On the death of Dr. Taylor, and the refusal of Mr. Clark, Mr. Aikin was unanimously chosen to fill the vacant chair of theology; which he continued to occupy to the end of his life, greatly to his own honour, and to the credit and advantage of the institution. His theological views at this period appear to have been what are called Arian, in which he agreed at that time, as we are informed by Dr. Priestley, with his fellow-tutors, and with all the neighbouring Presbyterian ministers, except Mr. Seddon of Manchester. Dr. Aikin added some obscure notions on the doctrine of atonement, the only subject of much consequence, says Dr. Priestley, on which they differed. On all these points, however, there is reason to believe that his views, like those of his distinguished coadjutor and friend, in the course of that renewed and careful inquiry to which his office almost necessarily led him, were considerably modified. But whatever they were, or afterwards became, they in no degree interfered with the strict impartiality with which he endeavoured to lay before his pupils the whole of the evidence on these as well as other controverted questions, and not only to encourage but to exhort and charge them to examine without bias or prejudice, and judge for themselves. To this course it is not unreasonable to presume that he
