THE DIARY OF EDWARD BAGSHAWE. 89 



drawn. In skilful hands this diary would afford abundant 

 material for a pastoral tale. The Vicar, of family and fortune, 

 deluded by an unworthy London friend into foolish investments 

 until all his patrimony has vanished — his struggles with poverty — 

 his readiness to join in a meal with any of his neighbours — his 

 contracting to be shaved by the village cobbler — the little presents 

 of tea, milk, butter, and hogs' puddings from his parishioners and 

 neighbours — the kindly benefactor who puts his lads into 

 business — the half-crowns he is not too proud to borrow — the 

 eldest son settling down in a draper's shop in the city — the lad's 

 shirts sent home from London to be made — the return of the 

 shirts, with a present to the lad's master, of four tongues and four 

 pots of butter — the daughters sent out as governesses or com- 

 panions — their illness — the public thanksgiving in the Church - 

 the Vicar's pious thankfulness for his wife's life being preserved 

 when fetching water from the brook — his indulgence in three- 

 halfpence worth of snuff and two-penny worth of tobacco when 

 the lead tithes suddenly increased his income — his enjoyment of 

 the wakes and the children's " merrynights " — his patronising the 

 talents of the village caster of accounts — his letting a room in the 

 vicarage as a dancing academy — his humble thankfulness for 

 small gifts from his wealthy relatives — these and a score more of 

 familiar incidents, but all telling a certain tale of pathetic struggle, 

 coupled with Christian courage and cheerfulness, make Edward 

 liaw a very real and a very charming character. 



R/quiescat in pace. 



N.B. — Since the above was in type, we find that Ed waul Bagshaw was only 

 son of Henry Bagshaw, D.D., Prebend of Southwell, Rector of St. Botolph, 

 gate, and of Houghton-le-Spring, and also Trebend of Durham. lie 

 died Dec. 30, 1709, aged 77. Henry Bagshaw was second son of Edward 

 Bagshaw, of Morton Putney, co. Northants, M.P. for Southwark. Edward 

 Bagshaw. M.P., was son of oneof the Bagjhaws of Abney, co. Derby. lie 



died ill 1662. 



