of a great and generous mind. Being based upon religious feeling, it was quickened by early recollections-heightened by mutual admiration-sustained by proofs of reciprocal good-will, and sundered, for a few months only, by death, to be cemented anew in a happier state of being.

An indication that Mr. Drew's writings had attracted the notice of the then Mr. Clarke, will be found at page 157. A gentleman writing to Mr. Drew, March 16th, observes, "Two days ago I received a letter from my friend Adam Clarke, who mentions their having elected you a Member of the Manchester Philological Society, and says, he wishes to encourage you in your literary pursuits." This intimation was followed by the subjoined letters, written upon one sheet.

"To Mr. Samuel Drew, St. Austell.

"Manchester, 11th April, 1804.

"SIR,

At a meeting of the Philological Society, held on Friday evening, the 6th instant, the President, Vice-Presidents, and Members, from the high sense they entertain of the merit and importance of your late work, entitled "An Essay on the Immateriality and Immortality of the Human Soul," agreed to dispense with the usual formalities, in your case, and unanimously elected you an honorary member of the said society.

"By order of the President, Vice-Presidents, and Members, I have the honor to be, with much esteem,

"MY HONEST FRIEND,

It is a long time since I had the opportunity of asking you (in any form) how you did. I have read your answer to Uncle Polwhele, and think it one of the best pieces of the kind I have met with for many years. I admire your piece on the Immateriality of the Soul, but am not satisfied that you are always right. I have often objected to some of your positions; not because I think them false, but because I think them insufficient to support the edifice to which they stand either as buttresses or abutments. You have done nearly as much as can be done; but I am far from thinking that your point is proved. If the doctrine can be demonstrated, it must be by some new mode of proof which has not yet been adduced. I shall rejoice to hear from you at any time. Give my love to all my old companions in St. Austell.

"I am, my dear friend,

"Yours affectionately,

"A CLARKE."

you

P. S.-If you you publish another edition of your Immateriality, &c., let me know— perhaps I might be able to help you a little, were it only to shew some objections to your system, of which you are, perhaps, not aware. There is no point in universal science I should rejoice more heartily to see demonstrated, than that which you have undertaken to prove. The opposite is a degrading and uncomfortable doctrine.

To each member of this literary society was presented an engraved diploma, printed on vellum, headed with an appropriate emblematical vignette. Some time after the receipt of the preceding letters, Mr. Drew was gratified by being put in possession of the following compliment to his talents and application.

Manchester,

THE

6th April, 1804.

PHILOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF MANCHESTER,

Instituted the 23rd of September,

MDCCCIII,

For the cultivation of LITERATURE in general, and the diffusion of USEFUL KNOWLEDGE, Have this day Elected SAMUEL DREW An Associate in their Literary Labours. In testimony whereof

This Diploma

IS GIVEN UNDER OUR HANDS AND SEAL,

ADAM CLARKE, President.

JOHN FOX,

W. CRITCHLEY,

Secre-
taries.

JAMES HAWKES, Vice Pre-
WILLIAM JOHNS,sidents.

JOSEPH BARBER,

This Society, which owed its existence chiefly to Dr. Clarke, and was begun under favourable auspices, if it had been carried on with the same ability and spirit with which it commenced, might, at the present time, have been an honour to Manchester, and a living monument to the memory of the Doctor. His removal, and that of several of its most influential members, from that place, was probably the cause of its decline and ultimate extinction,

The year 1805 was an important era in Mr. Drew's life. Hitherto literary pursuits had been the employment of those vacant hours which his mechanical avocations afforded: henceforward they became his daily business. His allegiance to St. Crispin was now dissolved; and the awl and lapstone were exchanged for the pen.

Dr. Thomas Coke, who claims the honourable distinction of being the founder of the Wesleyan Methodist Missions, was, in the early part of this year, soliciting assistance in the western counties for prosecuting the missionary work. Here he became personally acquainted with Mr. Drew; and, being much pleased with his conversation, made to him certain proposals, which, after some deliberation, were accepted. In reference to this agreement, we quote Mr. Drew's own words, in his life of this gentleman.

"Very early in the year 1805, I became more particularly acquainted with Dr. Coke than I had been before. At this time his Commentary on the Bible was verging towards a close, and his History of the West Indies had acquired an embodied form. Being constantly engaged in soliciting support for the missions, and finding their claims upon his exertions to increase daily, he lodged some papers in my hands, requesting me to examine them with attention, to notice defects, to expunge redundancies, and to give, on some occasions, a new feature to expression. All this was accordingly done; and in many instances my recommendations were fully adopted. This intercourse subsisted for several years; and I received from Dr. Coke a pecuniary remuneration, in proportion to the time that was expended in his service.

"To what extent this assistance grew, the world is not interested in knowing. The death of Dr. Coke has made me the sole depository of the secret,' and it is my full intention, at present, that it shall perish with me.' Though one is a resident of time, and

the other an inhabitant of eternity; - - though the body of one still breathes in Cornwall, and that of the other consumes in some solitary cavern beneath the Indian ocean, the compact still remains undissolved, and will probably so remain, until our spirits meet in an eternal world."

It was at first intended that Mr. Drew should reside in London.* In consequence of his reluctance to leave Cornwall, this was subsequently overruled, and he continued in his former place of abode. The precise nature of the compact between Mr. D. and Dr. Coke, though never explicitly stated, is scarcely a matter of uncertainty; nor can it be a breach of

• Upon the subject of his connexion with Dr. Coke, and removal to London, Mr. D. consulted, among others, his friend Mr. Clarke whose characteristic answer exhibits the unreservedness of friendship, and the devotedness of a Christian.

"MY DEAR SIR,

"London, October 24, 1805.

"London I consider the first place under the sun.― So much do I love it, after long acquaintance, that I should prefer a garret and hammock in it, with one meal per diem, to the most elegant building and finest fare in any part of the globe which would preclude my access to this wonderful metropolis. I have travelled the streets of London at all hours, both of the day and night, and was never yet molested, or ever lost even a pocket handkerchief or a tooth-pick. The good women, it is true, have often accosted me in the most friendly manner, and caught me by the arm; but as I walk at an immense sling,about five miles an hour, they soon found it too difficult to keep up with a man who seemed to have set out on a walk round the globe; and who, for ought they could tell, was destitute of speech.

"The London people are, in general, very reserved and shy of access;' but when men of worth get acquainted with men of