the various topics of conversation which passed in the course of the week, while Mr. Hall was with us. Never did we enjoy his company so much. When free from pain, he experienced that exquisite state of feeling described by Dr. Paley, when speaking of the "transition from pain to ease, which none know but those who have experienced it." At such times he became quite playful and entertaining; at other times he was serious and devout. Mr. Hall was preeminently a man of prayer. When reading the Scriptures in the family, he pursued an admirable plan for exciting attention, by occasional observations on particular passages, or on the phraseology of the text; and by inducing a few minutes' conversation by interrogatory remarks:--"That is very striking: did you observe it in that connexion ?-What do you think of that, sir?-How absurd, on the socinian notion, is this language !-Why, sir, it would be quite nonsense."

On the Saturday morning, we left Oundle for Leicester. Mr. Hall was fond of fast driving, but wished for a long time at the different places where we rested. "Now give me all the time you can, sir, when we stop. It is a maxim with me, that the present place is the best place. You know, sir, I can lie on three chairs, and ease my back. We need not hurry to get to Leicester, sir; it will be quite time enough, if we arrive by ten or eleven o'clock. Mrs. Hall will not expect me earlier. She will be surprised to see me before that time and I do not want to meet any person

to-night." I remonstrated, knowing the difficulty there was in getting him to start. "Well then,

sir, we will say not before nine o'clock, if you please." This preliminary settled, he started the subject of the funds. "I do not know," said he, "how it is that I never could understand the principle of the funding system, particularly the sinking-fund. I cannot see how the debt is to be redeemed by it: perhaps it is owing to my stupidity. Now, sir, I wish that you would give me some information about this financial arrangement." I said, that unless the sinking-fund was intended to mystify and deceive, I could not account for it. Would it not be better to pay off, annually, a portion of the debt, on a plan similar to that which is adopted in common life? For example,—if a man owes a thousand pounds, and has no capital to pay it, but is in the receipt of an income of three hundred a-year, he agrees with his creditors to pay one hundred per annum towards the amount for which he is indebted. Thus the debt and interest are annually diminished, and both parties are benefited. Mr. Hall condemned the present system, and then launched forth against it. I soon discovered that he understood more of the subject than he would acknowledge; which was his usual plan for eliciting conversation. He was well acquainted with the writings of Dr. Price, and other political economists; he then eulogized Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations; especially his principles of free trade, and the subdivision of labour. "These," said Mr. Hall, "are sure

principles, sir; and they are destined to triumph." In short, there was not a subject connected with general knowledge, that could be introduced, the general principles of which he did not understand. Persons were sure to derive instruction from Mr. Hall, if they drew him into conversation; either by not assenting, or by modest inquiries for information. His talents would have rendered him a first-rate statesman, being well acquainted with international law, and the rights of belligerents. He had read and studied Grotius, Vattel, and the most celebrated authorities. By his brilliant and overpowering eloquence, he would have shone as a star of the first magnitude, in either house of parliament. With the science of jurisprudence he was well acquainted: he had an extensive knowledge of the common, civil, and canon laws. I have heard barristers, with whom he has conversed, and who were absolutely astonished at his knowledge of these subjects, exclaim, "Where could this man get this wisdom?" They have frequently declared, that they learnt more in two or three hours from him, respecting the general principles of law, than they had done from books.

We arrived safely at Leicester, after breaking the shafts of my gig, by the additional weight which was thrown upon them by a contrived horizontal position of Mr. Hall for the purpose of alleviating the pain in his back. Mrs. Hall was anxious to learn whether Mr. Hall was aware that it was the time of the assizes at Leicester, when many of the barristers attended his meeting. I told her, that, as he had

not alluded to the circumstance, I did not think he recollected it. She begged that I would not mention it, as it was too late, and it might make Mr. Hall uneasy; and we knew that it would not matter if he were thrown upon his resources.

When Mr. Hall arrived at meeting, there were a number of the barristers present. As soon as he had entered the pulpit, I saw by the expression of his countenance, that he recognized them; but it was remarkable, that, had he been informed of the event, he could scarcely have fixed on a subject more useful and appropriate. The discourse was founded on these words, The truth as it is in Jesus; not as it is in Moses, in Paul, or any other authority, but THE truth as it is in JESUS. The introduction was one of the most beautiful that I ever heard from him: it was very argumentative, and unusually long. I can only remember the two leading ideas, which were, "The advantages and disadvantages which the Jews laboured under, during the personal ministry of our Lord, compared with the advantages and disadvantages we have from testimony; in the unimpeachable character of the witnesses of his miracles, and the fact of his resurrection, with the general diffusion and the moral effects of Christianity. He first stated, that many persons were disposed to envy the Jews the advantages they enjoyed during the personal ministry of Jesus Christ, and to consider that, if placed in similar circumstances, they would have believed in the Messiah. He shewed, by the induction of several particulars, that this was a

fallacious sentiment; that these persons did not take into account the erroneous expectations, almost universally cherished among the Jews, of a reigning, temporal Messiah, who would deliver them from the Roman yoke, and exalt them in the scale of nations. The disappointment consequent upon the Redeemer's advent; the meanness of his birth and appearance; the prejudices excited by education; the opposition of the priests and the whole Jewish Sanhedrim, in the prospect of the abolition of the mosaic ritual, and their ancient rights and customs; as well as the traditions of the Pharisees and Sadducees; all which wounded their national pride; these were SO many obstacles to the reception of the simple truth as it is in Jesus. Then he contrasted the advantages we now enjoy, in the calm investigation of the truth from the fulfilment of prophecy; the testimony of those who were eye witnesses of the Redeemer's majesty; and the final spread of the Gospel, through their sufferings and death.These were nicely weighed and adjusted, until he satisfactorily shewed the advantages to be decidedly in favour of embracing the truth as it is in Jesus at the present period. But it is impossible to give the reader an accurate conception of Mr. Hall's masterly argument. The whole sermon was

delivered without the use of notes, and with astonishing rapidity, so that it became difficult to follow him. It was observed, that most of the barristers appeared to feel oppressed by the closeness of attention which was requisite, fully to