On this subject he thus expresses himself: "The advantages of a just and appropriate elocution in the duties of preaching and praying, cannot be too highly valued, or too diligently cultivated, if we consider the unspeakable importance of those duties; and the difference between a cold and monotonous, or hasty utterance, and the enunciation which marks the affection of a heart that believeth unto salvation,' and is strongly impressed with the greatness of the duty in which it is engaged."

With a view to elevate the social intercourse and habits of his Clergy, he recommended monthly meetings in the different Archdeaconries for conference on subjects of professional and learned in

terest.

"Habits of duty in our profession," he says, "are, in themselves, habits of holiness. But as a further aid to the success of his ministry, and to his own growth in grace, I know nothing so desirable to the Minister of a parish, especially to our younger brethren, as a monthly or quarterly meeting of serious and devout Ministers, anxious to learn and ready to communicate. Such meetings were strongly recommended by Lord Bacon, Bishop Burnet, and Archbishop Tenison.

The monthly meetings I recommend to be for prayer, for reading the Scriptures, and for religious and literary conversation; the quarterly meetings to be accompanied with the public service of the Church, and a sermon."

He also established a week-day evening lecture for the special benefit of the labouring and industrious classes, to be delivered for sixteen successive weeks at churches in two principal places in each of the Archdeaconries.*

* The following Rules of the Ultra-Ayron Clerical Society are introduced as a specimen of the mode in which the Bishop's advice was acted on.

At a Meeting of the Clergy of the Upper and Lower Deaneries of Ultra-Ayron, October 6. 1807,

RESOLVED,

1. That our Meeting be called a Clerical Society.

2. That we meet on the first Wednesday in every Month during the Summer; and Quarterly from Michaelmas to Lady-Day.

3. That the object of our Society, or the purpose for which we meet, be to edify one another, and to promote the success of our Ministry, by friendly and professional communications.

4. That a book be provided for entering the Minutes of our Meeting, and a Secretary chosen; that the names of the Members be called over by the Secretary at every Meeting, and then the business of the day to begin with reading the Word of God and prayer.

5. That every Member of our Society, whether he be a housekeeper or a lodger, has, or will endeavour to have, family prayer at home.

6. That every Member of our Society has, or will endeavour to have, a Sunday School in his parish, or in the parishes of which he has the care.

7. That every Member of our Society does and must faithfully observe the 75th Canon of our Church.

8. That every Member of our Society be able to give account at every Meeting of some book that he has read during the preceding month; and that we be ready to lend one another books.

9. That brotherly admonition be administered and received in the spirit of love, without giving or taking offence.

10. That whatever passes at our Meetings be confidential, and not to be reported elsewhere.

11. That if any Member violate any one of the solemn resolutions or rules of our Society, notice thereof may be sent to the Secretary, for him to lay the matter before the Society at a subsequent Meeting.

12. That the Reverend R. Evans, Vicar of Lanbadarn-fawr, be appointed Secretary to our Clerical Society.

13. That any future Meeting, when no fewer than three fourths of the Members are present, be competent to revise or add to the preceding resolutions.

14. That at every Meeting, a subject, a text of Scripture, or some useful question in Theology, be proposed, to be considered and discussed at our next Meeting; and that every Member of our Society be expected to bring an essay, or at least come prepared to speak, on the subject to be discussed.

CHAP. XIX.

THE BISHOP'S MODE OF LIFE IN LONDON AND AT DUR

THE dispositions and tastes of the Bishop, the bent of his talents, and his studious habits, rendered frequent attendance in Parliament irksome to him but while in Town, during the Session, he made a point of being present in the House of Lords whenever questions came on affecting the interests of Religion and Morality, or those of the Established Church. From speaking in public he shrank at all times, and although he did on some few occasions deliver his sentiments upon momentous subjects, and in strong language, in his place in Parliament, yet such were his diffidence and modesty, that the effort never failed to cost him much previous conflict. In his absence, his proxy was usually entrusted to some Peer whose principles and opinions accorded with his own.

The time, however, which he thus passed in London, was actively employed in the support or promotion of objects of a charitable or professional

character, or in literary studies and researches. The transfer of his person to the gay and busy Metropolis made but little change in the prevailing bent of his thoughts and pursuits, which were usually revolving around some question of theological interest, or of public or private duty; and his habits of temperance were so strict, that he was at his studies early and late without suffering from the effects of severe application.

In one respect, however, he did painfully feel its consequences, and that was in his eyesight, which gradually became so much impaired, that during the last twenty years of his life he was constantly obliged to wear a green shade. The weakness of his eyes rendered preaching a painful effort to him. Neither had nature endowed him with oratorical gifts. His voice, though remarkable sweet, was low; he had not much of fancy or imagination, and the calm equanimity of his mind unfitted him for acting with power on large assemblies. He took his turn as a Prebendary at Durham, and he occasionally composed and delivered sermons on public occasions. Thus, in the year 1804, he preached before the Royal Humane Society; in 1807, before the Lords spiritual and temporal in Westminster Abbey; and in 1808, before the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. The time which he spent at Durham, to keep residence, was employed much in the same studious manner as in London,