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the place to him of an affectionate guardian as well as mistress.

I heard many other anecdotes concerning the Blacks which deeply interested me; but I must not omit to mention some other things which do not concern them. One house, where we visited, was remarkable in stateliness and show beyond all others. The West India merchant who owned it, had, I believe, been a ship-carpenter. A successful prize, taken by a privateer in which he was concerned, made his wealth seem great, even amongst the wealthy. On the day we dined there, a large party was assembled, and the dinner was most sumptuous. I never shall forget the beautiful simplicity with which the mistress of the house said, "God has been merciful to us; in this very house where I now sit at the head of the table, I was but a few years ago the cook, and my husband worked as a carpenter, and therefore I hope the ladies and gentlemen whom I now receive, will consider that all they see around is intended to do honour to them, though it is far beyond what would be suitable to me." My dear mother was much moved by this. I felt my heart. beat as she answered, with her perfect yet charming dignity, "Madam, you would confer honour on any rank, and not take honour from it."

The most pleasing part of my Liverpool journey was the aspect in which it placed my father. It was

delightful to listen to the stores of varied knowledge he poured out in conversation with my mother, and often to me, concerning the variety of new things which we saw around us, and it was quite an example to watch his continued industry in gaining the utmost information from each of the many objects that surrounded him, the scenery, the varied effects of light, atmosphere, and colouring, the beauty of the trees, architecture, and the various historical reminiscences. My father looked minutely at the results of different systems of cultivation in the country through which we passed, the plans of road-making, and their respective merits; he also always observed the rate of driving, and the comparative speed of horses in summer and winter, as well as at different hours of the day. I have often thought what an immense amount of practical information my father accumulated by these habits, though they were often annoying to me at the time, as many a tale told me by my dear mother, and the observation of many a beautiful scene was interrupted by his setting me to count the foot-falls of the horse, or the recurrence of the mile-stones.

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How much reason I have since had to be thankful to my father for many little details of information which he was in this manner the means of my picking up. It is true my mind seemed more elevated and expanded, as it delighted itself in the beauty of

my dear mother's conversation; yet, on the other hand, the accurate knowledge imparted by my father, if it did not equally awake the heart, yet furnished the intelligence with stores for the practical utilities of life. Knowledge is the treasury from which we are enabled to supply our own wants and those of others; but knowledge can never be available unless it be definite and accurate. How I have ever increasingly felt the importance and value of this habit of accuracy in my father!

PART V.

1792-1793.

“Truth, which doth only judge itself, teacheth that the inquiry of truth, which is the love-making or wooing of it, the knowledge of truth, which is the presence of it, and the belief of truth, which is the enjoying of it, is the sovereign good of human nature." BACON. “And a sign shall be mercifully given to the doubt of love, which shall be refused to the doubt of indifference." ROBERTSON.

SEVERAL months have now slipped away, during which I have been prevented by illness from going on with this autobiography, and whilst it is my earnest desire to do so, I feel, even after this brief interval, that it is no light thing to continue my work.

At the end of seventy-five years, it is almost overwhelming to turn back to the vivid memory of the past, for though in age our perceptions become blunted, and that which is around us excites perhaps no keen emotion, and the converse of the heart is naturally amongst those whom it has known and revered in years long passed, yet we more naturally dwell amongst the anticipations and glorified views of which our earthly friendships were the germ, than on the literal recollections of what that germ

was in its earthly envelope. Hence that view of the Church triumphant, which is the real rest, and hope, and animating joy of the aged; in which, though memory is not without pain, it is merged into nearer and brightening hope. Widely different is it when the mind of set purpose leaves that celestial region, and returns to the scenes that have passed, and the inhabitants who once peopled them. This converse is no longer with the living; we traverse the vast cities of the dead; we seem again to listen to voices we shall hear no more on earth; we look upon countenances no mortal eye shall ever more behold; and as we recollect the motley train of good and evil in which they were connected with ourselves, we are like one traversing a vast cemetery, where the heart tremblingly says to herself, "Alas! in this vast multitude, Thou, Lord, alone knowest which amongst these sleepers have heard the voice of the Son of Man, and now live before Thee!" Yet as is the Majesty of God, so is His mercy; and how many persons who have been dear to us on earth, over whose lot an impenetrable veil has hung, may we one day find rejoicing in His love and mercy!

But this is by no means the only nor even the chief reason of the deep feeling with which I renew this occupation, and, as I believe, perform this duty. What I have to speak of next is full of evil. I have to mark the gradual and increasing darkness

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