Imágenes de página
PDF
ePub

Guisborough (sister of President Francis A. West) rivalled her Grovetrained brother in setting or in solving stiff algebraic problems.

Already Mr. Nichols had also begun his career as a publisher and an editor and annotator of valuable works which had dropped into comparative oblivion. The first edition. of Nesbit's Practical Mensuration, a work which long dominated in the public and private schools, at least in the North of England, bears on the title-page of its First Edition, (1815,) Published by James Nichols, Leeds. Nesbit was one of the writers in The Leeds Correspondent.

It was highly characteristic of Mr. Nichols that the first two works to which his carefully-executed editions recalled public notice were those of friends of Mr. Wesley: the first being The Poetical Works of John Byrom, M.A., F.R.S. To which are added his Life, and Notes, by the Editor. The second was, The Poetical Works of the late Rev. John Gambold, A.M. To which is added the Life of the Author, with an account of Ignatius and Polycarp: the subject of Gambold's longest poem. Both these works had a considerable circulation amongst Methodist readers, especially in Ministers' families. But a far more popular book was his next publication: The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vasa, the African. Written by Himself. He also published a translation from the French of the exquisite Letters of Madame de Sevigné: a translation of which an able writer has said, 'It has vivacity enough to put buoyancy into pigs of lead.' But the most important of his publications about this time, as an event in the literary history of the first half of the century, was his Trial of Eugene Aram, a resuscitation of a most extraordinary yet strangely forgotten event. This was followed by Sir

.

Edward Lytton Bulwer's (the late Lord Lytton) Eugene Aram, and by Thomas Hood's most powerful poem The Dream of Eugene Aram.

It may well be questioned whether The Leeds Correspondent was as successful a commercial as a literary undertaking. It is to be feared that the chivalrous sentiment avowed in the Prospectus, which was highly characteristic of Mr. Nichols, was left to a great extent to be its own reward: Mercenary inducements

have had no share in the motives which have actuated, etc.'

But the guiding cloud was lifting from the banks of the Aire and was moving towards the Thames. The

removal of Mr. Nichols from Leeds to London was connected with an episode in Methodist history of some interest and significance. Methodism was now (1819) 'by reason of strength fourscore years' old, and had thus far carried out its great mission without a newspaper. In January, 1819, the first experiment was ventured on of a weekly journal which, whilst it did not bear the Methodist name, should yet have a Methodist proprietary, be under Methodist management, be conducted on Methodist principles, and made subservient to Methodist objects. Its purpose was, nevertheless, as its very title avowed, in a sense, and to an extent, political, though not partisan, except that it belonged to the party of moral order. But it was certainly neither Whig nor Tory, or, if either, both. Its chief promoters belonged to both the great parties. George Morley was a decided Whig; Richard Watson was a pronounced Tory. It was, in accordance with the spirit of Wesley himself, to be governmental in its sympathies. To this paper Mr. Jackson alludes in his Memoirs of the Life and Writings of the Rev. Richard Watson, without. mentioning it by name :

'He (Mr. Watson) had united with several other persons likeminded with himself in the establishment of a weekly newspaper, partly religious, and conducted upon loyal and constitutional principles, to meet the exigency of the times; for it was felt to be a serious evil that pious families should have no means of obtaining a knowledge of public affairs, except by the perusal of papers many parts of which were extremely objectionable in point of sentiment, and some of which were even intended to bring all legitimate authority into contempt. The property of this paper was vested in persons of the Wesleyan denomination; but the work was extensively patronized by clergymen and other pions individuals belonging to the Established Church.

[blocks in formation]

then only fifteen The columns of this

To the honour of Woodhouse Grove, in its earliest days, it must be recorded that Mr. Nichols took with him to London two Preachers' sons, who had just finished their six years' schooling, Levick Slack and J. M. Hare; both of whom he found of immediate service far beyond the range of mere tyroship in printing. He continued to print and publish The Leeds Correspondent; and Slack, of years had this work solely in his own hands, there being no journeyman in the metropolitan establishment competent to adjust the intricate 'rules' and types necessary for the representation of algebraical processes. This accomplished Grove-lad at once proved equal to work usually entrusted only to the most skilled and highest paid compositors.

journal not unfrequently contained articles written by Mr. Watson, in which he always appeared as the able and zealous advocate of Government and of social order.'-Pp. 266, 267.-First Edition.

Several of the able Ministers then, stationed in London were Mr. Watson's principal coadjutors in this enterprise, prominent among whom were George Morley and Jabez Bunting. It was a time, as the histories tell, and as some still live to remember, of immense popular excitement. The Pastoral Addresses, from Conference after Conference, were weighty with warnings against disloyalty and political violence. It was therefore thought that, as infidelity and insubordination had entered into sworn alliance, religion and loyalty should form a counter coalition. To the above-mentioned eminent Ministers Mr. Nichols was personally well known. He was therefore requested to undertake the printing, publishing, and editing of the new paper, which bore the title The Christian Reporter; or, Political, Literary, Scientific and Miscellaneous Intelligencer. It was 'published every Monday afternoon. Price Sevenpence.' What must have been the state of journalism in the country at that date when the Christian Reporter, conducted under such auspices, found it necessary to give to its subscribers such a pledge as

age,

Business was conducted in the floors above the shop at No. 66, Paternoster Row. But, alas! this first attempt at a Wesleyan newspaper soon came to an untimely end: if, indeed, it had not an untimely birth.

Mr. Nichols found that he had undertaken to work a problem of much greater practical difficulty than any over the solution of which he had presided as editor of The Leeds Correspondent. He had to produce a weekly journal which, whilst not altogether politically colourless, must at the same time respect and represent the views of a denominational constituency by no means of one uniform political complexion. The Christian Reporter, in bringing

tidings to Zion,' must so modulate its voice as not to disturb the sensitive prepossessions of any class of the community. Mr. Nichols had been the more readily induced to undertake the work by the promise of the great Richard Watson -who, as editor of the Liverpool

Courier, had acquired wonderful facility in writing newspaper leaders to lend him, ever and again, the aid of his expert and forceful pen. Mr. Watson, one of the most deliberate of Preachers, was one of the most impetuous of newspaper writers. Heavily preoccupied, as he was, he would dash off an article in his study, or hurrying down to the printing office on the morning of the very day of publication, would create copy currente calamo, the compositor taking it leaf by leaf during the very paroxysm of its production. Between Mr. Watson and Mr. Nichols there was, in this respect, the strongest contrast. The latter wrote with labour, care, and hesitancy; to use the words of one who not seldom watched the process, 'as often biting one end of the pen as driving the other over paper.' But the former scarcely paused, except for a dip of ink. It was easy to see from his manuscript where each heat of composition had started and where it was spent, by the fine strokes at the beginning and the thick ones at the end, as he mended or changed his finepointed goosequill. If he had made a false start, and on reading his own production did not like it, he would make no attempt at emendation, but would strike his impatient pen through aragraph after paragraph, and try again.

So long as Mr. Watson kept in the purple haze of eloquent generalities all went well. But a new excitement, that resulting from the trial of he Queen, supervened on the already feverish state of the public mind. It

was wisely resolved by the Managing Committee that as, even in Methodist circles, opinion on this burning question was both intense and divided, no judgment on the case should be pronounced in The Christian Reporter until the trial

to

closed. But one Monday morning there came to the office a promised leader, for which space had been left. This committed the paper to a strongly expressed prejudging of the case. There was no time for remonstrance or for consultation; hardly time for the most hurried substitution of another leader. Mr. Nichols had one grave editorial defect: he lacked a courageous caution in the exclusion of a compromising article by whomsoever supplied. And it required the very prowess of prudence to reject a contribution so brilliant. The bewildered editor hesitated the last moment; and then, hoping that the eloquence of the leader would condone its imprudence, tremblingly, but desperately, put to press.. It proved the death-warrant of his Journal. A majority of the subscribers, whose sympathies and sense of justice had alike been shocked, forthwith dropped the Paper. The proprietary felt that nothing. remained but to retreat as decorously as circumstances would permit. An amalgamation was effected with, we believe, the oldest religious newspaper then existing in London, The Philanthropic Gazette, which at that time was chiefly supported by the Independent interest, and conducted under the auspices of Mr. Williams, an eminent London Independent. Not long afterwards this, too, collapsed, and was merged in another religio-political paper, which, with admirable frankness, announced itself as The World. In due, but very short, time this again was wrecked, through the persistent personalities of its editor, Stephen Bourne. A new metamorphosis was, however, effected, in The Patriot,* under the editorship of the elegant and accomplished Josiah Conder.

So short is the history and so long the genealogy of the first Methodist

* Of which The English Independent is now the successor.

newspaper. The enterprise was more happily resumed after the interval of about a decade, when another eminent Methodist layman from Yorkshire, Dr. Humphry Sandwith, came up to London to edit The Watchman.

Of course, the disappointment and vexation of this conspicuous failure was as severe to Mr. Nichols as to his employers; but to him it came home more keenly, as it threw him once more on his bare resources as a printer and publisher. Happily, however, he had not long to wait for providential succour. Up to that time the Book-Room had its own printing establishment. This, however, it was found expedient to break up. Application was accordingly made to master-printers, on private account. Mr. Nichols was chosen, not only because of his well-known ability and high character; but also by reason of his very exceptional familiarity with the class of literature issued by the Book-Room. And how much more than a mere printer he was may be gathered from the record of Mr. Jackson, with reference to his own appointment to the Connexional editorship With Richard Watson as a reviewer and my friend James Nichols as a printer, critic and adviser, I was thankful, and took courage.'

:

[ocr errors]

It was in the palmy days of CityRoad Chapel that the bright yet grave face, upright form, punctual attendance and devout demeanour of James Nichols became familiar to the worshippers in that venerable sanctuary. The magnates of Methodism appeared in its pulpit Sabbath after Sabbath. The shrill, penetrating tones of Joseph Benson often thrilled the close-packed audience. Adam Clarke sustained nobly his universal and perennial popularity, which grew out of simplicity and warm reality, and that fulness of conviction which ensures persuasiveness. In him nature and grace

seemed all but identified. The old people listened to him as an oracle, and the little ones, though too young to apprehend even his plainness of speech and brightness of thought, yet loved to look on his benevolentlybeaming face and listen to his cheerful, fatherly tones. One charm of Adam Clarke's preaching was the ascendency of kindly emotion over strong and well-equipped intellect. He had the advantage too of a voice of rare clearness and compass. His exuberant affectionateness broke out in one of his characteristic mannerisms. Having pronounced the benediction, he would remain a few moments in the attitude of blessing, and opening his eyes, radiant with good-will, would exclaim in bell-like tones: Go in peace; and the God of peace go with you.'

Walter Griffith dropped lavishly the rich, ripe fruit of his kindly flourishing old age. Henry Moore and John Stephens still gave an impressive representation of the patriarchal age of Methodism. Jabez Bunting, then in the fulness of his strength, dealt out his clear, convincing, one might say commanding expositions, and his overwhelming appeals, followed by his heaven-storming supplications. There, too, was Richard Watson. As he ascended the pulpit, the fabric seemed to tremble with that holy awe which never failed to stir his great spirit when he approached the throne of the heavenly grace. A solemn influence fell upon the congregation, as, in fullest sympathy with the sacred poet, he gave out the hymn, in tones of chastened magnificence. Then followed a prayer sublime in adoration, profound in contrition and childlike in confidence. Of his preaching it were superfluous to speak. Then there was John James, with his fine voice and prepossessing presence; the firm, warm grasp of whose hearty eloquence it was not easy to shake off; and John Ander

son, whose oratory, in its highest moods, was like the careering spiritwheels of Ezekiel's vision, 'a voice of a great rushing, saying, Blessed be the glory of the Lord from His place; and whose rhetoric 'ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.' Joseph Taylor, the second of the names, atoned for a hard, rigid manner, begot of constitutional melancholy, by an experimental preaching, strangely stimulating, and steeped in heavenly unction. John Burdsall, with his luminous exegesis and transparent argumentation, made the listeners feel how forcible are right words!' The propriety and solidity of Edmund Grindrod blended well with the robust animation and the thoughtful fervour and fulness of Thomas Jackson.

Then there were young men : John Scott, with his measured cadences and unimpassioned utterance, his his doctrinal instructiveness and his skill in unfolding the deep things of God,' balanced Peter M'Owan, volcanic in his earnestness, in the down-rushing lava flood of exhortation and the detonating splendour of his illustrations, with an urgency of entreaty which would not be said Nay, and a rehemence of manner which realized the picture of his compatriot Knox, as if ready to leap out of the pulpit and lay hands on some evasive sinner.

Eminent Local Preachers also occasionally took turn with these distinguished Ministers. At times there would appear in the pulpit the gaunt figure of Samuel Drew. Metaphysical, even in his prayers, his delivery formed a strange contrast to his matter. He started at full gallop, like an aide de camp carrying orders on the battle-field, never drawing rein till he reached the close of his sermon. But his simple religious earnestness breathed into his metaphysics a vitality which arrested and impressed the least speculative minds.

VOL. II.-SIXTH SERIES.

Quaint, kindhearted, zealous Dr. Hamilton would sometimes exchange the pew for the pulpit of whom it was said, in a sense the reverse of sarcastic, His prayers are even more efficacious than his physic.'

Nor must the clerical Reader' be forgotten: the simple-minded Thomas Vasey. Never did M'Owan, Anderson, Watson or Bunting produce a more thrilling effect than did this even-paced readerer of the Liturgy, on the first Sunday morning after the funeral of his only son, whose 'late repentance' was not vain.' The Second Lesson began with the Parable of the Labourers, and when the bereaved father came to the point where those who entered the vineyard at the venth hour receive the same as those who had borne the burden and eat of the day;' the old man's voi e faltered, his lips quivered, his features were convulsed; he bowed his grey head upon the blessed page and let fall upon it tears of grateful tenderness; and the congregation wept aloud to see the agestricken labourer pay thankful though tearful homage to the grace which accepted and rewarded 'one hour' of penitent and loving service.

As to the City Road congregation during this period, we need only refer our readers to the graphic article of Mr. T. P. Bunting in the CityRoad Magazine for January 1871. We will just add that in the Classes and in the l'enitent Prayer-meeting held in the Morning Chapel,' Mr. Nichols found a Methodism as ardent, if not quite so vigorously articulated, as that of the West Riding; and in the Lovefeasts, at least, the privileged negress Penelope lifted up her voice with a fearless strength which could scarcely be surpassed in Leeds or Hull.

Released from the toils and anxieties of journalism, Mr. Nichols now devoted to his favourite studies all

E

« AnteriorContinuar »