visit me, who, on his return, removed their fears, by informing them of the change which had taken place in my conversation and conduct. "In March 1774, I went to London, and there heard various preachers of the Gospel of Christ. "After some time I returned to Dublin, my nephew and the rest of my family received me joyfully. I remained with them about two months. "During my short stay, I had some of my relations and acquaintances often with me. I laboured to convince. them of their deplorable state by nature and practice, and to shew them the necessity of Conversion. Nor were my labours lost my wife was convinced of her unworthiness, was led to true repentance, and was blessed with a sense of the love of Christ. After this she declined in health, and departed this life, having hope in her death, and entered into the joy of her Lord. She was the first ripe fruit that God was pleased to bestow on my labours. "I longed to hear Christ's ministers, and assemble with his people. The Lord my God conveyed me in safety, where I enjoyed that glorious privilege, therefore, praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who pardoneth all thy sins, and heuleth all thine infirmities.” Such is Mr. Howard's own account; and his residence among us after his conversion, though not constant, yet gave us large and frequent opportunities of discovering his spirit and temper. Those who rejoiced at the change, and those who were displeased, (for there were those who were displeased) had each an opportunity of observing, whether it was some transient whim which had seized his imagination, or a solid abiding alteration, which made him quite another man. He lived for years a shining example of every christian virtue, and had time to give us the most convincing proofs of the solidity of his conversion. His religious joy was extraordinary; his fear of God was exemplary; his faith, both for things spiritual and temporal, was of the most lively nature; his charity was uncommonly fervent and steady; the chastity and purity of his manners were strikingly evident; and in genuine humility of soul, he was an edifying pattern to the Church of Christ. For a number of years, till towards the eve of his life, he lived in a state of joy ful communion with his God. He could scarce dress himself in a morning with sufficient haste, so eager was he to pour out his soul in thanksgiving to him whom his soul loved. His delight in public worship was, I am well assured, little less than rapture; his whole soul was exerted in it. For a year or two before his death, his infirmities increased apace. He felt the consequence of his former iniquities in a very excruciating degree. The gravel, the asthma, a general debility, and a complication of pains and disorders, rendered life extremely burthensome, and put to the severest trial all the graces he had attained. But his faith in the divine promises remained unshaken; it even grew stronger and stronger amidst his trials. It had less to do with sense, and was more simply fixed on the word of God. His humility received also a very great increase. He lost those remains of self-conceit and selfsufficiency, which had somewhat stained his brightest graces. His faith was more pure and simple, his love was more solid and genuine; his patience and meekness were truly admirable; the more so, when one considers the natural impetuosity of his spirit; and he waited for his dissolution with the calmest expectation of his eternal rest, Finding himself rapidly decaying, he wrote to his daugh, ter, then in Ireland, a letter which he desired might not be transmitted to her till after his decease, in which he expresses, among other things, the strongest confidence of his expectation of being soon called to his Father's house. Very soon after, he was seized with slumberings, and continued increasingly in this state until his death. He was observed, amidst his slumberings at times, to sing hymns, and a very little before his death, expressed his grateful "His looks, when language fails, new life impart ; Starts from the flesh, and gains his native skies; I CHAP. III. Author, on his return to Dublin endeavours to go with the Son of Mr. William Howard to America. Being disappointed he enters on board a Vessel going to that Country. Is persuaded by his Father to forego the Voyage he intended. Dublin at that time badly cir cumstanced in its Peace and Police Establishments. Riots frequent. Author tries to learn the use of the Small Sword. Account of two fatal Duels. HAVING stopped six weeks in the country, with the nephew of Mr. William Howard, and being much gratified with the tour, from the new scenes which it afforded, interesting to a young mind like mine, I returned to Dublin. On my arrival in town, my attention became. greatly occupied in expectation of going to North America, in company with Mr. Howard's son, who had obtained a commission in a marching regiment, which was serving there. I besought my father to intercede with young Mr. Howard to take me along with him. But, although my indulgent parent agreed in compliance with my ardent wishes, to mention the matter to Mr. Howard, there could be no situation procured in the regiment for a boy such as I then was. I was obliged therefore to remain at home, and the disappointment very much distressed me. But I resolved at all events to depart for America, and, in pursuance of my determination, I seized an opportunity which soon offered, of entering on board a vessel destined for that part of the world. However, my father being apprised of my purpose, interfered with the captain of the ship, paid my expenses on board, and so prevented my intended plan of folly for a time. I remained at home a disappointed idler, and like most boys who have not received the advantage, the unspeakable advantage, of a truly religious education, became delighted with every folly that but too fatally captivate the juvenile mind. Did youth but seriously consider half the snares and temptations to which they are exposed, they would perceive, that early industry and a constant application to business are, under the divine guidance, their best preservatives. At that period, the administration of justice was greatly relaxed in the city of Dublin. It was almost impossible for persons to walk through some parts of the city (particularly on Sunday evenings) without encountering the most violent, and sometimes dangerous assaults. Lower Abbey, and Marlborough streets, on the north side of the city, and the Long lane near Kevin-street on the south, were the places for general rendezvous for "Club-law," as it was vulgarly called. Here numbers of daring, desperate fellows, used to assemble, form themselves in battle array, and cut and main each other without either mercy or remorse. Whether influenced by these scenes of personal contest, or from a natural and inherent love of a military life, I will not presume to determine; but at this early period of my life, the small-sword exercise became my favourite pursuit. But not meeting with a sufficient number of adversaries to exhibit my skill and keep my hand in practice, this in its turn, of course I abandoned. "Tis granted, and no plainer truth appears, |