INTERVIEW WITH A ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST.

45

mingham, 1500 were supposed to be present. Here I met the Roman Catholic priest of Tamworth in the street. He had attended my lecture in that town, and entered earnestly into the spirit of it; but, having left the upper end of the Hall before the close of the discussion, had not since had an opportunity of seeing me. He now seemed rejoiced, and in the fulness of his heart, he with a genuine full toned Irish brogue said:

""Tis I that am glad to see you ;-How do you self after your labour?"

find your

"Very well: I have been lecturing every day since I saw you.'

"Am I not ashamed of my Tamworth townsmen for behaving so uncourteously to a stranger?-I was anxious to have congratulated you on your success in the discussion; but I went to the end of the room, where your noisy opponents stood, in order to remonstrate with them; and when the argument closed, I was obliged to move with the crowd, so that I lost sight of you :-But what a noble pair of lungs you must have!-was I not astonished, when, after having spoken for two hours, you continued the discussion for another hour, as fresh as a daisy. Will you come and take a glass of wine with me?"

'No, I thank you, I drink nothing but water.'

"Oh then do you belong to the Temperance Society?" 'Yes.'

"But sure they only prohibit you from taking whisky." 'True, but I always like to be in the advance-guard; for the human family must be led both by precept and example.'

"That is very well; but with all your exertion a little wine or porter would do you good."

46

LECTURES AT STONY STRATFORD.

'If I had any ailment, which required such a remedy, I would not hesitate to take a dose of wine or porter; but I am thankful to say that I am in very good health.'

“But sure the scriptures say, that you must not be always drinking water!"

I of course did not subscribe to his good-natured commentary; and finding that he could not persuade me to take some wine at his expense, he reverted to the subject of my lecture, and seemed earnestly to desire, that all Christians should adopt the principle it held forth.

I continued my route, and having closed my labours at Stony Stratford arrived on the 5th of ninth month in London.

CHAPTER III.

NINTH MONTH 10TH, TO ELEVENTH MONTH 23RD, 1834.

Lectures at Bedford, 47;-The History of Five Shillings, 48; Expense freely incurred when duty required, 49 ;—Expense contemplated not required, 50;—Hotel expenses paid by the Disciples, 51;-Temperance Lecture, or how to pay Rent, 52;-Hotel expenses paid by the Disciples, 54;Ackworth School, 55.

HAVING remained four days with my family, I commenced a new route on the 10th of NINTH MONTH, lecturing successively at HITCHIN, SHEFFORD, BEDFORD, HIGHAM FERRERS, KETTERING twice, MARKET HARBORO, MOUNTSORREL, DERBY, ASHBURNE, LEEK twice, MANCHESTER twice, BOLTON, NANTWICH, TARPORLEY, LIVERPOOL four times, BERKENHEAD, CHESTER, COLEBROOKDALE twice, SHEFNAL, COVENTRY, and arrived in London on 16th, tenth month :— thus I visited 19 towns, travelled 625 miles, and delivered 28 lectures in 36 days, by which I addressed about 17,300 persons on Peace, 950 on Temperance, also 2400 children, and 1550 parents, and teachers on their relative duties.

In Bedford, I occupied the Chapel of which the celebrated John Bunyan was pastor, and enjoyed some pleasing retrospective imaginings, whilst I sat in the chair he was accustomed to use; and, also, whilst I surveyed various relics of the day in which he lived. On my arrival in this town the deacon of the Chapel invited me to his house, and gave me a sovereign which a person passing through had requested

48

THE HISTORY OF FIVE SHILLINGS.

him to receive for me.-After I had lectured, some few contributed fourteen shillings and sixpence.

On the following day, whilst I was in a bookseller's shop, a person ran in and said he was anxious to find me, that he might offer his mite; he accordingly put down five shillings; and, saying there was no one attending in his shop, he departed in haste. On inquiry, I heard he was a Moravian. I returned to my abode, and there found the disciple who was my host at Newport Pagnel. He told me, that, after I had left his town, he learnt that much good had been done there through my lecture: "One poor man, said he, was anxious to give you five shillings, but he was afraid to offend you. He then urged on me the propriety of being more clear in the explanation of my pecuniary requirements; because he believed, that many would contribute, who now hesitated to do so from motives of delicacy. This objection was made within nine days after the disciple in Leicester had said, that the plain avowal of my poverty was not consistent with the high stand of faith, to which I desired to bear testimony. [See page 43.] Thus do we learn, that he who listens to man is likely to be turned as the weathercock by every wind. Oh for a closer walk with God! that I may be led by the spirit of truth to discern our heavenly Father's will. I however replied, that the overruling influence of the great Shepherd could so regulate men's minds, that I should be supplied for the day with all necessary requirements; and remarked, that as the poor man of Newport Pagnel, was probably unable to afford such a sacrifice as a gift of five shillings; the Lord had accepted his willing mind, and conveyed it to me by another messenger in this town, who delivered me the like sum but a few minutes ago in the bookseller's shop. This

EXPENSE FREELY INCURRED WHEN DUTY REQUIRED IT. 49

friendly monitor, now, accompanied me to the coach; and, on taking leave, contributed a sovereign.

NINTH MONTH, 18th.-Lectured in Derby, and was warmly received by those with whom, on the former occasion, I had the privilege of being made acquainted. I now occupied the Baptist Chapel, which was crowded to excess; it is supposed that 1200 persons were present. On the following morning, whilst engaged with my kind host, I was informed, that a stranger wished to see me; I accordingly went down into the passage, and there found a tradesman with a bag of tools in his hand, who expressed his thankfulness for the lecture he had heard, and begged to contribute his mite: this done, he hastily departed. The passage was so dark as to prevent me from perceiving, until I returned to the sitting-room, that he had given me a sovereign!

NINTH MONTH, 19th.-Lectured at Ashbourne, and on the following day at Leek, where I arrived at one o'clock in the afternoon, and put up at an hotel. As the ensuing day was the Sabbath, I had before me the prospect of spending two days and two nights at a heavy expense, which I might have avoided by going forward to Macclesfield, (my next station,) as soon as possible after the lecture; for, there, I expected to be received in a private house: and, as I could see no likelihood of failing to occupy the time in that town, whilst I might save money by the change, I desired to know my duty, and do it, whatever should be the cost. I went to the coach office, and learned, that as the last coach passed at eight o'clock, which would only have allowed me one hour for the lecture, I could not avail myself of it; and, as there was no other public conveyance before morning, I felt that I ought not to go forward; for, when there

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