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no recollection of his writing for any of the Latin or Greek prizes, though he was so well qualified for the undertaking. The fact is, that his mind at this period took another direction; he began to bend his attention to the great subject of theology,--not merely to an examination of its external, but chiefly of its internal evidences; and it is no wonder that the stupendous scheme of redemption, and the glorious prospects of immortality which it opens to our view, so deeply interested his feelings, as to render him comparatively indifferent to all other pursuits. Under these impressions, he occasionally frequented Mr. Simeon's Church in the town of Cambridge, who was a Fellow of the same College, and attracted considerable attention by his extraordinary zeal. He formed a personal acquaintance with him, and gradually acquired more extensive and spiritual views of the Christian faith. Antecedent to this period, I have no reason to think that he had ever been guilty of any gross immoralities; he was, allowing for the occasional indiscretions of youth, a correct character, and conscientiously attended to his morning and evening devotions. He inherited a strong attachment to the Church of England, being brought up with a reverential regard for her episcopal constitution, under the instruction and example not only of his re

spected father, but also of a venerable grandfather, who was Vicar of St. Martyn's, in Shropshire, and with whom he was in the constant habit of spending his vacations. The Rector of Loppington, in the same county, was also his uncle, who had the credit, or, in the estimation of some, the discredit of being an evangelical minister. He was a very excellent man, of great suavity of temper and amenity of manners, and his ministerial conduct was calculated to give no offence, except what a faithful promulgation of "the truth as it is in Jesus," will more or less produce. I well remember that in his scholastic days he held the personal piety of this beloved relative in great respect, and used to defend him whenever he heard (what was rarely the case) any reflections cast upon his character. moral instincts of our fallen nature are on the side of religion, and his example left upon his juvenile and inexperienced mind a vague and indefinite sort of impression of its transcendent excellency and importance. Whilst his uncle's unaffected singularity, the singularity only of superior sanctity to many of his clerical brethren around him, kindled in his breast a strong predilection in his favour-this predilection was not (as I have already intimated) illumined by a clear discernment of the divine principles from which emanated the piety which he held in such

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veneration. I have reason, however, to think, upon a retrospective view of this period of his life, that these early impressions and associations might have had a secret and imperceptible influence in subduing those prejudices against vital religion so inherent in the human heart, and in preparing his mind to contemplate Mr. Simeon's character (though enveloped at this time in a cloud of prejudices) in a favourable light, and to hold in respect his ardent piety,notwithstanding some constitutional constitutional peculiarities which gave, during the early state of his ministry, a repulsive appearance to it. He distinguished, however, between the Christian and the man, and even represented to him what was exceptionable in the latter in some strong and admirable strictures which he sent him, and which were received with Christian humility, and expressions of the warmest gratitude. Under the ministry and example of this worthy servant of Christ, who has long since survived reproach, and conciliated by his conduct the esteem of those who once misunderstood and misrepresented his character,-the subject of this Memoir acquired a deeper and more humiliating conviction of the fall of man, of his moral inability to renovate the lapsed powers of his nature, and the consequent necessity of the aid of the Holy Spirit, whose sole prerogative it is

to convince of sin, and to enthrone Christ in the heart, as the only "hope of glory." From this time to the termination of his life, he was indeed a truly religious character. His light shone more and more to the perfect day!

During the latter part of his undergraduateship, I and my friend Mr. Brown (who afterwards went to India, and was Provost of Calcutta,) strongly importuned him to write for the Norrisian Prize; the subject was on "the literary beauties of the Scriptures," and the compositions were to be delivered on the following morning. He of course objected the want of time, but we would not admit of any excuse, and in the course of the same day Mr. B. and myself alternately wrote what he dictated to us without any previous preparation. There was no leisure for revision or improvement, as it was just finished within the prescribed period; and after a due examination of the comparative merits of the different essays, the prize was adjudged to this vivâ voce production. It was, indeed, the emanation of a fine intellect; it flowed without effort, from a mind, not only enriched with classical stores, but irradiated by the greater light of revelation. The subject was congenial to his present incipient state of piety; the "sun of righteousness" had shone with the light of life into the innermost recesses of his soul, and

kindled there such a hallowed flame of devotion as called up his mental powers into vigorous exercise. If his paramount regard to the sacred work of the ministry, combined with infirmity of health, had not diverted him from scientific pursuits, he would soon have acquired a high reputation in the republic of letters. He was endued with a sound, discriminating intellect, a strong retentive memory, and a splendid imagination; he had, in the language of a literary friend, "abilities capable of any thing."

Having taken his Bachelor's degree, he accepted, after some interval of relaxation for the benefit of his health, the Curacy of St. Mary's, at Leicester. He was reluctant, at first, to comply with this application, but Mr. Robinson, the Vicar, over-ruled his scruples by his friendly importunity,-offering to accommodate him in his Parsonage, and assuring him, at the same time, that he should only require such ministerial aid as was consistent with the delicate state of his constitution, and agreeable to his own wishes. He continued in this situation about two years, and always spoke of the connection with gratitude and pleasure, as having afforded him an opportunity of contemplating a living portraiture of an able, judicious, and zealous minister of Christ. Mr. Robinson was, indeed, formed to be an eminent parish priest by his

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