On this page
-
Text (1)
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
which he experienced ; at this period of his distress , impressed his mind with sentiments of gratitude , which time could not obliterate , Mr . Johnson now became distinguished as a publisher * and his honourable dealing in this branch of business connected him with
some of the most respectahle authors of his day , and it scarcely ever happened that Mr . Johnson stood in the place of publisher to persons of literary merit and-. moral worth , without being at the same time regarded as a confidential friend . Such was eminently the case with regard to Dr . Priestley , who was
one of the early distinguished writers connected with Mr . Johnson : and also with respect to die late Rev-Theophilus Liindsey , who came to London about the year 1774 . Fgr the former of these Mr ! Johnson published every
thing he wrote , till fte felt himself bound to quit a country which he had honoured by his writings and discoveries , for the sake of that peace and quiet which his latter years required , and which an infuriated mob seemed
pnwilling to grant him : and during the Doctor ' s residence in America , Mr . Johnson was his constant and active friend , ready on all occasions to render him and his family any services in his power , in the way of business or of friendship . Wjien Mr . L . indsey resigned Jiis
living at Cattenck , lie was introduced , probably by Dr . Priestley , to Mr . Johnson , who published , first his * Farewell Address , " and then the c < Apology , " for resigning his vicarage , both these
Were eageily bought up by persons who cither sympathised "with the noble sentiments of the author , or who , estranged from the principles of free inquiry and a regard to religious truth , were curious to know how a man would
justif } ' himself in giving up a certain and handsome maintenance , with excellent prospects , at the risk of poverty , and the desertion of his friends . The motives which influenced Mr . Lindsey were duly appreciated by his publisher ,
who , probably , by this time h ;; d not only abandoned the Calvinistic doctrines , in which he had been educated ; but , from - his great zeal in behalf of Mr . JLindsey , it would seem that he had become an Unitariai ? in the vstrict sense
« f the word . From the moment Mr . Lindsey left xhe Church of England on account of
Untitled Article
the doctrine of the Trinity , and other : tenets equally subversive of the attributes of the true God , he was desirous of officiating for any number of Christians who might feel difficulties and objections similar to those by which he had been embarrassed , and who were willing to make a public avowal of
their sentiments respeitoJg the leading doctrines of revealed r ^ i ^ pn . In for-, warding his plan , Mr . Johnson took a most active part : he hired a room in Essex House , well adapted to the purposes of public worship , arid fitted it up at his own expence , at least at hi * own mk ( had the scheme failed for
want of support ) ; he was active also in procuring subscribers to the minister , most of whom were dissenters , and he undertook the trouble of getting the place licensed by the magistrates . Jn this he was much thwarted by obstacles thrown ip the way of th e , intended public avowal of
Unitarian ism . Mr . Johnson would not , however , take an evasive denial , well knowing that the bench of justices at Hicks ' s Hall could not legally refuse the thing applied for : he repeated hfc demands again and again , as it appears from some M . S . letters of the late Mrt Lindsey , who mentions the
indefatigable zeal of his friend an , d publisher with applause and gratitude . At length , finding that it was intended , if possible , to bajBe their expectations , Mr . Lindsey . applied to Mr , I-. ee , an eminent barrister , and afterwards his Majesty ' s At ; torn . ey General ;; they all went together to Hicks ' s Hall , and upon
Mr . Lee ' s representing to the justices that they had no discretionary power ^ but must by law grant what was asked , they conceded , and the chapel was im r mediately opened . At this chapel Mr , Jo hnson constantly attended for many years , til ] an asthmatic complaint rendered it necessary for him to abstain from the duties of public worship .
We have mentioned but two of the authors connected with Mr . Johnson , but he stood in the place of publisher to many of the most distingmshpi writers in science and literature for nearly forty years . He was , however ,
never sanguine , but frequently manifested a seeming indifference to the success of the works which he published , and which he had purchased . J ~ Je was decidedly averse , to all the arts of puffing and parade ; the confidence and attecU-
Untitled Article
£ 4 Gbitttary .
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1810, page 94, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2401/page/46/
-