not fear, for though I seldom omit him when at home, yet I seldom read above three folio pages per day. I think I shall, in time, attend to your advice in not relying on Latin translations, but comparing the Chaldee with the Hebrew, for I want to know what the Jews thought of many things, and never had the opportunity till lately. Dr. Macknight is both interesting and valuable to me as I have begun to comment on the Epistle to the Romans, and part of my time, lately, has been employed in copying his variations from our translation, and in taking notes of what I thought new or curious. Besides, I am not sure that I shall not write a little piece soon; a few essays on serious religion, in opposition to the cold formality of the present day, designed to show that serious religion is not enthusiasm, but the just impression of the gospel which must be so felt, when it is believed that the leading doctrines of justification by faith and of a divine influence, are not unscriptural nor unreasonable; that many considerations justify the theory and tendency of an atonement; that the New Testament doctrine concerning Christ is not that of a created Being, but that this was an idea in the eastern philosophy which the apostles were opposing; that the tendency of this system is thoroughly good in this world, and fits us for a further display of God's character and glory in futurity. To conclude by showing what a steady activity it ought to produce in professors of religion, and with an address to them on the present appearance of the decline of godliness.

I have been out a few days at different times, and away from my regular pursuit. I have taken paper, &c., in my pocket book, and in spare hours have put together a few things, so that a kind of plan is laid, and a few short-hand pages of outlines written. It will principally be a short, serious appeal to the common sense of men rather than an attempt at philosophical argument; and if I should not like it when it is done it will not be lost; the seriousness of the subject will compensate for the labour, and hitherto it has been written at times which were redeemed either from trivial reading or from entire trifling. J. K.

DEAR SON, Yours we received in due time, and are glad to find you enjoy tolerable health, and that you are busy in preparing materials for publishing a piece on serious religion; according to the plan you propose, I doubt not that it would be of utility to many, providing that people would buy and read it carefully; but the misfortune is, books of that kind will have few readers and fewer buyers,

TRACT ON SERIOUS RELIGION.

267

so that there is a danger of labouring in vain on such a subject; but if you will run the risk of the sale of it, I shall be far from discouraging you, as I should rejoice to see the fruits of your labour in print.

DEAR FATHER AND MOTHER,

D. K.

As to my little piece, I have made very little addition since I wrote last. I am afraid it would not sell so as to clear me, and I cannot afford to lose much; however, I shall go on gradually, though perhaps slowly, providing materials. When I consider the present state of men's minds, I think such a piece might, perhaps, have its use. But when I recollect how little they are affected by argument, or anything else, I despair. My only hopes are in the serious young people. To convince them that serious religion is reasonable, is a great object. Those who have gone aside, or lost their zeal for God or his truth, I know not what can reclaim. Since I received yours I have procured the Mishnah, with the various commentaries, and have begun to read rabbinical Hebrew; and did I not possess better help than a common Hebrew Lexicon I could not get forward; but I think I shall do very well (with labour.) One lesson I have learned from the little I have read, that there is no hope of converting the Jews till they give up their wise men, as they call them, for their rules of judging true prophets from false ones are such as will never admit of their acknowledging Christ as a Prophet, till they give up their old teachers. "In vain do ye worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Their religion is superstitious, their vanity enormous; but I think their writings will be of use in understanding the New Testament as well as the Old.

J. K.

Home pursuits-Buonaparte and the Pope-David Kinghorn's Verses on the Anniversary of his Wedding-Joseph Kinghorn's reflections on his own solitariness-Riot at Norwich-Wilberforce on Christianity-Geddes on the Old Testament-Dyer's Life of RobinsonDeath of Dr. Enfield" Speculative Society"-Brief Sketch of its Members.

FROM the following extracts we see a little of Mr. Kinghorn's daily occupations; he says in writing home, February 14th, 1797:

:

The truth is, I study steadily, but not closely; my habits are regular. My mornings are spent at home till twelve o'clock, then I walk out, either to the public library, the booksellers, or the fields. I drink tea from home about three afternoons in the week, the other three I am at home. Thus my application is not severe, and regulated as I find strength. The first thing done is daily to read a part of the Hebrew Bible, after that other things as they are wanted.

A young man yesterday drank tea with us at Mr. Hawkins's, who comes from London. The Jews became the subject of conversation. The lecture at Berry Street was mentioned, he said a few Jews attended, but only a few; but the High Priest had issued an edict that those who frequented such lectures should be put out of the synagogue. The Rabbies hold up both hands against everything of the kind, and while their influence continues, the Jews will, as a body, do as they have done.

It has been much expected lately that Buonaparte would rout the Pope, take Rome, and abolish the Popedom; when things were at the worst with the Pope, I told a few friends I thought he would make it up. His lease was not yet expired. One replied he thought

INVITATION TO GEORGE STREET, Hull.

269

he was, however, in the last year of his term. But peace is made, and though he was completely in the power of his enemies, they had reasons for not touching him.

In another letter Mr. Kinghorn mentions the receipt of a communication from the deacons of the church meeting in George Street, Hull, which he says thoroughly surprised him, informing him that Mr. Pendered was leaving the church at George Street, and entreating him if he knew a minister at liberty, likely to suit them, to send them his name, adding also that if he were himself removeable, they knew of no one who would be more acceptable. He remarks to his father in speaking of it :

Norwich, April 10th, 1797.

I replied I could not conscientiously accept the invitation. No doubt the Hull people thought the vicinity of Hull to Bishop Burton, and the effect of early friendships with a few there would have their weight with me, and so they would, were I at liberty to attend to such circumstances solely, but I cannot think I should be justified in leaving Norwich. We have a great deal of quietness here, and much personal respect is shown me. J. K.

With respect to his son's conscientious determination to stay with the church over which the Lord had made him overseer, Mr. David Kinghorn remarks:

Bishop Burton, April 22nd, 1797.

Conscience is a faithful monitor, and a severe reprover; to attend to its dictates in our dealings with men is the greatest wisdom, and is infinitely better than gold or rubies, could they be obtained at the expense of a conflict with it. You will, perhaps, think it strange that I should be the first to supply at George Street after Mr. Pendered has removed. Last Lord's day I preached to them from John xvii, 26.

P.S. This day thirty-two years ago we were married. scribble on the edge hastily written.

D. K.

See the

"The scribble" here referred to is the following amusing

little poetic effusion, written by David Kinghorn in memory of his nuptials.

In social bliss 'midst cares and fears
We've lived two-and-thirty years;
In Taurus Sol again ascends,
Reviving spring fresh vigour sends;
Trees, plants, and birds again seem gay,
Summer's approach fresh hopes display,!
While time thus rolling on so fast,

Our days and strength perpetual waste.

In reference to this Mr. Kinghorn makes the following interesting remarks:

I was struck with your relation of the anniversary of thirty-two years marriage. May that day often find you both in health and happiness. There is a solitariness in single life: the heart wants a companion, a friend to whom all can be told is not to be met with in our common intercourse. I dare say if I had a wife I loved, and who loved me, I should tell what now lies buried till it is forgotten. What are generally called friends are very valuable. I own it, and I have many I esteem, yet there is an intercourse of sentiment of a higher kind, and which it seems impossible to enjoy but where the interest and happiness of two are completely made You will by this time suspect that I am at least half in love, perhaps courting, &c. No; but I could not help saying what I have, from the circumstance you mention.

one.

A riot happening at Norwich at this time, by reason of a party of Enniskillen dragoons attacking two public houses where the democrats were wont to assemble, Mr. Kinghorn, with his usual attentive kindness, wrote to his parents on purpose to give them an account of it, lest they might read it in the newspapers and be alarmed. The disturbance was occasioned by Thelwall's giving notice of a public lecture, but it was soon quelled and order restored; the ringleaders of the attack ran off to avoid punishment.

In a subsequent letter he mentions the publication of William Wilberforce's work on Christianity. He says:

Wilberforce, member for your county, has published, I hear, a very fanatical book, it quite raises a hue-and-cry; and I begin to