him another private of the same regiment, who had expressed a particular desire to speak with me, but of whom he knew very little, except that in some of the engagements in Holland he had been observed voluntarily to seek danger, and needlessly to hazard his person, as if with a desperate resolution of ridding himself of life. On being introduced to me, alone, the stranger said, that he hoped I should excuse the liberty he had taken of coming to request that I would purchase a small parcel which he had brought, in order to enable him to supply himself with a few necessaries preparatory to his voyage to Egypt, as he had no other means of raising a little money. He was a tall young man, of a dark sun-burned countenance, having something in his aspect, speech, and address, which struck me as being above his present appearance. On opening his parcel, which he did not do without some confusion, it proved to consist of some clergyman's bands, one or two religious books, and some manuscript sermons. Sir,' said he, you will hear with surprise, and I cannot mention it without some uneasiness, what I have for a long time concealed from every one around me, that I am in reality a brother clergyman, though now disguised in the habit of a common soldier. My father is a clergyman in Wales: he educated me himself for the church, and procured me ordination, with a title to a curacy at

in the country of W: my name is E-. I continued upon that cure three years, during which time, I am sorry to say, through much imprudence and inattention to the decorum which suited my character, I contracted several debts, which I had neither the means nor the

prospect of paying. Fearing disgrace and impri sonment, and knowing my father's inability to as-sist me, I quitted the town, and formed the resolution of enlisting as a soldier, which I shortly afterwards did, and was soon sent on the expedition. to Holland, whence I lately returned. That you may have no doubts as to the truth of my story, which may possibly induce you to sympathize with a brother clergyman in distress, I will shew you several letters and papers, which, when you have read, I trust you will give me credit for the truth of my relation.' He also wrote some sentences in my presence which proved his handwriting to be the same with that of the manuscript sermons he had requested me to purchase. On examining the letters (some of which were from his father, expostulating with him on his extrava, gance,) and putting a variety of questions to him, I felt fully satisfied as to the truth of his story.

"I was greatly concerned at what he had related, and began to enter into a close and friendly expostulation with him on the inconsistency of his present situation with the sacred profession to which he was bound by ties the most indissoluble. I urged the duty of his endeavouring to return, if possible, to the discharge of his ministerial duties, with a mind influenced and improved by the experience of past hardships and misfortunes. As he did not appear disposed to follow this advice, I brought forward, with much earnestness, every argument which scripture or reason suggested to my mind on the subject, and begged that he would permit me to endeavour to procure his discharge from the army, by a representation of his case to the Duke of York, AL

though he spoke to me with much civility, and thanked me for my advice and the offer I had made, yet I was sorry to perceive a great reluctance on his part to avail himself of my counsel, and but little appearance of remorse for what had passed; he talked like a man weary of the world, who had no desire to continue in it, and no hope of sustaining a respectable character in it it was plain that no impression of a religious nature was made on his mind. The peculiarity of his situation, and the occasion of his coming, led him at the same time to pay attention to what I said. I entered into a long conversation with him on the nature and design of christianity in general, as well as of the pastoral office in particular; examined him as to his views of the doctrines of the gospel, and explained my own to him very fully. I entreated him to take what I had said to him in good part, and urged him by every sacred consideration to act the part which it appeared to me his duty and interest to adopt. He said but little in reply, and almost declined saying any more. I therefore purchased his little parcel, gave him a couple of books, and dismissed him with a blessing, once more entreating him to lay to heart what I had said. In two days the regiment went away; nor did I see either W. or Mr. E-be

fore their departure.

"A circumstance of so singular a nature frequently occupied my thoughts afterwards; and whenever I wore the bands which I had purchased from Mr. E-, I felt an increased interest in his behalf. From that time, till the return of our troops from Egypt, I had no opportunity of hearing any thing respecting him, except that a cler

gyman of his name had certainly officiated at the town which he had specified a few years since: this I learned from a native of the place.

"Some time after, my old acquaintance W called upon me, and said he was just arrived from Egypt, and had a great deal to say to me. With the same excellence of heart and head as he had testified on every former occasion, he entered into a clear and satisfactory account of the events of the Egyptian expedition; describing, in a very affecting manner, the outward hardships and dangers he had encountered, as well as the inward consolation and support which he had derived from the power of religion on his mind.

"I have now," continued he, "a story to relate, which I am certain you will feel a deep concern in. You, without doubt, remember that young clergyman whom I brought to your house the year before last; the Rev. Mr. E

At that

time I knew but very little of him; he, however, shortly after we had left you, observed, with some emotion, that what you said to him made more impression upon his mind than any thing he had ever heard in the course of his life: he then made me also acquainted with his history, to which I was before a stranger. From that day I was confined in the hospital with a fever, and did not see him again before our departure for Egypt. We embarked on board of different ships; it was not, therefore, till our arrival at Malta that we met together. Mr. E took an immediate opportunity of saying, W, I have long wished to see you; I want to tell you how greatly indebted I feel to that dear friend of your's at: I can never forget him; his words made a deep impres

sion on my heart, and I trust, by the blessing of God, they will yet make a still deeper.'

"I found, on conversing with him, that, since I saw him, he had become affected with a deep sense of his spiritual danger, and, by meditation and secret prayer during the voyage, had acquired much insight into religion. He shewed strong marks of penitence, and gave a favourable hope of an important change having taken place in his views and dispositions. I was also happy to find, that, on the re-assembling of the regiment after the voyage, among the recruits were a few very seriously disposed. Mr. E and myself soon formed a little religious society amongst them, which gradually increased to the number of twenty-four: we met as often as possible to read the Bible together, converse on the concerns of eternity, and unite in prayer to Almighty God for his blessing on our endeavours. We derived much benefit from these meetings. Mr. E-, in particular, expressed himself highly delighted by such a profitable mode of passing those hours which, in our line of life, are too generally devoted to drinking, debauchery, and profaneness. In his confidential conversations with me, he frequently mentioned your name, and shewed me the substance of your friendly advice to him, which he had from memory committed to paper.

"When we arrived on the coast of Africa, Mr. E and myself were in the same boat at the time of our landing at Aboukir. Throughout the whole of the tremendous fire, which for a considerable time the French artillery kept upon us, I observed great coolness and patient fortitude in his countenance. His deportment was very differ