THE MILITIA. 



135 



inclined to drown himself. She felt that while in possession 

 of her faculties she should not change her views : if, knowing 

 this, he found himself able to say anything which might be 

 genuine (as his sayings always were) and not too painful to 

 himself on laying her in the earth, it would be a comfort to her 

 family then, and to her now, in their behalf. She wrote again 

 to thank him for his consent. Her instructions that there 

 should be no expense or show at her funeral accorded with his 

 own very strong feelings. 



" When the national militia, after a long suspension, were 

 again enrolled in the year 1852, and the 4th Lancashire were 

 summoned to Warrington for their month's drill, [he] opened 

 the Cairo Street school-room for evening classes to all of the 

 men who chose to attend, and organized a body of teachers to 

 help him in the work ; and his services in this direction helped 

 much to promote sobriety and good order amongst the men, 

 and were acknowledged by Colonel Blackburne, the commander 

 of the regiment." When, however, a dinner was given to the 

 officers, he wrote the following letter (June 9, 1853) to the 

 " Warrington Guardian " : — 



"Sir, 



" As a member of the executive committee appointed 

 to make arrangements for entertaining the militia, I beg to say 

 that I have taken no part whatever in the arrangements for the 

 dinner just held ; and for these reasons : — 



" 1 st. I understood that the committee was appointed, 

 and the fund raised, with a view to instruct, or at any rate 

 harmlessly amuse, the poor and ignorant militiamen who might 

 else be idling about the streets or drinking in public-houses ; 

 not to feast a number of 6 gentlemen/ who are quite com- 

 petent to look after themselves. 



" 2nd. I abhor the trade of man-killing, which I believe to 

 be utterly unchristian. Therefore, although I am willing to pay 

 the officers that honour which is due to all men, I think it 

 wrong to show them any respect as officers. On the con- 

 trary, if I had any opportunity, I should tell them that I 



