Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 10.djvu/284

 . Accordingly on 21 March 1699 he ‘set up teaching university learning in a great house at Manchester.’ Eleven of Frankland's students finished their course with him, and the names of twenty others who studied under him are known. His most distinguished student was Thomas Dixon [q. v.] James Clegg, M.D. (d. 1755), one of the transferred students, is our chief authority on the mode in which the academy was conducted. He describes Chorlton as a worthy successor to Frankland, and superior as a preacher. Matthew Henry speaks of his ‘extraordinary quickness and readiness of expression; a casuist, one of a thousand, a wonderful clear head.’ Chorlton now wanted assistance both in the pulpit and in the academy. Applications were made in 1699 to James Owen of Oswestry and Thomas Bradbury [q. v.], both of whom declined. Next year the services of James Coningham, M.A. [q. v.], were secured. The ‘provincial meeting’ of Lancashire ministers gave a public character to the academy, passing resolutions in its favour and raising funds for its support. At the summer assizes of 1703 Chorlton was presented for keeping a public academy, but through private influence the prosecution was stayed. Chorlton's labours were cut short in his prime. He suffered from stone, and died in his fortieth year on 16 May 1705; he was buried at the collegiate church (now the cathedral) on 19 May. He married on 8 March 1689 Hannah, daughter of Joseph Leeche. Chorlton published: 1. ‘Notes upon the Lord Bishop of Salisbury's four Discourses to the Clergy of his Diocess … relating to the Dissenters,’ &c., 1695, 4to (anon., but ascribed to Chorlton). 2. ‘The Glorious Reward of Faithful Ministers,’ &c., 1696, 4to (funeral sermon [Dan. xii. 3] for H. Newcome. Halley reckons it ‘one of the best of the nonconformist funeral sermons.’ Preface by John Howe). 3. Dedication to Lord Willoughby, and ‘Brief Account of the Life of the Author’ (anon.), prefixed to Henry Pendlebury's ‘Invisible Realities,’ &c., 1696, 12mo.

[Funeral sermon by J. Coningham, 1705; Clegg's Short Account of J. Ashe, 1736, p. 55; Monthly Repos. 1811, p. 518; Hunter's Life of Oliver Heywood, 1842, pp. 389, 397, 426; Halley's Lancashire Puritanism and Nonconformity, 1869, ii. 266, 313; Baker's Mem. of a Dissenting Chapel, 1884, pp. 17 sq., 60 sq., 140; Hunter's MS. in Add. MS. 24442; extracts from records of the Presbyterian Fund, per W. D. Jeremy.]  CHRISMAS. [See .]

CHRISTIAN, EDWARD (d. 1823), Downing professor of laws, was the son of Charles Christian of Mairlandclere in Cumberland, and brother of Fletcher Christian [q. v.] of the mutiny of the Bounty. The family of Christian Curwen of Cumberland was nearly connected with him, and he had been described as a 'far-away cousin' of the first Lord Ellenborough. He graduated at St. John's College, Cambridge, taking his degree of B.A. in 1779 (when he was third wrangler and second chancellor's medallist), and that of M.A. in 1782. These distinctions, combined with the fact that he was member's prizeman in 1780, ampbr justified his election to a fellowship at St. John's College in the latter year, a prize which he held until 1789. He is stated in Hardwicke's 'Preston' (p. 652) to have been the master of Hawkshead free granunar school, but this could only have been for a short time, as he entered himself at Gray's Inn on 5 July 1782, and was called to the bar on 25 Jan. 1786. For some time he went the northern circuit, but he disappointed the high expectations of future distinction which had been formed from his university career, and gradually sank so low as to become the subject of practical jokes. On the nomination of Francis Annesley, then master of Downing College, Cambridge, he obtained the post of professor of common law, and by a grace of that university the title of professor of laws of England was conferred upon him on 1 Nov. 1788. Christian was for many years one of the counsel in the long-contested case between the university and the heirs of Sir Jacob Downing, and in the charter of the new incorporation of Downing College in 1800 he was named the first professor of laws, and received a stipend of 200l. per annum. In October 1790 he put himself forward as a candidate for the position of assessor to the vice-chancellor, but lost the election by 121 votes to 129. He obtained, however, the place of professor of general polity and laws of England in the East India College in Hertforashire, and was for a long time a commissioner of bankrupts. When the place of registrar of the Bediord level became vacant in 1805, Christian was one of the candidates, but after a severe contest, in the course of which the competitors came to blows, he was declared on a scrutiny to have been beaten by one vote. His last preferment was the chief-justiceship of the isle of Ely, a preferment which was abolished in November 1806, and this poet, of the annual value of 155l., was conferred upon him by Dr. Yorke, the then occupant of the see. Christian died at Downing College Cam-