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    to the Monthly Repository ,, for the # eara 1813 and 1814 * by V . V « would reader any account of it , as connected -with the biographical memoir of Mr « Astlev © ( if any particulars could be

    given , ) altogether superfluous . It is , however , worthy of record , as evincing the ardour and industry with which be pursued his studies , both at Daveil try and Warjrington , that amongst his MS . volumes , there are several

    containing either tide entire lectures * or very fulJ abstracts of the several courses of lectures which he atteuded * Among others is a course of lectures delivered by Dr . Taylor , upon all the

    parts of speech in the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures , illustrated by many quotation * from the Old and New Testaments , and by many fiom the Greek and Latin classics . These

    criticisms were partly collected from different critics , and partly the Doctor ' s own . A very complete index at the texts explained in these lectures , made by Mr * Astley , is appended to his M S . copy . I © a letter from Mr . Daye , dated Lancaster . November 28 th * I ? 6 o , it

    appears that Mr . Astley had received an invitation from the congregation at Stockport to become their minister . Whether the invitation was that he should become their resident minister Upon his quitting the academy , and in the mean time should supply their

    vacant pulpit by going from Warrington to Stockport for the Sunday , does not appear * But this latter plan was adopted for some months at least . In the beginning of April * 1761 , he

    received an Invitation from the congregation at Congleton to become their pastor , in the room of his highly esteemed friend and relative , the late Rev , Wo Turner * who had accepted an invitation to settle as minister at

    WakefielcL This invitation he accepted , but , during the first three months he supplied there , he continued to pursue his studies at Warrington * In July , 1761 , he settled at Congletou , with no other view than of continuing then ? for a much longer

    time than he did ; but receiving many invitations and earnest solicitations to succeed bis mother ' s uncle , the Rev . Mn Pilkitigton , who had resigned the pastoral office at Preston , through tl * e growing infirmities of age , he w $ s induced £ 0 remove to a situation pe-

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    culiarly pleasing to him , * & being the residence of many of his friends and nearest relations . During his short stay at Congleton . ( Aug . 26 th , 176 U ) he received from the congregation at Yarmouth , in Norfolk , through the medium of the Rev , T . Whiteside ®

    one of the pastors of that society , all invitation ( given upon the recommendation of Dr . Benson ) , to spend some weeks amongst them , with a view to his permanent settlement as < eo-pa « tor with Mr . Whiteside , there and at Filby , a village about six miles distant .

    This invitation , occasioned by the death of the Rev . Mr . Milner , and communicated in the most gratifying terms , was declined * not without considerable reluctance . Probably the solicitations of his friends that he

    would settle at Preston , might deter- * mine him to this step , as he settled at Preston on the 4 th of October & $ * lowing . On the 18 th May * 1 ? 62 , a meeting of ministers % vas held at Warringtoii * when Mr . Astley , together with Mr *

    John Holland , Mr . ( afterwards Qr ») Priestley , and Mr . Wilding , were or ? daitied to the Christian ministry . On this occasion Mr . Daye asked the ques tion ^ Mr . Mot tershead prayed over the candidates , and Mr . Braddock

    gave the exhortation , and concluded with prayer . At this meeting it appears , that the proposal was first made to establish among the Protestant Dissenting Ministers of the countiesttf Lancaster and Chester , a fund for the

    relief of their widows and childrasu Of this excellent institution Mr . Asttey was one of the earliest members and most zealous advocates . While mt Preston , Mr . Astley continued to pursue his theological studies with great industry , applying himself particularly to biblical criticism , but without

    suffering himself to lose sight of the important practical duties belonging to the character of a minister of nfctigion . How faithfully those jduftios were discharged by him while he carttin ued at Preston , there are few ,

    perhaps , if any now living who cauht bear their testimony ; but the writer can never forget the sincere and joity affectionate reapect with wMph J ^ r . Astley * s character aftid services weape remembered and ftpokieo <* f by sotee aged numbers of that 0 wgremtion

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    14 Memoir 0 / the late .. Sev Thomas AMhtf *

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1818, page 84, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2473/page/4/