from civil duties and offices all those who
were not members of the Church , of England . Too honest ever to disguise his real sentiments , although sincerely regretting aud reprobating the intemperance of each party , he published two pamphlets on the occasion , the one ' * the Spirit of the Church and of the Constitution compared ; " the other , " An Address to the Dissidents of England on their late Defeat . "
Immediately on the heels of the Test Act controversy , and while the feelings of the nation were agitated by that event , occurred the French Revolution , which for a time opened an-impassable gulf of separation between parties already exasperated . The declaration made by the National Assembly in favour of the perfect equality of , civil rights among , the members , of every political community , naturally conciliated the good-will of those who had been contending without success for this very object ; while the
merciless and undistiuguishing confiscation of churcji property , and the atrocious massacre of the priests which soon followed , gave the alarm , as might well be expected to the English clergy * and very naturally induced thejn to attribute similar intentions of violence and injustice ta
their political adversaries . Dr * Aikin bad decidedly taken his part first as a Dissenter , and subsequently as a frieud to the Frepch Revolution , on it » s first breakingout ; agd although ho never belonged to auy , political clul > , not chqo ^ ing to submit his . own reason and sense of equity to be overborne Jw thp clamour and vio-
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lence of party credulity and party injustice , was yet made to sofltfr severely for his . political principles . Dr . Girdlestone was encouraged to settle at Yavmoutti , and Dr , . Aikin . escaped : fisom the h » pending bitterness , of a personal controversy , by removing to < London in March 1792 .
, During his residence at Yarmouth , Dr . A * published ;( besides . the pamphlets already mentioned ) an excellent' system of English geography , called . <« Eugland Delineated , " which has passed through several editions , a volume of Poems , and a ' * View of the Character and public Services of J . Howard , Esq / ' No person was . perhaps , so well qualified to
estimate the moral worth and public ser * vices of this illustrious individual as Dr . Aikm , both on account of his sound and unprejudiced judgment and his personal intimacy with Mr » Howard , in consequence of vWhicJi , the . notes and observations collected by Mr . H ., during hia various journeys , had always been placet ] in the hands of Dr . A . for arrangement and correction . -
Although the connexions of Dr . Aikin in London , by family and acquaintance , were considerable , yet he never obtained much professional employment ; being little fitted , by temper or habit , ta engage in the incessant struggle' necessary to success : he , therefore , the more ^ wil ^ lingly followed the bent of his ¦
disposrtion , and occupied himself chiefly in literary pursuits . The first work which he published , after leaving Yarmouth , was the two first volumes of" Evenings at Home . " To these , though not to the succeeding ones , Mrs . Barbauld
contributed several pieces : the third volume appeared in 1793 , the fourth in 1794 , and the two last iu 1795 . The work became immediately very popular aud still continues so ; ofFeriiig a copious : and varied store of amusement . and instruction
to the young , aud , by its good sense and sound morality , commanding the approbation of parents . To those acquainted with its author ., it possesses an additional interest as being highly characteristic of him , exhibiting not only his various knowledge , but representing his opinions on a variety of topics .
The most important and interesting * work , however , of which Dr . A ; was the author , is his " Letters from a Father to a Son on various Topics relative to Literature and the Conduct of Ufe" the first volume was published in 1793 , the second was written in 1796 and 1799
The sulyectfl eaibraced ( by these Letters are very numerous ; critical , sideirth % , aud discussing some of the most import ^ ant questions d £ tttdrols and of general
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54 Obituary . *—Dr * Aihirt .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1823, page 54, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1780/page/54/
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