Extract from the Dictionary of National Biography

Wesleyan preacher, commentator, and theological writer, was born about 1762 at Moybeg, in the parish of Kilcronaghan, co Londonderry, of a family which at one time had held extensive estates in the north of Ireland. He was educated in the school of the neighbourhood, but gave no promise of the remarkable love of learning which he afterwards displayed. Through the influence of John Wesley he completed his education at Kingswood School near Bristol. Having been profoundly impressed with the gospel, he became a methodist in 1778; at an early age he began to exhort, and passed through the stages of local preacher and regular preacher, without much formal education. He was appointed to his first circuit, that of Bradford, Wiltshire, in 1782. A profound admirer of John Wesley, he shared his spirit, prosecuted his aims, and followed his methods, making conversion and sanctification of men's souls the great objects of his preaching. While a conscientious methodist, he had very friendly feelings towards the church of England. As a preacher, he soon became remarkably popular. He rose to high rank in the Wesleyan body and thrice filled the presidential chair (1806, 1814 and 1822). At first he was moved from place to place, according to the Wesleyan arrangement, being engaged at various times in Ireland, Scotland, the Channel Islands, and the Shetlands (1826). In the last named place a methodist mission had been established at his suggestion in 1822. After 1805 he chiefly lived in London and the neighbourhood.

It was remarkable that while second to none in the labours of the ministry, Clarke was a most assiduous scholar. The habit of early rising, great activity, and systematic working enabled him to acquire a large and varied learning. First the classics engaged his especial attention, then the early christian fathers, and then oriental writers; Hebrew, Syriac, Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, and other Eastern tongues, with the literature which they represented, being among the subjects of his study. Natural science was a favourite subject, and he had an interest in what are called the occult sciences. He contributed to the Eclectic Review from the date of its establishment in 1804, and rendered much literary assistance to the British and Foreign Bible Society. In 1807 he received the diploma of M.A. from the university and King's College, Aberdeen, and in 1808 that of LL.D. In the course of time he became a fellow of the Antiquarian Society, a member of the Royal Irish Academy, an associate of the Geological Society of London, a fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society, and a member of the American Historical Institute. Such honours were so rare in the ranks of the Wesleyan ministry that Clarke acquired a unique position among his brethren. Instead of gendering the jealousy which scholarly eminence is apt to breed in a democratic church, his honours seem to have been looked on by them with pride.

The literary power and capacity of investigation evinced by Clarke bore fruit in two ways. As a theological writer he produced many works of ability, including English translations and new editions of other men's books, such as Sturm's Reflexions (1804) and Fleury's Manners of the Israelites (1805); a Bibliographical dictionary in six volumes, in which he gives a chronological account of the most remarkable books in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Coptic, Syriac, Chaldee, Ethiopic, Arabic, Persian, and Armenian from the infancy of printing to the beginning of the nineteenth century, with a reprint of Harwood's View of the Classics and an account of the best English translations from the classics (1803-4); a supplement in two volumes (1806) deals with the English translations in greater fulness; a concise view of the succession of sacred literature, in a chronological arrangement of authors and their works to A.D.345 (1807) (a second volume, from A.D. 345 to the invention of printing, was published by his son Rev.J.B.B.Clarke in 1831); Memoirs of the Wesley Family and many other works on subjects of biblical or general interest (The Use and Abuse of Tobacco, 1797; Baxter's Christian Directory Abridged, 1804; The Eucharist, 1808; Illness and Death of Richard Porson; Clavis Biblica, 1820; and new editions of Shuckford's Connexion, 1803; and Harmer's Observations, 1816). But by far the most important of his works was his commentary on the whole books of Scripture (1810-26, 8 vols, reprinted in 6 vols 1851). This was a work of extraordinary labour and research. Its design was to combine the critical or scientific with the popular and practical. Clarke succeeded as well as any single man could hope to do. The Commentary had a very wide circulation in its day, but is little consulted now. Its theological standpoint was the orthodox evangelical, but the author on some points took positions of his own. He maintained that the serpent that tempted Eve was a baboon; he held that Judas Iscariot was saved; in regard to predestination, he threw Calvin overboard and followed Dr. John Taylor; and on the person of Jesus Christ, while maintaining his divinity, he denied his eternal sonship. On this last point he was ably replied to by a writer of his own body, Richard Treffry, jun. (Inquiry into the Doctrine of the Eternal Sonship of our Lord Jesus Christ).

Clarke was also employed in re-editing Rymer's Foedera from the original compiler's massive collection of state papers. A royal commission was appointed to take steps for this purpose and the post of editor was offered to Clarke, and accepted in 1808. He first made an elaborate report on the whole records (which were to be found in many different places), and then proceeded with the work of editing. The first volume and the first part of the second volume, issued in 1818, bear his name. At last, through sheer exhaustion, he was compelled to resign. The commission accepted his resignation with great reluctance. Clarke was the personal friend of many dignitaries of the church and of other distinguished persons. The Duke of Sussex held a high esteem for him, and they exchanged hospitalities. Clarke died from an attack of Cholera, 26 Aug 1832.

Extract from the "Biography of Adam Clarke",
Pages 351-352, by J.B.B. Clarke copy held by Manchester Library.

Early in January, Dr Clarke heard of the sudden and serious illness of his old friend and bookseller, Mr William Baynes. Dr Clarke used often to remark, "Baynes knows a book, or a curiosity at a glance, without being acquainted with its exact character, and I have rarely ever found him deceived in his estimate of what he judged to be intrinsically good: his tact serves him as well as laborious knowledge, and makes him what he is, the best old bookseller in London."

When Mr Baynes found he was seriously ill, he desired to see Dr Clarke; his son Mr Thomas Baynes wrote to this effect, and that Dr Clarke immediately complied with the desire expressed, appears from the following note to one of his daughters, dated January 7, 1832.

My Very Dear Mary Ann

It is likely you have heard that I was sent for to see Mr Baynes, at his own earnest request:- I went with all speed:- He is on his death bed: but his mind is in a glorious state of preparation for heaven: he spake much of God, of Christ, of glory, and expressed himself with a freedom of manner, I have never before seen in him: I came into town on the 5th, and remained all night, that I might have the opportunity of seeing him again on the following morning: he appeared, poor fellow ! much pleased to see me, and gave my hand an iron grasp with all his remaining strength. He was perfectly composed and collected, and expressed his strong confidence and peace in God. It deeply affected me to see the strong man thus bound; for death will never quit his hold on him. I prayed with him, and for him, and for his family; and then was obliged to bid him farewell, as I was anxious to get home that afternoon. ......

Extract from the "Biography of Adam Clarke",
Pages 31-32, by J.B.B. Clarke copy held by Manchester Library.

On the publication of the Catalogue of the Library of the Rev. Mr Fell, Principal of the Dissenting College at Hackney, Mr Clarke observed advertised "A black-letter Bible". The day fixed for the sale happening to be on what was termed among the Methodists a Quarterly-meeting day, which is a time appointed by that body for the adjustment of their accounts, etc etc, and which required his personal attendance during the very hours of sale; he therefore desired his friend and bookseller, Mr William Baynes, to attend the auction, and purchase for him "the black-letter Bible, if it went for anything in reason": he did so, the book was put up, and Baynes had only one competitor, and on a trifling advance on a moderate last bid, it was knocked down to the bookseller. On enquiry, Mr Baynes found that his opponent was by trade a gold beater, and that he had bid for the book merely on account of the skins on which it was written, and as soon as he had gone to the extent of their value for the purposes of his calling, he had given up the contest; hence the triflling advance secured its higher destiny and better fate.

When Mr Clarke had concluded the quarterly meeting, he went from the City Road, where it was held, to Paternoster Row, to enquire after the chances of the auction: he found the book he desired was secured, and on the slightest examination discovered that it was indeed "a black-letter Bible", but of so ancient a date as to constitute it a great literary treasure: he had it immediately packed up into a parcel, (and it made one of no small dimensions, being nearly a hundred weight), and putting it on his shoulder, walked beneath his burden to his own house in Spitalfields.

To Mr Wm Baynes
P N Row
Late May
Dear Sir

You must get me the other leaf if you can, that contains a description of the Lib. [or Heb.] Mss. - I want the very best copy you have or can procure of Hutter's Heb. Bib with the cube [or ---be] Lexicon & all complete. Let me know im.y if you have got any thing curious or important in any way - & if you have any such articles, send them up to me to Mr Hookes.

Love to Mrs B. W. John & all the family - I came in, last night.

Yours Truly A. Clarke

My dr Wm

I am working at your book with all my might - I wish you could see my mode of proceeding. I am sure you would like it. If I go thro' with it I shall have added seven thousand articles, & they are all essentially requisite to make it what it should be, a complete work. If you are coming this way, I wish you to come speedily & then we can make some proper arrangement concerning the plan - a great deal depends on this. I wish to have the last edition of Harwood & if possible Le Lory's Bibliotheca Sacra 2 vols fol 1723 and his Rhetoric Discourse on Polyglott Bibles with their different editions 8vo 1713.

There is another work which would be very useful if you could procure it vol Dictionnaire Bibliographique Historique & antique des livres rares avec leur valleur 3 vol 8vo Paris 1791. This was on Lackington's last catal. No 13701 for £1-1-0. I sent for it, but it was sold. With these, and those I wrote to you for before, I should I think have every help with my own collection that I should need.

I have recd Bayer but you wrote that you had sent a Turkish grammar - Why have you not sent the Ayun Akberg [or Akbery], which you offered me, & which I want for myself ?

Let me hear from you by return of post.

With love to Mrs Baynes & family, I am my dr Wm yours very affy A C.
Bristol Jany 24 1801

P.S. Have you got me a perfect sett of Aymes yet ?

Camelford Cornwall March 18 1801
My Wm

I am here on a short visit, & have just rcd a letter from my Mary copying one from you relative to some Indian figures - I write immediately to inform you that I shall have them by all means; and receive it as a further token of your kindness that you will not let them go to any other - Pack them up with the utmost care & safety, & send them by the mail directed to me at Mr Arthurs High Street Bristol. See them booked - and if there be any other mode of conveyance more safe in your own judgement let it be preferred. I hope to return to Bristol the beginning of next week.

I have waited a long time for an answer to three letters wrote to you expressly on the subject of Harwood but have recd none. I therefore suspended the work waiting for information from you. Have you procured any of the books I wrote to you for ? - or shall I go on without them ?

One part of my plan is (which you must keep to yourself) to give a sketch of the life of each author with a short critique on his works. This I think will be an incomparable improvement. The sketch will be always short, but ever full & comprehensive. Lend me your opinion with the pictures.

With hearty love to Mrs Baynes & family
I am my dr Wm
Yours affy in the Lord
A Clarke

To Wm Baynes Bookslr
PaterNoster Row London
Liverpool Sept 10 1801

My very Dr Wm

I have rec'd the mss & think you have given me many better bargains however, there are some of them that I would not have been without on any consideration & I am exceedingly obliged to you for your kindness in procuring them, & I hope you will let nothing slip you in this way, that may come any way reasonable. I have enclosed you a draft for sixteen pounds sterling. From yours today I find you have sent Meninski I hope it is a most precious affair or it is too dear by more than one half.

I have spoke to a Printer about Harwood & he has given me the following estimate which I transmit to you that you may speedily determine, as I shall put the work to prep in the course of next week.
500 copies printing, without paper.
500 sheets at £1-16-0 per sheet, in a good stile, small pica with strong ink & collating into books.
500 with fine wove paper, the same as this on which I write, at £3-10-0 per sheet, made up into copies.
1000 printing without paper. £2-6-0 per sheet.
1000 on this paper at £4-0-0 per sheet collated etc.
Same paper as Harwood used for his 2nd edition which is the best paper at 56/- or 58/- per bundle. N.B. The paper I now write on, is that on which Mr McCreery printed Burns.

If the work does not exceed 20 sheets, he engages to finish it in 3 months or less; & you are to pay in a Bill at 2 months. The Letter is to be Caxtons small pica. The author's corrections, as they are term'd, are to be a separate charge.

The printer's name is Nutall, he says you know him; he is a good man, & one whom I can trust and he lives within two minutes walk of me which will be a great advantage. Mr McGreery who printed Burns, Lorenzo di Medico etc is an excellent printer, but I think he would be much dearer than Nutall & besides he lives nearly a mile from where I dwell.

If you could get a good set of Castel's Heptafloss [or Heptaglott?) Lexicon for about £1-11-6 (or even two guineas) for which they used to sell I would venture on Mr Priestly! ... Scott. [the letter is torn at this ... point] Have you got a great call for Alaimistic books? I have a good collection which I should be glad to dispose of at a good price. I hope you remember that my copy of Aymes is imperfect & that I paid you for a perfect one. You should by all means procure me De Bure. I wrote to you before for several others in order to make the work as perfect as possible, but you have furnished me with none of them.

With love to Mrs Baynes.
I am my dr Wm your's affy
A Clarke

Mr Jenkins wishes you to get him Jones' Pesiceram [?] most of the articles you wrote for Mr Jones were sold. I cannot mess [?] with a Patrick & Lowth. I hope the bill will do. I cannot get it for a shorter date but you can negotiate it immediately.

Mr Wm Baynes
No 54 P.N.Row London

with two copies half dd [?] of Bibliographical Dictionary common v Royal paper Lett A. The first form of B on the same plan is set up Keep this letter to yourself

Liverpool March 2 1802

My dr Wm

I have at last brought the letter A to a conclusion - no soul can conceive the trouble & perplexity it cost me to arrange & correct the wretched pitch patch copy, & supply its defects. It would have been abundantly more easy for me to have sat down & compiled the whole myself - & often have I been tempted to throw it all away & begin on new ground. You see that on this plan it is likely to swell to a considerable size. It will make I suppose 4 vols - will you curtail or will you go on ? - I have suffered no books which are not either scarce, curious or important to enter into it. Critical works in the learned languages I have universally admitted - but I have left out all works French, Italian, Spanish, German etc however important, for, had these been admitted, the work would have swelled beyond bounds. Latin, Greek, Arabic & Persic are those which are inserted - I have endeavoured to express the titles of the books more fully than they are in Harwood: for from his titles it is impossible in general to know what the subject of the book is: & I have added a few words, finally at the end, to tell who the author was, & when he lived. This I think will be well received, Several little anecdotes I have added also which I hope will be no small help to the book. I have endeavoured to the utmost of my power to avoid mistakes - I have in general succeeded - the errors that have escaped I have noted for a table at the end. I am not perfectly sure but in two or three instances the same book is inserted under a different name - this I have often detected in the copy - I have in general arranged the different editions of the same work in chronological order - This is not always done in Harwood. This cost me great perplexity & trouble for there is scarcely any arrangement of this kind in the copy. I have also entered the Articles according to the successive order of the several letters of the Alphabet, that the work might be a proper dicty & that every article might be found in its own place. The articles themselves, I have in general entered rather under the name of the Author than under that of the Work. This custom is universally followed abroad, & I do not see that we can improve on it. The work so far as it gone, is before you, & of it you and your friends must judge. It is nearly what a work of the kind should be & I have no doubt, but it will sell well, if the same plan be regularly & carefully pursued. When the letter B is added, I think there will be a sufficient volume - and I would advise you to publish it in separate volumes.

I wrote to you some time ago for some books to assist me, but you have paid no attention to my request, another person would have felt himself offended. You have also had some things curious lately, which you know were in my way & yet sold them to another - I instance in the Ms Pentateuch - this was not such usage as I expected. But perhaps you can explain it to my satisfaction. I have long wished by every possible means to promote your welfare and am now as ready as ever to do it. I have never curtailed you in your price for anything and I hope have ever been punctual in my payments, & you had promised that when any thing curious came into your hand you would let me know. Write to me im.y & let me know what is to be done. I am in a very poor state of health, I am afraid I shall not be able to go on with your work as I am ordered away to Bath to try the hot bath there.

I think it would be well if Mr L M would write out and arrange this copy & then I could correct & add with the 20th part of the trouble. One thing I wish you particularly to remark is; I have inserted every article printed before 1500 in Latin, Greek & Hebrew, that I could meet with. These being published in the infancy of printing are generally both scarce & curious.

Can you get me Meerman's origines Typograph. It & Maittaire would be of great service to me. Why did you not get me the supplement to Heinsiu Bucher Lexicon from Remnant ? Write to me immediately & let me know how you like the work etc & why you did not let me have the Pentateuch ?

With love to Mrs Baynes.
I am yours affy A Clarke

W Baynes
No 54 Paternoster Row
London
Stamped Liverpool Dec 17 1802
Liverpool Dec 15 1802

My dr Wm

I am greatly surprized that I hear nothing from you, nor have I yet recd Panzer. You must know of how much importance this is to our work. If I have not proper authorities to refer to, I cannot possibly make the book in any tolerable measure correct. Harwood is full of blunders, I have given him up for some time past & translate from the Italian (very correct and much enlarged) edition. He has led me into an unlucky error in Aristophanes, the patch work having been having been made up from one of the old editions- However errors are in this work unavoidable - Indeed were I near any proper Library, where I could see the Articles, I could make the work nearly immaculate but as things are, I am obliged to depend on the judgement & say so's of others. & guard against their errors as well as I can.

The person who owed the library I sent you wants the money very badly - he has several weighty bills to pay at Xmas, & must have this to help him out. I hope you recd them safe.

I wrote to W Bultrip to call on you & see about Panzer, as also to get a fine paper copy of Heussners Lex. Nov. Tort. and to know at what you could get me a set of the E Brittanica, I often need it for the sake of Biographical anecdotes. I have told you ten times that my copy of Aymes is imperfect, & that therefore you should get me another. I paid you a good price for this, I wish to have a perfect copy. You have a Booth's Deodorus Seculus of mine, which I bought out of W Dickinson's books.

The vol of the Dict. which we are now at, will be much more correct & interesting than the other, but I must begin to abridge, for it will run out beyond my strength & every assigned limit, if I do not. Have you got a republican copy of the Polyglott ? You must get me whenever you can the 6th vol, I want one to complete an old set. Will you answer this letter, & the others which I have written to you by return of post ? - and answer them particularly else I shall be obliged to write to Mrs Baynes.

I find the great booksellers are engaged to sell Dibdins work; therefore ours will meet with no quarter from them - & I rather think the Reviewers are in their interest. Have you got a Cornelius Agrippa for me ? or any Asiatic books or Mss ?

I have lately had a very severe attack of my last years complaint, more severe while it lasted, than any former one. I had need to be every moment ready - so indeed have we all; for here is no continuing city, & every thing is uncertain.

Why don't you get the Dicty advertised on the wrapper of the Meth Mag.

With love to Mrs B & family, I am my dr Wm
Yours affy A Clarke

PS You may pay the cash for the Library, to Jones Bank in London so as to send me a Bill payable at Jone's Bank Manchester, - or whatever way you think best - only let me have it for the good man before Christmas; or I shall be obliged to borrow & pay it myself, & this would be to me, very uncomfortable.

How do the Israelites sell? I hope you will soon be obliged to print a new edition - I will then make it even better than it is. I have now on hand "A History of the Destruction of Jerusalem, giving not only a circumstantial account of the Transactions immediately preceeding & following after that Catastrophe, but also showing that the whole happened precisely according to the Predictions of our blessed Lord contained in the 24 Chapter of the gospel by St Math". This will be I think a very curious & interesting work - I have a good part of it written fair for a ... [press?]

To W Baynes
No 54 P N Row
London
Liverpool March 26 1803

My d B..

I think I may safely say that if my endless happiness had depended on it I could not have made more exertions to get this Dicty forward than I have done. I have been labouring at it as a christian should at his salvation with fear & trembling. The paper makers have used me ill, & had I been soft, would have imposed upon me - I returned 11 bundles of paper of a nice blue, & was obliged to wait their leisure to make the whole anew. However thro painful & extraordinary exertions I have nearly finished this vol. This day we have printed off the 264th page, & I have another form almost ready to lay on. I hope in about 8 days to have it finished, & perhaps this ... ... [one or two words obscured by a tear in the paper] I shall send you some by the coach if possible, let me know how many you wish to have sent in this way. The rest, I think must go by waggon, for it is too uncertain to send by [?] sea. Mr Jones spoke about having some copies which, I think should be kept here to save expense of carriage, & he can acct with you for them. I hope this vol will give you even more satisfaction than the other - having had better authorities, I have been enabled to give more correct & complete information, than with my scanty & incorrect materials, I could do in the first. At any rate, I have done all in my power to make it, what I'm satisfied it is; The best work on the subject that has yet been published on this plan, in any language or kingdom.

So it seems the engraver complains "I am too particular in noting every little fault". Did he never engrave for a judge before? Does he not know that a facsimile should be a perfect likeness? & that no little or great fault should appear in it. Had I not required the correction it has gone thro, it would have been a discredit to him - he should therefore be thankful to me - I could now shew him several things that could be better done - however I intend in any advertisement, to speak well both of him and his work.

Do you think you could get me a sett of the Bipont [or Biport] Classics? - I should have a complete set of some kind at hand - I have been frequently at a loss in this respect - once lately I was obliged to send far & near for a classic from which I was to insert a passage, & had to wait 3 or 4 days before I could get it. As soon as this vol is done I intend to take a fortnights rest perhaps I may see you in London.

With love to Mrs B
Yours A C.

To Mr Wm Baynes
54 Paternoster Row
London
Private
Mar 23 1826

My D friend

I had no time last evg. to write any thing but the few scratches, which I suppose you have seen this morng. The books in the four boxes & Tea chest I have looked over one by one - and have found many duplicates - many mutilated & imperfect most of them are robbed of their plates - 13 plates I found taken out of one small octavo vol. Several have whole tracts cut out of them & afterwards stitched up nicely in paper, that the robbery might not be perceived - one single vol. I found robbed of more that a hundred pages & the remainder neatly done up in paper! - several articles are totally gone, that were in the Ms catalogue you shewed me, & which I had marked to buy; but you then refused to separate any. I can mention 3 works, which I then marked in the catalogue. The works of Artin [or Austin - v bad scrawl] - those of Beverland [or Beverliano] & the Acadamie des Dames - These are all gone! others that I had marked, I have forgotten. Now, I do most solemnly assure you, that not one book, pamphlet, Title, leaf, picture, plate or even fingersbreadth of any article, has been retained by me. Every atom that was in the two great boxes & the Tea Chest, I most sueridly [?] returned to you. So the above articles which were all down in the Ms Catalogue and no doubt many others (besides the general robbery of the plates) are all gone, since you bought those books over unless the ms cat gave a false account. Now considering all this

1. The removal of various articles.
2. The mutilation of several works.
3. The abstraction of many plates without which in trade the books are of no value.
4. The number of Duplicates and
5. The destruction of the whole ms catalogue which was of great worth to whoever might purchase the books - I say, considering all this, the lot is, really deteriorated in its value:- at least, in my honest opinion, one half - I wish however to give you their worth - but I could not do it now - The money that I owed you for books, I intended should have stood against the works [?] I had prepared for you, & at your & John's desire. [?]

1. The Bibliograph. Dict The correcting improving and enlargement of which, have cost me much time, much pains & much money as I put a person into the musm [?] for nearly six months to help me.

2. A new edition of Sturm [?] greatly improved and brought down to the improvements of the present time and which John engaged to take.

3. A new edition of the Earl of Moreland ... ... ... ... ... [5 words obscured by paper fold] of the ... ... ... ... [4 or 5 words obscured by tear in the paper] Mss. These two last John intended to put in your work called The Cabinet and when everything was ready, then he refused to take them; unless John & Theo in printing [?] the Bib. Dict would give two years credit! and for Sturm after engaging me in the work, he told me he had ...[?] & a thousand copies of a small ... then in the market, & should not need mine - you may naturally suppose I felt myself very ill used yet when afterwards I learnt that you were rather pinched for cash - I need not say what I did - however anything in my power, I was & am willing to do. I might here add, that I never rec'd any recompense for the last edition of Fleury. Tho I had written the Preface over, rewritten one or two whole chapters & corrected the work throughout.-

I wrote yesterday to say that I could get you £35 or £40 if it would be of any service - with love to Mrs B I am yours

affy A.Clarke

I wrote to you about Icelandic books - you and the publicising [?] list. Hervara saga 0-15-0 De Sum Segrote [or regio ..] 8/- Specimen Icelandi 10/6 Antiq. Dan 0-16-0 Hill Goth 6/- you may pack them for me.