I lodged for some time in the house of the brother-in-law of our friend, and spent the first year between this place and Cambridge; and, as Thomas was then, for the most part, at leisure on a Monday morning, he often drove me a part of the way to Cambridge. I could never sit side by side with any one without entering into conversation with him, much less with one so civil in his manners, and so intelligent in his mind. Our conversation, therefore, was, from the first, free and unrestrained; and the Bishop of the Diocese being about to hold a confirmation, my mind naturally turned to that, when I found that he had not been confirmed. This brought us at once to religious conversation, when I found that he was well instructed to the kingdom of heaven." Pleased with goodness wheresoever I should find it, and more pleased, perhaps, to find it where I should least have expected it,-1, from that time, entertained a great regard for him; and which I had never any occasion to alter. Whom should a clergyman most regard, but the best of his flock? Who should a Christian Minister respect the most, but those who most honour God and Christ? Who should he love the best, but those who best love God and his blessed Sou?

He had begun to take a religious work, published monthly, called The Christian Guardian, and Church of England Magazine, in the year 1810; and, as it had then been published a year, he bought up the numbers of the former year, and continued to take this to his death. He had then several good books besides.

The Bishop held his confirmation at St. Neots, on the 19th of May, and Thomas drove me to St. Neots the day before, on my way to Buckden, to be instituted to this Vicarage; and the next day I met the Bishop and the persons of my parish who were to be confirmed. I had then but four. Of these oue was one of the Churchwardens, at the age of 61, and another Thomas Lantaffe, the Butcher, aged 32. He began to take the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, the Easter following; and, after that, very rarely failed of being a Commu

nicant. He was, without exception, the most constant in his attendance at Church of any in the parish; on his knees always at the prayers, and an attentive listener to the word of God, whether read or preached.

There being no Friendly Society in the parish when I came to it, and thinking that one would be of great advantage to both the individual members and the parish at large, I mentioned the subject to him, and he directly came into it, and did all he could to promote it. One was established at Michaelmas 1812, and our names are printed together in the Book of the Rules, as the first Stewards of the Society. It continued in a flourishing condition, and conferring a great deal of benefit, for ten years; when a few of the members, who had, for some time, been unpleasant, proposed the breaking it up, for the sake of dividing the money. This was one of the few occasions upon which my friend and myself thought differently. I was for getting the refractory members excluded, as they had made themselves liable to it, by the very proposal to break it up, and for the rest to go on by themselves. He was for letting them have their way. The Society was dissolved, with the consent of the Magistrates, at the Quarter Sessions, and the consequence was, that two new ones immediately formed, but upon different principles. The one now present is that which he was the chief person in forming: his name is printed in the Book of the Rules, as one of the first Stewards; and I have no doubt but that every individual member looked upon him as a friend and brother.

were

On my coming into the parish, there being no Sunday School, I proposed to establish one; but not being able to get any assistance, I was obliged, for a time, to relinquish the idea. Wishing, however, to give some young men, who had missed their opportunity of learning to read, a fresh opportunity for that purpose, I resolved to do what I could myself in the parish, and, besides catechising the children, 1 proposed attending at the school-house, on a Sunday evening, to instruct the young men, wheu Thomas requested that he might atteud; and

his example had great influence in bringing many of all ages to improve themselves in reading. When I began this, I proposed only that it should continue till such time as a Sunday School could be established, which it did, and for about a year and a half after; in all, a period of about two years and three quarters, when I was obliged to give it up, finding the fatigue too much for me.

The Sunday School was established at Midsummer, 1814, in commemoration of the Peace, when Thomas Lantaffe gave a yearly subscription to it, and constantly gave his personal assistance in teaching the children; and this he continued for eleven years and a quarter, till Michaelmas, 1825, when he went out of the parish for half a year. On his return, some altered circumstances, and the fatigue he found in teaching, made him not resume attendance at the School.

It was, I think, at his suggestion, that a Book Society was established in the parish, in August, 1813, in which the members met once a fortnight, and paid sixpence each. The money was laid out in religious and useful books, which went round to the members, and then were divided among them. This continued for about six years and a half, when the members being reduced to three, it was, by their mutual consent, dis solved. First and last, there had been eighteen members in all, and upwards of 497. subscribed, with which 236 books had been bought, circulated, and then divided among 18 persons, or families; so that much good was done, we will hope, not only at that time; but, likewise, will be to all, who now, and in time to come, shall make use of the books.

Persons not used to books, and not fond of them,

To Potton. But he did not find it succeed. While there, he attended upon the ministry of the Rev. Richard Whittingham, the worthy Vicar, three times on the Sabbath, of which he spoke with great delight. In a letter to a friend (which has been lent to me) written during this period, he says, "My Sundays are past very comfortably. I go to Church three times.At night I very much like to hear Mr. Whittingham. His Discourse last Sunday night was on making conscience of our thoughts."

wonder what amusement people can find in them, and, much more how, they should be fond of them. But books are company, and good books are good company. In good books we have the best thoughts of the best men, expressed in their best manner. Man in his fallen state has a corrupt nature, and this shews itself, in most men, in some unpleasantness of temper. Few men can converse long with another without shewing something of this; and many shew much of it at once. But this does not shew itself so much in the writings of men : most men suppress it there, and appear in their best humours he is a bad man indeed, who writes down his bad thoughts, and sends them abroad into the world. Hence good books are, in general, delightful company, enjoyed when we please, and for as long, or short, a time together as may be pleasant and convenient. He who cannot amuse himself with a book is dependent upon others, and upon the humours of others, for his amusement; and to obtain that, he must often be at a great expense in eating, drinking, apparel, and time. But he who can amuse himself with books has inexpensive company. In them he can get into company which his rank in life would otherwise keep him out of; nay he can in them converse with all the wisest and best persons of all times and all countries. In THe Book, THE BIBLE, we converse with all the Prophets, the Evangelists, the Apostles, and even with CHRIST, and THE HOLY SPIRIT, and GOD. Wonder not, my friends, that Thomas Lantaffe was fond of BOOKS.

And this leads me to another part of his character, his love of THE BIBLE SOCIETY. He, who knew the value of THE WORD OF GOD to himself, was anxious that all others should partake of it too; and was always delighted to hear of the progress of it in the earth. He was a member of the Committee of our Caxton Branch Society, and usually attended the Anniversary of that and of at least two others in the neighbourhood, and was always a contributor at each. In fact no measure was ever proposed to him, which seemed to be for the

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good of the parish or the public, but he was willing to forward it to the best of his means and his abilities.

But I must be drawing towards a conclusion. To come, then, to his more personal and private character. Though a butcher, an occupation which is generally thought, (though I think unjustly) to lead to cruelty and coarseness, he was singularly humane and gentle, both towards man and towards brute beasts * There was in

his manner a civility, without servility, and an ease and frankness, without familiarity, that was truly pleasing. The great excellence of his character was plain good sense, and a right way of thinking upon subjects, arising from right principles. I was always happy to know his opinion on any subject, though I might not think it advisable to follow it. In some unpleasant and trying disputes in the parish, (particularly trying to him, situated as he was in respect to both parties) the evenness with which he conducted himself was admirable. Had all in the parish been like him, indeed, there would never have been any disputes at all. I never myself heard, and I have never met with any one who had. said he had heard, a bad word proceed out of his mouth : and it should be mentioned, to the honour of himself and of others of his profession, that he told me some years ago, that, at the ordinary, at the public house at Cambridge, where he put up ou a market day, at which eight butchers and two tanners, besides other persons, were occasionally present, they had a rule, that whoever made use of an outh should forfeit sixpence; and that, in upwards of a year, he had never heard but one oath

It was with a view of assisting Thomas Lantaffe, and of promoting humanity among Butchers, and in the world in general, that the writer of this Sermon, assisted in his turn by T. L., compiled "THE EXPERIENCED BUTCHER: shewing the respectability and usefulness of his calling, the Religious Considerations arising from it, the Laws relating to it, and various profitable suggestions for the rightly carrying it on: Designed not only for the use of Butchers, but also for Families and Readers in general." With Seven Plates, price 6s. Sold by Harvey and Darton, Gracechurch-street. The cirumstances which gave rise to it, are related in the Preface. In the Author's Drama of "The Salutary Reproof, or The Butcher," various traits of the character of the Butcher were taken from T. L.