tleman but little information can be procured. He was educated, most probably, at the Independent academy in London, under Dr. Ridgley. His name is in the list of licensed, or ordained preachers at the Salters'-Hall synod, in 1719. In that assembly he took part with the subscribing ministers. In a list of London ministers, in the year 1727, now before us, the name of Mr. Charlton occurs as pastor of a church in Aldermanbury. His congregation dissolved many years before his death, and he retired into the country, preaching occasionally. He was a sensible and worthy man; but, it is apprehended, not popular as a preacher. The writer of this recollects hearing his name mentioned by an aged minister, in terms of particular respect. Mr. Charlton died at Thatcham, in Berkshire, on the 1st of May, 1755.*

After the dissolution of Mr. Charlton's congregation, Plasterers'-Hall was taken by the society in London for training young men to the ministry among the Independents. This institution, which is still in existence, is co-eval with the Revolution, being supported partly by the Independent fund, and partly by what is called the King's Head Society, from their meeting in a room over the King's Head Tavern, in the Poultry. One of the earliest tutors upon record, was Dr. Isaac Chauncey, who dying in 1712, was succeeded by those learned and celebrated persons, Dr. Thomas Ridgley, and Mr. John Eames. Upon the institution of the King's Head Society, in 1730, two new tutors were added; Dr. Abraham Tayler, to give lectures in divinity; and Mr. Samuel Parsons, to teach the classics. Mr. Parsons removing into the country, in 1735, the learned Dr. John Walker succeeded him in the classical department, and boarded the students at Plasterers'-Hall, which was

• Private Information.

PLASTERERS'-HALL. Independent, Extinct.

was to teach the 1770, the academy

fitted up by the society for that purpose. In 1740, Mr. John Hubbard, of Stepney, succeeded Dr. Taylor, as theological tutor; and was himself followed in 1743, by the learned Dr. Zephaniah Marryat. He dying in 1754, the academy was removed to Mile-End, and the students boarded by Dr. John Conder, the new divinity tutor. Another tutor was likewise then added. This was the late Dr. Thomas Gibbons, whose province it belles lettres. Dr. Walker dying in was transferred to Homerton, and the new classical tutor was the late Dr. Daniel Fisher, who, upon the death of Dr. Conder, in 1781, was raised to the divinity chair; and Dr. Benjamin Davies, of Abergavenny, chosen classical tutor. Dr. Gibbons dying in 1785, was succeeded in his department by Dr. Henry Mayo; as was Dr. Davies, by the late learned Mr. John Fell. The latter was followed by Mr. John Berry, who resigning after about four years, was succeeded by Mr. John Pye Smith, since created D. D. Dr. Fisher resigning in 1803, Mr. James Knight undertook, for a few months, the divinity department; but he resigning, Dr. Smith was chosen to succeed him, and is the present divinity tutor. The classical department is filled by Mr. Thomas Hill. The foregoing is a brief historical account of the Independent academy at Homerton, the oldest in existence among the Dissenters.

ALDERMANBURY PO-TERN. -Independent.

ALDERMANBURY POSTERN.

INDEPENDENT.

ALDERMANB

DERMANBURY POSTERN, a short, well-built street, is so called from its opening without a gate through London Wall, over against Aldermanbury. The meeting-house, which stands at the corner of the street, was erected for the congregation formerly assembling in Rope-makers'-alley, Moorfields. That society was gathered in the early part of the reign of Charles the Second, by Mr. Edward West, who was ejected for nonconformity from Little Whittenham, in Berkshire, and for whom the meeting-house in Rope-makers'-alley was built about the time of King Charles's Indulgence, in 1672. The congregation continued to assemble in that place under his successors, till 1765, when the present meeting-house was built for the late Mr. Towle. About three years before their removal, a Mr. Dorset bequeathed the sum of a thousand pounds to this church, the annual interest of which was to be equally divided between minister and people. He also left the like sum to eight other churches.

The meeting-house in Aldermanbury Postern, is a small, neat brick-building, of the square form, with three deep galleries. The church and congregation, it is apprehended, were never very numerous; but during the latter part of Mr. Towle's life they declined considerably. In the year 1797, Mr. Towle's church received a considerable accession by an union with the congregation meeting at Founders'-Hall, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Joseph Barber. From this time, these two venerable ministers divided the work, one preaching in the morning, the other in the afternoon.

ALDERMANBURY POSTERN. Independent.

Since Mr. Towle's death, Mr. Barber has had assistance on one part of the day. Both these churches are upon the strict Independent plan; and the latter, as well as the former, enjoys the bequest of Mr. Dorset.

The history of this church presents us with but few incidents. Its pastors, though most of them men of respectability in their day, yet, did not greatly distinguish themselves by their literary performances; their names, therefore, are known to but few persons in the present day. On this account, it is not surprising, that the memoirs preserved of their lives. and characters are, in most cases, extreinely short, and amount only to a few particulars. These we have collected from a variety of sources, and shall record according to the following order of succession:

EDWARD WEST, M. A. was a native of Northampton, and born about the year 1634. He sprang from a reputable family, his father, Mr. Thomas West, being subscribed Gent. of the foregoing town. In the year 1651, he became a commoner of Christ Church, Oxford, where, says Wood: "he received a severe discipline under a Presbyterian tutor."

ALDERMANBURY POSTERN.-Independent.

After he had taken one degree in Arts, he translated himself to St. Mary's Hall, where he continued till he became Master in that faculty. He then commenced preacher, and being ordained according to the Presbyterian mode, was presented to the living of Little Wittenham, in Berkshire, from whence he was ejected at the Restoration. He then retired to London, and gathered a private congregation of Nonconformists, "being in high value (says Wood; for his edifying preaching among the brethren in conventicles." Upon King Charles's Indulgence, in 1672, he built a meeting-house in Rope-makers'-alley, Moorfields, in which he preached till his death. He died suddenly in the night, after preaching twice on the preceding day, and went to his rest in the 41st year of his age, January 30, 1675. Mr. West was a man of good natural abilities, ready wit, and considerable learning. He was an excellent preacher, full of holy zeal and fervour, and very useful in his day.* His funeral sermon was preached by Mr. Thomas Cole, and afterwards printed. It is a valuable discourse, and has passed through several editions. (x)

Mr. West lies buried in Bunhill-Fields, where, upon an altar-monument of white stone, was placed the following inscription:

• Wood's Athenæ Oxon. vol. ii. p. 554.

(x) Mr. West has two sermons in the Morning Exercise. One in the Supplement, on, "How we must govern our Tongues;" Ephes. iv. 20. The other on, 66 Purgatory a groundless and dangerous Doctrine," 1 Cor. iii. 15. in the volume against Popery. After his death was published, his "Legacy;" being a discourse of the Perfect Man. Lond, 1679. 8vo. A valuable discourse, grounded on Psal. xxxvii. 37.

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