THE No. CX.] &c. FEBRUARY, 1815. HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY. Short Account of Anthony William Amo, a learned Negro. {Translated from the Abbé Gregoire's Littérature des Nègres. 8vo. Paris. 1808. P.198, &c.] NTHONY WILLIAM AMO, a native of Guinea, was brought to Amsterdam in 1707, when very young, and presented to Anthony Ulric, Duke of Brunswick Wolfenbuttle. That prince gave him to his son Augustus William, by whom he was sent for education to the Universities of Halle, in Saxony, and Wittemberg. In the first, in 1729, under the presidency of the Chancellor de Ludwig, he maintained a thesis, and published a dissertation de jure Maurorum, on the Law of the Moors. Amo was skilled in astronomy, and spoke Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, Dutch and German. He so distinguished himself by his talents and good conduct that the rector and the council of the University of Wittemberg thought proper in 173$ to pay him a public compliment, by a congratulatory epistle, in which they recollected that Terence was also of Africa, that many martyrs, doctors, fathers of the church were natives of that country where learning once flourished till, with the loss of Christianity, it reverted to barbarism. Amo devoted himself with success to the particular studies of which the [Vol. X. epistle made honourable mention. In a programme (prospectus) publicly announced by the dean of the faculty of philosophy, it is said of this learned Negro, that having examined the systems of the ancients and moderns he had selected and proposed what appeared excellent in either.3 Amo, now become a Doctor, maintained, in 1744, at Wittemberg, a thesis, and published a Dissertation upon Sensations considered as distinct from the Soul and present to the Body. In a letter which the president wrote to him, he is entitled a most noble and enlightened man, vir nobilissime et clarissime. Thus the University of Wittemberg was free from those absurd prejudices, respecting difference of colour, which so many men have discovered who pretend to be enlightened. The president declared that he had corrected nothing in the Dissertation of Amo, because it was so well finished. Certainly that work discovers a mind acHe endeacustomed to reflection. vours to determine the differences in the phenomena, between beings existing without life, and living beings. A stone exists but it is not alive. Abstruse questions appear to have possessed for our author a particular charm. After he became a Professor, he maintainedd, in the same year, a 3 Excussis tam veterum quam novorum placitis optima quæque selegit, selecta enucleatè ac dilucidè interpretatus est. 4 Dissertatio inauguralis philosophica de humanæ mentis AITA EIA seu sentionis ac facultates sentiendi in mente humanâ absentia, et earum in corpore nostro organico ac vivo præsentia, quam præside, etc. publicè defendit autor Ant. Guil. Amo, Guinea-afer philosophie, et L. C. magister, etc. 1734, in 4to. Wittenbergæ. At the end are printed many pieces, among others the letters of compliment of the Rector, &c. thesis analogous to the preceding, on the difference to be observed between the operations of the mind and those of the senses. The Court of Berlin had conferred on him the title of Counsellor of State, but after the death of the Prince of Brunswick his benefactor, Amo, fallen into a deep melancholy, resolved to quit Europe where he had lived thirty years, and to return to his native country of Axim on the Gold Coast. There he was visited in 1753 by the learned traveller and physician, David Heury Gal landat, who mentions him in the Memoirs of the Academy of Flushing, of which he was a member. Amo, then about the age of fifty, passed his life at Axim in solitude. His father and his sister were still living, and his brother was a slave at Surinam. Some time after, he quitted Axim, and settled at Chama, in the Fort of the Dutch Company of St. Sebastian.7 I have attempted, without success, to discover whether Amo published any other works, and at what time he died. Sketch of the Life of the late Rev. Theophilus Lindsey. [From Dyer's History of the University and Colleges of Cambridge.] HEOPHILUS LINDSEY, (a Tume in great repute with the mo dern Socinians or Unitarians,) Fellow (of St, John's) was A. M. in 1748, and formerly Vicar of Catterick, in Yorkshire: he (as well as Mr. Mason, (the poet,) between whom there had subsisted great friendship at college) had been pupils of Dr. Powell, but he soon turned into another school, and in 1773, having rejected the doctrine of the Trinity, he resigned his living, and with it, all prospects of 5 Disputatio philosophica continens ideam distinctam earum quæ competunt vel menti vel corpori nostro vivo et organico, quam consentiente amplissimorum philosophorum ordine præside M. Ant. Guil. Amo, Guinea-afer, defendit Joa. Theod. Mainer, philos, et J. V. Culter, in 4to. 1734. Wittenbergæ. 6 See the Monthly Magazine, in 8vo. New York. 1800. V.i. p. 453, &c. 7 See Verhandelingen vitgegeven docr het zeenwach genootschap der wetenschappen le Vlissingen, in 8vo. te Middleburg. 1782. V. ix. p. 19, &c. future preferment, of which, by his connexion with some noble families, as well as his abilities and course of studies, he might have entertained very reasonable expectations. He left Catterick in 1773. The sermon, which he preached on leaving his parishioners, was his first publication. Mr. Lindsey next published, An Apology for resigning the Living of Catterick, which was followed by a Sequel to it. On April 17, 1774, he opened a new Chapel at Essex House, in Essex Street, London, the worship of which was conducted according to Dr. Clarke's amendment of the Liturgy of the Established Church. The arrangements made for this form of worship were conducted much in union with Dr. John Jebb.* The leading aim of the reformed Liturgy (as its advocates call it) is, to exclude the worship of a Trinity of Persons, and to ascribe Deity alone as a unity to the Father. Mr. Lindsey and his disciples have chosen to call themselves rather Unitarians, than Socinians, not professing to follow Socinust in all points: and this is the leading view in Mr. Lindsey's writings, 85. * Dr. Disney's Life of Dr. Jebb, p. 84, In the use of names to different parties of professing Christians no invidious distinctions are intended here or elsewhere; but merely specifications or classifications of religions opinion. Catholic, Papist, Protestant, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, thodist, Baptist, Moravian, Quaker, and Independent, Unitarian, Trinitarian, Methe like, are terms sometimes used in a sense bordering on contempt or reproach, but no such sense should be adopted in a work of this kind. Every party has a right to its own interpretation of doctrines, and will deem that appellation only the proper one, which they give themselves. On the one hand, "the dispute is not whether there be one God or three Gods, but whether the Divinity of Jesus Christ be incompatible with the unity of God, which unity both sides believe." Robinson's Plea for the Divinity of Christ. On similar ground, those who call themselves peculiarly Unitarians, may not choose to be called Socinians, though they believe one leading doctrine in common with Socinus, as not being pledged to believe all that Socinus and the Fratres Poloni believed. But religion has heen treated like a watch, pulled to pieces by unskilful hands, nor can any art, even in idea, put it together again, but one, which is, that of paying a sort of which are confined to theology and theological criticism. Of these the principal, besides those mentioned, are entitled, The Catechist, or an Inquiry concerning the only True God; an Historical View of the State of the Unitarian Doctrine and Worship Vindicia Priestleianæ; an Address to the Students of Oxford and Cambridge; an Examination of Mr. Robinson's Plea for the Divinity of Christ; Conversations on Christian Idolatry; and Conversations on the Divine Government, shewing that every thing is from God, and for good to all. Mr. Lindsey died Nov. 3, 1808, aged 86. Since his death there have been published Sermons, with appropriate Prayers annexed, in two volumes, and the Rev. Mr. Belsham, the present minister of Essex Street Chapel, has published (in 1812) Memoirs of the late Rev. Mr. Lindsey, addressed to Richard Reynolds, Esq. of Paxton, Mr. Lindsey's earliest pupil, and through life his intimate and chosen friend. Biographical Sketch of Edward Rush ton, written by his Son. [From the Belfast Monthly Magazine, for Dec. 1814.*] RUSHTON Before seventeen, whilst yet in his apprenticeship, he signed articles as second mate of the vessel, in which a short time before he entered as cabin boy. When in this situation in the West Indies, a circumstance occurred, which is worthy of preservation. He was despatched from the ship with a boat's crew, on some errand to the shore, the vessel then lying a few miles from the shore; when about three miles from Jamaica, the boat, from some unknown cause, upset, and five or six individuals were left to struggle for life, depending only on their bodily strength and skill for their preservation. The boat in a short time presented itself keel upwards, upon which they all speedily mounted, but no sooner had they seated themselves, and congratulated each other on their escape, than the boat slipped from under them, and they were again left to struggle. In the boat, among others, was a negro, whose name was Quamina, between this individual and my father, a friendship had for some time subsisted, for my father taught Quamina to read. When the boat disappeared, my father beheld at some distance, a small cask, which he knew contained fresh water; for this cask EDWARD the 19th of November, he made, but before he could reach 1756, in John Street, Liverpool. His education, which he received at a free school, terminated with his ninth year. At ten he read Anson's voyage, resolved to be a sailor, was bound as an apprentice to Watt and Gregson, and before he entered his eleventh year, he was a sea boy in the West Indies. He performed the various duties of his station with skill and credit; this was evinced by the following fact: at this time, i. e. when he reached his sixteenth year, he received the thanks of the captain and crew of the vessel, for his sea-man like conduct, having seized the helm, and extricated the ship, when the captain and crew were wandering about in despair. affectionate deference to the opinions of others, and in this sense, loving and honouring all men. * We lament to add that the above is the closing Number of this valuable work. Why will Irishmen complain of Englishmen, when they themselves will not patronize Ireland? it, it was seized by the Negro, who, on seeing my father almost exhausted thrust the cask towards him, turned away his head, bidding him good bye, and never more was seen. This cask saved my father's life. I can remember well his telling me this story with tears in his eyes. It made an impression on my mind, which no time can ever efface. As second mate of the vessel he continued until the term of his apprenticeship was expired. At this period, the offer of a superior situation, and of course, of greater emolument, induced him to proceed to the coast of Africa, on a slaving voyage. His sentiments of this disgraceful traffic, when he beheld its horrors, though in a subordinate situation, with that terized his every action, he expressed boldness and integrity which characin strong and pointed language; he went so far in this respect, that it was thought necessary to threaten him with irons, if he did not desist. On this fatal voyage, whilst at Dominica, he was attacked by a violent inflammation of the eyes, which in three weeks left him with the left eye totally destroyed, and the right entirely covered by an opacity of the cornea. Thus in his nineteenth year, was he deprived of one of the greatest blessings of nature; thus, to use his own language," doomed to penury severe, thus to the world's hard buffets left." In 1776, attended by my grandfather, he visited London, and amongst other eminent men, he consulted the celebrated Baron Wentzell, oculist to the king, who declared he could not be of the least service. In this hopeless situation, my poor father returned to Liverpool, and resided with my grandfather. With him he continued for some short period, until by the violent temper of my grandfather's second wife, he was compelled to leave the house, and to maintain himself on four shillings per week. For seven years he existed on this miserable, and, considering the circumstances of my grandfather, this shameful allowance; for an old aunt gave him lodgings. Whilst subsisting on this sum, he managed to pay a boy two-pence or three-pence a week, for reading to him an hour or two in the evenings. I have now in my possession, a gold brooch, to which I have heard him declare, he has often been indebted for a dinner; nor was this brooch confined to himself, a noted comedian of the present day, whose avarice has long since got the better of his principle, has borrowed and pledged this very brooch for the self-same purpose. From this state my father was removed to one much more comfortable. My grandfather placed one of his daughters and my father in a tavern, where he lived for some years, and soon after my aunt's marriage, his also took place, his age being then twenty-nine. My father finding, however, his pecuniary circumstances rather diminishing than increasing, left the public house. He now entered into an engagement as an editor of a newspaper, called the Herald, which he for some time pursued with much pleasure, and little profit, until finding it impossible to express himself in that independent and liberal manner which his reason and his conscience dictated, he threw up his situation, and began the world once more. With an increasing family, and a very small fortune, for a while my father hesitated before he fixed on any particular line of conduct. He thought of several plans, but none seemed more agreeable to his feelings, than the business of a bookseller; his habits and his pursuits combined to render it more eligible than any other which presented itself to his thoughts. With thirty guineas, five children, and a wife, to whose exertions we owe more than words can express, my father commenced bookselling. My mother, my excellent mother, laboured incessantly, and with frugality and attention, the business succeeded, and my father felt himself more easy. At this time politics ran very high in Liverpool, my father had published several of his pieces, all in favour of the rights of man. He became a noted character, was marked, and by some illiberal villain shot at; the lead passed very close to his eyebrow, but did not do him the smallest injury. His butterfly friends who had constantly visited while all was serene, now began to desert him; they were afraid of being seen near the house, merely because my father had boldly stepped forward in the cause of liberty and of truth. Let it not be forgotten, that the foremost of these was the comedian, before mentioned, a man who owes his wealth to my father's advice, who persuaded him to try the stage. Such are the narrow prejudices, and paltry feelings, with which a man has to struggle, whose determination it is to speak and act as his heart shall dictate. But great was the satisfaction my father experienced from the steady attachment, the unremitting attention of a few tried and true friends, who with him had hailed the light whereever it appeared, and exulted in the triumphs of liberty, in whatever land they were achieved. Whilst in business as a bookseller, the purses of the late William Rathbone, and of William Roscoe, were offered to him; he was invited to take what sum he might want; he refused them both; and he has often told me, his feelings have been those of satisfaction, when he reflected on this refusal. He was in poverty, nay, the very moment he was struggling hard to gain a scanty pittance, yet he maintained his independence, and triumphed. His life for some years was but little varied. He continued successively to produce poetical pieces, and in the year 1797 wrote a letter, since published, to Washington, on the subject of negro slavery. If I mistake not, in 1799 he wrote Mary Le More; the outrages daily committed roused his slumbering genius, and induced him to write, not only this, but several other pieces on the same subject; all of them breathing that spirit which it was at once his pride and boast to cherish. But the principal event in the latter years of his life was the recovery of his sight; an event which tended to make those years much more comfortable than any he had experienced since his youth. In the autumn of 1805, hearing of the repeated successes of Dr. Gibson, of Manchester, as an oculist, he was induced to obtain his opinion: that opinion was favourable, and after enduring with his accustomed fortitude five dreadful operations, in the summer of 1807 he was again ushered into that world, from which for more than thirty years he had been excluded. His feelings on this occasion, which I well remember, are truly recorded in the lines addressed to Gibson on this happy event.* For the last few years he has not written much, but those poems he has produced are excellent. The Fire of English Liberty, Jemmy Armstrong, and Stanzas addressed to Robert Southey, are all strongly in favour of those principles, which with "fire unabated," he preserved to the last moment of his mental existence. In January 1811, after a tedious illness, my mother died. On the 25th of May, in the same year, my sister Anne died also. For three or four years my father had been in the habit of taking Eau Medicinale for the gout. He again took this medicine about three weeks before his death. It is generally believed this was the remote cause of his death; its operation formerly was as a cathartic, but the last time it operated very forcibly as au emetic. So severe was the shock his constitution received, that the morning after tak * Mr. Rushton's cure is recorded, Mon. Rep. i. 388, where there are some complimentary lines on Mr. R. from Mr. M'Creery's Poem, intitled The Press, ED. ing the medicine, as I stood by his |