Towards the close of his life, in consequence of some trying occurrences at Battersea, certain efforts were made to remove him into the metropolis. This movement, however, called forth renewed feelings and expressions of mutual attachment between himself and the persons who had so long enjoyed his ministration; and he respectfully declined the overture which had been made to him from London.
For a considerable time before his death, Mr. Hughes had been afflicted with a pain in one part of his foot. This did not at first occasion any alarm; but early in July 1833, having set out on a long journey to Wales, and other places, on behalf of the Bible Society, the affection in his foot so increased, and, by the necessary exertion in prosecuting the object of his journey, became so aggravated, that he was obliged to retire to the house of a friend in the vale of Abbey Tintern, and give up what remained of his projected tour. This sickness was to be unto death; rest and retirement did not mitigate the symptoms of his complaint. Amidst great suffering he was removed to Bath; and when it was found that little hope remained of a cure being obtained, he was conveyed in an invalid carriage from Bath to the house of his son, where, after continuing a few days, he was taken to his own residence. Throughout his affliction, though his sufferings appear often to have been exceedingly acute, he discovered the most exemplary patience and resignation; the frame of his mind seems to have been uniformly devout and serene, and his confidence in the person and work of the divine Redeemer, strong and unwavering. At length, the time of his departure arrived. On the evening of October the 3rd, 1833, in the sixty-fifth year of his age, he peacefully left these mortal shores.
The character of his mind, of his studies, of his conversation, of his oratory on the platform, and of his sermons from the pulpit, Mr. Leifchild has delineated with the hand of a master, having possessed all the advantages of personal and confiding friendship. The mental and moral excellences of Mr. Hughes were unquestionably very exalted; but his communications often appeared to suffer from what, perhaps, might not improperly be denominated, a constitutional coldness of manner, which seemed to impose a sort of reluctant constraint on his own feelings. We remember a gentleman of the Tract Committee remarking, "I admire Mr. Hughes—I hear him,—I see him—I want to feel him." It was evident that, in himself, he felt intensely here; and, doubtless, he now burns with all the holy ardour of a seraph in the celestial world.
Were it practicable, we should have peculiar satisfaction in gratifying our readers, and enriching our columns, with lengthened extracts from this interesting volume; but we must confine ourselves to two, which, we are sure, both on account of what they contain, and the high respect in which the writers of them have been long and deservedly held, will be most acceptable to our readers. The first is from the pen of Mr. Jay.
"Mr. Hughes was often and much at Bath, formerly, supplying several years at Argyle Chapel, for six weeks together, while I was in town. I have been intimately acquainted with him for upwards of forty-three years, and have exchanged more mind with him than with any man I ever knew, except my friend and tutor, Cornelius Winter. With regard to religious things, we only differed as to baptism; and if we did not love each other the more for this difference, I am sure we did not love each other the less. We disagreed, too, a little with regard to composition and preaching: he too squeamish, and I too careless; he labouring for correctness, and I for impression (in grasping which I sometimes erred); he too satisfied if he could abide criticism, and I too careless of critical judgement, if I could secure effect. Yet, though he was often kindly finding fault with me when we were alone, he was always seeking opportunities to hear me; and I cannot be ignorant how much I shared his commendation, as an author and a preacher. I am thankful for my intimacy with him. My esteem of him always grew with my intercourse. I never knew a more consistent, correct, and unblemished character. He was not only sincere, but without offence, and adorned the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
"His mind was full of information; his conversation, singularly instructive, and very edifying; and while others talked of candour and moderation, he exemplified them. In his theological sentiments he was firm, yet sober and liberal, and not too orthodox (as I have often known this,) to be evangelical. But why do I write this? you know it as well as I, and will describe it better." p. 143.
Thus Mr. Jay, concerning the lamented Mr. Hughes. But now we introduce Mr. Foster's letter, addressed to him while languishing into death. "The letter referred to," says Mr. Leifchild, "as forwarded to him by his friend, Mr. Foster, the editor is happy in being permitted to subjoin;—a letter which leaves it hard to determine, whether the feelings of the writer, or of the receiver, were most to be envied."
"Stapleton, September 18, 1833.
"In conveying a few sentences for the last time to my dear old friend, I wish to be allowed to say why such a token of sympathy and affection is so late.
"Returning from a long excursion in North Wales, very near the time of your removal to London, I was surprised and grieved at the report of your seyerely afflicted situation at Bath. My impulse to go thither was repressed by the information that no one was admitted to see you. After hearing successive accounts, I wrote a few lines of inquiry to Mr. Evill; and was answered that you had just been removed to London,—with a promise of sending me the information they should receive; which has been done. During the subsequent time, I have withheld from writing to you, partly by information that your great weakness rendered every unusual intervention painful to you, and partly by a report confidently affirming that you had left this world. But at last, and previously to receiving yesterday a message from you through the hands of Mr. R. Cottle, I had determined to write to Mr. George, and put it at his discretion whether to show you the letter.