MISSION LIFE IN LONDON AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY, BEING A CHEAP EDITION OF "MY LIFE AND LABOURS IN LONDON," BY JAMES INCHES HILLOCKS, AUTHOR OF "LIFE STORY, A PRIZE AUTOBIOGRAPHY;" "THE SABBATH SCHOOL FROM A PRACTICAL POINT OF VIEW;" LONDON: HODDER & STOUGHTON, 27, PATERNOSTER ROW. MDCCCLXXI. 210. m. 128. "This is a remarkable book. In certain respects it is superior to what even a Dickens or a Trollope could paint. Whosoever wants to deal with the lowest class of our over-crowded towns in a practical way, will find this work full of interest and instruction.”. The Scotsman. "Mr. HILLOCKS appears to have overcome difficulties, and we laud him; to have toiled, and to toil that he may save souls, and we honour and thank him."-Illustrated London News. "He can describe work as well as do it."-Nonconformist. THE RIGHT HON. W. E. GLADSTONE, Prime Minister, RESPECTED SIR, Accept of my sincere thanks for permission to dedicate to you this brief record. I inscribe these pages to you as an earnest expression of my profound admiration of your rare gifts and noble efforts of a lofty purpose and an impressive earnestness -as ever manifested in the valuable services you have been enabled to render to mankind. And, beside, I have observed the deep interest you have taken in the welfare of the toiling and the suffering masses, and you are, therefore, readier to appreciate the efforts of others, however humble, who try to be useful in the work of Christian redemption. Believe me, Yours sincerely, J. I. HILLOCKS. PREFACE. As an Evangelist among the Masses, and as a Pastor in the Church of Christ, I have seen much since the last Edition of this book was published, and not a little of what I have seen is worthy of being recorded; but to do so here would be greatly to enlarge the volume, and involve its being recast, neither of which is at present desirable. The principal change consists in a slight alteration of the title. That now adopted is said to be more in accordance with the contents. Be that as it may, the book is again sent forth, as it was, in the hope that the Master may so bless it that it may continue to be-what has already been said of it— "Valuable not only to the Minister, Missionary, Scripture Reader, and Sabbath School Teacher, but also to the Private Christian, anxious to help to reach and improve the people." It is proper to state here that this Edition would have appeared at the time it was advertised, had I not been one of the victims of the Railway Collision at Harrow, November, 1870. J. I. H. 17, SANDRINGHAM ROAD, STOKE NEWINGTON, N., October, 1871. MY LIFE AND LABOURS IN LONDON. CHAPTER I. MY LATTER DAYS IN SCOTLAND, EMBRACING SOME OF THE INCIDENTS WHICH OCCURRED PREVIOUS TO MY ARRIVAL IN LONDON. I. MY HOPES. T was at Edinburgh that I penned the words quoted in the commencement of the Preface. In the second edition of that "Prize Autobiography," the last sixteen words of that quotation were omitted, not because the intervening time-three months-had brought to me the "work" for which I had longed so anxiously, but at the suggestion of a dear friend, Mr Logan, editor of that admirable volume entitled, "Words of Comfort for Parents Bereaved of Little Children." Writing to me, he said, "Perhaps it would be better not to insert the last two lines of your Autobiography in the new edition. Doubtless you will succeed; and, besides, 'Life Story' will be read long after the author is gone beyond the grave.” Little did this Christian friend know, when he wrote the words, "Doubtless you will succeed," what share they were to have in helping to give to me the encouragement, then so much needed, A |