CHAP. I. the infallibility of his church. I knew that naughty boys would tell stories, but how a book could contain a falsehood was quite incomprehensible.

.1781.

Mother's

Influence.

I will here mention what is the most important of all my reminiscences, viz. that in my childhood my mother was to me everything, and I have no hesitation in ascribing to her every good moral or religious feeling I had in my childhood or youth. Had she possessed more knowledge and more activity she might have made a much better character of me. But she was guided by the instinct of motherly love and pious feelings. It was, I dare say, with a purpose, that when I had one day brought home a pin from Mrs. Ling's (an old lady with whom she used to drink tea) she made me carry it back with an apology, my excuse being that I did not think it was of any value; she thus gave me a respect for property. This same Mrs. Ling had an engraving in her parlour. She told me it was Elisha raising the Shunammite's son. And what story was that, I asked her. "I thought, Master R., you had been better educated," she replied very formally. I was much affronted, but set about reading the Bible immediately.

My mother's mantua-maker was a Roman Catholic. I was one day told to go to her, but was unwilling to do so; I said I was afraid of her, I was told she was a Horror of Pope and would do me a harm. My mother scolded Popery. me as a silly boy and forced me to go. I believe she gave Mrs. Girt a hint, for the latter bribed me to religious tolerance by giving me shreds of silk and satin to clothe pictures with, which was a favourite

Religion.

1781.

employment. This reminds me that I had very early CHAP. I. a great horror of Popery, my first notions of which were taken from a ballad relating how

"As Mordecai the Jew one day

Was skating o'er the icy way,"

he fell in, and would have been drowned, but a Popish priest came by. The Jew called for help. "You, a Jew! I won't help a Jew." "If you will help me out I will be baptized." "You must be baptized first." The Jew consented, and then begged to be taken out. "No," said the priest, "if I let you out you will relapse into Judaism and so be damned. I will rather save your soul."

"And saying this he in a trice

Clapped Mordecai beneath the ice."

Could and would men closely examine, they would probably find that their most inveterate religious prejudices, which they think their most valuable religious convictions, are of such origin. But Mrs. Girt's bits of silk went far to counteract the ballad.

When a child, like other children, my faith was implicit in what I was told to be true by my mother, and I have no sense of devotion now, which I did not catch from her.

The name of the minister whose religious services my father and mother attended was Lincolne. He was a gentlemanly person and inspired respect, especially by a very large white wig. He was often at our house, and his two daughters were my mother's very great friends. When he came I used to be kept at a distance, for I was always running about as well as talking

7

Things con

nected with Religion.

8

CHAP. I.

1781.

Sunday

restraint.

Happy Childhood.

and he was afraid for his gouty toes. When I set about reading the Bible I used to ask my mother questions. Her prudent answer frequently was, "Ask the minister, my dear." I recollect hearing some anecdotes told of me and the minister, and some I seem to recollect myself, one especially. I had taken a great fancy to the Book of Revelation; and I have heard, but this I don't recollect, that I asked Mr. L. to preach from that book, because it was my favourite. "And why is it your favourite book, Henry ?" "Because it is so pretty and easy to under

stand."

I had a happy childhood. The only suffering I recollect was the restraint imposed upon me on Sundays, especially being forced to go twice to Meeting; an injurious practice I am satisfied. To be forced to sit still for two hours, not understanding a word, was a grievance too hard to be borne. I was not allowed to look into a picture-book, but was condemned to sit with my hands before me, or stand, according to the service. The consequence was that I was often sent to bed without my supper for bad behaviour at Meeting. In the evening my father used to read aloud Mr. Henry's Commentary, and in winter it was my agreeable occupation to turn the apple pie that was in a Dutchoven before the fire, which was a great relief from Mr. Henry. Once I recollect being whipped by my mother for being naughty at Meeting. A sad preparation for a religious life.

Now and then, by way of treat or reward for good behaviour, I was allowed to go to the Independent

Mother's Influence.

Meeting to hear Mr. Waldegrave preach. Mr. W. as I afterwards knew, was an ignorant, noisy, ranting preacher; he bawled loud, thumped the cushion, and sometimes cried. He was, however, a kind man, and of course he was a favourite of mine. It belongs perhaps to a later time, but I well recollect he repeatedly used the phrase, "But as the 'Postle Paul say" (say is Suffolk grammar). And after all I could carry away a thought now and then from him.

To return to my mother's instructions; I recollect a practice of hers, which had the best effect on my mind. She never would permit me (like all children, a glutton) to empty the dish at table if there was anything particularly nice, such as pudding or pie. "Henry, don't take any more; do you not suppose the maids like to have some?" A respect and attention to servants and inferiors was a constant lesson, and if I have any kindness and humanity in my ordinary feelings I ascribe it all to her, and very much to this particular lesson.

CHAP. I.

1782.

Mother.

School.

9

Of my schooling at Mr. Lease's I have little or Mr. Lease's nothing to say. I was an ordinary boy and do not recollect acquiring any distinction at school. The sons of Mr. Lease I knew and the children of some other Dissenters who went there; but some others of my acquaintance went to the Grammar School. This set them above the rest of us, and I believe I should have wanted to go to the Grammar School too, but I had heard that Mr. Lawrence was a flogging master, and I was therefore glad to escape going there.

It was either in 1782 or 1783, the Annual Register

IO

CHAP. I.

1782.

School Plays.

School Days.

*

of the year will say which, that there was a very hard winter throughout the country. To raise a fund for the poor of the town, the Grammar School boys were induced to act plays at the theatre. I have a distinct recollection of some of the boy actors; the principal play was Venice Preserved. There is nothing worth noticing in the acting of the tragedy, but it is a significant circumstance, and one that belongs to the state of moral and religious feeling in the country between sixty and seventy years ago, that the farce acted with Venice Preserved was Foote's Minor, the performers being school-boys! It would seem impossible, but it becomes less surprising when one recollects that the hatred of the clergy was still active against the Methodists, that Dr. Squintum (Whitfield) was vigorously satirized, and that the religious classes were the object of derision to all the genteel part of the community, especially to the clergy. I only wonder that I was allowed to be present, but probably the Dissenters, certainly my parents, knew nothing about such plays.

How much I understood of the farce I cannot now tell. Perhaps little clearly. But children are content with confused and obscure perceptions of a pleasurable character.

When very young indeed my mother delighted me by singing a ballad which must be in some of the popular collections. It was about the rich young lady who lived "in the famous town of Reading," and fell in love with a poor lawyer. She challenges him and he

* This was written in 1845.