such a pastor, we have sustained a deprivation of no common magnitude; but, while we lament the painful separation which has taken place, we desire to mingle, with feelings of sorrow on our own account, those of sincere thanksgiving on yours. We rejoice that God has restored you; and we pray that your health and strength may long be preserved; and that He, who appoints the bounds of our habitation, will direct you to whatever place may be most conducive to your permanent health and happiness. As frequently as possible, we hope you will favour us with your friendly visits. The real and ardent friendship which subsists betwixt us, it is our sincere desire, should continue through our mortal existence, and gather fresh strength by every future interview; and we feel no hesitation in believing, that it will survive the grave, and be perpetuated to immortal ages.

"In the choice of your successor, we wish to be guided by the motives you recommend, and the principles you have so frequently inculcated; and we entreat an interest in your prayers, that the great Head of the Church will supply us with one zealous for his honour, and qualified to feed the people of his charge with the bread of immortal life.

66

Now, dear brother, with the greatest affection, 'we commend you to God, and to the good word of his grace.'

"Signed at the desire, and on behalf, of the whole church, this 16th day of March, 1806.

"WILLIAM HOLLICK.”

PART II.

FROM THE PERIOD OF MR. HALL'S RESIGNATION OF THE PASTORAL OFFICE AT CAMBRIDGE, TO HIS REMOVAL FROM LEICESTER TO BRISTOL.

AFTER leaving the Fish Ponds, Mr. Hall went to the house of a relation who resided at Enderby, a village near Leicester. He preached occasionally in the neighbourhood, previously to his accepting the pastoral office at Harvey Lane Meeting. About this time he married the present Mrs. Hall, whom he first met at the house of the Rev. Mr. Edmonds, then pastor of the Church at Clipstone. The particulars attending these events I leave to his biographer, as they did not come immediately under my notice. I think that more than two years elapsed before I saw him again. He had been engaged to preach at Dunstable, in Bedfordshire, which I visited for the purpose of meeting him. His text on the Sabbath morning was 12th of John, 26th verse: in the afternoon, he expounded the fourth Psalm. We spent the evening alone, at his request, as he was anxious to receive a particular account of his friends at Cambridge: there was scarcely an individual about

whom he did not appear interested. A considerable time having elapsed since his last visit to Cambridge, my object was to persuade him to go there, which he promised to do as soon as he could. summon sufficient resolution. I breakfasted with him the following morning. On my rising to leave, he would not suffer me to go, but earnestly requested that I would spend more time with him, and drive him in my gig to Arnsby, where he was engaged to preach on Tuesday. It was too great a temptation for me to resist and I consented. He was then a confirmed smoker, and had his pipe put into the gig for the purpose of lighting it at the first turnpike. We left Dunstable about twelve o'clock, and renewed our conversation upon the state of the congregation at Cambridge. Mr. Hall was succeeded in the pastoral office by Mr. now Dr. Cox, for whom he entertained the highest regard. "Sir, I often have the scene before me: I could always tell when the people were pleased with my preaching." He then personally alluded to a few who were remarkable in their manner of hearing. "There is Mr., I could always tell when he was pleased: did you ever observe, sir?-he would bend his head forward, accompanied with a nod of approbation, and a smile of satisfaction. And there was Mr. he used to raise himself, and elevate his neck and chin, as if he would not lose a word. And there was old Mr. who sat to the right, he was a very

pious man, sir; I always knew when I said any thing savoury; he would immediately stand up,

and move his mouth and his lips (describing the motion) as if he were chewing the cud, and the words were sweet in his mouth. O, sir, I could always tell when my people were pleased, and when the subject told, from their manner of hearing." He then delineated their characters, dispositions and circumstances; and made particular inquiry respecting the prosperity of the church, the class of subjects selected by the minister, his style of preaching, &c.—and concluded with a warm panegyric: "They were an amiable people: I often think of them, sir; they have been very kind to me; I was sorry to be obliged to leave them."

The road where we travelled was new to me, but familiar to him. "Sir," said he, "this is the great Holyhead road." His knowledge of the country was very accurate; and he took great delight in explaining the different directions of the roads. "Sir, I will tell you a good plan which you may adopt when you are travelling. I always imagine myself an insect upon a map, looking one way and then another, as if it were inquiring the way, before it crawled along: by this method I have found, at the end of my journey, that I had a complete map in my mind, with the relative situation of all the principal towns and gentlemen's seats and you will find the plan very amusing, especially when you are travelling by a stage-coach, and have not interesting company."

*

Speaking of * * a work of considerable

celebrity, on his admiring the richness of the

thoughts, I said, the sentences are so involved, and the periods so long, that after reading them over repeatedly, I could not understand them. I instanced a gentleman, who, though possessed of considerable powers of mind, experienced the same difficulty. 'I never have that difficulty with either of your sermons, or with your printed compositions.' He replied, "I can tell you the reason of that, sir: I am so uncommonly stupid, that, unless I see a subject from beginning to end as plain as a pike-staff, I cannot explain it to others. Sir, some people think I know a great deal, but I am very ignorant; I see that much more is to be learnt in every department of knowledge: new prospects continually open upon me, and exhibit a boundless field for inquiry," &c. &c.

We came to a town where we dined. He said, "Now, sir, if you please, I should like to call on Mr. ——, a dissenting minister, after dinner, and have a pipe. He is a very eccentric old gentle

; but if he should hear that I have passed through without calling to see him, he will be very much hurt, and think I have slighted him. Old people are very sensitive on that point, sir." I said, 'Sir, the only objection is, that we shall not be able to reach Northampton to-night, unless you determine not to remain with him long.' He promised that he would not; but, knowing his habits, I was afraid of being detained. However we called, and found the old gentleman at home. He did not at first recollect Mr. Hall's person. Mr. Hall broke the silence by saying, "Mr. Greene