Solicitor, of Preston, if I knew Mr. Grindrod. At that time, I did not know him. Mr. Howard proceeded to say, that he was himself present during a trial at the Lancaster Assizes," the one above mentioned, "when Mr. Grindrod attended to give evidence; and that, on his leaving the Court, Judge Bayley, who presided at the trial, inquired more particularly concerning the gentleman whose evidence they had just received, observing, that he had displayed such strength of mind, such logical clearness and precision, and such competency to work legal subjects, that he was capable of rising to considerable preferment, wherever mental exertion was required." At the conclusion of the trial, a verdict was brought in by the Jury against the defendant, who was laid under the obligation of a bond to abstain from future outrages. "What gratitude did I feel," writes Mr. Grindrod, "when this painful matter was terminated! I have learned many useful lessons from the whole transaction. 1. That I have not always sufficient prudence and decision in the commencement of affairs, which are likely, in the issue, to prove important. 2. That I have need of judicious advisers. 3. That God has given me a tender conscience, and implanted his fear deeply in my heart. 4. That he takes especial care of me; and that, while I have acknowledged him in circumstances peculiarly trying, he has given me a signal mark of his favour. May I be more entirely devoted to him!"

he

To an infirmity which has often caused perplexity to Christian Ministers, Mr. Grindrod refers, in his journal of April 28th, with his characteristic simplicity and good sense. "In several instances lately," says, "I have been embarrassed by the sudden appearance of respectable strangers in my congregations. This is a weakness, and shows me that pride still lurks within. How shall I avoid such embarrassments in future? 1. Let me endeavour to be less affected generally by the appearance of men. 2. Let me recollect, that many persons who look very respectable are both uneducated and uninformed. 3. Let me consider that the profit of the many is always to be regarded before the pleasure of a few." From his journal we may now take a short number of continuous extracts.

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May 16th.-I have this day returned from the District-Meeting at Manchester. It has been a most edifying opportunity. I have often admired primitive Methodism; but never did it appear with more charms. I wish that I breathed more of its evangelical spirit. Let me be strictly and conscientiously tender of the character of my brethren, especially guarding against a departure from this rule in the families where I am most intimate. I am resolved, by divine grace, to rise earlier, and to be more attentive to morning preaching. Lord, help me in all things!

"31st. This has been a month of real improvement in the best things. I have felt an habitual cleaving of my soul to God, and have had many precious visits from above. But still I am not wholly saved. I want an entire victory over my spiritual foes, and an exemption from all sin. I have had unusual pleasure in family devotion. I have risen early for the last three weeks; and it has been very good so to do. May I never swerve from this practice! In preaching, I find that I am not sufficiently correct in my quotations from Scripture. I do not study my applications so maturely as I do the other parts of my discourses. I read too little doctrinal and practical divinity. My

sermons on the Lord's day are too long. Give me grace, O Lord, to amend all these evils! I am sincerely striving after this. I cannot be satisfied unless I make every sermon that I preach live in the memories, hearts, and lives of them who hear me. To this end may I be endued with much of the power of God, and live in the closest communion with him!

"June 12th. For some time past, my soul has been in a state of pleasing spiritual growth. My communion with God has generally been most intimate, and sometimes truly delightful. Real Gospel holiness continues to unfold its unfathomable excellences to my faith; and I feel an insatiate thirst for more of that holiness. To increase my usefulness, I intend, 1. To pay no visits for rational and innocent recreation, or even for Christian conversation, when such visits would prevent me from paying those visits to the sick, which are my bounden duty. 2. To strive, when in company, to be more spiritual in my conversation, and especially to recommend religion to the younger members of the families to which I go. I see that I have been very deficient in this duty.

"16th.-O how did the countenance of the Lord shine upon me yesterday! If it please thee, O my God, let it always be so with me. "19th.-Going to Hawkshaw-lane last night, the horse on which I rode suddenly came down. I was pitched, in the fall, over his head, and fell upon my back to the ground; but was not in the least hurt. I count this another providential escape. Thy hand, O God, delivered Assist me to praise thee.

me.

Yes

"July 7th.-How good is the Lord! What peace and joy have I felt for many weeks past. I enjoy his presence and approving smile daily; and the affection of the people seems greatly increased. terday, at our love-feast, many bore testimony that the Lord had blessed my ministry to them. Ten months ago, I thought that the prejudices of the political Reformers would make me uncomfortable as long as I should stay. But the Lord has enabled me to live them down. To his name be all the praise!"

At the Conference of 1817, he was appointed to the Superintendency of the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Circuit, and continued in that important station for three years. As colleagues, in the course of his stay at Newcastle, he had the Rev. Messrs. John Storey, Henry Ranson, William Dawson, and John Rigg. In this respectable Circuit, his talents were highly estimated; and he was, in various ways, extensively useful. But his entrance upon its duties appears to have been accompanied with a more than ordinary degree of personal diffidence and discouragement. Perhaps it was partly by this severe discipline that he was prepared for the influence which he acquired, and which he so judiciously exerted for the public good. His own language will best record his trials and apprehensions.

"September 15th.-I have been in Newcastle," he writes, "three Sabbaths; and they have all been days of deep humiliation. I know not that I ever had so discouraging a beginning in any Circuit. My fears keep suggesting to me that the people do not receive me, and that there is something in my preaching which is not suited to them. I have, in general, begun low, and risen as I have become better acquainted with the place; but here I begin so low, that I fear an unfavourable impression has already been produced, which will not

soon be removed. For the last eight years I have been generally esteemed in the Circuits where I have travelled, and have found, when I have left a place, that I had considerable hold of the affections of the societies and congregations. Perhaps I have lived too much upon this. If thou, O my God, art about to cause me to feel a reverse, may I learn all the useful lessons which thou intendest by it! My feelings of mortification last night, arising from a consciousness of having acquitted myself so poorly in public, convince me that there is much pride unsubdued in my soul. So long as this remains, I shall often be subject to painful mortifications like the present. O Lord, do thou destroy it all.

"October 15th.-For several weeks past my feelings in preaching have been most exquisitely painful. The Lord has humbled me, and more than ever taught me my entire dependence on himself. Sometimes, when I have returned home from my public duties, I have been so affected as to loathe my daily food; and, for a time, sleep has departed from me. I believe that this has been caused partly by bodily indisposition, partly by temptation, and partly by the good hand of God over me for good, making all things to work together for' my 'good.' I have heard of some who have been blessed under my ministry at times when I have been most distressed. Once, in particular, a backslider was recalled under a sermon of which I was most deeply ashamed.

6

"November 17th.-My feelings in preaching are but little altered for the better. It is indeed impossible to describe what I have frequently felt. Should these deep depressions continue, I know not what I shall do. But thou, O my God, art a refuge at all times. Were it not for a consciousness of thy favour, I should utterly fail. How different is what I am now labouring under, from what I experienced at Bolton for many months before I left that place! I am persuaded that bodily weakness is, in a great degree, the cause of all this. O Lord, undertake for me! In the deepest distress, I have felt resigned to the holy will of God; and I am fully assured that he will bring good out of this apparent evil.

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December 3d.-This day Charles Smith, an Irishman, was executed on the Common, near Newcastle, for wilful murder. He made a poor attempt, at the place of execution, to clear himself of the crime for which he suffered. From what he said, many were led to conclude that he had an accomplice in the atrocious deed.

"8th. Yesterday, in the afternoon, I endeavoured to apply the late event, the execution of Smith, to the purposes of practical warning and instruction; and I trust the discourse was made a blessing.

"9th and 11th.-I attended the Surgeon's lectures on the dissection of the murderer's body. The anatomical information which I received, and the moral uses which I endeavoured to make, repaid me, I think, for the tax which I had to impose on my feelings in going. Lord, what is man?"

(To be continued.)

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BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

1. DIED, April 1st, 1842, at Hunsley, in the Selby Circuit, aged sixty-five, Mrs. Webster. From early life she reverenced the name of God, but thought that if she might but call on him at the hour of death, her admission into heaven would be sure. When about twenty-two years of age, a young woman with whom she was acquainted, and with whom she had not long before attended a ball, died suddenly. Her mind was deeply affected by the occurrence. "Where should I have been," was her reflection, "had I died instead of my friend?” The thought became the means, through the working of the blessed Spirit, of her repentance unto life. She joined the Wesleyan society, and in good earnest began to seek the salvation of her soul. Her friends did not approve of the step she had taken; but in this case she felt that she must obey God rather than men, and that if she loved even father and mother more than Christ, she would at last be rejected by him. She persevered, therefore, in the profession she had begun to make, meekly bearing opposition and rebuke, and giving herself unto prayer. And she lived to see the fruit of her constancy. More than twenty years afterwards she had the happiness of being her father's comforter on his death-bed, and had reason to believe that, through the mercy of Christ, he passed from earth to heaven. She was frequently importuned to return to her former practices of vain amusement, but she always steadily refused; and when her sisters went, she generally spent the time of their absence in her own room, in reading and prayer. It was then that she herself was brought to experience the sweetness of religion, and to rejoice in God her Saviour. To the end of her life, her behaviour evinced the sincerity and strength of her piety. She loved the house of God. She was deeply concerned for the salvation of others, especially of her relations; and the means she employed for its promotion were often happily successful. For about ten years she lived at Sherburn, at her father's farm; and during that time, it was her custom to devote the breakfast-hour to the perusal of the Bible, with Mr. Sutcliffe's Commentary, closing with prayer; thus endeavouring to sanctify the bounties of Providence, and to secure nourishment for the soul as well as for the body. When she married, she considered this event as a renewed call for increased devotion. She became more earnest in private prayer, and sought to lead her neighbours into the good and the right way. Her new place of residence had long been opened for the Wesleyans in the village, to hold there their religious services; and it was her pleasure to accommodate all who attended, as well as to secure the comfort of the Preachers. For the last three years of her life, her health failed very much; she therefore read and prayed more than ever, and sought to be prepared for whatever might be the will of God concerning her. She was more frequent in visiting her neighbours, and more spiritual in her conversation with them. In her class, her testimony for Christ was clear and glowing, and her prayers fervent and powerful. About four months before her death, her afflictions greatly increased; but she had learned to be content with her condition, to be at ease, or to suffer. She could now read but little; but she experienced the benefit of former diligence: her mind seemed stored with

holy thoughts, and prayer was often lost in praise. On the morning of Easter-day, she spoke with great feeling of Christ's resurrection, and on the brightness and blessedness of her own prospects. A night or two before she died, she repeated (for she could not sing) the hymn,

To the very last, she expressed the strong desire she felt for the salvation of her neighbours. Even when greatly exhausted, she would say, "I must talk to them while I can. If a soul be lost, it is lost for ever." On the last day of her life, though in a state of extreme suffering, she adverted to the same subject. "I have now lived among them," she said, "for twenty-seven years, warning them, praying for them, and endeavouring to set them a good example. I can do no more. If they will not turn to the Lord, they must take the consequences. I am going to glory. I shall soon be absent from the body, and present with the Lord." In this blessed state she continued a short time, and then "died in the Lord."

RICHARD TABRAHAM.

2. Died, April 2d, at Newby, a village in the Stockton Circuit, (three miles from Marton, where Captain Cook was born,) Mr. Robert Wiles, aged sixty-nine, having long served his country in the Royal Navy, and for more than twenty years as a Warrant Officer. He was the eldest son of Mr. Robert Wiles, of Newby-Grange, farmer and grazier, who died while Robert was quite a child. Disliking the farming business, at the age of seventeen he relinquished it, and bound himself apprentice in a merchant vessel. At the expiration of three years and a half he was impressed, and sent on board the "Invincible" man-ofwar. Even this dispensation was providential. The vessel from which he was taken was employed in the transport service, and had to carry out the troops under General Sir Charles Grey, (grandfather of the present Earl Grey,) for the capture of Martinique. The yellow fever was then very prevalent in the West Indies, and the whole of the crew fell victims to the malignant disease, with the exception of one man, who was killed afterwards at the battle of the Nile. Robert Wiles soon became a great favourite with the Captain and officers. He was a stout, able, fine-looking young man, and a good seaman. He served some time in the Channel fleet, in the East Indies, and on the coast of Egypt, under several of our old Admirals. He was on board the vessel commanded by Sir Richard Strachan at the capture of the four ships that had escaped from Lord Nelson's final victory at Trafalgar. For his conduct on this occasion, Sir Richard promoted him, and was ever afterwards his steady friend. At the peace of

Amiens the vessel in which he served was at Malta, and remained there till the war again broke out. For about twenty years he scarcely ever saw his native land. He was employed in nearly every part of the globe. He was with Captain Harper, of the "Racehorse," at the capture of Montenegro, and obtained further promotion for his behaviour. He served at the siege of Flushing, and was again promoted. He was then sent to the coast of America, and was employed in the several expeditions sent up the Chesapeak. He continued in America. till peace was restored. He was then superannuated on a pension; and