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contempt, for a futm-e usefulness ; who laboured in state prisons, in 

 county gaols, were counted mad by kinsfolk and acquaintance, brought 

 before papal inquisitions, and their search after truth denounced as 

 impious and heretic ; of those who laid the foundations of some mighty 

 discovery in a cottage or a work-shop, who made the garret or solitary 

 spot on the mountain side more sacred and royal than the Queen's 

 council-chamber, because here alone, unfriended, with no words of 

 sympathy, no outward helps, were laid the key-stones of many an edifice 

 which shall stand while royal palace and the proudest earthly buildings 

 crumble away, till the scattered grains of truth which man can collect are 

 all merged in the boundless sands of a truthful eternity. As Longfellow 

 has so beautifully sung : — 



"Lives of great men all remind us 

 We can make our lives sublime, 

 And, departing, leave behind us 

 Footprints in the sands of time ; 



Footprints, that perhaps another, 

 Sailing o'er life's solemn main, — • 

 Some forlorn and ship-wrecked brother. 

 Seeing, shall take heart again." 



With these words of preface I will address myself to my pleasing 

 task — many kind friends have come forward to help me. First, I must 

 mention the name of Mr. J. Otley Atkinson, of Kendal, nephew to our 

 hero, who has most generously placed letters and papers at my disposal. 

 For further details, many of them of a personal character, I am indebted 

 to Mr. J. F. Crosthwaite and others. 



JONATHAN OTLEY'S ANTECEDENTS. 



Otleys have lived in the parish of Grasmere for fully two centuries 

 and a half, and Mr. Otley Atkinson thinks he can trace them back to the 

 year 1575, the earliest date of register in this part of the country, while 

 it may be remembered that the oldest register in England goes no further 

 back than 1525. The following copy of entries from the Grasmere 

 register have been kindly furnished me by Mr. O. Atkinson. 



