-
Articles/Ads
Article THE COLLECTOR. ← Page 5 of 6 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Collector.
REV . THOMAS BRADBURY . THIS gentleman was . a presbyterian minister in London , of no small popularity , particularly in the reign of Queen Anne-and that of George the First . He was a very staunch Whig , and used : o pray for the Elector of Hanover and family before the death of the queen , whichtogether with his political discourses , rendered him
exceeding-, ly obnoxious to the Tory party . At the time when Dr . Sacheverel possessed an ill-procured fume , and the country was all on a flame in his behalf ) Biadbury ' s meeting was pulled down bi - the mob . He was much given to apply particular portions of scripture to the political complexion of the times , and he had very great success in this way . On one occasion he had the add : ess to -procure the credit
of being inspired . While the queen lay on her death-bed our divine had his friends , of his own sentiment , about the court , who were to bring him the account of any remarkable hurry that should seem to indicate the death of her Majesty . Luckily his-rnes enger brought him the desired information while Bradbury was preaching ; and having- given him tlie appointed signal , the pastor instantly broke oifin his discourse , and after a pause , proclaimed King George . This alarmed the congregation ; the news was communicated out of doors , and ran from the meeting-house like lightning , no one in the city
knowing any thing of the event , as the lords of the council endeavoured to keep the circumstance of the queen's death a secret till next day . He was also much given to punning , and at one time , having been much interrupted by some shoemakersfromCranbournAMey , he , at the end of his discourse , told his audience that on the next lecture-night lie meant to address the brethren of the gentle craft , and shew them how to make at least a dozen pair of shoes in the time that they now
made one . Such a declaration could not but draw a large congregation ; and en the evening of preaching the meeting-house was full . Bradbury made . a long discourse as usual ; and when he had finished the subject , he addressed the sons of Crispin , and told them to fake a dozen pair of boots , cut off the legs , and then they would have an equal number of pairs of shoes . This joke so irritated the
shoemakers , that they grew mutinous ; and , had not the preacher made his escape , they would have retaliated pretty severely upon him for his advice . He had a great aversion to Dr . Watts ' s Psalms and Hymns , and when the dissenting ministers " ' in London introduced them into their meetings , Bradbury held out as long as he could , and at length , when isis congregation rather insisted upon having them , he would always preface the introduction of a hymn thus , ' Let us sing one of Watts ' s whims '
In the year 1720 , when there was a large meeting of the ministers in London , concerning subscription , the Doctor , who was a very modest man , said little : Bradbury perceiving his backwardness , said to him , ' Doct- r , let me speak for you . ' To this the other gentl y replied , ' Yes , rather than speak against me . ' An acquaintance of the writer of this article visited Mr . Bradbury in the latter part of his life , when it happened to be the birth-day of the late Prince of . Wales . lie generally gave audience at supper-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Collector.
REV . THOMAS BRADBURY . THIS gentleman was . a presbyterian minister in London , of no small popularity , particularly in the reign of Queen Anne-and that of George the First . He was a very staunch Whig , and used : o pray for the Elector of Hanover and family before the death of the queen , whichtogether with his political discourses , rendered him
exceeding-, ly obnoxious to the Tory party . At the time when Dr . Sacheverel possessed an ill-procured fume , and the country was all on a flame in his behalf ) Biadbury ' s meeting was pulled down bi - the mob . He was much given to apply particular portions of scripture to the political complexion of the times , and he had very great success in this way . On one occasion he had the add : ess to -procure the credit
of being inspired . While the queen lay on her death-bed our divine had his friends , of his own sentiment , about the court , who were to bring him the account of any remarkable hurry that should seem to indicate the death of her Majesty . Luckily his-rnes enger brought him the desired information while Bradbury was preaching ; and having- given him tlie appointed signal , the pastor instantly broke oifin his discourse , and after a pause , proclaimed King George . This alarmed the congregation ; the news was communicated out of doors , and ran from the meeting-house like lightning , no one in the city
knowing any thing of the event , as the lords of the council endeavoured to keep the circumstance of the queen's death a secret till next day . He was also much given to punning , and at one time , having been much interrupted by some shoemakersfromCranbournAMey , he , at the end of his discourse , told his audience that on the next lecture-night lie meant to address the brethren of the gentle craft , and shew them how to make at least a dozen pair of shoes in the time that they now
made one . Such a declaration could not but draw a large congregation ; and en the evening of preaching the meeting-house was full . Bradbury made . a long discourse as usual ; and when he had finished the subject , he addressed the sons of Crispin , and told them to fake a dozen pair of boots , cut off the legs , and then they would have an equal number of pairs of shoes . This joke so irritated the
shoemakers , that they grew mutinous ; and , had not the preacher made his escape , they would have retaliated pretty severely upon him for his advice . He had a great aversion to Dr . Watts ' s Psalms and Hymns , and when the dissenting ministers " ' in London introduced them into their meetings , Bradbury held out as long as he could , and at length , when isis congregation rather insisted upon having them , he would always preface the introduction of a hymn thus , ' Let us sing one of Watts ' s whims '
In the year 1720 , when there was a large meeting of the ministers in London , concerning subscription , the Doctor , who was a very modest man , said little : Bradbury perceiving his backwardness , said to him , ' Doct- r , let me speak for you . ' To this the other gentl y replied , ' Yes , rather than speak against me . ' An acquaintance of the writer of this article visited Mr . Bradbury in the latter part of his life , when it happened to be the birth-day of the late Prince of . Wales . lie generally gave audience at supper-