BACK-STREET.-. -Independent.

house at Exeter, just as the minister was praying for him, whether dead or alive. Mr. Pitts, with a view of training his son to the ministry, placed him at a private academy amongst the Dissenters, probably that in London, which then flourished under the superintendance of Dr. Ridgley. It was most probably whilst a student that he became a member of Mr. Bradbury's church, first at Fetter-lane, and afterwards at New-court. From the latter place he was dismissed in April, 1729, to the Independent church at Hitchin, in Hertfordshire, where he was pastor nearly ten years. In 1788, he left that place in consequence of some difference with the people, and was dismissed July 2, to Braintree in Essex, to succeed Mr. Timothy Shepherd; but left that connection in March, 1742, on account of some uneasiness that prevailed in the church. It appears that Mr. Pitts's call to Braintree was unanimous, and that he had been recommended to the congregation by their late pastor Mr. Shepherd, as well as by several London ministers. His preaching, however, did not suit the people there, and some time after his settlement he received frequent intimations of that kind. The dissention was at first promoted by a few persons, who took pains to make it more general. Their charge against Mr. Pitts was, "That he was not so spiritual in his conversation, and did not go so deep into Zion's experience as Mr. Shepherd, and that they did not profit under his ministry." In a farewell sermon preached to the people at Braintree, and in some notes subjoined, Mr. Pitts has vindicated himself from the charges brought against him; and retorts upon them a fickleness of disposition. From Braintree, Mr. Pitts removed to London, and was chosen to assist Mr. Bradbury at New-court. In this connection he continued till 1758, when he was elected as co-pastor with Mr. Halford, at Back-street, Horsleydown; and upon the death of that gentleman, in 1764, succeeded to the whole charge. He continued in this situation several years; but some time before his death, he retired to

BACK-STREET.-Independent.

Taunton, in Somersetshire, where he finished his course December 5, 1788, aged eighty-six years. Mr. Pitts possessed but slender abilities, and as a preacher he was not popular. (H) He is said to have been of a penurious disposition, and by his habits of economy amassed together a considerable sum of money. One of his daughters was married to the late Rev. Joseph Barber. In the

(H) That his preaching was sometimes attended with success may bo inferred from the following anecdote, communicated by my worthy friend Mr. Isaac James, of Bristol, who met with it at Mr. Lavington's, at Biddeford. "No. 1. March 14, 1743-4. This number was put up by the clerk at the usual time, immediately after Mr. Pitts had been preaching on Providence, and in the sermon mentioned that remarkable story of Mr. Dod.-Prayers are earnestly desired for one who is afraid his own prayers are an abomination to the Lord. He thinks there are some circumstances in his sins may be unpardonable, which the more he repents, and all sorts of humiliation he uses, he thinks the more his affairs are distressed and in confusion; so thinks to leave off all prayer quite, which want of communion with God grieves him more, though he thinks prayers of others may be of service. He cannot see why he might not shorten a miserable life, which every day he thinks of doing. So he begs he may have a more clear way of thinking, and above all that he may be kept in his senses, to be enabled to bear with patience his adverse affairs; that Providence would over-rule his affairs, and that if it please God, he may meet his numerous family in better circumstances than his melancholy suggests.--No. 2. March 14, 1743-4, was put up, when about two verses of the psalm after sermon had been sung. -Is it not a surprising providence, that I, who am an utter stranger, should be directed into this meeting-house, and hear such a story and such a discourse, so suitable to the note I brought in, which I believe will save my soul, for I was tempted to destroy it through melancholy apprehensions. So Mr. Dod has visited me now. -No. 3. May 5,

1745. A gentleman that lives in a remote part of the kingdom, that happened to drop into this meeting, a year ago, in an extreme fit of melancholy and despair, thinking his estate would be stripped from him, and begging God's blessing here, heard a surprising story of Mr. Dod, which he took as ..... and fortified him much, and desires thanks may be given to God for it, and trusts in him for the future; for that very thing which he thought overwhelmed him, established him."The foregoing story relates to a gentlewoman of considerable estate, who was tempted to make away with herself, but was comforted by Mr. Dod's conversation and prayers. See the story at length in Clark's Lives, p. 170.

BACK-STREET.Independent.

time of Mr. Pitts's ministry, Mrs. Priscilla Sharp, whose maiden name was Tichbourn, was a member of this church. She was a descendant of the famous Sir Robert Tichbourn, one of the judges of Charles 1. and whom she used to call her grandfather. The celebrated John Wilkes, whom she called her cousin, was decended from the same family.

WILLIAM DUNN.-Mr. Pitts was succeeded by Mr. William Dunn, who was educated under the Countess of Huntingdon's patronage, and preached some time in her connexion. On one occasion, being at Oakham, and having preached at the Baptist meeting, a family that came from Hambleton invited him to that place, to preach in the street. He went over, attended by many from Oakham. The people behaved well, and he was invited to go again. He preached again without molestation, but after the sermon was closed, a company of rude fellows began to attack the people; Mr. Dunn, however, who came on horseback, soon escaped out of their way. He afterwards joined the Dissenters, and settled at Back-street. He was not settled here long; but in 1785, retired to Bradford in Wilts, where he died in May 1805, at the age of forty-five. He was an acceptable preacher, and in his life and conversation exemplified those sublime truths which he enforced from the pulpit with so much energy.

JOHN BATTEN.-He succeeded Mr. Dunn, and settled here in 1786. He was a young man of good abilities, and a sensible preacher, and was the pastor of this church several years. Mr. Batten married the sister of Mr. Ellis, son-inlaw to Fuller the banker.

HOLMS. Mr. Batten was succeeded by a Mr. Holms, as he was by

-- RANDALS, who was ordained here May 17, 1798, and continued about two years.

LITTLE GUILDFORD-STREET.Independent.

HENRY HUNT.--The present venerable pastor settled here in 1800, and came last from Stourbridge, in Worcestershire. He has been above sixty years in the ministry, and is now we believe in his ninetieth year.

JOHN BODINGTON, from Hoxton academy, was ordained co-pastor with Mr. Hunt, Oct. 20, 1813. Mr. Thornton, of Billericay, under whom he received preparatory instruction, delivered the charge; aud Dr. Winter. preached to the church. Since his ordination, we understand there has been a considerable revival in the church, which at the time of Mr. Hunt's settlement was in a very reduced state.

LITTLE GUILDFORD-STREET.

INDEPENDENT.

LONDON, the metropolis of the British empire, may be

called an epitome of the world; for in it are to be found people of almost all nations, languages, and religions. It is only of late years, however, that the Cambro-Britons, although previously very numerous, have thought fit to associate into separate communities for religious worship. This is the more remarkable, as the Welch are not backward in their attention to religious duties in their own country; and by neglecting it in the British metropolis, the lower classes have not been distinguished from the general mass of irreligious people. About the year 1800, a few weil-disposed persons of the Welch nation, taking into consideration the lamentable state of their countrymen, began to form them, into societies, and their labours were attended with success. VOL. IV.

N N

PARISH-STREET.-Presbyterian, Extinct.

Congregations were formed at Deptford, and at Woolwich, in Kent; at Wilderness-row in London; and at Little Guildford-street, near the Park, in Southwark. The meeting-house at the latter place was opened for public worship January 5, 1807. Three sermons were preached in the Welch language by Mr. Jones, of Cugybar, and Mr. Davis, of Swansea; and also three sermons in English. These Welch societies have been supplied for the most part by a change of ministers from their own country, who continue for about three months.

PARISH-STREET.

PRESBYTERIAN.-EXTINCT.

THIS place was situated in the parish of St. John, Hors

leydown. It was a good size building, with three galleries of four seats, and was erected for Mr. Joseph Jacob, who quitted it in 1702, and sold the place to a small congregation, that met in the same neighbourhood, under the care of Mr. Galloway. This church had been collected in the latter time of the Stuarts, and had for some time that excellent Puritan Divine, Mr. Richard Adams, for pastor, and before him Mr. William Carslake, who probably gathered the society. The congregation existed under a succession of ministers till towards the close of the reign of George II. when it dissolved. After this event, the meeting-house was taken down, and houses erected on the site. This interest it is apprehended was never large; and still less so in its latter days. The earlier ministers were zealously attached to the old Protestant doctrines, nor are we aware that there was any material deviation in their successors. The names of the ministers were as follows: