years, rather to the deliberate conviction of his mind, than to any diminution of the imaginative faculty.

But I must restrain myself, and pass to Mr. Hall's everyday habits after his return to Bristol. The course of his life at home, when not interrupted by visitors, was very uniform. He generally rose and took his breakfast about nine o'clock. Breakfast was immediately succeeded by family worship. At this exercise he went regularly through the Scriptures, reading a portion of the Old Testament in the morning, and of the New Testament in the evening. On Sunday morning he almost invariably read the ninety-second Psalm, being short, and appropriate to the day. He also read in his family the translation of the four Gospels, by Campbell, whom he particularly admired, and often recommended, as an accurate translator, and a critic of great acuteness, taste, and judgement. He seldom made any remarks on the portion of Scripture, except when strangers were present, who, he knew, would be disappointed at their entire omission. He regarded himself as very incompetent to render this brief kind of exposition instructive. In the prayer that succeeded, he was not in the habit of forming his petitions on the passage of Scripture just read, though the prayer was usually of considerable length, and very minute in its appropriation. He adverted specifically to all the persons belonging to his family, present and absent; never forgot the people of his care; and dwelt on the distinct cases of members of the Church that were under any kind of trial or affliction.

After breakfast and worship, he retired into his study, and uniformly spent some time in devotion, afterwards generally reading a portion of the Hebrew Bible. For the two last years, he read daily two chapters of Matthew Henry's Commentary. As he proceeded he felt increasing interest and pleasure; admiring the copiousness, variety, and pious ingenuity of the thoughts; the simplicity, strength and pregnancy of the expressions. He earnestly recommended this commentary to his daughters; and on hearing the eldest reading, for successive mornings, to the second, he expressed the highest delight. The remainder of the morning until dinner, about three o'clock, was spent in reading some work of learning, or of severe thought. After dinner he generally retired to his study, and, if not in so much pain as to prevent it, slept for some time.

"It was what some men essentially a constant habit Lettres he did not altogether such literature in small estir he seem to me to have e Gray's Elegy the finest thin There was something pecu spoke slightly of poets, w means what might have b tive cast of mind. Yet, v he would read it with int interest, and then abuse in fact, an antique, he Of the poetry of our o accurate or extensive him to relinquish. H and consecutive stud He seem

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y retired to rest a little before eleven is first sleep, which lasted about two bed to obtain an easier position on the chairs; and would then employ himself n which he had been engaged during the eed, often, the laudanum, large as the doses sufficiently neutralize his pain, to remove in quitting his bed.* In these cases he the dress prepared to keep him adequately his reading. On Sunday mornings, as it was usual with him to say, "This is This is the day the Lord hath made; let glad in it." And he often impressed it on ey ought not to think their own thoughts," own pleasure," on that day.

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ursue any plan of training, or of discipline, He was remarkably affectionate and ine did nothing systematically to correct defects, cite their minds. Now and then he recomaughters to read some particular book; one, he had himself read with peculiar satisfaction: nis there do not appear to have been any direct, avours to impart knowledge, or, in any uniform nculcate religious principles.

wever, any of his children were about to quit home me, it was his practice to summon them to his study, n, and pray with them. One of his daughters on a friend after his death, says, "Well I remember en I was a child, on leaving home for a few days, or on > school, he would call me into the study, give me the est advice, make me to kneel down by him at the same and then, both bathed in tears, would he fervently supthe divine protection for me. This, I believe, he did

more than twenty years he had not been able to pass a whole night in en this is borne in mind, it is truly surprising that he wrote and pubmuch; nay, that he did not sink into dotage before he was fifty years

On Tuesday evenings are held what are termed "the conferences," in the vestry of the Broadmead chapel: they are meetings ordinarily attended by about two hundred persons, at which two of the students belonging to the Bristol Education Society, or one of the students, and the president, speak on a passage of Scripture previously selected for the purpose. Mr. Hall always attended on these occasions, and concluded by speaking for about a quarter of an hour, on the subject of the preceding addresses. He also attended the prayer meetings, in the same place, on Thursday evenings; except once a month, namely, on the Thursday previous to the administration of the Lord's Supper, when he preached.

The other evenings in the week, except Saturday, (and that, indeed, not always excepted), he usually spent at the house of one or other of his congregation, with a very few friends, who were invited to meet him. His inability to walk having greatly increased, his friends generally sent a carriage for him about six o'clock, and conveyed him back about ten.

It is difficult to say whether he had greater fondness for retirement or for company. It displeased him if, especially by sudden interruptions, he was obliged to give up his morning hours of study to visitors; and it would commonly have been a disappointment, if he had not the opportunity of spending his evenings in society. If he were, at any time, thrown among persons of distinguished talents and attainments, and their general character pleased him, it was soon shewn how truth and knowledge might be educed by the operation of intellect upon intellect, and how rich a field of instruction and delight would thus be open for the general enjoyment of the party. Usually, however, his choice turned simply upon the prerequisite of piety; he sought for no other acquisitions in his associates than the graces of the Spirit; intelligence added to the enjoyment, but was not essential to it. The society of old friends had with him an exquisite charm, which was greatly heightened if their fathers had been known and esteemed by him or his father; such intercourse, requiring no effort, gave full scope to his affections, without disturbing his mental repose. He uniformly retired from these evening parties, full of grateful references to the pleasure which he had felt. If any of his family who accompanied him, happened to say that the evening had been dull, he would reply, "I don't think so. It was

very pleasant. I enjoyed it. I enjoy every thing." Considering the continuity of his sufferings, how touching a commentary is this upon the inspired aphorism, "the good man shall be satisfied from himself!"

Mr. Hall commonly retired to rest a little before eleven o'clock; but, after his first sleep, which lasted about two hours, he quitted his bed to obtain an easier position on the floor, or upon three chairs; and would then employ himself in reading the book on which he had been engaged during the day. Sometimes, indeed, often, the laudanum, large as the doses had become, did not sufficiently neutralize his pain, to remove the necessity for again quitting his bed.* In these cases he would again put on the dress prepared to keep him adequately warm, and resume his reading. On Sunday mornings, as soon as he awoke, it was usual with him to say, "This is the Lord's day. This is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." And he often impressed it on his family, that they ought "not to think their own thoughts," or "to find their own pleasure," on that day.

He did not pursue any plan of training, or of discipline, with his children. He was remarkably affectionate and indulgent; but he did nothing systematically to correct defects, to guide or excite their minds. Now and then he recommended his daughters to read some particular book; one, perhaps, that he had himself read with peculiar satisfaction: but beyond this there do not appear to have been any direct, specific, endeavours to impart knowledge, or, in any uniform manner, to inculcate religious principles.

When, however, any of his children were about to quit home for a short time, it was his practice to summon them to his study, exhort them, and pray with them. One of his daughters on writing to a friend after his death, says, "Well I remember "that, when I was a child, on leaving home for a few days, or on going to school, he would call me into the study, give me the "tenderest advice, make me to kneel down by him at the same "chair, and then, both bathed in tears, would he fervently supplicate the divine protection for me. This, I believe, he did

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* For more than twenty years he had not been able to pass a whole night in bed. When this is borne in mind, it is truly surprising that he wrote and published so much; nay, that he did not sink into dotage before he was fifty years of age.