ways a hard matter to recover our ground when we have once fallen into dangerous practical errors?

When our conversation was concluded, my brother, Samuel Hoare, took me with him on the box of his chariot, and drove Dr. Chalmers and his highly pleasing wife to Wilberforce's, at Highwood Hall, beyond Hendon. Dr. C. and his lady were engaged to stay some days there, and we were glad of the opportunity of enjoying the company of the senator emeritus, together with that of Dr. C. for a few hours. Our morning passed delightfully,-Chalmers was indeed comparatively silent, as he often is when many persons are collected, and the stream of conversation flowed between ourselves and the ever lively Wilberforce. I have seldom observed a more amusing and pleasing contrast between two great men than between Wilberforce and Chalmers. Chalmers is stout and erect, with a broad countenance: Wilberforce minute, and singularly twisted: Chalmers, both in body and mind, moves with a deliberate step: Wilberforce, infirm as he is in his advanced years, flies about with astonishing activity, and while, with nimble finger, he seizes on every thing that adorns or diversifies his path, his mind flits from object to object with unceasing versatility. I often think that particular men bear about with them an analogy to particular animals: Chalmers is like a good-tempered lion: Wilberforce is like a bee: Chalmers can say a pleasant thing now and then, and laugh when he has said it, and he has a s'rong touch of humor in his

countenance, but in general he is grave,-his thoughts grow to a great size before they are uttered: Wilberforce sparkles with life and wit, and the characteristic of his mind is "rapid productiveness." A man might be in Chalmers' company for an hour, especially in a party, without knowing who or what he was,-though in the end he would be sure to be detected by some unexpected display of powerful originality. Wilberforce, except when fairly asleep, is never latent: Chalmers knows how to veil himself in a decent cloud: Wilberforce is always in sunshine. Seldom, I believe, has any mind been more strung to a perpetual tune of love and praise. Yet these persons, distinguished as they are from the world at large, and from each other, present some admirable points of resemblance. Both of them are broad thinkers, and liberal feelers: both of them are arrayed in humility, meekness, and charity: both appear to hold self in little reputation above all, both love the Lord Jesus Christ, and reverently acknowledge him to be their only Saviour.

I shall take this opportunity of giving a leaf out of Wilberforce's history, which has served to amuse one of our little circles at Edinburgh. I derived my information from a delightful tête-à-tête conversation with the hero of my tale, when we were once strolling together over Earlham. Wilberforce was the son of a wealthy merchant at Hull, and was scarcely more than of age when he was elected Member of Parliament for that town. But he was not long to occupy this station, for a

".

higher one awaited him. Immediately after the Hull election, he attended the county election at York, where, to the vast assembly collected in the castle yard, he made a speech on a popular question of the day-Fox's India bill. His eloquence, especially in the earlier stages of his course, was, as I understand, of a most animated and diversified character, and his voice sonorous and mellifluous. The speech produced an almost magical effect on the assembled multitude, and under a strong and apparently unanimous impulse, they cried out, "We will have the little man for our member." In short, though without pretensions from family or fortune to the honor of representing that vast county, he was elected its member by acclamation.

Wilberforce was now one of the most popular of men. His fine talents, his amiability, his wit, his gaiety, his songs, adapted him for the highest worldly circles in the county; and of the assembled gentility at Doncaster races he was said to be the life and ornament. Yet through all these glittering scenes he preserved the character of morality. Happily, however, that heavenly Father, whom his pious parents had taught him to love in early life, was preparing for him "better things" than the blandishments of the world, and "things which accompany salvation." Not long after his election he was travelling through France, in order to visit a sick relation at Nice, in company with his friend, Isaac Milner, afterwards Dean of Carlile, a person somewhat

older, and more serious than himself. In the course of their journey they happened to converse about a clergyman in Yorkshire, who having been impressed with evangelical views, was remarkably devoted to his parochial duties.

WILBERFORCE.

"That man carries things a great

deal too far in my opinion."

MILNER. "Do you think so? I conceive that if you tried him by the standard presented to us in the New Testament, you would change that opinion.”

WILB. "Indeed, Milner-well, I have no objection to try the experiment. I will read the New Testament with you, if you like, with pleasure."

Important indeed were the results of this casual and unexpected conversation. The two friends read the whole of the New Testament together as they journeyed on towards Nice: and this single perusal of the records of inspiration was so blessed to Wilberforce, that he became a new man. His opinions and feelings underwent a rapid revolution. He found himself to be a sinner, and rejoiced in the discovery of his Saviour. He renounced the world, and devoted himself to the fear and service of Almighty God. When he arrived at Nice, he found, in the chamber of his sick relative, a copy of Dr. Doddridge's "Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul." This useful manual of religious experience he read with extreme eagerness, and it appears to have been the means of confirming and completing his change.

The news now swiftly flew into Yorkshire that their popular young member was gone mad. Wilberforce followed the report, in propria persona; threw himself, with noble boldness, amongst his friends and supporters; plainly told them of his change of sentiment; and with good reason adopted (as it may be presumed) the words of a yet more eminent convert, "I am not mad, most noble Festus-I speak the words of truth and soberness." From that time his influence in the county was constantly extending itself; and when, many years afterwards, a contested election took place between Colonel Lascelles and Lord Milton, he polled almost double the number of the votes of either of the other candidates; and a voluntary subscription flowed in of about £40,000, to defray his expenses. A great part of this subscription was returned. Wilberforce afterwards retired from the representation of the county, being unable, from want of health, to cope with the weight of business which it threw on his shoulders.

It is impossible to reflect on this story without much pleasure. What a mercy to Wilberforce was the petty and apparently fortuitous circumstance, which led him to an attentive perusal of the New Testament! And how divine the book which, through the blessing of its Almighty Author, could bear with so irresistible a moral and spiritual force on the intellect, the genius, and the dispositions of Wilberforce! In like manner, what a mercy to Dr. Chalmers was the unexpected,