harmony, and we have frequent additions. Last Lord's day sennight I baptized thirteen, and others stand ready. Blessed be the Lord! My strain of preaching is considerably altered; much less elegant, but more intended for conviction, for awakening the conscience, and carrying home truths with power to the heart. to the heart. Our congregation is plain and serious, with a sprinkling of genteel people; but none in the church: and, indeed, if any saving fruit has been reaped from my ministry, it has been almost entirely among the middling and lower classes.

Yesterday we had our second jubilee anniversary of the Bible Society for Leicestershire, a happy, harmonious meeting, with one little exception; On the church side, several clergymen spoke; but no dissenter. I augur the most glorious and important consequences from the Bible Society. I have just finished the perusal of Mr. Scott's answer to Bishop Tomline. He has demolished the bishop entirely. I find but little in Mr. Scott's views against which I can object. It is somewhat loosely written, but full of argument, instruction, and piety. There is a trait of egotism in the good man which had better been avoided. He quotes almost entirely from his own works. It is well for the bishop his rank excuses him from replying to it. He would make a miserable figure. I thank you for your favourable opinion of my discourse. It is flat; but if it be in the least adapted to do good, I ought to rest satisfied. I am much

rejoiced to hear of your intention of visiting Leices-
ter. You must spend a sabbath with me. I heard
Mr. twice, [as he passed] through Leicester:
he is a young man of some talents, of a good deal
of brilliancy, but miserably defective in simplicity.
I am afraid a vicious taste is gaining ground, both
among preachers and hearers: all glare and point,
little to the understanding, and nothing to the
heart. But my paper admonishes me to close,
with my best respects to Mrs. Phillips, Miss W
Mr. and Mrs. Beddome, &c., in which Mrs. H. joins

me.

I remain, my dear Sir,

Your affectionate and constant Friend,

XXXVI.

ROBERT HALL.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER TO MRS. ANGAS,

NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE.

Dear Madam,

Leicester, May 8, 1812.

Though I have nothing particular to communicate, I knew not how to let Mrs. O. proceed to Newcastle without dropping a line to acknowledge your kind letter, and present my gratitude for the interest you are pleased to take in my welfare. The esteem of the pious and excellent of the earth, I always consider as a very distinguished privilege; though the possession of it is not unmingled with mortification at the

consideration of my deserving it so little, and my perfect conviction, that did they know me more they would esteem me less. It ought to humble most persons, to reflect, that for a large portion of the respect in which they are held, they are indebted to ignorance; to the necessary unacquaintance with each other's hearts. The Great Supreme is the only being from whom nothing is to be feared on this head; the only one who may be safely trusted with the worst secrets of our hearts. "His mercy endureth for ever." He also is able, and only he, to correct the obliquities he discovers. The Leicester news you probably hear from other quarters. I go so little into society, that the report must be strong and loud which reaches me.

XXXVII.

TO MR. NEWTON BOSWORTH, CAMBRIDGE.

My dear Sir,

Leicester, April 23, 1813.

I am ashamed of not having earlier answered the kind letter I received from Mrs. B., for which I beg you will present my hearty acknowledgements. I must also thank you for your book on the Accidents of Life. It is a most entertaining production, and will, I hope, be extensively useful in preventing or remedying a large portion of human calamity. It is plainly dictated by the

same spirit that breathed in a Howard and a Hanway, and will entitle you to a portion of their reward.

As I hope to see Cambridge in the course of this summer, you will not expect from me a very long letter. I recollect, with fervent gratitude, the kindness I there met with; mixed with much shame, to think it should have been lavished on such an undeserving object. When I recollect the course of my ministry at Cambridge, I feel continual matter of condemnation. • Do you preach better now, then?' you will perhaps say. In one respect I do not preach half so well :-I do not bestow near so much attention on my composition: but I trust I do insist on more interesting and evangelical topics. A greater savour of Jesus Christ does, I trust, breathe through my ministry, in which it was formerly greatly deficient.

But why do I speak so much of myself?-We last Monday held our annual [meeting of the] Bible Society. It was more numerously attended than ever, and delightful to see clergymen and dissenting ministers sit on the same seat, and ardently engaged in promoting the same object, with perfect unanimity. We cannot say of the past times, that they were better than the present. I think the age is greatly improving it must improve, in proportion as the grand catholicon is more universally applied.

*

It would have given me great pleasure to have

seen you this summer at Leicester: I am sorry your letter indicates no intention of that sort.

I am much delighted with reading a new translation of Mosheim's Commentaries on the Affairs of the Christians before Constantine. It appears to me one of the most instructive theological publications that has appeared for a multitude of years. With kind remembrances to Mrs. B. and all inquiring friends,

I remain, my dear Sir,

Your affectionate Friend,
ROBERT HALL.

P.S. We have had an irreparable loss in the removal of dear Mr. Robinson. It has been a most affecting event, and has left a chasm which can never be filled up. Last Wednesday I endeavoured to improve the event by a suitable discourse.

XXXVIII.

[When Mr. Hall visited Cambridge, in the summer of 1813, he preached a sermon to the young persons belonging to the congregation there with which he had formerly been connected. The next day they assembled, and addressed to him a letter of thanks, to which the following is his reply:-]