arising chiefly from a survey of his extensive usefulness, offers no apology for the factious opposition he had met with in the faithful discharge of pastoral duties, nor does it so much as imply any censure on the character of that opposition, but passes over all that had happened as mere "differences among the members of the church," and leaves the pastor's conduct without a word of defence. Yet with all this want of moral delicacy, and of sympathy with his wounded feelings, Mr. Hall, whose magnanimity induced him at all times to lose sight of what was personal to himself, received the address with his usual candour and liberality.

The Morning church under his care, consisting chiefly of pædobaptist brethren, followed the example of the larger society, and addressed to him a letter full of condolence, and full of entreaties for his continuance among them. This was soon followed with an imploring address, numerously signed by the congregation at large, expressing the warmest gratitude for his past services, and the irreparable loss that would be sustained by his removal. Some of the leading gentlemen of the town of Leicester, occasional hearers, united with Mr. Hall's immediate friends in a proposal of building a new place of worship, and forming a new society on the liberal principles which he had so powerfully advocated, and were prepared for almost any sacrifice, rather than be deprived of his ministry and his friendship.

To none of these addresses and entreaties was Mr. Hall in a capacity to give any immediate or distinct reply; he was still in a strait betwixt two, not knowing whether to abide or to depart. The church at Bristol pressed him to comply with their invitation, the church at Leicester pulled in an opposite direction; and he, rent with anguish, knew not how to leave a people with whom he had been so long and so happily united. He sighed, he prayed, he wept, and begged to defer his answer till October.

When October came it found him in the same state, and he requested the indulgence of another month. Two months more elapsed, before he could arrive at any definite conclusion. He then accepted the invitation to Broadmead, on condition however, that he should be allowed to make trial of the situation for one year; and if not mutually satisfactory at the end of that time, the union to be dissolved. Besides, he was not sure that the change would be favourable to his health, which at his age he deemed equivalent to life itself.

On the 21st of Dec. 1825, he addressed the following

LETTER TO THE CHURCH AT BROADMEAD, BRISTOL.

Dear Brethren,

After long and mature deliberation and earnest prayer, I write these lines to inform you

that I accept the invitation you have been pleased to give me to the pastoral office. That it may become a mutual blessing, and that you and myself may reap the fruit of it, in the glory of God, the spiritual improvement of each other, and the conversion of sinners from the error of their way, will I trust continue to be, as it has already been, the object of your frequent and fervent supplications at the throne of grace. Be assured I feel deeply my utter inability for the adequate discharge of the weighty duties which devolve upon me, and particularly my unfitness to walk in the steps of your late venerated pastor. My only hope, amidst the discouragements arising from this quarter, is placed in your prayers and the supply of the Spirit of Christ Jesus.' Conscious as I am of innumerable imperfections, I must rely on your candour for a favourable construction of my conduct and reception of my labours.

Permit me, my dear brethren, to conclude by commending you to God, and to the word of his

grace.

R. HALL.

The tidings of his intended removal flew in every direction, subjecting him to a trial of heart and intellect which few would have been able to sustain. For several days his house was continually beset by persons of every grade and profession, in town and country, imploring him not to leave them. Almost every one of the congregation

begged an interview, to thank him for his public ministrations, his counsels and warnings, and to breathe out their ardent wishes for his future life and usefulness. Some of these interviews left an impression which nothing will be able to obliterate. Whithersoever he went he was perpetually greeted with expressions of regret and lamentation; even the provincial papers deprecated his removal, and lamented that the town of Leicester should thus be deprived of its brightest ornament.

Shortly before he left, the congregation seemed to have recovered its tranquility, and to feel the encreasing power of his ministry. On the last sabbath he was saved the necessity of delivering a farewell address, by a previous engagement to preach two sermons for the baptist mission, according to his annual custom. But the time for his leaving Leicester being generally understood, brought together a crowded auditory, among whom were several persons of rank and title, and some sportsmen belonging to the chase. At the close of the morning service five persons were baptised. The gentlemen present, not accustomed to such a spectacle, eagerly pressed forward to witness the administration; every countenance indicated great seriousness, and the audience generally were deeply affected.

In the afternoon Mr. Hall admitted the candidates to communion, after an impressive address, and then administered the Lord's supper. Here he poured out the most pathetic supplications for

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the peace and prosperity of the church, for the rising generation, and especially for the children of his people, until language and utterance failed. The concluding petitions were mingled with sighs and weeping, and his manly face was plentifully suffused with tears. All command over feeling for a time was lost, a suppressed but simultaneous emotion pervaded the assembly, until it suddenly burst forth in one commingled stream of tenderness and love. A spectator would have been reminded of the parting between David and Jonathan, who wept one with another, until David exceeded;' and would have exclaimed, See how these christians love one another. Mr. Eustace Carey being present on a visit, interposed a few seasonable and tranquilising reflections, arising from the prospect of one day meeting to part no more, and where sorrow and sighing shall flee away. A solemn silence ensued, for nature could do no more; but the impressions produced on this interesting occasion will probably survive the limits of mortality. The services of the day, and the labours of the beloved pastor, closed with an admirable discourse from Matt. vi. 10, March 26th 1826.

On the 29th he left for Bristol, amidst the regrets and agonies of his weeping friends, whom he endeavoured to console with the hope that all would turn to their advantage. He had done but little good, he said, and feared that in future he should do less; and to mitigate the pain of separa