scurity of the translation, which, together with the indifferent language, and want of poetical merit in the translator, somewhat disappointed us; however we had from time to time many a hard puzzling hour with him.

But as to Walker's Epictetus, although that had not much poetical merit, yet it was very easy to be read, and as easily understood. The principles of the Stoics charmed me so much, that I made the book my companion wherever I went, and read it over and over in raptures, thinking that my mind was secured against all the smiles or frowns of fortune.

"When foes revil'd, or friends betray'd,

Our hearts have wrung perhaps with sorrow;
But a firm effort always made

Complete resources for tomorrow.

"Then why repine at vice elate,

For injur'd worth our courage drown;
Let us who cannot alter fate,

Mind no men's business but our own."

J. ROBERTSON'S Martial.

I now grew weary of dissipating my time, and began to think of employing my spare hours in something more satisfactory. For want of something else to do, I went one evening to hear Mr John Wesley preach in Broadmead, and being completely tired of the way of life that I had lived, more or less, ever since I had been out of my apprenticeship, and happening to have no other pursuit or hobby-horse, there was a kind of vacuity in my mind; in this state I was very susceptible of any impressions, so that when I came to hear Mr Wesley, my old fanatical notions returned full upon me, and I was once more carried away by the tide of enthusiasm.. So that the following lines by Mr S. Rogers might be applied to me with great propriety:

"His humour once o'er, with a grave contrite face
To the mead he repairs, that rich fountain of grace,

Where in spiritual fervour he turn'd up his eyes,
True mechanical saint! and in unison sighs;
With every true godly exterior indu'd,

As if from his cradle this line he'd pursu'd."

My friend Mr Jones soon saw with grief and indignation the wonderful alteration in me, who, from a gay, volatile, dissipated young fellow, was at once metamorphosed into a dull, moping, praying, psalmsinging fanatic, continually reprehending all about me for their harmless mirth and gaiety.

" 'For saints themselves will often be

"Of gifts that cost them nothing free."

HUDIBRAS.

Nothing is more common than to see mankind run from one extreme to another, which was my case

once more.

"Whate'er the leading passion be,
That works the soul's anxiety,
In each extreme th' effect is bad,
Sense grows diseas'd and reason mad."

E. LLOYD.

About this time we left our habitation in Queenstreet, and took lodgings of Mr Jones's mother, on St Philip's Plain, where lived a brother of Mr Jones, who was about seventeen years of age. Soon after we had removed to this place, the brother, whose name was Richard Jones, was permitted to work in the same room with my friend and me. They had also a sister about twenty years of age, who frequently joined our company.

Our room overlooked the church-yard, which contributed to increase my gloomy ideas, and I had so much of the spiritual Quixotism in me, that I soon began to think that it was not enough for me to save my own soul, but I ought in conscience to attempt the conversion of my companions, who I really believed were in the high road to hell, and every moment liable to eternal damnation. Of this chari

table disposition are almost all the Methodists; who, as Hudibras says,

Compound for sins they are inclin❜d to,
By damning those they have no mind to."

The frequency of newly-opened graves, which we saw from our windows, furnished me with opportunities for descanting on the uncertainty of life and all sublunary enjoyments; I assured them that nothing deserved attention but what related to our everlasting state, and that they might on their repentance receive in one moment the pardon of all their sins, have a foretaste of the joys of heaven, and know that their names were enrolled in the book of life. I farther protested that they had no time to lose, that they all stood on the very verge of hell, and the breaking-brink of eternal torments, with a great deal more of such edifying stuff.

The youngest brother soon became a convert, and Miss Betsy was "born again" soon after.

"Lo! in the twinkling of an eye,

Their souls were frank'd for kingdom come."

But I had a tight job to convert my friend John; he held out, and often cursed me heartily, and sang prophane songs all day long.

But about four or five weeks after my re-conversion, John was also converted, and became a favourite of heaven, so that we considered ourselves as a holy community,

here.

"Who knew the seat of Paradise,
Could tell in what degree it lies;
Could deepest mysteries unriddle,
As easily as thread a needle."

HUDIBRAS.

A laughable affair happened during my residence A captain of a ship one day brought a parrot as a present to a family, the mistress of which, being a Methodist, happened to have one of the preachers call

in just as the dinner was putting on the table, so that the captain and the preacher were both asked to stay. As soon as the table was covered, the preacher began a long grace, in the midst of which Poll, who had been put in a corner of a room, cried out, "D-n your eyes, tip us none of your jaw." This, with the immoderate laughter of the captain, entirely disconcerted the pious chaplain; at last he began his grace again, but he had not got to the end before Poll again interrupted him with, "You d-d canting son of a b-h." By the above it appeared that the captain had tutored Poll on purpose to have some fun in this canting family; however, the good lady of the house made it a point of conscience to have Polly converted, but found it utterly impossible to effect that great change in the methodistical way, that is, instantaneously, as after she had scolded her six months for speaking bad words, and had actually taught her a part of the Lord's prayer, yet Poll would not entirely leave off her sea language, so that it often happened while the good lady was teaching her to pray, Poll would out with, "D-n your eyes, tumble up, you lubbers;" and even after she had preached to her several years, she would not venture to say that Poll was in a state of grace; but be that as it will, Poll obtained the name of Methodist, being called by the neighbours the Methodist Parrot.

I must inform you also that the poor preacher above mentioned was but just come out of Wales, and understood English but very imperfectly, and in the course of his sermon one day he had forgot the English for the word lamb, and after hammering a good while about it, he out with-" Goddymighty's little mutton, that took away the sins of the world," which caused a good deal of diversion among the ungodly.

I am, dear friend, yours.

LETTER XIV.

He was a shrewd philosopher,

And had read every text and gloss over;
Whate'er the crabbed'st author hath,
He understood b'implicit faith;
Whatever sceptic could enquire for,
For ev'ry why he had a wherefore;
Knew more than forty of them do,
As far as words and terms could go,
All which he understood by rote,
And as occasion serv'd would quote;
No matter whether right or wrong,
They might be either said or sung."

DEAR FRIEND,

HUDIBRAS.

MR John Jones and myself were now greater friends than ever, so that one would on no account stir out of the house without the other.

Mr Jones had the advantage of me in temporals, he could get more money than I could, but as to grace and spiritual gifts I had much the advantage of all our community, so that I was their spiritual director; and if they thought that any of their acquaintance held any opinions that were not quite sound and orthodox, such were introduced to me, in order that I might convince them of their errors. In fact, I was looked upon as an apostle, so that whatever I asserted was received as pure gospel, nor was anything undertaken without my advice.

We all worked very hard, particularly Mr John Jones and I, in order to get money to purchase books, and for some months every shilling we could spare was laid out at old book-shops, stalls, &c., insomuch that in a short time we had what we called a very good library. This choice collection consisted