On this page

• Departments (1)
  • 
• Text (3)

  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.

  • 

    Untitled Article

  • 

    Untitled Article

  • 

    OBITUARY. ¦ ^ MM^BM^^m

• 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

    ( si y

    Untitled Article

    1824 . July 16 , at Bridport * at the advanced age of 83 , Mr . William Fowler , a respectable member of the Unitarian congregation in that place , a map not less remarkable for the energies of his mind than the excellence of his

    character . Born of pious and industrious parents , in the parish of Rurstock , Dorset , he received an education adapted to the situation in life for which he was designed , as a manufacturing tradesman . His early years were spent in . habits of sobriety and diligence , so as to secure

    the esteem and confidence of those with whom , he was connected ; at the same time sedulously improving every favourable opportunity for the cultivation of his mind . With these suitable qualifications he engaged in business for himself , and by the aid of an excellent wife , peculiarly suited to his taste and circumstances ,

    his indefatigable exertions were crowned with signal success . For many successive years the sun of prosperity smiled on his laudable efforts , and he had the happiness to see a numerous family training up with promising talents and amiable dispositions . During this period , though deeply engaged in commercial pursuits , he by no means relaxed in his endeavours after

    mental and literary attainments ; so that his mind , possessed of considerable natural powers , acquired a rich fund of various and extensive knowledge , which manifested itself not only in his general

    interesting conversation , but also in his written correspondence on a variety of occasions . As a striking proof of the high estimation in which his talents and knowledge were held , when Government stood in need of

    information on some particular branch of trade and manufacture , his opinion was solicited and duly appreciated by a Committee of the Commons * House of Parliament . A considerable porjtion of his life thns passed on in honourable exertion and enviable prosperity , beloved

    by his nearest connexions , and highly esteemed by his neighbours and the public . But as uninterrupted enjoyment is seldom the lot of even the most deserving of mortals , this bright and pleasant scene was at length obscured by the dark clouds of adversity which began to arise and

    thicken around him . By a long series of grievous domestic afflictions , and various pecuniary disappointments and losses , his fortitude was painfully tried ; and at length to these were added those severe bodily pains and sufferings which greatly embittered his declining years , and which

    Untitled Article

    fully justified him in adopting the mournful lamentation of the suffering Patriarch , " I am made to possess months of vanity , and wearisome nights are appointed to me / ' Yet amidst all these trying scenes he was never entirely destitute of seasonable support , nor even of real and

    substantial enjoyment . HappHy for him , his mental faculties , almost to the last , retained much of their wonted vigour , so that he was frequently capable of amusing himself by reading and writing , aud derived much consolation from the sympathy of his friends , and more particularly

    of an affectionate and beloved daughter , who most cheerfully devoted all the hours she could spare from the necessary attention to a numerous family , to soothe his pains and to beguile the tedious hours of his long confinement . He acknowledged himself also greatly refreshed and

    comforted , by the frequent visits and interesting conversation of his beloved friend and pastor the Rev . T . Howe , who by his rational scriptural views of religion ^ land by his peculiarly amiable and endearing manner , was admirably qualified to administer support and consolation in seasons

    Qf affliction . But his principal anGpqr , amidst the billows of adversity , wm a firm and powerful conviction of the inferring wisdom and perfect benevolence of the Divine government , united with a well-grounded and unshaken confidence in the declarations and promises of the

    gospel , to the evidences and truths of which he had paid particular and habitual attention . Though the writer of this feeble butt sincere tribute of respect to the memory of his esteemed friend ., was by change of residence deprived of frequent personal intercourse with him for

    several of the concluding years of his life , yet the following communication from Mr . Howe ' s successor in the pastoral office , which he is permitted to transcribe , enables him to state soine interesting particulars of the Jatter days of Mr . Fowler ' s life . — € s During the three

    years of my acquaintance with JVlr . Fowler he was almost constantly in a state of suffering , either bodily or mental . Somer times , of course , there were intervals of comparative ease , but in general he was subject to acute and long continued pains . In such circumstances it was to be

    expected , that the conversational powers for whicli , I believe , he was through life remarkable , would be impaired ; and one who , like myself , did not enjoy the advantage of his friendship at an earlier period s

    Obituary. ¦ ^ Mm^Bm^^M

    OBITUARY . ¦ ^ MM ^ BM ^^ m

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1825, page 51, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2532/page/51/