itself a society, of a kind more intellectual and satisfactory than is commonly to be found in provincial places; insomuch that, could he have set aside higher considerations, the situation might have seemed a fit one to be retained. But he was unable thence to hold sufficient intercourse with his parishioners, for the purpose of enlightening their minds, and stimulating his own to exertion, in the way of ministerial duty. Feeling which, and apprehending, in consequence, a decrease, rather than an increase, according to his years, of spiritual and mental energy, he resolved again to change his place and sphere. This, within a short time, he happily procured means to do. Through the recommendation of Dr. Finch, then prebendary of Westminster, who was a friend of his father, and of Archdeacon Ratcliffe, who had examined him for orders, he became, in the year 1790, curate to Mr. Downes of Witham.

A more fortunate-be it rather said, a more providential-change, or one more entirely in agreement with his wishes, could hardly, it appears, have been obtained by him. Mr. Downes was himself generally resident, and superintending, only not equal to the laborious parts of his duty. He had, accordingly, the advantage, always much to be desired by a young clergyman, of his superior's daily counsel and guidance, and that superior, a truly valuable man, possessing at once an excellent piety and discretion. Of this advantage he gladly availed himself, in the prosecution of both his studies and parochial ministrations. Here, also, he enjoyed the privilege of frequently visiting at the house of Mr.

Kynaston, and of assisting him in the conduct, if not in the institution, of a Sunday school, a mode of doing good which was then comparatively recent. Altogether, therefore, the Bishop ever afterwards justly regarded his engagement at Witham as one of the most beneficial turns in his life. He always considered his character to have then mainly received the impulse and direction, which qualified him for his subsequent elevation, and never ceased to speak of the friends of his youth in that place, with sentiments of gratitude and esteem. The state of Mr. Downes' health being such as to render the exertion of preaching unsafe for him, the customary two sermons of course devolved upon his curate, and he began with preparing original compositions every week. His vicar, however, considerately advised him to abate somewhat of so arduous an undertaking; thinking it likely, not to improve, but to exhaust his mind, and prevent him from advancing in theological knowledge. This advice was undoubtedly sound, and was subsequently, often repeated with approbation, by him to whom it was given. Writing, many years after, to a young clergyman, who had consulted him on the subject, he says, "With respect to the composition of sermons, I know by experience how "difficult it is to be satisfied with one's own pro"ductions. This I suppose is the case of most

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clergymen who endeavour to go on improving. "But I would by no means advise you to be scrupulous in always preaching original sermons. It "is an useful and improving exercise to abridge or compile from the most approved authors, especially

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"from some of our older divines; and you may se"lect from the Homilies of our church materials for "useful popular discourses, divesting them of their quaintness of style, and of any peculiarities adapted only to the times in which they were written. "These resources, however, are only to be consi"dered as subsidiary to original composition, not to supersede it; for compositions of your own, whe"ther inferior, or not, to others, will always have a "sort of zest for the preacher, as well as the hearer, "which is not to be found in mere transcripts, or compilations."

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During his engagement at Witham, in the summer of 1792, he appears, in company with five others, whose names are not mentioned, to have visited parts of Holland and Belgium. Of this tour there has been found amongst his papers, a short unfinished journal; but it contains nothing which could now be interesting. However, the fact is here mentioned: and it may seem right farther to state in this place, as characteristic of a mind generally active and unembarrassed, that the natural scenery and aspect of the country in various parts of England, through which the Bishop had to pass, either on business or recreation, were often pleasantly described by his pen.

In the spring of 1795, the Subject of this memoir obtained his first benefice in the church, being presented by his brother-in-law, Mr. Ives, to the rectory of Bradden in Northamptonshire. The value of this rectory was then considerably under two hundred pounds a year, and there was need to build

on it almost a new house, at an expense of nearly a thousand pounds. Nevertheless, seeing only an uncertain prospect of any thing more eligible being offered to him, he set about to establish himself at Bradden. Having procured a temporary habitation in the neighbourhood, he married, in the autumn of the above-named year, Jane, the youngest daughter of General Douglas, with whom he had become acquainted at Witham, and took leave of his friends in that place, not without a feeling on both sides of sincere regret. But his incumbency of Bradden

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was destined to be a short one, insomuch that he left unfinished the building which, at a large cost, he had begun. In the next year, the living of St. Mary Le Bow became vacant, and, the turn of presentation being with the Grocers' Company, it was procured for him by his maternal uncle, Mr. Hill. this he instantly vacated Bradden, after having held it only long enough to expend in building probably about five times as much as he had received in tithe. To that place, however, and its inhabitants, he ever afterwards apparently considered himself a debtor. Such a removal, though it may seem to have followed almost too speedily, was certainly, on the whole, to be desired. No doubt, he would have approved himself an excellent shepherd of the few sheep in a country village; and there is abundant evidence that he accepted the situation as his permanent lot in life: yet, even there, his habits, and acquirements, and tone of mind were denoting him fit to occupy a more conspicuous post, and to move in a higher sphere.

Mr. Van Mildert was instituted to his new benefice, St. Mary Le Bow, Cheapside, in the month of October, 1796. There being no house upon it fit to inhabit, he at the first took up his residence in Charles street, Manchester square; but at Lady-day of the ensuing year, having experienced much inconvenience during the winter on account of the distance from his parish, he removed to No. 14, Ely place, Holborn, where he continued until his election to Lincoln's Inn. From this comparatively convenient abode, he could open and maintain an uninterrupted communication with his parishioners; the result of which was, that there presently sprang up a mutual attachment between the most respectable and worthy of them, and their new Rector, warm enough, in several cases, to survive his many subsequent promotions.

It was not long after the present period that his father died, at an advanced age. This event occurred, as already stated, in the year 1799, at the latter end of the month of April, and appears to have been keenly felt by him. Other troubles, too, almost immediately supervened. By some incautious conduct, during his time of mourning, he brought on an eruptive fever, which incapacitated him, during many months, for clerical duty, and from the effects of which he never entirely recovered: in fact, the disease, on abating, became partly chronic, and obliged him frequently to resort to Harrogate for relief, throughout the course of his after life. And about the same time, A. D. 1800, he was assailed by a highly vexatious prosecution.