motives, and wilfully perverting that language of the Farewell Address, which had excited the sympathy of every ingenuous mind. I was astonished as well as grieved, because I did not think that there could have been a human being, whatever might be his theological prejudices, who could have read that Address unmoved, and because I feared that this gross misrepresentation, would excite a violent prejudice in the minds of many, who would never see the original, or know any thing of its author, but through this false and distorted medium. I had not sufficiently taken into my account the virulence of party rage, nor considered, that although the fires of Smithfield were then happily extinguished, yet, a portion of the spirit, which had kindled them, still survived; and it may be feared, will continue to survive so long as the favour of Heaven, shall be confined to the professors of a peculiar metaphysical creed, with the exclusive worldly honours and emoluments attached to it, of a splendid, religious establishment.

When I had read the paper which Sir George Strickland had put into my hands, I involuntarily exclaimed— 'Is there no one who will answer this unprincipled defamer? who will correct his mis-statements, remove the mist from the public eye, and generously volunteer his services in the injured cause of truth and virtue ?'-In the next week's paper, such a champion did appear, under the signature of " A lover of all good men." "Your wishes are obtained," said my Boynton friends—“Erasmus cannot stand his ground against such a champion, with such a cause to defend." The prophecy was fulfilled; for even in this first paper, the foundation was effectually laid of the complete victory which was afterwards obtained by the same writer, under various sig

natures, aided by some others, who, like himself, generously volunteered their services in behalf of Mr. Lindsey. As I passed through York, on my return to Bedale, a few weeks after, I found that the "lover of all good men," was no other than Mr. Cappe, to whom I was then first introduced. He had not much previous acquaintance with Mr. Lindsey, nor did he know many particulars relating to him, further than the uncommon excellence of his character, exemplified in the sacrifice he had so lately made, at the shrine of integrity and truth. The attack, under the signature of Erasmus, was made by a Dr. Cooper, a dignitary, although not an ornament of the church, and what was rather singular, he was at that time rector of Kirby Whiske in this county, a living of much higher value than Catterick, and one which Mr. Lindsey had formerly held for a relation of the Northumberland family, who died young, and which he afterwards resigned, that he might take his preferment in Dorsetshire, at the earnest solicitation of the Huntingdon family, who were his earliest patrons. Dr. C. could have no enmity against Mr. L. but he wanted to write himself into notice, and was not very scrupulous about the means. The attempt however failed, for he was not joined by a single coadjutor; the slender defences in his favour, which afterwards appeared, during the continuance of the controversy, under different signatures, being all of them, the produce of his own pen.

CHAPTER XXI.

The Author returns to Bedale....Her brother resigns his 'curacy....Takes a farm....A visit to London....Situation of Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey....Visits her late Nostel friend....Makes an excursion to Bath....Returns to London.... Her friend's afflicting seizure....Her exemplary fortitude and resignation....Her death....Some account of her friend's daughter....The Author leaves London.

On my return to Bedale, in March 1774, I found my brother so thoroughly dissatisfied in his present situation, with the narrow stipend of a perpetual curacy of thirty pounds per annum, at four miles distance, that he had resolved to relinquish his profession, and although hitherto disappointed in all his farming experiments on a smaller scale, which might indeed have supplied an argument against it, determined to try his fortune on a larger. Neither my mother, nor I knew any thing of his intention, until he had actually resigned his curacy, and taken a large farm, called Stank House, in the west-riding of this county, belonging to the late Sir Thomas Gascoigne; in the rent of which, as we afterwards found, he had been greatly imposed upon, by the person who was authorised to let it. It was not his practice to consult with us upon any occasion; by which means, if he was in some respects a loser, at least all those painful altercations were avoided, which might have arisen from difference of opinion. We lived together always upon what might be called good terms, yet without knowing more of each other's intentions or plans, than if we had been the inhabitants of a different hemisphere.

My mother consoled herself upon this occasion, with

the hope that a country life, would be more advantageous to my brother's health and moral habits, than the mode of spending his time in a small market-town, her objections to which, instead of diminishing, had increased every year; and giving him credit for more knowledge in husbandry than he really possessed, she transferred to him £800, being a part of her jointure, to stock his farm; for which he was to pay her interest. It is remarkable, that just at the very moment when my brother had relinquished the Church, Mr. Warde of HuttonPagnel, a near relation of my mother's, had attained the promise of a living for him, which he would doubtless have most gladly accepted, had it been offered a few weeks sooner. But such was not the will of Heaven; and so true it is, that the purposes of an over-ruling Providence, can always be effected, whether of chastisement or reward, not only by the smallest alteration in the nature of an event, but even by the slightest change respecting the period when it shall take place.

In the following May, I realized the hope I had many months indulged, of visiting Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey, in London. I found them in a small lodging, upon the ground-floor of a house in Featherstone Buildings, Holborn; the first floor was occupied by more affluent lodgers, and I had an apartment up two pair of stairs, in the pilgrim style. Mr. Lindsey had no place for the remnant of his library, but a small closet through the bed-chamber, which served at once for his study, and for their store-room and cellar. The books were piled upon each other, and as there was no room for a chair or table, were so contrived, as that part of them should serve as a seat, and another part as a writing-desk. Under all these circumstances, Mr. L. was cheerful,

easy, and contented; the people of the house dressed their victuals, of which a very small portion sufficed. Among their earliest patrons, the late excellent Mrs. Rayner deserves a foremost place. She was the great aunt of the Miss Burrels, so celebrated for their amiable character, and for their splendid matrimonial connexions; one of them being married to the duke of Hamilton, another to the duke of Northumberland, and a third to lord Percy, afterwards earl of Beverley. This lady was a person of good fortune, of great energy of mind, excellent principles, and of unbounded generosity, where a great object was to be obtained; otherwise, of habits the most economical. She first heard of Mr. Lindsey by the following accident.

Her maid one day asked her permission to go to Essex-street, where she had heard that a gentleman was going to open a room, to preach a new religion. Permission was obtained, and on her return, Mrs. R. not being perfectly satisfied with the young woman's very imperfect account, determined to call upon the gentleman herself, which she did accordingly the following morning; and upon hearing a full explanation of the object intended, and of the circumstances that had led to it, she not only gave it her most entire approbation, but became afterwards one of its greatest and most steady friends.

Although Mr. Lindsey had now succeeded in his wish of opening a room in Essex-street, for the celebration of public worship; and had obtained that patronage from strangers, which he had not found among his own numerous connexions, still, if we take out of the account the testimony of a good conscience, there was nothing enviable in their present situation. They were subjected