not felt himself affectionately disposed towards me. But it may be easily accounted for, from my being too young to have any thing attractive, and from the petulance and decay of spirits, not uncommon to persons in that disorder.

My mother survived him seven years, in a declining state, which also terminated in a consump. tion. She was not wanting in her affection to me; but I was nursed and reared principally by her sister, who was sheltered both by my father, and herself, from one of the most cruel husbands that ever disgraced human nature; and she had the greatest share of my affection. This foster parent was removed from the family by necessity, previous to my mother's decease. My brother, at the time of my mother's death, about twenty-three years of age, and my sister about seventeen, with myself, were the only survivors of the nine children. My brother, who had served seven years apprenticeship to a watch-maker, soon fell a sacrifice to youthful lusts. I had been encouraged to hope for support from him, but in consequence of his bad conduct, he enlisted in the East-India service, and died abroad. My sister designed to exert herself for me, and had she been as prudent as she was capable, might have supported me till the usual period in which lads are apprenticed : but she had many attractions, and fell into ensnaring company. A few years she was the dupe to vice, but afterwards reformed; and I have reason to conclude, was effectually awakened, and savingly converted, by Mr. Romaine's ministry, and died under the influence of divine grace.

After the death of my mother I was suffered to

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wander the streets, and spend my time in idleness →
and childish dissipation. Soon after I was turned
of eight years, I was admitted into the charity
school of St. Andrew, Holborn, and thought it an
high honour conferred upon me. I felt it an afflic
tion to be deprived of schooling, and frequently
found time hang heavy till I gained the privilege.
When returning from school, I found myself ex-
cluded our apartments; I was often in want of food,
and at a loss for many hours to know what was be-
come of my sister. By degrees I missed pieces of
furniture, and perceived affairs going on seriously
bad. My mother had the care of several sets of
chambers in Gray's-inn ever since I could remem-
ber, which, in conjunction with the business of a
laundress, was the means of our subsistence; my
sister was very ingenious with her needle and her
pen, and conducted the whole business with great
credit, during the period wherein my mother lay
helpless. Previous to that time, she was her right
hand, and was encouraged to go on with the busi-
ness after her decease; but she had formed a ten-
der connexion, which was never consummated;
and having been drawn into dissipation, matters
became daily embarrassed.

She took occasion one day to inform me the furniture would be sold, that she must go to service, and that I must go to the work-house. She was not deficient in affection. I dearly loved her, and I hoped the event would turn out for good. I do not recollect finding myself reluctant to my fate. It was a peculiar pleasure to me to be informed I should be continued in the school.

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I was introduced into a ward of thirty boys. Many inconveniences, it may be supposed, I felt *, but with all I can recollect that I was at the same time impressed with a sense of many mercies, and became soon familiarized to the situation.

* Of these the author has noticed several instances, such as crowding together a great number of boys into one bed, allowing them insufficient food, disregarding their cleanliness, neglecting their health, &c. These the editor has suppressed above, and would not have remarked them here, but for the sake of lamenting-that the design of charitable institutions should so often be subverted wholly or partially, through the avarice or inattentionof hirelings. This might, in some measure at least, be prevented, if proper persons would undertake to inspect them. The editor remembers, when in Dublin, to have met with a gentleman who had retired from business, and lived on a small independence, who devoted himself entirely to this object. He investi gated all the benevolent establishments in the city, and having ascertained the design of them, and the advantages the beneficiaries were authorized to expect from them, he published the account, to enable any of the inhabitants to judge whether justice was done them; and visited them weekly in rotation himself. How many ways are there of doing good, even where persons have it not in their power to afford pecuniary assistance! How desirable is it to deserve the eulogium pronounced on Mary, "She hath done what she could!"

As to the condition itself in which Mr. W. frankly acknowledges himself to have been found, it must prove very unacceptable and offensive to all those who "worship the God of this world," and can think of nothing worthy attention separable from guineas and ribbons. Were it not for the remoteness of the scene, how much more scandalized must they be when they hear our apostles saying, "even to this hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked and buffetted, and have no certain dwelling place:" and to read of the mother of our Saviour, that "She brought forth her first born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for him in the inn !”

This part of my history includes about two years. When I look back as far as I can remember, I can collect many circumstances which are not sufficiently interesting to insert here; one however I cannot omit, namely, the frequent and deep impressions made upon my mind by religion. I have been informed by some who knew me before I knew myself, that it was hardly possible to keep me in the house after Gray's-inn chapel bell struck out, to summon people to the daily prayers at eleven in the morning and five in the evening. I well remember its powerful attraction, and also the first time wherein, after very earnest entreaty, I was intrusted to go by myself to St. Andrew's church. I can recollect the pious frame of my mind, the energy with which I could repeat prayers, and according to my ability read, and heard the Scriptures read. A very serious walk round Gray's-inn, with some of my companions on a sabbath day evening, and our conversation upon the greatness and goodness of God, excited by the serenity of the element, frequently occurs to my mind. I attended funerals till I could repeat the burial service by rote. In the time in which I was denied the privilege of school, I frequently went to St. Andrew's church, at the hour of prayer, and recollect perfectly the first time, that the twentyfirst chapter of St. Luke, being read by the minister in the desk, made a deep impression upon me. Indeed the Scriptures I am now most conversant with are those I have heard read in the desk, or recited as texts from the pulpit, through a succes sion of sixteen or eighteen years. I enjoyed going to church on the saints days and on the sab

bath days, and, with a few exceptions which were always accompanied with remorse, devoutly joined in the prayers and psalmody of the church, and of the school. My mind at times has been so elevated that I believe I could have received the summons of death with joy.

I am inclined to think these frames may be attri· buted to the work of the Spirit of God, which, though early begun, was frequently interrupted by sinful propensities, and practices which, as the re. sult of temptation, I fell into; the recollection of which gives me pain, and constrains me to pray; 'O remember not against me former iniquities; remember not the sins of my youth.' I frequently feel the most powerful distress for them now, at the age of fifty-seven, and if I could, would make retribution. I must, and blessed be God I may be, a debtor, to the blood of Jesus. I never did any thing inconsistent with the strict rule of morality without feeling the smart of conscience.

An innocent forgetfulness became the inlet of a sad temptation, in compliance with which I was too successful a practitioner in sin. As the solicitation occurred, I many times laid myself under a curse, that I would commit the sin no more. But nothing short of converting grace could break the snare. One day I fell by the temptation. I had been in high expectation of hearing a favourite preacher on the following Sunday. When the Sunday came, I hesitated much, whether, with so much guilt upon me, I should go to church. I did go, but got sorely wounded by considering the impropriety of the religious act of that day, with my sinful conduct in the course of the week.

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