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"Mr. Clarke's humility was so great, that he could never be prevailed upon to preach in London, unlike the many that are so ambitious of this distinction. Excuse me,

Mr. Mortimer, there are four cocks that walk your streets at Oxford; the first is a dunghill cock, that is always scratching and searching after preferment; the second is a turkey cock, which proudly struts along with a great rustling of his feathers, as though he would be thought of importance, and deserving attention and re spect; the third is a peacock, which is fully aware of his own attractions, and displays the beauty of his feathers, which admires himself, and wishes others to admire him. The peacock often comes to London, to display his beauty in our popular assemblies and crowded churches; he likes to mount a London pulpit. The fourth is a pheasant cock, as beautiful as either; but he likes to dwell retired in woods and villages remote, far removed from public notice, content with being useful in a sphere confined and happy in the love and friendship of a homely and noiseless circle. Such was Mr. Clarke, your old and valuable tutor, the pious, learned, and humble rector of Chesham Bois."

Such was the pleasant and improving conversation which Charles enjoyed in the company of this good man; and he took his leave with a hearty invitation given him by Mr. Newton to come to his Saturday's clerical evening party, and to his public tea party on Tuesday afternoon.

As he was crossing Cheapside whom should he meet but his friend Rutler, who invited him to take the Richmond coach with him to go and see that classic retreat of Thomson, Pope, and others.

And if the reader please to take coach with them, the next chapter shall unfold the subject of their conversation and throw some light on Rutler's character and history.

CHAPTER XVI.

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EXCURSION TO RICHMOND-CHARACTER OF RUTLER-THE COUNTRY RECTOR, MR. SCOPER

THE friends were now driven swiftly along Hyde Park, through Kensington, by Kew, to Richmond; and while swiftly skimming through the fine atmosphere, and glancing at the lovely villas, gardens, plantations, and the silver waters of the Thames, as they passed along, they inquired of each other the incidents of their journey. Charles succinctly informed Rutler of his late journey, and his pleasures amongst his friends; and, at Charles's request, Rutler thus commenced his tale:

"You know my taste for rural beauty and rural manners; I therefore gladly took a circuit round the country, through hill and dale on foot, till, wearied with my journey, I arrived at the solitary village of Chesham Bois, where we spent so few but happy months with our venerable but excellent tutor, Mr. Clarke. The respected mansion which, for fifty years, was the classic scene of his life, is now inhabited by a stranger of eccentric habits.

"Our friend Chenies accompanied me from Chesham to London, where he is now walking the hospitals. The new inhabitant is said to look as wild as the woods among which he dwells; he sits up all night, and lies in bed all day. The country people think him a necromancer or a

murderer, and speak of him with horror. And as for the country people, whom Mr. Clarke used to visit from house to house, and whom Jerman, and Rendham, and Durrant used to relieve with medicine while they resided there pursuing their studies in the long vacation, they have scarcely seen a clergyman or a friend within their doors since his death. They now know the value of Mr. Clarke in his loss. As to the church, it is deserted, and the sheep are scattered abroad, and have become mingled with dissenters. The people call the rector the butcher, because he has raised their tithes to the utmost height, and grinds them down to the last farthing. As Mr. Bredwell, our old tutor, used to say, if Mr. Clarke had lived in the times of Queen Elizabeth, they would have found out this Solomon of the age, and elevated him to a post of high dignity, and they would have taken care that the flock should not have been committed to such hirelings as care more for their fleece, than their health and safety. But I trust the government is beginning to learn the importance of a zealous, faithful priesthood, and will take more care, as religion advances, to keep the wolves out of the fold, and distinguish persons of learning, piety, and worth."

"You have no need to care for such honours," said Charles," for your father has purchased you an excellent living, which I hope will, ere long, come to you without a flaw in the inheritance, and you may pursue your own plans of usefulness without obstruction, and emulate the zeal and piety of our good and venerable tutor, Mr. Clarke."

"If I possess a holy zeal of this kind," said Rutler, "it is owing, under God, to his tuition and that of Mr. Bredwell, with whom my friends placed me; and with the latter, you know, I spent the remainder of my time,

when good Mr. Clarke was taken away to heaven, till I went to college. Under their instructions, I have certainly gained correct notions of religious truth, and from their excellent example I have learned the regular practice of religious duties, and the value of religious principle. My parents said, that a large sum bestowed on education, with a valuable tutor in a small private school, was cheaply employed to prevent extravagance, to excite to moral conduct, and to form a useful member of society; and I certainly would recommend all parents who value moral and religious principle, to prefer the quiet retirement of a country village to the public school, and to give a solid private education to their children, in preference to the brilliant and dangerous acquisitions of the famed academy :

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Though from ourselves the mischief more proceeds,
For public schools, 'tis public folly feeds;

To follow foolish precedents and wink

With both our eyes, is easier than to think.'

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Example and habit,” said Charles, are of the highest consequence to the future character and well being of the pupil. The hopes from high connections are often very fallacious :

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Besides, school friendships are not always found,
Though fair in prospect, permanent and sound;
Young heads are giddy, and young hearts are warn.,
And make mistakes for manhood to reform.'

If he gains not the friendship of persons of title, and enters not the lists of competition with persons of genius

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"The two friends were Low arrived at Richmond and from the Hill surveyed the rich meandering of the majestic flowing Thames"

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