CHAPTER V.

Relation of circumstances occurring during the period of the foregoing chapter.

THE plan of the preceding chapter having restricted us to the illustration of a particular principle and its effects, we now proceed to notice what occurred within the period that has just been traversed. We have already alluded to the sermon preached by Mr. Richmond at Bath,

On cruelty to the brute creation,' and to the publication of that discourse, at the request of the congregation. As the attention of the legislature has of late years been often directed to this subject, we think the following extract will not be deemed altogether without interest.

"This dominion over the creatures was given to Adam, whilst the likeness of God shone forth in him; consequently it was a merciful dominion. It was a sovereignty designed to be exercised with every possible kindness of treatment, which the grateful and benevolent temper of man, in his state of primitive righteousness, could suggest.

Hence we are enabled to deduce the right of the inferior creatures to kindness of treatment, from a most satisfactory and unerring source of argument, no less than an explicit revelation of God's will, coeval with the foundation of the world itself. The merciful design of God in making man the lord of the creation, is mercifully manifest; for such was the holiness of man's heart, such the purity of his affections before the fall, that every creature subjected to his rule was assured of being happy. The intention of God, whose loving kindness is over all his works, was fully accomplished by appointing man, such as he was whilst in Paradise, to be the intermediate instrument of his goodness towards them. Made in the express image of an holy and merciful God, Adam, like his Maker, was holy and merciful too."

We might here have noticed another sermon, published by him two or three years prior to this period, intitled, Reflections suggested by the close of the year,' which passed into a fourth edition. It abounds with impressive remarks and strong appeals to the young and to the old, on the shortness and uncertainty of human life; but his religious views not having then attained the maturity and correctness by which they were afterwards characterised, we forbear making any extracts from it.

The religion of Mr. Richmond, though it

engaged his most earnest and anxious thoughts, had no tinge of gloom or austerity. He was at all times cheerful; and the following letter, addressed to his aunt about this period, inclosing his profile, is an instance of that playfulness of humour in which he was often accustomed to indulge.

"Being unwilling to trust mere pen and paper to make excuse for my long silence, I have sent a representative to do it for me; humbly conceiving that a shadow of an apology would be best made by a shadow of a man. Now, my dear aunt, unsubstantial as a shadow is, it may nevertheless be the means of creating a very solid idea of the thing signified. At all events, it is better than nothing; more especially as this shadow possesses (what other shadows do not) a stationary faculty; and I do apprehend, that whether the sun shines or not, and whether a candle be or be not in the room, the said shadowy gentleman will not quit your fire-side without leave, if you think him worthy of being once placed there. It is true, that from the very constitution of his nature, he rather looks from than at you,—but what then? A man's heart may look one way, whilst his eyes turn another; and I beg you to take it for granted, that he is thinking very much about

you, notwithstanding the imperfection of his bodily frame impedes his treating you with a full stare. If you please, you may fancy him in the pulpit, and that your pew happens to be rather on one side of him, which will fully account for his looking strait forward; as imagining that his admonitions and reproofs are less wanted in the pew on his right hand, than in many other parts of the church. It may, indeed, seem somewhat strange that any one, who has renounced (or at least, as a parson, ought to be supposed to have renounced) all dealings with the black art, should send a black gentleman as an ambassador and representative. But strange, or not strange, so it is; and here he comes, and begs leave to say, that he is generally considered as bearing a strong resemblance to his master; upon the strength of which plea, he chiefly hopes for a favourable reception at your hands."

The following lines were written on the occasion of the loss of a young midshipman and nine sailors, belonging to his majesty's ship Leviathan, who were unfortunately drowned, not far from his residence in the Isle of Wight, in the year 1804 :

Hark to a voice that sounds from ocean's caves,
Ye mortals, who in fancied safety sleep!
They that in ships o'erpass the stormy waves,
See and declare God's wonders in the deep.

Warned by our sudden fate, learn heaven to prize;

Earth's pleasures fade, her riches quickly flee :

Death in one awful moment closed our eyes,

Thou know'st not but the next may summon thee.

We add some further specimens of his poetical efforts :

:

A BIRTH-DAY THOUGHT.

My birth-day of nature I've oftentimes kept,
And rejoiced in the revels of youth;

Yet 'twas all but a dream, for I slumbered and slept,
Quite a stranger to God and his truth.

But he pitied my soul, I awoke from my sleep,
And he saved me in infinite love :

A new birth-day my Saviour then taught me keep,
For again I was born from above.

And now I believe that the God of all peace

Will be mine till with age I am hoary;
But if angels rejoiced at my birth-day of grace,
How they'll sing on my birth-day of glory!

L. R.

"No cloud can overshadow a true Christian, but his faith will discern a rainbow in it."-Bp. Horne. The same idea versified :—

What though a cloud o'ershade my sight,

Big with affliction's tear;

Yet Faith, amidst the drops that fall,

Discerns a rainbow there.

L. R.