Mr. Roscoe and Dr. Currie, referred to above, were then in high reputation in Liverpool.
The altered state of society in Norwich, about the end of the 18th century is thus depicted in a paper in the Monthly Magazine for March, 1808, under the title of “Fanaticism—a Vision,” which was generally attributed to the pen of Sir James Edward Smith:—
“You know the flourishing and happy state of this ancient city in the early part of your life, and particularly how peaceably and even harmoniously its inhabitants lived together on the score of religion. Christians of various denominations had each their churches, their chapels, or their meeting houses, and in the common intercourse of life all conducted themselves as brethren. The interests of humanity would even frequently bring them together on particular occasions to pay their devotions in the same temple. The bishop (Bathurst) treated as his children all who, though they disowned his spiritual authority, obeyed his Divine Master; while the Presbyterian, the Independent, the Catholic, and the Quaker, partook of his hospitality and repaid his benevolence with gratitude and respect. This state of society, worthy of real Christians, was broken up by those who wore that character only as a mask. A set of men, interested in promoting dissensions, by which villany and rapacity might profit, and in decrying those genuine fruits of religion, that salutary faith and pure morals, which by comparison shamed their own characters, after long in vain attempting to exalt blind belief in general, and their particular dogmas, in preference to a useful and virtuous life, but too successfully obtained their end. On all the great truths of revealed religion, honest men could never be long at variance. On disputable points they had learned a salutary forbearance, which enabled them, while they thought for themselves, to let others do the same. The only resources of those who wish to stir up religious animosity, is to bring forward something that no one can determine. The less mankind understand a subject, the more warmly do they debate and strive to enforce the belief of it.”
Eminent Citizens of the 18th Century.
Merchants and Manufacturers.
Among the eminent citizens of this century may be first mentioned the chief merchants and manufacturers, who were very intelligent, wealthy, and enterprising. They were also benevolent, and the founders of various charitable institutions. Many of them were Nonconformists, and active supporters of their chapels, while they carried on a great foreign trade. The correspondence which they had begun on the continent they extended in every direction. By sending their sons to be educated in Germany, Italy, and Spain, they cultivated a more familiar connection with those countries. Their travellers also were acquainted with various languages, and went all over Europe, exhibiting their pattern cards in every town on the continent. Norwich could then boast of rich, energetic, enterprising, and intelligent men, who made the city what it was in their day. Lest their very names should be forgotten, we shall place them in this record. Amongst the manufacturers were
Messrs. Robert and John Harvey,
Messrs. Starling Day and Son,
Messrs. Watson, Firth, and Co.,
Messrs. John Barnard and Angier,