PREFACE. Ill 



Creator sent his Son as His richest gift of love to 

 redeem mankind. 



Without being so presumptuous as to endeavour 

 to penetrate into the vast designs of Providence, 

 an humble individual may, nevertheless, exert his 

 best powers in pointing out the wise and beautiful 

 arrangements in the works of the Almighty, as 

 they have forcibly struck his mind and excited his 

 reverential feelings. If I should have failed in 

 this attempt, an earnest wish, at least, has not been 

 wanting to do my utmost. The poor Dervise of 

 the Grove had only his prayers to offer, and they 

 were not despised. 



But if a diffidence in my own resources should 

 lead me to value them only as "tenues opes 5 ' I 

 cannot continue the language of the Roman ora- 

 tor, " exiguse amicorum copise \" for it is with 

 pleasure that I now make my acknowledgments to 

 the many kind friends, who have at various times 

 supplied me with much interesting information. I 

 have more particularly to thank the Rev. John 

 Mitford for his charming sonnet, which will be 

 found in the " Vicarage," and my old friend 



