the Rev. W. Turner , Jun. , MA., Lives of the eminent Unitarians

[371] Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Ashworth, as theological tutor; Mr. Clark, however, continuing for several years his valuable assistance. To his merits in this capacity Dr. Ashworth bears the following honourable testimony: ‘When the academy was removed to Daventry, he kindly continued as assistant in it for five years; and I take pleasure in acknowledging in this public manner, that his friendship, his abilities, and his prudent counsels, were of essential service, and mainly contributed to the reputation and success, whatever they may have been, with which that institution has been conducted.’—Funeral Sermon for Mr. Clark, p. 33.

Dr. Priestley, who appears to have been one of the first class of students entered under the new administration at Daventry, gives an interesting account of the plan of study pursued there, which, though defective in some important points, was unexceptionable as to the spirit in which it was conducted.

‘In my time, the academy was in a state peculiarly favourable to the serious pursuit of truth, as the students were about equally divided on every question of much importance, such as liberty and necessity, the sleep of the soul, and all the articles of theological orthodoxy and heresy; in consequence of which, all these topics were the subject of continual discussion. Our tutors also were of different opinions; Dr. Ashworth taking the orthodox side of every question, and Mr. Clark, the sub-tutor, that of heresy, though always with the greatest modesty. Both of our tutors being young, at least as tutors, and some of the senior students excelling more than they could pretend to do in several branches of study, they indulged ’