preacher, his metaphysical acumen and powerful argumentation, on this profound and mysterious subject, excited the deepest interest, and afforded unequivocal proofs of his designation to the sacred office.

The friends at Clipstone were afterwards indulged with his early services, nearly as often as he visited his native place; but in consequence of his personal negligence and the numerous misadventures to which he was continually liable, they found it necessary to watch all his movements, till he was securely placed in the pulpit. In the immediate prospect of preaching he generally required to be left to his own meditations, for the space at least of half an hour; and it sometimes happened that the preacher could not be found when he was wanted, or that he had burned off the skirt of his coat unperceived, by sitting too near the fire, or had lost his hat, and could not appear until the losses and damages were in some sort repaired. These trifling incidents, affording amusement at the moment, were easily overlooked and soon forgotten, when once the blaze of eloquence was lighted up.

During the probationary period at Bristol he pursued his academical studies with great ardour and perseverance, and was remarkable for early rising; but having no regular plan of operation, nor deeming it necessary to make arrangements for his own convenience, his fellow students were not a little annoyed by his literary depredations.

On leaving the dormitory they found that in his haste he had carried off their paper and pens, inkstands and books, and sometimes even their clothes, till effectual means were interposed for their protection. Dr. Caleb Evans, entertaining a great partiality for his pupil, invited him in a morning to his private study, where every thing was provided for his accommodation, and thus terminated the predatory warfare.

At all times fond of daring exploits, his life was frequently exposed to great danger during the volatile period of childhood and youth. He would climb the loftiest trees, or plant his foot on some dangerous eminence, from which he sometimes fell with great violence, but was mercifully preserved from any serious accident. One of these exploits, during his academic career, was of a character so singular and romantic, and attended with such imminent peril, that it might have been deemed perfectly incredible, but for the undoubted authority on which it rests.

It having been customary to admit into the Academy at Bristol a limited number of Welsh students, whose different habits and odd construction of the English language often afforded diversion to the other inmates, it is said that our hero contrived to frighten one of them by descending the chimney of the room where he was sitting, and presenting himself to the retired and contemplative Welshman, covered with soot and dirt. The circumstance having been mentioned to

Mr. Hall nearly fifty years afterward, in the expectation that so improbable a statement would have met a direct denial, he immediately replied, "By no means the tale is true enough, except that it was no part of my design to disturb the inoffensive Welshman, who was sufficiently alarmed, certainly, at my unexpected appearance through such an aperture. But having observed with what ease and celerity a Sweep would present himself at the chimney top, I was desirous of ascertaining by what means such an extraordinary feat was accomplished. Unfortunately, I began at the wrong end of the business. I ascended the roof of the building by a ladder, and then climbed outside the highest chimney, in order to descend through it to the bottom. The attempt nearly cost me my life. On entering the top of the chimney I slipped down several yards, was almost suffocated with dust and soot, and some severe contusions of the head and elbows were the consequence of this imprudent adventure." If the excruciating pain he endured throughout the greater part of life had not its origin in some unperceived injury of an early date, there can be little doubt but it was much encreased by the serious accidents to which he was continually liable, and might account for the different forms of affliction with which he was visited.

The eccentricity of his habits and manual exploits, during this period, was not more remarkable than the ebullition of his genius, and the unbound

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ed efforts of his wit. The appearance of vanity and conceit, or the obtrusion of an ignorant petulance, however disgusting to his feelings, did not suffice for the object of his censure; he would overwhelm by turns all his associates with torrents of sarcastic wit and raillery, which he found it so difficult to restrain. Aware however of the temptation to which his natural vivacity exposed him, and how incautiously his satire might wound the feelings of those whom he esteemed, he imposed a restriction upon his fancy, and passed upon himself an implied censure, in writing an admirable Essay, in which the evils and excesses of a satirical propensity are ably pointed out.

This short and interesting piece, entitled the "Character of Cleander," exposes with just severity that species of sarcasm especially, which arises from a disposition to detract from the excellencies of others on account of some minor defects, eagerly descried for the mere purpose of furnishing matter for ridicule and banter; a state of mind totally estranged, certainly, "from the delicacies of friendship, which generously hides the faults it cannot correct," and is equally at variance with the principles of true benevolence.

It is pretty evident however that besides the correction of his own foibles, the writer must have had principally in view some unfeeling critic, whose conduct it was his object to condemn; for with respect to himself, no one who knew him would admit that a single grain of malevolence

ever entered his constitution, whatever may be said of the shrewdness and severity of some of his repartees. He now determined it seems on laying aside "all the edged tools of eloquence and wit," which he had brandished with so much power and playfulness, and to comport himself with a gravity and decorum becoming his present engagements and pursuits. In the latter part of life especially, when his feelings were more under the controul of religious principles, he was sparing in the use of satire, and preferred cultivating the tender and devout affections, both in himself and others, though it was impossible but that the sparklings of his wit and humour would sometimes escape him, in the course of an animated conversation; and whether serious or jocose, his sarcasms seldom failed to strike.

Towards the close of his second year at the academy, Mr. Hall spent the midsummer vacation at Arnsby; and not having been formally called to the work of the ministry, according to the general custom among dissenters at that time, his pious father deemed it necessary that he should be examined before the church for that purpose. Desirous also that his own conduct in this instance should appear to be uninfluenced by any undue partiality to his beloved son, and that satisfactory evidence should be given of his talents and piety, as indispensable to the sacred office, he carefully recorded the particulars of this solemn service, accompanied with a brief sketch of the early life