Old Trafford, near Manchester.
[Footnote 6: I find no mention of Mr. Laurie, or of his "Improvements in
Glasgow," in Cleland's _Annals of Glasgow_, published in 1816, nor is he
mentioned in Mr. McCulloch's _Literature of Political Economy_.]
* * * * *
"DONATUS REDIVIVUS."
Can you, or any of your correspondents, give me any information relative to
the history or authorship of the following pamphlet?--
"Donatus Redivivus: or a Reprimand to a modern Church-Schismatick, for
his Revival of the Donatistical Heresy of Rebaptization, in Defiance to
the Judgment and Practice of the Catholick Church, and of the Church of
England in particular. In a Letter to Himself. London, 1714."
The same tract (precisely identical, except in the title-page) is also to
be found with the following title:
"Rebaptization condemned. Wherein is shown, 1. That to Rebaptize any
Person that was once Baptiz'd, even by Laymen, in the name of the
Sacred Trinity, is contrary to the Practice of the Catholick Church in
all Ages. 2. That it is repugnant to the Principles and Practice of the
Church of England. 3. The Pernicious Consequences of such a Practice.
By the Author of Plain Dealing, or Separation without Schism," &c.
London, 1716.
I am aware that, according to Dr. Watt, the author of _Plain Dealing_ was
Charles Owen, D.D., but he makes no mention of _Donatus Redivivus_, and I
am unable to discover any account of Dr. Charles Owen or his writings
elsewhere. There appears to have been a reply to _Donatus Redivivus_,
purporting to be from the pen of a Mrs. Jane Chorlton. This I have never
seen, and have only learned of its existence from a subsequent pamphlet
with the following title:
"The Amazon Disarm'd: or, the Sophisms of a Schismatical Pamphlet,
pretendedly writ by a Gentlewoman, entituled An Answer to Donatus
Redivivus, exposed and confuted; being a further Vindication of the
Church of England from the scandalous imputation of Donatism or
Rebaptization. London, 1714."
The dedication of this last tract begins as follows:
"To the Reverend Mr. L--ter, and the Demi-reverend Mr. M--l--n.
"Gentlemen,
"This letter belongs to you upon a double account, as you were the
chief Actors in the late Rebaptizaton, and are the supposed Vindicators
of it, in the Answer to Donatus: a Treatise writ in Defence of the
Sentiments of the Church, which you father upon a Dissenting Minister,
and disingenuously point out to Mr. O----n by Name," &c.
The point which I wish particularly to ascertain is, whether Dr. Charles
Owen was really the {493} author of either of the tracts I have mentioned;
and if so, who he was, and where I can find an account of him and his
writings.
[Greek: Halieus].
Dublin.
* * * * *
Minor Queries.
_Henry Scobell._--Henry Scobell, compiler of a well-known Collection of
Acts, was for several years clerk to the Long Parliament. I should be glad
to learn what became of him after the dissolution of that assembly.