1803.] 
was once fairly owtwitted in his own way. 
Within the laft three years of his life, he 
had occafion for a new wig; the perriwig- 
maker was accordingly fent for, who imme- 
diately fet about the meafurement of that 
part which was to be fitted, viz. the caput 
or head. ‘ Good Mr. Tonfor,” faid the Doc- 
tor, ‘* I would have you to adda few inches 
to your gage, and be fure you go over the 
premifes with care—for you muft know, Srr, 
that ve a tone head.” ‘* Aye, Doctor,” re- 
plied the Barber, and a thick one too!” The 
gentleman of whom this anecdote is related, 
not only took the rebuff with as much good 
humour as it was given, but was fo charmed 
with the fmartnefs and point of the unex- 
peéted repartee, that he put his hand in his 
pocket, and gave the Barber half a crown. !j 
[Further particulars relative to the late 
Rev. Mr. Walker, of Seathwaite, near 
Broughton, Lancafhire-—I\t appears, that the 
late W. Penny, efq. of Penny Bridge, pre- 
fented him to the perpetual curacy of Seath- 
waite, when it was no more than 8l. a year; 
that Mr, Walker married early in life, and 
brought up more than ten children, befides 
feveral that died in infancy. This $l. a year, 
and teaching a village fchool, in one of the 
moft retired places in the north of England, 
which probably never brought him in more 
than another eight, was apparently all he 
had to live upon. It is impoihble that with 
fuch a pittance, without a patrimony, he 
could fupport an increafing family. He had 
of courfe many other helps. He was ftew- 
ard of the court for his patron, Mr. Penny ; 
and, no doubt, received many perquifites in 
a coypheld manor, which confifts of {mall 
inheritances. He made wills, bonds, con- 
veyances, furrenders, and every thing of the 
kind 5 and, in fhort, was the only lawyer in 
the neighbourhood, He more than educated 
his children ; he trained them up to habits of 
induftry, and gave them a living example of 
it in his own chara&ter. To his fcholars he 
did the fame ; for at the very time he taught 
them to read and write, he was {pinning in 
the chancel, which was his fchool. It will 
not furprize our readers very much when 
they learn, that this clergyman was not only 
a fpinner, but a publican’ (or, rather, his 
daughter, in whofe name, to fave appear- 
ances, the licence was-granted;) and by this 
calling, probably he did more good than he 
was able to do by precept. No late hours, 
no tippling, no immorality, or indecency of 
any kind, would he fuffer ; though in a mild 
and gentle way, he would exert his authority 
when he pleafed. By perfevering in this 
plan, when there was not another public- 
houfe of a contrary defcription to counteract 
his benevolent defigns, he had it in his power, 
with few exceptions, to train up the rifing 
generation of his diftri¢t in religion and vir- 
Ss 
' 
The Rev. Mr. Walker. 185 
tue. Village ale-houfes, for the moft part, 
are great impediments to the well-meant en- 
deavours of a confcientious clergyman, which 
cannot have their proper effect fo long as tha 
former continue, as they almoft univerfally 
do, under little or no regulations.—Mr, 
Walker, though ftriét and rigid in fome 
cafes, yet was naturally of a liberal turn of 
mind, and had no morofe objection to allow 
of the innocent pleafures of youth, as will 
appear from the following circumftance. In 
fome places of the north of England, they 
have their plum fairs, cherry fairs, fugar 
and water Sundays, or fome other annual 
meeting, which evidently have the fame 
Origin as the wakes or feafts in the Midland 
‘counties, viz. the dedication of churches to 
fome faint. On the Sunday, when the young 
people met at Seathwaite, to partake of fruit, 
cakes, and ale, as ufual, Mr. Walker’s firft 
care, when the bell rung, was to clear the 
houfe, and condu& them all to the chapel. 
After a fuitable difcourfe, they all returned 
to their mirth, when he condefcended to be 
their waiter ; and ‘* Coming, coming, Sir,” 
with his band yet on, was the echo to their 
call, Perhaps it was not in his power to 
prevent irregularities at all times in his 
houfe; but, from the fingular refpect every 
one had to his general character, he was 
enabled to do what others could not. It is 
not eafy to conceive what profits could arife 
to one fituated in fuch a fequeftered vale 
(who was hofpitable and generous in the exe 
treme) by felling ale; one that many times 
would take nothing from either friends or 
ftrangers. Multitudes have been benefited 
by his bounty, and the writer of this account, 
among the number. The firft time he called 
at Mr. Walker’s houfe, with his patron’s 
compliments, (though totally unknown to 
him) there appeared benignity and gratitude 
inexpreflible in the worthy minifter’s coun- 
tenance 3 and, eat and drink what you would, 
there was nothing to pay. His living did 
not long reft at $l. a year, but gradually in- 
creafed ; and principally from the following 
caufe. A party of gentlemen from London, 
long before it’ was fafhionable to vilit the 
Lakes, accidentally ftumbled upon Mr, Wal- 
ker’s houfe for refrcfhment. Here they found, 
to their aftonifhment, plenty of good homely 
fare, and a cup of excellent ale; their-hoft 
alfy a fenfible and agreeable companion, fur- 
rounded by a houteful of children, all fo 
neat, fo induftrious, and happy, that, after 
their return to town, they raifed (oftner 
than once) egcol. by fubleription, which 
commanded another 2ool. from queen Anne’s 
Bounty. The income o: this, when laid out 
in land, together with what feil by the lot 
at different times, and the original $1. made 
the living at laft worth about 6ol. a year. 
PROVINCIAL 
