occasion at Northampton." He then speaks of the compositions of this eloquent preacher as having been rendered highly impressive and delightful, by the correct and lively imagination they displayed, and their being embodied in language of the most classic purity.* Such it seems was the model he selected while a schoolboy, and such his early perception of what was rich and beautiful in style and sentiment.

Robert continued at Northampton about eighteen months, making rapid improvement in classical and mathematical learning; but the indifferent state of his health, and the frequent recurrence of pain, unfitted him for close application, and required a relaxation from school exercises. In the twelfth year of his age he returned to his native village, where, with the benefit of country air, he would have every opportunity of prosecuting his religious enquiries, under the able and judicious instructions of his excellent father, and of preparing his mind for future usefulness.

His sprightly wit and obliging manners rendered him a great favourite at home, and among the neighbours; and as his father occupied a few acres of land, an endowment which belongs to the congregation at Arnsby, constituting the principal part of the minister's support, he frequently accompanied him into the field to converse with the labourers, who were highly entertained with his shrewd and witty observations. In these days of

* Memoir of Mr. Toller.

juvenility he was also very fond of a hoax, and displayed no small degree of ingenuity in the execution. Observing one day a farmer's servant carrying a bag, containing a sucking pig as a present to his father, and putting it down outside the door, Robert contrived to abstract the roaster, while the man went in with his message, and put in a young dog instead. The unsuspecting countryman carried in the intended present, with his master's respects, but found on opening the sack a transformation which filled him with terror and amasement, while Robert secretly placed himself within view of this curious comedy. In all the sports and gambols with his playfellows he always took the lead, and gave them reason ever after to remember his humour and adroitness.

Possibly, at this particular period, when the rural scenery around invited to so many pastimes, there might be some instances of daring or of injurious frivolity, to which he adverted with so much pain and sorrow in the latter part of life, when, like holy Job, he mourned over the iniquities of his youth;' for it is commonly observed, that where religious impressions are made in very early life, before the judgment has attained to any maturity, or the mind been rooted and grounded in love,' it has been followed with an interval of supineness, and the prevalence of corrupt affections. Yet in the present instance it is far more probable, that the lamentations so oft repeated were the result of a deeper insight into the evil

of sin, a deeper sense of innate depravity, accompanied with the painful recollection that childhood and youth are vanity,' rather than to any serious degree of spiritual declension. All who knew him bore witness that in him was found,' from the earliest dawn of reason, some good thing towards the Lord God of Israel,' and that he uniformly bore this character. The following entry in the church book at Arnsby is circumstantial and decisive upon the subject.

"On Lord's day, Aug. 23, 1778, Robert Hall, youngest son of our pastor Robert Hall, gave a very distinct account of his being the subject of spiritual grace. He was only fourteen years of age last May, and has appeared to be serious from his early childhood. He was baptised on Lord's day, Sep. 6th, and the same day was added to the church."

SECTION II.

A. D. 1778-1780.

In the following October he was introduced to Bristol Academy, which had been founded in 1770, under the superintendence of the Rev. Hugh Evans, A. M. and his son, afterwards Dr. Caleb Evans, who succeeded to the presidency, and was assisted in the classical department by the Rev. James Newton, a. M. Dr. Caleb Evans, pastor also of the baptist church at Broadmead, was possessed of extensive learning, of liberal sentiments, and captivating eloquence. The tutor and the pupil manifested a reciprocal attachment, and were fully aware of each others respective merits.

Though our young student had preached occasionally for some time before, in more retired situations, the recent change of circumstances encreased his diffidence and timidity to such a degree, that it was with difficulty he could be persuaded to engage in any public exercise, and failed in the first and second attempt. Acquiring a little more self-possession, he at the urgent request of his tutor, delivered a public discourse at Broad

mead, when he was little more than fourteen. This singular fact was elicited, in the course of conversation, within the last year or two of his

life.

Robert spent the first vacation at Arnsby, and in July 1779 he accompanied his father to the ordination of Mr. Skinner, the first pastor of the church at Clipstone in Northamptonshire. Among the ministers present on that occasion was the celebrated Mr. Beddome, so well known by his excellent Hymns and posthumous Sermons, and who, in conjunction with the senior Mr. Hall, conducted the principal services of the day. Interested by the conversation and appearance of young Robert, Mr. Beddome was extremely anxious that he should be engaged to preach the evening lecture; but he continued for some time to resist every importunity, and left the company. Followed by the entreaties of an intimate friend* he at length complied, and entered the pulpit for the first time before an audience of ministers, whom he had been accustomed from his childhood to look up to with feelings of reverence,-a dismaying undertaking for a youth of fifteen, but for which his previous exercises at Bristol had in some measure prepared him. His text was 1 John i. 5. "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.' The enlarged and vivid conceptions of the youthful

* Mr. Joseph Timms, several years a deacon of the baptist church at Kettering, where his father before him sustained the same office, during the presidency of the learned Dr. Gill.