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OBITUARY.
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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.
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Mr . Thomas Holland . To the Editor . Sir , Several of the friends of the late Mr . Thomas Holland , of Manchester , have felt considerable disappointment that uo respectful notice of him has been iuserted in your valuable publication . If it be not thought too late , the following is sent $ 8 a candidate for insertion in your Obituary . ^ V . F .
Mr . Thomas Holland was born at Manchester , October 29 , 1760 , and * spent his early years under the care of his parents , who long kept a flourishing boarding and day school for young ladies in that town * At ten years of age he became a pupil of his uncle , the Hey Philip Holland , of Bolton , whose eminence as a teacher of youth has still some
living witnesses . Here his natural quickness of intellect , under sueh judicious direction , rendered the acquisition of knowledge extremely easy and rapid ; he soon obtained a com peteut share of Classical aud French literature , and became particularly expert in arithmetic
and geography . Being designed for trade , he did not pursue the higher classics so far as several of his . class , * fellows . At fifteen he waa apprenticed to the venerable John Mort , of whom an interesting Memoir by Mr . Henry Toulmin was published by the Unitarian Book Society , and whose name is familiar to the
readers of British poetry by Airs . Barbauld ' s beautiful character of him . Here , entering on his . new employment with his characteristic ardour , and at the same time continuing h 13 attention to literary pursuits , it is thought that by too miuute exactness in ascertaining the fineness of the pieces brought in by the weavers , according to a scale by Which they were
paid , he injured his sight ; . it is certain that liis eyes begin to fail when he was about j * erenteen , and by the time he was ulneteeu lie was totally blind . Returning to bis parents' house , he naturally took up the office of a teacher of youth , in which , throughout the whole of his subsequent life , he was eminently successful . Mis peculiar infirmity led him
to carry ou hi * plaii of Instruction very much by conversation aud close question * ing on the books which be gave his pupils to read ; and be may be said to be the Father of the Interrogative system , which has since been claimed by another , whose merit , however , in promoting its extension it is not here iuteuded to question .
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The ' * Exercises for the Memory aud Understanding , ** published in a very enlarged form in 1798 , in conjunction with his brother , the late Rev . John Holland , were rendered extremely valuable to other teachers by the large appendix of questions on some of the most popular hooks of education . His daily examinations also of his pupils in English grammar , geography , and arithmetic , he
conducted on this plan ; varying his questions with great skill , according to the capacities and opportunities of those whom he had to teach . By this means he rendered his pupils in general uncommonly ready in applying to actual practice the knowledge thus acquired . Besides his reputation and success in this way , his skill in ready calculation rendered him also a most valuable and efficient member of
the committees of several of the Canals , Railways , and Water-works , connected with the important district in which he resided . In these useful labours he speat along life ; highly esteemed , at thei same time , among an extensive circle of friends for intellectual qualities of no common sort , extensive knowledge ,. and great cheerfulness ; qualities which- continued to the last amidst much bodily infirmity , under which he laboured during several
of the latter years , of his life . He died on the 12 th of June last , calm and resigned , aud at the close so easily , that the moment of his departure was not perceived by those o ( £ his numerous family who surrounded his bed * . side . He was a coustant attendant at the Unitarian chapel in Mosley Street , where his fuueral sermon was preached by the excellent Minister , the Rev , J . J . Tayler , who ha . s permitted the following well - merited character of him to close this tribute to
his memory : " , We have lost a valued fijeud , an old and much-respected member of this religious society , one the labours of whose life were animated , and whose closing hours were cheered and supported , by a firm aud ratioual trust iu the mercies of his Creator , and in the immortal prospects of the gospel ; one who , in looking
hack on a long , an active , and an eminently useful life , a life devoted to the noblest of purpose ** , the instruction and formatiou of the youthful mind , might have applied to himself , without any ufcdue presumption , the words of the apostle , * I have fought a good fight , Thave finished my course , I have kept the faith . ' Surely-, my friends , that is the best exhibition of the spirit of Christi *
Obituary.
OBITUARY .
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VOL . III . 3 D
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( 721 )
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1829, page 721, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2577/page/49/
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