To'wnley, James (2), D.D., an eminent Wcsleyan minister, was born in ^Manchester, England, !May 11, 1774. His early education was received at the school of Hev. David Simpson (q. v.) of Macclesfield. The training of his pious mother and the impressions made upon his heart by the funeral services of his lamented teacher, resulted in the commencement of that earnest and true Christianity which waseverhis best adornment. He became a local preacher at the age of nineteen, and in 179(; was received on probation as an itinerant, from which time until 1832 he fultilled the duties of his min- istry faithfully and with increasing honor. In 1827 he was appointed general secretary of the Wesleyan Mis- sionary Society, in which office he abounded in loving and arduous services. At the Conference at Sheftield in 1829 he was elected to the chair; he presided at the Irish Conference of 1830. and retired to Hamsgale in 1832. This forced cessation from active work was due to physical prostration inider his great literary, niission- otlice. and presidential toils. Dissolution, in fact, was alrea<ly in progress; it was only a question of time. After a sickness of great suffering, the spirit of the gen- tle and generous Towidey was released in the triimiph of peace and faith, Dec. 12. 1833.
Amid tlie active duties of iiis pastorate and offices. Dr. Townley devoted himself to literary labors with an indomitable perseverance. His studies in Biblical lines made him in all probability the most learned man in the Weslej-an Conference after the death of Dr. t'larke (whom he only survived fifteen months and a half), particularly in all relating to the literarv historv of the Bible. The following is a list of his works: 'BihUml Anecdotes (Lond. 1813, 12mo) : — Illusti-dtinns of IHIAical Literature, e.xhiliiting the history and fate of the sacred writings, including notices of translators and other emi- nent Bildical scholars (ibid. 1821,3 vols. 8vo ; Js. Y. 1842, 2 vols. 8vo) : — Ksstiys on various subjects in eccle- siastical history and anliipiity (Lond. 1824) -.— The Rea-
son of the Laics of Moses, from the .}fore Xehoehim of Maimonides, excellently translated, with notes (lOO pp.), dissertations (nine), and life of the author (ibid. 1827, >i\-o):—lntrod.io Litevdrij Hist, of the Bible (ibid. 1828, 12u)o; N. Y. 1832 [a kind of a sequel to his Anecdotes, and introduction to his Biblical Literature''^'): — Introd. to the Critical Study of the Old and New Testaments (his last): — Sermon (in the volinne oi Miscellaneous Ser- mons, by Wesleyans. published at the Conference Office [Lond. 1833 ]) : — /iistory (f Missions (valuable sketches |)ublishe(l posthumously in the West. Meth. Mar/, for 1834, an earnest of an exhaustive work to have been written had his life been spared): — various articles in the Meth. Mag., etc.
Dr. Towidey's fame rests upon his Biblical Litera- ture, a work as valuable now as it was upon the day of its publication, and which the Eclectic Rerieiv (xviii. 38(), 407) affirms to be the most comi)rehensive of tlie kiiul in the world. It won for him the doctorate from an American university (that being the first instance of such a degree being conferred upon an English Wesley- an minister), the congratulations of the University of Dublin, and numerous encomiums — slight compensa- tion, however, for the immense labor it cost. For re- views and notices of this work see Meth. Qnar. Jiev. July, 1843, art. i; October, 1842, p. 638; Christ. Her. [Ba|)tist], June, 1844 (by Dr. Smith); Meth.Qnar. Ma;/, 1822, see Inde.x ; Orme, Biblioth. Bill. p. 435 ; Home, Litrod. etc. On the Life of Dr. Townlev, see Minutes of Kufj. Conf. 1834 ; Hoole, Wesl. Meth. M'atj. May, 1836 ; Peck, in Amer. ed. of Bibl. Lit. vol. i : Sinith, Uist. of Wesl. Meth. ii. 649. 650; iii, 144-146.203; Stevens, llist, of Methodism, ii, 79; Meth. Mag. 1834, p. 78.
To'wnley, John H., a Presbyterian minister, was born in 1817. In early life he became a devoted Chris- tian. His career was short but brilliant. He was li- censed to preach by the Presbytery of Elizabeth, and ordained ami installed pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Hackettstown, N. J. He remained in this charge eight years, preaching with great acceptal)ility and use- fulness, greatly beloved by the congregation aiul peojile of the town. On resigning this charge, he accepted a call to the Church at Morristown, N.J. As in the for- mer charge, during his ministry there were repeated outpourings of the Holy Spirit, in which many soids were converted and added to the Church, so in this, re- vivals followed. His energy and fidelity greatly en- deared him to the people of his charge, and gave prom- ise of continued success. His devotion to the cause of Christ, his prompt and ready co-operation in every good work, and his aliility and fidelity in the disdiarge ()f every duty devolved upon him. rendered his loss pe- culiarly artlicting to the Church and the conniutnity. He died at Morristown, Feb. 5, 1855. (W. P. S.)
To'wnsend, George, D.D., an English divine, was born at Kamsgate in 17M8. and was educated at Trinity ('oUege. Canjbridge. He became chaplain to bishop Barrington in 1822, and was canon of Durham from 1825 till his death, Nov. 23, 1857. He was the author of The Old Testament Aiianged in Historical and Chronological Order, on the Basis of Lightjbot's Chron- icle, etc., with copious indexes (Lond. 1821, 2 vols. 8vo) : — The A'ew Testament A iranged in Historical and Chron- ological Order.etc. (ibid. 1825. 2 vols.8vo; 5th ed. 1860. imp.Svo; Amer. ed. of both the foregoing, revised by T. W. Coit, D.D., Boston, 1837, 2 vols. 8vo) -.— The Accusa- tions of Bistorg against the Chnrch if Rome (Lond. 1825, 8vo: new ed. 1845, 18mo): — Thirty Sermons on some of the most Interesting Subjects in Theology (1830, 8vo) : — Plan for .Abolisliing J'lundiiies and Non-residence. e\c, (ibid. 1833, 8vo): — Life and Defence, etc., of Bishop Bonner {\^A'2, Svo) ; Spiritual Communion with God, or the Pentateuch and the Book of Job Arranged, etc. (ibid. 2 vols. roy. 8vo ; vol. i in 1845 ; vol. ii, October, 1849) : — Historical Reseai-ches : — Ecclesiastical and Civ- il History, etc. (ibid. 1847, 2 vols. 8vo) : — Journal of a