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of my fortune. I had not a friend in the world who offered to advance me five pounds in my exigency: and I verily believe, that, if the success or failure of my application had depended upon it, no one would have been found able and willing to advance money sufficient for my expenses. When my father had granted his consent, I had no expectation, and perhaps, after all the vexation which my ill-behaviour had caused him, I had no fair reason to expect, that he would give any thing further. But with this 687. I bought needful books; boarded myself for some time at Boston; procured suitable clothes; paid all travelling expenses, and those attending my ordination; and entered on my curacies possessed of twenty guineas,-a sum which, at that time, was indeed to me considerable. On such trivial incidents do the most important events depend. Without this lamb, and the sheep which in this way I acquired, as far as I can see, my whole plan of entering into holy orders must have failed."

From a series of my father's letters to two of his sisters, extending from within one month after his quitting Braytoft, in April, 1772, till near the close of his life, for which I am indebted to my esteemed relative, the Rev. Thomas Webster, I am happy here to confirm, what I before took occasion to infer, the speedy revival of sentiments of filial duty in his breast, whatever irritation he might at the time have felt and expressed. Not a sentence of a disrespectful kind towards his father occurs in these free and confidential communications; but they contain many which express great respect and regard. May 17, 1772, he says, "In my actions to my father, I never

offended; in my words, I have too often: but my chief desire is to avoid that for the future."-September 18, 1773: "Surely nothing can afford more satisfaction to the considerate breast, than to comfort the heart of an aged parent." This indeed is spoken with especial reference to his mother.-January 5, 1774; of his father and mother: "May all the blessings we have each received from them (perhaps not the most inconsiderable when the most unpalatable), be tenfold repaid them, here or hereafter, by the God of mercies!"-July 20, 1774: "To give pain or uneasiness to others I hardly bear: but to give pain premeditatedly to a parent, even by innocent conduct, wounds my sensibility, and staggers my resolution, even where I think my duty is at stake."-What a tender concern he felt for his father, when he had himself become more decidedly religious, we may have future opportunities of discerning.

Indeed justice requires the remark, that this whole series of letters, from the very first, conveys a more favourable impression, than his own report would have led us to expect, of his social character. The constant, copious, and confidential correspondence kept up with his sisters would, of itself, be a very favourable indication upon this subject. But, in addition to this, the letters throughout breathe strong affection to all his family, and show him to have taken a lively interest in their concerns; and to have been zealous to serve them, as well as qualified to do so, by great acuteness and sound sense.

CHAPTER III.

FROM HIS ORDINATION TO HIS

MARRIAGE.

We now proceed to contemplate the subject of our memoirs in his new and higher character of a minister of the established church.

"After the ordination," he says, "having officiated on two Sundays at Martin, in almost an empty church, (for service was very seldom performed there,) I removed to Stoke Goldington, and entered on my new curacies: boarding with a parishioner for twenty guineas a year.

"My regular services were at Stoke and Weston Underwood but my rector was subdean of Lincoln: and, when he went thither into residence, he procured other supplies for Weston, and I officiated at Gayhurst, where George Wrighte, Esq. had a seat. This soon brought me acquainted with the family. Mr. W. was a descendant of Sir Nathan Wrighte, Lord Keeper in the reign of Queen Anne: and Mrs. W. was the only daughter of Sir Joseph Jekyll, Master of the Rolls, by Lady Anne, daughter of the Earl of Halifax. They were wealthy and liberal, and lived in a most hospitable manner. They had been married several years, but had only one son, quite a child, who was considered as heir to large estates possessed by relatives, who had no children.

"Having several times dined at the house on

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Sundays, after my second service, I was repeatedly invited to dine with parties on other occasions: and, notwithstanding my rusticity, I received so many invitations from different quarters, that I was compelled to be almost rude, in order to secure time for those studies to which I now applied with indefatigable zeal.

"After a time Mr. W. employed me to put his library in order, and to make a catalogue of the books; which, as consisting of the libraries of both families, were numerous and valuable, but in a state of the utmost confusion. I had no pecuniary remuneration; but a considerable number of duplicates, sufficient to recompense my labour. This service I contrived to render without much entrenching on my hours of study.

"Thus commenced an acquaintance, which produced important effects on my future life.

"Soon after my ordination I learned, that clergymen, not educated at the university, might enter at Cambridge, and, without residence, might after nine years take the degree of bachelor of divinity. This was represented to me as one step towards distinctions and advantages, to which I was sufficiently alive. Having therefore obtained from a relation a letter to Dr. Caryll, master of Jesus College, I went to Cambridge; and, on exhibiting in several circles my stock of Latin and Greek, now somewhat increased, I met with that kind and degree of applause, which abundantly elated my inexperienced heart. I then entered at Clare Hall, where my name stood for several years but though the expense did not much exceed four guineas a year, when I had a family, I found it

more than I could conveniently spare: and, my expectation and desire of preferments and distinctions being superseded by earnestness in the grand concerns of vital religion, I took my name off the boards. In this, I have for some years doubted whether I acted wisely."

Alluding to this visit to Cambridge, he says in a letter of June 26, 1773, "My father, I doubt not, has informed you of what I did at Cambridge. If it pleases God to prolong my life, I shall, I trust, reap advantage, and be enabled to do more good than I could otherwise have done."

Some other topics connected with his progress may here properly receive illustration from his printed account of himself, and from his private letters.

His studies, as they were at this time the object nearest his heart, may be first noticed. "No sooner," he tells us in the Force of Truth, "was I fixed in a curacy, than with close application I sat down to the study of the learned languages, and such other subjects as I considered most needful in order to lay the foundation of my future advancement. And oh that I were now as diligent in serving God, as I was then in serving self and ambition! I spared no pains, I shunned, as much as I well could, all acquaintance and diversions, and retrenched from my usual hours of sleep, that I might keep more closely to this business."

My memory much deceives me if I have not repeatedly heard my father state, that, at the period of his visit to Cambridge, about nine months after his ordination, he had read through the entire works of Josephus in the original Greek: which would of