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Richard is the cleverest young man in England next to Mr Brougham; that she had rather read George's poetry than any thing else that is not political; and if Fanny would but study the "Bill of Rights," she would not have a fault in the world. I was going to give you some description of this dear daughter of mine, but I must defer it till the next time I have the pleasure of writing to you; how ever, as I see upon the table a letter she has been writing to her brother Richard, she shall introduce herself to your acquaintance by transcribing part of it, while I, in the meantime, subscribe myself, Mr Editor, your obedient servant,

JOHN DE COVERLEY.

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No, my dear brother-no, your arguments are powerful, your advice edifying, your eloquence persuasive, but never can I cease to sigh for the delights of dear London; still must its enlivening amusements, its enchanting novelties, be, " like the memory of joys that are past, pleasant, yet mournful to my soul." The very being betrayed into so hackney'd a quotation speaks volumes against this land of exile, where nothing is heard till it is too old to be worth hearing, and nothing seen, till, in the world of fashion, it is become a mere memento that such things have been. Oh for the whispered hint of a poem in the press! Oh for the pleasure of reading it before its novelty (perhaps its chief recommendation) has evaporated! Oh for the operas and the panoramas! And though last, not least in my lamentations, Oh for the Modes de Paris, those bewitching creatures of a day which are born and die, while we in these distant regions remain alike ignorant of either event.

How you will laugh at this burst of woe! and how, my dearest brother, would my woes vanish, could I have the pleasure of seeing you laugh, even at my expence! for, after all, the being separated from you is my only heartfelt source of regret, the rest is but on the surface; and you know me too well not to be assured I can find some agreeables even to console me for the loss of the metropolis and all its enchantments. The seeing my

dear father so happy and so much admired would alone compensate for a world of care. It is impossible to be more popular than he is here. His talents as a man of business make him useful and respected-his knowledge of general literature, and his long intercourse with the world, gain him the attention and admiration of the more refined and intellectual part of our society-while the urbanity of his manners, united to the simple-heartedness and winning smile of the De Coverleys, ensure him the regard, I might almost say affection, of young and old. Mamma, too, is now perfectly contented, and I can scarcely believe she has not lived here from her birth. She seems to be generally liked; and, though I have heard no positive admiration expressed of her, I have of her turban-and, as you and I have often agreed, it is impossible for turban and woman to be more alike. I last night overheard one lady whispering to another," That is a very pretty turban of Mrs De Coverley's; but, if I did not see it exactly in the same situation night after night, I should certainly think it was dropping off. I am sure no other person could preserve its balance as she does

only see how that little feather on the left side trembles as she stirs her tea!"-Cannot you see Mamma ? and cannot you see her equally composed if her turban (which certainly is like one of the rocking stones we saw last year) were actually to drop off? And now you will say, What notice have you, direct or indirect, of your own popularity? My answer is, that the men, of course, admire me-with them I consider myself an absolute monarch, and I should be excessively astonished if they disputed my title; but the ladies I find rather more difficult to manage, and I think, upon the whole, they treat me very much as their papas and brothers do their representatives in Parliament. long as I conciliate them, and bear my honours meekly, they are willing to place me in a much higher rank than actually belongs to me. I dance like a nymph, sing like an angel, and dress like a Parisian; but, if I allowed myself in the slightest airs, or attempted to take as my right the place they confer as a favour, I should sink at once, and my fall would be in proportion to my elevation. I have,

So

however, hitherto been too prudent to dare such a fall, and, in the language of the thousand and one addresses I have lately heard, I may still hope to preserve the proud pre-eminence in which my constituents have placed me. Seriously, though we have some country-town misses in all their flounced varieties, we have others from whom you and Mr Trevor, when you pay us your promised visit, will have difficulty in guarding your hearts; and, though we have country-town dandies in their stiffest of collars, we have others in whom I suspect you would gladly find less formidable rivals. I have much to tell you of some of my new acquaintance, whom I trust I may one of these days call friends-much of our routs, and balls, and book societies; but I must now bid adieu to my pen, and to you, my dearest brother.

Your's affectionately,

FANNY DE COVERLEY.

My aunt Eleanor congratulates you on winning five guineas, and refuses to believe you would more gladly have lost them.

to attend; and in this manner from thirty to forty persons usually assembled. After this had continued some time, she happened to find an account of the Danish missionaries in her husband's study, and was strengthened her desire of doing good: she much impressed by the perusal. The book chose the best and most awakening sermons,' and spake with more freedom, more warmth, more affection, to the neighbours who attended at her evening prayers;their numbers increased in consequence, for she did not think it right to deny any who asked admittance. More persons came at length than the apartment could hold; and the thing was represented to her hus band in such a manner, that he wrote to her, objecting to her conduct, because, he said, it looked particular,' because of her sex, and because he was at that time in a public station and character, which rendered it the more necessary that she should do nothing to attract censure; and he recommended that some other person should read for her. She began her reply by heartily thanking him for dealing so plainly and faithfully with her in a matter of no common concern. As to its looking particular,' she said, I grant it does, and so does almost every thing that is serious, or that may any way advance the glory of God, or the salvation of souls, if it be per formed out of a pulpit or in the way of common conversation; because, in our

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EXTRACTS FROM SOUTHEY'S LIFE OF corrupt age, the utmost care and diligence

WESLEY.

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WE gave some extracts from the beginning of this curious book, relating to certain circumstances of a seemingly supernatural kind, which may have influenced the imagination of Wesley in his opening years, and we proceed now to a few more particulars of his early life.

"Mr Wesley (the father) usually attended the sittings of convocation: such attendance, according to his principles, was a part of his duty, and he performed it at an expence of money which he could ill spare from the necessities of so large a family, and at a cost of time which was in jurious to his parish. During these absences, as there was no afternoon service at Epworth, Mrs Wesley prayed with her own family on Sunday evenings, read a sermon, and engaged afterwards in religious conversation. Some of the parishioners who came in accidentally were not excluded; and she did not think it proper that their presence should interrupt the duty of the hour. Induced by the report which these persons made, others requested permission

See Number for May 1820.

has been used to banish all discourse of God, or spiritual concerns, out of society, as if religion were never to appear out of the closet, and we were to be ashamed of nothing so much as of confessing ourselves to be Christians.' To the objection on account of her sex she answered, that, as she was a woman, so was she also mistress of a large family; and, though the superior charge lay upon him as their head and minister, yet, in his absence, she could not under her care as a talent committed to her but look upon every soul which he had left under a trust by the great Lord of all the families of heaven and earth. If,' she added, I am unfaithful to Him or to you, in neglecting to improve these talents, how shall I answer unto Him, when he shall command me to render an account of my stewardship? The objections which arose from his own station and character she left entirely to his own judgment. Why any person should reflect upon him, because his wife endeavoured to draw people to church, and restrain them, by reading and other persuasions, from profaning the Sabbath, she could not conceive; and, if any were mad enough to do so, she hoped he would not regard it. For my own part,' she says, I value no censure on this account. I have long since shook hands with the world; and I heartily wish I had ne

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many.

"While Mrs Wesley thus vindicated herself in a manner which she thought must prove convincing to her husband, as well as to her own calm judgment, the crate of Epworth (a man who seems to have been entitled to very little respect) wrote to Mr Wesley in a very different strain, complaining that a conventicle was held in his house. The name was well chosen to alarm so high a churchman; and his second let ter declared a decided disapprobation of these meetings, to which he had made no serious objections before. She did not reply to this till some days had elapsed, for she deemed it necessary that both should take some time to consider before her hus band finally determined in a matter which she felt to be of great importance. She expressed her astonishment that any effect upon his opinions, much more any change in them, should be produced by the senseless clamour of two or three of the worst in his parish; and she represented to him the good which had been done, by inducing a much more frequent and regular attendance at church, and reforming the geDeral habits of the people, and the evil which would result from discontinuing such meetings, especially by the prejudices which it would excite against the curate, in those persons who were sensible that they derived benefit from the religious opportunities, which would thus be taken away through his interference. After stat. ing these things clearly and judiciously, she concluded thus, in reference to her own duty as a wife: If you do, after all, think fit to dissolve this assembly, do not tell me that you desire me to do it, for that will not satisfy my conscience; but send me your positive command, in such full and express terms as may absolve me from guilt and punishment for neglecting this opportunity of doing good, when you and I shall appear before the great and awful tribunal of our Lord Jesus Christ.'

"Mr Wesley made no farther objections; and, thoroughly respecting as he did the principles and the understanding of his wife, he was perhaps ashamed that the representations of meaner minds should have prejudiced him against her conduct.

"John and Charles were at this time under their mother's care: she devoted such a proportion of time as she could afford to discourse with each child by itself on one night of the week, upon the duties

and the hopes of Christianity; and it may well be believed that these circumstances of their childhood had no inconsiderable influence upon their proceedings when they became the founders and directors of a new community of Christians. John's providential deliverance from the fire had profoundly impressed his mother, as it did himself, throughout the whole of his after life. Among the private meditations which were found among her papers, was one written out long after that event, in which she expressed in prayer her intention to be more particularly careful of the soul of this child, which God had so mercifully provided for, that she might instil into him the principles of true religion and virtue ;Lord,' she said, give me grace to do it sincerely and prudently, and bless my at tempts with good success.' The peculiar care which was thus taken of his religious education, the habitual and fervent piety of both his parents, and his own surprising preservation, at an age when he was perfectly capable of remembering all the circumstances, combined to foster in the child that disposition which afterwards developed itself with such force, and produced such important effects.

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"Talents of no ordinary kind, as well as a devotional temper, were hereditary in this remarkable family. Samuel, the elder brother, who was eleven years older than John, could not speak at all till he was more than four years old, and consequently was thought to be deficient in his facul. ties; but it seems as if the child had been laying up stores in secret till that time, for one day when some question was proposed to another person concerning him, he answered it himself in a manner which astonished all who heard him, and from that hour he continued to speak without difficulty. He distinguished himself first at Westminster, and afterwards at Christ Church, Oxford, by his classical attainments.

On this account,

From Christ Church he returned to Westminster as an usher, and then took orders, under the patronage of Atterbury. But he regarded Atterbury more as a friend than a patron, and, holding the same political opinions, he attracted the resentment of the ministers, by assailing them with epigrams and satires. when the situation of under-master became vacant, and he was proposed as a man eminently qualified to fill it, by experience, ability, and character, the appointment was refused, upon the irrelevant objection that he was a married man. Charles was placed under him at Westminster, and, going through the college in like manner, was also elected to Christ Church. John was educated at the Charter-house."

Vol. I. pp. 15-21.

"John suffered at the Charter-house un❤ der the tyranny which the elder boys were

this kind more painful than the last; but Wesley seems never to have looked back with melancholy upon the days that were gone; earthly regrets of this kind could find no room in one who was continually pressing onward to the goal.

"At the age of seventeen he was removed from the Charter-house to Christ Church, Oxford.” Vol. I. pp. 27—29.

permitted to exercise. This evil at one time existed very generally in English schools, through the culpable negligence of the masters; and perhaps may still continue to exist, though, if a system were designed for cultivating the worst dispositions of human nature, it could not more effectually answer the purpose. The boys of the higher forms of the Charter-house were then in the practice of taking their portion of meat from the younger ones, by the law of the strongest ; and during great part or EXTRACT FROM MR WORDSWORTH'S the time that Wesley remained there, a small daily portion of bread was his only food. Those theoretical physicians who recommend spare diet for the human animal, might appeal with triumph to the length of days which he attained, and the elastic constitution which he enjoyed. He himself imputed this blessing, in great measure, to the strict obedience with which he performed an injunction of his father's,

that he should run round the Charter

house garden three times every morning. Here, for his quietness, regularity, and application, he became a favourite with the master, Dr Walker; and through life he retained so great a predilection for the place, that, on his annual visit to London, he made it a custom to walk through the scene of his boyhood. To most men every year would render a pilgrimage of

“Good old Izaak Walton has preserved a beautiful speech of that excellent man Sir Henry Wotton, when, in his old age, he was returning from a visit to Winchester, where he had been educated. How useful,' he said to a friend, his companion in that journey, how useful was that advice of a holy monk, who persuaded his friend to perform his customary devotions in a contant place, because in that place we usually meet with those very thoughts which possessed us at our last being there. And I find it thus far experimentally true, that my now being in that school, and see ing that very place where I sate when I was a boy, occasioned me to remember those very thoughts of my youth which then possessed me: sweet thoughts, indeed, that promised my growing years numerous pleasures, without mixtures of cares; and those to be enjoyed when time (which I therefore thought slow-paced) had changed my youth into manhood: but age and experience have taught me, that those were but empty hopes: for I have always found it true, as my Saviour did foretell, sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.' Nevertheless, I saw there a succession of boys using the same recreations, and questionless possessed with the same thoughts that then possessed me. Thus one generation succeeds another, both in their lives, recreations, hopes, fears, and death.""

6

LAST VOLUME.MEMOIR OF THE
REVEREND ROBERT WALKER.

OUR attention has been taken off for a time from the Father of Methodism, by the following little Memoir of a Clergyman in the notes to Mr Wordsworth's Sonnets on the River Duddon. We will own the "noiseless tenor" of the life which it pourtrays has something in our view much more characteristic of genuine Christianity, than all the mighty doings either of Wesley or Whitefield, though we by no means regard these with any feeling approaching to worldly contempt. Mr Southey, we think, appreciates them very justly, and with a true sense, both of their importance and their extravagance; and we yet hope to give our readers some of the work, although we have been pausmore interesting particulars in his ing, we confess, a little too long at the threshold. It is from no disrespect to Mr Wordsworth that we have selected this note in preference to the poetry of his volume. That will be bepraised or bespattered sufficiently, according to people's different notions, without any aid from us; and although, no doubt, it is saturated with unprosaic loveliness," yet a piece of plain prose is more level to our vulgar capacities, and may be more generally acceptable to our read

ers.

"IN the year 1709, Robert Walker was born at Under-crag, in Seathwaite; he was the youngest of twelve children. His eldest brother, who inherited the small family estate, died at Under-crag, aged ninetyfour, being twenty-four years older than the subject of this Memoir, who was born of the same mother. Robert was a sickly infant; and, through his boyhood and youth continuing to be of delicate frame and tender health, it was deemed best, according to the country phrase, to breed him a scholar; for it was not likely that he would be able to earn a livelihood by bodily labour. At that period few of these

Dales were furnished with school-houses; the children being taught to read and write in the chapel; and in the same consecrated building, where he officiated for so many years both as preacher and schoolmaster, he himself received the rudiments of his education. In his youth he became school.. master at Lowes-water; not being called upon, probably, in that situation, to teach more than reading, writing, and arithmetic. But, by the assistance of a "Gentleman" in the neighbourhood, he acquired, at leisure hours, a knowledge of the classics, and became qualified for taking holy orders. Upon his ordination, he had the offer of two curacies; the one, Torver, in the vale of Coniston, the other, Seathwaite, in his native vale. The value of each was the same, viz. five pounds per annum: but the cure of Seathwaite having a cottage attached to it, as he wished to marry, he chose it in preference. The young person on whom his affections were fixed, though in the condition of a domestic servant, had given promise, by her serious and modest deportment, and by her virtuous dispositions, that she was worthy to become the help-mate of a man entering upon a plan of life such as he had marked out for himself. By her frugality she had stored up a small sum of money, with which they began housekeeping. In 1735 or 1736, he entered upon his curacy; and, nineteen years afterwards, his situation is thus described, in some letters to be found in the Annual Register for 1760, from which the following is extracted:

To Mr

"Coniston, July 26, 1754. "SIR,-I was the other day upon a party of pleasure, about five or six miles from this place, where I met with a very striking object, and of a nature not very common. Going into a clergyman's house (of whom I had frequently heard) I found him sitting at the head of a long square table, such as is commonly used in this country by the lower class of people, dressed in a coarse blue frock, trimmed with black horn buttons; a checked shirt, a leathern strap about his neck for a stock, a coarse apron, and a pair of great woodensoled shoes, plated with iron to preserve them, (what we call clogs in these parts,) with a child upon his knee eating his breakfast; his wife, and the remainder of his children, were some of them employed in waiting on each other, the rest in teazing and spinning wool, at which trade he is a great proficient; and moreover, when it is made ready for sale, will lay it by six teen, or thirty-two pounds weight, upon his back, and on foot, seven or eight miles will carry it to the market, even in the depth of winter. I was not much surprised at all this, as you may possibly be,

having heard a great deal of it related before. But I must confess myself astonished with the alacrity and the good humour that appeared both in the clergyman and his wife, and more so, at the sense and ingenuity of the clergyman himself."" *

"Then follows a letter, from another person, dated 1755, from which an extract shall be given.

"By his frugality and good management, he keeps the wolf from the door, as we say; and if he advances a little in the world, it is owing more to his own care, than to any thing else he has to rely upon. I don't find his inclination is running after further preferment. He is settled among the people, that are happy among themselves; and lives in the greatest unanimity and friendship with them; and, I believe the minister and people are exceedingly satisfied with each other; and indeed how should they be dissatisfied, when they have a person of so much worth and probity for their pastor? A man, who, for his candour and meekness, his sober, chaste, and virtuous conversation, his soundness in principle and practice, is an ornament to his profession, and an honour to the country he is in; and bear with me if I say, the plainness of his dress, the sanctity of his manners, the simplicity of his doctrine, and the vehemence of his expression, have a sort of resemblance to the pure practice of primitive Christianity.''

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We will now give his own account of himself, to be found in the same place.

"From the Rev. Robert Walker. "SIR,-Yours of the 26th instant was communicated to me by Mr C——, and I should have returned an immediate answer, but the hand of Providence then lying heavy upon an amiable pledge of conjugal endearment, hath since taken from me a promising girl, which the disconsolate mo ther too pensively laments the loss of; though we have yet eight living, all healthful, hopeful children, whose names and ages are as follows: Zaccheus, aged almost eighteen years; Elizabeth, sixteen years and ten months; Mary, fifteen; Moses, thirteen years and three months; Sarah, ten years and three months; Mabel, eight years and three months; William Tyson, three years and eight months; and Anne Esther, one year and three months: besides Anne who died two years and six months ago, and was then aged between nine and ten; and Eleanor, who died the 23d inst., January, aged six years and ten months. Zaccheus, the eldest child, is now learning the trade of tanner, and has two years and a half of his apprenticeship to serve. The annual income of my chapel at present, as near as I can compute it, may amount to about L. 17, 10s. of which

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