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preached the funeral sermon to a crowded audience, at London Wall."*

In professional talents, few men have ranked higher than Dr. Hunter, whether we consider him as a preacher, or as a writer. He possessed a respectable share of learning, and his writings display much eloquence and imagination, as well as an extensive acquaintance with human nature. As a pulpit orator, his manner was solemn, unaffected, and impressive. His prayers were, in this respect, peculiarly striking; and his discoures interested, in no common degree, by exhibiting the most important and beautiful sentiments in polished language, aided by a fervent delivery. His superior natural powers had been richly cultivated by the study of the best writers in ancient and modern languages; and be retained to the last much of that popularity which attended his early labours. In the allotment of time he was exact, and punctual in the performance even of the smallest engagement. His heart was warm, benevolent and friendly, his feelings quick and powerful, and he possessed a mind naturally energetic and commanding. In the exercise of charity he was free and unbounded even to excess for it often happened that the objects of his benevolence departed from him richer than himself, leaving him to seek from friendship that assistance which he had bestowed through the irresistible impulses of a warm and liberal heart. With such dispositions it will naturally be supposed that his attachments were particularly strong towards his family and friends. But his hospitality was not confined to these: all who came under his roof were sure of an interest in his generous regards. Abilities and dispositions like these could not fail to secure the respect and esteem of a large circle of acquaintance, who were emulous of his friendship. A lively fancy, quick sensibility, and unassuming manners, so rarely connected with splendid abilities,) diffused a peculiar charm over his conversation, and

* Life of Dr. Hunter, prefixed to his posthumous Sermons, vol. i.

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rendered his company extremely desirable. If in indulging to the pleasures of social intercourse, he sometimes exceeded the limits which a proper regard to prudence would have prescribed, we may trace it to an excess of those feelings which he had not sufficient resolution at all times to restrain. But while justice shall record his failings, candour will acknowledge that he possessed many amiable and excellent qualities; and in regard to his failings, we may adopt the beautiful observation of Mr. Stevens, in his funeral oration, That these were lost in the blaze of his excellencies." In his person, Dr. Hunter was tall, slender, and rather narrow in the shoulders and chest. His features were strongly marked; his eyes grey, and capable of expressing all the emotions of his soul. Indeed, his whole physiognomy was characteristic, even to a common observer, of a mind cast in no ordinary mould. Mrs. Hunter survived the Doctor but a very short period. She was taken ill suddenly in the evening of Sunday July the 24th, 180S, and early on the following morning, entered the mansion of eternal rest.

In 1804, about two years after Dr. Hunter's death, there were published two volumes of his sermons, and other miscellaneous pieces. As these were posthumous, and not intended by him for the press, they did not appear with that advantage which they would have done, had they passed under the polish of his masterly hand. It should be observed, however, that they by no means bear the marks of negligence. Dr. Hunter always wrote with care; and seems to have completely modelled his sentences before he committed them to paper. Several of these discourses are upon sacramental occasions, and afford an interesting specimen of the form of administration as practised by the Church of Scotland. Others of these discourses were delivered over the graves of departed friends, and are suitable memorials for the occasion. There is also a selection of letters, written chiefly by members of his own family, and which he had himself intended to publish in a volume, but was prevented by death. To this col

LONDON WALL.Scotch Presbyterian

lection was prefixed a copious account of the life and writings of the author. Also, a portrait, engraved by Holloway, and which may be esteemed a good likeness.

Upon a handsome pillar, erected over Dr. Hunter's grave, in Bunhill-fields, is placed the following inscription:

Beneath this pillar,

Raised by the hands of friendship,

Sleep the mortal remains of the Rev.

HENRY HUNTER, D. D.

Who, thro' a long life, deemed of those who knew him, alas! too short, Served with unwearied assiduity the cause of religion, literature and the poor. In him, to distinguished talents and a capacious mind,

Were united

Energy of disposition; affability of manners; benevolence of heart;
and warmth of affection;

In the hearts of those who were blessed with his friendship,

Is preserved the most sacred and inviolable attachment;

But his best eulogium, and his most durable memorial will be found in his writings;

There he has an inscription which the revolutions of years cannot efface.
And when the nettle shall skirt the base of this monument,

And the moss obliterate this feeble testimonial of affection;
When finally sinking under the pressure of

THIS PILLAR

years,

Shall tremble and fall over the dust it covers,

His name shall be perpetuated to generations unborn!

READER,

Thus far suffer the effusions of affectionate remembrance

When no adequate eulogium can be pronounced,

And when no other inscription was necessary to perpetuate the memory, than HENRY HUNTER,

Thirty-one years pastor of the Scots church, London Wall,

And on Wednesday the 27th of October, 1802,

Left his family and his church to deplore,
But never to retrieve his loss;

And silently took his flight to heaven

In the sixty-second year of his age.

ROBERT YOUNG, D. D.-After a vacancy of nearly twelve months, Dr. Hunter was succeeded in the pastoral office by the Rev. Robert Young.. This gentleman was

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born at Dalkeith, near Edinburgh, and received the early part of his education at a school in his native town, under Mr. Christison, now Professor of Humanity in the University of Edinburgh. From under the tuition of this gentleman he passed to the College at Edinburgh, where he closed his academical course. Being licensed to preach the gospel, he officiated for about twelve months at Berwick-upon-Tweed, from whence he removed to London, upon a call from the Scots church, London Wall. He was ordained in that place Aug. 31, 1803. The service was opened by Mr. Smith, of Camberwell, who prayed and read suitable portions of scripture; Dr. Rutledge preached from Acts xx. 28. and Mr. Nicol concluded the service. Upon the settlement of Dr. Young, a division took place in the church, in favour of Dr. Brichan, who had supplied the congregation during the vacancy. Those who espoused his preaching went off to Artillerystreet, and formed a separate congregation under his care, but they have since dissolved.

Within two or three years after his settlement at London Wall, Dr. Young was honoured, upon a public occasion, by the presence of a royal auditor. His Royal

Highness the Duke of Sussex, at the head of his regiment of Loyal North Britons, attended divine worship at his meeting-house upon the first day of February, 1806, This was, most probably, the first time that royalty graced a conventicle, at least in a public manner. The circumstance is no otherwise of importance than as it serves to show that the paltry prejudices which formerly subsisted among the professors of Christianity are fast wearing away; and that what would have been shunned as a dangerous leprosy, has assumed a form perfectly harmless. Dr. Young is chaplain to the above regiment. Since his settlement in London, he has presented the public with two sermons, preached at his own meeting-house, upon public occasions. The first a Thanksgiving sermon, for the battle of Trafalgar; VOL. II.

A

GIRDLERS'-HALL.-Independent, Extinct.

preached before the Loyal North Britons; Dec. 5, 1805. 1 Chron. xxix. 13, 14. 4to.-The second, entitled, "The African Stranger," preached January 17, 1808, for the benefit of the African and Asiatic Society. Job xxxi. 32. 8vo.

GIRDLERS'-HALL.

INDEPENDENT.-EXTINCT.

IRDLERS'-HALL is a handsome brick-building, situated on the east side, and towards the north end of Basinghallstreet. The company was incorporated August 6, 1448, and the hall built in the year 1681. It was a small building, with only one gallery, and was used, for many years, by the nonconformists, as a meeting-house. Previous to the Revolution it was occupied by two congregations of Independents, who held it jointly for a considerable number of years, one assembling there in the morning, the other in the afternoon of the Lord's-day. The former of these exists to the present day, at Haberdashers'-Hall; but the latter has long since become extinct. It is familiar to many of our readers, that, at the time of the Restoration, a congregation of Independents assembled for divine worship in Westminster Abbey, under the pastoral care of Mr. John Rowe, who was turned out upon the re-ascendancy of episcopal government. His church, however, still continued to meet privately, in different places of obscurity, till his son, the celebrated Mr. Thomas Rowe, at length fixed at Girdlers'-Hall, which he occupied in the morning only.

The congregation that assembled at Girdlers'-Hall on the