The National Register.
London, England, 1813-07-25 00:00:00

476

Providence-Chapel was thus speedily erected ; and though the
na:ue given to it offended many, " I have since seen," remarks the
preacher, " a chapel called Trinity-Chapel, where the Triliity is little
known, but this wall not the case at the naming of Providence-Cha-
pel." . This chapel was in Little Titchfieldestreet, Oxford Market
but was destroyed by fire. Its successor, likewise named, was built,
in the years 1810-It-; and is situated in Gray's Inn Lane. Both
chapels owed their existence, to the liberality of Mr. Huntington'►
congregation ; but he prevailed with them to transfer the legal pro
perty of the new chapie to himself, by threatening to abandon them in
case of their refining to comply with this requisition. His stated,
income did ma at one period exceed twenty-the pounds a quarter
yet it latterly amounted to about 10;;01. per annum.
Some very few years before his end, Mr. Huntington married a
second time, death having released him from his dame,' the reputedly
affluent widow of the late Sir James Saunderson, and Daughter of
the patriotic Alderman Skinner. Lady Saunderson is understood to
have first repaired to Providence Chapel with the view of ridiculing
that preacher of whom she afterwards became the wife. She sur-
vives Mr. Huntington; who, by his first marriage, had thirteen
children, though many of them died before him.
Although not so rich as he was thought, he had for some years kept
his carriage. " I had told the whole company that rose up against
me," says Mr. Huntington, speaking of the congregational commo-
tions which were excited by his opposition to the seditious writings
of Paine, " and told them publicly in the chapel, that, so far from
their being able to pull me down, they must not wonder to see me
in my coach when old age came on ; nor was the hand of God with-
drawn till this came to pass." He was seldom mistaken in such pre.
dictions as related to himself.

Old age now came on. Considering the privations of his early
life, however, and the laborious nature of the occupations in which
he was oompelled to engage, his declining years were less leirthen-
some than might reasonably have been anticipated. His decay was
gradual ; and his dismissal from this stage of being, long looked for,
was attended with perfect composure of mind, and lint lit tic bodily
pain. When some of his family were assisting him in pulling off his
coat, after the last sermon that he preached, he told thesn—that he
knew his work was ahnost done. He supped the evening before his
death, saying, when he had finished, that it was the last supper he
should eat ; and that lie was ready to meet his God and Saviour ! He de-
parted this life, the next day, ;July the Ist, 1813, at Tunbridge Wells,
where he had gone for the benefit of his health. Diabetes was found
the immediate cause of his dissolution.
He had neglected to sign his will, by which omission his family
arc likely to be involved in all the disasters of law. He was pressed
to perform this duty, within two days of his decease, when he ap-
peared reluctant about it, shifted the conversation, and evaded the
art. His motives for this conduct are not clearly known. What-
1S 'rer thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might ; for there is no
work nor device nor kaawledge nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou
goesl.
I-0 remains have been interred at Lewes, notwithstanding that lie
farmerly inte,ded to have been buried in tlie neighbourhood of Pe-
gersham ; where, matiy years ago,. in conjunction with some parti-
eidar friends, he purchased a spot of ground and erected a substan-
tial tomb, hoping there to rest tvether in the dust—" till the arch-
augurs trump should silence that of the Gospel, an proclaim an
eteried jubilee to the covenant seed of the Son of God !" But this
has not taken place ; and a stone, at the head of his present grave,
displays the following epitaph, composed by himself, some time
since.—" Here lies THE COAL-WAVER ; who departed this life
July 1, 1813, in the both year of Isis age ; beloved of his God, but
abhorred of Men. The omniscient Judge, at the Grand Assize,
Allan ratify and coufirm this, to the confusion of many Thousands;
for England and its Metropolis shall know, that there bath been a
'PROPHET among them ! W. H. S. S.9'
He had desired that no funeral st rmon might he preached for him.
His followers were also prof ibitedlivnt skilibiting another customary
tribute of respect, on such an occasion as this, that of hanging the
chapel of the deceased pastor with black. Otherwise they have
affection far their Minister. They have, almost with-
d, clothed- themselves iii " decent mourning," so as to in-
to the world, the bereavement which the evidently feel.
(T 9 he concluded next (peek.)

displayed due
out exception,
dicate, evpu to