(Vol. i., p. 466.)
My attention has been caught by some remarks in the early volumes of your
work upon my learned ancestor Dr. John Taylor, minister at Norwich, and
subsequently divinity tutor at Warrington. Whatever opinion may have been
attributed to Dr. Parr concerning Dr. Taylor, this I know, that on
revisiting Norwich he desired my father (the Dr.'s grandson) to show him
the house inhabited by him while he was the minister of the Octagon Chapel.
Dr. Parr looked serious and solemn, and in his usual energetic manner
pronounced, "He was a _great_ scholar."
Dr. John Taylor was buried at Kirkstead[4], Lancashire, where his tomb is
distinguished by the following simple inscription:
"Near to this place lies interr'd
what was mortal of
IOHN TAYLOR, D.D.
Reader,
Expect no eulogium from this Stone.
Enquire amongst the friends of
LEARNING, LIBERTY, AND TRUTH;
These will do him justice.
Whilst taking his natural rest, he fell
asleep in JESUS, the 5th of March, 1761,
Aged 66."
The following inscription, in Latin, was composed by Dr. Parr for a
monumental stone erected by grandchildren and great-grandchildren in the
Octagon Chapel, Norwich:
"Joanni Taylor, S.T.P.
Langovici nato
Albi ostii in agro Cumbriensi
bonis disciplinis instituto
Norvici
Ad exequendum munus pastoris delecto A.D. 1733.
Rigoduni quo in oppido
Senex quotidie aliquid addiscens
Theologiam et philosophiam moralem docuit
Mortuo
Tert. non. Mart.
Anno Domini MDCCLXI.
AEtat. LXVI.
Viro integro innocenti pio
Scriptori Graecis et Hebraicis litteris
probe erudito
Verbi divini gravissimo interpreti
Religionis simplicis et incorruptae
Acerrimo propugnatori
Nepotes ejus et pronepotes
In hac Capella
Cujus ille fundamenta olim jecerat
Monumentum hocce honorarium
Poni curaverunt."