times scarcely more than will supply the necessaries of life. But the labours which are sometimes overlooked upon earth are recorded on high, and their reward is from Him who knows their "works and and tribulation, and poverty; and they are rich" in Him. Meanwhile, let not the church of England in the day of prosperity forget her poorer sister; particularly, let her not forget the "works, and charity, and service, and faith, and patience,” which have been there exhibited; for they will be an useful pattern if her own enemies prevail, and

rounded, agreeably to that universal law of nature by which smaller bodies gravitate towards larger ones. Firmly attached, then, my brethren, to your church, in her constitution, forms, and doctrines, from a sincere conviction of their excellence and importance, you will not, I am sure, rest satisfied that you have faithfully discharged your duty, unless your hearers are thoroughly instructed in them, and unless you openly avow and firmly maintain these distinguishing principles of their religion whenever you can do it with propriety and advantage. And in pursuing this course, I am equally sure, that you will not be led of necessity to make any direct attack upon the sentiments of other religious denominations. We are the enemies of no church or party, however different from our own. Such a practice, you well know, is sanctioned by no principle of your church, and, I trust, is rarely to be met with among her clergy; for although our preference to one system be exclusive, and our reason for that preference far from frivolous, yet we must recollect that under that system, and by the terms of that preference, we are bound to exercise all the charities of the Gospel."

The reader will be gratified by the perusal of another extract from this discourse : "He who is not possessed of a considerable share of Christian humility and self-denial, as well as disinterestedness and zeal, can engage in no employment,

tribulation and distress come upon her. Many kind and faithful friends hath Providence raised up for the episcopal church of Scotland, who have honoured her as she deserves, and have laboured, not to promote her worldly advancement, but to secure her from degradation and neglect, and enable her to go forward in the work which she has in hand. Among these Mr. Bowdler, during the latter years of his life, laboured more than any persons who were not members of that communion ; and by promoting the building and repairing of chapels, and the circulation of prayer-books and tracts translated into the Gaelic language, as well as by bestowing pecuniary aid upon her poorer members, particularly in the northern dioceses, and

which is less likely to yield him satisfaction and comfort than that of a clergyman of our church; for, except in the consciousness or the hope of doing good, he can expect no pleasure, he can hope to reap no advantage. You are all aware, my brethren, that, from the peculiar nature of our undertaking, all the avenues to wealth, independence, or secular reputation, are shut against us. With us, the fruits of a liberal education, the study and application of years, the flower and vigour of life, are not employed, as in the case of others, in pursuing the paths of ambition, in providing a liberal maintenance for our families, or in laying a foundation for future years of independence and ease, but in submitting to a voluntary, though honourable poverty, and in following, amidst innumerable difficulties and discouragements, the steps of those holy apostles and prophets, who willingly endured every trial and deprivation for Christ's sake, and spent themselves in a zealous effort to promote the salvation of sinners, and to direct fallen and erring mortals into the paths of eternal happiness."

stirring up active and willing friends, he may almost be said to have had the blessing of her that was ready to perish come upon him.

At the time at which we are now arrived, Mr. Bowdler had quitted his house and farm at Hayes, and was residing at Eltham, in the same county. A principal object in this removal, was the bringing of his expences to a scale more exactly adapted to the smallness of his income. To live on little, with a generous heart, is, he would often say, a painful task. This it was, however, which he was obliged to do, through nearly the whole of his life; and by means of strict economy, and denying himself almost all personal indulgence, he maintained an appearance, and exercised a charity and bounty far beyond what might have been expected from so small a fortune as that which he possessed. It was a rule which he always prescribed to himself, to owe no man any thing; he paid ready money as far as possible; and was much disturbed and distressed if a single bill remained undischarged at the end of the year.* His removal to Eltham

* Extract from a letter from Mr. Bowdler to his second son, upon his leaving school.

"I need not, I hope, charge you not to leave one penny unpaid in all Hampshire; if you do, you blot the fair fame of your ancestors; who, for at least a century, have been noted for observing that noble rule, Owe no man any thing, but to love one another.' Never while you live buy any thing which you cannot pay for; or else change your name as soon as possible, for that is the Bowdler character and practice."

was attended with much comfort to himself. It brought him close to the parish church during the remainder of his days, and being at only a short distance from London, he was able to transact business (of which he had always much upon his hands) with great ease, and to enjoy the society of many friends. Most of these were the members of Nobody's Club, which he had been instrumental in forming, and which continued with increased numbers after the death of the excellent person from whom it derived its name. count of this club may be seen in the Memoirs of W. Stevens, Esq. by the Hon. Mr. Justice Park. Mr. Stevens was the intimate friend of Mr. Bowdler, who loved him during his life, and had the happiness and honor of attending him during the few hours which preceded his sudden death.

An ac

But Mr. Bowdler's attention was not confined to the calls of business for himself or others, nor to the claims and pleasures of friendly intercourse. A time was come when a great and general desire prevailed, of giving to the lower orders the benefit of a better education; and the most active members of the Church of England were exerting themselves to instruct the poor more generally in the truth, and at the same time prevent the diffusion of error and false doctrine. Mr. Bowdler had assisted at the formation of the National Society for the Education of the Poor, and bore a

tracts.

prominent part in forming a school at Eltham in union with it. He acted for some time as secretary, and took much delight in giving a regular attendance at the school, and particularly in examining the children in the Church catechism and in arithmetic. The Society for promoting Christian Knowledge had also recommended the formation of diocesan or district committees, for the enlargement of its funds, and the wider circulation of bibles, prayer books, and useful religious A committee was established at Blackheath, for a district which included Eltham, and Mr. Bowdler having been accidentally placed in the chair, at a meeting of the Vice Presidents, was requested to hold that office at the monthly committees. It was one for which his regularity and dispatch in business, and early acquaintance with all its forms, made him peculiarly qualified; and the appointment, as it was attended, probably, with considerable advantage to the committee, was productive of much comfort to himself and others, in the friendly acquaintance to which it introduced him, with those members who usually attended. After a few years, feeling the infirmities of age coming upon him, and being apprehensive of their increase, he resigned the chair, to the great regret of the committee, who recorded their sentiments in the following resolution, conveying a vote of thanks, which, together with his answer, was ordered to be entered in their minutes.