From the conclusion of the last chapter, the reader will be necessarily prepared for the subject of the present; and yet I must trespass upon his patience some few minutes longer, ere I place him by the side of me in exploring the contents of my shelves and my desk. It may be just as well to fix myself in the professional niche which I occupied during the progress of those labours, which were unsweetened by preferment, and unrequited by anything approaching to adequate remuneration. For upwards of twenty consecutive years were those labours unremittingly continued. My neighbour and excellent friend, the Rev. Mr. King, used to cheer and comfort me, by telling me, not long after I had been in orders, that “if a man got preferment at forty, he must think himself a lucky fellow.” I own that this did not strike me as very logical or very encouraging; especially when I knew that I had no friends from whom I could expect preferment in the way of claim. I was resolved, however, to work on, and to hope on;-trusting to a gracious Providence to dispense his favours and his blessings as to his infinite wisdom it might seem fit. At all events, I was thoroughly conscious of the rectitude of my intentions; and resolved in every way to exhibit, to the utmost of my power, “peace and good will towards men.”