CHAPTER VI.

1844-1846.

A Driving Tour in Scotland-Sunday Habits-Friendships-Dr. Pye Smith's Second Marriage-Melbourn-Mr. Binney in America Chastisement -An Idea of Life Paternal Tenderness - The Office of DeaconCorrespondence with Mr. Binney thereon-An Urgent Appeal-Office of Deacon declined-Living too Fast-Mr. Benjamin Morley.

IN 1844, Mr. Morley took his young wife for a driving tour in Scotland to visit, with her, some of the places that had charmed him in his youth. For the last time in his life he made notes of his journey, and those for the first half of his trip only, the remainder having been written by his wife.

The Journal commences thus:

We (my own dear wife and I) left Clapton, accompanied by Augusta Hope, on the 1st of July. It cost us a pang, which we shall not soon forget, to leave our precious children; but our anxieties were very greatly lessened by the thought that our nurse is a person entitled to every confidence, and that our dear sister Mary has promised to see the sweet treasures every day. I trust we felt also conscious that we had committed them to the guardian care of our Heavenly Father, who has hitherto blessed us, and them, in a measure that entitles Him to our everlasting gratitude, and will, I hope, lead us, with more determination than we have ever evinced, to consecrate ourselves to His service.

Before commencing the Scotch tour, visits were made to Mr. Bateman at Middleton Hall-"to

wander through many scenes associated with a very important and happy period of our lives"-and to Mr. George Hadfield, in Manchester.

The first Sunday in Scotland was spent in Inverary, and as the following extract gives an insight into the Sunday habits of the travellers, we quote it in extenso:

A lovely day the sun shining brightly, and everything around looking most peaceful. After breakfasting and reading a few chapters in the Bible, we set off to worship in the little Independent Chapel, first walking through a very beautiful avenue of fine old trees-where there is what is called the Marriage Tree,' from the circumstance of its trunk separating a few feet above the ground and again uniting twenty feet higher, and the union seems so complete, that it is impossible to say from which the minor branch has sprung, or which has made the advance, but the growing attachment gives strong signs of durability. We had a very good sermon from Dr. Ritchie, of Edinbro', and the little chapel was full, the congregation very attentive and respectable. We had wished to join in the service of the Free Church,' but found they were preaching (in a barn, the new place of worship not being quite completed) in Gaelic in the morning, and their afternoon service came so immediately after that in the former part of the day, the one congregation making place for the second in the same building,-that we were obliged to give it up, and returned, after distributing a few tracts, to dine at our hotel. In the evening we attended the Established Church, where there were about twenty persons besides ourselves-a poor, cold sermon, and a heartless service indeed. We took a ramble up the Dalmally Road, giving away a few tracts which were thankfully received, and, after reading together a very interesting sermon by the Rev. James Hamilton, of London, we retired for the night, having passed our first sabbath in Scotland, and enjoyed a quiet and, I hope, a profitable day.

One entry in the Journal is curious, as showing the ignorance of the times in relation to the treatment of lunatics. It is as follows:

1844-1846.]

FRIENDS.

83

Started for Loch Tay. About two miles from Tyndrum we passed, on the road, St. Fillan's Church. Here there is a turn in the river called St. Fillan's Pool, in which a considerable number of lunatics are annually immersed and then bound hand and foot, and laid all night in the churchyard in expectation of effecting a cure.

The holiday in Scotland only lasted a month, and immediately upon its conclusion we find him again immersed in innumerable engagements.

In addition to the public movements in which he was interested, and the absorbing claims of business (which still occupied him from nine in the morning until seven at night, with the exception of such odd moments as he could spare to "attend a meeting"), Samuel Morley's house was the centre of a very wide circle of influence and of innumerable visitors.

He was one who had more friends than most people have acquaintances. It is no exaggeration to say that half the Congregational ministers of London knew him personally, and were entertained by him either at Wood Street or in his own house; and it is no exaggeration to add that half the schemes of usefulness in which the denomination was engaged were discussed at those interviews. Not only did his friends frequently visit him, but they wrote to him-and letters to busy men are not always sources of comfort and gratification. A huge bundle of those letters lies before the present writer. Here is one from Josiah Conder, acknowledging a loan of £50. Here is one from

Dr. Pye Smith, written six months after his second marriage, testifying that he has found in his wife "the invaluable blessing of a bosom friend, so intellectual, accomplished, affectionate, and pious, that rarely have felicitations been so highly justified." Here is one from an old schoolfellow, telling him news of the little town where their school-days were spent:

"The deputation from the Borough Road went yesterday to the British School at Melbourn, and, to let you know what we are doing here, we held a meeting at Melbourn in the evening and appointed a deputation to London, to oppose the Maynooth Endowment!"

Here are letters from young men, who have since made their mark, acknowledging pecuniary assistance in their start in life; and many others showing confidence in his ready sympathy.

With Thomas Binney, his pastor, he conferred on almost every subject, either by word of mouth or by letter, and each felt sure of sympathy and help from the other.

Mr. Binney lived his life at full tension, and, as action and reaction are equal, there were times when all the machinery relaxed and he suffered from great mental exhaustion, nervous irritation, and depression of spirits. When this mood was upon him, it was impossible for him to continue his absorbing duties, and he would seek retirement and change as far away from the scene of his labours as possible.

1844-1846.]

MR. BINNEY IN AMERICA.

85

One of the darkest of these visitations occurred in 1846, when he fled, overwrought with labour and excitement, to America. From thence he wrote frequently to Samuel Morley, who was one of the very few to whom he ever did write in the times of his depression. It was a comfort to him to open his heart wide to the confidence of his friend, to tell him everything that related to his own personal trouble, to his hopes and fears with regard to the future, and to his anxieties respecting the work of the congregation left behind. He could not write to the Church, so great was his depression, but he poured out his heart to his friend unreservedly. The following extracts from a long letter will indicate the style of the correspondence:

The Rev. Thomas Binney to Mr. Samuel Morley.

TORONTO, July 29, 1845.

MY DEAR FRIEND,— It is now twelve weeks since I parted with you at Liverpool; two were spent at sea, three at Boston, one at New York, one at Niagara Falls, and five have been consumed in this province. I have not enjoyed, in any respect, this protracted experiment. Company, solitude, travelling, sights, scenery, and even of late, work and business, have all done nothing for me. I fear I must return just as I left-return however, I must, for it is no use remaining here, though I have had much to attempt in this region, and much yet remains to be accomplished for which many wish to protract my stay. . . . Though I have been much about, I have been obliged to avoid generally public duty, from a most oppressive and painful incapacity to attempt or discharge it. I have taken a service usually once a Sunday-that is, reading a sermon, for I feel as (if not more) unequal to the calm freedom of speech which preaching requires, as I experienced before I left home..

How does the poor Weigh House look on a Sunday? I try to fancy it, and wonder who may be in the pews and who in the pulpit. The