Preface to tfje Jftrst (Etrttton. 



To the Printers from the "Squires Son" 



GENTLEMEN, 



About three weeks since, I was awakened 

 quite early in the morning, and shocked by the infor- 

 mation that Gregory was very ill, and supposed to be 

 dying, and that he very much wished to see me. I 

 directed immediately that his two daughters, who are 

 domestics in my family, should be called ; but I learnt 

 that they had already left the Hall for their father's 

 cottage. 



On entering the room of this worthy man, he 

 stretched out his hand, and grasping mine with all the 

 little power he had left him, exclaimed : " Thank you, 

 sir ; just in time, just in time/' On inquiring how 

 long he had been ill, I was informed that, after read- 

 ing a chapter in his Bible as usual, he had retired to 

 bed in apparent good health ; but had been seized at 

 midnight with a violent spasm of the heart, which had 

 resisted all the apothecary's skill, and had prostrated 

 his strength beyond every chance of recovery. I asked 

 him if I should send for our clergyman ; but he de- 

 clined, saying : " No, thank you, sir ; I want all the 

 remainder of my time with my children, But give 



