the affirmative, the stranger told him, that he was in America to purchase cotton for him. An explanation immediately took place, and the stranger proved to be the very person whose operations he was sent to intercept. He had been unable to execute his commission at Savannah, owing to the increased demand at an higher price than he was authorized to give; and had come to New York, in the hope of being more successful. He was then making diligent inquiry for the article, but happily had purchased nothing. Thus Mr. Spear was snatched from ruin, when he appeared to be upon its brink, and delivered from the snare by which many respectable houses in that trade sustained an irreparable injury. This circumstance occurred towards the latter end of the year 1799. Mr. Spear was twice married. He was united to his first wife in 1794, and enjoyed her society but little more than two years. One child, who survives him, was the fruit of this union. His second marriage took place in August, 1801, at Bath. Previous to this event he formed a new commercial establishment in Manchester, in favour of a relative; which, after he had dissolved every other, he continued, till within twelve months previous to his death.

But it is time that we should turn from his widely extended mercantile transactions, to contemplate the exercises of his benevolence, and the growth of his character as a Christian. These appeared to sustain no injury from the multiplication of his commercial speculations, and his constant contact with the scenes and interests of the busy world. The good seed in him was not choked by the cares of this world, nor the deceitfulness of riches. The reverse was, in fact, the case. His zeal for God kindled with his increasing wealth; a circumstance indeed of rare occurrence. His purse and his influence were ever at the command of the cause of religion and humanity; and it was frequently remarked by those who closely observed him, at that period of his life, when he was most involved in commercial engagements, that they never met with one who seemed to pursue both worlds with such ardour. It was his invariable custom to devote the early part of each day to the perusal of the Scriptures, meditation, and prayer. Thus he induced upon his mind the genial influence of religious principle, and was constantly imbued with the spirit of the Gospel. He entered on the business of every day, with more deep reflection than most men give to the commencement of life: he went from his closet to his counting-house; and brought all that freshness of religious impression and feeling which is the usual accompaniment of

recent conversion, into his daily transactions with the world. Nor, when in the world, was he less active than the most eager of its devotees. Yet it was not the love of money that inspired him. This was evident from the liberality with which he dispensed the wealth he had acquired. He was as much a stranger to the avarice by which most men are influenced in the pursuit of gain, as they are to the piety that animated him. None, perhaps, ever attained more completely to that combination of qualities represented by the Apostle, and which constitutes the standard of excellence to the tradesman and the merchant: "Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord."

But it was easy to perceive that, with a decision and activity of mind that engaged his whole soul in whatever he embraced, he was yet most at home and happy in those pursuits which concerned the interests of philanthropy and the cause of Christ. We have already observed, that at an early age he was much concerned for the enlargement of the church and congregation to which he was attached; the same concern for its prosperity attended him through life: and at length he, and those who were equally interested with him in the promotion of the Redeemer's cause, had the satisfaction to reap the fruits of their pious and unwearied exertions, in the erection of a large and commodious chapel in Moseley Street, and the regular attendance of a numerous and respectable congregation. Thus the zeal for God which glowed within his breast, and consecrated the ardour of his youth, in no way declined as he advanced in years. The decision of his maturer judgment confirmed his early attachment. It grew as the means of its gratification increased, and the sphere of his influence extended. It became the ruling principle within him; and so completely, at times, did it absorb every other, that he seemed almost incapacitated for any occupation that did not bear immediately on this great end.

It was from the operation of this principle, that he became what some would call perhaps profuse, but certainly most liberal, in his religious and benevolent contributions. Nor was he satisfied with merely giving his name, or devoting his property; he trod a less smooth and easy path to the honours of philanthropy. He devoted his time, his talents, and his influence to such institutions as were within his reach. Many a toilsome journey, many a wearisome day, many a fervent prayer, many a princely donation, unrecorded in the annals of benevolence on earth, but registered in heaven, attest the

ardour and sincerity of his zeal: and notwithstanding the extent to which he was known and esteemed while here, much, doubtless, of his retired and unostentatious goodness remains to excite our astonishment and admiration another day.

Indeed the distinguishing feature of his character was humility. Not that spurious kind of humility which some affect, only to elicit compliment, and secure to themselves the greater praise; but a deep and genuine principle wrought in his mind, arising from a consciousness of his own unworthiness, and a dread lest any of the honour of what he did should be withheld from God, and bestowed upon himself. Of this he gave an interesting example at the first public collection which was made in Moseley Street Chapel, in behalf of the Missionary Society, by silently putting into the box as it passed him £300; in the hope, that while it swelled the collection, the giver might remain unknown. It proved to be a sum just double the whole amount collected from the rest of the congregation; and no doubt was entertained for a moment to whom the Society was indebted for so liberal a donation.

His benevolent attention was much directed towards the instruction of the ignorant population inhabiting the large and numerous villages round Manchester, and many of them enjoy to this day the happy effects of his enlightened and generous exertions on their behalf. The introduction of the Gospel, and the establishment of Sunday schools, were the means which he was ever anxious to employ for the improvement of their condition. It would have been a source of unspeakable gratification to his own mind, if he had been sufficiently qualified to become a preacher of the Gospel amongst them himself; and once or twice he actually made the attempt, in the presence of those well able to judge of his fitness for the work, but wisely gave it up, on their faithful representation to him of his apparent deficiencies. These were not of the head or the heart, for he was a man of great wisdom, and mighty in the Scriptures; but from extrinsic circumstances, over which he could have no control. did, however, what he could. He gave his wisdom and his influence in another way, and was always ready with his purse and his advice, his presence and his prayers, whenever he thought they were required.

He

In the year 1803, he built a neat and commodious chapel at Cross Street, a populous village about six miles out of Manchester. Here a place of religious worship had been

long needed, and in that which he erected, accommodation was provided for 600 people. The expense of the erection was about £800, the whole of which was furnished by himself, with the exception of about £51, collected in the neighbourhood, and £220 by a relative, who gave 20 to every 50 of Mr. Spear's.

About this time also he built a school adjoining the chapel, where from 2 to 300 children were instructed daily in the rudiments of English education by an experienced schoolmaster. The whole expense of this establishment rested on himself; and he gave his personal attendance to watch over the admission of scholars, and the interests of the school. He was at length, however, disgusted and wearied out with the many instances of imposition which were practised upon him by parents able to provide a suitable education for their children; and perceiving that, in too many instances, he was only wasting his money upon undeserving objects, to the great injury of many worthy schoolmasters in the town, he abandoned this undertaking, and turned the resources it had employed into a more hopeful channel.

He

He was deeply impressed with the importance of sound learning to a Christian minister, and was, therefore, a warm friend and liberal supporter of academies for the education of pious young men with a view to the sacred office. frequently visited that established at Rotherham *, and, together with the late Mr. Joshua Walker, and Mr. John Clapham, its tried friends and powerful advocates, took a journey. to the metropolis, for the purpose of exciting the attention and the liberality of the friends of religion there, to the subject of theological seminaries in general, and to that in particular. He afterwards formed one upon a similar principle, though on a more narrow and retired scale, in Manchester, from which many highly useful and respectable men have gone forth to labour in the church of God.

In his second marriage it pleased God to bless him with a numerous offspring, all of whom, except one, survive their revered and honoured parent. It appears to have been his chief concern early to imbue their minds with religious principle, and to lead them, by every method of parental instruction and example, in the paths of piety and wisdom. Amid the large demands made upon his truly valuable time by his

That respectable institution was then under the care of the late Dr. Edward Williams, a man whose works remain an imperishable monument of his learning, talents, and piety. It is now under the able superintendence of the Rev. James Bennett, and the Rev. Thomas Smith, A. M.

extended operations in commerce, the numerous religious and benevolent institutions to which he was devoted, and the multifarious and often troublesome correspondence to which a man of his known prudence, influence, and public spirit, must always be exposed; that portion which he owed to his family was ever held sacred, and the duties of the parent were discharged with uniformity, punctuality, and cheerfulness and when, at length, he obtained that rest from the toils of business, and retirement from the bustle of the world, which he had long ardently desired, he shone forth in all the hallowed lustre of a Christian parent, in the various exercises of devotion, instruction, and correction-the PROPHET, PRIEST, and KING of his family.

At length, however, his health began to suffer from his numerous journeys and his multiplied exertions. In a tour which he was induced to take through the Highlands of Scotland, in company with several eminent ministers, for the purpose of promoting the interests of religion, he laid the foundation of the disease (asthma) which frequently afterwards endangered his life, compelled him ultimately to leave Manchester, and attended him to the grave.

In the year 1806, he withdrew from all active concerns in business, devoting himself to works of benevolence and piety; although he still retained his connexion with the commercial world, remaining in partnership with Messrs. Dillon and Halliday, and also with his relative above alluded to. By this time he had become well nigh weary of the world, both in body and in mind, and he earnestly desired to be free alike from its temptations and its cares. The constant collision of the pure and noble principles that animated his pursuits, and governed all his conduct, with those of the mercantile men with whom, in the way of trade, he was compelled to mingle, created a restlessness and anxiety in his mind, to the removal of which he had long looked forward with intense desire. It is saying but little, indeed, for the principles and spirit that characterize the commerce of the present day, that such a man as Robert Spear was glad to be disentangled from it; but so it was: and they who observe the truly devotional and heavenly frame of mind, discovered in the following extracts from letters written at that period, will not be astonished that such should have been the case. The first is dated "Sept. 8, 1806" is addressed to his relative, Mr. Heron, of Manchester. "Oh this sad world! often am I ready to express myself as the Psalmist does, 'Oh! that I had wings like a