EARLY CLERICAL LIFE 37 



" I am deeply thankful to leave the parish in a 

 very different state from that in which I found it. 

 When I first came among you there was no school ; 

 now there are two excellent ones, each with a master 

 and mistress, and at the beginning of this year there 

 were no fewer than 253 children on the books. 

 Every house I have seen provided with a Bible and 

 prayer-book. The congregation is manifold more 

 than it was ; the church has been restored in the 

 most creditable manner, so as to have more the 

 character of a house of prayer ; and the whole tone 

 of the village is so changed as to be obvious to 

 those who pass through it. Glad shall I be to see 

 further improvements carried out in the parish and 

 in the church, and thankful always to hear of the 

 still greater prosperity of the cause of God's Holy 

 Church, to His glory, and the salvation of the souls 

 of the people. Never can I cease to retain the 

 deepest interest in this place. Here our first-born 

 child was removed from us and awaits the Resurrec- 

 tion ; here we have spent nine long, and yet nine 

 short, years ; here we have many friends who have 

 proved themselves sincere ones ; and here, I trust, 

 the means of grace and the preaching of the Gospel 

 have been blessed to souls. We have, indeed, had 

 our trials, but our mercies have been far greater ; 

 nor have we known one dull moment since we have 

 been here. I need not recall the recollection of any 

 'root of bitterness/ which I would rather forget 

 and forgive, as I hope to be forgiven, but am con- 

 tented to have endeavoured to do my duty in that 



