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THE

Emperial Magazine;

OR, COMPENDIUM OF

RELIGIOUS, MORAL, & PHILOSOPHICAL KNOWLEDGE. MARCHI.] "PERIODICAL LITERATURE IS THE GERM OF NATIONAL LEARNING." [1830.

MEMOIR OF SAMUEL FAVELL, ESQ.
(With a Portrait.)

"Pro Patria." AMONGST the numerous individuals who have advocated the cause of parliamentary reform, some, without doubt, have been led into the field of political controversy, by motives widely removed from "love of country;" with many, disappointed ambition may have given the first impulse to patriotism; and with others, the primary object might have been personal aggrandisement, or public notoriety. In the religious world, also, it will be found, that the champions of toleration have not always been distinguished by that consistent and liberal conduct which forms the best argument in favour of universal liberty in matters of faith. To promote the views of some particular sect, or to be the founder of a new one, may have been the source of active energies, which hypocrisy would persuade us, emanated from substantial virtue.. The subject of the present memoir is, however, to be exempted from every such charge of selfinterest or inconsistency. In what point of view soever we look upon his political character, we associate with it a manly and honourable assertor of civil and religious liberty, and an able promoter of such measures as involve the welfare of his country, and affect the general interests of mankind.

In looking back on the remote ancestors of MR. FAVELL, we find their names, for a series of years, enrolled among the distinguished non-conformists of the day; and several anecdotes are preserved in the family, characteristic of the times in which they lived. At the period of the Revolution in 1688, their place of abode was Midhurst, in Sussex, where they had many painful opportunities of noticing the brutality of the soldiers quartered in the neighbouring villages, at the time when King James assembled his troops on Salisbury Plain, where they also committed every outrage. On one occasion, an old lady, nearly 100 years of age, was locked up in her room to secure her from 135.-VOL. XII.

their visits, and they were requested not to disturb her. One of them, however, burst the door open with the butt-end of his musket, and said this was only a prelude to what she might expect on their return: but the disasters of their ill-fated monarch prevented the threat from being carried into execution. On another occasion, an elderly woman was accustomed to parade the streets, uttering her imprecations against the Presbyterians for selling their king for "a rotten Orange." During this and the preceding reigns, they were exposed to many trials, and suffered much for conscience-sake. One of them having permitted a minister to preach in his outhouse, was thrown into prison, and it cost him £20 to obtain a Bible and a candle. The whole family were therefore, of course, among the many who hailed the success of King William, as the only surety for the preservation of the rights and liberties of their country.

The friends of King William, on the contrary, used every effort to manifest their zeal in his cause; and on his birth-day, some of the poorer sort, who could find no other way of testifying their attachment, placed candles in their washing-tubs, and deposited oranges between them. During this tide of party spirit, and hostile ferment, we therefore need not be surprised that many excesses were committed.

The immediate parents of Mr. Favell inherited the principles of non-conformity which had been transmitted from their progenitors; and his father dates his first spiritual awakening, from a sermon preached by the celebrated Mr. Whitefield, in Moorfields. Being eminent for piety and virtue, for a considerable time they were members of Mr. Hill's and Mr. Pike's churches, at the Three Cranes, but they died in communion with Mr. Barker, of Deptford. The Mr. Hill here mentioned, was author of an excellent volume of sermons, of which, five on the text, "It is well," having been separately republished, are of peculiar value to Christians in seasons of affliction.

Mr. Samuel Favell, the subject of this biographical sketch, was born in the

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Borough of Southwark, on the 26th of April, 1760, and from his pious parents received a religious education. His mind, thus early imbued with the principles of the gospel, soon became susceptible of serious impressions and of rational inquiry. While yet very young, the discourse of an aged minister on the nature and objects of human pursuits, gave to his mind a bias that has been his companion through life. The three grand particulars on which the minister insisted were, first, to get knowledge, and with all our getting to get understanding; secondly, to purpose utility to our fellow-creatures; thirdly, to support unblemished a religious character. To the directions thus communicated, he has endeavoured through a long and active life stedfastly to adhere. The comfort of an aged parent was the first object of his affectionate solicitude; and the multitudes who have witnessed his integrity in mercantile pursuits, his exertions in the cause of liberty, his readiness to promote benevolent institutions, both with his talents and his purse, his cultivation of religious habits, and his long and highly respected connexion with the Independents and Baptists, with whom he has chiefly associated through life, need not be told, that his multifarious exertions have not been without

success.

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others, forming an illustrious band of patriots, distinguished by ardent zeal, and talents of the highest order.

The political life of Mr. Favell may be said to have commenced in 1780. It originated in a strong aversion to popery, which at that period was not thought to lie within the range of unrestrained toleration. By this feeling Lord George Gordon was actuated. His multitudinous followers, embracing the leading men among the orthodox dissenters, participated of the same spirit; and every measure that could tend to render the introduction of popery possible, was watched with the most vigilant circumspection.

In the year 1788, Mr. F. acted as a Steward of the Centenary Dinner of the Revolution of 1688, at the London Tavern, November 4; and then wore the sash and bore the flag which had been given by King William to the Tozer family, when he landed at Torbay.

His views and his conduct evinced continuity as well as decision of purpose, especially after he fixed his residence in the city of London in 1809. Previously to this, however, he had in 1802 moved the borough address to the throne, containing congratulations on the return of peace: and when companies of volunteers were raised, he entered with great military ardour into one of the regi

When about the age of twenty-one, Mr. | Favell attended the ministry of Mr. Brewerments, of which he was major, under

at Stepney, who on one occasion related to him the following incident. The Rev. Thomas Bradbury, in the reign of Queen Anne, having rendered himself obnoxious to the Roman Catholics, one of their dupes had been so wrought upon by a priest at confession, that he undertook to assassinate him. He therefore attended Mr. Bradbury's place of worship, to make himself fully acquainted with his person. Here the word of divine truth reached his heart. His conscience was smitten; he relinquished his murderous design; and voluntarily confessed to the venerable minister, the diabolical intention for which he came to his chapel.

Losing no opportunity to advocate, and hear advocated, the cause of civil and religious liberty, Mr. Favell by insensible degrees was brought into an acquaintance with most of the celebrated Reformers of his day. Among these, in the religious world, were the well-known Mr. Robinson of Cambridge, and the scarcely less renowned Dr. Jebb. By the latter he was introduced to the Duke of Richmond, Major Cartwright, Horne Tooke, the Earl of Effingham, Sheridan, Whitbread, and

Colonel Tierney.

Having been chosen common-councilman, Mr. Favell, in December 1809, moved certain resolutions in the common Hall, London, against the Walcheren expedition, In January, 1810, he moved an address to the throne on the same subject; when his late majesty's refusal to receive it on the throne, led to the assembling of a crowded hall, in which other resolutions were passed, condemning, in strong and pointed terms, the conduct of his majesty's advisers. In May, of the same year, he also bore a conspicuous part in the business of a common hall, most numerously attended, and convened in consequence of Sir Francis Burdett's committal to, the tower, an event which created among all ranks a sensation too powerful to be speedily forgotten. During all the succeeding years, until he retired from public life, Mr. F. was actively engaged in city business, and scarcely any affair of moment was transacted, in which he did not, on the popular side of the question, sustain a prominent part.

The strongest feature, however, in Mr. Favell's political career, appears in the

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strenuous effort which he made in 1818 to effect a reform in our criminal code. In the month of December of this year he delivered before the corporation of the city of London, “A speech on the propriety of revising the criminal laws." This masterly address, which excited much attention at the time of its delivery, was subsequently published in a pamphlet, in the opening paragraphs of which the author thus powerfully argues.

"In reference to the present discussion, I have examined the criminal calendars for nearly a century past, and find one general result. There has been a great harvest of crimes succeeding the termination of every war. I am aware, indeed, that the question now brought before the court is to a considerable extent mixed up with that most difficult of all difficult questions, pauperism. To a large portion of the community, the unavoidable consequence of war is indigence. The change from war to peace, also, immediately alters the condition of soldiers, sailors, mechanics, and indeed of many indivi. duals in all classes of society. The honest among the necessitous, sink into paupers. The vicious, without fortitude to support, or industry to strive against, misfortune, too soon become criminals. Such are some of the baneful effects of war, among which eminently appear taxes, pauperism, and vice.

"And what subject next to war can excite more painful feelings than the consideration of those laws which deprive a fellowcreature of life-that life which no mortal can either give or restore-a consideration which excites the most poignant feelings, when our humanity is shocked by hearing of the crimes of murder and self-destruction? Yet how nearly does that code of criminal law excite and justify the same feelings, while it affixes the punishment of death to numerous offences, vastly different in magnitude and enormity!-a punishment ever at variance with the instinctive feelings of our common nature. What human enactments can have authority to release a nation, which should silently acquiesce in the destructive operation of such a criminal code, from their awful moral responsibility to that Almighty Being, before whom all nations are but as the drop of a bucket?—p. 4.

For the abolition of slavery Mr. Favell was always ready to exert his utmost influence; and among the warmest advocates of this praiseworthy measure, he pleasingly ranks many of his intimate friends. Among these, the name of Granville Sharpe will

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be long remembered with veneration; and when it was proposed to place the bust of this genuine philanthropist in the council chamber, Mr. F. had the honour of moving the resolution which led to its adoption.

To the formation and support of various benevolent institutions, Mr. Favell willingly lent a helping hand, and several might be mentioned, which date their origin from his individual exertions. To Maze-Pond school, and the British and Foreign School, he was an early friend. In 1785, he attended the first meeting for the establishment of Sunday schools, when Jonas Hanway, Esq., was called to the chair; and he was a member of the first committee, consisting of an equal number of churchmen and dissenters formed on the occasion. This committee, in the estimation of Mr. Owen of the Bible Society, laid the foundation of that union between churchmen and dissenters, which has so happily co-operated ever since in the formation of Bible Societies, Missionary Establishments, and Sunday Schools, which are now diffusing their salutary influence throughout the world. When the London Missionary Society was formed, Mr. Favell was a member of its first committee, and to the establishment of the British and Foreign Bible Society he rendered considerable assistance.

About the year 1807, at the suggestion of the late Mr. Fox the dentist, Mr. Favell held interviews with various ministers of the Independent and Baptist denominations, which led to the establishment of MillHill grammar-school. This seminary was formed, to afford the higher classes an opportunity of acquiring for their children a good classical education, combined with a strict attention to moral and religious duties. The success attendant on this institution has equalled the most sanguine expectations of its founders. Nearly one thousand youths, now sustaining reputable characters, and filling respectable stations in society, have been educated here; and the energy which invigorates the institution, has given an impulse to many similar establishments throughout the kingdom.

It was in a still more dignified department of education, that Mr. Favell found the last great object to which he endeavoured to render assistance. This was in 1825, at a public meeting convened for the purpose of establishing and erecting the London University; on which memorable occasion Alderman Garrett, then Lord Mayor, was prevailed upon to take the chair. This national establishment is yet in its infancy. Much time will

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