18 A DOCTOR OF DIVINITY 



village of Steep, to admire the overhanging 

 woods and deep ravines of Stonor Hill, from 

 whose top, as from a precipice, may be seen 

 one of the finest landscapes this or any 

 other county can afford. 



My father, then growing in wealth and 

 prosperity, perceiving, perhaps, that I did 

 not make the progress he had been led to 

 expect, about this time fell in by accident 

 with a reverend divine, who, whatever 

 might have been his doctrine, knew well 

 how to practise good living ; and to his 

 care, in a convivial hour, was entrusted my 

 future education. 



This Doctor for he was a D.D. was 

 eminent as a preacher, though 1 do not 

 know that he held any benefice, and kept an 

 academy in some repute at Fulham. He, 

 I have heard say, was a well-disposed man, 

 of good average acquirements, and with a 

 fair share of colloquial, as well as pulpit 

 oratory, which he was fond of displaying to 

 those whom he honoured with his company, 



