584 
SAMUEL MARSDEN. 
belonged.* His mind was early fixed on the ministry, be 
used every opportunity of preparing bimself for it. An 
anecdote is related of him, that even whilst employed at bis 
trade, and blowing tbe bellows with one band, with a bit of 
chalk in tbe other, be wrote out tbe declensions on tbe fire- 
board of bis forge. Mr. Stone, f the clergyman of tbe parish, 
perceiving bis serious turn of mind, kindly took him to live 
with him, and bad him brought up for tbe ministry. 
After the independence of our North American colonies, 
it became necessary to found a fresh penal settlement, 
and New South Wales was selected. When tbe first fleet 
was on tbe point of sailing to commence tbe colony, tbe 
Minister of tbe day was waited upon by two philanthropic 
men, one of whom was Wilberforce, and the other I believe 
Clarkson, who pointed out tbe duty of sending tbe means 
of grace also ; be laughed at tbe idea of any benefit being 
derived by such a set of abandoned wretches, and enquired 
what clergyman would be persuaded .to take such a duty 
upon him ; they asked, in reply, whether be would furnish 
means, if they could provide tbe man, this be promised 
to do ; they lost no time in introducing tbe Rev. R. John- 
son, a worthy good man, but quite unequal to tbe work 
of stemming tbe torrent of iniquity which there deluged 
society ; and when that gentleman, discouraged by tbe fearful 
state of depravity which prevailed in tbe infant colony, after 
a brief sojourn there, returned, having first published a 
faithful and solemn address to those he had so vainly labored 
amongst, the Minister exultingly said, did I not tell you how 
it would be ? they, however, demanded that another trial 
should be made, which being assented to, Mr. Marsden was 
next selected ; through the influence of his kind friend Mr. 
Stone, and others, he had been sent by the Elland Society 
to St. John^s College, Cambridge, as a sizar, and was there 
* Mr. Marsden’s family ought to assume the horse shoe with the cross 
springing from it, as their heraldic bearing, and the shield of the newly-created 
Australian bishoprick over which his grandson presides, should have it quar- 
tered with the southern cross, 
t Incumbent of Guiseley, in the parish of Rawden, 
