of Upton. He heard my address at one of the temperance meetings, and thinking I should do good, was very anxious to secure my humble services.

One afternoon, not long after I joined the society, a gentleman invited me to speak on temperance in the school-house on Burncoat-plain. That evening I shall never forget. I was not, from scarcity of funds, enabled to procure fitting habiliments in which to appear before a respectable audience, and so I was compelled to wear an old over-coat, which the state of my under-clothing obliged me to button closely up to my chin. The place assigned to me was very near a large and well-heated stove. As I spoke, I grew warm, and after using a little exertion, the heat became so insufferable, that I was drenched in perspiration. My situation was ludicrous in the extreme. I could not, in consequence of the crowd, retreat from the tremendous fire, and unbuttoning my coat was out of the question altogether. What with the warmth imparted by my subject, and that which proceeded from the stove, I was fairly between two fires. When I had done my speech, I was all but done myself, for my body contained a greater quantity of caloric than it had ever possessed before or since. I question whether Monsieur Chabert, the fire king, was ever subjected to a more 'fiery trial.' Not long after this it began to be whispered about that I had talents for public speaking; and my career as an intemperate man having been notorious, a little curiosity as to my addresses was excited. At this time, nothing was farther from my intentions than becoming a public speaker. In my wildest flights I never dreamed of this.

Prior to delivering an address at Milbury, I had purchased a new suit of clothes, the first which I had been able to get for a long period. They came home on the day fixed for my speaking. Now, I had been so long accustomed to my old garments, that they had become as it were a part and parcel of myself, and seemed to belong to me, and feel as natural as my skin did. My new suit was very fashionably cut, and as I put on the articles one by one, I felt more awkwardness than I verily believe I ever exhibited, before or since, in the course of my life. The pantaloons were strapped down over feet which had long been used to freedom, and I feared to walk in my usual manner, lest they should go at the knee. I feared too lest a strap should give, and make me lop-sided for life. The vest certainly set off my waist to the best advantage; but it did not seem, on a first acquaintance, half so comfortable as my ancient friend, although the latter had long been threadbare and minus a few buttons. And then the smartly-cut coat was so neatly and closely fitted to the arms, and the shoulders, and the back, that when it was on I felt in a fix as well as a fit. I was fearful of any thing but a mincing motion, and my arms had a cataleptic appearance. Every step I took was a matter of anxiety, lest an unlucky rip should derange my smartness. How I tried the pockets, over and over again, and stared at myself in the glass! Verily I felt more awkward for some time in my new suit than I did whilst roasting before the fire in my old one.

On the evening following my visit to Milbury, I delivered a second address in another church there, which was well attended. Invitations now began to pour in on me from many quarters,

and I had been asked several times to go to the same old schoolhouse on Burncoat-plain, where I had before spoken, when, on the 20th December, 1842, Dr Kendall of Stirling applied for some person to deliver a temperance address. I was recommended as a suitable person, and went with him, occupying the whole of the evening for the first time.

I now, finding that my engagements were increasing fast, applied to my employers for leave of absence for a week or two, in order to enable me to perform them. The required permission I obtained. When I went away, I left a pile of Bibles on my bench unfinished, promising to finish them on my return; but unforeseen circumstances occurred, and I never returned to complete them. My time was now almost entirely employed in lecturing on the temperance cause, and, as good appeared to be effected by my labours, I was encouraged to proceed. My audiences gradually increased in numbers, and, as I acquired more confidence in speaking, my labours were rendered the more useful and acceptable.

I

I must now refer to a circumstance which occurred about five months after I signed the pledge, and which caused infinite pain to myself, and uneasiness to the friends of the cause. allude to a fact notorious at the time-my violation of the pledge. This narrative purports to be a veritable record of my history, and God forbid that I should conceal or misstate any material circumstance connected with it. If the former portion of this Autobiography be calculated to operate as a warning against the use of alcoholic liquors, the event which I am now about to record may not be without its use in convincing many who

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Prior to delivering an address at Milbury, I had purchased a new suit of clothes, the first which I had been able to get for a long period. They came home on the day fixed for my speaking. Now, I had been so long accustomed to my old garments, that they had become as it were a part and parcel of myself, and seemed to belong to me, and feel as natural as my skin did. My new suit was very fashionably cut, and as I put on the articles one by one, I felt more awkwardness than I verily believe I ever exhibited, before or since, in the course of my life. The pantaloons were strapped down over feet which had long been used to freedom, and I feared to walk in my usual manner, lest they should go at the knee. I feared too lest a strap should give, and make me lop-sided for life. The vest certainly set off my waist to the best advantage; but it did not seem, on a first acquaintance, half so comfortable as my ancient friend, although the latter had long been threadbare and minus a few buttons. And then the smartly-cut coat was so neatly and closely fitted to the arms, and the shoulders, and the back, that when it was on I felt in a fix as well as a fit. I was fearful of any thing but a mincing motion, and my arms had a cataleptic appearance. Every step I took was a matter of anxiety, lest an unlucky rip should derange my smartness. How I tried the pockets, over and over again, and stared at myself in the glass! Verily I felt more awkward for some time in my new suit than I did whilst roasting before the fire in my old one.

On the evening following my visit to Milbury, I delivered a second address in another church there, which was well attended. Invitations now began to pour in on me from many quarters,

and I had been asked several times to go to the same old schoolhouse on Burncoat-plain, where I had before spoken, when, on the 20th December, 1842, Dr Kendall of Stirling applied for some person to deliver a temperance address. I was recommended as a suitable person, and went with him, occupying the whole of the evening for the first time.

I now, finding that my engagements were increasing fast, applied to my employers for leave of absence for a week or two, in order to enable me to perform them. The required permission I obtained. When I went away, I left a pile of Bibles on my bench unfinished, promising to finish them on my return; but unforeseen circumstances occurred, and I never returned to complete them. My time was now almost entirely employed in lecturing on the temperance cause, and, as good appeared to be effected by my labours, I was encouraged to proceed. My audiences gradually increased in numbers, and, as I acquired more confidence in speaking, my labours were rendered the more useful and acceptable.

I

I must now refer to a circumstance which occurred about five months after I signed the pledge, and which caused infinite pain to myself, and uneasiness to the friends of the cause. allude to a fact notorious at the time-my violation of the pledge. This narrative purports to be a veritable record of my history, and God forbid that I should conceal or misstate any material circumstance connected with it. If the former portion of this Autobiography be calculated to operate as a warning against the use of alcoholic liquors, the event which I am now about to record may not be without its use in convincing many who

D