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The Letters to the Stranger met with a reception gratifying to the author, from the inhabitants of Reading, and all who were interested in, or connected with that place.

Mr. Simeon, at that time one of the members for Reading, wrote on this occasion :

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"A hamper from the country brought me, two or three days ago, a pamphlet, called Detector, sent me by the author. I feel very much obliged to the author, whoever he may be; and from what report says, the thanks due will not fall very far from the mark, if shot into your hand. At all events I will take my chance, well satisfied that, if I should be mistaken, I cannot hurt your feelings by attributing to you a work which, whether measured by the motives gave rise to it, or by the learning and ability with which it is executed, would, in my estimation, do credit to any pen in this country.

that

"Believe me to remain, with much esteem, my dear Sir,

"Your obliged and obedient servant,

"J. SIMEON."

Another correspondent, the late estimable Mr. Hughes, says "Your pamphlet appears so excellent that I only regret it cannot circulate without reminding the public that this living body drags a dead one after it; without tending, in short, to make buoyant, a little longer, one of the most miserable performances that Lethe ever received."

"The Stranger in Reading" was written by an elderly person named Mann. In allusion to this coincidence, my father prefixed, as a motto to the Letters, the following line, adapted from Homer:

Ου δὴ ταυτα γε παντα, ΓΕΡΟΝ, κατα μοιραν ἔειπες,

In the Reading Mercury, for July 16th, 1810, the subjoined epigram appeared in allusion to my father's pamphlet ; to explain which it may be necessary to state that he had, in some degree, qualified the praise lavished, by the Stranger, on a well-known authoress.

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One of my father's pupils, a youth of great promise, wrote, without the knowledge of his tutor, an answer, which was inserted in the Reading paper for the ensuing week.

IN ANSWER TO A CERTAIN EPIGRAM.

Brave STRANGER, sheath your useless sword

Your glowing zeal repress;

(Like Quixote, valiant to afford

Imagined wrongs redress :)

For know! the Fair disdains to own,

As champion of her fame,

Him, who, to heavenly truth unknown,

Is MAN alone by name.

In the latter end of this year (1810) the curacy of Olney was proposed to my father. In September he received a letter from a clerical friend, stating that he had, in the course of correspondence, mentioned his name to the Rev. Christopher Stephenson, the vicar of that place, who was then desirous to engage a curate. His friend added-"Mr. S. is an excellent and a liberal man, and the people of Olney are, many of them, I believe, good people. The situation is one of considerable usefulness." At the time Mr. Stephenson received the intimation alluded to from my father's friend; the late Rev. Thomas Scott, was on a visit at the vicarage. This venerable man had some personal acquaintance with my father; and he spoke of his character in such favourable terms, that Mr. Stephenson immediately addressed a letter, inviting him to Olney, and making an offer of the curacy. The distance of this place from Reading, and the loss of pupils a removal thither would occasion, were objections he felt to be of considerable weight, and rendered deliberation necessary. At the same time he thought the opening was, on many accounts desirable, especially with relation to his ministerial work, which he ever regarded as his highest calling. It was, however, a step he could not easily or speedily decide upon taking. He was told that the people were "fastidious." The house occupied by the late curate (the old rectory), which was the only vacant one in the town, was much dilapidated, and he supposed it could scarcely be rendered tenantable for a large family, without great

expense. His description of the ruinous old mansion, of which a resemblance was made on a slate to gratify the eager curiosity of his children, was calculated to repress, if anything could, their natural delight at the prospect of a change; while it awakened some apprehensions on the part of their mother. But a communication, which shortly after arrived, from Mr. Stephenson, obviated any objection on this head, as he proposed to advance whatever sum might be necessary for the repair of the house. The writer cannot recur without feelings of deep interest to a little incident of this period. Her father had been walking up and down the room, where his children were sitting with their mother, in much perplexity and agitation, when he fell on his knees, and offered a solemn and earnest prayer for the divine guidance and direction.

In the decision which he soon afterwards made, my father was not biassed by a restless desire of change, and much less by an eager wish to gain a larger portion of this world's good. With respect to the latter, he may have been too indifferent, but was never over-anxious. In a letter written about this time to my mother, who was paying a last visit to her father at Bristol, he observes" Happy is it for those who have their treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupt, and of which they can never be deprived. If our God bestow on us, and on our dear babes, these durable riches, and give us food and raiment, let us therewith be content." My father appears to have been influenced in his deter

mination, principally by the wish to reside among the people whom he served in the gospel; and he was encouraged to hope that he might in the course of time, obtain as many pupils as he wished in that neighbourhood. His mind was from the first inclined to accept the proposal, and its acceptance was never afterwards a cause of regret.

Submission to the will of his heavenly Father, dependence on his providence, and an habitual acknowledgment of his agency, were prominent traits of his character. He recognised the hand of the sovereign Disposer of all things in every event, without grieving when his expectations were baffled, or murmuring at the disappointment of his hopes. Confiding in the divine wisdom and love, he believed that whatever God appointed was right, and must be best; and he continually aimed to bring his own wishes and desires to entire submission to His holy will. "Should it be according to thy mind?" was a question he would sometimes ask, with a deep conviction, that only when he possesses the mind of Christ,

"Pleased with what his love provides,

Weaned from all the world besides,"

can the believer cordially acquiesce in the arrangements of an infinitely wise God.

and his way

When uncertain which path to pursue, seemed but imperfectly indicated, he patiently waited and earnestly prayed for heavenly guidance; complying with the injunction and pleading the promise, Acknowledge him in all thy ways, and he shall

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