M E M O I R S
«
OF w ,
The Firft FORTY-FIVE YEARS
OF
The LIFE
O F
«
JAMES LACKINGTON.
J( Pdce Fivf ShiUiiq^ in bovds. ]
Digitized
Digitized by Google
Digitized by Google
.iirff jilt//.
T . L A c K .1 r; T () y .
V ^ <
MEMOIRS
O F •
Tbe Firft FORTY-FIVE YEAU
f'- OF
The LIFE
jAMES LACKINGTON,
The prefect Bookidkr in ChifweU-ftieet* Moor&elds« London*
Written by Himrdf.
In Forty-six Letters to a Friend.
With a TRIPLE DEDICATION*
I. To the PUBLIC
To soV"p }
A NEW EDITION.
CamBlfd, and nmch cnlarged i interfpcrfed with many m/ZM/'
iutnmnmM Stories, and drUl Anecdotts,
*♦ >7« yotjth <1id I in eductfion waHe s
** Happily I'U an inluitux T^tt
« Wnfing ne'er crampM the finewf of my thomhj
" No barb'rotjs birch d d ever brufti my b—
My got? ne'er fiiftcr'tl from a collf f,c cf>ok,
" My name ne'er cnter'U ia a buttery booic.
M Gnmmar tn vain the foos of Prifdan teach;
" Good parts are better than eight parts of fpeech*
f* Si lire thefo tleclin'd, thofe under.linM they call^
** 1 iJjank my ftars, that 1 decUn'd them all.
* To Greek or Latin tongnes without pretence,
1 truft to Kllpther Wit and Father Senfe.
** Nature's my gviide ; all pedantry I Tcorni
Pains I abhor. X was an Author boro."
■fiicb the vanity of great and fmall,
Contenpt got* rounds and all men laugh at all
»
I*
L O N D 0
Pntiod iar the Avthor, No. 416 and 47^ ChitelltStrcet ;
and Told |»]r all other BookfeOem
M9CCXCXI9
[Price 5ft. to Boonb.]
i^TOR, LEWOK AND
TIUOEH FOUHOATIOKS.
, t899.
Digiiized by Google
A TRIPLE DEDICATIONi
1. TO THE PUBWC,
*
•* In things iadifF'rent Rc^ifon bids us chufc,
*' Whether the whim's a mookey or a muic.'^
GavftCBttt;
WORTHY PATRONS,
Were i to addrefs yocl
in the accdtomed declamatofy ftrain, which
has long been adopted as the unifotrfal Im^
guage ot dedications^ viz. FLATT£JtYt I
ihguld not only merit your contempt^ for
thus endeavouring to impofe upon your ua-
derflandtngs, but alio render myielf ridicu«-
loiifly GonipicuottSt by a feebk atteoqit 19
.fierform that^ for wlxich, as well bf natare
as long eflablifhed habit, I am totally difr
qualified.
• On tile other hand, I fliould efteaii myfel/
equally meriting your cenfure, as being guilty
of a flagrant fpecies of ingratitude^ were 1 w
.omit availing myfelf of fo favourable aii op*
A a portu|iity
Digitized by
Vi DEDICATION*
portunity as now prcfcnts itfelf of exprefllog
the refped and venerttien I entertain for
you, reiulting from the very extenfive and
ample encouragement with which you have
crowned my indefatigable exer^ons to ob-
tain your patronage, by largely contributing
to the diiruiion of fcicnce and rational cnter-
tainnvent, on fuch modei^atc terms as were
heretofore unknown*
Permit n^e »> indul^ the pleaiing
that when I aflert. my mind is deeply im-
prelTiid with the inoll grateful fenfe of the
obligation, I (hall.be hrttioui«d with cre&u
if this opinion be wdl founded, to enlarge
t)n the fubjed: were iuperiiuou&^if ocbaro*
wiie, the ftrongeft arguments, the moft
Splendid and forcible language could convqr^
would not enfure conviftion; I tlicarefoft
idefift, fully perfuaded that libe moft iktis£ic-i
xory demonilration I can poflibly exhibit of
-^e fincerity of this declaration, will be^ aa
• ♦ -»
inviolable adherence to that Uififortfi line
condud
Digitized by Google
t}£DltATION; vu
.tMdud Which h)ft$ already fcbored ytrar ap«*
jprobatiOQ Cd a 4e^r^ cnyncsnt ^ u4prece-
deatedi and which is indeed dgily reiidered
more evident^ hj a jprogreiilve ii^creafe in the
humber atid latteiit of your ttimi^ truft-
lng» h long as you find my pra£tice
invariably cprre^ndent to thofe prdfeiiipns
fo frequently cjlhibited to your notice (from
which to deviate would render me ua worthy
ywf pfotoaion) yiihi will^ in dcMince of all
laalignaot fl{i|)Qfitiaiii irmly jptatfertm in the
Jiibeial Aijiport of him wjMife ^ii«My ^bi^
tioa it isj and du^^ing lifi? ihidl bei to (iiftin-
g^ifli himfdf a^
WOltTHY PATRONS,
Tow ttdcb obliged.
Ever grateful^
And devoted humble fervail^/ '
oaobe*i79w JAMES LACKiNGToWi
A #
Digitized by Google
vHi DEDICATIOI^.
i. To that part of the numerous body of
BOOKSELLERS of Great Britain and
Ireland, whofe condud justly claims
the additional title cxf rbspbctablb
Whpfe candour aiid liberality he has in numerous in-
ftauices cxp eri cn c cdt and Ms a ibifibie pleafure in thus
publicly 4cknowkiiguig.
A
, , And laftly (dm^ not kaft in jMf)
3. To thofe fordid and malevolent BOOK-
S£LL£KS, whether they iferplendent
* ' • dwell in'iiately maniionSy or in wretched
huts of dark and grovelling obfcurity ;
I'U give eray mc a fman laih in my way«"<—
To whofe aflidiioiit and unwtaried labours to injure his
ftputation with their brctliren and the public, Ik b ia a
confiderable dtgfce indabted for the csooftdenoe npofed in
hioH and the fuccefe he has been honoured with^ produc* .
five of his prefent profpcrity^
THESE MEMOiilS
are, with aU due difcriminatioii of the rcfpeaive merits
of eacfai
Infcrihedby
THE AUTHOR.
Digitized by Google
• PREFACE.
ft
*• To print, or not to prim?'— that is the queftion :
/ *« Whether 'tit better in a tmak to bai^
** The qntdu fnd crochets of o mfag eoos fknqi^
** Or fend a well- wrote copy to the prcfs,
*• And, by dUcloiiiig, end them ? '
For who wovld bear th' impatient thiift of fame*
The pride of confcioiit merit, and 'boTt aU« .
The tedious importanity of friends— >]
" To ^toan and fweat under a load of wit i
«* The Critics do make cowaidi of as all." J aCo.
QUSTOMt it has been repeatedly oi>ftrved
by maa/ of my worthy (and fome per*
Jiaps unrmrtby) predeceflbrs in authorihiy»
has rendered a preface almoft iiidiipeofibly
iiecefiary; while others again have as fre- •
.quendy remukedt that cujlom is the law of
fcoisi* ThoTe coolldcrations induced me to
hffitatg whiether I iliould uilicr my perform-
jtnce iotp (he world with a preface^ and thus
hazard
Digitized by Google
luizard being ckffed with die ailiierent$
ihsLt Uwy or by omitting it^ efcape the bp-*
probriiun» for wJba JbaU decide when dolors
difagree Now tliough I would Hot takd
upon me to decide in every point in which
dodors difagree» yet after giving the prefent
fubjeA that mature confideration which ib
important a concern required* I thought my-*
&lf fully competent to decide^ if A9t to
general fatisfadion* at leaft ib as fully to fa«
tiafy one particular peribn» &ir whom I pro«
fefs to have a veiy great regard, though per«
haps few are to be found who would be
equally condekendiog to himi who that per-*
ion is I do not wiih publicly to declare^ aa
(being a very modeA man ) it might offend
jbnv lihril onlyfay, die noDre yon icad 'dcf
tneanrt auitaSiied in the £allowii% page^^
the better you will become acquaaated with
hini. I ground my deciiioa on thefe argu^
ments : I concluded, as mofl of my brethren
tflbi.q^ll 4o of tianr libttii^ my
per-
Digitized by Google
P R £ F A C tA
performance po&Std io much intriiiilc me^
rit, as would occafion it to be univcrfally
admimf bjr all good judges^ as a prodigious
e^rt of human getiiu8» and dmt this ap^
probation muft naturally excite the envy
of fome authors^ who had nut met with
rfiat high applaofc they deemed diemfehres
ehtided t6, and indine tfaem to &areh Sbr
imperfedkms in my work, and though I wa»
perltiaded of the impoffibility bf their hndmg
any, yet being thus foiled, they might
catch at the want of a preface, and confitue
ti&t into an omifikm, fi> that in order to
<fi£irtti lham» I ft&lved to ha?e onej tfpt^
dally as thole who deem pre£ioes unnecei&ry
inay> if they choofe, decline reading it,
WbUft thflfe on ihe other fide of tSie i^eflSon,
4f tlMM tvas arae, might bo dsfappdmsd,
^d have -caufe ^ complaint ^ but to he
ierkms (if 1 can).
Almoil every author on producing the
i^iMamM lus, ftn (and liis btam if 1» has
any)
Digitized by Google
xif PREFACE.
agj) thinks, it prudent to introduce himiei/
by a kind of Prologue, as it may be caUcd,
llating his reafons with due preclfion for
intruding himfelf on his readers (vhcthcr
irm or otherwife, is not always material to
encjuire) beipeaki^g their candour toward^
his weakncfles and iniperfedions (wliich
by the bye, ftw authors are fo fenliblc of
ts their readers) and not unfrequently
endeavouring to foothe thofe GOLIAHS
in literature, ycleped crUscs, (with whom not
many little Davids are found hardy enough
to contend) hoping thus to coax them
into good humour; or, perhaps, if his vanity
preponderates, he throws the gauntlet of
defiance, with a view of terrifying them
dthcr to hold their peace, or to dojufticeto
thofe mighty abijjties Ae is cpnfidiyit he
polTeiTcs in p degree, cn^nently fuperior to
moil of his brethren*
' For my ojvn part, I difclaim adopting
either pf th^lfe- modes ; co^Yiacpd,. that ia
the
Digitized by Google
PREFACE, tM
the firft cafe, every reader, whatever the
author Diay plead, will, (and indeed oughty
to judge for himfelf; and with regacd to
profeifed critics* were I fo difpofed (whicli
I am not) neither my natural or acquired
abihties enable me to iully thofe whb muft
be very ill qualified for their talk, if they
were dius to be intimidated from declaring
tkeir real fentiments ; and, on the other hand,
to a£^ a degree pf humility, and by flattery
po ai^n at warping their minds, is, in my
opinion, paying them a very bad comv
pliment.
So much for otherfr^now £br myfelf :
Neyer ihpuld I have ventured to appear 14
this habit before tlie public, had not tlie
following motives urged me thereto :
Many frjenda have frequently expreflbd
a deiire of obtaining from myfelf fuch par-
ticulars as. they could rely on, of my paflage
through life, and many enemies (for fuch
I have in cpmmon with other inen, from
Digitized by Google
jdf PREFACE*
Ihe monarch down to die poor cobler)
have been induftrious in propftgating what-
ever reports they thought would beft tend
to impede my fiuther progrefs i among the
rdk, the editors of a periodical publication
now on the decline (whether defervedly or
not, let others determine) thought proper
to exhibit me as they have ^one many much
more eminent and diftinguiflied charafters^
in a Uteraiy portrait, contuning a lew out*
lines it is true, but with fome features which
they muft have known to be falfc.
After having been repeatedly threatened by
a very particular friend and otherSf that if
I d^lined drawing up a narrative, they
were determined to do it for me, the iiril
mentioned geailemaa prevailed oi) me (as
the inoft likcty mode to bring it to a period)
to devote now and then a fpare hour m mw
liuting down ibme of the moft material oc-
currences of my life^ ai^d to iibnd them tQ
|4m in an epiftokry form, iiUending to digeft
the
Digitized by LiOOgle
PREFACE. wf
the whole iato a regular narrative for pub-t
licatioai that geijtkinaa, however, on pc-
ru£d, was of opiaiQiii that it ipvouU
additioiiilly acceptabk ta tfat ouiow part
of the puUict if exhibited lo them ia tho
plain and iimpk maaacr ift which thefe kt-r
ters were written, as ^ thus tending to difplay
fuch tnits and featum of a IbmewlMit ocvt
ginal chara^ler^ uA gnre a siore |NNfed^
. idea of I* great I, the little hero af eacli
tale," than any^ odier zpode that could have
been adopted I efpecially, as m^y intell^mi
perfons were confident I cou]4 not wrke at
all, whik others iimify attributed to wn
what I never wrote,
» ■ ' ** Then think*
That he who ihus h forc'd to fpcak^
Ujilcis commnded* wouid faavc 4jr*d in (iioaoi*^
If among the multitude of memoirs under
wbacb the prefs has groaned^ and wid|
which it Aill continues to be tortured, the *
following (heets fliould afford fome degree
of
Digitized by Google
xw P- R' B- F A' C* E;
of entertainment^ as a relaxation from more,
grave and folid ftudic, .o ij) uujuiiiuvc »d
<hLndid reader (thofe of an oppofite defcrlp*
^on are not to be pleafed with the ableft
performance) and he ihould deem it not the
worft, nor the moit expeniiye among the
■
lAimerims tribe, I fliall efteem myfelf amply
rewarded; had I, however, been difpofed
■
to be more attentive to entertainment, and
lefs to veracity, I might, to many, have ren-m
dered it much more agreeable, though Itfs
lltilfii)ftory to mjrfelf^ as I bdieve the obfer-^
vition long iince made to be juft, that few
books aje lb iU written, but that Ibmething
fnay be gleaned from their perufal.
Should the infignificance of riijt life inr
duce ai^ peribn better qualified to pre!ex|t
the world widi i&/>, big with interefting ^
' 't
events, my difpofmg of Several large edi-
* » ■ ^
t^ons of that performance will afford me.
ijiore foliJ fatisfadion as a bookfclkr^ than
gny fuccefs or emolument which can poifibly ^
arife
Digitized
PREFACE. xvu
hook this, nqr and laoft probably
hJlf eiikjr as an author*
If unfortunately any of my kind reader^
ifaoiiU imd the book fo i6ifT^ i/wtf and
*
Jiu^ that they cannot get thfough it,
or if. they do, and wiih not -|o. travel the
fime road again, I here declare my jjerfeft
readinefs to fupply them with abundance of
txioJu, much more kamed^ much mcatta^
Hertaining, much more witty, much more
whatever they pleafe, they never ihall
want books while L. is able to affiil them; and
whether they prefer one of his writing, or
. that, of any other author, ho protefls he will
not be in the iinaUeft degree ofiended : let every
author make the fame declaration if he can.
Should my memoirs be attended with no^
other benefit to Ibciety, they will at leaft tend
to fhew what may be efiedked by a perfevering
habit of induitry , and an upright conicientious
demeanour in trade towards tlie public, and
probably ii J^lre fouic one, of perhaps fuperior
a abiUtie9#
, 1 vpwlaiifeifPj tg Jiis own ctc^k w4 .^mf)\iiffient,
b^iM^jftAt9n<){iew hwi^f^ e?er A4U^iii(k
\^;^ciifu p^kk' U^ic^p ^ it has ,UAifoi:^y
:> j|AC^ /ny. Qpiaioa» that whatever ia tim
;^fiquircd, is more honourable to the parties
:tl)^a th^. foSMSof^ of, wealth obtained mth<-
,mtm(ic mierU or exer^» afid
^ iWi^h ^ .too. iiequfiutly a.)nruaied wish raf
ijity io the puffvut of viccapd.diiiipatiQiv.
OttS word to my old friends the bookfellers
. under mmtar ibrn. -of my dedkatioiu Tbis
. -IHilbtottian it. is , to be^o^peftqd will tend^^d
excite ibme degree of mirth in th^em. . Cop-
: t^t ; I have oftea.^een .t^ ^pule
j*(jbiow(?ver unintentiowl ou my P^V^j), j^^-^^f^-
fiifiing lefs plq^fing fenfation$. m theip^ ^
o3^ef^iiij|fiaU0lXfttlM^ fi^l i^pc; however, ^c-
^i«>riU«gri t9..thc, Wf4l, |uiO(\ya aflf^^f^^.V^jJ^et
^'iUt " < ^ them
Digitized by Google
^"S^^&^m iaugh who wm/^'' I^bdfc^they^^
"l^^inauffge me in the fame ^opehfity ^ KtigK-
^ lhaUt he#eM^^ piece of^^i^icey 'i^ch I^<do
not hefitate to pronounce i^ill, if attended
/tDi ei^ to pftt^MtitM^ -in xsif fitfi
^'^HikSs of bocdcTellerd/ and ^V^Htudly pr<3Ve
'tiioiie 4yenefictal thaii it cdnAtat perfeireratice
ih the mode of conduct they have hitherto
* purfued i and thofe who have children will,
I hope, fee the propriety of ineuleatftn^ tfw
fim^ dddrine to^em idr (heir ffituire benefit :
^&nd4is f fbtttier tnyfelf t^y advioe wili prove
^equally producaivc of, benefit to great' nuHl^
^ bcrs of. the community at large as to bocA-*.
ielfcrs. It is this : * ' " • ' • ■ • ' '
"-^^if ihfey dtflerVc ariy perfotf by induftry srfid
^iK^clih6b*'in that line for -whigh his Jatents
'tJt diiffrofitiou luve qualified' him, never to
^ attempf^tyf <ferk inuerCdoc^J^fly' hkits^ Miil
*
"xx P £ Pi ^ Q B.
l^^to bea man of ft'becMii%ipkitiit^piiFk
condud will only tend to increafe im &aip-
tiM^y and 'render hkn ilill more caucus to
i^pois$ il^itt fecisil on thcmfelvte, 4hA tfiey
will have the moirtificati6n to fee hfan flotirifli,
whilit they become obje<Sts of contempt ih
the eyes of the public, and will of courfe be
ATdded by them. * * ' ^' ^
BttC I ftrget mylelf, -fiom debxtit^
whether a preface was really x2eGe^[kiy.or
nor,' If I proceed tliu^, I ihall produce one
as long as my book, as indeed ibme of my
'f(ti/kit& oi'ituthdrftilprrhav^ dune heSoiSttimo,
thbdgh itot< tthogtfcher ' conftAont^ - (with • r^noh
fni| ^jij therefore concl^^dc^with^a wifli that
my readers may enjoy the feaft with the lame
lU^t With fme^ymj iium^ mt
much coar/i food, and the major part^ I'^fUs*
' " • '. ' Ught
Digitized by Google
^^Ut dni ea£y ^ofidigeftipiit .th(>^ w'fth
iipfietitrft"lviU.r}Nid»k€ lof rie^. 4i<hf,i viM^
•adi^s more ddi^te may ic^le^^fHcb ,<^^f«
as a^c QKuie light, and better ada^tfd^j^o thcif
palates; they are all genuine Briti(b.:ftre,
me difh of Freochr conftitutioft ragout ex^
Qcptedf But left they ihoald be at ar.Ap%^
know what the eiitertamaieot coQ^fts,^)^^^
beg leave to ioforra them that it contain^
ibrty-iix diihes of various fizes^ which (if
they oalculnte the-expence of . their aimjfmn
ikketi) they will fiod dg^ DOjt amovni^f to
'illirar hi^fencg par .diih;.^ui wh^t i bpp^
^hey will confider as luitiWijcly ,\ Akx^\c (ig
ooBipUatice wHfa the precedei!!^. of/a modern
4aEtj[iQj;:mniiieM' to.the culinary Jlciefice;,) fi
ilriking likenefsof their Cook into the barg^vvx>
ihaweralfo/pJie^ral.a bill.Qf fare.> |urn
smt J^^ leaf, a;id_.,jsoa wi^/ fipd. i^^^^
■ 5<Jicfc^#Rdi QQii|qn(?%f pray he. featcd; yo^i
Jilyii a 3 THE
Digitized by Google
■
1
'I
• It
I
Digitized by Google
CONTENTS.
Preface to the Second Edition, containing an ac-
count of the conduct of certain bookfellers. The
author's thanks to others. His gratitude to his cuf-
tomers. Why the additions were not printed fiipa-
paratefy. — — page xxxix
Poetical £ptiUe to Mr. Lackiogton on his Memoirs*
page Ixirit
LETTER L
THE Author's motives for publiihing his life. Rcmarki
on a p^rtrah in the ^ . Samdakuf ChrvmcU** On John
Dunton's ^ life and errors^^ and /rr«rr of others.
page 49
LETTER U."
The Author exprei&s his aflonifhnient at his birdi not
having been predidled, and die ncgleft of the adepts
in not calculating his nativity* Eulogy on taylors
and fhoenakers. His genealogy and* aufpkaoiis birth.
a4 Cenfur«
Digitized by Google
Cenfure of hts and odier bad fathers. Dies vnregret-
4pd by big childrciL , ■ FnQwpyiiP||.<yi tus moibcr* page 55
,fPi '/«^'-!.'T • LETTER ID. ■ >V ^
«^j^u|(^heiQ's juvciule cx^oits. ^Becomes agenx.^q. ^ emi>
, JDCot ^ mtrchmitn Mofc ingenious, exploits. JUcpes.
' Is by his fiufaer initbted into Acgmtb trafi. page 63
LETTER TV^
.A horrid rpcclrc appears. Rendered harnilcfs by the va-
\ ^i^ur ot our hero. His opinion of fup^nutural ^{:^ear-
^#MCCs. StpiT of a Mtfi aad:a fiflpr^ dkftrA Itn-jOonTe-
. , quences prove htaL A ho«fe iMunted, - The ghoft
,^ h^Jiinadoed^ and publicly ,$^))ibia^i. j Another houfc
^ Jtoi^ltsd, and the ghoft dUcovfi^iQd.. >A ^ghoil.fond of
|iMfe7i dcte^. . JSafpciousrremadc^^oi^. ide bbjea.
^ hofpital haunted. — « page 6^
LETTER V.
The Cat let out rf the lag, Mr/l-iy?}^ ghrtfl-. Our
hero tran&fomed'into a v'endbrdr*aKnMidi^i'' Wund
apprentice to a lho6iiiftU(fMw ChaMer'^^dH^lteUy^
Remarks ou dull inajiiniate preachers. page 8j
LETTER
Digitized by Google
■
C O N T E U t Sf. »^
t
f artfier particiikre of die fiunfly. Contents of their //*
brary. One of tlie family corn crted to methodifm.
Converts another. Condroveriies enfue* Our hero
ham to rouL Is bom again. Becomes one^of the
dock. — — • page 91
LETTER VU.
The mcthodiils often ruin the peace of mind of many^
very innocent people. Methodiftical convu^ion a
' ' dreadful ftat& Should only take place in lafcals* A
terribie' inilance of a real gdlty coiiicience' aitti^tided
^dl Yuicide. The methodifts arc unhappy. Their
prophecy of the end of the world on a Certain day. An-
other alarm by the comet's tail. '^Fknatics hay6 Ili^ every
fige found their atoNuit in fudh {Mtdiohs. ' Ktrs. Nor-
Item's dcelT of pft to Reil!y the preacher fet aHcIe,
pagcioj
LETTER Vin.
.pur hero's rigid application to the fhidy of div ijiit\.
: Becomes an ahle zealous controvertiih is debarred
til ^P^^i i^tttp^ing a n^thodi(Mcal fermoAp /'Makos-aidan-
JITTER IX.
■
ifts. a^rrita^^ condufion ifaereon. Qivcs fuU fcopc
too
Digitizec Ly v^oogle
XIVI i
C O N T E N T S»'
to method ifiTL Some pardcuUrs of tbc pra^ices of
Mr. Wefiey'fi ibcietjr. Fxayer meodngs. Love ivafls.
Private meetings, — — page 177
^ LETTER X.
■
Watch nights. Claffes. Bands. An eld kici tempted if the
devil and hU mai(L Select baiids. Tickets. page 125
LETTER XL
The fubje^ of methodlfin continued. Our hero fuddenljr
become?* a backllidcr. An election for members of par-
liament. His freedom purchafcd. Riot. DiHipation.
JR^morre.^ Vito W,d^ngton and Briftol. Return^ to
Tauntoft Our hero eqamoured. Accompanied by
his fair one to Br idgewater, to Uxbridge. Leaves her.
Arrives at BriftoL. FucTued.by pariih officers. fX-
capes. — • — page 13^^
LETTER Xn..
»i « » ■ • '
StOff of an enmimi gentleman and a Wundering o#lcf%
Strange ftory of Mr. Baiwin. His death. Story of
firaying a perfon to death. Forttme- teller foretold a
^•dbn's death. Of trifling with the lives of 'o«r' AillW-
cmtures. — ^ I»gc!^H3
-1 . ' ' • . / n; ' " / ^
. . • ■ . - • • " J* -
LETTER
t
XXFU /
I
• * ' • ' LETTER Xm.
Ouf hero fonns a (irt^dihip. Mode of life purfued by the
friends. His firft vifit to a theatre. Ned Shuter was a
truthodl/h Mr. Whitfield advif:d people to attend Shuter's
binefit, Impired by tlic mule. Cowppfes foiigs befort, .
he could wriu* Th^ friends become aOiduous ftudents.
Our hero rebpfes into methodiiin. His friend difplea-
fed; is however with his brother and iillcr carrjerted*
Story of a mtbodifi parrot* Goddy^n^ghtf s littU mutton*
page I5J
, LETTER XIV. . - '
Tlie brother, fiflcr, and our hero form an union. Purfuc
their lludics vigoroufly. Their curious library. Our
hero's lucubrations nearly attended ^h fatal confe*
quences. His great talents for controverfy. page 169
LETTER XV.
Our hero reads and admires the ftoics, &c. The philo.
fopbicaL diipit^Ion hc^Lcquired by ftudying them-
pn bread ai.J.tca. Travels \vit!i liis fiierul to Bridge*
warcr, who, , there obuips worlu. Our hero goes to
^mmo^ ^pVi^ KmgfitKidfi^ . Meets mtb -a hai
fija^nr, . ^Obtains great applaufe foe his work. ^Warfef
himj.'lf to write. His chaplain. Epigram on a uicthod-
fd preacher. Lives gay. Becomes poor. Leaves Kingf*
bridge.
Digitized by Google
I
bridge. Goes to Exefer, Brid^ewater, Briflol. Finj
droll Jlory pf Mr. WhlUjUld. ' — page 1 75
LETTER XVI. ' •
His amours. In love with a dairy- maid. Their ipiritual
^courtihip. Lofes her for a time. A^Uc^^es hiipifiif to
aiiocfaerA«^^«r« Theydifier. page 187
LETTER XVU*
Thecoireipoiidence wi^ diefiurdaury-onidrex^ (he
•nrivwatBiiftoL They vifit die temple of Hymen. JTe-
. ^i/z i/ir world %uUb a halfpenny hve^ and conUntjfitttt.
r
> / LETTER XVm. ■ - .
Oux hero and his bride connncd with iicknefs. He Toon re-
covers. She continues long ill. His anxiety on the oc-
cafioiL Their fepeated journey to Taunton and back a-
gain. He fetts out for and arrives at London* - page i ^ ^
LETTER, XIX.
He is introduced totlic methodiih. Slioked at the depraved
mode of lite ui the metropolis. H|s CQiilo^atioM* IsU'^. L.
arrives in town* She obtains work. Anecdpfeofaq^^^
iklefinan. Our hero's gmnd^tther diea. A ^^&fy'
He goes to r^cclv'c it^ , Lpoics part q[ It in, returning.
JJommits a/tfKjr/tfi. « ■ ■ page 205
■ ' ' LETTER
Digitized by Google
. ?C. ON iT; E'^NctrS. , ^m^k
A mental fi^^aft preferable to a corporeal one proved by in-
controvertible arguments. Our hero turns bookfglUr^
His motive, for fo doing. Catalogue of his private library.
ex!pdred for &le tirhh (bme othar ^ ^ir^ bodes. 'Fmtv^iA
LETT£R XXI.
Succefs attends our bookfeUer. Stock enlarged by a loan.
^ Inftancesof fnigality. Rapid incrraf^.* of ftock. Removes
to Chifweli Street. Farewel to gentle craft. Scruple* of
^cfMiickiieeinabodkftlkirl Lbatieddiflmrtibn^ii^liBr-
gai&>litmler8» Ukiftiated with cafes in point. Pawnbrok-
cra (yi things not pawned. Attacked by a fevere iUnefs.
Mrs. L. taken ill. Her deaths anil character. Our hero
recover. — ^ — page 221
• b« r.. W^.^ i .K . ,
V^itki dkecikief 9f very fpirHuaf teutteSm 929
LETTER, XXm.
Obferv3iti^ iJk^&nMi^ig^ and J^hitta^. Aneedotes Of
^^f^dal 'iAvW'i^yrt^crs. ' Of a lad^'bo^ tahiilf^^^nd
"^""'f^irituiiUy minded, and bcf lnifband. t\it frofific rtie-
^ < ^ficbdifti at Weliirr^dn, <yw^ »^<?r 0?(ftndi A young lady
4ii j I i • LETTER
Digitized by Google
^ii^ of ocettrrefnrW iiiij^g^ 6f our herai Is
' ^ ^' tMicd hy^tmrks ^tiA rit^tBsti hf diem. H)si}f^ hved
by the care of his fifters. His property, by the kiiiducis
of friends. I'he humane attention paid to his ktc wife by
' - Mils Turtoo. Her ikkneisitttcMlfeqtteAce. Recovers.
''^ItoJciifersofherandherfimfiay. Her fBSal pity. Indiiftry*
' ■ Fondneis for books. Our heiu uuuuii> liiis valuable prize.
• M f , . - page 244
LETTER XXV.
Refie£tions on late events and prefent happineis. Reads
an authoi^ -who tnTpires him witk* ncwr ujea^ .and
^ occiirions a change in his fyftcm. Metaphyfics engage
i . his attention. Quits the focicty of methodilH.
UU>ftin0nGe tau^ by Adr preachers^ Their own
. pcaSHee the f^verfe^ A^lk'-wman drove nuuL db»$k'
. ' JHUr has his hair dreffid on Saturday nighty ^nd peps
. aU night in hit (ilMWchmr. John Bi^s a ptrfeSl man^ his
LETTER XXVL
The aJafm raifcd aming nicthodifts. Their pious anidety
for his fpiritual welfare. A taylor ftrips to preach. , A
comfortable cjuot itiu i i. om Mr. Hill. Our hera treats
them with contempt aiid ridicule. They cofifign hijn to
\ deftruaion. Dean ^wi<t's curious imiicreus yerk$ on a
LETTER
Digitizea by LiOOgle
<, Q O^ltT E:N T^ S, juad
The author's g^^^^pi^ 4)( |he M
^ Jiltny hypocrites m<m fllcilcf^QOS diiMw pon-
dvtSt towards condemned criminaU* Cautions agaiaft deal*
jkx% )Vithi.thore expofrng^/dx^ (hop-bills. A piws dealer
iBr9mpB,hiirs,.aii4^^'s^w><^ Another ii| trifNI and
TCOW'-hoili^ Acliird»am4al)0r« A/MiRrconmancpiiii-
cilman. A methodift ties the legs of his cocks to present
their breaking the Sabbath by treading the hens on
Stmdays. page 269
LETTER XXVIIL
' Death of Mr. Wefley. His funeral. The contention
among his pioiis biographers. His annual income. Dif-
*' regard of w«dtii.' Extdifive charity^. X^ealning^aiid
' aUlities. Remarks on his " prinriitive phyfic.'* thanr
gerous tcnJancy of that work. Dom Pernety's wonder-
ful receipts. Mr. Wcilcy r^led defpoticaliy. His de-
ceafe likely to piof a injuriovs to tncdiodafiii. Sweden*
'i^'^lwrgfinsantncreafingre^ The Counteft of Htinting
doa'a dcaiii aiioLher lols to mciiiuiiilin. page 278
. t I,ETTER X)a^^, . . .
Stri^ures oij.Mr, Wefley's preachers Extreme leiK»«
* ranee qf ^many ^em. Suited to that of their" hevers.
Fatal effeas of their enthunafm. '*A woman deprived
' of Ker fenfes. Her fervaiu killed by falling. One cats
als*s flefh for confcience* iake. A preacher fcts^the
devil's houfe on fire. Preaches, but is violently expelled
^diXJi hlg
Digitized by Google
I
xii CONTENTS.
his portable pulpit. Numbers qualifying themrcJves in
Moorfieids for preachers. Some (ucceed to proftjjkrjbi^t
in Bethlem college, Apple and tron-tmrchanU transformed
into preachers, Methodift conference, Mr* Weflcy
appoints the circuits for all his preachers. How they
are maintained. Their Wages, 5cc. Poem on them.
page 292
LETTER XXX.
Account of an extraordinary pamphlet. Quotations from
it. Anecdotes of Mr. Weflcy and his preachers, dif-
covering their hypocrify. Large fums colleded for Kingf-
wood fchool, never applied to that ufe. Methodift con -
verfion ridiculed. Mr. Wcflcy*s character. An epicure.
A dcifl:. Colledted feme hundred thoufand pounds a
year. Two extraordinary letters by Mr. Weflcy.
LETTER XXXL
Our hero's narrative refumed. Mrs. L.*s attachment and
attention to the bufmefs. He enters into partnerfhip. ,
• Confiderably incrcafe their flock. Publifh a catalogue,
which is laughed at by fome, damned by others. The
partners fcparate on terms of friendfhip, which con^
tinucd till Mr. D.'s death. Charadcrof him, page 326
LETTER XXXII
Inconveniences attending tradefmcn giving Credits Re^
iblution formed to fell very cheap, anO for ready
mottcy
•^mmrf^'Mp cn» viism dificiil^ enddfintered
'•«-«,, ■ , - ■ . 'to"
T.hf Author's Me of books confidenbly intreales. A
difficulty licyt ferefcem Many, though wUllng to hvyj
fcrupulous of feUtngy from a miftalcen idea. Covetous
dealers. Liberal dealers. The author's plan for pur-,
clniii;^ Uu2u:ies; page 34^
... LfiTTftJl XXXIV.
^ Th^autlior refiim to adopt a-mode for ^r^/^rwiM^^;
^ Ennwty created tUcicby. The happy cuiUequcnces to
^ hiniy^l^ public, and bookfellers.- page 346
LETTER XXXV,
Rp.ii^rks on purchdrmg manufcripts. Bcokr^llcrs liberality,
jypilauccs^ ofdtf . ,^ut)iors forq^ gfcat expeditions . Ri^-
Jfifttkabls^^^^ . Authors pubiiihing and felling
j^l^ir.owi^ produ£iion^ ngver ^anfwefs. Bookfellers often
LETTER XXXVI;
^^ft fil^Kfc of iewftolfr^ Attended with {5ro,-orttorf--
^thlc: cxD^nCCf. ^Enumeration of inr.r.cnfclv lartrc r-ar-
t^tuifes made* Auth or intimidated, iciolves to difccxi-
h continti :
Digitized by Google
H.
largelv. Atiiiiilcd with great fucce6»*>The improba-
biiity of meeting with a rivaL page 361
. . LETTER XXXVII.
ow our author acquired a fufficient knowledge of value
of books. Further account of his ftudies. Ko pretcrtdcr
to erudition. His attention to theatrical entertainments.
Tranflations of the clafEcs. To novels. To natural
philoTophy. A rational aiTembly. Eulogy on one of its
memben. Refledions on the difadvantages of want of
education) and other fubje^. page 367 ^
LETTER XXXVIII.
Obfcrvations on the biowledge of the world. The man-
ner of the author*a acquiring that knowledge. A haok^
feller's ftiop ah excettent School. Dc4caiit on the vMbty
of tallcs in purchafing of books. Sale of books much
affei^cd by the iiate of politics. Farmers read. Ex-
ceedingly etioreafed of late yeani* , fiook dubs. Sunday
ichools. If enlightening the lower orders wiH knake them
happier. ^ .....p^jjj,
The pro^refs of die author's expences proportioned to hi$
cncreaic of income. Kind obfervations made thereon. .
* The^ different modes of accounting for his proipcrity.
The
Digitized by'Google
9 Q N T ^ T S, xxxT
; f;(j?FfaC(trealclwfe» Reflc^Honson the mifcrablc lives and
. unhappy end of fome opulent tradefmcn. Addrefs to covet-
> ou$ tradefmen. Annual profits of the author. page 392
¥ - .
LETTER XL,
The author's mode of dating his profits and cxpcnces,
• Hints and infinuations for h'un to decline bufinefs. Ht»
i:v reafons fur not doing it. His attention to poor re-
, f lations. Proofs that his mode of fdling has not beea
; injurious, but beneficial to the, trade* page 401
LETl-ER XLT, '
The author*s travels. Remarks on manJillous trav^cllerg.
Scarcity of valuable books in various parts of Great
Britain. London the grand emporium. Liduftry and
' ingenuity of the bookfcllers of Ireland. Account of
' a remarkable crow's neil at Newcaftie. Of a yoUng
yf lady born deaf and dumb. The Brank^ a remedy for
.1 u^Wiy dcfcribed, vrithacut. Proper Remarks, page 41 f
V ...
' . lETTER XIIL • *- ^ '
tJrfafl&f^ In trav^ng from Darlington to Durham. Phi -
lofophical reflections thereoj?, and on the carcIcfTnefs of
drivers of ftages.- 'A fedy killed. An unlucky flip of
the pen. — ^ page 424
XJii^qioi^i tn! ^ : vk.a. u j ^, LETTER
3dT
d by Google
xxxvi CONTENTS*
LETTER XLIII.
The author's apology. Ladies allowed full licence to
/cream on certain terms# His politencfs contrafted with
that of Dr. yphnfm^ Various anecdotes of the Do6lor»
Hints to the authors of the Encyclopoedia Britannica
and Biographica Britaiuiica. Remarks on Dr. John -
firTs prejudice againft the Scotch nation. The au >
thor*s opinion on that fubjedl. Defcant on the French
Revolution. Edinburj^h. North Britifh hofpitality
applauded. page 431
LETTER XLIV.
Panegyric on Women. More handforne women Teen
in Scotland, an)ong the iil^hcr ciaflbs tlian ylfc where.
Not fo with the inferior ranks. Curious mode of
wafliinii linen. Maid fcrvants in Edinburn-h and Lon-
tion contraftcd. — page 449
LETTER XLV,
Journey to Taunton, Wellington, &c. The author's
vifits to his old niaftert. Meets with abundance of
old acquaintance whom he had never before feen. Is
kindly received by the more reipe6bble inhabitants.
Behaviour of fome petty gentry, real gentlemen a£t dif-
■■'ferently. A remarkable prediction. Another by an
adept in palmiftry. Narrowly efcapes being killed by
the explofion of powder mills. L^ncxpedtedly meets with
two very old friends in diftrefs. An aftecling fcene.
Svmmonds's
CO?^TENTS. xxxvii
Symmonds^s Barrow, near Wellington, brought by the
devil in his leathern aprcn. Others in his glove, page 456
LETTER XLVI.
P.emarks on watering place^. Abfurd pra£tices of many
invalids attcnJlnp; them. DifFercnt modes of fpcnd -
ing time. Powerful effie£t produced on horfcs. Ex^
celUnt academies for fervants. Vifit to Weymouth.
Finds their Majcftics there. Account of Mr.
Hughes, manager of the theatre. The amphitheatre
near Dorchcfter. Camps. Fortifications. Barrows.
Stonchenge. Encomium on Mr. Kcciian. A prayer.
page 47'
PREFACE
:1
•I
i
/
■ t
I I < t «
. I . , ; I i -
J ' V I'll r<']'>'I^ If: uviM -Mii
Digitized by Google
PREFACE
TO THE
SECOND EDITION.
^ 'Til nothing new, I'm fore you know.
For thofe who write, ilicir works to (how ;
And if they 're prais'd, and rcndcr'd vain,
1 is ten to one they write again :
And then they lead it o'er with care,
Cotieding hert^ and adding there."
«< »'
(«
Mrs. Satagb.
^HE former edition of my Memoirs was
no fooncr pubiilhed> than my old envi-
ous friends, mentioned in the third clals of
my dedication, found out that it was d — nd
ftuiF! n'd low!" the prodadion of a
coA/er, and only fit to amufe that honour-
able fraternity^ or to line their garrets and
flails : and many gentlemen, who are my
cuftomcrs, have informed me, that when tlicy
aiked for them at feveral (hops, they recei*
b 4 ved
Digitizea by LiOOgle
xi PREFACE to the
yed for an anfwer, that they had already too
much wafte paper, and would not increafe
it by keeping Lackington's Memoirs: an4
fome kii^dly adde.d> You need not be in a
hafte to purchafe, as in the courfe of the
Chriftmas holidays, Mr. Birch in Cornhill
will wrap up all his mince»pie$ with them,
and diftribute them through the tpwn for the
public good/' But tlie rapid fale of tliis
Life foon caufed them to alter their ilories :
" . ■ «
and I was very much furprifed to hear tliat
feveral of thofe gentlemen, who had fcarce
done exclaiming, Vile tra(h! beneath all
criticifm ! ' ' &c« began to praife the compo-
fitiun ; and on luuking into the Englilh Rcr
view, I found that the editors had filled fe-
yen pages in reviewing thofe Memoirs, and
had beftowed much praife on the author, I
was then ready to conclude, that their ge-:
nerous and 'manly impartiality had^ in a mira-
■
culous manner, efiedted the converfibn of
others. But I was foon convinced, that
mean-
r - •
Digitized by Google
SECOND EDITION^ -
meannefs can never be exchanged fbr gene-
roiity ; and that thofe that had bqpn un-<
clean were unckaa ftill;" or, as Church-
hill fays,
•* That enry, whicti was woven in the frame
•« At firft, wai to the laft rcmuin the fame.
V Reafon may drown, may die, but envy's rage.
Improves with tirne^ and ^then Arepgth from age,'*
It ieems that feveral of thofe liberal-mind-
ed men, being prodigiouily mortiiied at the
encreafing fale of my Life, applied to dif-
ferent authpcs in order to get one of them to
father my book : but thofe authors, either
from principle, or from i^nowing that my
nianufcript was kept in my (hop for the
infpedion of the public, or for fome other
motive, refuied to adopt the poor bantling : ^
and not only fb, but laughed at, and expofed
the mean contrivance, to the very great
diiappointinent of tliofc h'nj a/id honejl'-bcartcd
friends of mine.
That
Digitized by Google
ing my friends, cuftomcrs, and the put^,}
fij]^ their, canfiy reception r of ..my YoIiin|€ ;
thi^ JalQ pf ^];^ch» and the encomiums I haye(
^pcciyed oi^.tbe fu^ie&t bpth. by. ictter.anfir
othenyiXeji have far exceeded my moA fa(i^
gaiiie and fclf-flattering e^jpcd^tio^is > I very
Icniibly fed the obligatio;i, . Thjch- geneto-
£tf has. 0Fan|d)elr^ oaj?^ I ^ . qv^pAid^
^f4 nuoaia ?tlKk^btpr> ,
• A*
5* A truce with j^^uig } what I facr^ impart
•* Is the warm overflowings of a grateful heart ;
Come goovl, come bad, while life or mcn.'ry laftj >
*f Mr fjiin^ ihaU tjxafure^p vour favQ^xs jpiM^}// i .
Qttt» left I fiiould be pver vain, I muft at
the lame time declare^ that I have received
fcurriious abuliye letters fron^ f;jvcral of
Mr. Wefley*s people, merchr becauic I have
. J ■ • J ' »v P*^ ^ r;ir//
ejTpoled their ridiculous principles and ^bfurd
prances j put more p^ticutarlyi havings
, pulled
Digitized by
1
SBC O'NB^ iM
Pulled off the hypocritical veil from fotrie of
diofe' £iiiaSfi^ deceivers which tiit^'ms^
tfaektt. ' ' • /'H
' The numerous letters of approbation v^kipS^
I have received from rational intelligent gen-
tiemcn, convinces me that 1 have' not wronge'a
Ae caufe of manly and rational chriftianity, nor
was it ever my intention to do. * ' •^'•'^
I here alfo prefent my compliments ^ knii
iincere thanks to my impartial friends,
der the fecund clafs of my dedication, fof
the friendly difpofition they have Ihewii*
in freely diftributing m^ Memoirs .j^z^oag
their cuftomers, and thsy may be-' afiiiredy
that I will not let flip any opportunity
of making tliciix proper leturnii ^ for ,,all
their favours. . .
I cannot conclude tJKis Preface without
faying, lomething about this fccond ^t^qii.
When I put the firft edition to the prefs,
I really intended to print but a (mall num-
ber; fo that when I was prevailed on, by
i fome
Digitized by Gopgle
kiv PREFACE to thb
fome of my friends, to priat double the num*
ber which I at firft propoied, .1 ha4 not the Joaft
idea of ever being able to fell the whole j dnd^
of courfc had not any intention of printing
a fecond edition. But the fapid lale of th^
workf and the many letters which I am
continually receiving from Gentlemen, in va-
rious parts of Great Britain and Ireland^ who
are pleaied to honour -me with their appro-
* bation and tlianks^ encouraged me to read tl^
whole over with more attention, to correal
fuch typographical errors as had efcaped my
obXervationy and to improve the language in
numberlefs places.
In executing this plan, I perceived that I
had omitted to introduce many t1iin<^$ which
would have been an improvement to the
work i and while infcrting them, others oc-
curred to my memory, io that mofl: parts of
the work is now very much enlarged. But
although tliefe additions have greatly increaf-
ed the expences of printmg and paper, yet
{ have not added any thing to the price*
To
uiyiii^ca by VjOOQle
SECOND EDITION. Ixv
»
To fuch as afk why thcic additions had not
been printed ffeperately, to the end that fuch
fls purchafed the firft edition^ might have
had them without purchafing the whole
wofk over again? I anfwer, had it been
praftical, I would have done that ; but thofe
additions being ib many, and fo variousi
tendered that method ridiculous, as every
one who will take the trouble to compare
the two editions, mufl readily acknowledge;
nor can the piuchafers ol the former edition*
complain With refped to the price, it being
equal in fize to moft new pubUciitions which
• are fold at Six Shillings. And although
ibme may think that the prefixed head i$ of
no value, I can affurc thcni, that I run of
a very diiferent opinion, at leajl of the ori^
gifiali aiid I have the pleafure to add, that
a very great number of my cuftomcrs have
been highly pleafed to have fo ilriking ^
hkenefs of their old bcokfcUen Nor am I
the firft bookfeller who has publi(hed his
head ;
Digitized by Google
xlvi PREFACE, &c.
head ; Mr. NicoUbn (commonly called Msps^)
booklSler at Cambridge^ two years fince,
liad his head finely engraven ; it is a good
likenefs, and is fold at ics. 6d. Francis
Kirkman> partner with Richard Hend (laft
century) prefixed his portrait to a book» en-
titled " The . Wits, or Sport upoa Sport/'
This Francis Kirkman alio publifhed Me-
moirs of his own Life, and probably led the
way to John Duntoa. See Granger 's Biogra*
phical Hiftory of England, vol. iv.
I could make many other apologies
" But why fhould I diftru^»
•* My judges are as merciful as juft :
I know them well* have oft their £n€n40up try'4»
And their piote^on is mj boaft ■ . m y pride.
Cuir^iiiB|L)c.
' - M • f li
Digitized by
,'\ J '1 H >i 4 ivlx
Ocorfiociedbyieadiog.' , ..^ .
The LIFE of Mr. JAMES LACKINGTON.
AdibdU to ibt ingenious AuTMOft*
' By^is UNKNOWN FRIEND. - ■
Since your Pea, Friend Unknown, fuch improvemcat
conv^s»
Tit but joftrce to you that'this Tribute repays •
For when in the fiofoxn mild Gratitude bunu,
*Tts a pleating relief which the Feeling xetnrns:
For as dear as the Light to the thoughts of the Blind*
Is the Pen, or the Voice, that enlightens the Mind ;
And li.e more, as from Nature and Genius untau^lit
Your varions adventures and humour are brought*
^Tiich difplay all the farce of the Methodsft Plan,
The ihamc of Religion, of Reafon, and Man ;
While no libertine Motives their Secrets difpenfe,
£ttt Propriety joins liaad-ia-hand with good t>cofc*
Ob!
Digitized by Google
Ixviii VERS£i> ADDRESSED to thi AUTHOR^
OhI with thee* could the Crowd Tiew each fanAificd {caie#
Where the Hypocrite oit wears Simplicity's mien ;
Where youth* fecond^childhoodj and weakneft of Sex«
Are objefts they ever prefer to perplex ;
Like ilxcc. they'd contemn^ or ukUgiiand/ leave*
Whom FoUy* and Knav'fy* combine to deceive ;
And whofe Newgate-Convcrfions blafphcipoufly paint
The Wretch moft deprmn^'d^ the moft txceiUttt Saint,
Go on i and difcover each latent delign.
And your rivals cxpofe* who 'gainft Learning combine :
O'er fuch craft fhall fair condn^, like thine, ftill prevailj
And an envy'd fuccefs lay them low in the Scale.
Bat as Time is too (hort all your fteps to retrace*
Let your Life fpcak the xeA* and fuccced in their place :
How fiooks mend the manncn ; and now fo abound*
Where Rudencfs and Jgiioiancc lately were found.
But plain Truth* for itfelf* it muft ftill be confeft*
Is the faithfulleft adrocate-^therefore the beil :
io I rife from the Feaft with a fatisfied mind*
That the fame every Tafte, and each Temper, may find^
Still* to drop all comparifon* Mental's the fare*
That needs only g( '^d-taile to invite us to fliaie ;
Entertainment and Knowledge* the obje^ in view ;
Then leceive* as the Donor* the Pxaife that is due.
H Si
t
Bv&r St, EoMUKo'ii
Digitized by Google
THE
LIFE
OF
y. LJCKJNGTON,
BOOKSELLER.
LETTER h
*' Others with wiftiful eyes on Gloty look,
" When they have got their pidare towaid a book^
" Or pompous title* like a gandy Sign
, Meant to betray duU fots to wretched wine.
If at his title L had dropt his qfttll,
L— might have part for a great genius rtiU :
But L alas I fexcufo him if you can)
Is now a Scribbler, who was once a man.
YouKo's Love of Fame.
DEAR FRIEND,
You have often requefted
me to devote what few kifure moments I
could ipare, in nunuiiii^ uuwa fome of the
principal occurrences of my life, with a
view, iooaer or later, of exhibiting the ac-
B count
1
50 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTOM.
count to the public eye ; who, as you were
pleafed to fay, could not but be fotnewhat
curious to learn ibme well-authenticated par-
ticulars of a man, well known to have
rifen from an obfcure origin to a degree of
notice, and to a participation of the favor of
the Public, in a particular line of buiinefs,
I may without vanity fay, hitherto unpre-
cedented. ThU will appear mure conlpl-
cuous if you coniider, that I was not only
poor, but laboured under every other dif-
advantage.
Ever willing to pay a becoming deference
to the judgment of a perfon of your acknow-
ledged merits, and whom I have the felicity
of numbering among my firmefl friends, yet
being lefs anxious to appear as an adventurer
among the numerous tribe of authors, than
to rantinue a confiderable vender of the pro-
duce of their labours, I have continually de-
layed complying with your kind wiflies.—
By the In c, docb the pubUcatloa of a Cata-
logue of Books entitle the compiler to the
name of Author ? If it does, many Book-
fellers
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 51
leilers have long had a claim to that dilUnc-
tion, by the annual publication of their
Catalogues, and myfelf, as author of a veiy
voluminous one every fix months. The
reafbn for my aiking this queftion is» I laft
year obferved, that a certain bookfeller pub-
liihed his firft Catalogue with this intro*
duSion : •* As this is the firft Catalogue
ever the Author made^ and is done in great
haflc, he hopes inaccuracies will be treated
with lenity."
But to return from this dIgrcfGon. I
fliould probably have fiill delayed compiling
my narrative, if the editors of a certain peri-
odical publication, who monthly labor to
be witty, had not deemed me of iiifficient
confequence to introduce into their work}
what they are pleafed to call a Portrait of
me ! and though it was by them intended as
a caricatura, yet I am periuaded it will ap-
pear to thofe who beft know me, as a daub-
ing more charadteriilic of the heavy bruih of
a manufadurer of figns, than the delicate
pencil of a true portrait-painter ; and on that
Ba account
Digitized
52 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON^
account I ihould moft certainly have con-
fidered it as unworthy notice, had they not
daubed me with falfe features. This at once
determined my wavering reiblution, and I
am now fully relolvcd to minute down iuch
particulars of my paflage through life, as,
though not adorned with an elegance of
fiile, will, I affure you, polTefs what to you»
I flatter myfelf, V(\\l be a greater recom-
mtndation, viz. a AriSt adherence to truth.
And though no doubt you will meet with
fpme occurrences in which you may find
caufe for cenfure, yet I hope others will
prefent tHcmfelves, which your candour will
induce you to commend. Should you be
able to afford the whole a patient perufal,
and think the account meriting the public
eye, I ihall cheerfully fubmit to your deci-
fion, convinced that you will iiot»
*^ With mean eomplac«nc« e*er betn^r your tioft*
«« Kor be Co civil as to prove unjuft.**
, John Dunton, a brother BibUopok^ long
fince exhibited a whole volume of dulnefs,
which he called his ** Life and errors.** The
latter
Digitized by Gopgle
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 53
latter term I believe might be a very proper
appendage to the title page of the innume-
rable lives which have been, and which will
be publllhed : For what man will dare to
fay of himfelf, his life has not been loaded
with errors ? That mine has been fuch, I
readily acknowledge ; and Ihould this nar«
rative be publiOied, many perhaps may deem
that a£l: another (poffibly the greateft) error.
To thofe I fliall only obferve, that " to err
is human, to forgive divine.*'
As an additional ftimulus, I can aflurcyou
* as an abfolute fz&j that fev#rai gentlemea
have at different periods (one very lately)
intimated to me their intentions of engaging
in the taflc, if I any longer declined it.
Of my firll-mentioaed Z/W Biographers I
fliall take my leave, with a couplet, many
years iince written by an eminent poet, and
not inapplicable to the prefent caie.
** Let B— charge low Grab-Street on my quill,
'* And wriie wbatc'er he plcafe, except my Will.
B 3 And
5*
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. '
And of yoUf for the prefent, after ioform*
ing ypu, my next ihall contain a faithful
account of particulars relative to the early
part of my life^ with afluring you that
I amy
Dear Friend,
Your ev^r obliged.
LETTER
Digitized by GoQgle
I
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 55
LETTER n.
*• Vhy fhoulcl my birih kcey down my mounting Spirit ?
" Arc not all creatures fubject unto time;
To time, who doth abufcthe worlds
And fiUi it foil of hotcb-liodge baftardj ?
Tbeoe'ii fegiont now of beggan on the Earth»
** That tlidr original did fpring from Kings ;
And many monarchs now, whofe fathers were
*• The riff-raff oi their age ; for time and fortune
Wears oot a noble train to beggary ;
** And from the dunghill millions do advance
To ftaie ; and ouirk» in thtt admiring world
«« Thb is die coorie^ which m the name of fate
It feen as often as it whirls abont ;
The river Thames that by our door doth run,
" His full beginning is but fmall and Ihaliow,^
" Yet iLceping on his couife grows to a (bu
Shakbsp bar's Cfomwell*
DEAR FRIEND,
In my hCi I hinted that I
Ihould confine myfelf to a plain narrative of
fads, uiiembellilhed with the meretricious
aid . of lofty figures, or reprefeatations of
things which never bad exiftence, but in the
brain of the author. I (hall therefore not
trouble you witb a hiftory of prediclions
which fuicculd the future gieaiucfa uf your'
B 4 humble
Digitized by Google
56 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
humble fervant, nor with a minute account
of the afpeds of the planets at the very
aufpicious and important crifis when firft I
inhaled the air of this bufUing orb i for, ez*
traurdinary as k may appear, it has never
yet occurred to me, that any of the adepts
in the aftrological fcience have made a cal-
culation of my nativity ; *tis probable this
high honor is by the planets deftined to
adorn the fublime lucubrations of the very
ingenious Mr. Sibl£7, in the next edition
of his flup — endous work ! And here, for
the honor of the craft let me remark, that
« this moa fublime genius, has with my-
&lff to boall (and who would not boaA of
their genealogy in having a prince for their
anceftor?) in being a. Son of the renowned
PRINCE CRLsriN.
A volume has been written with the title
of The Honor of the Taylors ; or the
Hiftory of Sir John Hawkwood/* But
were any learned writer to undertake—
The honor of the Shoemakers, or the Hiilory
©f , how inligiuilcant a figure would
the
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 57
the poor Taylors make, when compared
with the honorable craft !
" Coblcn from Cxifpio boaft Uieii Pabljc Spirit,
•* Aad all are Qprig M fbrvniriglic men of meiit."
Should I live to fee as many editions of
my Memoirs pubiiihed, as there have beeu
of the Pilgrim's Progrefs, I m^ be induced
to prcfcnt the world with a Folio on that
important fubjed.
But to begin—
Were I inclined to pride myfelf in genealogU
cal defcenty X might here boail that the family
were originally fettled at White Lackington,
in Somer(et(hire, which obtained its name
from one of my famous anceftors^ and give
you a long detail of their grandeur^ &c* but
having as little leifure as inclination to boafl:
of what if true would add nothing to my
merits, I jflbiall for the prefent only fay, that
I was born at Wellington in Somerfetihire,
on the 31ft of Augull, (oIJ fl^Ic) 1^46.
My father George Lackington, was a Jour-
neyman
5l LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
nejrman Shoemaker^ who bad iucurred cbe
dlipleafure of my graudiather for marrying
my mother, whofe maiden name was Joan
Trott. She was the daughter of a poor
weaver iu Welliagton ; a good houeil man,
whofe end was remarkable, though not very
fortunate t in the road between Taunton and
Wellington, he was found drowned in a
ditch, where the water fcarcely covered his
face : He was, 'tis coajcclurcd,
« Drank wfaca iie died,"
This happened ibme years before the - mar-
riage of my Father and Mother.
My grandfather George Lackingtoa had '
been a Gentleman Farmer at Langford^ a
village two miles from Wellington, and
acquired a pretty confiderable property. But
my father's mother dying when my father
was but about thirteen years of age, my grand-
father, who had two daughters, bound my
father apprentice to a Mr. Hordiy, a mafter
Ihoemaker in Wellington, with an intention
of letting him up in that buiinefs at the ex-
piration
Digitized b
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 59
• • • • '
piration of his time* But my father worked
a year or two as a journey man, and then dif*
pleafed his father by marryiDg a woman
without a ftiilling, of a mean family, and
who fupported herfelf by fpinning of wool
into yarn, fo that my mother was delivered
of your frieiid aad humble fervant, her iu O:-
born, and hope of the family, in my grand-
mother Trott's poor cottage ; and that good
old woman carried me privately to church,
unknown to my father who was (nominally) ^
a Quaker, that being the religion of hia
anceilors.
About the year 1750,' my father having
three or four children, and my mother prov-
ing an excellent wife, my grandfather's
refentment had nearly fubfided, fo that he
iupplied him with money to open a (hop for
bimfe^. But that which was intended to be
of very great fervice to him and his taaiily,
eventually proved extremely unfortunate to
hipifelf and them ; for as ibon as he found
he was more at eaie in his circumilaaccs, he
contracted a fatal habit of drinking, and of
courfe
Digitized by Google
6o LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
courfe his bufinefs was negieded ; fo that
after feveral fruitlefs attempts of my
grandfather to keep him in trade, he was,
partly by a very large £unily, but more by
his habitual druukennefs^ reduced to his old
ilate of a journeyman ihoemaker : Yet fo
infatuated was he with the Iqvc of liquor,
that the endearing ties of huiband and father
could not reftrain him : by which baneful
habit himfelf and family were involved iu
the extremeft poverty.
** To mortsl men gitat kodt aUoCled be I
Bat of «]1 ptcks» no pack like poverty/*
So that neither myfeif, my Brothers, or Sif-
ters are indebted to a Father fcarccly for any
thing that can endear his memory, or caufc
us to refled on him with pleafure*
•* Children, the blind cfftrds of love and chance
*• Bear fcom their birdi the iinpvdEoa of a Slave.
My father and mother might have faid with
Middleton,
" How adverfe runs the deiiiny of fome creatuies!
*' Some only can get riches and no childieo.
We only can get children and no riches $
Then 'tis die prudent part to chcdc our will*
'** And, tiU 001 ftate rife, make oar blood ftaod ftiU*
But
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 6i
Hut to our mother we are indebted for eveiy
thing. " She was a woman take her for all in
all, I (hall not look upon her like again."
Never did I know or hear of a woman who
worked and lived fo hard as Ihe did to fupport
Eleven children : and were I to relate the
particulars, it would not gain credit. I fhall
only obfcrve, that for many years together,
ll^e worked generally nineteen or tvupnty
hours out of every twenty-four; even when
% very near her time, ibmetimes at one hour
ihe was feen walking backwards and forwards
by lier Spinning-wheel, and her midwife
ient for the next.
Out of love to her family {he totally ab^
ftained from every kind of Liquor, water
excepted, her food was chiefly broth, (little
better than water and oatmeal) turnips, pota-
toes, cabbage, carrots, &c. her children fared
ibmethiug better, but not much,' as you may
well fuppofe. When I reflet on the aflonilh*
ing hardfhips and fufferings of fo worthy a
woman, and her helplefs infants, I find my-
ftlf ready to^ curfe the huiband and father
that
«
Digitized by GoQgle
62 LIFE OP J. LACKINGTON.
that could thus involve them iu fuch a de«
plorablc •fceue of mifery and diftrefs. It is
dreadful to add, that his habitual drunken^
iiefs ihorteaed his days nearly one half, and
that about twenty years fiace he died, unre-
gi etted by his own children i nay more, while
nature fhed tears over his grave, reaibn was
thaakful that the caufe of their poverty aud
mifery was taken out of the way. Read
this, ye inhuman parents, and ihudder \
Was a law made to bauiih all fuch fathers,
would it not be a jufl, nay even a mild
law?
Here, fir, permit me to drop fo gloomy
a fubje£t, and again fubfcribe myfelf
Yours, &C.
LETTER
Ly Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. #3
LETTER III.
Some Tcnial fniitici yos mtf wdl fofgife.**
FftANcu's Honux.
DEAR FRIEND^
As I was the eldeft, and my
father for the firft few years a carcfal
hard-working man, I fared Ibmething better
than my brothers and liilers. I was put for
two or three years to a day-fchooi kept by
an old woman ; and well remember how
proud I ufed to be to fee feveral ancient
dames lift up their hands 4ind eyes with
aftoulflimcut, while I repeated by memory
leveral chapters out of the New Teftament,
concluding me from this ipecimen to be a
prodigy of Science. But my career of learn-
ing was foon at aii end, whcu my iiiother
became lb poor that (he could not afford the
mighty fum of two-pence per week for my
fchoollng. Befides I was obliged to fupply
the place of a nurfe to feveral of m) Lruthers
and fillers. The confequence of which
was,
■t
■
Digitized by Google
64 X-IFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
waSy that what little I had learned was
prefently forgot ; inflcad of learning to read,
&c. it very early became my chief delight
to excel in all kinds of boyifli mifchiefs ;
and 1 foon arrived to be the captain and
leader of all the boys in the neighbourhood,
fo that if any old woman's lanthorn was
kicked out of her hand, or drawn up a iign-
poft, or if any thing was failened to her
tail, or if her door was nailed up, I was fure
to be accufed as the author, whether I really
were fo or not*
But one of my tricks had nearly proved
£ital to me. I had obferved that yawnttig
was infedUous % and with a determination to
have feme fport, I colleificd feveral boys
together one market-day evening, and in-
ilru<3:ed them to go amongft the butchers j
whither I accompanied them. We placed
ourfelvcs at proper diftances, and at a fignal
given, all began to yawn as wide as we
could : which immediately had the defired
effefl: ; the whole butcher row was fet a
yawning ; on which I and my companions
burft
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. «s
burft out into a hearty laugh, and took to
our heels. The trick pleafed us fo well,
that two or three weeks after, we attempted
to renew if. But one of the butchers, who
was half drunk, perceiving our intention,
fnatched up his cleaver and threw it at me,
which knocked off my hat without doing me
any harm.
I was about ten years of age, when a man
began to cry apple-pies about tha ftreets, I took
great notice of his methods of felling his pies,
and thought I could do it much better than
him. I communicated to a neijghbouring
baker my thoughts on the fubjeA in iiich a
manner as gave him a very good opinion of
my abilities for a pie-merchant, and he pre*
vailed on my father to let me Hve wltli him.
My manner of crying pies, and my activity
in felling them, (bon made me the favorite
of all fuch as purchafed haltjpeony apple^pies^i
and halfpenny plumb-puddlugs, fo that in a
few weeks the old pie-merchant (hut up his
ibop. 1 lived with this Baker about twelve
or fifteen months, in which time ! fold fuch
C ' hr^e
Digitized by Google
U LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
large quantities of pies, puddings, cakes/ \&c.
that he often declared to his friends, in my
bearing, that I had been the means of ex-
tricating him from the embarrailing circnm*
fiances in wiiich he was known to be involved
prior to my entering his fervice.
During the time I continued with this
Baker, many complaints were repeatedly
made againft me for the chiidifh follies I
had been guilty of, fuch as throwing fnow-*
balls, frightening people by flinging ferpents
and crackers into their houfes, &c. I alfo
happened one day to overturn my mafter's
ion, a child about four years old, whom 1
had been driving in a wheel-barrow. Dread*
ing the cunicquuiices, I immediately flew
from my mafter's faouie, aiid (it being even-
ing) went to a glazier's, and procured a par-
cel of broken glafs ; 1 alfo provided myfelf
with a pocketful of peas ; and thus equipped
made fine diverfion for myfelf and my un-
lucky companions, by going to a number
of houfes, one after another, difcharging a
handful o/ peas at the windows, and throw*
ing
Digitized by Goo;: I'
I
tIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 67
ing down another handful of glafs In the
ftreet at the fame inflant, which made fuch
a noiie as veiy much frightened many people^
who had no doubt of their windows being
broken Into a thoufand pieces. Tlilo adven-
ture, together with throwing the child out
of the wheel-barrow, produced fuch a cla^
mour agatnil me amongd the old women^
that I would not return to my mafter, and
not knowing what elie to do, I went home
to my father, wIk), you may eafily conceive
could not afford to keep mc idle, fo 1 was
foon fet down by his fide to iearn his own
trade ; and I continued with him feveral
years, working when he worked, and while
he was keeping Saint }^hnduy^ I was with ,
boys of my own age fighting, cudgel-play-
ing, wreflling, &c« &c«
* I am,
Dear riend.
Yours, &c*
C a LETTER ,
Digitized by Google
68 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON
LETTER IV.
Who gather loatid* and wonder at the tale
Of horrid apparition, tall and ghaftljr,
«* That walki m dead of mght» or takes hiaftand,
«* O'er fome ncw-opcn*d grave : and (lhange to tcii!/
SvaoiQicA at crowing of the cock/'
Blai&'s Giave.
DEAR FiUEND,
I Muft not forget an odd ad-
venture that happened when 1 was about
twelve years of age, as it tends to fliew in
part my dauntlefs diipufition, which dilcu-
vered itfelf on many occafions in the very
early part of my life.
1 had one day walked with my father to
Holywell lake, a village two miies from
Wellington, where meeting with fome good
ale, he could not Uud hi his heart to part
from it until late at night. When we were
returning home by the way of Rockweii-
Green, (commonly called Rogue Greetty from
a gang of robbers and houfe-breakers who.
formerly lived there) having juft paffed the
bridge.
Digiiizea by
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. (9
bridge, we were niet by feveral men and
women, who appeared to be very much
' frightened, being in great agitation. They
informed us that they were returning back
to Rogue-Green, in order to flcep there that
night, having been prevented from going
home to Wellington by a dreadful Appari-
tion, which they had all feen in the hollow
way, about a quarter of a mile diftant ; ad-
ding, that a perfon having been murdered
there formerly, the ghoU bad walked ever
fince ; that they had never before paid much
attention to the well-known report; but
now they were obliged to credit it, hav-
ing had ocular demonftration. My father
Lad diaiik too large a quantity of" ale to be
much afraid of any thing, and I (who cop id
not let Hip fuch an opportunity of ihewing
my courage) fccouded matters for the poor
terrified people to return with us ; and as I
offered to lead the van, they were prevailed
on to make the attempt once more ; but
fald, that it was ratlier prelumptuous, and
hoped that no dreadful confequence %vould
C 3 euiue
Digitized by Google
9
JO LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON-
enfue> as all the company, they truAed were
honeft-hearted, and hitended no harm to any
perfoti : they moreover added, that God
' certainly was above the Devil." I tlien ad-
vanced, and kept before the company about
fifty yardSy
« WfaiftUng aloud to bear my courage up,"
But when we had. walked about a quarter of
a mile, I faw at fome diftance before us in
the hedge, the dreadful apparition that had
ib terrified our company. Here it is 1 (faid
I) Lord have mercy upon us !'* replied
Ibmc of tlie company, making a full Hop j
and would have gone back, but (hame pre-
vented them. I ilill kept my diftance be<»
fore, and called out to them to follow me^
ailluing tliem that I was dctci mined to fee
iVhat it was. They then fell one behind
another, and advanced in fmgle files. As I
proceeded I too was feized with a timid ap-
prehcnfion, but durft not own it; fllll keep-
ing on before, although I perceived my hair
to heave my hat from my head, and my
teeth
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LAC KINGTON. '71
teeth to chatter in my mouth. In tiGt I
was greatly agitated at what I faw ; the ob«
' jedt much refembled the human figure as to
lhape, but the fize was prodigious* How-
ever I had promifed to fee what it w^s, and
for that purpofe I obftiuately ventured ou
about thirty yards from the place where
I iirft had (ight of it. I then perceived
that it was only a very fhort tree, whofe
limbs had been newly cut off, the domg
of which had made It much re&mble a
k
giant. I then called to the company, and
informed them, with a hearty laugh, that
they had been frightened at the flump of
a tree.
This ftory caufcd excellent dlverfion for a
long time afterwards in Wellington, and I
was mentioned as an hero.
The pleafure and fatisfaftion I received ^
from the difcovery, and the honour I acquired
for the courage I pofTcfTcd in making it,
has, I believe, had much influence on me
ever after ; as 1 cannot recollect that in any
C 4 ' OiiC
Digitized by Google
7* LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
one inftance I have ever obfcrved the leaft
fear of apparliions, fpiiits, &c. fince. -
Whit education did at firft
«« Our ripen d con&ms us to bcUcyc."
FOMFRIT.
Not that I have always fteadily dllbclicved
what has been related of fuch appearances, a
few accounts of which feem fo well authen-
ticated, as at. leaft to make me doubt whether
there might not cxift in the fcale of behigs
fome of a more aerial fubftance than man-
kuidy who may pofTefs both the mcliuatiou
aud the power of allumiiig our fliape, and
may perhaps take as much delight in teaz*
ing the human ipecies, as too many of our
Ipecies do in teazhig and even tormenting
thofe of the brute cicacion.
Some aftral forms I mail lovoke by piay'r i
•* Fmm'd all of pitiell atoiM of the air :
•* In airy chariots they together ride,
*' And iip the dew« as tbro* the clouds they glide ;
*^ Vain fpiriti« Yoo, that (hnnning heav'n's high nooii,
" Swarm here beneath the concave of the moon,
•* Hence to the taik aflign'd yoo hece below I
Upon the ocean make Icttd tempeib bloir s
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 73
Into the wombi of hollow clouds lepair^
** And craih out thunder from the bladdei'd air;
From pointed fun-beams take the mifls they dicirt
And icatter them again in pearly dew :
•* And of the bigger drops ihey drain below,
" Some mould in haH, and others life in fnow*"
Detoeh*
While I am on this fubjed:, I cannot refift
the temptation ot relating a truly ridicu-
lous affair that happened about this time at
Taunton,
In the workhoufe belonging to the parilli
of St. Jaaies, there lived a young woman
who was an idiot. This poor creature had
a great averfion to fleeping in a bed, and at
bed-time would often run away to a Held in
the neighbourhood called the Priory, where
ihe flept in the cowfiieds.
In order to break her of this bad cuftom,
two men agreed to try if they could not
frighten' her out of it. And one night,
when they knew that (he was there, they
took a white iheet with them, and coming
to the place, one of the men concealed him«
felf
Digitized by Google
74 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
felf to fee the event, while the other wrap-
ped himftU up in the ilieet, and walked
backwards and forwards clofc before the
cowflied in which (he was laid* It was
fome time before Molly paid any attention
to the apparition ; but at lad up fhe got.
Aha ! (faid ftie) a white devil!** and- by
lier manner of expreiling herfelf (he thought
it was very ilrange to fee a w&iu devil. And
foon after fhe exclaimed, ^* A black devil,
too ! a black devil, too !" With that the man
who had the (heet on, looked over his (boul-
der, and faw (or imagined he faw) a perfon
all over black behind him ; the fight of
which made him take to his heels. Molly
then clapped her hands as faft as (he could,
crying out at the lame time, Run, black
devil, and catch white devil! Run, black
devil, and catch white, devil and was
highly diverted. But thl3iproved a ferious
adventure to the white devil, as he expired '
within a few minutes afcer he had reached
his own houfe ; and from that time poor
Molly was left alone to fleep in peace.
. About
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 7$
About ten years after the above affur, at
Wivelfcombe, nine miles from Taunton, a
gentleman farmer's houie was alarmed every
night between twelve and one o'clock. The
chamber doors were thrown open, the bed*
clothes pulled off the beds, and the kitchen
furniture thrown with violence about the
kitclicii, to the great terror of the family,
inlbmuch that the fervants gave their mafter
and m^ilrefs warning to leave their places,
and fome of them actually quitted their fer-
vicc. This dreadful affair had lafted about
fix weeks, when a young gentleman who
was there on a vifit, being in bed , one
night, at the ulual hour he heard his cham*
ber door thrown open, and a very odd noife
about his room. He was at firft frightened,
but the noife continuing a long time, he
became cahn, and Liid iViIl, revolving in his
mind what he had bed do. When on a
fudden he heard the fpirit creep under his
bed, which was immediately lifted up, &c.
This convinced him that there was fome
fubftance In the fpirit i on which he leaped
UQ(
Digitized by Google
76 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON,
out of bed, fecured the door, and with his
oaken ilaff belaboured the ghoA under the
bed as hard as he could, until he heard a
female voice imploring mercy. On that he
opened his chamber door, and called aloud
for a light. The family all got up as fail a$
poflible, and came to his room. He then
informed them that he had got the fpirit
under the bed on hearbg whkh, moft of
them were terribly fngliicued, and would
have run off* fafter than they came, but he
aifured them, they had nothing to fear:
then out he dragged the half-murdcrcd
Ipirit from its fcene of ailioii. But how
great was their furprife and fhame, when
they difcovered that this tormenting devil
was no other than one of their fervaut girls
about fixteei;i years of age, who had been
confined to her bed feverai months by ill*
nefs.
This ghoft was no iboner laid, than two
others alarmed the neighbourhood ; one of
which for a long time fliook a houle every
nighty and terribly diftreffed the family ; at
length
*
*
Digitized by
LIFE OF ]• LACKINGTON. 77
length they all refolved one night to go over
the whole houfe in a body, and fee what it
was that fo agitated the building. They ex-
amined every rooiki^ but in vain, as no cauie
could be difcovered. So they very ferioufly
' as well as uuanimoufly concluded, that it
iiiuil be the devil.
But about a fortnight after this, one of
the family being out late in the garden, faw
a great boy get In at the wliiJow of an old
houie next door (part of which was in ruins)
and foon after the houfe began to ihake as
ufual, on which the family went out of their
own habitation, and entered the old houfe
where the boy was leen to get in ; yet for a
long time they could not difcover any pcr-
fon, and were juft turning to come out
again, when one of the company obferved
the boy fufpended above their heads, ft riding
over the end of a large beam that ran acrofs
botli houfes*
It was then apparent that the violent agi-
tation of the adjouiing houie was occalioned
by
Digitized by Google
LIF£ OF J. LACKINGTOM.
by nothing more than his leaping up and
down on the unfupported end of this beam.
Another apparition had for a long time
ilolen many geefe, turkeys^ &cc. and altbo'
it had been fccn by many, yet nobody would
venture to go near it, until at length one
perftn a little wifer than the reft of his
neighbours, feeing the famous apparition all
over white fteallug his fowls, was determined
to be fully fatisfied what Icind of fpirit it
could be that had fo great a prediledion for
poultry. He accordingly went round the
yard, and as the apparition was coming over
the wall, he knocked it down. This ter-
rible ghoil then proved to be a neighbouring
woman, who had put on her Qiroud, in
order to deter any perlbns ihould th^ by
chance fee her, from coming near her.
Thus, though fhe had for a long time
fuccelsfully pra£tifed this ingenious way of
procuring poultry, the old fox was caught
at laft.
This
Digitized by
LIFE OF J. LACKING i ON. 79
Thi8 is fo prolific a .fubjed:) that I could
.fill many pages with relations of ilreadfiil
fpecticb, which for a whik have reigned
with tyrannic (way over weak mind^^ and
at length when calm Reafon was fuffered to
afiume its power, liave been difcovered to be
no more objeds of terror than thofe I have
here noticed. But doubtlefs many fuch in-
llaoces muil have occurred to you. -
It has indeed often aftoniflied me, that Iii
this enlightcuLd age, there Ihould yet re-
main numbers, not in the country only, but
even in the metropolis, who fuffer them-
felves to be made miferable by vaiu fears of
preternatural occurrences, which generally
owe their origin to the knavery of fome ill-
difpofed perfon, who has a fmiAer purpofe
to anfwer thereby, or to the foollfli defire
of alarming the minds of weak people : a
pra^ice fometimes (though intended as fun)
productive of very feiious confequences. Now
and then,* indeed, thefe tenors are owing
to accidental and ridiculous caufes. As an
inftanccy
Digitized by Google
8o LIFE OF J. LACKINGTOK.
iliAaiice, I fliall give you the account of a ter-
rible alarm which ibme years (ince took place
in an Hofpital of this city^ as related to me
by a gentleman, who at the time refided la
the lioufe, for the purpofc of completh)g his
medical education, and on whofe veracity I
can conEdently rely.
For feveral nights fucceflively a noife had
been heard in the lower part of the building,
like the continual tapping againft a window,
which led the night nurfes wifely to con-
clude it muft certainly be occalioned by the
Spirit of one of the bodies depofited in the
dead-houfe endeavouring to elcape ; the lound
fcetniiig to proceed from that particular quar-
ter. The dread of theie fagaittm ladies, at
laft became fuch» as totally to prevent their
going from ward to ward to do their duty,
and determined my friend to attempt to lay
this perturbed fpirit ; which however he ap«
prehended would more fpeedily, as well as
efFedually be performed by the affiftance
of a good cudgel, tlian by exoicifms ; he
therefore infiead of confulting the Chaplain,
gave
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 8t
gave orders the next night as toon as the
uiuai dreadful found was beard^ to give him
notice. This you may fuppofe they did not
negleft doing, though at the fame time they
were-ihocked at his temerity, and apprehen*
five for the confequences. Imprefled with
an idea of the alarm being occafioned by
fome fervant or patient in the houfe, he im-
mediately fallied forth, with a candle in one
hand, and a good tough twig in the other,
- accompained by two of die ruen fci vaiits of
the Hofpital, accoutred in the fame manner,
refolved that if deteded, the party ihould
meet with an ample reward. The dead-
houie was pailed ; the noife continued ;
though it evidently proceeded from a win-
dow at ibme diflancc in the area. When
the cavalcade came near the fcene of a£llon,
the window fuddenly and violently broke,
without any thing being feen. This my
friend confelFed, xor a moment occalioncd his
' making a halt; but as nothing vlfiblc had
efcaped through the area, it occurred to him
fomething might have made an entrance that
D way J
Digitized by Google
8a LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
way ; accordingly be proceeded to the inter-
nal part of the building, and on opening the
door, the apparition itrmediately not only
appeared, but difappeared, and that fo in*
ilantaneoufly as not to aiford time to apply
the remedy lutended. And what think you,
was this dreadful fpirit i That you xn:^
exercife your ingenuiqr at guefling, I will
here conclude with^
r
Dear Friend^
Yours, &ۥ
LETTER
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTOM. 83
LETTER V.
«c „ . Wefe tiiy edncadoa fie*er fo ineaD»
" Having thy limbs, a thoafand fair courfes
OSct theinfdfet to thy ekAioii.
BzN JoH N son's Every Man in Iiii liumoni.
Laogh if foa are wife/'
Ma&tial.
DEAR FRIEND*
A CAT. An odd begins
ning of a Letter, hy the bye— but here
highly mportant and proper, as tending to
relieve you from the anxious thoughts which,
(no doubt) muft have filled your mind on
the fubjedt of the concluding part of my
former letter. I mull give you one laugh-
able inflaucc inore, which lately happened.
Mr. Higley, the bookfeller famous for falling
odd volumes or broken fets of books, lived
next door to a public-houfe in Ruffell-court,
DruryJanc ; this public-houfe was feparatcd
from his habitation only by a (light wainfcot
partition, through which Mr. Higley caufed
D 2 an
Digitized by Google
84 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON-
an hole to be cut, and a llider put over it,
fo that when he wanted any beer, he always
drew back the Aider and had it handed to
him through this convenient aperture*
The night after Mr. Higley's death,
which happened a few mouths fince, the
man who was left to take care of the corps,
about twelve o'clock hearing the landlord
and his family going up flairs to their beds,
on a fuddcii drew back the illder and Iiallou J
throuf^Ii the hole, ** Bring me a pint of
beer*'* This order the landlord and his
family heard, and were terribly alarmed, as
they really thought it had proceeded from
the ghoil of their neighbour Higley ; the
poor maid let fall the warming-pan, which
came tumbling down the Hairs ; the land-
lady being within the reach of her hu{band*s
legs, caught fall: hold of them, which in his
fright he miftook for poor Higley. But the
man burfting into a hearty laugh, rellored
the i^irlts of our hoft and his family.
Having
Digitized by GoQgle
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON- 85
Having now, I dare fay, had enough of
Gbojejfesj I will proceed with my narration.
During the time that I lived with the
Baker, my name became fo celebrated for
fclliiig a large number of pies, puddings, &c.
that fior feveral years following, application
was made to my father, for him to permit
me to fell Almanacks a few market days be*
fore and after Chriftmas. In this employ I
took great delight, the country people being
highly pleafed with me, and purchafmg a
great number of my Almanacks, which ex-
cited envy in the itinerant venders of Moore,
Wing, Poor Robin, &c. to fuch a degree,
that my father often exprefled his anxiety
Jcft they (hould fome way or other do me a
mifchief. * But 1 had not the leall concern,
for poiilfling a light pair of heels, 1 always
kept at a proper diftance.
O, my friend, little did I imagine at that
time, that 1 ihould ever excite the fame poor
mean fpirit in many of the boukkUers of
Loodon and other places ! but^
Digitized by GoQgle
86 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
*' Errty at laft crawls forth, from hell's dire throng,
«' Of ali the direfuini ! her black locks hung long*
Attir'd with corling fecpents i her pik flciii
*• Was almoft drop'd fromlier (harp bones within,
*' Aod at bcr breaft ftack vipers, which did pre/
. Upon bar pintiDg heart both night and days
«* Sucking black blood from thence : which to repair,
** Both day and night they left frefli poiforn there. .
Her garments were deep-ftatn'd with haroan gore*-
•* And torn by her own hands, in which (he bore
*< A knotted whip and bowl, which to the brim»
*' Did green gall, and the jalce of wormwood fwim ;
With which when (he was drunk, (he furious grew.
And la(h'd hetfelf : thiu (lom th' accurfed c<cw«
** Envy» the wocft of fiends* berfidf pcdentt*
Eavy^ good only when (be herfelf tormencs."
Cowl ST.
*• — — The tmc condition of Envy ia,
Delar alkna ftikitatis ; to have
Onr eyes continoally fix'd upon another
Man's profpcrity, that is^ his chief happinefs,
** And to g^evc at that.
^9
I was fourteen years and a half old wbexi
I went with my father to work at Taunton,
ieven miles from Wellington. We had been
there about a fortnight, when my father in-
formed our mailer, George Bowden, that he
would
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 9j
ivould return to Wellington again. Mn
Bowden was then pleafed to inform my fa-
ther that he had taken a likuig to me, and
propofed taking me apprentice; I feconded
Mr. Bowden^s motion (having a better prof*
pe£l: in continuing with Mr. Bowden than in
returning to Wellington with my father) as
he offered to take me without any premium,
and to find me in every thing. My father ac--
ceptcd liis otidr, aaJ I was immediately bound
apprentice for (even years to Mr. George and
Mrs. Mary Bowden, as honefl and worthy a
couple as ever carried on a trade.
•* Religious, pun^ual, frugal, and (o forth ;
** Their word woold pais for more than chcjr were worth*"
Pors.
They carefully attended to their (hop fix
days in the week, and on the levcnth went
with their family twice to an anabaptift
meeting ; where little attention was paid to
ipeculative dodrines ; but where found mo-
rality was conflantly inculcated.
■
D 4 "For
Digiiized by Google
88 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
** For modet of fiiidi kt gracelefs sealots fig1ir«
Hit can't be wioog whole life is in the right."
But in this» as in many other places of wor-
ihip, it was performed iu a dull fpiritlefs
maimer; fo that the excellent morality
taoght there was not fb much attended to
as it would have been had it been enforced,
or re-enforced by the captivating powers of
oratory.
I well remember, that although 1 con-
ilantly attended this place, it was a year or
two before I took the leaft notice of the ier^
mon, which was read j nor had I any idea
that I had the leaft concern in what the
xniniiler was (as 'tis called) preaching about*
For,
Who a cold, dall, tiielcfs diawlbg keept.
One half his audience laoghs, whilft t'other ileepib
• ' # • « • •
SerauNis, like playt » Ibme pleafe as at the ear.
' ** But never will a rcnoiis reading bear;
Some in the dofet edify enough,
'* That fiom the pulpic ieem'd bat fofiy ftoC
t« .TJi
Digitizec Ly v^oogle
LIFE OF ]. LACKINGTON. 89
«' 'Til dips tbeie aie who by ill vnding fpoil
** Yming's pointed fenle; or AueAmft flyle I
«* ^^ hile others, by the force of eloqoeiice*
Make that icem fine^ which fcaice it oonniOB lesle,
'Bat fone will preach witfaoat the leaft pietaioe
To virtue* kamiDg, art* or eloquence*
" Why not f foa cry : diey plainly £tt^ 00 doubt*-
" A prieft may grow ri^ht m/tftmtmldMinC
Aft of Freacbiof.
I amy
Dear Friend,
Yours, &c«
LETTER
Digitized by Google
• «
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
LETTER VL
" Youth is the ftock whence grafted fupefftition
•( Shooti with unbonoded vigac**
MitLEt's Malumet.
<' All niiift Ittneot that he's under fudi bannert, "
" A& evil community fpoils our good manners/*
i)£AR FIUEND^
At the time that I was bouud
apprentice, my mafter had two fons, the
eldeft about ieventeen years old, the youngeft
fourteen. The eldeil had jull been baptized,
and introduced as a member of the ariauiill-
cal dipping community where my mailer
and his family attended. The boy was a
very fober indudrious youth, and gave his
father ana niother much pkafure. The
youngeft was aifo a good lad. Thus every
thing continued well for ibme time after I
bad been added to the family. Both of the
boys had very good natural parts, and liad
learned
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON, ' 91
learned to read, write, - keep accounts, &c*
But they had been at fchools where no va-
riety of books had been introduced, fo that
all they had read was the Bible. My mafter's
whole library confifted of a rchool-iize Bible,
Watty's Pfalms and Hvmns, Foot's Tiddl
on Baptifm, Culpepper^s Herbal, the Hiftory
of the Gentle Craft, an old imperfect volume
of Receipts in Fhyfic, Surgery, &c. and the
Ready Reckoner. The ideas of the family
were as circumfcribed as their library. My
snafter called attention to bufinefs and work-
ing hard, minding the main chance.^* On
Sundays all went to meeting ; my Mafter on
that day faid a ihort grace before dinner, and
the boys read a few chapters in the Bibk,
took a walk for an hour or two, then read
a chapter or two more«
" What right, what true, what fit we jolkly calU
And this nas ail our care — ^for this is all."
Wc then Tupped, and went early to bed,
perfedly fattsfied with having done their
duty;
Digitized by Google
92 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON-
duty ; and each having a quiet confcience.
Toon fell into the arms of
Nature's fofc nucfe ! fweetfleep/'
I cannot here omit mciitlonlng a very
fingular cuftom of my mafier's : Every
morning, at all feaibns of the year, and in
all weathers, he rofe about three o'clock,
took a walk by the river-fide round French-
ware-fieldSf Aopt at an alehoufe that was
early open to drink half a pint of ale, came
back before fix o'clock, then called up his
people to work, and went to bed agaia
about feven.
Thus was the good raan*s family jogging
eafily and quietly on, no one doubting but
he ihould go to heaven when he died, and
every one hoping it would be a good while
firft.
'* A nan fhoiild be religious^ not fuperfticious."
But, alas ! the dreadful crlfis was at hand
that put an end to the happinefs and peace of
this little family, I had been an apprentice
about
Digitized by Google
V
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON- 93
about twelve or fifteen months, when my
matter's eldcfl fon George happened to go
and hear a fermon by one of Mr. Wefley's
preachers, who had left the plough-tail to
preach the pure and unadulterated Gofpel of
Cliiid. By this fermon the fallow grouiid
of poor George's heart was ploughed up, he
was now perfuaded that the innocent and
good life he had led would only hnk him
deeper into hell : in fliort he found out chat
he had never been converted, and of courfe
was in a (late of damnation, without beneHc .
of Clergy, But he did not long continue in
this damnable ftate, but (bon became one of
«< . The faoaified band,
" Wlio all holy myfteiiet wdl onckHbiiil/'
He perfuaded himfclf that he had pafied
through the Ne*w Btrtb^ and was quite lure
that his name was iL^iiiered in the Eook of
Life, and* (to the great grief of his parents)
he was in reality become a new creature.
Digitized by Google
96 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
My mafter very feldom heard any of thefe ,
converlations^ but my good miArafs would
£t down for hour^ together, with her Bible
In her lap, from which fhe would read fuch
fcriptures as proved the neccfTit)^ of living a
good life, performing good works, &c. £he
alio did her beft to confute the tenets of
Original (in, Imputed righteoufnefs, doftrine
of the Trinity, &c. Unfortunately the
good woman had no great talents for contro-
verfy ; however, George had a very tenacious
memory, and employed all bis thoughts on
thefe fubje^ts, fo that John his younger bro-
ther, and I alfo (two competent judges no
doubt) thought that he had the beft of the
arguments on thefe edifying fubjeds, and
about hve mouths after George's couveriion^
John went to hear thofe only true Ambafla-
dors from Heaven^
•* Who ftroli and teach from town to town
'* The good old Caafe : which fome beUere
*'*To be the devil that tempted Ewt
•* With knowledge, and do ftill invite
** The world to oitfduef with new Itghu"
BvTi.ia*
Thefe
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINQTON. 97
Thefe devil-dodgers happened to be fo very
powerful (that is very noify^) that they foon
lent John home, cryiug out, lie flxould be
damu'J ! he (hould be damu'd for ever !
But John fbon got out of the damuabic
flate, and aflured us that alt bis fin9 were
forgiven, merely by believing that he had
pafTed from death into life» and had union
and communion with God. He now became
as merry as before he had been forrowful, and
fung in Mr. Wefley's drain,
«• To darken the fliics,
** Nor hide fori moment my God from my Eyes."
Joiia lung to me, and fald to me a deal in this
wonderfiU flrain, of which I did not compre-
hend one fyllable.
«♦ . H» words were loofe
" As heaps of faod, aud fcatter'd wide from feofe*
** So high he mounted in his aiiy throoe>
That when the wind had got into hii head^
" It tura ii bis brains to frenzy,
£ But
Digitized by Google
^ LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
But theft extrMcdiiiary accounts and difcour-
fes, together with the controverfies between
the mother and the Ions, made me think they
knew many matters of which I was totally
ignorant. This created in me a defire for
knowledge, that I might know who was right
and who was wrong. But to my great morti-
fication, I could not read. I knew moA of the
letters, and a few eaiy words, and I fet about
learning with all my might. My miftrefs
would fometimes inftruft me ; and having
three halfpence per week allowed me by my
mother, this money I gave to Jolui ( my
mafter's youngeft Ibn) and for every three-
halfpence he taught me to fpell one hour ;
this was done in the dark, as we were not
allowed a candle after we were fent up flairs
to bed.
I foon made a little progrefs in reading ;
in thp mean time 1 alfo went to the Method-
ift meeting. There, as " enthufiafm is the
child of melancholy,*' 1 caught the infedion.
The firft that 1 heard was one Thomas
Bryant,
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. tACKINGTON. «
Bryant^ knawn Tauutoa hy the nanoc of
ihe damnation preacher ; (he had jufi k£t of*
cobbUng of aiiotker kind.) His fermon
irigbtened me moft terribly. I (ban after
went to hear an old Scotchman, and he
aflured his congregation, that they would be
damn'd, and double damoM, and treble
damn*d, and darauM for ever, if they died
without what he called Jaitb. '
This marvellous do£lrine and nolfy rant
and enthufiafm foon worked on my paflions,
and made me beheve myfelf to be really in
the damnable condition that they repreiented;
and in this mtferable ftate I continued for
about a month, being all that time unable
to work myfelf up to the proper key.
At laft, by finging and repeating enthufi-
aftic amorous hymns, and ignorantly ap-
plying particular texts of fcripture, I got
my imagination to the proper pitch, and
thus was I born jigain in an inftant, be-
came a very great favourite of heaven, had
angels to attend all my fteps, and was as
E 2 familiar
155634
loa LIFE OF J. LACKJNGTON.
£imiliar with the Father, SoOt and Holy
Ghofi, a$ any old woman in Mr. Wefley's
connedion i which, by the bye, is faying a
great deaL
I am.
Dear Sir,
Yours.
LETTER
Llf£ OF J. LACKINGTON. loi
LETTER VII.
*
*» No flccp, no peace, no reft
^' Tbeir wuid'liiig and afliasd niiid^
** Upon their fools and eyes
** Hell and eternal horror lies»
Unafnal ihapes and inag^,
Diric piAufcs and! felcmblailoci
" Of things to come, and of the worlds below#
O'er tbdr difkemper'd landei go :
Sometimes they curfc, ibmetiroes they pray unto
The gods above, the gods beneath ;
No fleep« bat waking novr was fifter tinto deaili.
fif« Sra.AT«
D£ARFia£ND,
Xt is perhaps worth remark-*
ing, that what the met hodiils . call conviftion
of fin, being awakened, &c. is often a moil
dreadful ftate^ and has the very fame effect
on fuch as have lived a very ianocent liie as
it has upon the inoft notorious olicudcrs ; this
ConviAion (as they call it) is brought about
by the preachers heaping all the curfes in the
Bible on the heads of the mofl virtuous as well
as moft vicious ; for, (ay they, he who keepttli
£ 3 the
Digitized by Google
U% LIFE OF J. LACKi^lGTON.
the whole law and oftendeth but in one
poiut, is as much iu a Aate of damnation, a$
he that bath bro&en every one of the com-
mandments, or committed robbery, murder,
&c. fo that they pour out every awful denun-
ciation found in the Bible, and many not
found there, againft all who have not the
methodiftical faith: this they call ihaking
the people over the n[K)Uth of hell.
Tlius are many who before poflefled
confciencies void of offence towards God
and mankind'^ tricked out of their peace of
mind, by the ignorant application of texts
of ^fcripture. Their fears being once lb
dreadfully alarmed, they often become in-
fupportable to themfelves and all around
them ; many in this ftate have put a period
to their exigence, others run mad, &c.
«
If the above terror of confcience was only
to take place in knaves and rafcals, tber9
would be no reafon for blaming the metho-
difts on that head ; " the wretch JlIcivcs thd
hell he feels.** A terrible inftance of tfaia
kind
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J- LACKINGTON. I, 103
kind happened near London-bridge about
two years fince : A perfon in a lucrative
branch of bufinefs had put uiibouuded con-
fidence in his head (hopman, and well re«
warded him for his fuppofed faitbfulnefs*
One morning, this man not coming down
flairs fo foon as ufual, the fcrvant maid went
Up to call him, and found him hanging up
to the bed-poft; ihe had the prefence of
mind to cut him down, but he being nearly
dead, it was fbme days before he perfe^bly
recovered. On his mafter coming to town
he was informed what had happened to his
favorite fliopmau ; he heard the relation with
the utmoft Aftonifhment, and took great
pains to difcover the caufe of (o fatal a refo*
lution, but to no j)urpofe. However he en-
deavouicd to reconcile thl^ unhappy man to
life, was very tender towards him, and gave
him more encouragement than ever ; but the
more the matter did to encourage and make
him happy, the more the poor wretch ^
peared to be dejeAed ; in this unhappy Aate
of mind he lived about fix moutiis, when
E 4 one
Digiiized by Google
I04 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
one morning not appearing at his ufual time,
the fcrvant maid went to fee if he was well,
and found him very weak in bed ; a day or
two after, his mafter came to town, and
be ing told of his firuation, went up to lee him,
and findiirg him in bed, and apparently very
ill, propofed fending for a phyfician, but the
poor devil refufed to take any thing, and re*
jedled every afliftance, faying his time was
nearly come. Soon after this the iervant
informed her maAer that he would not have
the bed made, and that ilic had juft obferved
fbme blood on one corner of the (heet. The
mafter then went up ftairs again, and by lift-
ing up the bed-clothes found that he had
ftahbcd hlmfelf in iLVcral places, an J thai lii
this {late he had lain three or four days, and
on the furgeon*s Appearance, he refufed to
have the wounds inipeded, and the furgeon
being of opinion that is was too late to render
him any kind of fervice, they let him lie
ftill. The mafter loon after this preiTed him
much to know t!u myflerious caufe of fo
much mifery, and fo unnatural an end. The
dying
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF }. LACKINGTON. 105
I
dying wretch exclaimed, ** a wounded con-
Icience, who can bear." The mafter then
endeavoured to comfort him, and aiiured him
that his coiilcieiice ought not to wound him,
I know you (continued he) to be a good
man, and the beft of fervants." Hold ! hold 1
exclaimed the wretch, yuur words are dag*
gcrs to my foul ! I am a villain, I have robbed
you of hundreds, and have long fuffered the
tortures of the damned for being tlius aeon-
cealed villain, every adt of kiudncfs liiewn to
me by you has been long like vultures tearing
my vitals. Go, fir, leave me, the fight of you
caufes me to fufier excruciating tortures ; he
then (hruuk under the bed-clutbes, and the
iame night expired in a ftate of mind unhappy
beyond all defcription.
Terrible as the above relation is, I aflfure
you that I have not heightened it : when
an ungrateful villain is punilhed by his own
refledions, we acknowledge it to be but juft.
In Morton*^ Hiftory of apparitions areftvcral
;ihocking ftories of pcrfons, who by their
abandoned
uiLjiiized by Google
%66 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON;
abandoned praddces, brought on themfelves
all the horrors of a guilty confcience*
'* O treacherous confcience ; while Hie fcemi to ilecp
On Nfe aad ajntk, iull'd wilbfymfoiigs
" Whilci Ae fcens nodding o'«r her diiig^ to dnp
On headlong appetite the flackcn'drciu,
^ Airf ghrtt Op to tioencettiiccdl'd,
UoHMlad; lee Ibn Mind her fMrt ftan^
•* The ily informer minutes every fault.
And her diced diaiy with honor fiUi.
<« A wnxMit foe t Ihe Ibnnldable
** Liilmng, o'eihcars the wbifpcrs of our oaap :
Our daiNiiBfpoi|Mlbi of heart i]iploitt
*■ And fteaboorembfTOt of iniquity.
" As aU rapacious ufurers conceal,
<« Thrir d0onifdty4xiok Bom all confimdi^heir^
Thns wiAinda]genceiN)ftleverefhelifate«
<* Writes down ouf whole hiilory, which death ihali ixid^
Inev'f}rpaledelinqocnt*iprifate€ar,
Night Thoughts,
■
But the cafe is otherwife atnongft the metho-
diftsy they work on the fears of the moft
virtuous i youih aud innocence fall vidims
(jaily before their threats of hell and damna-
tion, and the poor feeble minded, inftead of
being comforted and encouraged are often
by
Digiiized by Google
Lift OF }. LACKIKGTOM. 109
bj them funk into aft irrcmvtPAbk ftate of
gloomy deijpoiideJice and hor hbk deijpoir*
It U true that maxiy of their hearers are
not only methodlftically convinced, oi-
alarmed, but are alio bocus pocujly converted %
but with thouiauds that is not the cafef eveu
with thofe who join their fociety, where lb
much of divine love, afiurance, and extafies
are talked of^ where enthufiaftic, rapturous^
iiitojiicatiog hymns are fung, and beddes the
uahappy mortals in their own community,
tkoufands there are who have loft their
peace of mind by oocaiionaUy hearing their
iermons.
And even thofe among them who have
arrived to the higheft pitch of enthufiafmy
and who at times talk of their foretaitc of
heaven, and of their full affurance of fins
forgiven, and of talkhig to the Deity as fa*
miliarly as they will to one another; (all
which, and much more, 1 have heard a
thoufand times) yet even thoic very pre-
tended favorites of heaven are (if we be-
lieve
Digitized by Google
io8 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
lieve tbemfelves) miierable for the greateft
part of their time, having doubts, fears,
horrors of mind^ &c. continually haunting
them wherever they are* Between twenty
and thirty years fince, fome thoufands of
them in London took it into their heads that
the world would be at an end on fuch a
night, and for fome days previous to this
fatal night, nothing was attended to but
failing and praying, and when it came, they
made a watch-night of it, and fpent it in
prayer, &Ct expeding every moment to be
the laft ; and it is remarkable, that thoufands
who were not methodifts gave credit to this
ridiculous prophecy, and were terribly alarm*
ed i but the next morning they were aihamed
to look at one another, and many durft not
appear hi their (hops for Ibmetime after-
wards* But others of them faid that God
had heard the prayers of the riglitcous, and
fo fpared the world a little longer. Some
years after that Mr. Wefley alarmed his
people all over England, with the tail of a
comet ; ^reat numbers were dreadfully ap-
prehenfive
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 109
prehenfive le& this comet ihould fcorch the
earth to a cinder ; but the faints by prayer
made the coolet keep a proper diftance.
■
Ct^rnock, of the laft century, in his dif*-
courfe H}a Provideucet has proved ^ (in his
way) that the uuiverfe was created and kept
agolug for the fake of the eled, and that as
foon as their number is complete^ the whole -
will be deftroyed.
«
The fanatics in every age have found their
account in making their followers believe
the end of the world was at hand. In fome
of the wills and deeds^ by which eflates have
been given to monafteries, &c. in France,
they have exprefled their belief of the world's
being nearly at an end, as a reafon for mak«
ing fuch hberal donations to the church.
But It is happy for us that hi England fuch
wills would be let aiide. A cafe of this ua»
ture occured while Liord Northington was
at the head of the law department. Rcill/
the preacher, had wheedled, or frightened,
an old woman (Mrs* Norton) out of a deed
of
Digitized by GoQgle
ii# un Of j« McicmoTON.
of gift of fifty pound^s per year, but after the
aM woman's paaic and of damnarioa
was overt {h& h%d rdC0iir£^ to Qk^xK^^ty^ and
his Lordfliip anauUed the deed of gift. His
Lordfliip's remarks on fuch kinds of impo-
(ition are vety curious^ and worth your read-
iug. See Colledaiiea Juridica^ vol. i. p. 458.
In fad, tb^ my htjA. q£ the o^edbo^ifts
are like children, elated or deprefled by mere
trifles ; and many who joined tbem while
young and ignorant, quit their fociety as
they attain to years of difcretion, or as their
judgmeat is better informed.
I am,
.Pear Friend,
Yours, &e.
LETTER
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACi.INGTON. f u
LETTER VIII.
M^icm'b Inte it liy Didvt iaMGMMsa
^ Dnrkd^r faif , pare, and fimpk i/ona all arts;
You daub and dxek ber like a commoo miftidf^
*« The hailot of your fiudes ; and by addbg
Fal/c beauties, which (he wants not, make the wOrkl
«« SnffcabfiraogeilMiekloiil wiibiA*"
iLonrs't Timlm.
DEAR FRIEND,
The enthufiaflic notions
which I had imbibed, and the defire I had to
be talking about religious myfteriea, &c
aafwered one valuable purpo&i as it caufed
xne to eiuhrace every opportui^ity to leara tp
read, (o that I could fooa read the ealy parts
of the Bible, Mn Weiley's HymnSt &c« and
every klAiro minute was {o emgloyed*
la the winter I was obliged to attend my
work froiii fix in the morning uutil ten at
night. In the fummer half year, I only
worked as long as we could fee without can-
die ; but notwithilaading the clofe attention
I was
Digiiized by Google
tit LIFE OF J, LACKIKGTON.
I was obliged to pay to my trade, yet for a
long lime I read ten chapters iu the Bible
every day ; I alio read and learned many
hymns, and as foon as I could procure, fome
6f Mr* Wefley*s Trads, Sermons, &c. I
read them alfo ; many of them I perukd la
Chacina^s Temple, (the place where my
Lord Chefterfield advifed his ion to read the
claflics, but I did not apply tlicin after read-
ing to the farther u(e that his Lordihip
hints at.)
I had fuch good eyes, that I often read by
the light of the Moon, as my mailer would
never permit me to take a candle into my
room, and that prohibition I looked upon as
akindof perfecution, but I always comforted
myfelf with the thoughts of my being a dear
child of God ; and as fuch, that it was im*
poffibie for me to efcape perfecution from
the children of the devil, which epithets I
.very pioujly applied to my good mafter and
miftrefs. And fo ignorantly and imprudently
;2ealous (being a real methodifl) was I for
the
Digitized by
LIFE OF !• LACKINGTON. 113
the good of their preciaus (buls, as fometimes
to give them broad hints of it, and of the
dangerous ftate they were in. Their pious .
good old minifter, the Reverend Mr* Har-
rifon, I called " a blind leader of the blind i*^ ^
and I more than once affured my mifirefs,
that both he and his whole flock were in a
ftate of damnation, being ftrangers to the
hope of Ifrael, and without God in the
world.*' My good miftrcfs wikly ihouglit
that a good (lick was the beft way of argniiig
with fuch an ignorant infatuated boy as I
was, and had often rccourfe to it ; but I
I
took care to give her a deal of trouble ; for
whenever I was ordered in my turn to read
in the Bible, I always felcded fuch chapters
a§ I thought militated againft Allans, Socl-
nians, &c« and fuch verfcs as I deemed favour-
able to the dodlrine of Original Sin, Juftih-*
cation by Faith, imputed Righteoufnefs, the
do^rlnc of the Trinity, *S:c. On fuch, parts I
always placed a particular emphafis, which
puzzled and teazed the old lady a good deal.
F Among
Digitized by Google
114 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
Among other places I thought (having Co
been taught by the methodifls) that the fix-
teeuth chapter of Ezekiel very much favoured
the dodrmes of original fin, imputed righte*
oufnefs, &c. that chapter I often felcfted and
read to her^ and ihe as often read the
eighteenth chapter of the fame prophecy^ for
the lake of the parable ot the Father s eating
/our grapeSw
Whenever I read in St. Paul's Epiftles oa
juftification by faith alone, my good miftrefs
would read in the Epiftle of St. James, fuch
paiTages as fay tiiat a man is not juftified by
faith alone, but by faith and works, which
often embarraffed me not a little. However
I comforted myfeif with the conceit of having
more texts of Scripture on my fide of the
queftion than (he had on her fide. As to St
James, I was almoil ready to conclude, that
lie was iiot ij^ulte orthodox, and (o at laft I
did not much mind what he faid.
" Falle
Digitized by
LIFE OF J* LACKINGTON.
^ FaUe opinions tooted in the mind*
** Hoodwink Ae tanl and ieeep our feafon blind.
•* In controverted points can reaTon fwajr«
When ptffion or conceit hnrnct nt nwty
Hitherto I had not frequented the metho-
dic meetings by the confent or knowledge of
my mailer and miftrefs; nor had my zeal
been £> great as to make me openly violate
their commands. But as my zeal increaied
much fafler than my knowledge, I foou dil^
regarded their orders, and without hefitation
ran away to hear a methodiftical fermon as
often as I could find opportunity. One Sun-
day morning at eight o'clock my miftrefi
feeing her ions feft off, and knowing that they
were gone .to a methodift meeting, deter-
mined to prevent me from doing the lame by
locking the door, which (he accordingly did;
on which in a (liperflitious mood, I opened
the Bible for diredion what to do (ignorant
methodifls oftca pra£llfe the fame fuperfti-
tious method) and the firft words I read were
thefe, He has given his angels charge con-
cerning thee, left at any time thou fhouklcft
F 2 dafh
Digitized by Google
ii6 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTOM.
. dafli thy foot again ft a fldoe/^ This was
eiiougii for me ; Co without a moment's
hefitation, I ran up two pair of flairs to
my owa room, and out of the window I '
leaped, to the great terror of my poor ipif-
trefs. 1 got up immediately, and ran about
two or three hundred yards, towarda the
meeting-houfe ; but alaal I could run no
farther ; my feet and ancles were moit into-
lerably bi ulled, io that I was obliged to be
carried back and put to bed ; and it was
more than a month before I recovered the
ufe of my limbs. I was ignorant enpygh to
think that the Lord had not ufed me very
well, and refolved not to pirt ib much truft in
him for the future.
This my raHi adventure made a great aoKe
in the town, and was talked of many miles
round. Some few admired my amazing
ftreugth of faith, but the major part pitied
me, as a poor ignorant, deluded and infa-
tuated boy ; which did not at all pleaie.
Dear Friend,
Yours^ &CC.
Digitized by Goo
i.IF£ OF J. LACKINGTON* 1x7 ,
LETTER IX.
One ntkes the ragged ptdM ib fmooth and cvcq»
** None but an ill-bred mftn can niifs of heaven*
** Another quits his ftockiogs, breeches, fluft^
** Becaolb 1m faaciea virtue dwells io dift :
While aH coocsr to take away the ftreft,
" from weightier jx>iiits» and lajr it on the Icis."
Still 1 116 FLEET on CcinfCilktioii*
*Gad I've a thriving traiCc in my eye,
*« Near the mad maniions of Mooifielda I'll bawl ;
** Friends, fiithen, mothers, fiflers, (bos and all.
Shot up jrour ihops« and lifteo to my call*
Foots.
BEAR FRI£ND,
In the fourth year of my ap*
preuticeihip, my maAer died ; now although
he was a good liuibaiid, a good lather, and
a good mafter, &c. yet as he had not the
methodiflical faith, and could not pronounce
the Shibboleth of that feft, 1 pimify teared
that he was gone to helL
My miftrefs thought that his death was
haftened by his uneafy refledtons on the
F 3 bad
tiS LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
bad behaviour of his Ions, after they com-
menced metbodiftsy as before they were con^
verUd each was dutiful and attended to his
trade, but after they became faints they
attended lb much to their fpiritual concerns
that they aded as though they fuppofed they
were to be fed and cloathed by miracles, like
Mr. Huntingdon, who informs us in his
book called " The Bank of Faith/' that the
LfOrd fent him a pair of breeches, that a
dog brought^ him mutton to eat, fifti died at
jiight in a pond on purpofe to be eaten by
him in the morning ; money, and in fliort
every thing he could de(ire he obtamed by
prater. Thus as Foutc fays,
** With laboar, toil, all fccood means difpeofe«
*^ AndliTeaicot-cliufettponpcovideDoe.
To give you a better idea of mctho-
diftical ignorance and negled of ordinary
means of living, &c. I will relate one
inilauce more. Mary Hubbard (an old
womar^ of Mr, Wefley^s fociety) would
often wa(h her linen, hang it out to diyt
and go away to work m the fields, or to
J Taunton
Digitized by Google
IJLFE OF J. LA€KIMGTON« 1^9
Taunton market, four miles from faer houie ;
and when blamed, ihe would anlWer that
the Lord watched over her, and all that ihe
had, and that he would prevent any person
from ftealing her two old fmocks, or if he
permitted them to be flolen, he would feud
her two new in their ftead." And I ferloully
aflfureyou, fir, that there are many thou&tid
Mary Hubbards amongft the methodills*
As I had bccii bound Xo my xniflrcls as
well as my matter^ 1 was of courfe an appren-
tice ft ill. But after my mafter's death I ob-
tained more liberty of confciencc (as I called
it) fo that I not only went to hear the me-
' thodift fermons, but was alio admitted into
their fociety ; and I believ-e they never had
a more devout entUuiiauical n.cmLcr; for
feveral years I rccjnlndy attended every fer^
mon and all their private meetings.
As you arc prubably unactjuainted with
the nature of thefc private meetings^ a ihorjt
account of them may perhaps a£ird you
ibme amulement.
F 4 The
Digitized by Google
120 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. -
The late Mr. VVefley iixftituted amougft
.his people, bcfid^s the public preachings,
feveral kinds of private meetings; and as
the prayiT'-meHing is the leaft private of any
of them, I will firfl take notice of that.
To the prayer-meetuigs, which were iu
general held iu private houfes, they often
invited people who were not of their fbciety«
An hymn was hrll: fung, then they all knelt,
and the firfl perfon who felt a motion, iiiade
an extemporary prayer ; when he had done
anpther began, and lb on, for about two
hours.
But it lb happened fometimes, that one of
the brethren began to pray without having
the gift of prayer (as they call it), and then
Jjf often ftuck faft, like fomc of the young
orators at Coach^maker^s Hall, Prayer*
meetings were held iu luch high efteem
amougft them that they aflerted, more were
born again *^ and more made free from all
the remains of fin,** or in other words of their
own, made perfect as God is perfc^,'* in
«
thefe
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTQN.
theie kinds of fneeUogt thsu^ at pubbc fites^* ^
The ipirits heated wiU ftraoge thing^prodace."
But it is impoffible for you, my friend^ to
ibrm any juft idea of thefe aileinblies, except
you bad been preient at tbem ; ou^ wheedles
and coaxes the Divine Being, In his adJiLllc s ;
another is amorous and lufcious ; and a thijrd
ib rude and commaudingy he will even teU
the Deity that he muil be a liar if he docs
not grant all they a(k. In this manner will
they work up one another^s imaginations
until they may a&uaUy be faid to be in a iUte
of iotfoxicatlon, and whilil In this in<to^i<:al;ed
flate« it often happens that ibme of thetp
mcolk^ a t^xt of fcripture, lu^-as> tiky Ans
a^r^e forgiven thee^'* or go a^id fin no xxm^c^i-
&CQ. and then they declare then^felves to be
born again, or to be &ndified^ &c.
Tbey have another kind of private meet-
-ing ^fter the public preacbixig on Sunday
evenings, in which tjie preacher aitets all
the
laa LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
the members of the ^iety, who Aay behind
after the general congregation is difmiiTed.
To this fbcicty the preacher gave fuch
advice as he deemed better fuited to a godly
few than to a promlfcuous multitude of
** outward court worlliippcrs.**
«
Their Lvoe-Jeqft is alio a private meeting
of as many members of the community as
pleafe to attend ; and they generally come
from all parts, within feveral miles of the
place where love-feafts are held.
When all are met they alternately fmg and
pray % and fuch amongit them as think that
their experience (as they call it) is remark-
able, ftand up in their place and relate all
the tranfadions between God^ the devil^ and
their fouls« At fuch feafons as this I have
heard many of them declare they had jufl
received the pardon of all their fins while
Brother fuch-a-one was in prayer ; another
would then get up and affert that he was
juft at that iuftant made pcrfedly free from
fin.
Digiiized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 123
4
At thefe times the Spirit is fuppofed to
be very powerfully at work atnongft them ;
and fuch an unifon of fighiiig and groaning
fucceeds, that you would think they had all
loft their fenfes. In this frantic ftate, many
apply to themfelves fuch texts of fcripture
as jiappen to come into their heads.
In the Love-feaft they have ium to eat^
which are mutually broken between each
brother and fifter, and they have alfb water
to drinky wliich they hand from one to
another. Thefe meetings begin about feven
o'clock, and laft until nine, or ten.
In London, Briftol, and other large places,
they have fome private meetings, unknown
to the community at large. Thefe meetings
confift of all married men at onetime, young
and unmarried men at another time ; the
married women by themfelves, and the
fmgle women by themfelves ; and to each of
thefe clafles Mr. Wefley went, and<*gave
fuch advice or exhortations as he thought
fuitable to theii Uiuation in life^ klduiii lall*
ing
Digitized by Google
124 * LIJFE OF J. LACKINCTON,
jog to Ipeak much m pcaiie of celibagy^ to
the Maids and Bachelors under his pailoral
care. I will in mj &ext giire you an ac<*
count of their watch-nights, dais^meeting^
bandsy and other particulars.
f
• «
I amp
Dear Friend^
Yours, &c.
LETTER
Digiiized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. t%s
9
LSTTEIt JL
«« ■ Hoc Gamaliel lage
Tiabt np bis babes of giace, loHroded well
In ail the — difcipHne of prayer j
** To potm ibc ker : hy jnft def icet
To dofe the tinnkliag eye i expand tbe paloM,
To expoTe the whites, and with the fightlefs bails
" To glaie apon the crowd ; to rife, to 0iik
The iloeUo ?akei now aum'nng foft and floir,
** With inward accent calm, and then again,
** In foaming floods of lapt'coos eloquence
Let loofe the ftorm. and thnndec thro* die nofe
The threatened vcn^ncc."
SoMtEVILLI.
DEAR FRIEND.
T H E Watch-rngbt begins
about leven o^clock* Tbey fing hymns,
pray, preach, iuig. and pray again ; then
exhort, fing and pi ay alternately, until twelve
o'clock. The hymns which they fing on
tbofe nights, were wrote for fuch occaiions,
and abound with gloomy ideas, wliich are
increafed by the time of night ; and it muft
be remarked, that the major part of thofo
who
Digitizec Ly v^oogle
ta6 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
who attend thefe nortunuil meetings having
fafted the whole of the day (according to
Mr. Wefley's orders) are in a very proper
flate of mind Co. entertain the moll extrava-
gant whims or enthufiaftic notions that caa
poflibly enter the heads of any vifionaries*
So that fuch nights are often very prolific^
as nuvibers are faid to be born again^ and
become the temples of the Holy Ghoft on
watch-nights, which makes thofe nights
efteemed by them. *
Mr. Welley, in every place where his peo«*
pie were numerous, had divided them into
clajesy confifting of twelve or fourteen bro-
thers or fifters. Sometimes men and women
met together in the fame ciaji (as they called
it) and other claflTcs confifttd of all men or
all women. Each of thefe clafles had one in
it who was called the leader* In luch claiTes
wliere men and women meet together, the
leader was always a brother : and fo of courfe
when the clafs confided of men alone. But
in
Digitized by
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 127
ill the women's daffcs a fifter was always the
leader.
When they met together, the leader firft
gave out an hymn, which they all fang ;
after the hymn they all kueit, and their
leader made an extemporary prayer ; after '
which they were leated, and when the leader
had informed them of the ftate of his own
.mind, he enquired of all prefent, one after
another, how they found the ibte of their
fouls. Some he found were full of faith and *
affurance^ others had dreadful douhts and
fears; fome had horrid temptations ; others
complained of a lukewarm ftate, fcc. In thefe
meetings, fome of the members fpoke of
tbemlelves, as though they were as pure as
angels are in heaven, but with the generally
of them, it was far otherwife, and nothing was
more common among them than to hear the
major part exclaiming againftthemlclves, and
declaring that they were the moft vile and
abandoned wretches on this fide hell, that
they wondered why the earth did not open
and
Digitized by Google
ittB LIFE OP LACKtVfGTOU.
and fwallow them np alive. But they gene-
'ralty added^ that the blood of Chrift cleanles
.from ail iin," aiid that where ha abounded
there would grace much more abound.'*
Indeed it was ea(y to remark that the reaioQ
why they paiuted themfeWes in fuch odious
colours, was only to boafl: of aa aftonifhing
quantity of grace that God had beftowcd on
them, in thu^ pardoning all their aboiDiiik*
tioas and numbering them with the houfehold
of faith, who ought to have, been (hut up id
the dethel-moft hell. To each of thefe thb
leader gave a word of comfort, or df correc-
tion in the bcil manner he was able* They
then fang and prayed again. This Jaded
about one hour. And every ont in Mr.
Wefley's connexion did, or was expe&ed t6
meet, each in his own clafs once in a week.
In thefe claftes each naade a weekly contribu-
tion towards the general fupport of the
preachers, &c. Such as were very poor con-
tributed a penny per week, otlier^ two-pence,
and fome who could afford it (txpence. This
money was entered i^i a book kept &>r chat
purpofe*
I
LIFE OF }. LACKINGTON. 129
purple,' -and one in every clafs called the
ileward, had the cafe of the cafh.
• • •
I now come to fpeak of the Bands, which
confifted only of jufitjkd perfons; that is
fuch as had received the ajjurance of their (Ins
being pardoned. In the. clafies, both the.
awakened (as they call them), and the jufli-
fied^ and even thofe that were made perfeSl
met all together, as did the married and the
fingle;^ and ofteu men and women. But none
were admitted into any band hMt fuch as were
at leaft in a juftified ftate, and the cnl^ried
of each'fex met by themfelves, and the
fingle by themfelves. . About ten was the
number generally put in one band ; all thefe
* * -
muft belong to and meet iii (bme clafsy once
a week, when not hindered by licknefs^ &c*
and tiiey were alfu to nieet weekly in their
band. When met, they firft fung, theii
made a Ihort prayer ; that done, the band^
kadcr informed them of the ilate of his mind
duiiiig the lail week, &c. He then made in-
quiry into the ftate of all prefent, and each
G related
Digitized by Google
Ijo LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
related what had paflTed .fince they laft met ;
as what vilitatians they had received from
God, what temptations from the devil, the
fiefh, &c. And it is a maxim amongft them
that expofing to one another what the
devil has particularly tempted them to com-
mit, wijl make the old fellow more careful
how he tempts, when he knows that all his
iecrets will be told the next meeting* In
the claffes they only confdTed in general
terms, that they have heen tempted by the
world, the f{e(h and the deviL But in the
bands they confefled the particular lias
which they had been tempted to commit,
or had aftually committed.
The laft time I met in band was in Lon-
don,'* where an old man (near ieventy years
of age) informed us that he had for ieveral
weeks together laboured under a very griev-
ous temptation of the devil, who all this
time had been cpnfiantly tempting him to
commit adultery ; he farther informed us,
that having let too much of his houfe to lodg*
erSy
Digiiizea by
LIFE OF J, LACKINGTON. 13%
gersf they were obliged to put the maid^s bed
in the room where he and hi$ wife flept ;
and that one morning he had feen the maid •
lying afleep, nearly or quite uncovered, aad
he again aflured us that ever fince that time
the devil had been every day tempting him to
do that which was nought with the maid*
I could not help thinking the old gentleman
was right in charging it on /^^ Je^nJ^ as there
was little reafon to think it was any tempta*
tionof ihejlejb* Perniit me to add^ that this
oU buck had a wife about half his own age*
1 have been informed that fome young men
of the brothciliood, have at times dilguifed
themielves in women's clothes, and have io
got into the women's bands ; it may be very
curious to hear the confeliions of the holy
fifters* By this time I fuppofe you have had
enough of band-meeiings*
Mr. Wefley inilituted another kind of pri«
vate meeting for the high4(l order of his peo-
ple, called the Jeledl bands to which none
were admitted but fuch as were fandtified, or
O a made
Digitized by Google
131 LIFE OF J. LAC KINGTON.
made perfect in love, and freed from all the
remains of fui. But as I never profeffed per^
feSlion^ I was not permitted to enter into this
holy of holies. But I have known a great
number of thefe perfed faints, of both fexes;
and I alfo lived in the fame houfe a whole
year with one of thefe intire holy fifters.
A few days before I came to live in Chifwell-
Street, one of thefe pcrfeA iifters was de-
teded in dealing coals out of the ihed of one
of the fan£ti6ed brothers, but ihe, like the
old fellow above mentioned, iaid it was tl^
devil that tempted her to do it.
Four times every year new tickets arc dif-
tributed to all Mr. Wefley's people through-
out the three kingdoms, Tlicir ticket is a
very fmallflip of paper, with a text of fcrip-
ture on it, which is exchanged every quarter
for fome other text. Such as are only iu a
. ciufsy have a different text from fuch as are
in a band^ fo that no one can be admitted into
a general mcctmg of the bands, appointed by
any of the preachers when he intends to give
them an exhortation, nor into any particular
bandj.
Digitized by
m
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 133
band, by a common fbciety ticket. On the
commoa tickets are luch texts as thefe:
Now Is the accepted time." — ** Awake
thou that fleepefl/* and fuch like. But
thoie for the iands are in a higher Arain;
as, " Be ye perfed as your heavenly father is
perfect.'*—**** Go on unto pcrtcclion."— ** Ye '
are children of the light." — ** Your bodies are
temples of the Holy Ghofl;" and other texts
of a flmilar tendency. For thefe tickets, each
poor perfbn paid one (hilling, fuch as were
rich paid more ; indeed the money feemed to
be the principal ead of iiTuing tickets* at
leaft ill country places, the members in the
community being ib well known to eac^
other, that they fcarce ever ihewed their
tickets in order to gain admittance. I forgot
to inform you that prayer-meetings, clafs-
meetings, band->meetings, &c. were in gene-
ral held in private houies, belonging to lornc
of the brethicn.
I am, dear Friend,
Your$, &c«
G 3 LETTER
Digitized by Google
«
134 LIFE OF J, LACKINGTOM.
LETTER XI.
«• Stiff In opinions* always in the wrong ;
Was eveiy thing bj iUm and nothing long.
*
^ Then all §6r women, ftenting, rhi aung, drinking,
*' Bc^c& tea thoniaad freaki that died in thintui^g*"
ibciety I was got into. In country places par**
tlcvilarly, they coufift of farmers, hufband*
men, flioemakers, woolcombers, weavers,
their wives, &c. I have heard Mr. Wefley
remark that more women are converted than
men ; and I believe that by far the greateft
part of his people are females ; and not a
few of them ibur, disappointed old maid^^
with fome others of a iefs prudilh dilpoiition*
Lavater in his eilay on phyfiognomy lays,
Women fink into the moft incurable me-
lancholy, as they alio rife to the moft en«-
raptured
DEAR FRIEND^
OU now fee what ibrt of a
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 135
raptured heights ^' la auotlier place he fays.
By the irritability of their nerves, their
incapability for deep inquiry and firm dect<«
iion, they may eafily from their extreme
fcafibliity, become the nioft irreclaimable,
the moil rapturous enthufiafts.**
There are tbonfands in this ibciety who
will never read any thing beiides, the BMe^
and books pubiiihcd by Mr. Wefley. For
feveral years I read very little elfe, nor would
I go (at leaft very ieldom) to any other place
of worlhip ; io that inilead of hearing the
fenfible and learned minifters of TauiUon, I
would often go four, five, or fix miles,' to
ibme country village, to hear an inipired
hufbandman, ihoemaker, black fmith, or
woolcomber ; and hxquciitly in froft and "
inow have I rofe a little after midnight (not
knowing what time of night it was) aiKl
have wandered about the town until five
o*cIock, when the preaching began; where
I have often heard a fermon preached to not
more than ten or a dozen people. But fuch
G4 of
Digitized by Google
136 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
of U5 as did attend at this eaiiy hour, ufed
afterwards to congratulate each other oq the
great privilege we enjoyed, then oS we went
to our work, fliivcring with cold*
I was firft coavertcd to methodifm when I '
was about iixteen years of age, from that
time until I was twenty *one I was a very fin*
.cere enthufiaft, and every ipare hour I enjoyed
I dedicated to the ftudy of the Bible, reading
methodiftical books, learning hymns, hearing
iermons, meeting in iocieties, &cc. My me<>
mpry was very tenacious, fo that every thiag
I read I made my own* I could have repeated
ieveral volumes of hymns ; when I heard a
iermon, I could have preached it again^ and
nearly in the fame vvurJs ; my Bible had
- hundreds of leaves folded down, and thou-*
fands of marks againlliuch texts as I thought
favoured the dodriues (or whims) which I
had imbibed. So that I flood forth as thfi
champion of methodifm wherever I came.
But alas ! my godly Arid life at length
fuiFcrcd interruption. I will give you a far*
ther
Digitized by Google
i
t
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 137
farther account of the methodifts wheii I
come to the time when I finally left their
ibcitty.
The election for two members d( Parlia*
ment was ftrongly coutcfled at Taunton, juft
as I attained my twenty-firft year ; and being
now of age, the fix or feven months, which
I had to ferve of my apprenticeihip were
purchafed of my mlilrefs by fome fricods of
two of the contending candidateis ; lb that I
was at once fet free in the midft of a icene
of riot and diilipation*
Pident Eiuiniple geti within our guard,
And atts with double fofcc, by few repcii'd.**
Y«VMO*
** Nor fluune. nor honoor cooM [>imU»
To keep roe thus from tumiog tail."
As I had a vote, and was alfo poflelTed of
a few ideas above thofe of my rank and fitua-
tion^ my ^company was courted by ibme who
were in a much higher Iphere ; and (probably
what they partly intended) in fuch company
I icon forgot my godly or methodifiical cou-
nedions^
Digiiized by Google
UFE OF J. lackinoton;.
neilions, and ran into the oppolite extreme :
£> that for (efcral months moft of my fpare
hours were devoted to the
** Young-cy'd God oi Wine! Parent of joys!
" FfotkamlittUolUm* Hhile tlie cold foM
Of lempenmce, the Ibolt of thoDghc and aWg
Lay fixetcb'd ui fober Hunbcf s/'
Here I had iicai'Iy funk for ever into
sneaonefs, obfcurity and vice ; for when the
eledion was over, I had no iooger open
houles to cat and drink in at free coft.
However I did not fink quite fo low as the
commonalty of journeymen fiioemakers, but
in general worked very hard, and fpeut my
money in better company,.
Notvvithftnnding, at times I was very unr
eaiy, and although I bad not been at any
methodiflical meeting during the time tliat
I had lived this difiipated life* ye4 my mind
was not freed intireiy from the fuperAitlous
fears I had there imbibed ; fo that whenever
any perlon aiked me, what woul4 become of
me
Digiiized by
LIF£ OF J. LACKINGTON. t3f
me (that had lived fach a holy life) if I
ihould die. ill the {kdX^oibackfiiding from the
good old way 1 always ackuowkdged that
I fliould be eternally damn'd, were that to be
the cafe. But I muii; coofels tiiat I was not
much afraid of dying in fuch a flate, as I was
too mueh prepoffefled with the methodifllcal
notions of fne grace^ that would not let me
finally be ioH, prefuming that I mu{i wait as
it were for a Jccond call to repentance, jujftifi«.
cation, which 1 had been taught to be*
lieve might take place inftaotaneonfly^ and
put the devil to flight iu a hurry, and fo
matters would be all rl^ht again.
I often privately took the Bible to bed with
me» and in the long fummer mornings read
for hours together in bed, but this did not
la tlie leait influence my coudu(P:. As you
know great events often aiife from little' *
cauies, I am now going to celate a circum-
ilancet trivial in itfislf, though produ&ive of
a more conilderaLle change in uiy fituation,
than any I had yet experienced*
I was
Digitized by GoQgle
I
* f4d LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
I was tweaty-one years of age the nth of
September 1767, the eleftion was over the
latter end of March 1 768. It was in this year
chat my new mailer's wife infilled on my
purchafiDg milk of a inllk-maid who was a
cuftomer at the (hop; which command I
refufed to comply with, as I had a fmart
little milk-maid of my own. But as my
miftrefs wore the breeches^ my mafter was
obliged, by his wifefs order, to inform me
that I muft comply with her mandate, or get
another mafter. • I left him without hefita-
tion ; and the fame afternoon went to Wei-
Ungton, took leave of my father and mo*
ther, and informed them of my intention to
go to Briftol. After two or three days, I •
returned back to Taunton, where I flayed
a day or two more. . In which time I be-
came enamoured with, or infatuated by, the
beautiful Nancy "Trott: and although I faw
the impropriety of the meafure, yet I could
not refift the fair tempter, who prevailed
with me ,to permit her to accompany me
in my journey.
*< Rcafon
Digitized by Google
. LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 141 •
<* ]leaf(»wii glmtocDib onrtadimgwillt
" And yet bat (hews i weak phyiiciaii's ikiU $
*' Gifts nothing while the ngiog fit docs kft,
" Bat ftayi tocoie it when the worft is paft.
Heafon's i ftiff for age , when Nature's gone ; t
But Youth is ftroog enough to, walk alone."
D&TDBM'a Cob. of Gniu
s
We refted a week in Bridgewater^ where I
worked and got money to convey ns to £x-
bridge^ fcveuteen miles on this £de Briilol;
and there I fdw my conduft la fucli a point
of view as made me refolve to leave her*
r
«* la weU'fesgpi'd acddenu* now tbejr hail wf ut.
My life, my love, my charmer, or my dear.**
" As if tbefefounds^ thefe joykfs founds could prove
*' The fmaUeft partide of genniat love. .
** O ! purchas'd love, retail'd tfaioogh half the town.
' * Where each may fhare on paying haIf-a>ciowo i
Whemeveiyairofteoderoelttsaitf
<* And not one word the language of the heart ;
Where ail is mockery of Cupid's reign,
« £iid ill lemoifef in wieichednefa and pain.
Art of living in London*
My finances amounted to three flilllings and
one penny, out of which I gave her half-a-
crown,
Digitizec Ly v^oogle
143 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTOtJt.
crowo, aud with the remaimag feveopence,
wltliout informing her of my purpofe, I fet
oflF for Briftol; where I arrived in a few
houTSf aad got work the fame evening*
A few days after, I went to the inn where
the Taunton carrier put up, to enquire after
M{fs ^rafff as I wanted to know if fhe had
returned fafc to Taimton. I was informed
that fhe was in Briftol nearly as foon as I
was. Knowing but little of the world, and
iltll lefs of women of her defcription, I
was quite unhappy on her account, for fear
that being in a flrange place ihe might be in
want and diilrefs ; which thought induced
me, to oflfer tofeveral of my countrymen five
IhiUings to the firft who fliould brmg me an
. account where I might iind her ; but I did
not fee her until ieverai weeks after that.
The Taunton Carrier gave me a letter from
my good Miftrefs Bowden (who by marry-
ing again had changed her name to Dingle),
The contents of this letter very much iui-
pri^ mew It informed me that a day or two
The
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 143
before I fell out with my laft mtftrefs (which
was the trifling caufe of my leaving TaQn«
ton) Bciiy Tucker^ a common lafs, had iWora
a child Co mc ; that the parllh officers' had
been to my mafter's Ihop within an hour
after I had left it to go to Wellington, and
that they had^en at Wellington juft as I.
had left that place, and afterwards hearing
. . that I was in Bridgewater they had purfued
me thither. But the morning on which
they arrived, I had fet off for Exbridge ; and
believing that I had intentionally fled before
them, they had given over the chafe for
the prefent.
Refieding on this affair, although my
condud was very far from entitling me to
entertain fuch a fuppofition, 3ret I was then
weak enough to imaghie, that being a par-
ticular favourite of iieaven a kind of miracle
had been wrouglit to fave me from a piiion,
or from marrying a woman I could not
bear the idea of living with a fingle week ;
and as I had not any^ knowledge of her being
Digitized by Google
144 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
■ ♦
with child (not having feen her for three
months before) I had not taken any meaiure
to avoid the confequence, but put mylclf in
the way of the oflScers : ibr^ as I have juft
told you, after I had taken leave of my
father and mother, I went back to Taunton,
and walked about publicly one whole day,
and part of another.
Tlus girl was delivered about two months
afterwards of a ftill-born child, fo that I was
never troubled for expences* Methinks you
are ready to fay with Pomfret,
*T!t ctff to ddcend into the fiuue»
By the pernicious conda^ of the Fair:
Bot lafeff to fctnxn fimiii their abode
**- Reqnifci the wit, tfaepradenoeof aGod,"
1 am.
Dear Friend,
Yours, &c«
LETTER
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
LETTER XII.
■ Leam to fcaa
*' Tbe f aiioat foibkt of imperfed auok"
An of Lmng In London*
DEAR FRIEND,
The fubjeft of my laftrecallg
to my mbd a ridiculous afiairt which exciti:d
much mirth in that part of the country.
During the Eledion at Taunton, a gentle-
man one day came in a poft^chaiie to the
White-hart Inn, kept by Mr. Baldwin"! and
after having refreftied hlmfelf, ftrolled Into
the yard, and feeing the hoftler, aiked him
if he could inform him where they took in
the news? The heftier undei {landing him in
a literal fenfe, direfted him to a bookfeller^s
(hop on the oppoiite fide of the way ; this
ihop was kept by Mifs A — d-^ji, a beautiful
young lady of irreproachable character, aiul
one whofe fine underflanding and polithed
tafle did honour to the profeliion ; which
profeffion (he only adopted for au amufement,
as fiie poffeficd ^n independent fortune.
H Our
Digitized by Google
*
14^ LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
Oar gentlemaa on entering the (hop, ea<*
quired of the ihopmaid for her miftrefs, but
the maid being ufed to fervc in the fhop, and
knowing that her miftrefs had ibme ladies
with her^ informed the gentleman that ihe
could help hun to any thing that he wanted,
fiiit on his £iying he had ibme private bufi-
neis with hor miftreis^ he was fliewed into
a back parlour, and tiie millrefs being in*
formed a gentleman wanted to Ipeak to her,
ihe went diredly to him* The moment ihe
entered the loomi he clalped her in his arms»
called her a divine creature, &c. This fo
alarmed Mi(s A— d~n, that ihe {creamed
abttd ; on hearing of which, the ladies, pre*
ceded by the houfemaid and ihopmaid re«
paired to the parlour, where they found Mifs
A— d — ^n almoft in fits. The gentleman
thinking that it was only a trick to raife her
price, took but little notice, ou whict one
of the maids ran out and called in fcveral of
the neighbours, who on coming into the par«
lour, faw with afloniihment our Sir Harry
Wlldair taking iaiproper liberties with Mifs
A— d—
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKJNGTON* 147
A— d— n, and defired him to defifl:. But he
defired them not to attempt to put tricks on
travellers, and ordered them to leave the
rooai. Inftead of obeying his iiijunclions
they in a refbiute tone ordered our fpark to go
inftautly about his bufinefs. However he
ftill kept his ground, until the mayor of the
town, who happened to live juft ty, was
called in. Mr. Mayor demanded to know
why he took luch freedom with the lady i
Our gentleman, feeing chat the affair began
to look veiy ferious, now becaftie calm^ and
informed the company that having an incli«
nation for a frolic, he had enquired &>r a bad
. houfe, and had been diicdcd there ; adding
that if there had been any miftakci he was
very forry for it, and would beg the lady's '
pardon.. On hearing this, the company was
more furprized than before, and demanded of
the gentleman^ who had infbrnied him that
that houfe was a bawdy *-houfe ? He, without
hefitatioa replied, the hoftler at the White
Hart* Upon this the hoftler was (ent for,
and on his being alked, if he had directed
H 2 that
Digitized by GoQgle
I4S LIFE OF h LACKINGTQK^
that gentleman^ to Mifs A— ^~n*8 as to a
bawdy-houfe i The poor fellow, with marks
of terror and furprife aufwered. No. The
Geutlemeu never alked me for a bawdy-
hottfe, he only aiked me for a boufe whertt
they Cook iu the news. So chat the hosier's
underilaaditig him hi a literal fenfe, caufed
all the cooflifion. The affair however had
got fo much air that our (park was glad to
leave the town immediately.
A very ftrange unaccx>untable circum*
ftance happened in this Inn, about the fame
time ; one of thofe occurrences that puzzle
the philofbpher, and itrengthen fuperftition
in weak minds. Three or four gentlemen of
tlie neighbourhood were drinking wine in
one of the rooms, when the landlord of the
Inn (as it appeared to them) walked into the
room^ and coming up to the table, around
which tlicy were feated, they addrefled him
Vnth Mr. Baldwin, how do you do ? fit down
and take a glafs of wine with us ; but inftead
oi doing as le^ueiled, the fuppofed Inn-
keeper
Digiiized by
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 149
keeper walked out of the room, without
making any reply ; which not only furprized,
but offended the company, who rung the
bell violently, and on the waiter^s appearance,
^ey ordered him to fend in his mafter.
• The waiter informed them that his mailer
was not at home. The gentlemen replied
that he was at home a few minutes fmce, and
therefore they infifled on feeing him; but
the man afiured them they were miilaken, as
his mafter was in Briflol, and had been there
feveral days* They then ordeitd the waiter to
fend in Mrs. Baldwin, who immediately
appearing, the gentlemen aiked her where
Mr. Baldwin was, and fhe informed them as
the waiter had already done, that he was in
Brifioly and had been there ieveral days^ on
which the gentlemen grew very angry, and
iwore that Mr, Baldwin had jufl before come
into the room, and on their requefling him
to partake of their wine, had infulced them by
going out of the room, without udgning to
give them an anfwer. Mrs. Baldwin, then
drew out of her pocket a letter ihe had tha(
H 3 morning
Digiiized by Google
I5Q LIFE OF J. ^.ACKINGTON.
morning received from Mr* Baldwin^ by
which it was app2Mrent» that he reali^jr wag
in Briftol« The Aoxy was then told round the
neighbourhood, and all the old women con-
cluded that Mr. Baldwin muft certainly be
dead^ and that be died at the very iufianC thaS
|lie gentlemen law him come into the room ;
i^ut Mr, Baldwin returnhig two days after^
rendered it neceflary for them to vary thcic
Hory I they then afierted that it was a token,
or (bme warning of his death, and had no
doubt but it vvould very fooa liappen. It
" was generalty thought that Mr. Baldwip was
weak enough to pay fuch atxention to the
ibry and the inference, a$ to hurt his
health, as he really died within a year after,
and the old women were not a little pleafed
at the event, as it tended to juiUty the truth
of thcif predidtion.
A more ridiculous affair happened about
' ten years fmce, at the two Bells, oppofite
Whitcchapel Chuich. The landlord was
fitting one night with fome jovial company,
one of whom happening to fay that he prayed
to
iJigiiized by
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTCW. 15!
to God, that fuch a tiring fiiould not come
. to pais* « The landlord {aid, in a good
humoured manner, your prayers will neither
do good or harm ; upon which the other iaid
* 2i deal to perfbade tlie hoft that his prajersr
would do great things ; but the more he faid
In praife of his prayers, the more the landlord
laughed at, and ridiculed' him. The man at
laii laid that he could pray the landlord to
death in two months time, andofiered to bet
the landlord, a crown bowl of punch to the
truth of it, which the landlord accepting, the
wager was laid, and almoft every night after
this, the man came to the lioufe, and cou-
ftantly laughed at the landlord, and afiured
him that he would lofe his wager ^ and how-
ever ftrange it may appear, the landlord diJ
die within the time, and his widow paid the
wager. I think there cannot remain a doiibt
but that the ridiculous talk of the fellow
aftually afFefted the laiiLlloid's mind, and
hafieoed his death, and the following in-
fiances tend alfo to ihew how eafily the
lives of ibme are ihortened.
■
H '4 Joleph
Digitized by Google
ica UFE Of J. LACKINGTON.
Jofcph Scales, Efq. about five years iince,
in turning fliort one day ia one of the
ftreets of London, met a man whom he had
not feen for fame time,, aud iunoceutly
addreilcd him with. Ha ! what are you alive
yet I which liad fuch an e£Fe£k on the poor
man that he died a few hours after«
Bcuig at Biiflol about four years lincc, I
enquired after a worthy leatherfeller whom
1 had formerly known, and was informed that
.he WAS lately dead, and that his death was
fuppofed to have been haftened by a famous
fortuneteller, who having c<nft his nativity^
declared that he would die within fix months^
which afTcded his mind fo as to accompliili the
prediflion. The ftory of the late Dr ritcalni,
of Edinburgh, and the collier is^well known.
I have fet down the above inA^nces, in
order to flicvv how ealy it is to trifle away '
the lives of our fellow creatures, and furely
fuch who wantonly do it, muid afterwarda
have very gloomy refledious*
I am, dear Friend,
YourSj &c.
4^igitizeci by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
LETTER XIIL
Iliad a Fdend that Wd me :
I was hit Soul : he liy'd not but in rae.
'* We were fo clofe Imk'd in each other't bfeaft»
The nveti were oocfoaiid that joia'd 111 fiilb
Di.¥ dsn's AUfyv Love*
DEAR FRIEND,
In my laft I mentioned my
arrival at BriAoI^ where I took a lodging in
a ftreet, called (I think) Queen-Street, in
Caftlc-ftreet, at the houfeoia Mr., jfamesi
a much more decent refidence, than com-
monly tails to the lot of journeymen ihoe-
maKers*
In this houfe I found a Mr. John Jones, a
genteel young man, juft turned of twenty-one
years of age : He was alio a fon of Criffim^
and made women's fiuff (hoes; which he
ibid by the dozen to warehoules. This Mr,
Jones and I were ibon very intimate; we
kept ourfelvea x^atly dsdied^ and iu general
worked
Digitizec Ly v^oogle
t
15^ JUFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
worked hard, fpending our money chiefly ia
the company of women. As,
AH aMn hate folfiet* which they hiiodly tiioe«
Thio' the dirk turnings of t dobioos
BqC happy thofc, whd by a prudent care,
*' Rctneatbetinct ffom the fidlactona fnaie."
PoiirEir*
We followed this courie about four months.
During this time Mr. Jones once perfuaded
me to go with him to the Playhoufe, where
we faw Shakefpear*s fine comedy of As you
like it/* This was a feaft indeed to me, who
had never before fcen nor even read any thea-
trical produclion. *Tis impoffible for me to
defcribe my feniations on the occafion.
Between the play and the entertainment
(which was the Mayor of Garrat.) Mr*
£dwafd Shuter performed a fhort piece called
The drunken man.** Thia was the only
time that I ever faw that ^extraordinary,
genius, but he made luch 211 irnpreflion on
my mind, tbatit isimpoflible I ever fliould
foiget him. I believe it is not generally^
known^ and a&few would ever have fuipe&ed^
that
Digiiized by Google
LIFE Of ]• i^CKiNGTQN. . 151
ibat lhi$ ckild of Momus was alio a child of
grace*
Since the' publication of the fir A edition
of theie memoirs, I have read the memoirs
of Mr. Tate VVilkinfon, patentee of the
Theatres of York and Hull, and vva5 much *.
furprized to learn that * the famous Ned
Shuter was a gracious foul. I will give a
paflage or two out of Mr. Wilkinfon^s me-
moirs, vol, iii. page 27, &c. My imitatioa"
of Whitefield was beyond compare. .Mr.
Foote was ft ruck by ftepping in by chance,
and oacc bearing Wliitdicld ; the mixture of
whole abfurdity, whim, cdnfequence and
extravagance, pleafed his fancy, and enter*
tained him highly, as Whitefield was that
day dealing out damnation, fire ^nd birhn*
Aone, as cheerfully as if they were & many
bleiliugs. What pity it is that our fears
only, and not our reafon, will bring convic*
tioQ I but reaibn handed by unaiFe&ed pure
piety an|^ religion would be a day of wo&
to methodifm/*
« Mr.
Digitizec Ly v^oogle
156 LIFE OF J, LACKINGTON.
Mr, Foote was only a fpy at Whicefield*s
academy, while I (fays Mr. Wilkinfon) had
beea a zealot for fbme feafons before my
encoanter at Covent-Garden with Mr. Foote,
my atCeudance had been conilant with my
friend Sbuter, and as he adually was one of
the new-born, and paid large (urns to White*
field, I was always permitted to ftay with
him, for he really was bewildered in his
brains, more by lilo wifliing to acquire ima-
gitiary grace, than by all his drinking, and
whenever he was warm with the bottle, and
with only a friend or two, like Maw- worm,
he could not mmd bis fhop, becaufe he
thought it a fin, and wilhed to go a-preach-
ing ; for Shuter like Maw-worm believed he
had a call. I have gone with Shuter at ilx
in the morning of a Sunday to Tottenham-
Court-Road, then before ten to Mr. Wefley's
in Long-Acre ; at eleven again to Tottenham*
Court-Road Tabernacle, dmcd near Bedlam
(a very proper place for us both) with a party
of the holy ones, went at three to Mr,
Wefley's theatre ; then from that to White-
field*8
Digitizec Ly v^oogle
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTO]Sr. 157.
field's till eightf and thea Ihut Up^.to coqi<*
mune with the family compaft, page 29,
I having had fb much practice (while a zealot)
I really obtaioed and exhibited a much-
ftroiiger llkeiiefd of Whitefitld thaa Mr.
Foote did. The week before my Coveot*
Garden exhibition^ I met Shuter al the
Tabernacle ; a great coolaeis had coucinued
for fume time, as wc had not fpoke, or even
looked at each other iince the breach between
us in but as we were met together in
a place of charity and forglveueis to all who
fubicrlbed to the preacher, we became veiy
Ibciabley and before Whitefield's ledure waa
done we were perfe&ly reconciled : we adjourn^'
td to the Rafif and by three the next morning we
were fimrn friends, and continued fb until his
death. Ned Shuter was a lively, fpirited^
ihrewd companion; a fuperior in xiacural whim
and humour furely never inhabited a humaa
breaiV^ for what he faid atid did was all his
own, as it was with difficulty, he could read
the parts he had to play, and could not write
at all i he had attained to llga au oj Jcr, but
no
Digitized by Google
15S LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
no more. Nature could not here beftow
her gifts to greater advantage, than on poor
Kcdy as what (he gave he made ikine, not
only coofpicuouily but brilliantly^ and ta
the delight of all who knew him on or off
the ftage ; he might truly be dubbed the child
of nature* He waa na man's enemy but his
own^ peace, reft, and happinefsf I hope he
now poflefles ; for, the poor, the fricndlefs
and the Granger he often comforted, mi
when fometimes reduced by his follies, hd
never could fee a real obje£c in mifery and
refift giving at Icaft half he was worth to his
dtftrefied ftllow creature/' Page 5, vol. ku
^ But, O ye faints of your own creating 1 1 will
preach to you : Mark 1 j'uJge not of plays and
fjiryersj left you be judged j thoie who are the
moft cenforious on the infirmities of others^
are ufually moft notorioufly guilty of far
greater fallings themfelves, and fanliified
mitbodifikal jamhr is of all the moft fevere^
Utter and crueU*
Page 6. " In the comedy of the Hypocrite,
thcColonel fays he fuppofes they go to the
play
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINQTON. Ijf
play for the benefit of the brethren. Cantwell
auiwers, *^ the chanty covereth the fin i*'
which was a(£lually the cafe, for iii 1757, as
Bbuier was himiiful to tht Tabernaek^ Mr.
fFUfefield not only permitted^ but admfed bis
bearers to attend Shuters benejit', but for that
night only/* Alas, poor Shuter !
It Is fingular enough that about this time,
although I could not write, yet I compole4
lever al ibiig8» one of which was ibid for %
guinea % fotne were givea to the Briitoi
printers, who printed thern^ aiid the ballad^
fingers fung them about the ftreets 1 on which
occafions 1 was as proud as though I had
compofed an opera. My friend Mr. Jones
Mras my fecretary, who before I came to live
with him had not the leaft reliih for books,
and I had only read a few enthufiaftic au-
thors, together with Pomfrct^s poems ; this
laft I could jdmoft repeat by memory ; how-
ever 1 made the moll of my little Aock of
literature, and ilrongly recommended tiie
purchafing of books to Mr. Jones. Bbt fo
ignorant
Digitized by Google
ifo UFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
ignorant wece W6 on the fubjed, that nmther
of us knew what books were fit for our pe- *
nilal, nor what to enquire for, as we had
fcarce ever, heard or fcen eveii any iUle pagcs^
except a few of the religious ibrt, which at
that time we had no reliih for. So. that we
were at a Iq{^ how to increafe our ihxall
llock of fcience* And here I canuot help
thinking that had Fortune thrown proper
books in our way, we Ihouid have imbibed
a juft tafte for literature, and fooa made fome
. tolerable pr(^efs, but fuch was our obicu-
rity, that it was next to impoffible for us
ever to emerge from it«
As we could not tell what to aik for, we
were aihamed to go into the bookiellers
ihops; and I aflbre you, my friend, that
there are thoufands now in England in the
very fame i^tuation : many, very many have
come to my lliop, who have difcovered an
enquiring mind, but were totally at a lo6
what to alk for^ and who had no friend to
dire^ them.
Digitized by Google
«
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. i6i
. AeaCon grows apaoe, and calb
For the kind hand of an aCiduoas care.
. 0cl^gltffiattiik! lOMartbe toodarthoaglt,
" To teach die yooag idea boir to llioot»
*• To pour ihc i[c{\\ inilruclion o'er the mind.
To breathe th' enlivening fpifit, and to £x
The ^n'nMn poipole in the glowing httAJ*
Tiioiltoir*
One day as my friend Jones and I were
flroUing about the fair that is annually held
in and near St. James's, church-yard, we faw
a ftall of books, and in looking over the title
pages, I met with Hobbes's Tranflation of.
Homer's Iliad and OdylTey. I had fomehow
or other heard that Homer was a great poet^
but unfortunately I had never heard of Pope's
tranflation of htm, lb we yery eagerly pur«
chaled that by Hobbes. At this ftall I alfo
puichafed Walker's poetical paraphrafe, of'
£pi£tetus*8 morals ; and home we went,
perfedly well pleafed /with our bargains.
We that evening began with Hobbes's
Homer ; but found it very difficult for us
to read^ owing to the obfcurity of the tnini^
I lation.
Digitized by Google
ifo LIFE OF J. LACKIMGTOK*
lation, which together with the indifFereiit
language, and want of poetical merit m the
tranflator, fomewhat dil^pointcd us : how<*
ever we had from time to time many a hard
puzzling hour with him.
But as to Walker*s Epidetus, although
that had not much poetical merit, yet it was
very ealy to be read, and as eafily uadcrftood..
The principles of the Jims charmed me ib
much, that I made the book my companion
wherever I went, and read it over aud over
in raptures, tl/inking that my mind was
fecured againft all the fmiles or frowns of
fortune.
I now grew weary of diflipating my time,
and began to think of employing my Ipare
hours in fometbing more fatisfadory. For want
of fomething elie to do, I went one evening
to hear Mr. John Wefley preach in Broad-
mead, and being completely tired of the way
of life that I had lived (more or lefs) ever
ilnce I bad been out of my appreuticelliip,
and happening to have no other purfuit or
hobby-
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. i6j
hobby-horfe, there was a kind of vacuity iu
my mind t in this Aate I was very fufcepti-
ble of any imprefTions, fo that when I came
to bear Mr. Wefley, my old fanatical notions
. retQrnecf full upon me, and 1 was once more
carried away by the tide of enthufiafm.
My friend xVIr. Jones foon faw with grief
and indignatioa the wonderful alteration ia
me; who^ from a gny» volatile, diffipated
young fellow, was at once metamorpboled
into a dull, moping, prajlag, plalm^Hnging
fanatic, continually reprehending all about
me for their harmlels mirth and gaiety.
'* For Stints tliemfelm will often be.
Of gifts that coft them nochiog, free."
Nothing IS more common than to fee man-
kind rua from one extreme to another:
which was my cafe once more.
About this time we left our habitation in
Queen-ftreet and took lodgings of Mr.
Jones'sr mother, on St. Philip's Plain, where
lived a brother of Mr. Jones,.who was about
I 2 feventeen
Digitized by Google
i64v UFE OF J. LACKINGTON*
leyenteen y^ar« of age. Soon after we had' re-'
moved to this place,* the brother, whole name
was Richard Jone&, was permitted to work ia
the faax room with my friend and me. They
had alio a lifter about twenty years of age^
who frequently jomed our company.
Our room over-looked the Church-yard^
which contributed to increafe my gloom jr
ideas; and I had fo much of the fpiritual quix-
otifm iii me, that I foon began to think that'
it was not enough for mc to fave my own
foul, but I ought in confcience to attempt
the converfioa of my companions, who (i
really believed) were in the high road to
hell, and every moment liable to eternal dam-
nation. Of this charitable difpofition are
almoft all the methodiils ; who, as Hudibras
fays^
*' Compound for fioi they are inclin'd to.
By damning thofe ibey ha?e no mind to»»"
The frccjucncy of newly-opeued graves,
which we faw from our windows, furnifhed
me with opportunities for delcantiug on the
uncertainty
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LAC KINGTON. its ^
' uncertainty of life and all lubkmary enjoy-
' ments; I aflured them that notlJiig Jui^i vcd
attention but what related to our ever-
lafting Aate, and that they might, on their
repeiUauce» receiv^c in one moment the par-
don of all their fins, have a foretafte of the
joys of heaven, at)d know that their names
were enrolled ia the book of life. I farthei:
protefted that they had no time to lofe ; that
ihey allftood on the very verge of hoU» and
. the breaking- brink of eternal torments ^ witk
a gre^t deal more of fuch edityuig itiiS,
m
The youngeft brother fooa became a con*
vert j and Mifs Betfy was 6orn again fooji
after. But I had a tight job to convert my
friend John ; he held out^ and often curfed
me heartily, and lung profane ibngs all day
long.
But about four or five weeks after my re-
coavcifion, John wa^ aho converted, and be-
came a favourite of heaven, {o that we con*
fidered ourieives as a holy community. -
I 3 . «« Who
Digitized by Google
i€6 LLIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
^ Who knew the feat of Par«lire.
** Could tdl in what dc pree it lies t
" Could dccpeft myrtcnes unriddle, * '
«' Ai eiOUy «« thraad » DOftUe."
1
* A laughable affair happened during my
refidence here, A captain of a (hip one day
brought a parrot as a prefent to a family^ the
xnlilrefs of which being a methodift* hap<*
pencd to have one of the preachers call ia
juft at the dinner was putting on the table,
lb that the captain and the preacher were
both alked to Aay. As foon as the table
vas covered, the preacher began a long
grace, in the midft of which PoU^ who had
been put in a corner of the room, cried out,
X)i ■ ■ n your eyes^ tip us none of your jaw^^
This, with the immoderate laughter of the
captain, entirely difcoucerted tlie pious chap*
lain; at laft he began his grace again, but he
had not got to the end before Poll again in*
terrupted him with Tm d-^n cmUii^J<m
oj a By the above it appeared tliat
the
UF£ OF J. LACKINGTON. 167
the captitn had tutored Poll on purpofe to
have ibme fun in this cancing family ; how-
ever, the good lady of the huufe made it a
point of confcienc^ to have Polly converted,
but found it utterly impolfibie to effect that
great change in the methodiiiical way, that
is, inflantancoufly^ as after flie had fcolded her
fix months for fpeaking bad words, and had
adually taught her a part of the Lord's
prayer, yet Poll would not entirely leave off
her fea language, (b that it often happened
while the good lady waa teaching her to
pray. Poll would out with, " D nyour
cyc^^ tumble up^you lubbers and even after fhe
had preached to her feveral years, ihe woiild
not venture to iay that Poll was in a ilate of
grace ; but be that as it will, Poll obtained the
name of Method! being called' by the
neighbours. The Methodift Parrot.
1 muft inlunn you allu that tiie pour
preacher abovementioned was but juft come
out of Wales, and underllood £ugli(h but
very imperfeftly, ai)d in the comic of his
fermou one day be had forgot the £ngli0i for
1 4 the
Digitized by Google
)j68 UFE OF J. LACKINGTOK.
the word lamb, and after hammering a good
Vfhile about it, he out with Goddymighty's
little Mutton, that took away the fins of the
world," which cauled a good deal of diver-
ilop among the ungodly. .
I am^
Dear Friend,
Yours, &c.
LETTER
*
Digitized by Goo^Ie
LIFE OF y. LACKINOTON.
. LETTER XIV.
He was a {hrewd piiilofophcrj
■ And had lead etciy text and gloft«ora;
' Whatever die cfabbedrftantborKatb,
' He underilood b'lmpiicit faith ;
< Wliatavet Sceptic coald fsogiiue lor*
ii
* Foe ceeiy why he had tr w h eie fe ie ;
* Knew lu'jre than forty of them do,
« At far as woidt and tecma coold
* All which he oadeiflood bf nce,
* And as occafion ferv'd would quote;
* No matter whethec fight or wroagf
' They might bc either laid ot fiwg/'
PEAR FRIEND,
]VIr* Joha Joues and my-
felf were now greater ifriends than ever, fa
that one would on no account iUr out of the
houfe without the other:
Mr. Jones had the advantage of me m
temporals, he could get more money than I
could ; but as to gracey and fpintual gifts, I
had much the advantage of all our commu-
»ityi
Diyiiizea by Googlc
i^o LIEE OF J. LACKINGTON.
nity ; fo that I was their fpiritual diredor,
and if they thought that any of their ac-
quaintance held any ophiioos that were not
quite found and orthodox, fuch were intro-
duced to me, in order that I might coiiviuce
them of their errors. In fad, I was looked
upon as an apoftlc, ib that whatever I afferted
was received as pure gofpel ; nor was any
thing undertaken without my advice.
We all worked very hard, particularly Mr.
John Jones and me, in order to get money
to purchafe books j and for fome months
every fliilUng we could fpare was laid out at
old book-lhops, ftalls, &c infomuch that
in a fliort time we had what called a very
good library. This choice colleaion con-
fifted of Polhil on predous Faith ; Polhil on
the Decrees'; Shepherd's ibund Believer i
Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progrefs ; Bunyan*s Good
News for the vikfl of Sinners ; his Heavenly
Footman i bis Grace abounding to the chief
of Sinners ; his Life and Death of Mr. Bad-
man 1 his Holy War in the town of Manjoul ;
Hervey's Meditations ; Hervey's Dialogues;
Rogers's
Digitizea by LiOO^it:
UF£ OF J. LACKINGTOir. tfi
Rogers's Sevten Heips to Heaven j Haira Ja* .
cob's Ladder ; Divine Breathioga of a devout
Soul ; Adams on the •iteood epHUe of Peter i
Adamses Sermons on the Had DevU^ ,the
wiiu Devil, &c. CollAOgs's Divine Cor-*
dial for the Soul ; Pearfe's Soul's Efpoufal to
Chrift ; Erfkine's Gofpel Sonnets i the Death
of Abeh The Faith of God*s Ele& i Mantoa
on the epiftle of St. James ; Pamble^s Works ^
Baxter's Shove for a beavy^ar/ed Cbriftian »,<^^
hU Call to the Unconverted ; Mary Magda*
Jen*s Funeral Tears ; Mrs. Moore*$ Evidences
for Heaven ; Mead*s Almoft a Chriftian ; The
Sore Guide to Heaven ; Brooks ot^ Afliirance ;
God's Revenge agaiuft Murder i firooks*s
Heaven upon Earth ; The Pathway to Hea-
ven I Wilcox's Guide to eternal Gbry ; Dcr-
hao^'s Unfearchable Riches of Chrift i his
Expofition of Revelations; Alieine's Sure-
Guide to Heaven ; The Sincere Convert ;
Watiofi^s eaven taken by Storm i Heaven's
Vefigeance; Wall's None but Chrift j Arif-
totle's Maftcrpiccc ; Coles on God's Sove-
reignty ; Charnockx>n Pxovidence i Young's
Short
Digitized by Google
tf2 XJLFE OF J. JLACKINGTOSf.
■ Short aud fu/e Guide to Salvation ; Weill's
tSermons^ Journals, Trads, &c and otliere
of the iame. jdeicriptioo.
We had indeed a few of a better fort, as
Gay's Fables; Pomfret's Poems ; Milton's
Paradlft Loft ; befides Hobbes's Homer, and
Walker's Epidetus, mentioned iti my laft
letter^ . \
But * what we wanted in judgment in
cliQofing our library, we made up iu applica-
tion ; fo anxious were we to read a great deal,
that we allowed ourfelves but about three
hours lleep in twenty-four, and for fome
months together we never were all in bed at
the fame time; (Sunday nights excepted.)
But left we Ihould overfleep the time allowed,
-one of us fat up to work until the ^time ap-
pointed for the others to rife, and when all
were up, my friend John and your humble
fervant, took it by turns to read aloud to the
reft, while they were at their work.
But this mad fchemc of ours had nearly
• been attended with very ferious confe-
quences^
Digitized by Google
. LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON/ ipy
queaccs^' Ouq night it. being my turn to
\v atcli, I removed to the fire-fide, to read
fomc particolar paflage, and the candkaick
which wc worked by not being convmient
to move aLxjuty and there being no other at
that time in the room^ I fct up the candle-
agatnft the. handle of a pewter pot, and waa
fo extremely heavy, (owing to much w^cch-
fuhjcfs) that I fell iaft afleep and had like
never to have awaked again ; for the candle
burned cJown to the handle of the pot,-
melted it off, and then fell on the chair on'
which it ftood ; fo that Mr. Jones ibund mel '
in the naorning, faft afleep, and part of the
chair confunxed i which alarmed us all. rciy
much, and made more cautious, <
But ftili wc continued our plan of iiviuff^.
/•I • • • ' ^ *
lo that we made a rapid progrefs in what wc
called fpiritual and divine knowledge ; and
were foon mafters of the various arguments
made ufe of by moft polemical divines, &c.
And the better to guard my pupils from
w hatl called Ja//c do^rmes, I uled often to
' . * : ' engage
Digitized by Google
1J4 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
engage them in various con trove rfies, in which
I fiimcCtmefl took odo fide of the queftion^
ibnietimes the other, m order to make them
well vefled in controveriy, and acquainted
with the llrength of their adverlaries. So
.that I w§$f by turns, a Caiviaift, an Armi-»
aiaD, aa Artao, a Soclnlan, a Deift, and
even an AtheifL And after they had faid
all they co«M to coniiite me, I would point
out where they had failed^ md added fiich
aig^ments as 1 was maicer of, aad ia general
we were ail fatlsfied. But when we hap-
pened to have any doubts, we had leeourfe' -
to the Bible and commentators of our owa
i^e of the qu^lion, and I aliure you, my dear
friend, this wit a very fine hobby-horfe ;
which, like Aaron's ferpeut, fwallowed up all
the other hohby-horfes.
Otid.
1 am, dear Friend,
Your, &c;
LETTER
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF |. LACKINGTON. 175
LETTER XY.
Lau^b where you mtift ; be caadid iHbeit joa can,*'
YooHfiDdfMMIttgMiviybams
•* Or lying on a ooocb* furrooacicd
With tabki^ paia« and boQiu» copibQiidcd s
Wrapt op ih lofty fpecalation,
«
*' Am if on tbe iafety the natioo**'
DEAR Fia£ND>
^^^^ ^
In the cowie of my reading,
I karat that there had been vanous feds of
phllofophcrs amongft^ the Greeks, Romans,
&e. and I well refaembered the names of the
mod eminent of them. At an old book-ihop
I purcbafed Plato oa the Immortality of the
S0UI9 Plutapch*e Morah^ Seneca's Morals,
Epicurus 8 Morals, the Morals of Confucius
the Chinefe Philofopher, and a few others.
I now can fcarce help thinking tliat I received
more real benefit from reading and iludying
them
Digitized by Google
196 LlPE OF J. LACKIMGTOK.
■
them and EpI£btU8, than from all other books
that I had read before, or have ever read
fince that time,
1 was but about twenty-two years of age, -
when J &t& began to read thofe fine moral
produSions; and 1 affure you, my iriead,
that they made a very deep and lalllng Ini^nef-
fion on my mind. By reading them, I was
. taught to bear the unavoidable evils attending
humanity, and to fupply all my wants by
contra&ing or reftraining my defires.
It is now twenty-three years* lince I firfl:
perufpd them ; during which time I do not
recolleft that 1 have ever felt one anxious
painful wi(h to get money, eftates, or any
way to better my condition ;
*• IndM, my friend, were I to find
*• That wealth could e'er my real wiQiesgain;
Had e'er diftndi'd mj thoQghtfbl iaiiid»
one ienoQS moment's pain;
*• I (hootd have faid, that ali the rule«»
Xkam'doffflonliftsaodrcliooln
*! WciBfCiy olcfcft, ytty mn.
And
Digitized by
LIFE OF J, LACKINGTON. 177
Aad yet I have never iince that time let flip
any fair opportunity of doing it. So that all
I mean is, that I hav e not beca oycv follctious
to obtain any thing that I did not poflefs ;
but could at all times fay, with St. Paul^
that I have learned to be contented . in all
fituation$9 although at times they have been
very gloomy indeed. Dry den iays^
»
" We to ourfeives may all our wifhea grant,
£ori^ nothiog covctm; * we aotlitiig want.*'
Dktd ix'i Indiaa Enipefor*
r
And in another place iie fays^
V
They cannot want who wilh not to have mof>2 ;
Wiu> ever iaid an anchoiet was poor V*
]>ETPiii*8 Secftt Lore. .
. , The pleafures of eating and drinking I en-
tirely defpifed, and for.fome time carried this
dlfpofition to an extreme. The account of
Epicurus living in his garden^ at the expence
of about a halfpenny per day» and that when
he added a little cheefe to his bread on par-
ticular occafions, he conlidered it as a luxury,
filled me with raptures. From that moment
K I began
Digitized by Google
i7g LIFB; OE J. LACHWGTQJT.
I bpgan tp live on bre^ and tea» a|ul ^ 9
^pniAd^raUe time did not partake of any other
viaads>but in thofe I indulged myiclf three oc
four tinpies a dajy* My reaibcis for living ia
tl^is abftemiaus manner were in ardcr to iave
V^pney to. purcb^afe books, (o weaii iny£elf
frpm the grofs pleafutes of eating, drink*
ing, tec and to purge my nund^ and make
k more fufceptibie of iatelledtuai pkafures.
And here I cannot help remaiking, that the
term Epicane vrhen applied to one who makes
the pleafures of the table his chief good, cafts
an unjuft refiedipa on Epicurus^ and coiivqrs
a wrong Idea of that contemplative and very
abftemious pbiblbpher : for although ke af-
lerted that pleafure was the chief or fupreme
good, yet he alfo as flrongly aflertcd^ that it
was the tranquillity of the mind, and intel-
kdual pleafure^ that he fo e&toUed and re«
commended*
•* Thofe call it pleafure, ind comentment tfade :
" Some, funk to beaih, find pleafnrc end in pain;
Some, ff dl'd to godsi coafcis tfta fixtnc vain."
I con*
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 179
I continued the above felf-denying life un-
til I left Brlftol, which was on Whitfunday
in 1 769. I had for fbme time before been
pointing out to my friend John Jon^s ibme
of the pleafures and advantages of travejliiig,
fo that I eafily prevailed on him to accompany
me towards the Weft of England; and in the
evening we arrived at Bridgewater, where Mr»
Jones got work. He was employed by Mr.
Caih, with whom he continued near twelve
months, and in the end married Mr. CaOi's
daughter, a very pretty and very amiable little
woman, with Ibme fortune. When my friend
was offered work by Mr. Caih, I prevailed
on him to accept of it, afiuring him that i
had no doubt of my being able to get .work
at Taunton : but in that I was difappoin^ed,
nor could I get a conftant feat of work until
I came to Exeter, and of that place I was
foon tired ; but being Informed that a Mr.
John Taylor of Kingfbridge (forty miles be-
low Exeter) wanted fuch a hand, I went
down, and was gladly received by Mr. Taylor,
whofe name inij^res me with gratitude, as he
K 2 never
Digitized by Google
iSa LIFE Of h LACKINGTON'.
never treated me as a joumeymany but made
me bis companionr: Nor was auy part of my
time ^ever ipent in- a more agreeable pleafing
manner than that which I pafled in this rc^
tired place^ or I believe more profitable to a
mafter. I was the firft man he ever had that
was able to make ftuflf and filk (hoes^ and it
being alfo known that I came from BnAol^
this had great weight with the country ladies^
adid procured my mafter cuftomers, who ge-^
nerally fent for me to take nyeafure of their
feet, and I was looked upon by ail to be the
beft. workman in the rowu, altho* I had not
Been brought up to fiufF-work, nor had ever
entirely made one ftuiF or illk ihoe before^
Nor fliould I have prefumed to proclaim my-
felf a' fhifl^man^ had there been any fuch
workmen in the place ; but as there were
none, I boldly ventured, and fucceeded verjr
well ; nor did any one in the town ever know
that it was my firft attempt in that branch*
During the time that I lived ben?, las
ufual was obliged to employ one or another'
of my acquaintance to write my letters for"
snej;
Digitized by
*
, LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. i8i
me; this procured me much praife among
the young men as a good Indltcr of letters ;
(I need not inform you that they were not
good judges.) My mailer faid to me one day^
he was furprized that I did not learn to write
my own letters ; and added» that he was fure
that I could leara to do it in a very Oiort
time* The thought pkaied me nuich^ and
'without any delay I fct abouc It, by takiiig
tip any pieces of paper that had writing on
them, and imiutiag Uie ktcers as well as I
could, I employed my leilure hours in this
way for near two months, after which time *
I wrote my own letters, in a bad hand, 3rDu
may be fure i but it was plain and eaiy to
read, which was all I cared for ; nor to the
preient moment can I write much better^ as
I never would have any per&o to- teaeU me*
nor was 1 ever poficHcd of patience enough
to employ time iufficltnt to Lam to write
well ; and yet as icon as I was able to Ibrib*
ble, I wrote verfes on Ibme trifle or other
every 4ay for years together,
K3 Out
Digitized by Google
«
i82 LIFE OF J. LACK.INGTOK.
Out of fome thoufands I at prefent recoi-
led the following, which I placed by the
fide of the figure of a clergyman in his robes,
with his hands and eyes lifted upi this
image flood over the fire-place in my room*
Here's a ihoemaker's chaplain has negative merits
As hU fioe he nc'te flatim or foflfet Juft fpirit I
No wages fecemng^ liia eonleieMe it dear i .
Not prone to deceiving^ he's nothing to isar*
Tu tree be is fiIeii(-4Mit that's nothing oewi
And if 7on*d lepentt his attttodefiew ;
W ith uplifted hands all vice to reprqve.
How folqnm he Hands* his eyes fix'dnbovt !
As a kind of contraft I will infert an epi-
gram that X wrote but a few days fmce on au
* ignorant methodift preacher.
A Ibpld tSom told ne t'other dajr.
That by the fpirit he could preach and pray |
Lst none then fay thi( minclei have oeas'da
As God ftill opes the mondi of beifti
And afl*es now can fpeak as plain
As c'r they could in BaJaam's lei^
But I always wrote as &Jk as I couidt
without eudeavoyriag to write wcll^i and that^
this
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON, rtj
this is Dif preient practice I need not inform
you.
if
I came to this place hi but a weak ftate oi
body, however the healthy fituation of the
town, together with bathing ia tiie fait water,
ibou reflof ed me to perfect heakh. I paiied
thirteen moiiths here in a very happy man-
ner s but the wages for work being very,
low, . and as I had fpent much time ia writing
hymns to every ioug-tune that I knew, be-
(ides a number of love-verfcs, letters, &c. I
was very poor ; and to complete all, I began
to keep a deal of company, in which \ gave
a loofe to my natural gaiety of difpofition,
much more than was confident with the
^rave, fedate ideas which I had formed of a
religious character j ail which made me re-
iblve to leave KIngfbridge, wlilch I did in
1770-
9
1 travelled as far as Exeter the firit dsqr,
where I worked about a tortnight, and" fared
fufEcIent to carry me to Bridgewater, where
1 worked two or three weeks more. Before
K 4 I ar-
Digitized by Google
■
iS4 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
I arrived there Mr. John Jones had gone
back to reiide at Briftol, but as ibon as be
heard of my being in Bridgewater, be and
bis brother Richard fent me an mvitation to
come to Briftol again and live with them.
Finding that I did not immediately com«
ply, they both came to Bridgewater, and
declared their intentions of not returning to
Briftol without me i fo that after a day or
two I yielded to (heir folicitations, and again
lived very comfortably with them^ their mo^
tlier and iiAen
I]think it was about this period^ that I went
feveral times to the Tabernacle, and heard
Mr. George Whitefield;. and of all the
preachers that ever I attended, never did I
meet with one that bad fuch a perfect com-
ma^id over the paffions of his audience. In
^veiy fermon that I heard him preach, he
would ibmetimes mal^e them ready to burft
with laughter, and the next moment 4rown
'them in tears i indeed it was fcarce poifiblo*
for the moA guarded to efcape the efkO:.
Digitized by Google
i
LIFE OF J« LACKINGTON. 18$
«
«* He hadfomething t'was thought dill more horrid to fay,
'* When his tongae loll its powers and he fainted awa^ ;
Some fsy 'twas his confcience that gave him a ftroket
" But thofe who be(^ knew him treat that as a joke ;
•* 'Tis a trick which ftage otafors iiie in their need,
" The paiBons to raife and die judgment teiflead.**
In one of my excurfions I pafled many
agreeable hours with the late Mr. La Bute*
at Cambridge, who was well kuowii, he
having taught French in that univerfity
upwards of forty years. He informed me
that near forty years fince, Mr. Whitcfield
having advertifed himfelf to preach at Gog-
Magog hilly many thoufand people coliefted
together from many miles round. While he
wao preacliiiig he was elevated on the higheft
ground, and his audience ftood all round on '
the declivity ; during his fermon, a young
countrywoman, who had come fome miles
to hear him^ and waited feveral hours, being
' very faint, owing to the violent heat of the
fun, the bre^hs of the multitude, as well as
the want of refreflimcut ; and it is very ,
likely, much agitated in her mind by the
extraordinary
Digitized by Google
i86 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
extraordinary doArines of the preacher, (he
fell backwards, juft uadcr the orator, and
there lay kicking up her heels. On feeing
the poor girl lie in a kind of convulfion^
ibme of the company moved to aiiiH her^*
and the women began to draw down her
apron and petticoats over her feet ; but Mr.
. Whitefield cried out, ** Let her alone I let her
m
alone I A glorious fight ! a gioriuus fijjt /**
No doubt the holy man meant that it was a
glorious iight to fee a fmner fall before the
power of the word i but the young college
bucks and wits conftrued his meaning difFe-
rently, and put the audience into fuch im-
moderate fits of laughing, that even Mr»
Whitefield*s utmoft efforts were not able
« to reftore their gravity, but he was obliged
to difmifs his congregation abruptly.
For a long time after this happened, the
Cantabs as they reeled homewards in the
night-time, difturbed the fober inhabitants,
hy loudly exckiming, A glorious light {
A glorious fight ! as Dodor Scjuintum fays.**
1 am, dear Fricud, yours.
*
Digitized by Google
I
tm OF J. l^ACJUHGXOV. l$f
BETTER XVI.
, * tx>vef tfie moD generoQs paiTioo of the miad^
The fofteil cefoge innocaice can fiodi
The fflfc dirrfter of anguidcd youth,
Fraogbt witii kind wiOics, aod fecur'd by tnitb$
Tlie cordial drop hoav'a ia oar cop hai thrinm*.
To make ifte Qaafeaas dniight of life g« dowa g
•* On which one only bicrting God might raifc*
In lands of stheifls fafafidiet of piaife;
For none did e'er fo doll and (Hipid provCt
99 3|it ielc a Cody ai^d I4e(»'4 h^i jjK)w'r« io love.'*
PEAR PWPND,
I Muft now requeft yoti td
go back with me a few yearSt as i batfe not
yet made you acquainted with my priucipal
jtmours. I was about feventecu years oi age
when an iiilyenture difcoTered, that aitbo«gh
I was £> very fpiritual, as I before ialbrmed
.^ou» I was iiotwkbllandiug fuicef trbk of
^iotlicr iuQd im{>a:^(lionf '
Digitized by
aZS VlfiE OF i. LACKINGTON.
*•* Oh, let me enjoy the cheerful day.
Till many yean iwbecdcd o'er me loU.
uKf I trifle lt& iwajr»
^ And tell how mucii 1 lov \i crc 1 grew old.*'
HaiiMOMo't JLofe £kgieti
Being at farmer Gamlin'^s, at Charlton^
four miles from Taunton, to hear a metho-
idi& iermon, I feU defperately in love with
che £»:mer*^ baudiome dairjr-maid. '
^ Her horac-(pun drcfs in fimplc neatncfs lie^
And ftviio glariog cqtiipt^ (he %luu
^ She gfitefoUy lecelvet What Keav'n hat lart«
And, rich in poverty, enjoys conicnU
Her lepatation which is all her boaft^
In a nUlidoQt vifit ne'er was M.
No midnight mafquerade her beauty wears,
^' And health, not pint« the fading bloom rqiaiii*
^•U Lofc't Ibft piflians In her bofom reign«
^ An equal paffion warms her happy fwain«"
Gat.
At that time I abounded in fpintual gifts^
vrhich induced this honeft ruftic maid to be
very kind to me^ and to walk feveral &eld9
with me in my rgad back to Tauatx)n, talk-
ing all the way of her fp'iritual diflrefs and
fodly concerns j while 1 poured heavenly
comioit
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTOlf. * iS^
comfort into her foul, and talked fo long of
ihine Love, until t found that my affe&iou
for her was not altogetlier of that fpiritual
nature. And ycl^
We lov'd withoat traafgieiBRg Irene's bonodi:
We fix'J the iimiti of our teiuicrcft thoughts,
*' Came to the verge of honour* and there ftopp'd
We warmM a§ bjr the iii€« bat wete not fcoich'd*.
If this be fin. Angels might Wvt with more;
** Afid miogk niys of minds lefs pure than ours/'
Dvitpsii'i Love TiiQinpluiiit*
After this you may be fure that I did not
let flip any opportunity of heariiig fermons at
firmer Gamlin-^s v I generally prevailed
with Naocy Smith, my charming fpirituat
dairy-maid, to accompany me part of the way
home, and k every gate I accompanied my
^iritual advice with a kifs«.
» ' " Oh then the longefl fummer's dajr
•* Seemed too too tnaek in baile; iltll tBe full beat t
Had not imparted haif : 'twas happinefs
** Too exquiiice to Jaft. Of joys depaited
^ Neva to moni> bow painfiil the lemembfance !
^ B.lair'6 Grave^
I '
4
Biit
<
Digitized by GoQgle
t90 ttn Of J. £ACKmGT<M,
But alas I thefe comfortable Sunday walks
trererlboQ at an end i as my charming Nancy
^ Smithy for feme reafon or other (I have for*
got what) left her place, and went to live as
dairy-maid with a farmer in the marfli coun--
try, between Bridgewater and Briftol, leven*
teen mile$ from Taunton ; fo that I did
not fee her for near two years afterwards ; du-
ring which time I gave fpiritual advice to
another holy iifter, whofe name was Hannah
Alien*
I prevailed on this lovely maid to attend
tke methodift preaching at five o'clock on
Monday mornings, and we often met at three
or four ; io that we had an hour or two to
Ipencl in walking and converfation on Ipiri*
tual affairs* Had you feen and heard us on the
cold frofly mornings, it would liave put you
in mind of Milton's Devils j whom he rcprc-
ients as at times ftanrh^g with cold :
In fiiooglits more elevate, and rcafonM high
*' Oi^sork^Dsc, ioakmvtkdg^, willj and fate;
Fa'd •
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. igf
^ FbtM fate» fice-wiil, IbKknoirledgeabfoIdtei
And blind no end, in wandemig mazes loft/*
Buc I afiufe you« my friend^ that we were
ibiBelime9 like tbe Galatians of old ; we be«.
gau ill the /fin't^ and ended in thcjejb.
With this dear girl I fpcnt all my lelfurc
lime, for two or three years ; fo that we en-
joyed together hundreds of happy^ and 1 cau
truly aUd^ innocent hours.
** To equal tlui
** Olympus ftnves ia vain i
** O bippy pstr,
O bappy fidr !
«
«f Oliapiy^ happy ifmxkV*
JoAM-IIM SKVMOVIw
But ilill I never could entirely forget my
charming innocent Ddiry-maid. In hiX I
bad love enough for both^ to have taken
cither for better for worfe ; but my being
an apprentice^ prevented me from xnarrying
at thai timie^
It
Digitized by Google
t9% tIFE OF J- LACKIMGTON.
It is true I had the greateft love for Nancjr
Smith; but Hannah Allen had the advan-
tage ofNancy, as I could fee Hannah almofl
every day, and Nancy only once or twice in.
about three years* However I at laft fell out
with Hannah (on what occafion I cannot re-
collect) and I fcnt Nancy a letter, which made
up matters with her ; for, like Sterne, I was
always in love with one goddefs or other
and foon after that, flie came to live for a
little time at her father's houfe at Fetherton *
near Bridgewater, feven miles from Taunton,
This happened during the elediion at Taun-
ton, when I was changed from a flrid inc-
thodiil to a rake ; and although the wedding*
ring was purchafcd, and we were to have
been married in a few days, yet the marriage
was put off on account of my diffipated cha-
racter, fo that I foon after fet off for Briftol,
as I before informed you : nor did I fee her
after that, until my return from Kinglbildge,
when I faw her feveral times prior to mj
letting off for Bnitol with my friend John
Jones, and his brother Richard,
I am> dear Friend, yourSi &c.
Digitized by Google
tiFE OF |. LAC&INGTON. t^^
Letter xvii.
Hie mill who bf his labour get!
«♦ His bread in indcpcndeiVt ftate,
*' Wiio never be§H and.icUoin eats«
Htmftlf caa fis» or dunfe his fate.*'
•^^ tbs tittle tbil jmi kift,
** More has not hea?'ti to girc, or yoa to crare s
Geafe to complain* He never can be pool
Whd haa Mciaiil, and wIm waaH no mon^ •
•* If but from cold, and pining hnngcr free^ .
Tha fkhaft numaich can hni aqaal thee^
D£AR FKIEND,
X Hail not long refided a ie*
cond time with my good Briftoi friends^ be-
fore I renewed my correfpondence with my
old fweetheait Nancjr Smith. I inforthed
her that my attachment to Books, together
wiih travelling from place to place, and alio
my total difregard for nkoney, had prevented
ixie from faving aA'y j and that while I re*
mained in a fingle uakuled ibite, I was never
L likely
Digitized by Google
194. LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON,
likely to accumulate it. I alfo prefled her
vciy much to come to Brlftol to be married,
which flie foon complied with : and married
we were, at St. Peter's Church, towards the
end of the year 1770; near fevcn years after
my firft makiDg love to her.
" When join'd io hand and heart, to church we went, -
'* Matnil in f ows» and pris'nen by confent. ^
** My Nancy's heart beat high, with mix'd alarmt »
" But trembling beaaty glowM with double cbannt*
Liher foft bicafta modeftilni^le rofe*
How (he (hould fccm to like the lot (he diofe :
'* A fmUe, {he thotiglrt would drcfs her looks too gay :
A fiowQ migbt fccm too iad» aikd Uaft tlwdajr.
. Bot wfitle nor tlua, nor that^ her will coold bow,
" She walk'd, and look'd, and charm'd, and knew nothoir*
** Oar hancU at length th' oochanging Fiat bound.
- And oar glad Souls fprung out to meet the fonnd.
** Joyt meeting Joys unite, and fironger ihinc :
Fof pcffion parified it half divine :
^ Na«r Nahct thoo aft mine, I cry*d-*and flic
Sigh'd loft— now Jemmt thou artLoi^D ot me I"
A* HiLu
We kept our wedding at the hou(e of my
friends the MeflVs. Joaes*s» and at bed*time
retired to ready-furnilhed lodgings, which
we had before piovidcJ, at half-a-crown per
1
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 19J
week. Our fioances were but ju&. iudiciea(
to pay the expences of the day, for the next
morning in fearching our pockets (wkich we
did not do in a carelefs manner) we diicovered
that we had but one halfpenny to begin the
world with. It is true we had laid in eatables
fufficient for a day or two, in which time
we knew we could by our work procure
mure, which we very cheerfully fet about,
finglng together the following ftrains of Pr»
Cotton :
** Our portion is not large indeed*
But tbco bow liule do we need?
«« Fof Natofe'toiUiaie few i
** In this the art of living lies,
** To waot no more than may fuficej
•« And make tliftt litde do."*
■
The above^ and the following ode by Mr*
Fitzgerald, did we fcores of times repeat,
even with raptures I
Nd glor)r I covet, no riches I want,
*• Ambitiou 15 nothin.; to me :
The one thkg 1 beg of kind beafen to grant
«■ lij a mind independent and fiee»
La ^
Digitized by Google
194 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTOI^.
•« By piffioii onfaffled, nntainied by pdde*
H fiflMbiinyUfiilitideiSywc i
«* yi)C >^'*aU pf my aamre grc cheaply fu^plkd^
^dUicfleftai«baiiMUjaiidcaft»
Tliolbbleffings which provkifnce kuuDy hai tat;
ril jttftjy i;0d gratefully prac ^
** Whik fwcQl inediutuMi lad cheetfal cqntent*
Shall make me boih healAy and wiic»
** la the pie^fuipe? the gcot 4 poflhCooi display*
Uneiivjr'd I*J1 cfa4ieD£e nqr part |
For every ^«ir objeA my eyes can furvcy,
'* CoQtribtttea to gladdeo my faaart*
r
- HowviiBl^^boit^mfittCBtamk^«idftri^
•* The many ihcir Ubouis emplc^ ;
WiieoaUthatiaUuljidtlifktlttitiiUfi^
« If what 4k if ilMgr ^ wgr
After having worked oa flufi^-twork ia the
country, I coulJ not bear the idea of return-
ing to the katber branch ; fo that 1 attempted
and obtained a feat of Stuff in BriftoL But
better work being required there than in
Kingfbridge, &c. I was obliged to take ft
much care to pleaie my mafter, that at firft
I Qould not get more ihan nine Shillings a
week, and my wife could get but very little^
as
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 197
ts ihe was learning to bind iiuff-ihoes^ aiid
had aevcf been much ufcd to her needle ; fb
that what with theexpence of ready-furaiihed
^&^gf fir^f caiidfe^ &c« wc had bat little
left fdr purchafmg provilions.
To mcreafe our ilraits, my old ttimd bemg
ibmewhat diiplcared at our leaving him M)d
his relations, took an early opportunity to tell
me that I i^m indebeed hitk fitaii forty
ihillingSy of two years ilandiug. 1 was not
convinced of the juftka of the ^ilaim, but to
avoid dilpute, I paid him In about two
months, during nearly the Virhote of which
time it was extremely ievere weather, and
yet we made four (hillings and fixpence per
week pay for the whole of what we con*
fumed in eating and drinking. Strong beer
we had aon^ nor any other liquor (the pure
element excepted) and inflead of tea, or ra-
ther cofllbe, we toafted a piece of bread ; at
other times we fried ibme wheat, which
when boiled in water made a tolerable fub-
ilitute for coffee j and as to animal food, we
L 3 made
Digitized
19t LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
made ufe ot hut little, and that little we
boiled and made broth of*
During the whole of this time we never
once wiihcd tor any thing that we had not got,
but were quite coatcutcd, and with a good
grace, in reality made a virtue of necefiity*
We
*' Trembled not with
Feir tbelhings wliich li£B lequiici.*'
i'iLANcis'& Horace*
And the fubje^t of our prayer was
This day be bread and peace oor klc
All elie bennih the fun*
lliou know'ft if beft bef^ow'doriuM;*
" Ajidlct thy will be done.
i
I am^ dear Friend,
Your, &c.
•
LETTER
Digitized by
LIFE -OF J. LACKINGTON. 109
LETTER XVIIL
** T\m (uat Mooiieur Poverty is a bitter enemy."
JoHir Do&r*
** la adverfe hoars an et^ual mind mainuin.'^
FftANCis't Honee.
BEAR. FRIENO,
In a few days after we had
paid thelail five ihilUugsof the debt claimed
by my friend Mr. Jones, we were both to-
gether taken fb ill as to be confined to our
bed, but the good woman of the boule, our
landlady, came to our room and did a few
trifles for us. She feemed very much alarmed
at our lituation, or rather for her own, I'
fuppoie, as thinking we might in ibme mea«
fure become burthcnfome to her« We had
in calh two (hlUiiigs and nine-pence, halt '
crown of which we bad carefully locked u|
ill a box, to be faved for a refource on any
extraordinary emergence. This money iup« • '
L 4. ported
Digitized by Google
^ HFE OF J. LACKJNGTON,
ported us two or three days, in which timg
J recovered without the help of medicine \
but my wife contlnuod ilk petr fix motnhs,
and was confined to h^r bed tb^ great^ft part
of the time | which iUueis m^y ver^ ^^fily hc
acgouuted fort
Bie^^re fl\e came to Brlilol, £he had ever
been ufed to a very a&ive life, and had
ways lived in the country, (o that in ooming
tfi dwell in a populous city^ Ihe had ex«
changed much exercife and good air for 4
iedmUI7 life and very bad air ; and this I
fireiiiQie was the caufe pf all her ilUie& frofn
time to timet which at lengthy as uafor«
tunately as cfleclually, undcraiiucd her con-i
Aitution* During her firft fix months illnefs,
1 lived many days folely on water^gruel;
for. 9^ I could not adford to pay a nurie^
muph of ipy time was taken up in attendance
pn her, an 4 >noft of my money expende4
In procuring medicines, together with fuch
(riflea as ihe ppuld eat and drink, fiut wha|
' . i^ded extremely to mf calamity was th^
being
Digitized by Google
LIF£ OF ). LACKINGTCttf . m
being witbia thf^ hearing of her groans.
vhich were cauied hy the eaccruciating pains
• in her head, which for nioaths together d^:-
iSed the power of medicioe^
It 13 impoflible for words to defcribe the
keenn^fs of my fcnfationa during this long
term ; yet as to mjjdf^ my poverty and being
obliged to live upon water-gruel gave me not
the leail uneafiuefs*
Is ToiKng feaTpns I was calm.
But the neceffity of being continuaUy La tho.
fight and hearing of a beloved objed*. m
young, ^liaiming^ handlbw, innocent wife^
WhoSckiabedkygtfimiglbrlierbfwilki
<» Her eyes, like dying lamps Cank io their fockits.
Now gjar'it, and mom dmr back their kclrfe ltghls
Fakiiy faer fpeech ieUfran her fimlt'rin^ tongoo
In interrupted accents, as Oie ftrove
^< With i^rong 9goniet that ibodc her Umbt
Aqd vnth'd htr lOitgi^dfrMm ilUPftwi. '
^msa'ilDjaiM Tnnocfncc,
Hpw
Digitized by Google
aoo LIFE OF J. LACKINOTON.
How I fupportcd this long dreary fcene, I
know not ; the bare recollection of which 13
exceedingly painful, even at this diftance of
time. At laft, when every thing that feenicd
to promife relief had been tried >in vainy fomc
old woman recommended Cephalic fuufF* I
own I had not much faich in it; however I
procured it, and in a fhort time after Ihe was
much relieved from the intolerable pain iu
her head, but yet continued iu a very bad
fiate of health ; her conftitution hairing fuf-
fered fuch ^ dreadful ihock, I thought that
no means could be ufed fo likelji^to reftore it,
as a removal to her native air. Accordingly
I left my feat of work at Brifiol, and re-
turned with her to Taunton, which is about
feven miles from Petherton, her native pli^ce.
But la Taunton I could not procure fo much
work as I could do ; fo that as foon as I
thought (he could bear the air of Briftol, we
returned thither, where (he fopn relapfed,and
we again went back to Taunton. This remov- -
iug to Taunton was re|)eated about five times
ill little more tlian two years and a half.
: But
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 203
But at laft, finding that Qic bad long fitsof
illaeis at Taunton alio, as well as at Briilol,
with a vltw of having a better price for my
work I refolved to vifit London ; and as I- bad*
not money fufficieut to bear the espences of
both to town, I left her all the moiiey I could
ipare, and took a place on the outlide of the
Aage coach, and the fecoud day arrived in'
the metropolis, in Auguft 1773, witb two
ihillings and fixpence in my pocket ; and re-
coilefttng the addrefs of an old townfman,
who was ahb a ipiritual brother.
*' WhoTc bitr in gnafy lockt hong down«
*' At ftnit at candies ficom hit crowo^
1 o fnadc.the borders of his face,
** Whofe oDtward (iga» of inward grace
** Were only vifible in fpitefol
« QiimaM^ very ticm and frightful."
BuTLsa's PoAb* Works*
This holy brother was alio a journeyman
jdioc- maker, who had arrived at the fumnilt
of his expectations, being able to keep a
houfe over his head (as he choie to exprefs
himieif) that is by letting nearly the whole
of
Digitized
ao» LIFB OF J. JLACKINGTONw
of it out in lodglngst be wa^ edablocl to fay
therent. This houfe was in Whitc^rofi*
^eet^ which I found out the moruiog aftec
sny arrival, where I procured a lodging, and
Mr. Hcatht ia Fore-ftfttty fiifpKed me witb
fikoty of wosk*
I Uagh'd then and wblM'd, ind fung too moil CwoUp
8^g» JtfktotliairrfeflMdebQChciidttoneeL
*
I am^
Pear Friend,
Yours, &c»
LETTEg
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. iflf
LETTER XIX.
^ ril travel no more-— I'll tty a London ao4icnce
** Wlw koows but 1 naf fet aft cnp^encnt.**
WMOati,
*' When fopeiftitk» (bane of manljr fticuet !J
StHlntMMiwiUi At fiial; hovcMona
•* Aod kills the pvwei of Koafon."
PmLirt of Gloncdler*
DEARFRIEND^
■
At this time I was as vifloa^ .
aiy and fuperilidous as ever I had been at
any preceding period^ for although I had read
ibme ftnftblo beoks^ and bad thereb j ae«
qiiifed a lew rational ideas^ having had a
melhodiftical wife Ibr near three years^ and
my keeping metbodlftical company, together
widi the gloomy tiotkm^ which in fyit» of
leafon and philoibphy 1 had imbibed during
the frequent^ long, and indeed aknoft eon-*
ftant ilhiefs of my wife, the confequence
was, that thofe few fatioml or fibeial ideaa
which
L^iyiii^uij Ly Lioogie
««6 LIES OP J. LACKIMGTON.
which 1 had before trcafurcd up, were at
my coming to London in a dormant ftate, or
borne down by the torrent of enthufiaftic
whims, and fanatical chimeras.
*' ^ . oil I winta leifoBleft midiioe
" Cim fupeiflitkm make the rcas'ner man !"
MiLi.«ft's Mahomet*
So that as foon as I procured a lodging and
work, my next ciicjuiry was for Mr. Wefley*s
Gojpel-Jhops : and on producing my clafs and
*• band tickets from Taunton, I was put into a
clafs. and a week or two after admitted into
a baud*
But it was ieveral w^eks before I could
£rmly refolve^ to continue in London; as I
really was ftruck with horror for the fate of
it ; .more particularly on Sundays, as I found
^ few went to church, and ib many were
walking and riding about for pleafure, and
the lower clai's getting drunk, quarrelling,
fighting, woHdng, buying, ielling, £cc. I
bad ieen ib much of the fame kind in Briilol^
that I often wondered how God permitted it
Digitized by Google
' UF£ OF J. LACKiNGTON^ ^
to ilaod ; but London I found Jnfiniteljr
.worfef and ferioufly trembled for fear th^
meafure of iuiquity^ was quite. fuU^ and tha(
every hour would be its laft. However I at
length concluded, that ii London was a
iecond Sodom^ I was a fecond Lot ; aud theie
comfortable ideas reconciled me to the
thought of living in it. Beftdes, fome of
' Mr. Welley's people gave me great comfort
by affuring me, that " the Lord had much
people in this city which I foon difcovered
to be true^ as I got acquainted with many
of thofe righteous chpfen iaints, who modeilly
arrogate to themfelves that they are the pecu-
liar fiivourites of heaven, and confequently
that any place they rehde iu mull be fafe*
In a month 1 faved money fufficient to
bring up my wife, and ihe had a pretty tole-
rable flate of health ; of my ^ mafter I*
obtained fome ftufF*(hoes for her to bind, and
nearly as much as (he could do* Haying novv
plenty of work aud higher wages, we were
tolerably cafy in our circumftauces^ more fo
than
*
Digitized by Google
Mt up£ OP J. tkctnt&rw.
than wc tvtr had been, fo that we Toon prd*
cured a few cioaths. My wife had alt her
life before done very well with a fuperfine
broad cloth cloak, but now I prevailed on
her to hare one of filk^
Until this winter I had never found out
that I wanted a great eoatf but now I made
that important difcovery ; and my landlord
ihewed me one made of a coarfe kind of £ath«
coating, which he puichafcd new at a (hop
in Roiemary*lane, for ten (hillings and fit^
pence i io that the next half guinea 1 had to
iparcy away I went to Roiemary-lane (and
to my great furprife) was hauled into a fKop
by a fellow who was walking up and down
before the door of a flopfeUer, where I w^
foon fitted with a great coat of the fame fort
as that of my landlord. I aiked the price i
>
but how great was my afloniibmenty when
the hoacil flopman told me, that he was fo
taken with my clean, honeft, iudufirioos looks^
t^at he would let m have it cheaper than h^
would bis own brother, fo in one word he
would
Digitized by Google
«
LIFE OF J. JLACKINGTQN. 209
would oblige me with it for five and* twenty*
IhtUiugs, which was the very mouey that it
cofl: hull. On hearing this, I crofled the
(hop in a trice, in order to fet ofF home again,
but the door had a fattening to it beyond my
couiprehealiony nor would the good man let
me out before I had made hlrn an oiF^r, I.
told him, I had fo little money about me that
I could not offer any thing, and again defired
that he would let me out. But he perfifted,
and It laft I told him that my landlord had hin
formed me that he had purchafed fuch ano*
ther coat for ten ih tilings and iixpence ; on
which he began to give himfelf airs, and
aifured me that however fbme people came
by their goods, that for his part, he alwajrs
paid for his. I heartily wilhcd myielf out *
of the fliop, but in vain ; as he Icemcd deter-*
mined not to part with mi until I had made ,
fome offer, I then told him that I had but
tea {hillings and fixpence, and of courfc could
not offer him any more than I had got. I
now expeAed more abuie from him, but in«
ftead of that the patient good man told me,
M that
Digitized by Google
%io LIFE OF J. LACKINGTOW.
that as he perhaps might get fomeching hy
me another tiitie, I iliould have the coat for
my half gumca, althcytrgh it waSieorth rndfe
than doubte the tamtyi
About the end of November I received an
account of the death of my grandfather ; and
vtzs alfo informed that he had left a will in
favour of mj grandmother-in-law's relations^
who became pofJeifed of ail his cfTedts, except
a fmall freehold eftate, which he left to my
youngeft brother, becaiife he happened to be
called George (which was the name of my
grandfather) and ten pounds a piece to each
of bis other grand-children.
So totally unacquainted wds I with the
modes of tranfacting bulinefsy that I could
not point out any method of havhig my ten
pounds fent up io London, at leaft no thoilei
that the executor of the will would approve
of i it being iuca a prodigious fum, that the
greateft caution was ufed on both (ides, (B
that it coil me about half the money in going
down for it, aud in rcti^riiing to lovva again»
This
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. ait
This was in extremely hard frofty weather (I
think fbme time in December) and being oa
the outiidc ef a flage^-coach^ I was fo very
cold, that when I came to the inn where the
paflengers dined, I went directly to the fire,
which ftruck the cold inward, fo that 1 had
but a very narrow eicape from death* This
happened In going down. In returning back
to town, I had other misfortunes to encoun-
ter. The cold weather ilill continuing, I
thought the baiket warmer than the roof, and
about ilx miles from SalliLury, 1 went back
into the baiket. But on getting out of it, in
the. inn yard at Saliibury, 1 heard ibme
money jingle« and on fearching my pockets^
I difcuvcicd that I had lod about llxteen (hil-
lings, two or three of which I found in the
baiket, the reft had fallen through on the
road ; and no doub^ the whole of what I had
left of my ten pounds would have gone the
fame way, had 1 not (for fear of highway-
men) fewed it up in my cioaths. The lols
oi my ,hlver 1 bore with the temper of a ftolc,
and hke Epidetus reafoned, that 1 could not
• . ' M 2 bavc
I
112 Um OF J. LACKINGTOK.
have lofl: it, if I had not firft had it ; and th^f
as I had loft it, why it was all the fame as
though it had never beea iu my poffeifion.
But a more dreadful mIsfortUDe befel me
the next morning; the extreme fevere wea-
ther AIU continuing, in order to keep me
from dying with cold, I drank ibme purl
and gin, which (not being ufed to drink any
thing ftrong) made me fb drunk, that the
coachman put me infide the carriage for fear
I ihould fall off the roof« 1 there met with
fume of the jovial fort> who had alfo drank
to keep out the cold, fb that I found them
in high glee ; being aiked to fing them a ibngt
I immediately complied, and forgetting that
I was one of the holy brethren, I fung fbng
for ibng with the merriefl of them ; only ie-
veral times between the gds, I tinned up the
whites of my eyes, and uttered a few ejacu-
lations, as " Lord forgive me !** " O Chrift I
What am I doing and a few more of the
fame pious fort. However after eating a good
dinner, and refraining fyom lI(juor, I became
nearly
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF LACKINGTON. 213
fiearl/ {ohtVf and by the time I arnired in
town quite fb ; though in a terrible agitation
of mindy by refieding oa what I had ecu
and was ib ailiamed of the afFair, that I con-
cealed it from my wife, that I might not
grieve her righteous foul with the knowledge
of ib dreadful a fall: ib that ihe With great
pleafure ripped open the places in my clothes,
which contained my treaiure, and with' an
heart full of gratitude, piouily thanked pro*
vidence for affording us fuch a fiipply, and
hoped that the Lord would enable us to xnake
a l^d ttie of it,
X am,
a
Dear Friend^
Yours,
M 3 LETTER
Digitized by
214 UFE OF J, LACKINGTON,
LETTER XX.
^ Kdrliaoetlio'aUtlKftcieofiiififM'idL
•* £acb to fomc *iafhng pafiioa is inclin'd,
«
" Let fiooKt be fiill the bias of my miod*'*
r
Fixt in aa elbow chair at cafe,
f I cbodlb conpanioas at I pkaib,"
' DEAft FRXBNp,
With the remaiiider of tlie
money we purchafed houfhold goods, but as
we then bad not fufficienc to furniih a room,
Vvc vvoiked liard, and lived ilill harder, lo that
in a fliort time we had a room furnilhed with
.our own goods ; and I beiieve that it is not
pofTiblc for you to imagine with what plea**
fuic aiid latlofadion \vc looked round the room
and furveyed our property : I believe that
Alexander the Great never refleded on his
immenfe acquifitlons with half thehcart-felt
enjoyment which we experienced on this ca-
pital attainments
After
Digitized by C
LIFE OF J. X^ACJCINGTOy.
Atitx Qur xQQvci was furaiihed^ as we A4i
enjoyed a better Aatc health than we di^d
at Briftol aud T»UQtont and ibad .airo mqfe
work aad higher w^;es, yre ofieu Ridded ffw^*
thjng or otlier to our iloqk of we^iug-appar^
Nor did I focget the old-bouk ihgips : but
frequently added an old bo(4c Co ipy foiall
coUedtion^ and J reaUy .bave.g^n .purchaiiljd
books with the qiouey thatiboMld k^vcl^tfi^
expended in parch^fing fomethiag to ,C4t ; ,a
ftriking iiiibnoe of which follows :
At the time we were pi)rch;^uig hou^iqld
goods, we kept ourfelves very ftiort of money,
and on Chriftmas^eve .we had but haif-a*
crown left to buy a Cbriila.as dinner. JVIy
wife defired that 1 would go to mark^gt, and
purchale this feftival dinner, and off I fwt for
that purpofe; but in the. way I (aw^nold-
|>ook (hop, and I could not relift .tbi;^ temp-
tatlon oi guiug la ; intending only to c:ipcud
iixpence or ninepence out of my half-crowji.
,But I ^ftumbicd upon Young!s Night
Thougiit5~jiown. went my iialficoowa — and
M 4 1 hallcued
Digitized by Google
216 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
I haftened home, vaftl/ delighted with the
acquifitioii. When my wife alked me where
was our Cbriftmas dinner ? I told her it was
ill roy pocket. — " In your pocket (laid ftie)
that is a ftraiige place. How could you
tiiink of fiufiing a joint of meat into your
pocket I afiiired her that it would take no
harm. But as I was ia no hafle to take it
out, fhe began to be more particular, and en^
quired what I had got, &c. On which I
began to harangue on the fuperiority of iatei^
leftual pleafurcs over feiifual gratifications,
and obferved that the brute creation enjoye4
the latter in a much higher degree than man*
And that a man, that was not poiTtilbd of
intellectual enjoyments, was but a two^
legged brute*
I was proceeding in this flrain : And ib,
(faid ihe) infiead of buying a dinner, 1 fup*
pole you have, as you have done before, been
buying iooks with the money ?*' I then con^
ieSed 1 had bought Young's Night Thoughts:
And 1 think (laid 1) tiiat I have aded
wifely I
Digitized by
■
I
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. at;
wifely ; for had I bought a dhmer^ we fliouM
have eaten it to-morrow, an4 the plealure
would have bcca iooii over, but (hould we
live fifty years longer, we fhall have the
Nigbt "Thoughts to feaft upon.'* This was
too powerful an argument to admit of any
farther debate i in (hort, my wife was con*
' vinced. Down I fat» and began to read with as
much enthufiafm as the good do^lor poiieiled
when he wrote it ; and fo much did it excite
my attention as well as approbation, that I
retained the greateft part of it in my me«
mory. A couplet of Perfius, as EngUihedj
might have been applied to me :
** . For this you gain thofe meager looks.
And ficrifioe yoor dinner to your books.'*
Sometime in June 1774, as we (at at
work in our room, Mr. Boyd» one of Mr*
Wefley's people, called and informed me
that a little (hop and parlour were to be
let in Featherftone-ilreet ; adding, that if I
was to take it, 1 might there get Tome work
a aiaiiei:, I without beiltation told him
that
■
Digitized by Google
^ OF J. L^QKINGJGUJ.
$];^t I Uk^d the idea, and hilled t^\^t LwojL^d
i^ll books ulig. Mr* Boyd tb^n ^iked ii\e ^
JbbDW I qtme to itbiok «^ ieUwg ^books ? I
aofocined jl^im .t^at ^nt^U OuU i^omeut ic
ij^ad n^ver once entered ti>to toy thoi^ght« »
<|iiit that ^htn he f«opoied iny 4;akiiig .ibe
.fliopt ic ioAantWfoyfly.QCfui^rtdd {py
itbi^ for ieyeral inouljl^ f#A {I Ji^ad obferiV^
a great kicreftfe in a certaui qld-boqk ihpp ;
ttidichat I f edUail^d I 'kMijir;a$fmipb of
old bqoks .as iiie per^ou who k^pt ^^t. I
•ther obfcrvfsd, th^t 1 loved books, and th^t
df I iCOtiM hilt he n hookfellor, I ihould than
have plenty of book&.to read, whkU w^s ^
greateft motive I could conceive to induce
me to make the attempt. My friend on this
afliired me, that he would get the (hop for
me, and v^ith a laugh added, "whaiyou
are Lord Majur, you fhall uie all your iute-
reft to get «if ,made an Alderman/' Which
I engaged not to forget .to perform.
My private library at this time.confiftedof
Fletcher's Checks to Antinonilanifm, &c
5 volumes;
Digitized by
UF£ OF J. JUCKmCTQN. -m^
% volumes Wai:t&« Imp^okiameMt pf jdie
Mind ; Yprnig'^ Night Thouglus ; Wake's
Tranrda^ion of the ApoiAoficpji ^^HSH^ ;
Floetuvood^s Life W Chcift $ this ^ iRVfMmr
nujoberi of tiiiu^ii's Di^ioiwy .9^ tii^ Ai^^s
and Sciences ; faoic of Wefle^'^'s JourjpiaJf,
]Md fome of ithe pi^us Iwen put)liAM^ hif
kisak \ land .at>Q)2t a (b^]» oth^r volMae«^ 4if
the/latl^ef ioUt bdtfies odd aiagazui^Sy
Jlrnd fot ttie up in iftile, Mr. IBoyd ^-qcmhi*
mmded ne Hio xhe ifrknds of w hfdjr bri^iir
]a(beJy to i^&av^u, aud pf them i
^hatfod a bagful pf >old tiQpi^s, iiiiefly di^fijtik/,
i4iriiigiutP4ai»
With this Aock, and fome odd icraps oC
leather, which toother with all ipy books
were wortli about five pca^nds, I ppep^d
(hop on Midfumoaer-day, 1774, in.Feathc-
Aoue-Areet, in t,he pariib pf St. Luke; and
I was as vvell plealed ia furveying .noy .little
' (hop with n.y name over it, as was Nebu-
chadQezzar^ when he faid Is not this gre^t
Babyloa that I have built and my good
wife
Digitized by Google
sio LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON,
• wife often perceiving the pieafure that I took
ill my (hop, plouQy cautioned me againH:
ietttng my mind on the riches of this worlds
and afiured me that it was . all but vanity.
You are very right, my dear (I Ibmc-
times replied) and to keep our minds as
ipiritaal as we can, we Will always attend
our clafs and band meetings, hear as many
fermons, Sec. at the Foundery on week
4
days as poilible, and on iabbath days wc
will mind nothing but the good of our fi>uls :
our fmall beer lhall be fetched in on Satur<«
day nights, nor will we drefs even a potatoe
on the fabbath. We will ftill attend the
preaching at five o'clock in the morning ; at .
eight go to the prayer meeting i at ten to
the pubUc worfhip at the Foundeiy j hear '
Mn Perry at Cripplegate, at two i be at the
preaching at the Foundery at fivej meet
with the general fociety at fix ; meet in the
united bands at feven, and again be at the
prayer meeting at eight; and then come
home and read and pray by ourfelves.'*
I ama dear Friend^ yoursji &c«
Digiiizuu by Ljf.jK.i-^i'^
OF J. LACKIKGTOH. tSH
LETTER XXI.
— — 9tnagR fidifitiidef of hoiMii fiilel
*' Still alt'ring* nevfr in a fteady date ;
Good after ill, and alter pain delight ;
AlteiiMle* like die ton of dij an!
" Since every one who lives, is bom to die»
" And none can boaft intire iidicity :
" Witko^iniodiriiat happens kcoiliearp '
** Nor joy, nor grieve too much for things beyond our carew
** like pilgriaii, to the appointed place we t^nd :
^ The wofU's an and death's the joameyli end.
Dtrnnfli Palemon and Arcite*
J3EAR FiU£ND,
^N[otwithftandiag the ob-
Icuntjr of the fireet, and the i^eau appear-
ance of my ihop, yet I foon found cuftomers
for what few books I had, and I as (bon laid
out the mouey iu other old traih which was
daily brought for fale.
At that tune Mr. Wefley's people had a
ilim of money which was kept on piirpole to
l^ad out| for three months, without intereft
to
k.
Digitized by Gopgle
at Lift OF J- LACKIKGTON^
to fuch of their fociety whofe charafters were
good, and who wanted a temporary relief.
To increafe my little ftock, I borrowed five
pounds out of this fund^ which was of great
fervice to me.
In our new iituatton we lived in a very
frugal manner, often dining on potatoes^ and
quenching our tbirft with water, belpg abfb*
lutely detenftiined if poffible to make ibmo
provi(ion for fuch difmal times as lickneist
fliortnefs of work, &c. which vvc had been
fo frequently involved in before, and could
icarce help expecting to be our fate again..
My wife foreboded it much more than I
did, being of a more melancholy turn of
mind.
«' A £id pro(d>etic Spirit dwelU whh woe.'*
I lived in this ftreet iix mouths, and in
th^t time increafed my ftock from five
{4utidsy to twieot^five pounds*
Lon d o a
I
We Of |. LAGKINGTON*
V London— tbe poblic there am candid and geueum,
.andf BeFoie my merit can fiave time to create me enemies* Ttf
favc money, and a hg for the Sultan and Sophy,"
This immeuie fiock I deemed too valu*
able to be buried In Feather (lone- Street ; and
a (hop and parlour being to let in Chifwell- ,
Street, No. 46, I took tbecn* This was at
that time, and for fourteen years afterwards
a very dull and obfcure iituation : as few cyer
iflied throQgh toiidt^s Spitalfield weavers
oti hanging ditys^ and lnethodift« on preaching
nights \ but flill it was ^nuch bettet adapted
fbf bufinefs lhan Feaiherfldfier&tr^et.
A wtf6k9 aft^r I eaftie into Chifwell-.
Street, I bade ^ final adieu to the getule crajt^
and converted my little iloek of leather, &c*
iftto old books; and a grcctt laic I had, cou*
fidering my ftoek; which was not only
^itCremely iinall, but Coalained very little
variety^ as it principally confifted of divi-
mty J for as I had ndt much knowledge, lb
I fdddnl VMtmfod ^ut of iay d6pth« Indeed,
there
uiLjiiized by Google
424 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON<
there was oue clal's of books, which for the
fiift year or two that I called myfelf a book-
feller, I would not fell, for fuch was my
jgoorancct bigotry, fuperfiition (or wh^tyou
pleafe) that I confcientioufly deftroyed fuch
books as fell into my hands which were
written by freethinkers ; &r really fuppofing
them to be didated by the devil, I would
neither read, them myfelf, nor fell them to
others.
You will perhaps be furprifed when I iu-
form you, tliat there are in Loudon (and I
fuppofe in other populous places) perfons
who purchafe every article which they have
oteafion for (and alio many articles which
they have no occafion for) at ftalls, beggarly
fhops, pawnbrokers, &c. under the idea of
purchafing cheaper than they could at ref-
pe£lable (hops, and of men of propejty, A
confiderabie number of thefe kind of cuf-
tomcrs I had in the beginning, who foribok
my (hop as (bon as I began to appear mors
refpe&able, by introducing better order,
poilefiing more valuable books, and having
accjuired
Digitized
LIFE OF J, LAGKiNGTON. 225
acquired a better judgoieut, &c« Notwith*
ftaiiJing which, I declare to you, upon my
lioooufi that theid very bargdin^hunters ham
given me double the price that I now charge
for thouiands aud teas of thoufauds of vo-
lumes. For as a tradefmau increafes iu
refpeftability and opulence, his opportunities,
of purchafing increafe proportionably, and
the more he buys aud Iclls, the more he be<«
comes a ju^ii^c of the real value of his goods.
It was for want of this experience and judg-
ment, ilockf &c. that for feveral years I was
iu the habit of chargiug more than double
the price I now do for many thoufaad arti-
cles* But pi'ofefied bargain<»hunters oftea
purchafe old UcAs at the ftalls in Moorhelds^
when half the wards are rufted off or taken
out, and give more for them than they would
have paid for new locks to any reputable
ironmonger. And what numerous iniltances
of this iufatuatioii do we meet with daily at
fales by au£lton, not of books only, but of
many other articles 1 Of which I could here
adduce a variety of glaring iuitaaces; but
N (not
#
2a6 LIFE OF J. LACKINCXfON-
(not to tire you) a few of recent date ihall
fufEce.^ — At the fale of Mr. Rigby'a books at
Mr. Chrtftie's, Martyn*s Didionary of Na-
tural Hiifory fold ibr jifUtn guineas^ which
thea ftood iu my catalogue at four pounds
4
fifteen JhilUngs^ Pilkington*8 Diflionary of
Painters, at feven guineas^ ufually fold at
three; Fraucis'^s Horace^ two pounds eleven
JlnlUngi^ and many others in the fan>€ man-
ner. At Sir George Colebrook's fale, the
odavo edition of the Tatler ibid tor two
guineas and a half. At a fale a few weeks
iince, Rapines Hiftory, infoHo, thetwofirft
volumes only (inftead of five) fold for upwards
of five pounds I I charge for the lame from
ten fiilllngs andjixpcucc to one pound ten fJjiiiings ;
and I fell great numbers of books to pawn-^
brokers, who fell them out of their windows
at much higher prices, the purchafers be-
lieving that they are buying bargains, and
that fuch articles have been pawned ; and it
is not only books which pawnbrokers pur^^
chaic, but various other matters, and they
always purchafe the worft kind of very arti-
cle. 1 will even add that many (hops which.
ara
Digitized by Google
UF£ OF J. LACJKriHGTON. tzj •
am tailed jpawrtbrokers, never take in anjr,
pawiiSf yet cm live by klling things which
. are fuppofed to be kept over time*
I Went on profperonfly until ibme time in
Septemberi 1775* when, I was iuddenly
taken ill of a dreadful fever ; and eight or
teti days after^ my wife was ieized with the
fame diforder*
At that time 1 only kept a boy to help in
my Ihop, fo that I fear, while i )ay ill,. my
Wife had too much care and anxiety oa her
bimdi I ha vis been Cold that before ihe wsis
confined to^ her bed Ihe walked about in t -
delirious ilatii; in which ihe did not loug
coiuinue, but contrary to allexpeclanoii cTiGti,
in euthuAaftic rant, on the ninth of No^
y^enabert furiouaded with feveral methodiftical
•preachers.
^' Inndiotit death ! how doft thou rend In Oitiiti
•* Whom love has knit and (ym^sihy made one ?
A lie fo llubboio."—
Blaiu's Grave«
was in r€;iaUty oue of the beft gf wo-
men; and although for about four years (he
was ill (be greateft part of t^ie time, which
N 2, iavoivi^d
Digitizea by LiOOgle
1
• aaS ' LIFE OF J. LACKINGTOK.
t
involved me in the very depth of poverty and
diftrefsy yet I never once repented having
marncd her.
•* ■ ■ ftill bufy meddling memory.
Id birbaroas focccffion, mallen up
The fiaft endearoients of oor fofier hoiiii*
*« TouuMTOt of hit theme.*'
Blair*s Gimtc,
» •
'TIs true flie was eiithuhafllcal to an ex-
treme, and of courie very fuperftitious and
vifionary, but as I was very far gone myfelf^
I did not think chat a fault in her.
Indeed (he much exceeded me» and moft
others that ever fell under my obfervatiou^
as fhe in reaUty lotaiiy ncgleded and difre*
garded every kind of pleafure 'whatever^ but
thofe of a fpiritual (or vifionary) nature*
Methinks I here fee you fmile : but I aifure
you fhe made no exception ; but was a com-
plete devotee, and what is more remarkable, ^
Without pride or iU-nature«
•* Intentions fo pure, and fuch meckncfs of fpirit,
*' Mali o^ courfe, and of iight» Heaven's kingdom inhenu"
■
I am, dear Friend, yours.
. -d by Google
\
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 229
L L T T h R XXII.
i
Vnt flrange newt to give yoo ! bot when fM leoetve it.
*' 'Tis i(n^>o(Iibie, Sir, that you (liould believe it i
*< fiat as Tve been told this agreeable ftorjr,
rn dlgrefs for a tnomenC to lajr it before je."
A Friend of xnine^ of whole
veracity I entertain the higheil opinion, has
favored me with an account of a lady, who
has to the full as much, indeed more of the
fpirit, but without the good-nature of Nancy
Lackington. Tlie fact is as fuiiows :
** Tit tine 'tis pity : aod pitjr *m it's tmc,"
y
Ml. R — t, a genteel tradefman with whom
I am acquauited, having loft his fecond wife
early in 1 790, courted and married one of the
holy fitters a few months afterwards. Tiicy
had lived* together about (iz months,' when
Mr. R — t, one Sunday^ being a fobcr reli-
gious man, took down Doddridge's Ledures^
aod began to read them to his wife and family.
N 3 But
Digitized by Google
ftjo LIFE OF h LACKINGTOH.
3ut this holy fifter found fault with her hui?
band for reading fuch learnect rational diCg
couries, which iavoured tea much of humau
realon and vaiu philofophy, and wiflied he
* would read ibmething more fpi ritual and edi-
fying. He attempted to conviape her tlia(
Dr. Dpddrid^e was nqt ou\y a good rational
divine, but to the full as fpiritual as any di-
vine ought to be ; and that to be more fpirir
tuai he muil be lefs rational, and of courie
})ecome fanatical aud viliouary. But tlicle
obfervatlons of the hu{band fo difplealed his
fpiritual wife, that ihe retired to bed, and
left her hufband to read Doddridge -s Ledures
as long as he chofe to his children by a former
^ife.
The next morning while Mr. R— t Was
put pn b^liucfs, ihio holy lifter, without fay-?
ing one iy liable to any perfon, packed up zl\
her clothes, crammed them into a hackney
coach, and away ihe wtnc# Mr. K—t^ ppoc
foul I on coming home dlicovered his immenle
|ofs, and in au almoft frantic ftate, fpent the
Digitized by
LIFE OF J« LACKINGTON* 131
6rft fertnigh( in fruklefs attempts todifcover
faerretreat.
^* Three weeks after her elopement, I was
(fays Mr, R~t) going down Cheap-
flde one day, and Caw a lad/ fomcthlng
like my wile, but as (he was fouiewhat
dlfgulfcd, and I could not fee her face, I
was uot.rure. At laft I ventured to look
under her bonnet^ and found, that^ fure
enough, it was (he* I then walked three
times backwards and forwards hi Cheap-
fide, endeavouring to perfuade her to re-
turn with mc, or to difcover where (he
lived : but (he ob/iluately refufcd to re-
^* turn, or to let me fee her retreat ; and
** here (fays Mr. R— t) I begged that ihe
would grant me a kifs 1 but (he would not
^* willingly. However after fume buftle in
the flreet, I took a farewcl kifs. Poor
dear ibuU (figh*d he) (he is rather ^oo
fpiritual! for notwithfltnding I laid by
her fide near fix months, (he never would
be prevailed upon to do any thing carnal ;
aud although I did all in my power to get
N 4 the
Digitized by Google
23« OF J, LACKINGTON.
the better of her fpiritual ibruples, yet Urn
was always fo in love with Chiiil her hea*
it venly Ipoufe, that wliea ihe eloped fioin
^ me, (he was, I alTure you, as good a vir-?
ghi as wheq 1 marrtf^d her.**
I muft give you one more ftory of the
fame nature with the preceding.
A gentleman of London happening to he
on a vifit at Briftol about three years fmce.,
fell ialove with a handfome young lady whgi
\\a:> ouc of the holy fifterhood i after a fcyf
weeks acquaintance he made her au offer qf
his perfon and fortune, and the young lady
after proper inquiry had been made into t\ie
gentkmaa's family, fortune, &c. confcnte4
to make our lover happy. They were fopa
after married, and the famp day fet off ii\
a po(l-chaire towards Londpn, in orJ^r to
' fleep the firft night at au inn, and fo fave the
lady the blu(he$ occafioned by the jokes com-*
jnon on fuch uccafions ; this happy couple
had b^cn m bed at)out au liour when the cry
of murder alarmed the houfc, this alarm pro-?
feeding
Digitized by
LIFE OP J. LACKINGTON. 133
ceeding from the room that was occupied by
ihe bride and bridegroom, drew the company
that way ; the luu-keeper knocked at the
door and demanded admittancet our I>cnedi&
appeared at the door, and uiformed the boft
that his lady had been taken fuddenly ill in a
Jcind of ht he believed, but that Khe was bet-
ter; aud ^fcer the innkeeper's wife had been
ient into the room to fee theyourig lady, and
h^d found her well, all retired to bed.
They had, however, not lain more than
two hours, when the cry of murder, fire, &c.
again alarmed the houfe, and drew many out
m
gf their beds ouge more.
Our young gciitkmcin thtn di efled himfclf,
and opening the door, informed the con^pany
that he had that morning been married to the
young lady in bed, and that being married,
he had iuiiflcd on being admitted to the pri-
vilege of an huiband, but that the young
lady had talked much about the good of her
poor foul, her Ipiritual huiband, &c. and
th^t iriftead of granting what be wnceived
tQ
Digitized by Google
^ LIFE OF J. LACKXNGTON.
to be the right of every hufband^ fhe had
thought proper: to difturb all ia the houfe*
He added, that having been thus made very
ridtculouSy he would take effe£kual care to
prevent a repetitioa of the iame abfurd
He then ordered a poft-chaife and fet o(F
fi>r XA)udoa« leaviag our young faint in bed
to enjoy her fpirltual contemplations in their
lull extent^ nor has he ever flnce paid her
«ay attention,.
Some time iince being in a large town in
(be Weft, fhe was pointed out t . * ^ by a
fn&vA^ as ihe was walking in the (Ireet,
The above puts me in mind of what Ovid
fiys was pradlifed by young maids on the
. leiHval of the celebrated nymph JfrnaPercnna^
^us traudat^ by I know not who ;
With pfomifet the anonms god 9b» led,
" And with fond hopes hit eager paffion fed,
«« At length 'tis done, the goddcfs yields, ihe ciy'd;
Mfpcay'fi hav« fMA*4 the vi^cny p^pideii
Wiik
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTOK. $sf
H With joy thegod piep<uts the golden bed ;
f Hutberp lierfaoecoQeeil'd, itAiiMkd*
Juft on the brink of blifs, (he ftands coofeTit'd ;
V The diftppoiatcd lorer u her jeft*
M Wlpife nge ai|d Ibaaie altflniite Ard) hb Imeift*
I atn informed from good authority that
there are now in Mr. Wedey's fociety^ in
I^ndon, foiiie womeu who ever fuice they
were converted, have refufed to fleep with
their huibaods, and that fome of thofe will
pot pay the leaft attention to any temporal
concern whatever, being as they term it,
wholly wrapped up in divine qontemplation*
having tlieir iouls ablorbed in divine love, io
not to be interrupted by the trifling con*
ferns of abttjbaady farnlly,
I am, •
Pear Friend,
Vours,
•4
LETTER
Digitized by Google
ftjft LIFE OF J. LACKiNGTON.
LETTER XXIiL
Women that leave no ilone uoturo'd*
*« In which the cuafe might be concern'd*"
«• The man nvithout Jin^ the methodifl Rabbi,
** Has perfedl/ car'd the chiaiuiis of Tabbjr :
^ And if right I can jodge ffom her (hapeand lace«
** She foon may produce an infant of grace.
Now they fay that aiJ people in her £toatioa
Ace veiy fine fnbje^ for fegeneiation.'*
New Bath Guide*
DEAR FRIEND.
Because fomc of the hoiy
lifters are in their amours altogether fpi ritual,
you are by no means to uiiderAaud that
they are all totally divcfled of the carnal
propenfity.
Some of thefe good creatures are lb far
from thinking that their hufbands are too
carnal ui their afFedlions, that they really
think that they are not enough fb ; and in*
Aances are not waatixig, in whxch^ owing to
their
v
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. ajf
their having hufbands too fpiritual, they have
been willing to receive afliAance from the
hufbands of other women.
It is but about a year fince a certain cele-
brated preacher ufed to admltilfter carnal con-
iblation to the wife of his clerk. This holy
communicatiou was repeated fo oiteu, and
open, that at lafl it came to the clerk's ears^
who watching an opportunity, one day fur*
prized the pious pair at their devoiion^ and lb
belaboured the preacher with his walking*
ftaflF, that the public were for near a mouth
deprived of the benefits refulting from his
iremarkable gift of eloquence.
As I am got into the flory-telling way, I
cannot rehA the temptation of teUiug ano«
ther.
A certain holy fifler who lately kept a
• houie in a country village, within ten miles
of London i and took in (as they called it)
Mr. Welley's preachers, by taking in is only
meant, that when they came in their turn to
preach
tl% LIFE OF J. tAGKINGTOW.
preach in the village ihe ufed to fupplj each
with vidtuals and a bed ; (ju) doubt but they
flept 4dime.) This lady was (o irery reiiiark*'
tble for her fpiritual experience and divine
gifts^ that ihe attracted many to her houie^
befides fuch as came in the regular courfe oC
their duty, and among the fortner a preachef
from Loadoni from whom I learnt the af>
feir. This preacher happening to want ^
vnkj and being very fpirittially-minded,
a£kually married her in December 17901
merely for her gresit gifts and grace^ as heif
jfbrtune was not above the fiftieth part as
much as his own 1 and as to perfbn^ (he is
icarce one degree above uglinefs itielfi
although her hufband is well-proportioned^
and upon the whole a handibme man. They
had not been married a week, when this fim^
pie preacher dlfcovered that his gifted gra-
cious faint was an Incarnate devil, who had
married him only to rob» plunder^ &n<l'
<ii II him, ^ud in a few months between
tier and her gallants, they bullied him oyt of
A lettlement to the amount of four times the
fum
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J- LACKIN6T0M.
ium {he brought hiin» and the poor pious
preacher thinks that he has cheaply got rid .
of her.
" Ah, foolUh woman I ma/ ihe one day fee
Hovr deepihe'splong'dlierielf ininfiniff
And with true penitence waih out the ftain
Bot^mifcbtcf oo't— why (hould I jiray ia vaioi
*« For flie'tlMithafden*datcbeiiame of giice«
«< Isjo bluih was ever feen t'adoio her face."
Gouto«
The reaibn why I hitereft myfelf in his
behalf is, becaufe I am conhdent that he re«
ally is an hoiieft well-meauing mau at the
bottom s but withal one that does not pofTeft
the greateft ihare of underftanding^ and who
being formerly but a meau mechanic, never
had any education ; but aUhough he is a
great enthuliaft, yet he is one of the good*
natured inofieniive ibrt, who will do no harm
to any perfon, but on the contrary all the
good in his power, I am only forry, as he
lately was an honeft ufeful tradefman, that
he ihould have fo much fpiritual quixotifin .
in him, as at thirty years of age to Ihut up
his (hop and tuin picadic:r^ without being '
abk
Digitized by Google
I
Uo LIFE OF J. LACKINGTOU.
able to read his primer ; which I can atfurtf
you is the cafe. But here^ my friend, you
fee I forgot that thefe heavenly teachers only
fpeak as the Spirit giveth utterance, and that
of courfe all liumaa learning is entirely
fuperfluous*
«« — ^ As he does not choie to collt
His fidth by any Icriptare rule;
•* But by the vapours that torment
His bfiinSj £tom bypooonclrui feot^
Which into dfcams and viiions turn^
*• And make his zeal i'o ikrceiy burn.
That leafon lofes the afcendant,
*
Aui all within grows independant«
•* He proves all fuch a^ do accord
« With him the choiea of the Lord I
■
But that all others ate accarfty
«« ^Idin in Cantidcb the lirft.**
Butlsa's PoAL Woika,
A few years fince the methodlft-preachers
got footing in Wellington (the famous birth-
place of your humble fervaut) and eftabliihed
a fociety there, foon after which one of their
preachers (at CoUompton, a neighbouring
town) happened to like a young fervantgirl^
who was one of the holy iiilers, ihe having
gone
d by Google
JLIfE OF J. LACKINGTON. 241
gone through the new birth, better than his
wife, becaufe Ihe was au unenlightened, un-
converted vvauiaii. But this fervant,.girl
happening to be with child, the news foon
reached Wellington; and a very wealthy
gentleman who entertained the preachers
there ioIluwcJ tlie preacher of Collomptou's
example, and got his own pious maid with
.child.
Bleflbd (he iM once ftie<<>eti
'* Like a litde ^nQd^hog i))efp
Poor maid, one monibg wu eleAcd
. By a vUion in her deep/'
After this fome of the fbciety in Welling*
ton began to have all things in conunon, and
feveral more of the holy lifters proved proli-
fic; which fo alarmed the parifli, that fome
of the heads of it infifted that the preachers
ihould not be permitted to preach there any
longer, For, if (laid they) the methodlft-
fociety continues, we ftiall have the parifli
full of baftards.*'
♦
O A fimilar
Digitized by Google
IIFE OF J. LACKmtiTOH'.
A iimilar aflfair -happened at a countrf
town» ten 6r twelve miles from Oxford,
about two years imce, where a very band-^
fome powerful preacher made converts of a
great number of women, both married and
iingle, who were wopderfullj afieded, and
great numbers flocked to his ftandard ; but
ht had tiot laboured there more than a year,
before the churchwardens were made ao>
<juaiated with his powerful operations on
fine young female faints, who all fwore baf-
tards to this holy, fpiritual labourer in the
vineyard i upon which the gentlemen of the
town exerted themfelves, and prevented the
£irther propagation of methodiifn i as
** The ladies by fympathy feem'd to difcovcr
•* The advaota^ of having a Ijpiritlial brct,
<* Thtf WW fadlf aftifd tiiat wivct, indovrt* atul miflb
** Would confine to the — all their favors and kiflcs."
The author of a letter to Dr. Coke and
Mr. More, publiflied fince the firft edition
of my Memoirs, informs us, that a gentle^
man of Chefham had a daughter about levea**
teen years of age^ which he put into the
Digitized by Google
fclFE OF j. LACKINGTON. 043
haiids of a metbodift parfoii, to have her con«
verted, aiid was exceedingly kind and liberal
to him ; and we are iiifurnied that this rafcal
converted her firft, and debauched her after-
wards*
So 70U fee> my dear friend, by the above
encampks (were it neceflary, I could give you
many more) that not all the converted and ,
.fandlfied females are thereby becppi^ |p ab-
forbed.ii^ the fpiritnal delights pf tim myfH-*
caI unioa^ as to have loft all relifli for carnal
conuedions; as we £nd that many among
them arc Lleffcd with a xniud io capacious, as
.to be ftble to |^c>iuitf 10 the pleafures of
both worlds^
I anit
I>ear Friend,
■
Ypurs, ;
: $
O » ■ ■ LETTER
m *
Digitized by Gopgle
*
•
UFE O]^ J. LACKINGTON.
LETTER XXIV.
•* It was not good for man to be alone :
An equal, yet the fubje^, is dclign'd
«« For thy foft houn, and to unbend the mind«^
> »
»
Woman* chiefeft good* by heaven defign'd
To glad the heart, and hamanize the mind ; .
" To Tooth each angry care* abate each Hrifc,
** Ami lull the paffiont as we walk thiough life.**
Alt of livii^ in Londta*
DEAR f ia£ND,
After a long digreiiion^ I
mud now return to my own affairs.
I continued in the above-mentioned dread-
ful fever many weeks^ and my life was des-
paired of by all that. came near me. Daring
which time, my wife, whom I affedionately
loved, died and was buried, without my
once having a fight of her. What added
much to my misfortunes, feverai nurfes thatr
, wene hired to take care of me and my wife,
* , " proved
Digiiizea by Googlc
LIFE OF ]• LACKINGTON. 3^.5
proved ib abandoned and depraved as to have
iofl: all fenfe of moral obligation^ and every
tender feeling for one who to all appearance
■
was juft on the point of death 7 ieveral of
thefe monfters in female (hupe robbed my
drawers of iinen, &:c. and kept themfelves
drunk with giii, while 1 lay unable to move
in my bed, and was ready to pertih, partly
owing to want .of cleanlineis and proper care.
Thus fitiiated, 1 muft inevitably have fallen
a vi£tim, had it not been for my fifter Doro*
thy^ wife of Mr. Nor):ham of Lambeth, and
my fifter Elizabeth, wife of Mr. Bell in
Soho. Thefe kind fillers, as foon as they
were informed of the deplorable .ftate in
which I lay, ^notwithftanduig fome mifun-
derftanding which fubfifted between us, and
prevented me from fending for them, ha£»
tened to me, and each fat up with me alter-
nately, fo that 1 had one. or the other with
me cv cry night ; and, contrary to all expec-
tation, I recovered. But this recovery waa
lik a very flow manner. ^
O 3 At
0
«
4
Digiiized by Google
24fi LIFE OF y LAGKINOTOM,
As foou as I was able to enquire Into the
ftate Qf my af&irs, I fouqd tbat Mr. Whe&.
ler, ia^k aud lop^-asiaikei: in Oid-llreet, ai^4
M^ljirs* Bottorpley and Shaw, carpenters an4
fa(hrnvJcers in Bunhill-row^ had iaved mq
from rMiOi by lKH:king up my (hop, which
coacaki^ my ilittie 4/A Had not this h^ti\
done, the njirfe^ vvouid no doubt have con*
trtved mettn6 to htv^ emptied my (hop,
ei^ftDaily 4s they \k9^d daae my d^^w^rs,
• -
The above gentlemen not only took pare
of my ihop, but alfo advanced money to pay '
fuch expences as occurred ; aud a$ my ^if^
was ^ef^dy they afiiAed if) making my wiU
ii) favour pf niy mother.
«The& worthy gentlemen belong to Mpi
We^ley^s ibciety (and notwithilanding 4bey
have imbibed m^Py enthuiiaflic whitns) yet
•wo^ld they be an honour to any (bciety, 'an4
are a credit to hpman nature. I hope that (
never ihall recoUedl their kii^dneis without
l^Ing filled with the warmefl fentinients of
gratitude towards themf
f> Ht
. J . by Google
LIFE OF J. LACmNGTON.
♦
^ iletta haii^Nainseiiiliimaiaftbegfitteliil;
•* Tis the Creator's primary great Law,
" That links the chaia of being to each other^
Joping tbe gmler to the kfo oatnir*
** Tying the weak und ftrong, the poor and powcrfii-l,
Subdttii^ xoea to brutcs» And even b^mei to maOf,"
On my recovery 1 alfo learnt that Mifs
Dorcas Turton (the young woman that kcjpt
the houfe, and of whom I theu rented the
ihop, parlour^ kiteben and garret) having
out of kinduefs to my wite^ occafionally
aiTided her during her illaefs^ had caught the
iame dreadful difbrder, fhe was then very
dangeroui^ ill» anid people fliunned the houfe
aa mmcb as if the plague h^|} been ia it. So
tb^t wheii I opened my (hop again, I was flared
at as tbpugh I bad a^uaily returned frooi the
ptber world ; aa4 it was ^ coaikkrabie tim^
bcfurje maAy of my former cuiloji^ts coul^
credit that I really was in exiftence, it having
been repeatedly reported that I was dead*
Mifs Dorcas Turton, was a charibing
young woman, and you muil now be madi:
O 4 • taiihcr
24g LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON-
farther acquainted with her. She i$ the
daughter of Mr. Samuel /Turtou ok Staford->
Ihire; her mother by marriage, llili retained
her maiden name, which was Mifs Jemima
Turton, of Oxford(hi)re« Mr* Samuel TurtoH
}iad a large fortune of his own, and about
twenty thoufand pounds with his wife Mifs
Jemima, but by an unhappy turn for gaming
he diiiipated nearly the whole of it, and was
obliged to haye rccourfe to trade to 'lielp
iupport his family,
« 'Tis loft at dice* what ancieat honour won^ . »
Hafdf when the fatlier pla^s away the fon {
He opened a ihop as a faddler's ironmonger,
but as he was but little acquainted with
trade, and as his old propenfity to gaming
never quitted him, it is no wonder that he
did not fucceed in his bufinefs i and to crown
all his other lollies, he wai bound for a
falie friend ia a large fum ; this completed
his ruiq^
- His wife died in Jan. 17731 and hla iiiul
ruin eufued a few months after ; fo that from
«
that
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON* a49
that time to his death he was partly .luppor-
tcd by his daug:hter Mi fs Dorcas Turton,
who cheerfully fubmittcd to keep a fchool,
and worked very hard plain work, by
which means flic k^pt her lather fiuijii w^nt.
The old gentleman died a few .nK)nths aftej:
I came into the ftiop», l^i^ing partly acr
quaiiitcd With this young lady's goqdnef^ tQ
her father, I concluded {hat ib amiable ^
daughter was very likely to make, a goo^
wifei I aik) ku^w that ilic wa& immodcT
ratcly fond of books, and would frecjuentl^
read until morning ; this turn of mind, vol
her was the greateil of all recommendations
tome, who having acquired a few ideas,, was
at that time reftlefs to iucreafe thefn>: (b
that I was in raptures ' with the bare
thoughts of having a woman to read with,
iind ajfo to i caJ to uic.
Of all the pkafufcs* poble and fcfin'dj
*' Wbiefi (otm the t afle and cultivate the mind,
** in cv^ry realm where fcicncc darts its beams.
From Thale's ke to Afric's golden iheams»
^* From climes where Phoebus poors his orient ny^
(* To t|)e isds legions of declining daj^
Tho
Digitized by Google
950 UFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
«« The '* Fcaft of Rcafon** which from reading fpcingi
•< Xo Oii'tmg man the higheft iblace brings.
^TIs lodct « kftsDg pleafim can fopplf «
Qh&im wh'ik wt live^ Md teach as how to die."
Lackjiioton's SbopBUl;
I embraced the firlT: opportunity after her
fecovery to make her acquainted with my
mindy and as we were no firaugers to each
others charaAers and circumftances, there
was no need of a long formal court/hip ; fo I
prevailed on her not to defer our union lon-
ger than the 30th of January^ i^r^d, when
tor the fecuad time I catered iiUo the holy
ftate of matrimony*
^ Wcdde4 Love is founded oneAeeio^
*' Whichth^fair merittof the muideDgag^:
For diofe ue dwrmt dut ncm am decay,
*' But TimCj which gives a$w whiccDcis to thefwan^
I amy
Dear Friend, "
yoiin#
LETTER
•
Digiti^uu
WFE OF J, MCKINGTON. «jx
lETTEH KXV.
^« Weigb'd true fioin fslfe, in fur ittpiidal fcale*
f* Truth, radiant goddefs I Tallies on my foul {
f * All t^e na/ilic lights vyexe gueoch'd*'!
' X Am n0w in Febmaty 1776^
grrired ac an important; period of my life*
Being lately recpvored from a very painful,
dangerous, jand hopislcfs iUnefs, I found my-
felf once more In a confirmed ftate pf heateb^
fiirrouadpd by my little dock in trade, which
ivas but ^uil faved from thieveS| and wi^ich
to me an immenfe treafuns. Add to the
^bove, my having won a fecond lime in a
. jgame where the odds were fo much agalnft
pie I or to ufe another fimlle, my having
dr^wn another prise in the lottery of wed-
Jpfki aa4 thu$ iifce John ^uncle repaired the
Ipfs
uiLjiiized by Google
252^ LIFE OF LACKINGTON. ^
lofs of one very valuable woman by the ac-
quifition of anojtbcr l^kmo^e valuable*
O woman ! kt the libertine decnr,
" Rtil It thft vtfttioos love he never fielt,
*' Nor wifti'd to feci. — Among the fcx there are
** Numbers as gieatlj good u they ate fair;
Where rival virtacs drive which brightens ihofi^
«* Rcauty the fmalleft excellence they boatl j
*< Where all unitt fubftantiai blifs CO provoj,
•* A^d ^ive mankind in them a uAe of joys above.'*
Reileding on the above united ctrcum*
ilancesy I foUad in my bea^t an uuuiual icn-
lation^ fuch as until tiien I had been a ftranger
to : my mind began to expand, intelleAaal
light and pleafure brok0 in and diipelled the,
gloom of fanatical melaiicholy ; the four*
licli of my natural temper which had been
much iucreaied by fuperftition, (t:alled by
Swift, ** the fpleen of the Ibul/*) in part
gave way, and was fucceeded by cheerfuU
nefs, and fome degree of good-nature.
It was in one of thefe cheerful moods that
I one day took up the Life of John Buncle ;
and it is impoifible for my friend to imagine
with
Digitized by
. LIFE OR J, IJVGKINGTON. as}
with what eagofn^f^ aad pleafure I read
through the whok foqr volpmes gf thiii.vyfhi^i-
» fical, fen fi ble, pleafing work ; it \yas written
by Thomas Amojry» Efq. (who was living in
the year 1788, at the great age of 97) and I
know not of any work more proper to be put
into the hands of a poor ignorant blgotted
'fuperilitious methodift ; but the misfortune
is, that fcarce one of them will read any
thing but what fuU:> with their own narrow
^notidis^ ib that, they fhu( thepnielves up in
darknei^t and. ex^cliide. every ray of intcillc^^
- tual light ;^ which puts me m mind of the
, cnfhtifiafts on the banks of the Ganges, who
will not look at any thing beyond the tip^qf
their nofes. By tiie time I had goui^ through
the iaft volume, ; . . » •
'* My foul had took its freedom op."
. GtEBK* ^
■
Lalfo received great benefit from reading
-Coventry's PhilenEion to ^ydafpes it coti-
iiih of dialogues , oa fal^ religion, cj(Ltra> a*
. gant d^votiop, ^c. in which are many \'try
' cii/ious remarks on viilonaries of various ages
and
Digitizec Ly v^oogle
^S4 J^l^^ Of h LACKINGTOK*
and ie^s. The works is complete in Ave
parts odavo. There has alfb been a deceut
Scotch edition, publilhed in twelves, both
< editions are now rather icarce*
I now began to enjoy many innocent plea-*
fures and recreations in life, without the fear
of being eternally damu'dforalaugh, a joke,
or for Ipending a fbciable evening wi(h a tew
friends, . going tg the play-houfe, &c. &c»
In (hort I faw that true religion was no
way incompatible with, or an enemy to ra«
tioiial pleafures of any kind. As life (fays
one) is the gift of heaven, it is religion to
enjoy it*
*' Fools by excefs make Tilled pfeaTuft pallf
«* The wife maa's modecate^ aod eojoys tbem aD.**
VoLTAtas hf Ffaiiklui*
*
I now alfo began to read with great plea-
fufe the rational and moderate divines of all
denoounations : and a year or two after I be<-
gan with metaphyfics, in the intricate tiio'u|^
pkafing labyrinths of which I have occafion-
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. ajS
ally fince wandered^ nor am I ever likely to
find my way out. •
** Like a guide in a mift futm I ftmbled tboaf, *
And now come at la(l where at ^11 1 fct uut ;
And uBkUiu new ligliis wt Im irnkt to bope^
In darkneft U awft benqr Ibftone to gcope."
I. am not iii the lead uneaiy oa that head»
as I have no doubt of being iu my laft mo-
ments able to adopt the language of one*of
the greateil. men that ever exiiled : ,
** Grea'tGod, whofc being by thy works is known,
" Hear my laft words from chy eternal throne :
iri taillook, Iwaa «dUfe diy Uw 1 fought,
I may have crr'd, but thou wert In each thoog^t,
** FearJefs I look beyond the opening grave^
And cannot think the God who being ga?e»
, The God whoTc favours made my blifs o'crfloWt
*' Haa doom'd me, after death* to endlefswoe."
In the mean time I can fmcerely adopt the
fbUowm^^nes of Mr. Pope*
If I am right* thy grace impart*
*f Still In Ihe right to Hay ;
Ifl ani wrong J O teac h my lieaxt*
To.findihc better way.*'
, . ' • Having
. -d by Google
a56 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTOM.
Having begun to think rationally, and
reafbn freely on religious ' matters, you may
be lure I did not loug remain in Mr. WeQey
fociety. What is remarkable, I well vcmcm-
ber that fome years before, Mr. Wefley told
his fociety in Broadmead, BriAol, iu my
hearing, that he could never keep a book-
feller fix months in bis flock, (all fanatics
are enemies to reafon.) He was then poinN
ing out the danger . that attended clofe rea-
fouliig in matter^ of religion and iplrltual
concerns, in reading controverfies, &c. at
that time X had not the leaft idea of my ever
becoming a bookfeller : but I no fooncr be-
gan to give fcope to my reafoning faculties
than the above remarkable aficrtion occurred
to my mind.
But that which rather haftened' my de-
parture from methodifcH was this. The
metUodiil preachers were continually repro-
bating the pradlice of matters and mlftrcfTes
keeping fervauts at home oa Sundays, to
drefs dinners, which prevented them from
« heariqg .the word of God (by the word of
God
Digitizuu by <^t.)K i-^t'^
\ ^ LIFE OF J. LACKJNGTON. 457
God they mean their own jargon of non*
leale) ; affuring them .if the fouls of fucfi
fervaats were damned, they might hi a great
meafure lay their damnation at the doors of
fuch mailers and miftrefleSt who .rather than
cat a cold duiner, would be guilty of break-
ing the fabbath, and riiking the lbuls of
^heir fervants* But how great was my fur*
prize on difcovering that thefe very men who
were coutuiually preaching up fading, abfti-
nence, &c* to their congregations, and who
wanted others to dine off cold dinners, or
eat bread and cheefe, &c« would themfelves
not even fupj without roafted fowls, &c.
This I found to be fad, as I feveral times
had occafion after attendhig the preaching to
go into the kitchen behind the old Voundery^
(which at that time was Mr. Wefley's
preachmg houfe ;) there I faw women who
had been kept from hearuig the fermou, &:c.
they being employed in roafling fowls, and
otherwife providing good fuppers for the
preachers,
P • So
258 LIFE OF i. LACiaNGTOW.
So,'* Hiid I, " you Liy burthens on othef
men's fhoulder^, but will not (o muchatf
touch them yourlelve8 with oue of yoor'
fingers/'
A ridiculous inftanere of the fame nature
happened alio ibme years (ince at Taunton^
One of Mr. Wefley's preachers, whofe name
was Cuttcrrell, affui cU his congregation from
time t0 titnCf that every baker that baked
meat Sundays would be damnedt and
every perfon that partook of fuch meat would
alio be damned ; on wliich a poor baker fliut
up his even on Sundays ; the confequence
was, that he loft his cuftomers, as fuch
bakei^ as baked their viduals on Sunday,
had their cuflom on other days, fo that the
poor bakery's &mily was nearly reduced to
the workhoufe ; when one Sunday paillug
before tiie door where he knew the preacher
was to dine, he was very iiiuth lurprifed W
iee a baked leg of pork carried into the
houie, and after a few minutes reflexions
he rulhed in and found the pious preacher
eating part of the baked kg of pork, oa
' which
Digitized by
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 259
which he bid farewel to the methodifi$» and#
agaui took care &>r his family.
«
It perhaps 5s worth remarking, that many
|)oor hair-dreffers in Mr. Wcfley's Ibciety
are reduced to extreme poverty, they cannot
get employment, as tliey will not drefs hair
on Sundays; and I find that a poor milk
womad, who until the beginning of this year
1792, maintained her family in a decent
manner, was lately frightciicd out of her
underilanding by a methodift preacher ; her
crime was, the felling milk on Sundays. The
poor wretch is now confined in Bedlam, and
licr hvc children arc iii a workhoufe.
I at this time know a bookfeller, who
being a methodift, is ib coufctentious as to
have his hair dreHed on the evening of every
Saturday, and to prevent its being difcom-
pofed in the night, he on thoie nights always
fleeps in his elbow chair. Indeed ibme teU
the ftory different, and fay, that liis hair is
drefled on Saturday morning, and by fleep*
ing in his chair he faves the expence of
P 5 3rcfling
Digitized by Google
dfo LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON;
drefling on Sundays ; others fay, that tlie
firil Is the fad, and that he hinted at it in
his fiiop-billsy in order that the public may
know where to find a Cradei^nau that had a
very tender confcience.
♦
I was one day called afide and a hand-bill
was given me ; and thinking it to be a quack
doclor*s bin for a certain dileafey I exprefled
my furprife at its being given to me in fuch
,a particular manner ; but. on. reading it I
found it contained a particular account of
the wonderful converfion of a John Biggs^
when he was twenty-one years of age. Mr.
Biggs fays, that ever fmce that time he has
had communion with God bis Father every
beur. He publiihes this bill (he fays) for
the glory of God i but that the public might
have an opportualty of dealing with this
-wonderful faint and perfeftly holy man, he
put his addrefs in capitals, John Biggs, No*
98, Strand, I keep this bill as a curiofity.
I ^tai dear Friend, yours.
LETTER
LUE OF J. LACKINGTON. a6i
LETTER XXVI.
Good morrow to thee : How doft do f
^ I oolf joil caird in, to (hew
** My love, upo^ this blciied cia/«
At I by fhMce came i»)r this wa^.
BoTLBR't Poftb. Wolki*
^' Let not your weak ankoowipg band
*• Miiin^God't bolts to ibfow,
** And deal damnatioo round the laod|»
«( On each joo judge bis foe"
»
DEAR FlUKND,
X Had no foouer left Mr.
Wcfley*s fociety, and begun to talk a little
more like a rational being, but I found that
I bad Incurred the hatred of fome, the pity
of others, the envy of many, and the dif-
pleafure of all Mn Wcfley*s— ^A/ women !
So that for a long time I was conftautly
teafed with their impertinent nonfenfe. I
believe that never was a poor devil fo plagued
** Soperftitioo is dreadful ia her wrath*
^ iicf dii€ Anatbema's againft you daft*"
HlMtfADl.
P 3 Some
a6» LIFE PF J. LACKINGTON,
Some a$ they pafied by my door in theiir
way tQ the Fouudery would only make 4
ftop and life up their hauds, turn up the
whites of their eyes, (hake their heads^
groant and pafs on. Many would call iti
and take me alide, aud after making rueful
faces, addrefs me with, Oli, Brother
Lackington ! I am very fbrry to find that
you who began in the Spirit are now like to
end III the flefli. pray brother, do remem-?
ber Lot^s wife.'* Another would interrupt
jne in my buiineis, to tell me, that ^> he
that puttcth his hand tq the plough, and
looketh back, Is unfit for the kingdom.*^
Another had juft called as he was paffing by,
to caution me agaiai]: the bewitching fuare^
of prolpt^iity. Others again called to ]^no\Y
if I was as happy then as I was when I ^on-
ilantly fought the i^rd with my brethrenj^
in prayer meeting, in clafs, in band, 6tc.
Wheti I affured them that I was uiore happy^
they in a very fplemn manner aflured me,
that I was ynder a very great delufion pf the
^evil ; and when \ by chancy happened tq
Digitized by Co
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON, 363
laugh at their enthufiaftic rant, fome have
run out of my (hop, declaring that th^
were afiraid to ftay under the* faiM roof with
oae, left the houle ihould fall on {heir heads^
Sometimes I have beeii aceoftcd In fuch au
lalarming manner as though- the houie was
0ii fire, with Ob ! brother ! brother I
you are faft aftecp 1 and thp flames <of hel^
arc takiijg hold of you
A certain preacher afllired me, in tbe pse^
£eace of feveral geiltlemen^ that the devii
would fooa tofs mc about hi th^ flames of
bell with a pitchfork. - This lame eloquent
mild preacher ufed occadonally to firip (9
i^is fhirt to dodge the devil<»
Mr. £• a gentleman of my acquaituancet
going through fome alley, one Sunday, hear-^
ing a very uncomn.oii nolle, was Jed by
curioiity to the houle from whence it pro-
iceeded^ and there he faw clcvatned aboye au
^^flembly of loid women, &c. this tayior, ilript
in his fhIrt, w^itli his wig off, and the collar
of his fhirt unbuttoned, Iweating, foa^iing
Digitized by Google
a64 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
at the mouth, and bellowing like a baited
bull. lathe above manner it leems he would
ofteu amafe hio^felf ai^d bis.coagre^atioxi for
near two hours,
Cariuig from hU fweattiig tab«
f« The cavalieit of Bdzebub/'
B u TLEi^'s Poah* Works,
Some of the T'abernaclc faints ailurcd mc,
that I never had one grain of faving grace,
and chat when I thought my felf a child of
God, I was only deluded by the devil, who,
being now qiute fure of me, did not tbuik it
worth his while to deceive me any longer^
Others advifed me to take care of fuming
agalnft light and knowledge, and pioufly
hoped that it was * not quite too late | that (
bad not (tliey hoped) committed the unpat'^
4onable fm agaiuft the Holy Ghoil, Others
9gain, who happened to be in a better hu-i
mour, often told me that they Ihould fee me
brought back to the true ilipepfold, as they
really hoped I had gnce been in a flate of
grace, and if fo^ that I always was in grace,
■ -
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON, 76$
in fpite of all I could do : the Lord would
never quit his hold of me ; that I might fall
foully^ but that it was impoffible for me to
^11 Jinallyj as in the end I ihould be brought
back ou the (boulders of tlie everlaftiug goC-
pel, for when G^d came to number h\%
jewels^ not one would be mifllng.
One of tbefe righteous men, after paifing
ibme encomiums on me for my moral chan
rafi:er, aflured me that I had by no means,
fallen fo low aa many of God'b dear children
had fallen, but fall as low as they poffibly
can, faid he, they arc ft*U God,*s children,
for altho' ihey raay be black with fin they
are fair withi;)," He then read to me the
following paflTage out of a pamphlet written
agaiuU Mr, Fletcher by Mr, R. Hill. David
ftood ascom^letely julHtiedinthe everlailiug
rigbteoufnels of Chrift, at the time when
he caufed Uriah to be murdered, and was
committing adultery with his wife, as he
** wa3 m any part of bis life, ^ For all the fias
pf the elc^l, be they more or be they lefs,
f6^ UF£ OF J. LACKINGTON* '
be they pail, prelent, or to come^ wero
for ever done away. . So that every one
of thok ele^ ftaud Ijpotiefs in the fight of
Goi** Is not this a very comfprtablc kind
of do£trine ? The pernicious confequences of
iucb tenets impreiTed on the minds of the
ignorant follpwers of thefe cjuacks iu li-
gioni muft be obvious to every pcrfon c : *
ble of refiedion. They have nothiu^
but to enlift themfeives in the, band u
cle<5t, and np matter then how criniuial tiic.
life)
Thu8» my dear friend, I was for a long
time coaxed by fome^ threatened with ail the
tortures of tiie dapincd by others, and cou^
ftautly tcafed fomc how or other by all th§
methodifis who came near ine,
Sorroundcd by foes, as I iat in my cMr*
** W1k> attacked like dogi flat m baiting a bear.''
I at laft determtned to laugh at all tbeir
ridiculous pervej^fions of the Icnptuxe, and
Hmt Ipiritual pant^ Th^ conli<jueucc (as
might
LIFE or J. LACKXNGTON, $Sf
inlght be expefted) was, they pioufly and
ciiaritably configued me over (o be tormentecl
by rhe devil, aud every where declared that
I was turned a downright ^theift. But the
afperfKMis of iUch fanatics gave me uo
cerij, ior
** r- If ihete's a power tlmve ei*
V i And tint there it, all trnt^tt cries ilood
i hrongh all her u orKs) he m\ii\ delight in Vift0C|
1* And cJttt which be deligkis m aiai be hapff.**
Aji»i«oir'^Cat)oi^
And no matter when or whcre/^ After
jfelaring iuch ridiculous (IgfF as the above, I
}:hinkthat I cauiioi cuuLlude this better thai|
V^ith Swift's humorous and iatirical account
of the day of judgment j lb hrnnqrous that
} would not have quoted it had it not beea
written by ^ divine of the Church pf
pngiand,
f ' With a whirl of tbooght oppieft^^
ff I ftak from reverie to lefl*
1? An iiornd vifion fei^'d nay head,
V. \ faw {be |nyei ^ive Qf theif deaid \
^68 LIFE OF J, LACKINGTON.
« Jove ami'd with termi badb the ftiu.
And tfauder torn, andJight'iuDg fikil
«• Amaz'd, confus'd, its fate unknown.
The wodd Hands titmblmg at his thionel
While each pale fianer fainig his head,
•< Jove nodding, ihook the heavens and faid»
Offendjog laoe.of hanan kind*
*9 By Datiive» fcafoii* learomg blind i
Yoa who thro' frailty ftcpt afide,
** And yoa who never fdl thio' pdde»
^ Too whoindiibeatfeAiweiefliamVlj
•* And come to fee each other damn d !
(So fome folks told jroD» hot they kiiew»
^ No moie of Jove's de%is than yon)
•* The world's mad bufincfs now iso'cr^
And X xeiiBnt thofe pranks no moie*
««I tofoch hlockheads fee mv wit!
■
I damn fucb fook 1 go, go, jmo'ie hil*"
» ♦ •
I am.
Dear Friend,
I.ETTER
. -.d by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTOK) a6}
L£TT£& XXVII.
" In London ftieets is often ieen
' A hnm-dram Ikint with holf metn*
•* His looks in oft primitively wc«r
'* An antieoC Abrabunick aic.
And like twd copies of a fiice»
Tbe^ood original di/jgrace."
Butler's Pofth. Works.
DEAR FRI£ND»
It being generally known
that I had for many years been a {kn€t me*
thodift, fmce 1 have freed myfelf from their
lhackles, I have been often alked if I did
not believe or rather know, that the metho^
difts were a vile fed of hypocrites altoge*
ther ? My reply has been uniformly in the
negative. 1 am certain that they are not In
general fo. The major part of them indeed
are very ignorant (as is the cafe with eathu-
iiafts of every religion) ; but I believe that a
great number of the methodifts are iincere,
honefl;, friendly people ; in juilice to thofe of
that
Digitized by Google
f
njo Life Of j. Lackingtoi^^
that defcripltion It may not be amifs to ot-
ferve, that many artful, fly, dcfigning pcr-
Ibns, having noticed their charader^ con-
ne<5tlous, &c. and kuo\ving that a religious
perfon Is ia gcacral fuppofed to be honeft
and confcientious^ have been induced to join
their iocietieSf and by aiTuming an appear-
ance of extraordinary lanclity, have the bet-
ter been enabled to cheat and defraud fuch as
were not guarded againft their hypocritical
' wiles.
^ yUaag idtgim a difgrnfe.
Or cloak to all their viilanies."
I have alfo reafon to believe that there arc
not a few, who think that they can as it
were afford to cheat and defraud, on the fcore
of having right notions of religion in their
heads, hearing what they deem orthodox
teachers^ going to prayer-meetings, &c..
There are agsun others who think, that
grace is fo free and fo.eaiy to be had, or ia
other words, that as they can have pardon
for
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. ajl
for all kinds of fios^ atid that at any time
whenever they pleafe, they under this idea
make very little confcieaCe of running up
large icores, to which pradice I fear fuch
doctrines as I noticed in xny laft^ from the
pen of Mr« Hill^ have not a little con*
tributed.
1 have often thought that great hurt has
been done to fociety hy the methodift preach-*
ers^ both in town and country, attending
condemned malefadors, as by their fanatical
Gonverfatiou, vlhoiiary hymns, bold . aud
innpious applications of the icriptures, &c.
many dreadful offenders againft law and juf*
tice, have had their paiiions and imagina-
tions fo worked upon, that they have been
Cent to the other world in fuch raptures, as
would better become martyrs innocently luf*
fering in a glorious caufe, thaii ciimlnals cf
the firft magnitude,
A great number of narratives of thefe fud<f^
den couverfions and triumphant exits have
been compiled, muay of them publifhed, and
circulated
Digitized by Google
tj% LIFE OF J. LACKIKGTOK.
circulated with the greateft avidity, to the
private emolument of the editors, and doubt-
lefs to the great edification of all finners, long
habituated to a courlc oi villainous depreda-
tions on the lives and properties of the honeft
part of the community $ and many fuch ao
counts as have not appeared in print, have
been afliduoufly proclaimed in all the metho«
dift chapels and barns, throughout the three
kingdoms ; by which the good and pious of
every dcnomuuitioii have been feandalized,
and notorious offenders encouraged to perfe^
vere, trufiing fooner or later, to be honoured
with a fimiiar degree of notice, and thus by-
a kind of hocus pocus, be fuddenly trans*
formed into faints*
■ »
The following remarks made by the com-
pilers of the Monthly Review for 1788, page
286, are fo applicable to the prefent fubjcd,
that 1 hope my introducing the paflage will
not be deemed improper. After mentioning
a couplet in one of the methodifUcal hymns^
where it is faid .
LIFE OF J, LACKINGTON- 273
Bclieue and all your fin's forgiven."
** Only beheot and youn as lieaven.'*
they proceed thus :
Such do£l;niie no doubt muft be com-
fortable to poor wretches fo circumflauced as
thofe were to whom this pious preacher had
the gnodnefs to addrefs his difcourfe ; but
j(bme (and thofe not men of ihaiiow reflec-
tion) have queftioiied whether it is altogether
right, thus to free the moft flagitious outcafts
of fbciety from the terrors of an after^reckon*
ing i Unce it is too well known, that moft of
them make Iktle account of their punifii-
ment in this world. Inftead of the •* fear-
full looking for oj (future) judgment they
are enraptured with the profpecl of a jo) lal
flight *V to the expanded arms of a loving
. Saviour — ^longing to embrace his long loft
children.'* Surely this is not the way (hu-
manly fpeaklng) to check the alarming pro-
grefs of moral depravity i to which, one
would think no kind of encouragement ought
. to be given."
Q I muft
■
Digitizec Ly v^oogle
r}4, LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
I muft abferve farther^ that the unguarded
manner in which the methodift preachers
make tenders of pardon and falvation, has
induced many to ]om their fraternity, whofe
coulcieaces wanted very large plaifters in-
deed f many of .thofc had need to be put
under a courfe of mortification snd penancey
but they generally adopt another method ; a
few quack nodrums, which they call faith and
affliraii:c, drys up the wound, and they then
make tbemfelves as hateful by afFe&ing to
have fquearaifh conlciences, as they really
have been obnoxious, for having coniciences
of very wide latitude indeed* And notwith*
ftanding the afFeded change^ they often are
as bad, or woric than ever. As a friend,
permil iuc to advilc you never to puichafe
any thing at a (hop where the mailer of it
crams any ot his pious uonfi:nle into his ihop«
bill, Sec. as you may be aflured you will
nine times out of ten find them, in the end,
arrant hypocrites, and as fuch, make no
fcruple of cheating in the way of trade, if
pofliblc.
Thii
Digitized by
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. aj$
^ This puts me in mind of one of theie
pious brethren in Petticoat^lane who wrote
in his ihop-wiudoWy Rumps and Burs fold
here, and Baked Sheep's heads will be con-
tinued every night, if the Lord permt^*
The Lord had no obje&ion : ib Rumps,
Burs, and Baked Sbeep*s beads were fold
tliLic a long time. And I remcuibcr to have
ieen on a board, near Bedmitifter^downy
** Tripe and cow-heels fold here as ufual, .
except on the Lord's-day, wiiich the Lord
help me to keep.'^ And ou my enquiring
about the perfon who exhibited this rem^arlc-
able (hew-board, at the inn juft by, I was
informed that the pious Trlpe-felier gene-
rally got drunk on Sundays, alter he returned
from the barn^preaching ; which accounts
for his not ielling tripe on that day, having
full employment (though poflibly not fo
inofFenfive) cUewhere.
I alio faw in a village near Plymouth in
* Devonihire, Roger T«ttd, by God's grace
and merty^ kills rats, moles, and all forts of
Q a vermin
Digitized by Google
376 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
vermin and venomous creatures.** But I
need not have gone fo far, as, no doubt you
mull remember th«it a few years ilnce, a cer-
tain pious common-council man of the metro-
polis, advertifed m the public papers for a
porter that could carry three hundred weight
and /erve the Lord. Of the lame worthy
perfonage I have heard it alferted, that fo
Very confcientious is he, that he oiyce ftaved
a barrel of beer in his cellar, becaufe he de*
teded it working on the fabbath-day, which
brought to my recoUedtion four lines in di ua-
kenBarnaby's Journey :
" To Banbury came I i O pxopbane one 2
" Where I faw a puritane one,
*• llaji^ing of his cat on Monday,
* ' For killing of a moufe on Sundajr.
Mr, L c , a gentleman of my acquaint*
ance informs me, that a methodifl neighbour
of his, in St* Martin's-lane, who keeps a
parcel of fowls, every Saturday night, makes
a point of conlcience of tying together
the legs of every cock lie has, in order to
prevent'
y 1^ L-o i.y Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. %n
prevent them fium breaking the fabbath, by
treading the hens on Sundays.
I have a few more obfervattons to make on
this remarkable fed, but tearing 1 have
already tired you, (hall relcrve them for my
next.
** Seemio^ devotion doth bat gild the knave,
•* Thai's neither fdiihlul, honelt, juit, or bnve,
Bot wheie lelipon does with virtue join*
" It nudqes a hero like aa angel (huie,'*
I amy
Dear Friend,
Yours*
Q 3 LETTER
■
Digitized by LiOOgle
47» LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.'
Li^TTER XXVIII.
Under this ftonc rcH* Hudibras,
A Knight ii emnt at e'er wti :
*• The controf eHy only lies,
•« Whether he wa*. more fool than wifc^
" Full oh he (uSu*d bangs and drubs^
f* And fnH as oft took {Mint in fnbs ;
«• And for ihc good old Ciufc ftood butf,
'Gatnft mvtf a bicier kick and cnff.
Of which (he moft thtK can be faid,
' •* He pray 'd and pceach'd, aAd preach 'd and pny'd.^
BuTLii's VMl Woika»
DEAR FRIEND,
It is very remarkable that
vhile I was writing the laft five lines of my
former letter to you, on Wcdnefday the 2d
of March I received the news of the.
death of Mi. John Wefley, who I am in-
formed, died that morning at his own houfe^
in the City-road, Moorfieids, in the £ighty-
eighth year of his age. He had no iUnefs,
but the wheels of the machine being worn
out^ it ftopt of courfc. As I am on the fub«
Dv
. LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 279
jc£t of methodifm, I hope you will not deem
it impertinent, if I devote a few lines to this
great parent of a numerous fed, whom I
well kneWy and feel a plcaiure in fpeakiug of
with fome refpecU
Several days prviccdlng his internicat,
^ being laid in his coffin, in his gown and
bandy he was expofed to the view of all wlio
came, and the public ; and I fuppofe that
forty or fifty thoulauJ pcrfons had a fight of
him. But the concourfe of people was fo
great, that many were glad to ge^ out of the
crowd without feeing him at all ; and al-
though a number of confcablcs were ^relent,
yet the pick- pockets contrived to eafe many
of their puries, watches,
To prevent as much as poiTible the dread*
ful efFeds of a mob, he was interred on .
Wedncfday March the 9th, between five
and fix o'clock in the mornii g, in the burial
ground behind his own chapel in the City*
road. After which Dr. Whitehead (the
phyfician) preached his funeral fermon ; but
Q 4 not-
Digitized by Google
ilo LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON-
notwitbftaaduig the early hour, many tboiH
fands attended more diau the chapel would
hold, although it is very large.
As foon as it was known that Mr. WeQey
was deceased, a number of needy brethreu
deemed it a fair opportunity of profiting by
it, and each immediately let his ingenuity to
work to compofe what he chofc to call a life
of him : and for fome weeks fiuce the f une-.
ral the chapel-yard and its vicinity has exhi-
bited a truly ludicriJU:> kene, on every night
of preaching, owing to the diflferent writers
and venders of thefe haily performances,
exerting themfelves to fecure agood fale; one
bawling out, that bh is the right life, a fccond
with a pious (hake of the head, declares,
his the real life, a third protefts ie has got
the on{y genuine account ; and a fourth calls
them all vile cheats and impoftors, &c- fo
that between all thefe competitors, the faints
are fo divided and perplexed in their opinions,
that lome decline purchafmg oiither i others
wiiiliig to tiy ail, aiiei keep tiiat which is
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. ttf
good/' buy of each of thcfc refpedabl^
venders of the life and laA account of that
celebrated character ; while the uniutereited
paiTenger is apt to form a conclurion that the
houfe of p rayer is again become a den of
thieves. Thus we lee thole holy candidates
for heaven ^re fo iaf^aenced by felf-iutereft
that it
** Turns meek and fccret fncaking ones
i« To Kav-beadlfl fiene »mI bloody bones.*'
I cannot help thinking that Mr. John
Wefley, the father of the methodlfts, was
one of the moft refpedable enthufiafts that
ever lived ; as it is generally thought that he
believed all that he taught others, and lived
the fame pious exemplary life, that he would
have his followers pradlife. The fale of bis
numerous writings produced nett prohts to
the amount of near two thousand
FOUNDS per annum; and the weekly collec-
tion of the claiTes in London and Weftmin-
iler amounted to a very large fum ; befides
^his, great fums were collcded, at the facia-
ments
Digitized
LIf E OF J. LACKINGTON .
meats aud love-feaits, for quarterly tiqkets,
private and public fubrcriptions, &c. &c.
In a pamphlet which was publiihed in the
beginning of this year 17929 by an old mem*
ber of their lociety, it is alferted that for
the tail ten years» the funis coUeAed in
Great Britain and Ireland, have amounted to
no lefs than four hundred thousand
POUNDS per annum. Befides the above, many
private colleiStions are made in all his ibcieties
throughout the three kingdoms, io that Mu
Wefley might have amalTed an immenle for*
tune, had riches been his objefV, But in- •
ilead of accumulating wealth, he expended
all bis own private property; and I have
been often informed, from good authority,
that he never denied rehef to a poor perfon
that aflced him. To needy tradefmen I hare
known him to give ten or twenty pounds at
once. In going a few yards from his ftudy
to the pulpit, he generally gave away an
handful of half-crowns to poor old people of
his fociety, He was indeed charitable to an
fxtreme, as he often gave to unworthy
obje£t s.
Digitized by Google
hlFE OF ). LACKilfOTON. ^
objects, nor would he keep money fofficient '
hold out on his journies. One of his
fiends informs me that he left but ^4.
IDS. behind him: and I haye heard lum de-
clare that he would not die worth twenty
pounds^ except his books for fale^ which he
^as left to the general methodiil fund, for
carrying on the work pf God, by Itinerant
preachers,** charged only with a rent of
^ighty-five pounds a year, which he has left
to the wife and children of his brother
f harle§.
His learning and great abilities are well
knpwn. But I cannot help noticing that in
one of his publication^ (ftepping out of his
line) he betrayal extreme wea^nefs and crer
dulity, though no ^pubt his intentipas were
good. What 1 allude to ii his " Primitive.
*
Pbjlfic^ a work certainly of a dangerous ten*
0ency» a$ the majority of remedies therein
prefcribed are moil -alTuredly iuefficacloust
and many of them very dangerous, if ad-
tniniftred. The confequence of the firft is,
that
«
Digitized by Google
a84 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTpN.
that while poor ignorant people are trying
«
thefe remedies, (befides riie very great prcK -
babillty of their millaktng the cafe) the dii^
eaies perhaps become fo inveterate as to refiA
the power of more efficacious remedies pro-
perly appUed, and with regard to thofe of a
highly dangerous nature^ how ra(h to truit
ihcm in the hands of luch uninformed peo-
ple as this book was almoft fblely intended'
£>r, efpecialiy when faudipned by the name
of an author wiiolc infiueuce imprefled the
minds of the unfortunate patients with the
moft powerful conviction. Many fatal effedts,
1 tear, have been produced by a blind ad*
hereuce to this compilation! which carries
with it more the appearance of being the
produAion of an ignorant opinionated old
woman^ than of the man of Icience and
educatiuu. One melancholy iaflance is frcfla
in my memory; a much efteemed friend
having fallen an immediate facrifice to au
imprudent apphcation of one of thefe re*
inedtes*
A very
t
LIFE OP J- LACKINGTOI^. i»s
A very worthy phyfician to whom the
community is highly indebted for his inde-
fatigable and fuccefsful exertions in the
caufe of humanity, publlilica Ibme very
judicious " Remarks on the Primitive
Phyfic," which however, for obvious rea-
ibns, were not fb generally noticed as the
fubjefl: deferved ; as almoft all the admirers
' of Mr. Wefley*s work coniifted of his fol-
lowers, (fuificiently numerous indeed to en-
fure a very extenfive falc) thefe were too
bigoted to condefcend to perufe any pro-
dudion tending to enlighten .their under-
ilandings ; and the public at large, not hav-
'ing paid much attention to it, did not con-
ceive themfelves ib materially interefted in
the " Remarks,*' though I am firmly of
opinion, if they are peruied with that can-
dour with which they appear to be written,
they will have a very beneficial tendency in
guarding the public againfl the mifchief
too frequently arifiug from the ** PaUiltlve
Phyfic," agd other qunck publications, as -
* ablurd as. they are injurious.
Permit
Digitized by Google
' st&6 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
• Penmt me juft to give you one 4>ccimea
of the authorV wonderful abilities^ by quoting
a receipt, which if oot an inf^$blc remdy^
fiiuft at kail he acknowledged to be a liugu-
Ism: ooe*
To cure a windy Cholic.**
Suck a healthy woman daily ; this (fay»
Mr. Wefley) was tried by my father*'*
Should yoUy my dear friend, be deiirotia
of peruiiug a variety of remedies^ not equally
judicious as well as efficacious with thofe of
Mr. Wefley, you will meet with ample iatis*
f9.^ion by turning to Dam Pcrmty^s Voyage
to the Falkland Jflands^^' page 153 to 162*
quaito edition.
Some of the receipts there inferted are ib
truly curiom, I can fcarce refrain from treat-
Ing you with a i^jeclmea or two, but being
at the fame time not very delicate, I muft
decline iulerting them, for like Simpkio,
^ J pity the ladia fo modeft and iiice.'*
Should
tIFE OF J. LACKINGTON<( il;
Should you, however, deem it wor|h the
trouble of turntug to the volumet I am con*
fideut the iubjedt muft excite a fuiile at the
amazing cicdullty of tl>c writer, as well as
his foUy ia expofing foch wretched traih Id
the public eye^ indeed I can hardly periuade
myfelf he could be Serious when he wrote
them.
The two following receipts I muft give
you, one beiog no doubt an effc£luai remedy
for a grievous complaint of that ufcful quar
druped the Jiorfe^ the other at leaft equally
certain for the cure of one of die moil daa--
gerous diforders human nature is iubje£t to*
To Cure a Foundered Horfc/*
Let him take one or two fpoonfuls of
common fait in half a pint of water !
^* For a maliguaat Fever.**
" A live tench applied to the feet j&)r
twehe JkourSj then buried quietly , or thrown
down the baufc 4^ o^^ce^ and the patimt *will
foon recovisr.*'
But
1
m LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
But as I well know you do not poiTefs the
faith either of a methodift or a papift, to pot
implicit trufl iu whatever the teachers of
either choofc to write or fay, I fear left I
have beftowed on you labour in vain, I
therefore decline quoting any more of thoie
extraordinary remedies.
It was a circumftance peculiarly happy
for the praftitioners of phyfic* though no
doubt a terrible misfortune to the public,
that the Jiilcrciice in religious piluciples of
»
thele two reverend gentlemen proved an
effectual bar to the union of their medical
abiUties, which appear fo exadly correfpon-
dentj had fuch an event taken place, that
horrid monfter difeafe^ might by this time
have been baniihed from the earth, and the
fons of ^fculapius would be doomed to feed
on their own compuiitions or ftarve ! The
Rev, Dr. Fordyce, in a late publication,
has alfo given the world a remedy for the
cramp, as dehcaU as efficacious.
But here, I think I fee you fmile at my
cenfuring Mr. Wefley for Jiepping out of bis
Digitized by Google
UFF OF J. LACKINGTON. aSj
lim^ * when at the very momeot I am com-
niittiug the fame error by obtruding my
judgiucnt upon the fctcnce of phyfic.— I
Ihall only reply. Many thought I did the
fame when I commenced bookfeller ; and a
friend once taught mc the adage, (be not
offended, 'tis the only fcrap of Latin I ihall
give^you) '•^ Ne Sutor ulira crepidam** But
the event has proved it otherwiic, and 1 flat-
ter myfelf every candid and judicious perfbn
capable of judging will think with me on
the above fubjed. But to refume my
narrative.
What a pity that fuch a chara&er as Mr.
Weflcy ihould have been a dupe and a rank
enthufiaft ! A believer m dreams, vifions^
immediate revelations, teiraculous cures,
witchcraft, and many other ridiculous ab*
furdities, as appears from many pafTages of
his Journals, to the great dilgrace.of his
abilities and learnuig; which puts me in
mind of Sir Ifaac Newton's Expofition of
the Revelations, Mlltoirs Paradlfe Regained,
Dr. Johnfon's unmanly Devotions, &c. &c»
R ^' ,and
uiLjiiized by Google
290 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTOJT,
and (to compare fmall things with greater)
J* L/s turning author. However, we may
fafely affirm that Mr. Wefley was a goadfin-
cere and honefl on<s, Who denied himfelf many
things ; and really thought that he dilregarded
the praife and blame of the world, when he
was more courted, refpe£ted, and followed than
any man living, and he ruled over a hundred
and twenty thou(and people with an ablblute
fway, and the love of power fcems to have
been the main fpring of all his aAions. I
am inclined to believe that his death will be
attended w ith confequences fbmewhat fiml-
lar to thofe which followed the death of
Alexander the Great, His fpiritual generals
will be putting in their preten(ions» and foon
divide their maftcr'^ coiiq^ucfl-s. His death
happened at a time rather critical to the me-
thodifts, as the Swedenborgians^ or New
yerufaUmifis^ are gaining ground very fail :
Many of the methodifts, both preachers and
hearers, are already gone over to their party^
many more will now, undoubtedly, follow ;
and the death of that great female champion
of
Digitized by
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 391
of niethodirm, the Countefs of Huntingdon^
which has iiuce kappeued^ will in all proba-
bility occalioii another confiderable defedioa
from tbdf branch of methodtfls, and an addi*
tional reinforcement to the Swedenborgians ;
a proof of the fondnefs of mankind for no-
velty, and the marvellous, even ia rell^Iuus
matters.
I ihall conclude my rpmarks on the metho«
dlfls in my next.
I am.
Dear Friend,
Yours.
R 2 LETTER
Uigiiizea by L^OOgle
LIFE OF J. LACKIKGTOM.
LETTER XXIX.
More haughty than the feft* the — rtee,
** Appear with bell/ gaunt» aod fi^miQi'd face :
•* Never wu fo defocia'd a babe of gnoe,"
Their fermoiM
«* Are olios made of conflagration,
** Of galph$» of bruDftone, and damikatioii«
Elenal torments, famaoe, wofiB»
«* Hell-fire,- a whirlwind, and a ftorm ;
With Mammon, Satan, and petditiott»
And IWsrMtohelpdiedifiioas
•* Br//<7/, and Luci/er, and all
The nickaamei which OiV jVii^l we can,
DEAR FRIEND,
Although Mr. WeOcy
was pofieifed of a verjr great fliare both of
natural and acquired abilities, yet I fuppofe
it icarcely neceflary to Inform you, that this
is by no means the cafe with his preachers
in general ; for although there are amongft
them foa^e truly fenfible, intelligent men,
yet the major part are very ignorant and ex*
tremely illiterate : many of thefe excellent
^iritual
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. S9|
i[piritual guides cannot even read a chapter in
the bibkt thoug|i containing the deep my (Se-
ries which they have the raChnefs and pre-
fumption to pretend to explain. Many others
cannot write their own names. But fo eat
ts the Ignorance of Mt, Wefley's people la
general, that they often neglcd the more
rational and fenfibie of their preachers, and ,
jire better pleafed with fuch as ar^ eveu deiU-
tute of common lenle ; really believing that
the incoherent nonfenfe which they from
time to time pour forth, is dilated by the
Holy Spirit ; for :whicb fey^al r^afoq« may
- be afligoed,
It is always obfervable, that the more
norant people are, the more confidence they
polTefs. This confidence, or impudence^ paffes
with the vulgar, as a mark of their being in
the rights and the more the ignorance of
the preachers is difcovered, the more ar^ they
brought down to their own ftapdard* Again,
the more ignorant preachers having very con*
traded ideas of real reiigiou and manly vir-^ ,
tue, of courfe fupply the want of it with a
K 3 ridiculous
Digitizec Ly v^oogle
994 I-I^E OF J- LACICINGTON,
ridiculous fufs about trifles, which paiTes
i^i^ith the ignorant for a mgre iauciiiied de-r
portmcnt, and Iicncc anfcs much of the
mifchief which has been fo juftly charged ot|
the methbdifts* For by making the path to
heaven fo very narrovir, and befet with tea
thoufand bugbears, many defpairing to be
<ver able Co walk in it, have thrown off aU
religion and morality, and funk into the •
abyfs of vice and wickednefs. Others have
their tempers ib loured as to become loft to
all the tender connexions of huiband, wife,
father, child, &c. really believing that they
are literally to hate father, mother, &c. for
Chrift's fake. Many have In a fit of defpon^
dency put a period to their exillencej it hav--
ing become a burthcii too intolerable to be
borne. Some have been fo infatuated with
the idea of failing to mortify the &e(ti^ thai
their ftrift perfevcregce in it has been pro-
ducllvc of the moft ferious confcqucnccs :
Two inftaiKes of which lately occurred in
one family, in the City Road — The millref$
was deprived of her fenfes, and the maid
literally
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 495
lUerally fdiltJ hciTeJf to death ; and Bedlam
and private mad^houies now contain many,
very many melancholy iiUlances oi the dread-
ful effefts of religious dcfps)udeucy ; not to
mention th'e hundreds that have Hied from
time to time in fuch places, and the nu-
merous fuicides which have been traced to
the fame fource. '
Mr. Bentley fays» in his letter to the
members, of the houfe of commons, dated
May i2tli, 1 79 1, that althougli he had a
fortune of one thoufand pounds, and natu-
rally liked good living, yet that^ he lived on
jioiie and ais ficih, barley bread, lluikiug
butter, &c. and when he found tliat his eat-
ij)g fuch things gave offence to his nc igli-
bours, he left oti eating afs 'iie(h, and only
lived oil vegetables, as the commoii fort of
food by their dearnefs hurt his confcicnce.
A few years fince I f*\w in a field not kven
miles from CIiiiia-uaH, a man tofTiag up
his bible in the air. This he often repeated,
and raved at a Arange rate. AmongH other
R 4 - things,
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
thingir,' (pointing to a building at fome
^iftance) " n^l (fald he) is the devil's
houi^^ and it (hall not ftand three days
4ong«r4** ^ On the third day after this I faw
with furprize an account in one of the pub-
lic papers of that very building having been
fet on fire^ and burnt to the ground, and
thus the poor itinerant dilciples of Thcfpis
loft the vvliulc of their wardrobe and fceu^ry.
This religious maniac fbon after preached
very often in Smithfield and Moorhelds ; but
he did not wholly depend on the operations
of the Holy Spirit, as at laft he feldom began
to preach until he was nearly drunk, or
filled with another kind of ipirit, and then
he was *^ a very povvxi iul preacher indeed/^
But the good man happening feveral times
to ex<;rt himfelf rather too 0uch, had nearly
tumbled headlong out of his portable pulpitis
thefe accidents the mob uncharitably afcribed
to the liquor that he had drank, and with
mud, Aones, d^«^4 ^^^^9 drove him off
every time he came, uutil at Inft our preacher
took his leave of thepi with faying that
he
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 097
he perceived it was ia vain to attempt their
couvcriion, 9s he faw that God hid givea
them over to the hardnefs of their hearts/'
But although this holy man deferted
tbem, yet other fpiritual kuight^-errait were
Bot wanting^ fu tliat a little time bebrc the
heaps of ftones which lay for years in Moor-
iields were removed for the purpofe of build-
ing on the ipot, I have feen five or fii ia a
jday preaching their iiiltiatiou fcripons ffom
thofe elevated fituations, untU they :ould
tM>Ued a fufficicnt fuo) of money to puchi^
pulpits. Some of thefe excellent prea:hers
fee Jived the whole of their divuie cduatiou
9iid took up their degrees in Moorfieids, and
in due time» after having given ample and
facistactory proofs of beipg properly qaali*
«
fied, liave becu admitted to profeflbr(hi]s in
the npble College (ituated on the fouth^de
of thole fields, generally known by the nime
oifiedkm. You muft know. Sir, that aauy
of the lazy part of the community fe. up
^alls in Moorfields to buy and fell ap]Ies,
pld ironi j^c^ feveral Qf thefe haying hr^rd
lUcb
Digitized by Google
fucli edifying difcourfes frequently repeated
as tbey fat at their , ilaUs, and ob^rving the
luccefs which thofe ,1^^^ of preachers met
with, Doldly refolved to make tj ial of ^/Je^r
fpiritud gifts on the heaps of ftones, and
have cow totally abandoned their flails, and
are gone forth as embafladors of heaven,
though without being furniflied with any
diplonas as fuch. One of thefe who cannot
read, lately informed me that he had quit-
ted all temporal conceiiis for the ^ood of
poo.' ignorant finners. However after all,
tlere is (poiiibly) a plealure in being mad,
whch none but madmen know/^ The fub-
jeO of methodifm is fo fertile a one, that
wtfe I difpofed to enlarge thereon, my cor-
rei)ondence would be extended to a very
coifiderable length ; but inftead of pin fuing
it, I think it better to apologize for having
fo long digreffed from the main fubjedt of
nv narrative.
iBut before I take my leave of the fubjed.
Infill in few words inform you how the
Poachers wero gaverned axid fupported.
i Mr.
t
r
i
f
Digitized by
LIFE OF J. LACKllNGTON. S99
Mr. Wefley every year ordered the major
part of his travelling preachers in great
Britain and Ireland, which were upwards of
two hundred in number, to meet together*
one year at Loudou, the next at Bridolt and
the foliowiug at iManchefter; this meeting
he called a conference. At tbofe confer-*
enceSf the buiinefs of the whole foclety was-
tranfaded, new preachers admitted, and fome
turned off, or (llenccd ; complaints heard,
differences adjufted, &c. Mr. Welley having
divided Great Britain into circuits, at thofe
conferences, he appoiiited the preachers to
every circuit for the following year, and as •
he well knew the general want of abilities
among his preachers, he liaaited their time
of preaching in one circuit to a year, and'fo
in ibme meafOre, made up the want of abi-
lities by variety, molt of thofe circuits had
three or four preachers every year, and in
mauy country places, they had but one
iermon a week from the travelling preachers,
ib that each preacher preached about twelve
fermous.in Uit ^cai, ^lomctiuii^s it maybe
twenty)
Digitized by Google
joo LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
twenty) at each place. In every circuit one
of the preachers was called the aiiiflant ; to
him the various contributions were paid, and
of him might be had any of Mr. Weflcy's
publications. He alfb admitted new mem*
berSy or turned out any who were judged
unworthy of bearing the high appellation of
ametbodift.
Each itinerant preacher had a horie found
him, which, with hlmlelt, is maintained by
jbme brother or iifter wherever they go,
the preachers do not put up at any inn, an4
yet they have as regular ilages to call at a$
the coaches have, they having made converts
at convenient diftances in moil parts of
Great Britain and Ireland.
Each travelling preacher was then allowed
twelve pounds a year, to find himfclf cloaths,
pay turnpikes, &c. beiides what they could
get privately out of the old women's pockets*
But befides thofe circuit-preachers, there
*
*^ are in the year 1790, in Europe and A me*
nca, thirteen' or fourteea hundred,'' of local
Digiiizuu by LjCA-'li^i^
LIFE GF J- LACKINGTON. 3<ii
holdersforthy who do not preach out of their
own neighbourhood, and tliuic in general
are the moft ignorant of all.
Many of the circuit-preachers only travel
until tliey can marry a rich wiJgw, or feme
ignorant young convert with money, which
has 6ften been the caufe great Unhappi-
uefsj in many refpc£table families. The
following poetical defcriptlon of the metho-
dift preachers, is ib much to my purpoie,
that I muiV infer t it :
•* Orakir, without mood or tenje ;
" FudJmi is fmtUmg fiiil they knoir/
Whetlwr it has a plom or nos
•* So, tho' the preacher have no Ikiil,
'* A/'fwnrisa^rwfiill*
TbeBrkk]ay'rthiowthittfmvelb)r«
And now builds manfions iu the Jhj ;
•« The CMu touch'd with bdj pride.
And now devoutly fets about *
Cobbliagof /ouis, ikaXnier*wearmti
" ThtBiJterii/Ofw apreather'^^tmvL^
*• Finds man lives not by bread alone,
" And aow his caftomeis he feeds
^ With pnr/n, wsSd/irmnut imm» and ereedf t
The
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J- LACKINGTON,
•* The Timmnf, mcnrM hf vmnA within,
•* Hammn the goJpii]\i{k like //«,•
Semmi and /in^ to weave;
Barbers unrcapM will leave the chin.
To tfiin» and ihtve the man njUbin ;
*• The WkNrmm fbfgeH bu mthitij^
And opens a celrjfhl ferry
The Bmtfefg bit by fxenzy's grubj
The majbmg for the pnmhKg tab
Refigns, //^J/^- nxaters to explore,
** Which if yoa dxinlc* you thirft no moxe;
•* The Gmw^iKTM
•* TirM of the mattock and the fpadc.
Changed to Apollos in a thcCf
The Fijhermen no longer fet
Forj^ the meihei of thcii net^
Bttt catch, like P«flrr, hmt tfjm^
** For cauhmg to /^i/ /Zv/xi
I now take a final leave of methodiraif
with afluring you, that in giving a general
idea of the tenets and praftlces of a numerous
ieft who have excited much public attention^
I have invariably had in view to Ipeak ot
theni as they are, nothing to extenuate, nor
fet down aught in malice/* Should you
wiih to fee the errors of the methodifts par-
ticularly
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKl^NGTON. 303
tlcularly expofed, you may read Blfliop
Lavington's " Enthufiafm of the methodifU
and baptlfts compared/' It is efteemed a very
good work, it will amu(e as well as inflrud
you. lu my next, I intended to have re*
fumed the account of my own affairs ; but
an e^sf raordinary publication, will tempt me
to add, one letter more on the methodiils«
1 am.
Dear Fnend,
Yours,
LETTER
Digitized by LiOOgle
304 U£E OF J. LACKINGTON^
LETTER XXX.
" Religion, fiuieft maid on mxfthf
As meek as good, who drew her breath
^ Fram tbebkft onion when io hetvea,
Ffeifoie wai bride to ▼iftne gifoi s
** Rcligioo ever plea&'d to pray,
Pofleft'd the piedoas gift one dajri
'* Hypocrify of cnnntog bora,
" Crept in and itole it ece the nioni."
' CBVftCRI&i«
DEAR FRIEND,
Although i was many
years la conuexion with Mr. Wefley's peo-
ple, it feems, according to a pamphlet pub-
liflied a few months after the firft edition of
my Memoirs, that I was but fuperiicially ac*
quainted with Mr. Wefley and his preachers.
The pamphlet is entitled, A Letter to the
Rev. T. Coke, LL.D. and Mr. H. Moore.*'
To which is added, ^' Au Appeal and Re-
monftrance to the People called Methodlds,
by an old Member of the Society.*' This old
member informs us, that he has been ac-
quainted
*
Digitized by
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 305
^uamted with the methodifts twenty-eight
years^ and if their preachers are but half as
bad as he has chcuvn tlicm, they are a de-
teftabie let of (ly deceiving villains. The
letter was occ^fioned by Dn Coke and Mr.
Moore's propofals for publlfliing Mr* Wefljy'f
Life, in oppofitlon to that advertlfed (under
the fan^ion of the executors) to be writtea
by Dr. Whitehead.
And we are informed that after Mr.
Weiley's manufcripts and private pajpers had.
been given up to Dr. Whitehead, aud the
Do&or appohited to write his Life, and
this Life announced to the public by the
executors as the only authentic work^ oa,
a mifunderftanding taking place between
Dr. Whitehead and the preachers^ be^
caufe the Do^Aor would not fubmit his
work to be iufpe£ted, altered, &c and alfo
becaufe the Dodor would not confent to
give to the preachers at the conference,
nearly the whole of the profits derived from
his labours, they theu lent a circular let-
S ter
Digitized by Goo'^jIc
4
3o6 LIFE OF ]• LACKINGTON.
d
ter figncd by nine of their head preachers, to
all their focieties, aiul advife them to return
the fubfcriptions that they had taken for jyoSlor
IVhitehead's Life (f Mr. IVeJley^ and to procure
all the fubfcriptions in tbeir power for another
Life of Mr. JVefley^ to be written by Dr.
Coke and Mr. Aioorc.
The following quotations I think will
pleafe you, page 8, &c. That Mr. Wefley
was a great man is an undeniable truth;
that Is coiiipaiiUvcly :— Great aniougil little
people.''
Nothing can exhibit bis chara6ter as an am«
bilious man, more than the following anecdote,
which I caii give from the mod authentic autho«
rity. When m boy he was in the Cbarter-Houre
fchool ; the Rev, A. Tooht^ the author of the
Pantheon, was then mafter/ and obferving that his
pupil, \^ho was remarkably forward in his ftudies,
yet he conllantly alfociated with the inferior
clafles, and it was his cuftom to be furrounded
by a number of the little boys, haranguing them.
Mr* Tooke, once accidentally broke in upon him
when in the uiidclleof an oration, and interrupted
him, by defiring him to follow hiny to the parlour.
Mr. Wefley, offended by being thus abruptly de-
prived
' Digitized by
LIFE OF J, LAGKINGTON. 307
prived of an opportunity of difplaying bis fuperior
abilities* obeyed his mafter very reluQantiy.
When they bad' got into the parlour Mr. Tooke
faid to him : John, 1 wonder that you who are
To much above the lower forms fliould conftantly
aflbciate with them, for you Ihould now coniider
yourfelf as a man, and affed the company of the
bigger boys, who are your equals." Our hero,
who could hardly itifie his refentmeni whilft his
mafter fpoke, boldly replied BHkr to nife m
hcU^ thanjcrvc in heaven **
V Mr. Tooke difmifled his pupil with this re«
markable oblervation to an affiftant mailer. —
That boy though defigned for the church will
never get a living in it : for his ambttioUvS foul
will never acknowledge a fupenor, or be confined
to a parifli.
" That he was luperior to the prejudices he
inculcated to his followers, and with what con-
tempt he ionietUDC.s treated ihc la\ - preachers, the
following will (hew. — Being at fupper one Sunday
night, (a fliort time before bis death) with feverfil
of the preachers, one of them obferved that
whenever Mr. Wefley travelled, he was always
invited to tiie hou fes of the neigh ix)uring nobi-
lity and gentry ; but when the preachers travel-
led, no notice was taken of them, which he could
not account for, Mr« Wefley replied, it was
S fl the
Digitized by GoQgle
3ol LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON^
ihe way of the world to court the great, bat I Taf ,
love me love my dog !** enjoying his uiumpii with
a hearty laugh at their cxpence.''
After this old member's letter comes his
Appeal and Reinonllrance to the MethoJiils,
which, as coming from an old methodiftt
contains (bme very extraordinary afifertions
and factsy and letters more extraordinary. I
ihali give you fome extrads from it in page
28* " Faith is the ground-work of (metho-
* dill) evidence — it precludes the ueceffity of
every virtue — it is to be feared it has lent
more of its votaries to Bedlam than to hea-
ven — Is to wife men a ftumbling block, an
unintelligible jargon of myftical non(enfe»
which common fenfe and common honefly
rejeS/'
Fdgc 3o,&c. It has been compuicdtbatthe con-
tributions raifed among the members of the difiPe-
rent focietiesin Great-Britain and Ireland For thefe
lad ten years, has amoumed to no lefs than FOUR
HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS per an-
num. Jt has been further proved that about one
eighth part of this f urn is appropriated to the pur-
poies
Digitized by
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 309
pofes for which it was raifed, and the remainder
is difpofed of at the diicretion of the confcrencei
the preachers, and the ftewards. This calculation
«
docs not iiiclude the enormous furns known to be
raifed privately by the influence of the preachers
in their rcrpctuve circuits, uadci die vaiious pre-
tentions of didrefs, &c. ^
" However, I do not pretend to vouch fui" the
accuracy of this catculation^ yet 1 think it by no
means exaggerated. What has come within my
own knowledge I can aflert with confidence^ and
J challenge any one to refute it*
Of King/wood School, I can fpeak with cer«
taiuty : for this foundation, many thoufands have
beeii raifed which never were, and i believe
never were intended to be applied to that chai ity.
During eight years that I was at Kingfwood^ it
not only fupported itfelf, but produced a con*
lidcrable annual furplus.
One of the mafters of King's School, being
deficient in his accounts, he was judged an 1m«
proper perfon to enjov any place of truft. and
was accordingly dilmilied, and appointed to a
circuit as a travelling preacher — but any will do
for that, who has but impudence and hypoc9if» —
no matter whether he poflefles a grain of honefty.
Now if thi$ was the cafe with refpcd to Kingf-
S 3 woo4»
LIFE OF J. LACKiNGTON.
f
wood, may we not conclude that the fame ioi-
quitoui priDciple pervaded the adtniniftration of
the finances in all the diiFerent deparunents ?
Page 33, &c. O how long, ye Jheep^ will ye
be the prey of wolves who fleece aiid devour you
at pleaiure ! and, yt/ools^ be the dupes of iitava/
and hypocrijy f
" Open your eyes, and behold the -oillain and
hfPoeriU unmaiked, in inftances of the mofi fla-
gitious crimes, and deeds of the blacked dye !
perpetrated by wretches, whom you tamely fuffer
to devour your fub(lance» and whom you cheer-
fully contribute to fupport in idienefs and lux-
ury » which brings into contempt the gofpel, and
whofe example has done more harm to religion,
than that of the moft abandoned and profligate
open linner : admitting at the fame time that
there may be, and I hope there are, fome boneft
andfincere men amongft them.
*• To begin then with the late Rev. J. Weflcy.
As the founder and head, he muft be confidered
as t^tprimum mobile, or firft mover of this mighty
machine of hypocrijy^ fraud, and villainy! Yet
were his motives originally laudable in ihcir in-
tention, virtuous in their objcd, but unhappy in
their confequences. This I will endeavour to
make appear, by an impartial review of his life,
' charafier, and condu£l. I flatter myfeif that I
am in fome meafure qualified, being totally di-
vclted
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 311
vefted of {Mnejudtqe, and bmviog no jntereft either
in reprefenting him as a JainL or a devil.
From what I have ohlerved during near -
twenty-eight years that I have known him, I
have uniformiy found him ambitio^is, imperii'
oiu, and po&dve even to obltinacy. His learn*
ing and knowledge vaiiou.^ and general, but fu-
perficiali his judgment too hafiyand decifive to
be always juft — bis penetration acute ; yet was
be conftantly the dupe to his credulity and his
unaccountable and univerfal good opinion of man-
kind. Humane, generous, andjufl. In his private
opinions liberal to a degree inconfiilent with {XriQ,
Chriftianity ; in his public declarations rigid al-
molt to intolerance. From this oblcrvatuin of
the inconfiftency of his private opinions and pub-
lic declarations, I have often been inclined to
doubt his fincerity, even in the profeffion of the
ChrilHan faith. In his temper impetuous, .ind
impatient of c6ntradidion.; but in his heart, a
ftranger to malice or refentment ; incapable of
particular attachment to any individual; he knew
no ties of blood or claims of kindred ; never vio*
leutly or durably afifcded by grief, forrow ur any
of the pafiions to which humanity is fubje^ ; fuf-
ceptible of the grofleft flattery, and the moll fuU
fome panegyric was conftantly accepted and re-
warded. In his views and expedations, fanguine
apd unbounded^ but though often difapgoiatcd,
S 4 never
Digitized by Google
I
312 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
never dejeBedi of his benevolence and charit^f
much has been faid ; hut ii is to be cjkferved, htne^
VOlencc is but a paffive virtue, and his charity
was no more than bribery ; he knevr no other ufc
of money bat to give it away, and he found out
that an hundred pounds would go farther in half
crowns than in pounds ; fo that hb charity wa^
little more than parade, as he hardly ever cffcn-
tially relieved an ohjed of diftrefa : in fa^ his cha«
rity was no more than putting his money to inr
teieil, as the example excited his followers to the
praftice of the fame virtue, and doubled their fub-i
fcriptions and contributions. In his conHitutioa
warm, and confequently amorous ; in his manner
t)f living luxurious and ftri&ly epicurean and fond
of diihes highly reliihed, and fond of drinking
the richeft wines, in which he indulged often, but
never to excefs. He was indebted more to his^
commanding, pofitive, and authoritative mannerj^
than to any intniiiically fuperior abiiiiic^.
Having thus given the outlines of his cha-
rader, I ihall only obferve, that he appears to.
have been more a philofopher than a chriilian :
and fliail then proceed to fome anecdotes and
circutuiiances \vbich will corroborate my afler«
tion^ and juitify my condufion.
As the zuc}'jz of God, as it is called, was the
inhere of a£lion in which be was more particMl^rly
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTOH. 313
wd confpieuoQiiy engaged, aind as I have veh«
turcd 10 qucftion the finccruy of his profcfTions,
. it is proper lhat I fliould ftate my reafons tor fo
doing. Firft then of converfion : in the metko^
dt/iical fenfe of the word, for in the true icnfe, I
apprehend to bo neither more or lefs, than for*
faking vice and praftiiing virtue; but however,
the methodifticai fenfe imports quite a different
thing, and it is in that fenfe we fliall view it. I
have made it an invariable obfervation, that Mr. .
Wefley, although he was often in the company of •
fcniibie men, who were capable of forming an
opinion, and prefiimed to judge for themfelves by
the light of nature, the evidence of the fenies, and
the aid of reafon and phiiofophy ; but of fucb,
he never attempted the converfion. In his own
family and amongft his relations, he never
attempted, or if he did attempt, he never fqc-
ceeded ; except now and then with a female, in
whom he found a heart futireptible of any impreF-
iion be pleafed to give. It is remarkable, that
tven the children of Mr. C. W. were never con-
verted — bccaufe they, and mod of his relations,
pofleffed fenfe enough to difcover hypqcrify, and
honefty enough to rejcft the advantage they might
bave derived from aHuming it. fiui what is ftiM
more extraordinary, is, that out of fp many
hundred, who have be.en educated at Kmgjwoo^^
\n the moil rigid difcipline of methodifm, hardly
^?^X^ embraced their tenets^ or become
9i^mber%
Digitized by Google
314 LIFE OF J. LACiwINGTON. -
members of the fociety. The reaToo is pretty
obvious^ they were taugbi loo i^ucli to imbibe the
ridiculous prejudices the founder wifhed to be
inftilled into their minds : pbilofopby and meiho*
4t(m, are utterly incompatible* When the human
mind is informed by the ftudy of pbilofophy, it
expands itfelf to the contemplation of things.
It is true indeed, the v»rk was (bmetimes at*
tended with power among the children at Kingf--
wood* Convcrfoom were frequent ; but never dura*
blc. I royfeir was converted foAc ten or a dozen
times; but unluckily, my cluji leader wasdete&cd
in having ftolen a pair cf filver buckles. This
wai a dreadful ftrokc to ihc work, and a glorious
triumph to the wkktd one. The whole fabric oi
fakhj graccy and all its concomitant vices, as
hypocrifyy (3c, (dc. experienced a total overthrow !
The ferious boys, as they were called by way of
eminence, fell into the uimuil contempt, and
ever after, the Uadcr of a clafs wis ililed Copiain>
of the Gang: 9i cowert 2iwi a, thief, were fynoni^
mous terms,
A general converSon among the boys, was
once eileded, by tbe late excellent Mr. FUuhcri
one poor boy only excepted, who unfortunately
irliUcd the influence of the Holy Spini; for
which he was fevereiy flogged, which did not fail
pf the defired eSeCt, and imprcfled proper notions
of
Digitized by
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 315
of religion on his mind. Unhappily there opera-
lions of the Spirit, though violent, were but of
Ihort duration.
** As the converfion of men and women, is a
more ferious concero than that of children, I will
defcribe one, to which I was an eye witnefs
among the poor Colliers at King/wood, One
of ihofis prefumptaoQs and impious fanatical
wretches, who aiiume the charaQer of minifters
of God, and take upon them in his mod holy
name, to denounce his curfes and vengeance
againU tbofe who are far leiis guilty than them*
felves : a fellow of this defcription, of the name
of Sanderjon, preaching to a congregation of igno-
rant, but barmlefs people; this fellow, took
upon himfcH in thy name of God, to condemn
thtm all to eternal damnation, painting their
deplorable flate in the moft dreadful colours:
fome of his hearers were foon evidently alleged
by this dtfcourfe, which he took care to improve,
and taking the advantage of the kindling fpark,
addreficd himfelf more particularly to them, whom
he foon *' made roar for the difquictude of their-
fouls." The whole congregation were quickly
aflPeaed in the like manner, one and all exclaimed
" What (hall I do to be faved ? Oh! I'm
damned I I'm damned 1 I'm damned to all eterw
nityl What fliall I do ? " Oh ! Oh! Oh!
Our performer obferving to what a fiate
he
Digitized by Google
3i6 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
be had reduced bis audience, redoubled , his
threats of divine wrath and vengeance, and with
a voice terrible as ihundcr, demanded, ** Is there
any backfliders in the prefence of God ?" A dead
and folemn paufe enfiied — till he exdairned
Here is an old grey-headed finner:" at the
fame time Ariking with his hand violently on the
bald pate of an honcft old man who fat under ihe
de(k ; the poor man gave a deep groan ; whether
from conviftion, or from the pain of the blow, I
know not« for it was far from being gentle, Tlie
farce was not yet concluded : when they were
ftrongly CMVulfcd with thefe conviSiom^ he fell
down upon his knees, and with the greateft fer-
vency, accompanied with abundance of tcar.s, he
intreaied the Lord in mighty prayer, to have
compaflion on the poor defponding finners whom
he had brought to a proper fenfe of their danger :
the prayer continued about ten minutes, accom«
panied by the fighs and groans of the converted and
alarmed finners, in concert making a mod divine
harmony: when fuddenly ftarting up, he pre-
tended to have receiv ed a gracious anfwer to his
prayer, and with a joyful and fmiling counte*
nance, poiniing towards the window, exclaimed :
—Behold the Lamb ! Where i Where ! Where !
was the cry of every contrite and returning finner,
(and they were all of that delcripiion) There !
(continued the preacher, extending his arms
towards the window where he pretended firft to
bavq
Digitized by
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTQN. 317
have efpied the Lamb.) In Heaveol In Colol
making interceflion for your fins I And I have his
authority to proclaioj unio you — " your fins are
forgiven-Hiepart in peace." — O, my deareft bre-
thren, how iweet is the found of ihule extatic
words. Behold the lamb of Cod, who taketh
away the fins of the world!** But could you but
feel the pecuUar energy, the divine force, the
rapturous and cheering import of the original,
your mouths would be filled with praife, and your
hearts with divine joy« holy exultation^ and un*
fpeakable gratitude. — Only mark the found of the
words, even that will convey an inexpreffiblc
plcafurc to your fouls, " Hecca Hangus Dei I Ki
dolkt pcUallus Monday /" The fchool-boys (who
were feated in a pew detached from the congre*
galion on account of their prophanc and contemp-
tuous behaviour during fervice) immediately burft
into a loud laugh, on one of the congregation
Ciying» O the bleffed man ! Wc (hall fee him
again on Monday."
In ibme pages following we have an ac-
count of the metbodiit preacher's firil con-
verting his beiiefador's daughter, and then
debauching her ; alio of a preacher at Be-
verly, ill Yorkihirc, that colledcd fifteen
pounds for a pour man in great uiftrefs, and
gave
3i8 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
gav^ him only fifteen fhiliings, reiemog to
hlmkif fourteen pounds five ihillings for the
trouble of colleding it, with wbtch^ and
twenty pounds more he was entrufted with,
he decamped the next day, to the aftonifli-
ment of the fimple on whom he had impoied.
I wifh the author as he propofcs may ibon
give us a more particular account of the me-
thodtils, preachers, and people, and zl(6 of
Ibme of Mr. Wefley's private opinions, &ۥ
This pamphlet concludes with very cu-
rious letters written by Mr, J, Wefley, and
he informs us in a note that the publilher has
his addrefs in order to dired any perfon to
the author where they may fee the original
letters. I here give you the whole of theie
extraordinary letters*
Page 50, &c.
" Dear Sir,
FOR your obliging letter which
I received this morning, I return you thanks.
Our opinions for the mod part perfcQIy
coincide reipedmg the ilabUiiy oi the connexion,
after
Digitized by
LIF£ op ). LACKINGTON* 319
after my head is laid in the duft. This, however,
is a fdbjeft, about which I am not lo anxious as
you feem to imagine; on the contrary, it is a
matter of the Qtmoft indillerence to me ; as t
have long forefeen that a diviiion muft neceflkrii/
enfae, from caufes fo various, unavoidable and
' certain, that I have long fincc given over all
thoughts and hopes of fettling it on a permanent
foundation. You do not feem to be aware of the
mod efle&ive caufe that wiH bring about a divi-
fion. You apprehend the moft feriout confer '
quences from a ftrugf^le between the preachers
for power and pre-eminence, and there being
none among them of fufficient authority or abiii*
ties to fupport the dignity, or comniand the ref*
(ptQ, and exa& the implicit obedience which is lb
nccefTary to uphold our conftiialion on its prcfcnc
principles. This is one thing that will operate
very powerfully againft unity in the connexion,
and is, perhaps, what I might pofTibly have pre-
vented, bad not a ftill greater difficulty arifen in
my mind : I have often wiftied for fome perfon
of abilities to fucceed me as the head of the church
I have with fuch indefatigable pains, and aftonilh*
ing iuccefs eiiabiilhcd ; but convinced that none
but very fuperior abilities would be equal to the
' underuking, was 1 to adopt a iuccciior of this
dei'cription, I fear he might gain fo much influ*-
cace among the people, as to ufurp a (hare, if
not the whole of that abfolute and uncontrolable
power
Digitized by Google
320 tiFE OF J. LACKINGTON*
power, which I have hitherto, and am clcterminetl
I will maintain fo long as I live ; never will I
bear a rival near my throne.— ^You tie doubt, fee
the policy of continually changing the preachers
from one circuit to another at fliort periods: for
Ihould any of them become popular with their
different congregations, and inGnuate themfelves
into the favour of their hearers, they might poffibly
obtain fuch influence, as to eitabliib themfelves in-
dependenriy of me, and the general connexion.
Beiides the novelty of the continual change^
excites curiofityi and is the more neceflary, as
few of our preachers have abilities to render them-
felves in any degree tolerable, any longer than
they are new.
The principal caufe which will inevitably cSc&
a diminution and divifion in the connexion after
my death, will be the failure of fubicriptions and
contributions towards the fupport of the cau(e»
for money is as much the finews of religious, as of
miiiury power. If it is with the greateft difficulty
that even I can keep them together, for want of
this very ncceifary article, I think no one elfe
can. Another caufe, which with others will
effeQ the divifion, is the difputes and contentions
that will arife between the preachers and the par-
ties that will efpoufe their feveral caufes, by which
means much truth will be brought to light, which
will refleft fo much to their difadvantage, that the
eyes
Digitized by GoQgle
I
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.^ 321
eyes of the people will be opened to fee their
noltves and principles, nor will they any longer
contribute to their fupport, when they find all
their priitenfions to fanfiUty and love are founded
on motives of intereft and ambition. The con-
feqoence oi which will be, a few of the mod po-
pular will eftabliih thenifeives in the refpe&ive
places where they have gained fufficient influence :
over < iKe minds of the people ; the reft muft
revert to their original humble callings. But this
no .way. concerns rae : I have attained the objett
of my views, by eftablilfaing a name that will not
*foon perifti from the face of the earth i I have
' founded a which will boaft my name, long
after my difciplinc and dotli ines arc forgotten.
My charader and reputation for ianiElity is
now beyond the reach of calumny ; nor will any
thing that may hereafter come to light, or be
faid concerning me, to my prejudice, howaver
true^ gain crddu.
*' My unfoil'd toMOff, th' auftcfenefs of my life*
Will vouch againft it.
And i& the sccnfatioQ everwdgb.
That it will fiifle in ita own report*
And fmcll of calninny*"
4
Another caufe that will operate more power-
fully and effedually than any of the preceding,
is the rays of philofophy which begins now to
pervade all ranks, rapidly diipeiiing the milts of
T ignorance,
Digitized by GoQgle
2%z .UFK OF J. ^.ACKINGTON. .
ignoranGc, which has baei) long in a gi:6at ficgfee
tiie moth^ of d^votioiv of A^vifli ^rejiidjo^. 4unA
the ciuliu ailic bigoiry of religious opinions : ibe
decline of jU^e papal powei; i«oviag^ ibe.fiNne
irrefiftiible cauJc, nor can il be fappofed that
meduj'lifni can (Iftnd its.gco^nd, Nvheii ^rvygibiL to
the teilofi »riltb, raa(bii«'aod philofophy^
• I am, &€•
I w **
. City Road, l^irfdny Mom.
«
Our Author informs us that the following
was written to a very. amiiibliB and accx>mp*
UAied faid}r, fame years ago. The laidy was
about three and twenty years of age, .
' IT 5s with the utmoft diffidence I
prefume to addrefs fupertor exceUence: em*
boldened bv a violent, yet virtuous pallion,
kindled hy the irrefiitible rays, and encouraged
by the fweetly alirafitve force, of tranfcendent
beauty, the elegant iimplicity of your manners,
the fafcinating melody o£ your voice, aod above
the inexpreilible lire of an eye, that the extra-
vagance of the Mufes has given to the goddefs
of love: but which Nature has. bellowed on you
alone.
" They fparkic with tlie li^ht P^metheaa hcV*
UcUevc
Digitized by Go
0
UPS OF J. LACKINGTQN. y?3
Believe mc, my dear Madam, tUs it not tht
language of rotaance ; but the genuine exuberant
eiFufions of an enraptured fouK The impreffion
of your charms was no lefs inftantaneous than
irrefiftiblc : when firft I faw you, fo forcibly was
I firnck with admiratton and i6ve bf your divine
perfecUons, that my foul was filled with fenfatiorik
ib' wild and extravagant, yet delightful and pure !
•—But I will not indulge in declaring wlia: arc my
real fentiments, leil I ihouid incur a Tufpicion of
ffatiery. Your mind; ftiperrbr to folfome pane*
gyric, anfufceptible of theinccnfe of affefted adu-
lation, would, with juft indignation, fpurn at thofe
impcrLincnt compliments, which are commonly
ofiered with a view to impofe upon the vanity and
credi|ltty of the weaker part of your ftx: I will
not attempt it; but conime myfclf to the dictates
of fincerity and truth, nor fliall a compliment
efcape my pen, that is not Uie fcntiment of a de-
voted heart.
** As beauty has no pofitive criterion, and
iancy alone direds the judgment and iniluances
tbe choice, we find different people fee it in
various lights, forms, and colours, I may tbere-
fore, without a fufpicion of flattery declare, that
in my eye you are the moft agreeable object,
and moQ perfeQ work of created nature : nor
does your mind feem to partake lefs of the divi*
nity than your perfon.
T « *« I vieir
«
1
Digitized by Google
234 OF J. LACKINGT(»<.
^ I vier thee over widi a lover^s cyt;
No iaulc hail thou, or I no iauU can ip/*"
■
** The reafon I did not before decUre myieif, was
the profound and refpefifol diftance.I thoagbt it
became me to observe, from a confcious fenfe of
my own comparative, iinworthiners to approach,
much lefs to hope for favour from, the quint-
eflence of all female perfedioii.-~Forgive me, my
dear Eliza, and coinpaffionate a heart too deeply
imprefled with your divine image, ever to be
erafed by time, nor can any power, but the cold
hand of death, ever obliterate from my mind ihc
fond imagination and fweet remembrance of
Eliza's charms ! Nor can even xleath itfelf divide
the union that fubiiiU between kindred fuuis.
Yefterday, my dear Eliza, the charms of
your converfation detained roe too late to meet
the fcniUtUs, as I had promifed to do ; but
With thee converfing, I forget
All times, all fcafoas, and thcii change."
I hope however, the difappointment of my
company did not deprive them of a blelSng.
" This being my birth-day, reflexions on the
revolution of years and the fliortnefs of life, na-
turally intrude on iny mind. I am now tighty-onc
years of age, and I thank God I enjoy the fame
vigor of coaftituuon I pollcllcd at Luaity-one !
None
Digitized by
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 3^5
None of ihe infinnitiefl that afually accompany
years, either corporai or mental ; and I think it
not impoffible that I may fulfil my hundred year8»
the refidue of which ihall be devoted to love
and £Uza,
I. W/'
I fent a perfoa to the author of the above
pamphlet^ to defire him to give me a ilght
of the original of the preceding letters ; but
he returned for anfwer, that he had fciit them
back to the perfbns to whom they were
written.
I am.
Dear Friend,
Yours.
T 3 LETTER
Digitized by Google
326 . LIFE OF J. LACKINGTONT.
LETTER XXXI.-
4
FiiEoo, 'tis true* amj hony as aloog ;
Somtumci the juil may devi^ttc into wrong."
VoLTAifti^bjr FfiakfiB.
DEAR FRIEND,
My new wife*s attacbmeiit
to books was a Tery fortunate, circaaifiaiice
for us bothy uot oulj as it was a perpetual
fource of iauoual amufeinent, but alio a^^ it
tended to promote my trade : her extreme
love for books made her delight to be in the
ihop^ lo that ihe Ibou became perfedljr
acquainted with every part of it, and (as my
flock increaftd) with other rooms where I
kept books, and could readily get any article,
that was alkcd fur. Accor4iHgIy9 wlien I was
out Oil bufuicib, my Ihop was well attended.
This conflant attention, and good ufage, pro-
cured me many cuftomers ; and I foon per-
ceived that I could fell double and treble the
quantity oi bo:)ks if I bad a larger ftock. But
how
Digitized by
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. . yxj
♦
how to enlarge I know not, e^ccept by
flow degrees^ as my profits (hould enable me^
for as I was almoil a ilrailger ia.Loudou, i
had but few acquaintances, aiul tliCic feW
were not of the opulent fort. I rffb faw thift
the town abounded with cheats, fwindter^,
^c* who obtained money and other property^
under falie pretences, of which the credulous
were defrauded, which often prevented me
from eudeayoumig to borrow, left I (hould
be fulpefted of having the fame bad deligns.
I was feveral times fo hard put to it, fqr
calhto purchafc paicels of books which were
oiFered to me, that I more than once pawned
my watch, and a fuit of cloaths, and twice
I pawned fome bool^s for money to purchafe
others i hut I Iboa was tired of pawnbrokers,
and at that time they were iu)t fo rellridled,. as
pow, in i cfpccl to interell:, and thinking my.
lelf impofed on, by being charged more than
was reafonable, I never redeemed the laft par-
cel at all % for^ indeed, they were books that I
-T4 had
Digitized by Google
328 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
had bought ^ extremely cheap, ib that I bor«
lowed more money on them than they coft
xne, and in fo doing repaid myfclf what I
had beeo overcharged* I confefi - we wer0
poor J but, while that is the woril our
enemies can fay qf ^is, we are content/*
Soon after 1 commenced bookfeller, I
became acquainted with what Pope calls
the nobleft work of God/^ an hon£st
man. This was Mr. John Den^s, an oil*
n^iaii hi Cunnon-fticct (father of the prefeut
Mr. John Denis, bookfelier,) This gen^
tleman had often vifited me during my long
lllnefs, and having feen me tranquil and
ferene when on the very point of death, he
formed a favourable conclufioa that I too
muft be an honeil man, as 1 had io quiet a
.confcience at fuch an awiul period. Having
. retained thefe ideas of me after my recovery,
.and beiQg perfedly well acquainted with my
I circumilances, he one day offered to become
'a paitncr in my bufiqefs, and to advaucQ
jBopey in proportioii to my ftock* This
confidential
Digitized by
*
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON* 309
confidential offer 1 foon accepted ; early in
1 778 he became partner ; and we very ibon
laid out kis money in iecond-band books^
which increafed the ftock at oace to double,
I ibon after this propofed printing a fale
catalogue, to which, after making a few ob-
jeftions, Mn Denis confented. This cata*
logue of twelve thoufand volumes ((iich as
they were) was publiihed in 1779. My
partner's name was not in the title-page, the
addrefs was only J. Lacking ton and Co.
No. 46, Chifwell-ftreet/* This our firft
publication produced very oppofitc effcds on
thofe who perufcd it ; in fomc it excited
much mirth, in others an equal proportion
of anger. The major part pf it was written
by me, but Mr. Denis wrote many pages of
it I and as his own private library coufiiied
of fcarce old myilical and alchymical books,
printed above a ceiituiy ago, many of them
were in bad condition ; this led him to iniert
n^(tt in the catalogue to many articles^ which
were
Digitized by Google
330,. . LIFE OF J. LAOKINBTOW**
were ooly neat when compaicd wkli fach aa
vvH^ie in. very bad conditiofi that lyhe^
we produced fucb boo^s.as wer^. called
iiii our catalogue, wc often got ourfelves
laughed, at, and fometimes our neat articles
were heartily danmd. We had alio a deal
of trouble on another fcore i Mr* Penis lu-
ierted a number of articles without the
authors natives, and aiTured me that the
books were well known, and to mention the
authors was ofteu ufelefs. The /a£t was,
Mr. Denis knew who wrote thole articles;
but was loon convinced that many others did
not, as we were often obliged to produce
them merely to let our cuftomers lee who
were the authors ; we however took twenty
pounds the firft week the books were on
(ale, which we thought a large fum. The
Increafe of our iiock augmented our cuA
tome IS in proportion ; fu that, Mr. Denis^
' finding that his money turned to a better
accoui^t iu booklelling than iu the funds,
very foon.lent the flock near two hundred
pounds, which I jflill turned to a good
agcount^
Digitized by
LIFE OF J. LACUNGTON; jjt
account. We went on very friendly and
profpetoitfly a little more than two years $
when one night Mr. Denis •hinted that
he thought I was making parchaks too
faft, oil which I grew^ warm, atid reminded
him of an article in our partnership agre&«
ment by which I was to be fole purchafcr,
and was at liberty to make what purchafes I
flioold judge proper. I alfo reminded him
of the prohts which my purchafes produced,
and lie reminded me of his having more
money in the trade than I had« We were
. indeed both very warm i and on my fayingi
that if he was difpieafed with any part of
my coiuIu£l, he was at liberty to quit the
partnerfhip, he in great warmth replied that
he would. The above pafled at Mr. Denis's
hoafe in Hoxtoii-lquare, I then bade hitl)
gooil lilglit. When Mr. Denis called 'at tb*
fhop the next day, he aflced me if 1 con*
tinued in the fame niind I was in the prece-*
ding night i I affured hiia that I did. liw
then demanded of me whether I infifted on
\iis keeping his word to quit the partnerfhip t
1 replied.
Digitized by Google
333 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON-
I replied, I did not itt/jji on it, as I had taken
him a partner for three years, nearly one
third part of which time was unexpired ;
but, I added, that, as 1 had always found
him ftri£t1y a man of his word, 1 fupfioied
he would prove himlelf ib iu the prefeat
inftance, aud not affert one thiiig at night
and another in the morning. On which he
obferved, that as he was not provided with a
ihop, he muft taice fome time to look for one«
I told him that he might take as long a time
as he thought neceffary. This was in March
1780. He appointed the twentieth of May,
following. On that day we accordingly
diflblvcd the partnerfhip ; and, as he had
more money in the trade than myfelfi he
took my notes for what I was deficient. We
parted in great friendihip, which continued
to the day of his death ; he generally called
€very morning to fee us, and learn our con-
cerns, and we conftantly informed him of
all that had palled the preceding day ; as how
much caih we had takeu, what were the
profits, what purchafes wc had made, what
biUs
Digitized by Google
LIFF OP J. LACKINGTOM. 335
bills* we had to pay, 6cc. an J he iometimes
tent me ^monejr to help to pay- tbem.
At his <leath he left behfn4 him in his
private library the beA collection of ^arce;
valuable, myiHcaU. and alchynutal books>
that ever, was collided by one peribn* la
his lifetime he prized tbefe kind of books,
above every thing; in colieclhig them he
never cared what price he paid for them.
This led him to think, after, he jbecame a
bookfeller, that other book-colledtors fhould
pay their money as freely as he had done his,
v^hich was often a fubjed: of debate between
him and me, as I was for felling every thing
cheap, ^ in order to fecure thofe cuftomers al-
> ready obtained, as well as increale their
numbers*
Mr. 'Denis was, at the time of his death,
about fifty years of age. He informed me
that in his childhood and youth he was
weakly to an extreme, fo that 110 one who
k:new him ever thought he could live to be
twenty
334 tlEE OF J, LACKJNGTON.
♦
twenty years of age ; Jioweirer he enjoyed
an uninterrupted ftate of health for nearly
the laft thirty years of his life ; this he
afcribed to his firi€tly adhering to the mles
laid down by Cornaro and Tryon in their
books on Health, Long Life and Happineis.
His unexpected death was in. confequence of
a fevec caught by fitting, m a cold damp
XQom* , .
OVr die fwA refiqaes of a friend fincere,
Hk happieft mortal^ foic. may fpare a teac,
■
I zaif
Dear Friend,
* m
Yours.
LETTER
Digitized by
I
LIFE OF J, LACKfNGTON. 335
■ r »
f « •
■ «
. L.^TTM.R XXXII.
i •
• - ■
•* There is a tide in the aSalrj* of men,
^VMcfr talMii at tke flood ieffds oa l^fop^
" Omitted, an the voyage o£ chew life
*' Is bound in and ia a^i^ries :
** On fach a fool iea ave we now afloatt
' **'AfMlWttiiftcAeilieameQt wtienhlem^
«< Qi laic oar ventiuoi." -
Sh'AKUPJEam's Jujias Caviar.
IMEAR I RIEND, • ' * •
' ' It was fome time in the year
ieventeen hundred and eighty, when f re-
fohred from that period to give no perfou
whatever any credit. 1 was induced to make
this refolutloii from various motives; I had
obiervedy that where credit was given, moft
bills were not paid within fix months, man/ .
hot within a twelvemonth* and fome not
within two years. Indeed, many tradelmen
.have accounts of feven years (landing ; and
fome bills are never paid. The lofies fuf-
tained by the intereft of money in long cre-
dltSy and by thofc bills that were not paid at
alh
Digitized by Google
33$ LIFE OF J. LACKINGTOH.
all ; the iacoaveuiences attending not having
the ready-money to lay out in trade to the
bed advantage, together with the great lofs^
of time in keeping accounts, and coile^ug
debts, convinced me, that if I could but
cftabliftx a ready-money bufincfs, without a$tf
cxceptiont^ I fliould be enabled to fell every
article very cheap. When I commmucated
my ideas ou this fubjeft to fome of my ac-
quaintances, 1 was much laughed at and ri-
diculed; and it was thought, that I might
as well attempt to rebuild the tower of £abel,
as to eftabhili a large bufinefs withovit giving
credit. But notwithftanding this difcourage-
menr, and even Ttm^ my dear friend, ex-
prefiing your doubts of the pradicabiiity of
' my fcheme, 1 determined to make the expe-
riment ; and began by marking in every book
the loweft price that I would take for it %
which bdng much lower than the common
market prices, 1 not only retained my former
cuftomers, but foon increafcd their numbers.
But, my dear Sir, you can fcarce imagine
what difficulties I encountered for feveral
years
Digitized by
LIFE OF J. JLACKINGTON. 337
years together. I even fometimes thought
of relinquifliing this my favorite fcheme zU
together, as by it I was obliged to deny cre-
dit to my very acquaintance ; I was alfo un-
der a neceflity of rcfufing it to the moft
reipedable cbaradcrs, zs no exception vizs^ or
now is made, not even in favour of nobility ;
my porters being ftriftly enjoined, by one
general order, to bring back all books not
previoufly paid for, except they receive the
amount on delivery. Again, many in the
country found it difficult to remit fmall fums
that are below bankers notes, and others to
whom I was a ftranger, did not like to fend
the money firft, as not knowing how I
ihould treat them, and liilpeding by the
price of the articles, there muft certainly be
lome deception. Many unacquainted with
my plan of bufinefs, were much otfendcd,
until the advantages accruing to them from
it were duly explained, when they very
readily acceded to it. As to the anger of
fuch, who though they were acquainted
with it, were ftill determined to deal on ere-
U dit
Digitized by Google
33t LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
dtt only, I con fide red that as of little coo-
fequence, from an opinion that ibnie of then*
would have been as much enraged wheu
their bills were fent in, had credit bee»
given them.
I had alfo difficulties of another nature to
encounter j when firft 1 began to IcU very
cheap, many came to my (hop prepofl'effed
agaliift my goods, and of courfe often faw
faults where none exifted*; io that the beft
editions were merely from prejudice deemed
very bad editions, and the beil bindings laid
to be inferior workmaulhip, for no other
reafon, but becaufe I fold them^fb che^>^
and I often received letters from the count;yv
to know if fuch and fuch articje^. were
as I Aated them in my catalogues^
and If they really were the bcjl editions^
if REALLY in calf\ and really dtgmilf
bound I with nt^any other reallys. Oh my
friend 1 I r€al(y was afraid for foaxe . years
that I fiiould be reallj mad with vuxatioiu
But thcfe letters of realfys have for years hap-
pily ceafed, and the public are now reaUyt
and
Digitized by
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 339
and thoroughly convinced that I will not
ailert in my catalogues what is not really true*
But inriaglne, if you can^ what I muft hwi
ieit, on hearing the very beil of goods de*
preciated, on no other account whatever, but
becauie th^y >«rere not charged at a hl^lier
price.
It is aifo worth obferving, that there were
not wanting amuiig the bookrclkis, fuuie
who were mean enough to aflert that all my
books were bound in iheep ; and many other
unmanly artifices were pradiCedy all of which
{o far from injuring aic, as bafcly intended,
turned to my account; for when gentlemen
Tvere brought to my (hop by their friends,
to purchafe ibme trifling article, or were led
into it by cuilofity, they were often very
much furprifed to fee many thoufands of
volumes in elegant and fuperb bindings*
The natural conclufion was, that if I had
not held forth to the public better terms
than others, I (hould not have been fb much
envied and mifreprefented. So that whether
I am righteous or not, all thefe afflictipns
U 2 have
uiyiii
340 LIFE OF J. JLACKIMGTON.
have worked together for tny good« But 1
afiure you, that, my temporal falvatlon was
not effected without ** conduions." As every
envious tranfadion was to me an additional
fpur to exertion, I am therefore not a little
indebted to MeiTrs. Envy, Dstractiok,
and Co. for my prefent profperlty ; though
1 aflure you, this is the only debt I am de-
termined not to pay. Green fays^
Happy tbe Bum Who tntioeent,
" Grieves not at ills be can't prevent :
And when he can't pievcnt Ibal play^
Enjoyi the foUki of the fray."
1 aai.
Dear Friend^
Yours.
LETTER
\
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON,
LETTER XXXIII.
** CoiAttit at iliop aod Chasge, hit pamwat face :
** Hit ^vii^ rare ^ fave hali-peace Co the poor*"
MAR FRIEND*
In the firft three years after
I refufed to give credit to aiiy pcr(bu« my
bufineis increaied znucb^ and as the whole
of my profit (after paying all cxpencc^) was
laid out in books, my (lock was continually
enlarged, ib that my Catalc^ues in the year
ieveuteea hundred and eighty -four, were very
much augmented In fize. The firft contained
Twelve thoufand, and the fecond Thirty
thoufand volumes; thi$ increafe was not
merely ia numbers, but alfo in value, as a
very great part of thefe volumes were better^ '
that is, books of an higher price. But not-
wtthdandiug thef great increafe ot my buil* *
nefs, I Aill met with many difficulties on
account of my felling books cheap ; one of
theie I confefs I did not forefee: as the
more convinced the public were of my aft-*
U 3 iug
Digitized by Google
342 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
ing {kriGdy conformable to the plan I had
adopted, the more this objedlon gained
.ground, and even to the preient day is not
entirely done away. This diificulty was, in
xnakiijg private puichafes of hbraries and par-
cels of books, many of my cuftomers for fe*
veral years had no objedioii to iuying of me
becaufe I fold cheap, but were not equally
inclined to Jell me fuch books as they had
no uie for, or libraries that were left them
at the death of relations, &c. They reaibned
(vexy plaufiblyt it muft be coufefled^ thus :
Lacklngtoa fells very cheap; he therefore
ViiM not give much for what is offered him
for fale. I will go to thofe who fell very
dear ; as the more they jfell their books for»
the more the) i;aa afford to give for them."
This mode of reaibning, however fpectous
it feems at firO:, will on due refledion appear-
nugatory and erroneous, for the following
leafons ;
I believe no one ever l(new or heard of a
covetous man that would fell his goods cbeap z
But
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF LACKINGTON. 343
fiat emy one .has heard of fuch charadters
felling verj dmr ; aiid when a covetous per-
fim ma^ a purcha&y is it likely that he
ihould ofier a geaerous price? Is he not
when buying iofluenced by the fame avari-
tious diipoiitloa as when felling ? And on the
Other hand, I cannot help thinking (I am
aware of the inference) that one who has
heen couAantly ieiiing cheap for a feries of
years muft poflefs fonie degree of generofity;
chat this difpofition has prevailed in me .
when I have been called to purchafe, and
when libraries or parcels of books have been
lent to me» thoufands in the three kingdoms
can witnefs. And however paradoxical it
may appear, I will add, that 1 can aiibrd to
give more for books now, than 1 could if I
fold them much dearer* For, were I to fell
them dear, I ihould be ten times longer in
felling them ; and the expences for ware*
houfe'room, infurance from fire, together with
theintereft of the money lynig long in a dead
flock, would prevent my giving a large price
when books were olFered for fale.
U4 But
Digitized by GoQgle
»
344 WFE OF !• LACKINGTON.
But it did not appear In this point of view
to the public in the more early fcagesof my
bufinefs, until being often fent for after other
bookiellers had made offers for libraries^ and
iiiiding that I would give more than they had
offered, It was comn^unicated from one to
another until it became publickly known*;
and the following method which I adopted
fome years fmce has put the matter beyond
the Ihadow of a doubt.
When I am called upon to purcbafe any
library or parcel of books, either myfelf or
my afliftants carefully examine them, and \£
defired to fix a price, I mention at a word
the utmoft that I will give for them, whi^h
I always take care ihali be as much as any
bookfeller can afford to give : but if the feller
entertains any doubts refpeding the price of*
fered, and choofes to try other bookfeller
he pays me five per cent, for valuing the
books ; and as he knows what I have valued
them at, he tries among the trade, and
when he finds that he cannot get any greater
fuip oiFered) on returning to me, he not
I
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. ^34$
only receives the price I at firft offered, but
alfo a return of the five per cent, which was
paid me for thq, valuation.
fiut to fuch as fix a price on their own
books I make 00 charge, either taking them
at the price at which they are offered to me,
or if that appear too much, immediately de*
dining the part:hafe«
Thh equitable mode I have the pleafure
to find has given the public the utmoft
ijitisfa^on.
I am.
Dear Friend,
Yours,
LETTER
Digitized by GoQgle
346 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON
LETTER XXXIV.
Behold, Sir Balaam, now a man of fptrit»
Afccibet hU fcttingt to his pam and merit."
Pori»
Wedc tratfa cuoot fobM stfMf uiioo Itve^
The knaves will all agiee to call you knave:
Wfoag'd fliall he live, infulted, o'er oppreftt
«* WiodaicsbeleftiyiUaindiJuitliefieA."
«
Satyr againft Maa.
SEAR FRIEND,
When I was firft initiated
into the various manoeuvres praAifed by
bookieilerSy I found it cuAomary among
them, (which pradice ftill continues) that
when any books had not gone oflF ib rapidly
as expe^tedy or fo as to pay for keeping
them in ilore» they would put what re*-
maiued of fucli articles into private fales,
where only bookfellers are admitted, and of
them only fuch as were Invited by having a
catalogue ient them. At one of theie fales I
have frequently fccn fevcnty or eighty thoU'»
iand yolumes fold after dinner including
booki
Digitized by
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 347
hooks of eveiy defcriptioo^ good, bad and
indifFerent i by this means they were dlftii*
butod through^ the trade.
When hrft invited to thefe trade fales^ 1 <
was ver/ much furprifed to learn, that it was
common for fuch as purchafed remainders,
to d^rty one half or three fourths of (uch
books, and to charge the full publication
price, or nearly that, for fuch as they kept
on hand ; and there was a kind of flanding
order amongft the trade, that in cafe any one
was known to fell articles under the publica-
tion price, fuch a perfon was to be excluded
from trade fales ; fo blind were copy-right*
holders to their own intereft.
For a ihort time I cautioully complied
with this cuftom, but I (boa b^n to refled
that many of thefe books fo deftroyed, pod
iciled nxuch merit, and only wanted to be
better known ; and that \i others were not
worth fix ihtlliugs, they were worth thj:ee
or two, md fo in proportion ^r bigher or
lower l^i^ed t>ooks.
FroiQ
Digitized by Google
34* LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
From that time I reiblved not to deftroy
any books that were worth laving, but to
fell them off at half, or a quarter of the pub-
lication prices. By felling them in this cheap
manner, I have difpofed of many hundred
thouiand volumes, many thoufands of which
have been iatrlnfically worth their origuial '
prices. This part of my condu£(, however,
though evidently highly beneficial to the com-
munity, and even to bookfellers, created me
many enemies among the trade ; fome of the
meaner part of whom, inftead of employing
their time and abilities in attending to the in«
creaie of their own bufiueis, aimed at reducmg
mine; and by a variety of pitiful infinuatlons
and dark inuendoes, ftrained every nerve to
inj lire /the reputation 1 had already acquired
with the public, determined, (as they wife//
concluded) thus to efFe£l my ruin ; which
indeed they daily prognofticated, with a de«
mon-hke ipirit, mud inevitably very ^eedily
follow. This conduct, however, was far
from intimidating me, as the effeA proved
diredly oppofite tQ what they wUhed for and
expe^edi
Digitized by
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON* 349
cxpeded, and I found the rcfpe£l and confi-
dence of the public contioualij increaling,
which added very coJifiderabiy to the num-^
berof my cuftomers ; It being au unqueftion-
able fa&t that before I adopted this plan,
great numbers of peribhs were very deiirous
of poiTeiiiug ibme particular books^ for which
however (from various motives) they were
not Inclined to pay the original price ; as
fome availed themfelves of the opportunity
of borrowing from a friend^ or from a cir-
culating library, or having once read them,
thougii they held the works in eileem,
might deem them too dear to purchafe ; or
they might have a copy by them, which
from their owa and family's frequent ofe (or
lending to friends) might not be in fo good
a condition as they could wifh, though ra-
ther than purchafe them again at the full
price, they would keep thofe they had ; or
again, they might be deiirous to purchafe
them to make prcfents of ; pr they might
have a commiffion from a correfpondent in
the country, or abroad, and wi(h to gain a
fmall
Digitized by Google
350 LIFE OF J< LACKINGTON.
fmall profit on the articles for their trouble,
not to mentioD the great tiumbera that would
ha\re been given to the poor.
Thoufands of others have been efFecluaily
prevented from purchafing, (though anxious
lb to do) whofe circumftances in life would
not permit them to pay the full price, and
tlius were totally excluded from the advan-
tage of improving their underftandings, and
enjoying a rational entertainment. And you
may be aiTured, that it affords me the mod
plcafiu^ fatisfaftion, ludepeiident of the emo-
luments which have accrued to me from
this plan^ when I refled what prodigious
numbers in inferior or reduced fituatiuus of
life, have been eirentially benefited in oon*
iequence of being thus enabled to indulge
their natural propenfity for the acquiiition of
knowledge, on eafy terms ; nay» I could
almoft be vain enough to affert^ that I have
thereby been highly inftrumenul in diffiifing
that general deiire for Rt&aping, now £>
prevalent among the ia&rior orders of ib**
clety ;
Dig'itized by
UFfi Qg h LACKINCTON. 3^
ckcy J whieb. moil wtmnly^ tliough it
tlQt p^rovQ equally iaftrudive to zlly keepe
th^m from ocipioylug choir time aud moucy^
if not to M^ at leaft to A/j rsdional purpofes.
How happy fhould I have deemed myfelf
in the earlier ilage of my life, if. I could
have met with the opportunity which every
one capable of reading may now enjoy, of
obtaining books at ib eafy a rate : Had that
been the cafe, the Catalogue of my juvenile
library^ with which I prefented you in a
former letter, would have made a more
jrefpettable ajppefirance, and I might poiUbly
have been eiiablcd when I purchafed Young'ti
Night Thoughts for a Chnjlmas dinner^ to
have at the iame time bought a joint of meat,
and tkua enjoyed both a mental and corpo-
real feaft, as well as pleafed my wife, (which
I need not intbrm you the ladies fay every
good hufband ought to do.) But after all,
quere, Wht:ther if I had enjoyed fuch an
advantage^ fliould I ever have thought of
commencing bookfeller? If not, ihould I
have
Digitized by LiOOgle
3sa LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
have been the great man I now feel myfelfy and
hope ^01^ acknowledge me to be ? In my next
1 will make a few obiervations on purchafing
manufcriptSt bookfellcir's liberality, author's
turning publifliers, &c. in the mean time.
I am.
Dear Friend,
Yours.
LETTER
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKiNGTON. 353
LETTER XXXV.
High in the worM of kttcrs, and of wit,
£atbroi»'d like Jove bcfaotd opinioii fit 1
At fynliols of her fway, on either hjmd
** Th' unfailing urns of praife and cenfure ftand ;
*' Their mii^^edfticMBt her nockjrimnts (bed ■
On cadi bold va^9 ^^-^dmttsihmir
■
Hatjlit*
DEAR FRIEND,
X Promifed in my lafl to give
you a few remarks on purchaiing maau« *
fcriptsi and as I feldom make fuch pur*
chafes^ and but rarely publifli any new bookst
1 think you may fairly credit me for impar-
tiality. Nothing ia more common than to
hear authors complaining againft publifhers,
io^ w^nt of liberality in purchaAng their
^lanufcripts. But I cannot help thinking
^ that moft of thefe complaints are groundlefs ;
^nd that were all things confidered, publiihers
(at kail many of them) would be allowed
to poffefs more liberality than any other fet
X of
Digitized by Google
354 LIFE^OF J. LACKIMGTON.
of tradefmen, I mean fo far as related to the
purchafiag manufcripts and copy-right»
Not to trouble you with a long enumera*
tion of inilaaces in confirmatiou of this afler*
tloDy I Ihall barely meutiou the following :
It is owing to the encouragement of book<r
fellers that the public is poITefTed of that
valuable work Johnlbn^s Di£tionary ; and the
fame liberality to the doAor in refpeA to that
publication^ his edition of Shakelpeare, and
the Englifli Poets will always refleft honour
on the parties. So fenfible was the dodor of
this^ that he aiierted bookfellers were the
beil Macaenas's*
The late Sir John Hawkins, Dr. CuUen,
the prefent Dr. Robertfon, Mr. Gibbon,
Dr. Knox» &;c. &c. are all ftriking inftances
of the truth of my oblervatiom
As I feel a pleafuie in mentioning ads of
liberality wherever they occur, fufier me to,
quote
Digitized by Google
UFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
. quote the foIlowlQg paiTage from Sir John
Hawkins's Life of Dr. Johufon,
**^The bookfellers with whom Mr, Cham-
bers had contrafted for his didionary, find-
ing that the work fucceeded beyond their
expe&atioaSy made him a voluntary prcient
. of» I think, 500L Other inilances of the
. like generofity have, been known of a pro-
&ffion of men, who, in the debates on the
quefUou of literary property, have been de-
icribed as fcandalous monopolizers, fattening
, 9t the e^pence of other men's ingenuity, and
growing opulent by oppreflion.^*
■
It is confidently aflerted, that the late Dr.
Hawkefworth received fix thoufand ppunds
for his compilation of Voyages, if fo (and I
«have never heard it contradided) 1 leave it to
coniiderate perfon to judge, whether in
paying fo enormpus a price, the publifliers
did not run a great rifle, when it is (onfidered
\iow great the expences of bringing forward
fuch a work, mud have been. I have alfo
p X 2 been
Digitized by Google
3S6 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
been informed that David Mallet^ £lq«
was offered two thou (and pounds for Lord
Bolingbrokc's Philofophical Works, which
he refufed.
It ought alfo to be coniideredy that fre*
quently the money which is paid for the
copy, is but trifling, compared with the
expence of printingt paper, advertifing, ice
and hundreds of inftances may be adduced of
pubiiihers having fuftained very great iofles,
and many have been made bankrupts^
through their liberaUty iu purchafuig iqanu-
fcripts and pubUfliing them j and on the other
hand, It muft be acknowledged that fome
pubUihers have made great fortunes by their
copy riglits, but their number is compara-
tively fmallf
It ihould alfo be remarked that authors
in general, are apt to form too great expeda-
tions from their produdions, many Inftances
■ of which I Qould give you, but I will only
produce o|ie*
A gea-
Digrtized by Google
4
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 357
A gentleman a few years iince fhewed a
manufcrlpt to a publlflicr, which he rcfufed to
purchaie, but ofiered to be the publifher if
the gentleman would print it, &c, at his
own expeace, which he readily agreed to dot
the publliher then delired to know how
many copies (hould be printed, on which
the gentleman began to compate how many
families there were in Great Britain, and
aflured the publiflier that every family would
at kiifi purchafe one copy, but the publifher
not being of the fame opinion, our autlior
then faid that he would print fixty thoufand
copies mfyj but added, he was afraid that
another edition could not be got ready as
foon as it would be wanted. However,
after a long dt^bate, the publiflier prevailed
on him to print only Pwehe hundred andjifiy^
inftead of Jixiy thoufand, but promifed in cafe
another edition (hould be wanted la haflc, to
make the printers work night and day in
order not to difappoint the public. This
work was foon afterwards publiihed and ad-
X 3 vert i fed
Digitized by Google
35» LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
vertifed at a great rate and for a long timcy
but to the iufimte mortification of our au-
thor, not one hundred copies were fold, not
even enough indeed to pay for the advertiie-
ments. In the preceding inftance I am per-
fuaded the publifher did his befl to promote
the fale of the work ; but ui general where
authors keep* their own copy- right they do
not fucceedy and niany books have been
configaed to oblivion, through the inat-
tention and mifmanagement of publiihers, ^
moft of them are envious of the fuccefa of
fuch works as do not turn to their own ac-
count ; very many juil: coniplalnts arc made
on this head, fo that I am fuliy of opinion
that for authors to fucceed well they Ihouid
fell their copy-rights, or be previoufly well
acquainted with the charadters of their pub-
llfliers.
As I have before obferved, there are fome
authors who become their own publilliers,
but that mode will feldom or never anfwer»
as fifty to one might be fold by being cx«
pofed
Digitized by Gopgle
LIFE OF J. LACKniGTON. 359
pofed to view, and recommended in book-
fellers ihops, where ladies and gentlemen
are continually calling jto purcbafe fome
books, and to turn over others, and often by
dipping into publications are led to purchafe
fuch as they had no intention to buy. But
authors fhould be reminded that there are
many who would not go to private houTes to
• look over books whea they are not ccrtala to
purchafef and where, if they do purchafe,
they are to take them home in their pockets,
or be at the trouble of fending for them,
which is not the cafe when they purchafe at
a bookieller's ihop. And all authors (hould
be fure to ^vt the full allowance to the
trade, or their works can never have a great
fale, as no bookfeller can reafonably be ex-
pelled to promote the fale of a work in
which he is abridged of his ufual profits,
and the more liberality authors cxercife to*
wards the trade, the greater will be their
profits in the cud. For it is inconceivable
what mifchief bookfellers can and often wi/i
X 4 do
iio LIFE OF J. JLACiONGTON.
do to authors, at thouiaads of books are
yearly written fur to I^odou that are never
fent ; and in thcfe Cd£c$ mmj plaufible m«
ions are affigoed by them for iuch omiffionsy
and iu fucb caies^ what redrefscaa an aultu>r
have for lo eiTeulial au iujury i
I am.
Dear 1 rieud.
Yours.
1.ETTER
Digitized by
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 361
LETTER XXXVI.
■
Tkile whoivoiildkinuiig'tglofimitluflig^^
Tlie dear-bought treafare of tbe trading iniiMl«
** From many dangers muit themfelves acquit^
And MR tlHM Scyli asd Cfauybdia metU
** Oh ! what an ocean muil be voyaged o'er,
V To gain a piofpeA of the (btniiig Hoie 1
RefiftingiDGkaoppofeth'eiiqiiiriDgibd ^
^ And adverfe waves retard it as they roll.
^* Tlie Ultfe knowledge iiQfir vbicli mill ob«dBi«
-Frmd otttwaid bbjefli and fiom lede he gains;
<* He like a wretched Have moft plod and fwcat«
^« Bjr day maft toil, by nigfat dial toil iciM^
And yet, atlaft. what little fruit he gains,
^' Abeg^iharfcftgkan'd withm^hqrfiiisiS"
P«llfgtT#
DEAR FRIEND.
Although the refulc
of the plan which I adopted for reducing the
price of books, as mentioned in my Uft,
was a iraft increafe of purchafers» yet at the .
fame time I found a prodigious accumulation
of my expences; which will not appear
flrauge^ when I inform you that I n^ade
pro-
i
Digitized by Google
362 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON*
proportionably large purchafes, fuch as two
hundred copies of one book^ three hundred
of another, five hundred of a third, a thou-
land of a fourth, two thouiand of a fifth,
nay, fometimes I have purchafed fix thou-
fand copies of one book, and at one time I
actually had no lefs than T£N thousand.
COPIES of Watts^s Pfalms, and the fame
numbei^of his Hymns in my poiTeffion. In
addition to thefe, I purchased very largje
pumbers of many thoufand different arti*
cles, at trade falcs of all forts, as bankrupt
. fales, fales of fuch as had retired from bufi«
nets, others cauied by the death of bookieUers,
fales to reduce large flocks, annual fales, &c,
that you may. form fome Idea, I muft inform
you that at one of the above fales, I have
purchaied books to the amount of five thou-
fand pounds ia one afternoon. Not to men-
tion thofe purchafed of authors^ and town and
country bookf^lers, by private contrad, &c.
to a very confiderable amount. My expences
were alfo exceedingly increafed by the ne-
ceiHty I was under of keeping each article ia
a variety
Digitized
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 363
a variety of different kinds of bindings, to
fuit the various tafles of my cuftomers: Be«
fides paying my bills for the above, I was
always obliged to find ready money to pay
for libraries and parcels of iecond-hand books,
which after a while poured in upon me from
town and country. So that I often look
back with aftonifhment at my courage (or
temerity, if you pleafe) in purchaitng, and
my wonderful fuccefs in taking money fuf-
ficlent to pay the extenfive demands that
were perpetually made upon me, as there is
not another inftance of fuccefs fo rapid and
conftant under fuch circumdances. Some
indeed theie have bceu, who for two or
three years, purchafed away very faft, but
could not perfevere, as they were unable to
fell with equal rapidity ; for no one that has
not a quick fale can poffibly fucceed with
large numbers. For fuppofmg that a book-
filler expends a thoufand poiXnds lu the pur- .
chafe of four articles (1 have often done that
in only one article) and theft arc bought at a
quarter the ufual price, the intereft of the
money
Digitized by GoQgle
364 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTpK.
;nfioney is fifty pounds a year j befides which
ibme allowance muft be made for warehouie*
-nxHB, infurance from fire/ &c. fo that grant*
ting be miglu fell a few of each article every
yisar at four times the price he firft paid for
thorny yet if he does not fell enough to pay
the intereft and other expences of thofc that
remain, he is, after all, on the lofing fide;
which has been the cafe with the major part
of fuch aa have purchafed a large number of
f^acbook, and 1 have kiiown many inftances
of bc»ikikri> purchafing articles Ht a quarter
the price, and felling them at the full price,
andi^ have not had two per cent, for their
_ -. •
^ jpor fevcral years together 1 thought I
fhould be obliged to defift from purchadng a
large number of any one article j for although
by not giving any credit I was enabled to fell
veiy cheap, yet the heavy ftock of books in
ifheets. often difheartened me, fo that I more
than once refolved to leave otF purchafing all
fuch articles where the number was very
large. But, fomehow or other, a torrent of
' ^ bufinefs
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF 5.' LACKINGTON. 365
bufiaefs fuddenly poured in upon mt on all
iideSy fo. that I very Ibon forgot my re£>la-
tion of not makiiig large purchafes, and noW
find my account in firmly adhering -to that
method i and bemg univcrfally known- §6t
making large purchafes, moft of the tnufe in
town and country, and alio authors of every
deicriptton are continually furnifliing me with
opportunities. In thi& branch of trade It is
next to impoiiible for me ever to have any
formidable rivals, as it requires an uncom-
mon exbrdon, as well as very unoommm
fuccels, and that for many years together,
to rife to any great degree of eminence in
that particular line. Thb fuccefs mud be
attained too, without the aid of mvclty^
which I found to be of very great iervice to
me : And Ihould any pcrfon begin on my
plan and fucceed extremely well, be could
never fuperfede me, as I am ftill etilaif ing
my butinefs every year, and the more it is
extended the cheaper I can afford to fell % ib
that though I may be purfued, I cannot be
overtakeui except I ihould (as ibme others
have
Digitized by
366 ' LIFE OF J, LAGKINGTON.
have done) be fo iafatuated and blinded by
proipcrity, as to thiak that the pubUc would .
conthiue their favors, even though the plan
of biifinefs were reveried. But as the firft
king ot Bohemia kept hi^ country Ihoes by
biaiy to remind him from whence he was
laken, I have put a motto on the doors of
my carriage^ conftantly to remind me to wha(
I indebted £ox my proiperityy vi^.
iUALL MOriTI DO 0|11AT THiyCS,"^
And I aflure you. Sir, that receding on the
(ueans by \yhicb I have been enabled to fup^
port a carriage, adds not a little to the plea-
sure of riding in it, I believe I may, wicUr
out being deemed cenforlous, aflert, that
there are Ibme who ri4e. in their carriages,^
who cannot refied on the means by which
they were acquired with an equal degree of
fatlsfaclloa to ^hat civperienccd by,
Dear Fiiendj^
Yours^
Digitized by Google
UFE OF J. LACKINGTON, 367
LETTER XXXVII.
, f My exercHe bfdaf » and dmaii bf night ■
DifpaiUoo'd maftexs, friends without deceit*
«f Who flittef not ) companions erer {Wcetf
With whom Tra always cfaeerfol, from whom rife,
** Impiov'd and better, if not good ^d wife ;
*• Gnve, fiuthfol coonfdlon, who all cxtitt^
** Inftrudt, and ftrengihen to behave aright ;
f Admoniih when fortane makes her Court,
And wheoihe^iablenc Ibboeaadfupport*
Hji^>3r the man to whom ye arc well known.
f* Itthitownfiuilt if ev^he'a^MC*"
Avoimiovs.
DEAR FRIEND,
Xt has been aiked^ times tn«
numerable, how I acqoired any tolerable
degree of knowledge^ fo as to enable me to
form any ideas of the mcriu or demerits of
books ; or how I became fufficiently ac*
quainted with the prices that books were
commonly fold for, ib as to be able to buy
aud fell ; |)arUcularly b9Qks in the learned
and
Digitized by Google
3M LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON:
and foreign languages. Many have thought
that from the beginning I always kept ihop-
men to furnifh me with inftrudlons neceffary
to cany on my bufinefs ; but you and all my
old friends and acquaintances well know .that
not to have been the cafe ; as for the firft
thirteen years after I became a bookfeller, I
» *
never had one (hopmto who knew any thing
of the worth of books, or how to write a
iingle page of a catalogue properly, much le(^
to compile the whole. I always wrote them
myiclf, fb k>ng as my health would permit :
Indeed I continued the pra&ice for years,
after my health was much impaired by too
conftant an application to that and reading ;
and when I was at laft obliged ta give up
writing them, I for feveral catalogues flood
by and didated to others ; even to tUe pr^-
ient time I take ibme little part in their
compilation ; and as I ever did, I ftill conti^
nue to fix the price to every book thajt is fold
in my (hop, except fuch articles as are both
bought and foM agsnn while I am out of
town. I have now maay aiSftants in Qiy
fliop^
Digitized by Goch^Ic
' tIFE OF J. LACKINOTON^ 369
Diop^ who buy^ fell, and in ihort tranfad the
major part of ixxy buiinefs.
As to the little knowledge of literature I
fiofiefsy it was acquired by dint of applica*
. tioa. In the beginuing I attached myielf
very ciofely to the^ftudy of divinity and
moral phllofophy, fo that I became tolerably
acquainted with all the points controverted
between the divines ; after having read the
great champions for chrlillanity, I next read
the Works of Toulmin, Lord Herbert, Tin-
dal, Chubb, Morgan, Collins, Hammond,
WoolAon, Annety Mandevilie, Shafteibury,
D'Argens, Bolliigbroke, Williams, Helve-
ttus, Voltaire, and many other free-thinkers.
I have alfb read mod: of our Engliih poets,
and the beA tranflatioiis of the Greek, Latin,
Italian and French poets; nor did lomlttoread
Hlftory, Voyages, Travels, Natural Hiftoiy,
Biography^ &c. At one time I had a flrong
inclination to learn French, but as foon as I
' was enabled to make out and abridge title-
pages, fb as to infert them right in my cata*
Y logues.
Digitized by Google
{70 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON-
logues, I lefc of for what appeared to me
more pleafing as well as more ne^effary pur»
fuits I refleding that as i began fo late ia
life, and had probably but a very (hort pe*
lied to live^ (and I paid fome regard to what
Helvetius has aflerted, viz. that " No man
a'Cquires aiiy new .ideas after he is forty -five
years ot age/^) I had no time to beflow on
the attaimiient of languages. I therefore
contented myfelf with reading all the tranC'
lations of the claflics, and tnferting the ori-
ginals in my Catalogues as well as I could ;
and when fometimes I happened to put the
Geniihe or Dathe cafe inftead of the Nom$^
native or Accufattv^^ my cuftomers kindly
confidcred this as a venial faulty which they
readily pai Joiied, and bought the books not-
withftanding.
As I have indefatigably uied my hi{k
endeavours to acquire knowledge, I uevef
thought I had the fmalleft reafon to be
aihamed on account of my deficiency, eipe*
cially as 1 never made preteniions to erudi-
tion, or aft'cdcd to poffefs what I knew I
wa^.
. J ^ d by Google
ttFE OP j, LAGKINGTON. 371
Was deficient in. Dn Young's couplet, you
will therefore think equally applicable to
many others as well as myfelf :
Unfeamed men of books iflaine the care,
Ai emnefat ale the guaidians of the h&t,"
Love of Fame.
m
I
I had like to have forgot to inform you,
that I have alio read moft of our beft plays,
and am ib fond of the Theatre, that in the
winter feafon I have often been at Drury-
Lane or Coven t-Garden four or five evenings
in a week* Another great fource of amuie-
ment as well as knowledge, 1 have met with
in reading almofl all the be A novels ; by the
ie/l, I mean thofe written by Cervantes^
Fielding, Smollet, Richardibn, Mifs Burney,
Voltaire, Sterne, Le Sage, Goldimith, and
fomc others. And I have often thought,
with Fielding, that fomc of thofc publica-
tions have given us a more genuine hiilory
of Man, in what are called Romances, than
Is fometimes to be found under the more
rcfpe&dble titles of Hiftory, Bio(^rapliy, &c.
Y a la
Digitized by Google
37« LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
In order to obtain fome ideas in Aflro-
nomy. Geography, Eleftricity, Pneuma-^
tics, &c. I attended a few leAures given by
' the late enainent Mr. Fergufou, the preient
very ingenious Mr. Walker, and others j
and for Ibme time feveral gentlemen fpent
two or three evenings in a week at my
houfey for the purpole of improvement in
feience. At theic meetings we made the
beft ufe of our time with globes, telefcopes,
microfcopeSy electrical machines, air pumps,
air guns, a good bottle of wmCf and oiber phi-
lofophical inftruments—
. The mention of which revives in my me-
mory the lofs I fuAained by the premature
death of a worthy philofophical friend,
whom you have met, when you occalionally
did us the honor of making one of the even*
ing party, and benefiting us by your inftruc-
tions. I could (ay much in his pralfe, but
ihall forbear, as another friend, who was
alfo one of this (I may truly fay) rational
ajjanbly has compofed what I think a juft
charaAer of bim» free from that fuUbme
panegyric
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 373
panegyric which too oftcu degrades thofe it
IS meant to eelebrate, »id conveys to all
who knew the parties, the idea of having
been defigued as a burieicjue inilead of an
encomium ; however, as you may not have
leen it (though in print) and it will engroft
but a very little of your time to perufe^ I
ihall here beg leave to infert it.
" On Sunday, May 24, 1789, died at his
houfe in Worihip-flre^et^ Moorhelds, aged
50, Mr, Ralph Tinley ; o^e who had not
dignity of birth or elevated rank in life to
boail off but who polfeiTed what is far fu-
perior to either, a folid underftaudingt
amiable manners, a due fcale of religion,
^* and an induftrious difpoiitton. Inftead of
riches. Providence bleffed him with a good
*^ (hare of health, and a mind contented with
an humble fitualion. Thofe hours which
he coyld fpare from a proper attention to
the duties of a huiband and a father, and
manual labour as a ftioemaker, were incefr
^* fantly employed in the improvement of
his mind in various branches of f<:ience ;
y 3
Digitized by GoQgle
39» LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON*
in many of which be attained a profici*
^* eqcy, totally divefted of that afFeftatioa of
fupefiority which little minds aifume.
Thefc qualities rendered him refpeded by
all who l^new him, as an intelligent man,
and a mod agreeable companion. Among
other acquiiiuons, Entomojlogy was his
peculiai' delight. Thus tar the profpect is
pleafing. It is a painful talk to add, that
«^ this amiable perfon fell a vidim to an un«
happy error in taking a medicine. The
«* evening previous to his deeeafe he fpent in
a philofophical fociety, of which he had
many years been a member, and where
his attendance had been condant ; but
** findhig himfclf indifpofed, he in tbe
^' morning early had recourfe to a phial of
antimonial wine, which had long been in
his poffellion, aiul of which only a Imall
part remained* This, mod unfortunately [
*^ he fwallowed ; and it having by long ma-t
ceration, acquired au extraordinary degree
of ftrength, and being rendered turbid by
^* mixing with the metallic particles, it pro^
duced
Digitized by
UFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 375
duced the efieft of a violent poifoUf occa*
fioning almoil iuflantaneous deacb. May
*• his fate prove a warulng to otlici a to be
careful how they venture to confide in
their own judgment in fo intricate afcience
as medicine ! — His valuable cabinet of in-
feds, botli foreign and domeftic, luppofed
" to be one of the completed: (of a private
coUedion) in the kingdom, all Icieutifi'
cally arranged with peculiar neataefs, and
la the fineft prefervation, will (if it falls
** into proper hands,) remain a monument of
** his knowledge and application/ —But to
proceed.
1 cannot help regretting the difadvantages
I labor under by having been deprived of the
benefits of an early education, as it is a lofs
that can fcarcely be repaired, in any fituation.
How much more difficult then was it tor me
to attain any degree of proficiency, when in-
volved in the concerns of a large bufinefs \
•* WidiODt a genius learning foars in Tain,
And withoDt kaiiiiag» genies finks
llieir force omiBdj aowiistbefpriglnljrMign.
Elpuimton's Horace.
Y4 The
Digitized by Gopgle
376 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
The inftrudlioos that I received from n^eq
and books were often like the feeds ibwn
^moQg thorns, the cares of the world choked
(hem. So that although } uuderllaad a
little of many branches of literature, yet rn^
Jcnowledge is, after all, I freely confefs, but
fuperficial ; which indeed I ne^d not have
told yfixx. However, fuperficial as it is, it
fiot only affords me an cndkfb fource of plea^
flire, but it has been of very great uie to me
in buiiaels, as it enabled me to put a value
pn thoufaiids of articles, before I knew what
fuch books were commonly fold at : 'tis true
I was Ibmetimes miftaken, and have fold a
very great number of difiereut articles muclx
lower than I ought, even on my own plan
pf felling very cheap, yet that never gave
me the fmallefl concern ; But if 1 difcovered
that 1 had (as fometioies was the cafe) fold
any articles too dear, it gave me much uu-
ealinefs ; for whether I had any other ino*
tiyes I will leave to fuch as are s^:quainted
with me to determine, but I reafoued tims ;
If I fell a bojk too dear, I perhaps lofe that
4
cuflomeif
Digitized
LIFE OF J. LACKiNGTON. 377
cuilomer and his friends for ever, but if I
fell articles confiJerably under their real
value, the purcbafer will come again and
recommend my (hop to his accjuaintances,
fo that from the principles of felf-'intereft I
would fell cheap ; I always was inclined to '
realbn in this manner, and nine years fince
a very trifling circumilance operated much
uj9on my mind and fylly convinced me my
Judgment was right on that head. Mrs*
l^cklngton had bought a piece of linen to
make fome ihirts ; when the liuea-dra*
par's inan brpught it into my Ihop, three
ladies were 'prefent, and on feeing the cloth
opened, afked Mrs. L. what it coft per yard :
oa being told the price, they all ffiid it was ^
very cheap, ^nd .e^ch lady went and pur-
chafed the fame quantity, to make Ihirts for'
their huibaads, thofe pieces werp again dif«
played to tlicir acquaintances, fo that th^
linen-draper got a deal of cu(lom from that
very ctrcumftapcp ; and I refolved to dp
)ikewife. However triUuig this anecdote
piay apppaf, you wUl f¥^Q^ fng fpr iiitiQ-
ducingj
*
Digitized by Google
378 LIFE OF J. LACKXNGTON.
duciiig it» whea you reflect that it was pro-
dutlive of very beneficial confcc^ueaces, and
that many great effeds have ariien from as
trivial caufe^. We are even told that Sir
Ifaac Newton would probably never have
iludled the iyflena of gravitation had he not
been under an apple-tree, when fbme of the
fruit loofened from* the branches and fell to
the earth, and it was the queiliou of a Am-
ple gardener that led Galileo to ftudy and
diicover the weight of the air.
* I am,
*
Dear Friend,
Yours,
LETTER
Digitized by
UFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 379
LETTER XXXVIII. ,
Honeft Englilhmcn, who never were abroad,
lilDe Eaglaod only, and itt nfte applaud*
«' Stfiib ftili foUifli* which yteldsthe better godt ;
*' Books or the world, the maoy or the few,
" Trae ufte to me is bjr thu-toochftoiie knowii^
Thtt*aalwigr»bcftthflt^ittueftn>mjrOwii/'
Man of Tate
DEAR FRIEND^
I
.T has beea long fliice re«
inarkedy that a perlbo may be well ao
quaiuted with books, or ia other words,
may be a very learned maji, and yet remain
'dlmoft totally jgnoraot of men and miners,
as Mallet remarks of a famous divine :
While Bentley, long to wrangling fchools conhnjd,
** And bat by books acqaainted with mankind^
Dates, in the folnefs of the pedant'i pride,
I , t , r-r^-Tho* no jttdgc decide."
Verbai Criticifa«
Hence many fine chimerical iyflems of
law, goverament, ^i^r tave been ipun out
of
s
Digitized by GcQgle
380 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
of the prolific brains of the learned, which
have dbly ferved to amufe others as learned
and as unacquainted with mankind as the
authors, and have frequently produced a
number of remarks, replies, obfervations,
ibvere (not to fay fcurrilous) criticifms, and
new fyftems and hypothefesi thefe again
gave birth to fx^fh remarks, rejoinders, £cc,
ad^ — y-(jnjmitum^ I was going to fay — but I
beg pardon, having promifed to give you no
more Latin.) Thefe learned men, after tiring
themfelves and the public, have generally
left riiem juft as wife on the fubjed as when
they began, nay often
^* From the fame hand how vacuMU is ihe pa^e?
What dvU war their brother pampMeta nge }
^ Tra^bacUe tra^, felf-contradidlionsglajr."
Young*
The reading and Audying of Hiilory,
Voyages, Travels, &c. will no doubt con-
tribute much to tjbat kind of knowledge,
hut will not alone fuiiicient. In ord^^r to
becopae a proficient in that uf^fp} branch of
kiiowled^e,
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTOM. 381
koowledget man know thyselp was
a precept of the autient philolophers* But
I can fcarce think it poffible for any man to
be well acquainted with himielf, without
his poflefliug a tolerable degree of knowledge
of the red of mankind. In the former part
of my hfe I faw a deal of what is called /ow
Jifc'y and became acquainted with the cuftoms,
flianner$9 difpofitions, prejudices, &c. of the
labouring part of the community, in various
cities, towns, and villages ; for years pail, 1
have fpent feme of my kliurc hours among
that clais of people who are called opulent or
genteel tradeimen ; nor have I been totally
excluded from higher circles ; but among ail
• the fchools where the knowledge of maa-
kind is to be acquired, I know of none equal
to that of a bookfelkr^s jhopy efpecially if the
mafter is of an inquifitive and communica-
tive turn, and is in a confxderable line of
bufineis ; His (hop "vfdX then be a place of
refort for men, women, and children, of
various nations, and more of various capa-
cities^ diipoiitions, 6cc.
To
382 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTOK.
To adduce a few iafiaoces bjr way of iliuf'*
tration Here you may £ud an old bawd
inquiring for The Countefs of Hunting-
don 3 Hymn-book ; an old worn»out raie^
for Harris's LiA of Covent-^gardenl^ies;*'
fimple 8umn^ for the Art of writing Love-
letters and my lady*s maid^ for Ovid*s
Art of Love a doubting Chriftian, for ♦* The *
Crumbs of Comfort;*' and a pradicai AtUi^
nmian^ for " Eton*s Hone^'comb of Free
Juftlfication the pious Churcb-womaUj for
the Week's Preparation and the Atbiifi^
for H^mmond*s Letter to Dr. FrieiUey i-'
the MalberfialicIaHf for Saaderfon's Flux-
ions and the Bmu^ for The Totle( of
Flora;'' the Counter^ for Maehiavers -
Prince," or Burke oa the Revolution ia
France and a Republican^ fot " Paine^s
Rights of Man;*' the tap-room PoUtkum^
wants " Tiie Hiftory of Wat Tyler," or of
The Filherman of Naples and an old
Chelfea Pfij^o/i^r, calls for ** The Hiftory of
the Wars of glorious Queen Aiuie^" the
Critic calls for Bayle'« HiftoricalSiAionarjr
— Blair'a
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF j. LACKIiN'GTON. 38J
— Blair's Ledures — ^Johnfou's Lives of the
Poets, and the laft month's reviews;*' and
my Barber wants the Sellioos Paper,** or
•* the Trial of John the Painter the Free-^
Tbmker afks for Hume's EfTays^ and the
young Stmkut^ for ]l#eiaod's View of
Deiftical writers the Fortune-telkr wajnts
^ Salmon's Soul of Aftrology," or San-
derfoQ^s Secrets of Palmiftry;'* and the
Sceptic wants Cornelius Agrippa*5 Vanity
of the Arts and Sciences an old hardened
^nner^ wants Bunyau's Good News for the
vileft of men and a moral Chriftran wants
" The whole Duty of Man the Roman
Catholic wants The Lives of the Saints
the Protejiani wants Fox's Book of Mar**
tyrs one alks for " An Account of Animal
Magnetilm;" aiiotliei for The vi£lorious
Vhilofopher's Stone difcovcr'd; one wants
The Death of Abel 5" another defires to
have The Spaniih Rogue one wants an
EccJefiaftical Hxllory another, The
Tyburn Chronicle one wants ** Johnfon's
Lives
Digitized by Google
384 tIFE OF J. LACKlKGtpH.
Lives of the Highwaymen;" another wants
** Gibbons's Lives of pious Women t" Mi&
W' b caUs for " Euclid in Grtek-;*
and a young divine for Juliet Grenville, a
novel whllft the venerable philqfopber^
Drinks large draughts of thtFjrtamn fpfUig*
And likes a tafteof eveiy ratvo.'*
But it would be an endlefs tafk to fet down
the various and oppoiite articles that are con'-
ftantly called for in my ihop. To talk to
theie difierent purfuers after happinels, or
amufement, has given me much pleafure,
and afforded me fome knowledge of man*
kiud» and alfo of books : and to hear the
debates that frequently occur between the
different purchafers is a fine amufement; fo
that I have Ibmetimes compared my (hop to
a ftage* And I affure you that a variety of
charaderSy ftrongly mark'd conflaiitly made
their appearance*
Would my health permit my conflant at-
tendance, I ihould prefer it, to every thing
in life (reading excepted) and you may recoi-
led
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.^ 385
IcOl that for ibme yeats I fougbt tu> other
amuleoient whatever* ,
Having been long habituated to make re-
ftnarks on whatever I iaw or heard, 1$ another
reafou why I have fucceeded lb well in my
bufincfs. I have for the lall kvcii vcars fuc-
ceflively told my acquaintances before the
year began, how much money I (hould take .
in the courfe of ic, without once failing of
taking the fiim mentioned. I formed my
judgment by obferving what kind of ftock in
trade I had in hand, and by confidering how
that ftock was adapted to the different taftes
and purfuits of (he times ; in doing this I was
obliged to be pretty well informed of the
Aate of politics in Europe, as I have always
fuuad that hookfelling is iiiutli au'cded by the
political ftate of affairs* For as mankind are
in fearch of amufement, they often uke the
firft that offers ; fo that if there is any thing
in the nqws-papers of confequence, that draws
many to the coffce^houfe, where they chat
away the evenings, inllcad of vifiting the
Ihops of bookfellers {as ihey QU^ht to do^ no
Z doubt)
4
Digitized by Google
lU ilFE OF J. LACKINGTOM*
deM) or redJmg at hom6« The beft tiiM
for bookfelliugt is when there is ao kind of
news ftirring ; thea many of thofe who for
months would have done uothmg but talk of
war or peace, revolutions, and counter-rcvo*
lutions, &c. &c. for want of other amufe*
iricnt will have recoui le to books ; ib that I
have often experienced that the report of a*
war, or the tryal of a great man^ or indeed
any fubjed that attrads the public attentiou,
has been fome hundreds of pouads out of my
pocket in a few weeks.
Before I conclude this letter, I cannot I^Ip
, obferving, that the fale of books in general
has increafed prodigioufly • within the laft
twenty years. According to the beit eftima^
tion I have been able to make^ I fuppofe that
more than four times the nutB]^cr of book:^ are
ibid now than were ibid twenty years finee.
Tlie poorer lort of farmers, and even the poor
country people in general, who before that
period fpent their winter evenings in relating
ilories of witches, ghofls, ho!) goblins, &c.
now ihorten the winter nights by iieariug
their
Digitized by Google
tITE OF J. LACKIKGTOK* 387
their ibo$ and daughters read tales, r<H
manoes,.&c. and on entering their houfes,
y«u may fte Turn Jones^ Roderick Random,
and other etuertaimiig books ftuck up on
their bacon racks, &c* If ^Bbn goes to town
wkh a kiad of hay, be is charged to be fare
not to forget to bring home Pennine
Fickle 9 adventures;^ and when IMly is
fent to market to fell her eggs, (he is com-
mUfioned to purchafe The htftory of
Pamela Andrews.'' In ihort all ranks and
degrees now read. But the moft rapid iu^
• creafe of the fale of books has been fmce the-
termination of the late wan
A number of book-clubs are alio formed in
every part of England, where each member
fubfcribes a certain lum quarterly to purchafe
books ; infomeof theie clubs the books after
they have been read by all the fubfcribers, are
ibid among them to the higheft bidders, and
the money produced by iuch falc, is ex-
' pended in f re(h purchafes, by which prudent
and judicious mode, each member has it in
Z 2 * his
Digitized by Google
I
338 LIFE OF J. XACKINGTON.
hts power to become poiielled of the work of«
any pai ticujar juthor he may judge deferviog
a fuptirloi: degree of attention ; and the mem-
bers at large enjoy the adirantage of a conti*
tuuiai fucccliioii of differeut. publicaciQii8»' ia-
.ftead of being reftricltd to a repeated pcrufal
. of the hmt authors ; whioh muft have boen
the 'ctife with many if ib 4ratioiial a phui had
not * been adopted.
I am iiifbrmed that when circulating libra-
ries were firft opened, the bookfellers were
much alarmed, and their rapid increafe added
to their fears, and led them to think that
jthe fale of books would be much diminiihed
by fuch libraries. But experience has proved
that the fale of books, fo far from being
dimmiihed by them, has been greatly pro*
moted, as from thole repoiitories, many
thouland families ha \ e been cheaply fupplled
with books, by which the tafte for reading
has become much more general, and thou*
fands of books are purchafed every year, by
fuch as have firft boiiowcd clicm at tliofc
libraries.
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTOM. 389
libraries, and after readings approving of
them, become purchafers.
The Sunduj'Schools are fprcadliig vejiy fall
in moft parts of England, which will acce-
lerate the dtfFuflion of knowledge among the
lower defies of tlie cooimunityy and in a'
very few years exceedingly iacreafe the fale
of books. — Here permit me earneftly to call
on every honeft bookfeller (I trnft my call
%viU not be in vain) as well as on every friend
to the exteafion of knowledge, to unite (as
you I am confident vvlll) in a hearty Amen.
Let fuch as doubt whether the enlighten-
ing of the underftandings of the lower orders
of ibciety, makes them happier, or be of any
utility to a flate,^ read the following lines
(particularly the laft twelve) by Dr. Gold-
fmith, taken from his Traveller.
** ThcTc are the charms to barren Hates affignM,
Their wants aic few* their wiii\es all coD&n'd ;
'* Yet let tfiem onlf (bare the praires due,
" If iew tbeir wants^ their plcafures arc but (cw ;
Since every want that ftimalates the bftaft,
•* Becomes a fourct of pleafurc whtn redreH.
Z 5 " Hence
Digitized by Google
396 LiFE OF J. LACI^INGTON.
Hence from fbchlitidlCKh pletiingAiiencelia^
That fidt cxcttes ddiies, and then fupplies.
Unknown to them* wben fcnfiial pkaAifcs clflgr«
To fill the languid ptufe with finer j(^y ;
Unknowa thofc powers xhzi raife the foul to fiamc^
Catdi evwy iicrv€» and vibnttt thro' the fianne ;
Their level life is but a roould'ring fij^,
** Nor quench'd by want, nor faan'd by ftroogdcruc;
Unfit for nptuiesy or if laptutes cheer«
*« On feme high fclli\ al of once a year,
Jo wiid«xccft the va^ar breail takes fire,
«« 'Till bonod in debanch> the blifs expiie*
*• fiat not their joys alone thuscoarfely flow,
Tlidr morals* likt their pleafaRs, iie bat low :
^* Nor, a!> refinement ftops, from fire to fon,
« Un«iter'd» ummprov'd their manners run ;
And lovo*^ apd fdendfliipV foety pointed dart
Fall blunted from each indurated heart ;
Some ftemer firtoe^ o*cf the inottntam'& breads
« M«y fic like fidcont loiw'fiig on the ncAii
«« But all the geatler raorah, l uch a . play
Thn>'life*s more cultivated walks, and chauD our way 1^
** Thefe fiur difpcri'd, on timorous {Mnions fly.
To fport and flutter in a kinder IHy.
It IS worth remarkuig that the introducing
hiftories, romances, ftorieSs poems, &c. into
Icbools, has beca a very great means of dif-
fufiug a general (afte for reading among all
rat^ks
Digitized by
ranks of people^ while ia Ichools^ the children
only read the bible (which was the cafe ia
many fchools a few years ago) children tlieu
did not make ip ea|-ly a progress in reading
as they have fincet they have been pleafed
and entertained as well as inftru^^ 1 and
this reliih for books, ia luauy will laft as
long as life.
I am.
Dear Fneodt
Yours.
Z 4 LETTER
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF ]. lACKINGTON.
LETTER XXXiX.
Hafipf the nun thit bas each fortone try'd»
*' To whom 0ve much has given, much deoy'd,
' «^ With dbOiiieBce aU ddioitet be feet,
" And can resale himfelfwith coaH and cheefe."
A(t of Cool^,
Oae folid difii bit week«da)r mealt affiiids»
And added Puddini; confccutcs the Lord's."
D£AR FiU£ND«
The Public at large, aod
bookfellers in particular, have beheld my
increafing ftock with the uimofl: aftoulfh-*
ment, they being entirely at a lofs to con*
ceive by what means I have been enabled to
make good all my payments ; and for feveral
years, ia {he bcguinlng of my bufiiiels, Ibma
of the trade repeatedly aflerted, that it was
totally impoffible that I could continue to
pay for the large numbers of books thar I
coiitlnually purchafed ; and ten years Cucc,
being induced to take a journey into my own
PQuntry^^with a view to the reftoratioii of
Digitized by Google
LIFE^OF J. lACKINGTON. a>j
my health, which had been materially in-
4
jured by intenle application to catalogue-
making,, too much reading, &c. during cbe
fix weeks that I retired iuto the weft, Mrs.
Lackington was perpetually interrogated
refpe^ng the time that I -was expe&ed to
return. This was done in fuch a manner as
evidently fliewed that many thought I never
intended to return at all. But how great was
their lurprize^ when as a prelude to my re-
turn, 1 lent home feverai waggon loads, of
books which I had purcbafed in the country.
As I never had any part of the mifer in my
compofition, I always proportioned my ex*
pences according to my profits ; that is» I have
for many years expended two thirds of the
.^profits of my trade 5 which proportion of
expenditure I never exceeded* If you will
pleafe to refer to Dr. Johnfon*s' " Idler'* for
the progrefs of Ned Drugget," you will
, there lee much of the progrefs of your
humble fervant depicted. Like Ned, in the
'beginning I opened and ihut my own ihop,
and
Digitized by Google
m OF h hACKWQTfXH.
mi wdcomod a iriend by ^ (hake .the
katicl* About a year aicer, I tH^cl&oiMd jicroik
the way for a pot of good port€f. ; A &!9f
years after that, I ibiMtiii|e$ mviicd mf
friaadt to dinmrf ainl provided them a
roailcd fUtt vial i \xi% prqgrei&ve fiourie
the was i/itioduced, aud a pudding was
die next addition made to the fealh For
feme time a giaia of btmtfy 4md^ w^itr was a
luxury I a glafs of Mr. Beaufoy'.^ r^i^/in wine
fucceedcd ; and as foon as iwa thirds of qiy
profits enabled me to afford good red port ^ it
immediately appeared : nor was (herry long
behind.
Wine wbeti tbe srti* improvet il» oaiive foice,,
^* And gives a pletfiag flaTQQr to dilcOQrfe«
By making all oor fpihts debooairt
<• Tbfowt off ^ fttn, tbefedtneotofcaie,'*
My country lodging by legular gradation waa
transformed Into a country i&e?^ i and the
inconveniences attending a Jage coaqh were
remedied by a clfomU For four years. Upper
Hollowaj. wzsl to mt an eljifiumi then &^r/
a^|>earcd uncjueflionahly the moft beautiful
• ' <;ouuty
Digitized by
LIF£ QP LACKINGTON« 391.
(Borafef in England, tnd Mehm the moft
rural village in Surry. So ik>w Mertm U
iele^ed as the fegt of occaTioii^ pl^iioiophi^ai
|ecireIlle|l^
" Here oa a fiagle plank thrawo fafc aflioiS«
«« Ihotf liietisiniihof theidtftaiit thtoo^,
f* As thai of leas remote or dying Aomii.
hat like a ibcpherd g^izii^ fiooi his hut,
Tonchbg hit reed» or kaoii^ on hb fiaf^
•f Eager ambition's fiery chacc I fee ;
" I iee the cicciiog htuK (4 Qoi^jr ipcp,
Boift hwp^a iadofore, loip the nwqaili <if f^gjb|[»
*♦ PorAiin^ 4ad purfu'd, each oihei'spr^,**
YOVMG*
But I alfure you, my dear friend, that in .
every ftep of my progrefs^ envy and male^
voleuce has purfp^d me glo&«
Wbfsn by the advice of that eminent phy-.
ficiant Dn L^tibm, I purcbaipd a hon^e
and faved xpy kjf the §xercii# it affprd^^
me, the old adage, ** Set a beggar on horft^.
back and biU rkle i& tie devily^* was doMfd
Aiily verified 1 but when Mrs. LackiogMi
mounted auQCht^r, they were ver^ iorcy to
fep people fo young in buiinefs ^-uq on at^
.
Digitized by Google
^6 .LIFE. OF J- LACKINGTON.
grett a rate!"* The occaliooal relaxation
.which we enjoyed in the country was cen-
fured as tio abominable piece of pride ; bot
when the carnage aud fervanis io livay
appeared, they would not be the firil to
hurt a ioohih traJdman's eharadlcr ; but if
(as was but too probable) the dacha was not
already (truck, the gazette would foon fettle
• «
that point.'*
•* fiftlefiiivjr withcnittaocbtf'sjof,
Aod hates diat exceUence it caoaot leach."
. ♦
But I have been lately informed that thefe
ffoad Matured aud ccmpaffionate people have for
Ibaie time found it neceiTary to alter their
Aory. It feems that at lad they have difco*
V veoed the iecret iprings from whence I drew
. my wealth ; however they do not quite ngree
. ' ia their accounts, for although &)me can tell
• you the very number of my fortunate lottery
ticket, others are as pofitive that I found
. b«pk*iK>tes in an old book, to the amount of
many thoufand pounds, and if they pleafe,
can even tell you the title uf the very for-
tunate
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 397
rr
tun^e old book that contained this treafbre*
But you (hall receive it from me, which
you will dccai authority to^thc full as unex-
ceptionable^ I aflure you then upon my
honour that l found tho whole of what 1 ach
poffeffed of, ja— SMALL profits, bound by
INDUSTRY, and c/o^^^ by OECONOMY.
Read this; ye covetous wfetches, in. all
trades, who when you get a good cudomer
are iur making the moftUi liini ! But if you
have neither hbnour.nor honefty, you ihould
at ieaft poifefs a little cemmn jet^e. Reflet
en the many cuilomers chat your over-charges
have already driven from your ihops ! do you
think riiat yoo can find coftomers enough ib
deficient in penetration as not to diicover your
chara£cers ? no fuch thing. Your exorbitant
charges are. a general fubjed of cchwriattoa
and diflike : you cannot with confidence look
your own cuflomers in the iace# as you are
confclous of your nieannefs and impofuiou,
and your ibrdid difpoiition is evidently the
• reaion, that iome gentlemen are led to look
with contempt and difdain on tradeimen.
But
Digitized by Google
1
3^ ttFE OP j. LACKINGTOH.
But when men iu trade are men of honour^
tbqr will ta general be treated asiiich $ and
were it otherwiie»
•* One felf^approTing boor li4io!e
Of ftopid StantM^ and of loud huzias : , •
AedmoRtiiiejagrMiwdlMail'diiDelfi ,
<* Than C^rai with a fenatc at his hedi***
♦
I pity from my ibui many poor wretches
which I obfcrve bartering away their coufti-
Ciidoos, and what few liberal iendjnents dKOf
may .poflefs ; nfing earjy and iicciiig up la&9|
exerting all tlie powers of body and niind« to
get what they call a competency, no matter
bf what means this is effi:dedi thott&nds
a&ually dcilroy thcmielves iu accompUihi^g
their grand ileiign ; others^ live to obtain the
long-wiihed for country retreat. Bot^ alaal
the ptaaikd bapptnefs is aa £ir £rom them as
ever, ottoi farther. The bufy bufiUng iceue
bufiueli being over, a vacoity in the mind
takes place, fpleen and vapors fuoceed, whidi
eacreafe bodily infirmities, death iftares diem
in the £ice. The mean dirty ways by which
much of their wealth has been obtained make
retrofpeft
Digitized by Google
LIF£ OF J. LACKINQTOM/ 399
retrofpe^t refiedions iiitoleiable. Phiioibphy
ftusds sllodf^ nor ever Jeigns to tiitt the
did (buL Oaidens and pfeaifnud gfomidf be*
come dreary ..^jferts | the ikiiierable po(« ^
Iciibr^s^iiger ouc a wr«k:hed exifleiite^
j^t 1ifi^e|80t^ with n halter or pifti
Were this not common would it not be ftrange ?
The profits .of my. bufuicfs the prefeut
11^^17919 (as near as can be computed be«»
fore the flK|iration of 4,t) will amount to foua
THOUSAND POUNDS. What it will increaie
to I know not ; but if my health will permit
ine to carry it on a* few years longer^ there
is very great probability^ xonfideriiig the
rapid incrcafe which each fucceeding year
lias produced, that the profits will be double
what they new are; for I here pledge my
reputation as a trade(man» never to deviate
from my old plan of giving as much fox
libraries as it is poifible for a tradefman to
give, and felling them and new publications
alfo, for the fame smah, profits that have
-been attended with fuch aftonilhing fuccefs
fc.», . for
Digitizeti by LiUO^lt;
40O LIFE OF J. LACKIMCTON.
for fbme years paft. ^ad I hope that my
afiiftams will alfo perfevere in that attedtive
obliging mode of oonduA which has ib long
diiUnguiihed No. 46 aad 47, Chifwell-Areet,
Moorfields ; coafclous, that flioul^^Qiifi be
weak enough to adopt an oppSSte fibe of
condudy or permit thoie who a& under my
diredion ib to do, I Ihould no longer meet
with the very extraordinary encouragement
and fupport which I have hitherto expen*
enced ; neither Ihouid I have the fmalleft
claim to a continuance of it under fuch
circumftances,
*
1 am.
Dear Friend^
Yoars.
LETTER
Digitized by
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
LETTER XL.
But by yoor revenue ncafans your eicpeiioe»
And to your funds and acres join your fenfc**
Yo V M o't Love of FaiMw
'* Lcm whtldioaow'ft thf eonntiyaiiddiffiriaidt
** What's rcquiiicc to ipare^ and what to ipend."
t)ftTDBIf*tFieffillS»
D£ARFRI£ND,
'X^HE open manner of dating
my profits will no doubt appear ftrange to
many who are not acquainted with my fin- -
gular conduct in that and other refpeds*
But you, Sir, know that I have for fourteen
years paft kept a ftrid account of my profits.
Every book in my pofTcifion, before it is
oiFered to fale is marked with a private mark^
what it cofi: me, and with a public mark of
what it is to be ibid for ; and every article, *
whether the price is fix-pence or fixty pounds*
is entered in a. day-book as it is fold, with
the price it «coft and the money it fold for :
and each night the profits of the day are caft
A a up
Digitized by Google
402 LIFE OF J. XACK-iNGTON. ;
up by one of my (hopmeu, as every one ot
them uuderftauck my private niaiks. Eveiy
Saturday night the profits of the week arc
added together and mentioned before all my
ihopmen* &c. the week*s profits, and alfo
the expeuce^ q£ the week are then entered
one oppofite the other; in a book kept for
the purpofe: the whole fum taken in the
week is alfo fet down, and the fum that has .
been paid for books bought. Thck accounts
are kept publickly in my ihop^ and ever have
been fo, as I never faw any reafou for cou--^
. ce^Uug them^ nor was evei: jealgus of aj^iy of
my meuV profiting by my cxai^ple and tak-
ing away any of my bufinefs, as I always
found that fuch of them as did fet up for
themfelves came to my fliop and purchafed
to the amount of ten times more than they
hindered me from felling* By keeping an
account of my profits, and alfo of my ex«-
pences, I have always k^nown how to regu-
late the latter by the former; and I have
done that, without the trifling way of fet*
ting down a halfpenny- worth of matches, or
a penny
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF j; LACKINGTON. 403
a penny for a tumpike. I have one perfoii
IQ the (hop wfaofe conftant employment it is ;
to receive all the caih^ and difcharge all bills
that arc brought for payment, and if Mrs.
Lacklngtoii wants money for houfe-keep«»
ing, &c. or if I want money for iMy-'
borfts^ &c. we take five, or 'fen guineas^
pocket it, and fet* down the fum taken oat
of trade as expended ; wlien that is gone ivc
repeat our applitatioDy but never take the
trouble of ietting down the itmsy. But fucjb
of my fervants as are entrufted tc^ lay out
money are always obliged to give in their
accounts to Ihew how each fum has been
expended.
It may not be improper here to take a
little notlee of fome very late infinuations of
my old envious friends. It has been fug-
gefled that I am now grown immenfely ricb^
and that having already more property than
I can rcafunably expe£l Co live to expend,
and no young family to provide for, I for
thefe reafons ought to decline my bufmefSf
and no longer engrofs trade to myfelf that -
A a 2 ought -
Digitized by Google
404 LIFE Oe ]• LACKINGTOJ^.
ought to be dlv ided iato a number of chatl^
nels, and thas fupport many families. In
aufwer to which I will ob(er?e, that fome *
of thefe objedors were in trade before me,
and when I firft embarked in the profeflioa
of a bookfeller* defpifcd niie for my mean
beginning. When afterwards I adopted my
plan of felling clieap^ and fpr ready-mouey
only, they made themfelves very merry at
my -expf^nccy for eKpeStitig t6 fucceed by fo
ridicuUm a projed^ (as they in their confuni-
mate wifdom were pleafcd to term It) and
predcftined <my ruint (b that no doubt I
ought to comply with any thing they de/ire,
however unreafonable it may appear to me«
To deny that I have a competence, would
be unpardonable ingratitude to the publici
to go no higher ;
I want but little ; nor that littltt long.'*
But to infinuate that I am getting money
for no good purpoie, is faife and invidious*
The great apoille St* Paul, who was an hum-
, ble follower of Christ, thought that he
might be permitted to boail of himfelf a lit*
tie;
LIFE OF J. LACi^INGTON. 405
tie ; aftar which I fuppolie it wiil not be
thought very ' prefumptuous m me, if I
ihould ilate a few fads, merely to juilify
my condudl in carrying on my trade beyond
the time that certain perfons wodld prefcribe
- to me.
It is now about five years frnce I began to
entertain ferlous thoughts of going out of
bufinefs On account of the bad ftate of health
which both Mrs. Lacklngtoti asid myfelf
have laboured under ; but it was then fug*
gefted by feveral of my friends, that as I had
about fifty poor relations,- a great nmnb^r of
whom are children, others are.old and nearly
helplefs, and that ail had juftly formed fome
expediations frpn> me \ therefore tp give up
fuch a trade aa I was in poifeffion of, before
I was abiolutely obliged to do it, would be a .
kind of injujiice to thofe whom by the ties of
blood I w9$ in fome meafure bound to re-
lieve and proted:, Thefe aild other con-
llderations induced me to wave the thoughts
of precipitating myfelf out of fo extenfwe
SMd lucrative a bufinefs; and iu the mean
A a ^ Xva^
Digitized by Google
4^6 LXf £ OF J. LACKINGTON.
time I apply a part of the profits of it to
xnaiutaia my good old mother, who is alive
' at Wellington in Somerfetfhirc, her native
place. I have two aged men and one aged
woman, whom I fupport : and 1 have alio
four children to maintain and educate, three
of thefe children have lofl their father, and
alfo their mother, (who was n^y fifter) the
otter child has both his parents living, but
they ^re poor ; many others of my relations
are in the fame circumftances, and ftand io
need of my affiftaace.
■
If e'er I've moura'd my humble, lowly {late,
H#'er I've bow'd mj knee at £9ctttQe'i(hriAe»
Ife'er 1 wifii eCcap'd me to be great,
•* The (erveot prayer humanity was thine.
** Fcriih the oiaii who heart the ptceona tale
Umno/d, to when thelican»felc glow'a onknowii s
On whom the widow's plaints could ne'er prerall*
** Nor nude the injured wietcbescinfe hit oiPA,
<* How little knows be the extatic joy.
The thrilling blifs of cheering wan defpaSr!
How Httle knows the pleaiing warm eaof^aja
*' Thatcalkihe gratefitl trtbnteofatear.
•* The fplendid dome, the vaulted rocktorear^
•* Theglareof pride and pomp, be» giandeiui thine (
To wipe from nifery't eye the wailing tear,
f ' ^nd foorhc the pppceilii:^ orphan's woe, be mnt,*'
It
Digitized by
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 407
m
It has alio beeu frequently fald^ that by
felling my books very cheapo I have mate-
rially injured other bookiellers both io town
aad couatry. But 1 Aill deny the charge :
and here I will ^rll: obienre, that I have as
. juft a rcafqn to coaiplaln of them for giving
credit, as they can have for my felling cheap
and giving fio credit ; as it is well known
that there are many thoufands of people
every whc^e to be found who will decline
purchaling at a (hop where credit is denied,
when they can find ihopkeepers enough who
will readily give it ; and as I frequently lofc
cuftomers who having always been accuftom-
ed to have credit, will not take the trouble
to pay for every article as (ent home ; thefe
of courfe deal at thole ihops who follow the
old mode of buHnefs ; fo that in fuch cafes,
I might fay to the proprietors of thefe fliops,
* You ought not to give* any perlbn credit:
^ becaufe by fo doing you are taking cuf**
* tomcrs from me/ As to my hurting the
trade by felling cheapo they are, upon the
whole miftakenj for although no doiibt
A a 4 , ibme
uiyiii
4o8 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
ibme ' inftances will occur, in which thejr
may obfervc that the preference is given to
my ffiop, and the books purchafcd of me on
dccoutit of their being cheap^ they never
confider how many books they dilpoie of oii
the very fame account. As, however, this
may appear rather paradoxical, I wiUcxpIaia
my meaning farther :
I now fell more than one hundrcu tlioii-
iand volomes annually t many who purchafe
part of theic, do ib iblely on account of their
cheapaeis; many thoufands of thefe books
would have been dcflroycd, as I have before
remarked, but for my- felling them on thofe
very moderate terms ; oow when thoufands
of thefe articles are fold, they become known
by being handed about In various circles of
acquaintances, many of whom wilhiog to be
poflelfed of the fame books without enquiring
the price of their friciids, ftep into the firft
bookfeller's ihop, and give their orders for
articles wltich thev never would have heard
of, had not 1, by felUng them cheap, been
c original eauie of their being difperfed
abroad ;
• • • •
Digitized by
LIFE OF J. XACKINGTON, 409
abroad I lb that by mean$ of the plan pqr*
fued in my (hopt whole editions of books ^
are fold off", and new editions printed of the
works of authors^ who but for that circuEn<<»
ikance would have been fcarce noticed at all.
' But (fay they) you not only fell fucU
boukb cheap, as are but little known, but
you even fell a great deal under price the
very firft-rate articles however well they
may be known, or however highly they
may be thought of by the literary world. I
acknowledge the charge, and again repeat
that as I do not give any credit, 1 really
ought to do fo, and 1 may add, that in fonie.
meafure I am obliged to do it; for who
would come out of their way to Chifwf 11-
ftreet to pay n^e the fame price in rea^y
money, as they might purchafc for at th^
firft Ihop they came to, and have credit alfo.
And although firft-rat^ authors are very
well known, yet I well know thai by icUiug
fhem cheaper than others, many are pur^
fhafcd of me that never would have been
purchaled
Digitized by Google
41 o LIFE OF J. LACKINGTOM.
m
purchafeJ at the full price, and every book
that is fold tends lo fpread the fame of the
author/ aud rapidly extends the fale^ and as
I before remarked, iends more cuilomers to
other fliops as well as to my own.
I could relate much more on this fubjed,
but will not unneceflarily take up your time»
as I truft what is here advanced will convey
full conviction to your mind, and as I be**
iieve it is univerfally known and allowed
that no man ever promoted the fale of booka.
in an e(^ual degree, witht
Dear Frleud,
Yours*
9
■
UiTTER
Digitized by
4
LIFE QF J. LACKiNGTON. 411
LETTER XLL
— Tbii ii a trnveOer* Sir; knows tnd and
" has plough'd np iea fo far, 'till both the poles have
" knock'd I hat fcea the fon take coach* and can diflingoifii
the eoloor of hit lieHet* and tfaehr kindii and had a FbQ-
♦* dot mare leap'd there*"
BiatruoHT and Flbtcbbk*! Scoinfol Ladf»
DEAR FRIEND^
Amongst the variety of
occurrences with which I have endeavoured
to entertain you, perhaps not. all equally in*
tcrefting (and the moft material of them, I
am duly fenfible, not entitling me to the
claim of being efteemed a writer pofieiTed of
the very firft abilities this age or nation has
produced,) I recollect my not yet haviug
given you an account of my principal TRA^,
VEL«. Poflibly you might very readily par-i
don that omiffion, as from what has already
appeared it muft be evident, the engagemtuts
which from rime to time have fully en-
groffed my attention, have not furniflied me
• with
\
Digitized by Google
41* LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
with any opportunity of maktftg tha tour of
Europe, or tracing the fource of the river
Nile, much \cU cli cumnnvigathig the globe,
And even fuppoiing I bad been pollened both
of the ticne and iubliuatiou for luch exteniiive
undertakings, the diiadvaiuages whii^h I la-
bour under for want of having received a
] roper education, would have diiqualified
4nc from making fuch remarks and oblerva*
tions as uatuially prefent themfelves to thofe
who have been foitunate euou^ to pofiefs.
that advantage, and of ^ourii? are qualified to
prefent the v^orld with a variety of fubje^s
equally curious and iiiftrudlvc : 'though it is
^ not without reludlance I think it neqeflary
here to obierve, that Ibnie of thefe gentlie*
men, not content with giving a true account
of what aflually occqrred to them, and fup-
jpofuig that plain matter of fzA would not
be fufHcieutly intereiling to expte that fupc*
rior degree of attention and adrpiration whiclx
*
they were ambitious as authors to acquire,,
they have thought proper td intermiK fo
much of the nuirv^Uous i(Uo t^eir narratio^.^ ,1,
Digitized by
4
tIFE OF J. LACKINGTOPi; , 41$
as has been the occafion of many perfous
heading thkm wHK fuch diffidence^ as txi-
iloubt the trutk ot .matif- relatiom^ which
tlicugh really llriitliy cuaiiiieut: with vera* "
ck}\ yet bLiiig novel aaJ uncommon, they
were unwilling to credit^ left they '(hould
incur the ceaiure of being poffefTed of a iu*
perior degree of wcaknets and creduhty. .
This I affi alfo tonfident has. induced many
a 'modtft author to omit paflages, which,
though really true, he was cautious of put>
lilhing, from a fear or being fubjecled to the
fame fevere aaimadverfions, or what is ftill
worfe, being fufpe£ted of wilfully impofing
oil his readers. Recent iudauces of which,
were it necefTary, I could adduce; but I
ihall proceed with cautioning you from being
alarmed leil I Ihould fall into either of tiiele
errors ; nothing very marvellous will occur In
what I mean to prefent you with ; though
I fliall not be intimidated from relating real
faas^ from the apprehenfion of not being
credited. As an additional recommendation,
^no doubt) the hiftory of my travels will be
• ' inter*
Digitized by Google
414 LIFE OF J. LACiCIMGTON. .
interfperfed with fuck remarks on men and
fnanners as have prefented tbemfeives to me
during my peregrinations i and this I pre-
vioufly warn you, will be done lii mv " ac-
cuftdmed defultory manneir," from which as
Mr; Pemumi fays in his-—'* Of London,*
(there is a concife title-page for you) I am
' too old to depart/' that is, as Dr. Jobr^
might pc^^ly have explained it^ Sir, you
are then too old to m£NP/' But you, my
dear friend, are not fo faftidious a <;:ritic:
although you may find the whole very duU^
it fliall not bo very ; fo that if it does
not ad as a cordial to enliven your ipirits, it
may (If read in the evening) prove a power-
ful narcotic^ and. affi>rd you fome pleafing
dreams, when
" Tir^dnatoie'sfweetieaoier^ balmy fleept
His read/ viiit pays,"
I (hall therefore not trouble you with a detail
of bad roads, the impofitions of innkeepers,
what food 1 partook of, how many bottles of
wine were drank, the height of fteeples, &c.
a fufiiciency of this, I truil, .has already ap-
peare
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 415
peared ixk different wuters. Thus onich bf
way of pceparatioo for my jouroies. I nmr.
fet out. * . , •
liiSejpiemiit»9 Seventeen hundred and eighty**
{even, I fet off for Ediubuxgh; and In all the
principal towns through which I paflcd^ was
led frotn a motive of euriofity, as well as with
a view towards obtaimngibme valuable pur«
chafes, to examine the bookiellers Oiops for
fcarce and cutious books; but although I
went by the. way of York, Newcaille»upon«
' Tyne, &;c«. and returned through Glaigow,
Carllfle, Leeds, I^ancafter, Preilon, Mau-
chefter, and other confiderable places, I was
much furprifed, as well aa diiappointed, at
meeting with very few of the works of the
moft efteemed authors 1 and thofe ftvt con-
iified in general of ordinary editionSf beiides
an afiemblage of commoa trlhing books,
bound ia ihecp, and that too in a very bad
manner. It is true, at York and Leeds
there were a few (and but very few) good
books ; but in all the other towns between.
^ Londoft and Edinburgh nothing but traih
was
Digitized by Google
4i6 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
was to be faund : iu the latter city indeed, a
few capital articles are kept, but in no other *
part of Scotland.
' In ieventeen hundred ^nd ninety, I re-
peated my journey, aiul was much mortified
to be under a necefiity of confirming my
former obfervations. This remarkable de-
ficiency in the article of books, is however
HOC peculiar to the northern parts of Eng-
land j as I have repeatedly travelled into the
weftern parts, and found abundant caufe for
diilatisfadion ou the lame account, fo that I
may venture without fear of contradi^on to
aflert, that London, as in all other articles
4>f commerce, is likewile the grand empo*
rlum of Great Biitalii lor books, engrofluig
nearly the whole of what is valuable in that
very extenfive, beneficial, and 1 may add
lucrative branch of trade. As to Ireland, i
fhall oiily obfcrvc, that If the bookfellers in
that part of the empire do not *fhine in the
poffefiion of valuable books, they mull cer-
tainly be allowed to poffefs fuperior induftry
in reprinting, the works of every Englifh au-
thor
Digitized by
LIFE Of J. LACKINGTON, 417
that of meritj as ibon as puUiilied^ and
very hberally endeavouring to diileaiiaate
theixif in a furreptitious maiincr through
every part of our iAaad, though the attempts
mm genecally proves abortive, to the great
loTs and injur/ of the ingenious projectors,
«
At Newcaftle, I paffed a da/ or two in
the year 1787, where I was iiiuch delighted
' with viewing a fihgular phoenomenon in na-
tural hiftory, namely the celebrated cr^w^
neji affixed above the weatker cocM, on the
upper extremity of the ftceple, la the mar-
ket-place* lu the year 1783, as I was well ,
infermed, ' the crows firft built this curious
nefty and fucceeded in hatching and rearing
their young. In the following year they
attempted to rebuild it: but a conteft en*
fuing among fbme of the fable fraternity,
after a fierce engagement they were obliged
to rehnquiih it, and the neft was demoli(hed
by the vidorious party before it was fintflied.
This bad fuccefs, however, did not deter the
original builders and pofleifors from return-
B b ing
Digitized by Google
i
418 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
iiig m the year 17859 when they took quiet
poflbniou of their freehold^ rebuilt the pre*
mifesi and reared another family. This they
repeated the three following years with equal .
fucccfs, and when I was there in the year
1790, much of the neft remained, but the
crows had forfaken ' it. The above occur*
reuce^ though to many it may appear incre<^
dible, is an undoubted fadb. That crow^
Ihould come into the center of a populous
town to build their nefts, is of itfelf remark*
able ; but much more fo^ that they ihould
prefer a weathercock to any other fituatlon,
wh^re the wnole family, and their habita-
tion turned round with every puff of wind^
though they were perfectly fecured from faU
ling, by the fpike of iron wliich ro(e above
the fane, around which the whole made
their revolutions; and as on one fide the ued
was higher than ou the other, that part being
always to wind ward, by this ingenious con-
trivance of the feathered architeds, the infide
of the neft was conftantly kept in a proper
degree of warmth. I never recoiled thefe
various
Digitized by Google
«
tlFE OF J* LACKINGTON. 419
Various Circumftauces, without being loft ia
admiration at the ejLtraordinary fagacitjr of
thefc birds.
In this town however, I met wkh a greater
curiolity, as well as a more amiable fubjeft
of it than a crows aeft, to excite my afto«
lii(hment«
r
«
In my firft journey, Mr. FiJJjer the book-
feller introduced me to his daughter, a
charming young iady^ who being unfortu-
nately born deaf, was coufecjuently dumb,
fill a gentleman a few years fmcc taught her
to underftand what was faid to her hy the
motion of the iips* I had the pleafure of
coaveiring with her fcveral times, and found
that (he had much of the Scotch accent,
which as Mr. FiAer informed me, flie ac-
quired of the gentleman who taught her not
only to underflaud the converfation of others
butto/peak, he being a native of that couu- '
try ; he remarked alfo, that (he never had ^
Ipokea the Newcailie diaiea. This young
lady, I was alfo informed, dances exceedingly
Bb a well.
Digitized by Google
43» LIFE OF LACKINGTON.
well, keeping cxzA time wkii the CDuficv
whether it is played ilow or quick. Wheu
it is cuniidcred what an intenlc a^^plicatiou
muft have been ufed, both on the part of the
teacher and his fair pupil^ to produce fuck
a happy effect, it furely refledls great credit
on each of the parties.
lu the year 1790, when I again vtfited
Newcaftle with Mrs. Lackington, tliis young
lady became the firft objeA of inquiry, and
we were both introduced to her.
1 have lately beeu informed of a lady now
in London, who although flic is deaf, takes-
great delight in mujtcy and when aflced how
ihe is atted:ed by it, (he anfwers that Ihe feels
it at her breaji and at thi bottom of bcr feet.
Being ofi the fubjed oF Curiofiiiesy and
having jull related the ploafure 1 experienced
ou account of a lady acquiring the ufe of
fpeech, permit me now to prefent you with
another rarity indeed !<*«-lbmewhat connected
witli the former, no doubt, but intendeds
an effeduai icmcdy, (temporary, at leaft) for
an-
Digitized by GoCMlIe
LIFE OP J. LACKINGTON. 431
an oppofite complaint of tlic fame organs, viz,
too great a wiW//f/y of fpeecb^ with whicfa,
(as it is iaid) ooany females are fo infeded^
as fbmetimes to kad them to exceed the
bounds of due moderation and female deco-
fum^ and even difplay irfelf in the utterance
of fuch har(h (though frequently inarticu*
late) terms, as tend too much to diigrace the
unhappy patleiit, and violently affe£t the au^
ditory nerves of all peribns within a coniider
rable diftance*~To quit oietaphor*
At the town-hall 1 was fliewn a piece of
antiquity called a brank. It confifts of a com-
jbination of iron fillets, and is faftened to the
head by a lock hxed to the back part of it ; a
thin plate of Iron goes into the mouth, fuf-
ficiently ftrong however, to confine the
tongue, and thus prevent the wearer from
making any ufe of that reftlefs member.
The ufe of tliis piece of machinery is to
punifh notorious /colds. I am pleafed to find
, (hat it is now confidered merely as a matter
of curiofity, the females of that town hap-
pily havijig not the fmalleft occafion for the
B b 2 appli-
42a 1<IFE OF J, LACKINGTON.
application of ib har(h an inftniment : whe«
ther it is that all females appfeheniiYe of
being included iu thai dekriptioii, have tra-;-
veiled fouthward, to avoid the danger of fo
degrading an exhibition, or whatever other
irealou is alSgned) I forgot to enquire. Ic
however affords me pleafurc to refledt, that
|he ladies of Newcaftle are left at liberty to
adopt a head-drefs of their own choofmg,
confident chat (hey polTi^rs a more refined tafte
than to fix upon one by np means calculated
to difplay their lovely countenances to advan*
tage^ a$ I a|n perluaded the brank would caft
fuch a gloom on the faireft of them, as would
(end much to dimini(h the influence of their
charms^ and give pain to every beholder. It
may be prudent, notwithftauding, ilill to
preferve it in terrorem^ as vvlio knows what
future times may produce ? As I efteem it ^
very iogepious c;ontrivance» and as there may
be parts pf the country (lill to be found,
where the application of fuch a machine may
be i^feful in fome chriftian families (I will
fiQt i^y in all^ having fuihcient grounds for
Digitized by
I
LIFE OF J. LACKiNGTON. 423
afierting the contrary) I here prefent you
with an accurate Iketch of it.
together i^th the manner of its application :
that if any ingenious artiA (hould be applied
to, he may not be at a lofs how it Is to be
made* I would, however, advife fuch a one
to be cautious in offering them to public fale,
;^nd by no means to advertlfe them (efpecially
if a married man, or having any views to-,
wards matrimony).
I am, dear Friend,
Yours.
Digitized by Google
434 LIF£ OF J. LACKIMGTCM.
LETTER XLII.
1
0» land of cakei I how oft my eye&
** Defife to ice thy moiHitaiiis rife ;
** How Fancy loves thy Itccps to o)iinb>
So wild, fo iokma, ib iuhbaw."
•* All the ftagc-coaches that travel fo faft,
Mttii get now aod then unfbiUinate ctft.''
BEAR FRIEND,
In my iiril journey to Scotland
I fometiines travelled pofl, but often eutered
the different, ftage-coaches, &c. for aftage or
two, when I happened to lee any iettiqg out
fo as to iuit vny time and*incliaation : but at
laft I had. pretty nearly paid dear for it, as
the driver of the diligence from Darlingtoa
to Durham happened to be much inebriated
and before bis quitting Darlingtoa had almoft
overfet us ; not obfcrviiig the man was drunk^
we attributed the fault to the horfes, we
were however very fpeedily uiultceived in that
refped by many con(;urrcnt Qircurnfi^t^ce^, fa
that
Digitized by
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 425
that wc were one minute nearly in the dltcli
on the right hand, and the next but juilr
efcaping that on the left 1 at other times we
experienced Jinking prot^s of the inability of
our condudtor againft the numbers of oae-
horie coai'carts^ not to mention their fre-
quently running foul of us for being on the
wrong fide of the road; (for drivers of
coaclics and carts can be to the full as favage
towards each other in the country,' as m
London) : however notwithilaudiug all theie
hair- breadth efcapcs/* we retained ourfeats,
till we arrived within three quarters of a mile
of Durham, when at lengh the ipecific gra«
vity of the driver's head preponderating over
all the other parts of his frame united, prccU
pltated him with violence from the elevated
ibition he had, till then (though with diMn
Culty) pofielicd to his parent .earth. There
were three unfortunate paffengers in the car-^
riage, {eft to the diicretion of the hories, viz,
a gentleman, an innkeeper's wife, and your
humble fervant : the lady in ftrid compliance
with the praclige of her fex in fimilar fitua^
tions,
Digitized by Google
426 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
tions, on feeing the ra{nd defcent.of our cha*
hoteer, imcnediately honoured us with a
loud and ihrill Ihriek ; the quadruptas^ not
accuflomed to this pretty female note k>
much as the ibnorous voice of a coachman^
miftook for a fignal to mend their pace^ and
they^ habituated to pay all due obedience to
the commandia ui their fupeilors of the biped
creation, when underftood by them, and
finding no check, inftantly proceeded to a
full gallop ; and we, however reludantly^
followed them down a gentle defcent, not at
8 genik rate, but with prodigious velocity.
As I was quite calm and colie&ed, I coolly
reconnoitred the road before us, and obferv-
ing that It was perfedly clear, as for half a
mile not a coal*cart was to be feen, although
we had lately pafled ieveral icore, I began* ta
reaibn with my com|)anloos, and they fpeedily
became calm enough to adifl la holding a
council what was beft to be done in our cri*
tical iituation. Our debates were quickly
ended, as we were unanimous in opinion that
if we once Mtered the city of Durham, the
cai'na^e
Digitized by Google
LIFE OP J. LACKINGTON. 427
carriage muft inevitably be torn to pieces,
owing to the variety of turnings and obftruc*
tioas we ihould have to encounter, we there*
fore entered into an imniediate refolution,
nem. con. that to open the doors, and exhibit
our agility by leaping out, was, of " two
evils, choofing the leail this we inftantiy
did, in as careful a manner as poffible ; wo
firft alighted on our feet, acid next complin
mented the ground with our nofes, without
receiving much injury* Uur iemaie compa*
i)ioa ia4ced, by being rather too precipitate,
alighted in a manner which on any other
opcafioQ would not have appeared ftridly
decent, of which flie, poor lady! was ib
fenfible, that fhe immediately hoped ^
bow we were both married geutlepaen ;**
which was quickly replied to by both in the
affirmative ; and thus we faved our iair one
the trouble of exerting lierfelf in another
fcream, ourlclves the puiiiljunciit of
hearing it,
3eing
Digitized by Google
ia8 LIFE OF J. LACKfNGTON.
• Being no longer parties concerned la tho
clanger, it afibrded us Ibme etitertainmeot to
obferve the progrefs of our vehicle now coiw
fiderably lightened by our efcape from it, and
becoming every moment flill lighter by the
exclciiioQ of fmail trunks, box^s, parcels,
great coats, &c. they, in imitation of our
•
example making leaps, lome from the infide
of the carriage, and others from the boot s
Mfhether occafioned by the rcpulfion of the
carriage and its appendages, or the altrai^i'm
of the earth, I am not fufficiently vxrfed in
philofophy to decide, Poftcritjr when they
perufe my labours, no doubt will determine
this weighty point, and tranfmit it to tho
remotefl period of time, properly dignified
by S. in FM. Tranf.
The horfes finding themfelves lefs incum^
bered and urged on by the noife of the door»
continually flapping! -iucreafed their ipeed:
happily however the carriage was flopped
before it entered the city, and no damage was
fuftf^lped either by the horfes or the carriage.
Beforo
Digitized by
LliiL OF J. LACKINGTO^f. 429
Before we left the inii, our careful Jhu of
the whip arrived, not in the leaft injur**
ed, but rather beneficed by his difaifter^
bciag fuddcniy tran&formed iota a ftate of
perfect fobriety ; alter him followed two
countrymen laden with the feversil articles
which had beeu ^ violently ejci^ed, A« \
refle£bedthat this unguarded man might not
always be equally fuccefsful, cldici to Iiiai-
ieif . or his pai&ngers, as in the prefent in^
^ fiance, I obtained a promife from the ian*
keeper never to permit him to drive any car-
riage in future, in the management of which
he had any concern.
It is aftonifliing what a number of fatal
accidents continually happen from carelciTuefs
and the want of fobilety in this thoughtlcis
race of beings. I was informed that only
two days previous to my arrival at Durham,
a coachman quitting his box to ftep into an
adjacent houfe, in his abfence the horfes be-
gan to move gently, and a lady in the car-
nage giving a loud Icream^ the noife occa-
fioned
Digitized by Google
430 LIFE OF J. LACKlNGf ON.
iioned the horfes to iet off full gallop, ia cod^
fequence of which a lady of Durliam, hap-
pening unfortunately at that inftant to be
croi&ng the way, was thrown down, and the
wheels pafTing over her, ihe died on the ipot*
-—One of the many melancholy effeds refult-
ing from the ridiculous praftice of (creaming.
But I crave pardon of the ladies ; when I
begin paffing cenlure on them, it is high
time to clofc my epifllc (which if not very
long will perhaps be deemed fuflkiently im«
pertinent) with,
I am.
Dear Friend^
- ' Yours*
LETTER
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
I
LETTER XLin.
** O that the too ccnforions world would learn
** This wbolefofiie xolc* and with each other bear 1
Bot amn, as if a fee to hit own fpedet*
1 akes pleafure to report his neighbour's faoltP*
Jadging with rigour cv'iy fmali oficnoet
And prides ihjs;/?^ in Icandal.^
HiiY wood's D. of BrunCwick.
A nation fiunM fer feog, andbeaot^'scbaniisi
Zealous, yet modeft, innocent, thoagh free :
Patient of toil ; fiooereamidft alarms}
Inflexibk in fiuith ; in? indble in arms.'*
BsATTiB'sMioitrcJ.
DEAR FRIEND^
It is reported of a very emi-
nent autbor. that he never blorted a line of
what be had ouce written : on which it has
been rcn)aikcd, that it was a pity he had not
blotted a thoufand. Now though my ex-
treme modeily will not permit me to put
myfelf ou a level with tliat great man as an
author, whatever the impartial world may
think of our comparative meritSy I muft
confefs
Digitized by Google
43ft tAf& OF h I/ACKINGTOH.
confeis I do iiot like to blot what t have
ouce written* fearful left when I beg^n,
(another proof of my moddl)^) I fliould
deface the major part of my manufcrlpts,
and thus deprive- the public of the great
advantages which may rafult fram them«
What I allude to, is an unfortunate (lip of
the peOr in my laft ; however, as confct
fion of a iault makes fi>me amends/' and I
immediately checked myfelf, craved pardon^
abruptly clofed my letter, and threw the
offending pen from me with ibme degree of
anger, I hope thofe lovely fair ones, who
might think I meant to affront them, will
with their accuftomcd benignity forgive, and
indulge me with a fmile on my future la-
bours; and as a convincing proof how fen*
fible I am of their kind condefceniion, I hei^e
engage never more to exprefs my diflike of
their /creaming^ except they Ihould omit pur-
chafiog books of me, which I am fure every
candid fair (and what fair one is not candid?)
will think fufficiently provoking.
But
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 43J
But in order to remind them that every
great charaAer does not always conduft him«*
feif with equal politenefs towards the Udies, I
beg permifiiou to introduce a very great man
to them : no lefs a perlbnage than Dodor
Johnson. Of whom indeed ib much hath
already been iung and iaid, that the iubje£i:
may be fuppofcd to be nearly exbauftedi
which is, however, fo far from being the
cafey that notwithftapding two quarto vo<*
lumes of his life by Mr« Bolweli are juil:
publiihed, we are taught to expert another
life by a different hand. Indeed until (bme
other great man makes his exit (myfelf out
of the queftion) we are likely to be enter-
tained with frefli anecdotes of him ; but
when that period once arrives^ then farewel
The Doctor, whofe extreme fondnefs for
that agreeable beverage ua^ is well known,
was once in company with a number of
.ladies alTembled to partake with him of the
fame refrefiiment. The lady of the houfe
happened to be one of thoie particularly at»
C c tentive
Digitized by Google
434 ^l^^^ OF, J. LACiwii^CTpN.
Uative to pu\¥p.Uiot ai^tlia^i exhibited her
fiaell fet of diina tax, tlhQ enUrt^iu^iibC of
her gueftsi th? Dodor> who draak large
quautitiest aixd witb comikkrabfe . expedktODt
coul4 not always wait with becon^ig.ps^
tieuce ceremouiojLifl J to a(k tor and rcceivf
m due foi;n^ the additipu of. a lump of fugar
wb^ vu^i He tlu»efb» witboyt p««w
miiTiou put his £iiger and, thumb iiUo the.
iugai-Jifli, tumbling the coqtQUts over, till
he nqet with a piece of th«. proper fize^ the
la4y kept h^r .eye .fixed on ,hiai the^ wjbole
time, aii4 decoding his couciv^d a great bfe^cb
of decomm^ refolVted to make him feofibU
of it,, by immediately ordof ipg .tlie ieicvaut
to chauge the fugar-dilh. The Doi^or»
appaiep^ly atteiuivc? only to. his tea, noticed
it, and as ibon as he had emptied tb^^jcup^
put it together with the faucer under the
fire-place, witti due care^ however, not to
break them. This was too ilv tic a trial for
the poor lady, who, apprehenfive for the
fate of her dear chioa, after a decent icreamj^
with warmth demanded the reafon of his
' ' : ' treating
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKfNGtON. 435
I
treating her in Co rude a manner* " Why^
my dear madam^ (replied he) I was
alar^ned with the idea that whatever I
•* touched was thereby contaminated, and
impreiTed with an^ous defire to contri-
" bute towards your fehcity, I removed the
object fo defiled from your presence with
all poilible expedition/* This reply, the*
♦
it extorted a fmile from all the company
prefent, did not fatisfy the lady to whom it
■
was addrcflcd, who iiotwlthftaudlng ihc ex-
erted herfelf to appear in good humour, was
too much ofieuded to forget the affront*--^
This anecdote has been related to me with
fome addenda which heighten the flory,
though more to the difadvantage of the
Doctor; but I believe aS here related^ it
m
may be depended on as tlit; real fad,
t>urlng my contiouanee in Scotland,
which was about three weeks the firft time,
and about a month the laft, I oftca rcflefted
■
with pain on the illiberal, not to lay brutal
treatment the inhabitants received from the
Dodor. At Edinburgh I heard various aneo
C c 2 dotes
Digitized by Google
436 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
dotes rclj^ted of him, which were perfediy
novel to me, and iu all probability will be
fb to you. I ihall therefore give you a
fpecimen.
Joeing one day at a gentleman's houle ia
Edinburgh, feveral ladies .Ind gentlemen
came in to pay their refpefts to him ; and
among others the then Lord Provoit went
up to the Dodor, bowing repeatedly, and
ei^preiling the htgheft refped for him $ to all
which the Do£l:or paid not the lead atten-*
tion. Exceedingly hurt at ib flagrant a
liUik ui uiiicipcd, he turned round, aiid
put a (hilling into the hand of the gentle-
man of the houfe. On heing aiked what the
ihilliug was intended for, he replied, Have
not I fcea your 6ear
s
The Do6i:or being drinking tea at another
gentleman^s houle, the lady aiked him if he
did not clioofe another cup: Jt fcems ihe
had forgot her having before aiked him the
lame quefiion ; and on her repeating it he
replied, Woman, have I not already told
you,
Digitized by Google
[LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 437
you Jbat I had done?*' On which the
lady anfwered him in his owo gruff man-
ner* . During his continuance in her houle
ihe always talked to him witiiout ceremony^
and it was remarked that fhe had more
influence with him than any other perfon in
Scotland*
I was much pleaied with the politenefs of
the gentleman who related to me this ftory
of the Doctor, as he appeared anxious to ex-
cufc him ior his want of due decorum, and
thus to palliate a moil obvious blemilh in
the charader of one of the moft eminent of
my countrymen. I could wiih the compilers
of the biographical department of that truly
great and ufeful work, the EncyclopoetUa
Br arnica' would obferve the fame polite-
nefs and impartiality. And 1 hope that this
hint will alfo induce them in (bme fubfe<juent
edition, when I am gone to
Thai Bovne ^om whence do trav^r icturm/*
to do juflice to my great ami q/ioniJ]jmg me^
rifs^ by way of compehfation for having fal-
C c 3 len
Digitized by Google
43^ UF£ OF J* LACiqNGTOV.
lea fhort iu Ipeaklng of othtrgrea^ men ; and
fhouM I happen to he out of prini by the time
the editors of the Biograpbia Briiamicu ar-
rive at letter L. (which feems extremely pro-
bable, according to the very deliberate pro-
grefs of that work,) 1 hope they will not
flightly pals m over. If they Ihould^ let
them take the confequence ; as 1 here give
them fair and timely notice, and they have
not to plead as an excufe, the want of
materials*
■
I' will give you one anecdote more of the
great DoAor, becauie it relatee to a Scotch.
man very eminent in the literary world. 1
had it from Mr. Samuel, who was one of
the party^
Pr. Johnfim being one afternoon ^t the
houfcof Mr. SamucTs uncle, (whofc name I
have forgot) who lived in one of the ftreets
that leads from the Strand to the Thames^
a nmDber of gentlemen being prefent, they
agreed to crofs the water and make a little
czcurfion on t}ie otlier fidej in fleppiag into
the
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J« LACKINGTON. 439
the boat one of the company (aid, Mr.
Hume, give me your hand. As ioon as they
were feated, our Dodor alked Mr. Samuel if
that was Huixi^ the Delft. Mr. Samuel re-'
pliedt thai k was the great Mr. Hume^ the.
deep metaphyiiciaQ and i^^mous hiiioriao^
Had I known tiiat (laid the Dodor) I woiUd
not have put a foot in the boat with him.
la the evening they had all agreed to fup
together at a houfe near St. Clement's
Church hi the Strand, and Doctor Johuloii
comuig in after the reft of the company had
ibmetime been wfit^ he walked up to Mr-
Hume^ and taking him by the haad» iaid»
Mi. Hume, I am very glad to fee you,"
«id feemed well pleafed to find him there ; and
it appeared to Mr. Samuel, that the DoAor
had thus chofe to atone for his haily exprcf-
iion before related.
As I da not recoiled any thing being re«
corded refpeding the Dodor's pugilijlri abi-
lities, (excepting his kiiocking down Ofborn *
the bookfeller, be confidered as fuch) I ihall
beg leave to relate another anecdote which I
C c 4 received
Digitized by Google
440 UFE Oj? J. MCKJNGTON.
received from the geatlema;^ who favoui:ed
xiie with the preceding cue. ,
Dr. Johnfon bring at the water fide when
ibme ladies had jui): quitted a boat and were
endeavouring to iectle the fare with tiie wa«
terman, this foa of the Thames, like too
many of his brethren, iniifted on much
more than his due, accompanying his de*
mand in the ufual flile.of eloquence, with
abufive language, the Doctor kindly inters
fering, furniihed the ladies with the oppor«r
tunity of retreating^ and transferred the
whole abufc to himfelf, who Hndiug that
argument h^d made lio impreifion on the
waterman* tried what he could cScQt by the
ilrcngth of his arm, and gave the refra&ory
fellow a hearty drubbing, which had th?
defired efieA,
«
One word more concerning our great Lexi-
cograplier* It muft be allowed by every
candid and impartial perrot), that the extreme,
contempt and prejudice he entertained to-
wards our ifiends of Nori/j Britain, reflede4
a very
Digitized by
1
UFE OF J. LACKIMOTOM. 44X
• veiy ftrong fiiade on his charader, which
his warmeft admirers caimot juilify«
V
' WcTcI, as a South Briton, called upon to
give my f^r and unprejudiced opinion refpeA«
ing the national character of the natives of
Scotland and thofe of England^ and I flatter
myfelf I have had an^ple opportunities of
ierving the peculiar traits of both countrieSf
I would fay^ that if we ia England ^xcei
them in fome virtues, they no kfs fhliic 14
Others ; and if the North-Britons poflfefs ibma
peculiar frailties and prejudices, we of the
South are npt iutirely fre^ from ours j fo that
were the virtues and vices of a certahi num-
ber of each country placed in an hydroftatical
balance (it mu& however be a pretty large .
one,) I believe it very difficult to proguoAi*
cate which of the two would preponderate,*
It is true, I have met with one very great
villain in Scotland, iu Mr. S. which only
tends to prove there are probably fcoundrcls
to be found every where, and that without
taking the trouble which Diogenes did, in
^arch pf au honejll man; and I am much
afraid,
Digitized by Google
4
44* hWE or J. LACKIINGrrOM.
afraid, were I to enquire of feme North
'Britons, theyco.uM wkhotit any great diffi-
culty point out to xnG luHie of my own
countrymen as bad.
I deteft all national ppejvrdicea, w 1 thiiik
it betrays great weaknef^ in the parties who
are influenced by them. Every nation of
' the habitable globe, nay each p^rtkular pro-
^inee of thofe countries has certainly (o^o
peculiar traits belonging to it which diftin-
gulftes it from its neighbours. But if we
are difpofed to view one another with the
fcverity of criticifmy how eaiy, nay how
firequeat it is to difcover fuperior virtues (as
we think) as well as abilities in that particu-
lar fpot which gave birth to ourfelves, and
equally divefted of that ftrift impartiality
which alone can enable us to judge properly,
difcover proportionable blemiihes in the na-
tives of other eountries*^
Bot tn?ellers who want the hi///
«* To mark the (hapcs of good and ill,
Wkil ?ac«Bi ftwe ihco-' Ssrope NWge,
Anddeem^allliad^ hacnilc 't» taoge,
•* TWo'
Digitized by Google
UF£ QF J. LACK1^FGT0K. 44s
^ The finer tndtf ttie latent grace^
*' Quite free from fplccn's incumb'xing load^
At little c?ib op tke fM^ ;
* " So while the path of Ufe I frta^*
'* A path to roe with briars fpiij^^i
Let me its tangled maaei fyy,
'* UkeyoQ, with gay, goodhniBOitreyef
And be my fpidt light as 9if,
Call life # je^, wdhofl^ ^ cf ce/'
In faying thus much, I do not mean to
infer, that we ought not to be iiifplred with
a lau4able ambition to excel, not thofe of
other countries only, but even thofe with
whom we are more intimately connected :
but that (hould be done without drawing iti*
vidious comparifons of the merits or deme-
rits of others. In'ftiort, let It be the earneft
eiideavour of each country, at)d every indi-
vidual of that country in particular, united
under .qur amiable monarch, to drive which
fliall have a fyperior claim to the title of be^
ing GOOD MEK, ufefui members of fociety,
friends to the whole human race, and peace-
able iubjecisof a government, which though
not abfolutely in a ftatc of perfe&ion — (and-
cau
Digitized by Google
4U OF J. LACKINGTON.
can that man be really deemed wiji who ex*
pe£ts to meet « with perfedion in any haman
eftabliihment i) i& {kill happily fuperior to
• every other in the known world, not forget-
ting our neighbours the French, our natural
enmies, according to the long adopted ku*
guage of national prejudice : but I hope that
narrow minded difpofition will henceforth
ceafei certainly nature never derigned us as
enemies, it has placed our Aations near to
each bther, and iurely there is not lo great a
Siffimilarity in our national traits of charac^
ter, as to occafion us to be in perpetual en**
mity I The contraft now is lefs than ever.
Like Britons, they have caught the fpark of
freedom, and nobly emancipated themfelves -
from a Aate of abjed: aqd degrading llavery,
to a diilinguiflied and honourable rank among
nations. Long as time lhall laid, may they»
with us, enjoy the blefling fo glorioufly ob«
tained, with that due moderation which zU
ways properly dUVingulfties between liberiy
and licenUoufnefs I The friends of li^ty m^^
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON* 44$
rit the full enjoyment of every advantage at*
teudiug it ; tliofe of liuniioujmfs are uawor*
thy the fmallcil fliare of it. -
But whither am I iraveUlng ? I am Imper-
ceptibly got into the road of politics. Coach*
mm 1 turn off immediately into another road.
— *Tis done, . and happy am I to get out of
fo dangerous a track unhurt, which has broke
the liecks of numbers of clever fellows, and-
deprived many a bright genius of tiiat fupe-
rior part of him from whence all his bright
efiufions for the good of his country were
emitted. For patriotifm (as you know) is
always the motive which impels thole wor-
thies to fuch hazardous expeditiuus as have
fo frequently in the event prove4 fatal to
them. ' For proofs we need not confult his-
tory 1 inftances are, alas ! frelh in our me-
mories: witnefs London, 1780, and Bir-
mingham, 1 79 1.
At all events, it is certainly too rugged d
road for a bookfeUer to travel, it being al«
ready
446 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. .
ready crowded wUh many mych abler advcnr
turers. And whUft Mr. Burke, of the
Monarchy" (late ^ Fox**) Inn,
and Mr. Faiiic, at the fign of the Rights
of Man*' provide rich and ample entertaift-
inent for " men an* cattle,** Irt the ptiblic
take thdr choice^ or if they pleafe (which
indeed appears to be the mod rational mode)
try the m both, as feme conftitutloiis find one
kind of food niofd eafy of dtgejttofij Ibme the
other ; and I remain fully fatisfied with the
fubordinate charadter of continuing an iium-'
ble diftfibutorof the viatids provided by thofe
and other vttf abte cacerefs, and that npoti
eafier terms than the 'admirers of fu(^h food
will meet with eliewhere, accorduigto the
elegance or plainnefs of the they arc
ferved up in. Some pi^eferring rich foreign *
china^ elegantly gilt ; . others, good fubilanti^l
Englijh porcelain J others, sgaln bcliig pleafcd
Vf\t\i !^ieen*s war€% and many mbre^ content
with a IVclcb dijb^ or common earthen warcm
I am now iuddenly conveyed again to
Edinburgh » The old town, fi> called, has
not
Digitizea by LiOOgle
UFE OV J. LACKINGTON* .447
ijot; mwh ta boaii of j but the new tpwn is/ .
by fat; the mojt.cgmptot and degaut I em
fa nr.. la vartoug tpwns of England aod Scol^
Is^nd^ 1: h^ve. indeoi ieeu iosat good ibreets^
aud many good houTe^, hat in tliU the whok
b uniformly fine i not one hou£e« nuich Ms
a whole ilreet that can be termed indif&iettf:
ia the whole town.
And here let me do juilice to North-'
Britiih hofpitality, and . their very polite at-
tention to fuch Eugliihmen who happen to
travel to the ** land of cakes.'* I can truly
fay, that the polite and friendly behaviour
of the inhabitants towards Mrs. Lackington
and myfelf, clalins our warnieil: gratitude
and fincereft thanks. This the more civilized
part of my countryiQen will readily believe ;
and as to thofe of another deicription (hap*
pily but a comparatively fmall number, I •
truft) are welcome to treat my aflertion with
that contempt ufually attendant on prejudice^
which Is the refuit of iguoraace.
The
Digitized by Google
448 LIFE OF j. LACKINGTON.
The fubje^ I now mean* to enter intd
being a delicate one, permit me here to clofe
my letter ; thus afibrding you a Ihort reijpite,
and myfelf a little time for coniiderati<m on
the propriety of lubmttttng my ideas (as yoa
feem dciermlned all thofe I feud you fhall be)
to public notice*
I am^
Dear Friend,
I
Yours.
LETTER
Digitized by Google
I^iFE OF J. LACKINGTON. . 449
LETTER XLIV.
«« Set Kmman in his eye, and in walk,
«• Among daughters of men the faireft foondx
^ Many «ie in eadi icgum pafing ftir
•* As the noon ll<y, more like to goddcffcs /
*< Than mortal creatures ; graceful and difcieet^
Expert in amocottsam, inchantingtODgaei:
Pcrfuafivc, virgin laajefty, with mild
And fweet allay 'd, yet tenibie to approach;
<« Skilled to ledie* and in retiring, diaw
Hearts after them, tangl'ti in amorous nets ;
Snch ofajedt have the power to foften and tame
Severeft temper, fmooth the rugged'ft l»ow»
' Enerve and wiih voluptuous hope diiTolvei
Draw out with ciednlona deiiie.
At win, die manlieft lefolnteft breaft.**
MitTOK's Samfon Agoniftea.
DEAR FRIEND,
Xn my laft I exprefTed fome
diffidence refpedling the propriety of coui-
mitting to paper my thoughts on a particular
fubjed i I have iince weighed it with due
cautioDy and the coniidcratloa of my having
durhig the long courfe of my epiflolary cor-
D d refpondence
Digitized by Google
450 LIFE Of J. LACKINGTON.
refpoodence always declared my fentiments
freely on every fubjefl, foou determiaed mc
not to degrade myicU by Ihiiuking back, now
it Is To near drawing to a conclufion.
The fubjeft ilien is— tliat bright lovely
part of the creation, woman! — tbeiburce
of all our joys, the afluagers of all our
grkfo ; deprived of whofe powerful aad at-
tradlive charms, man would be a wretch
indeed. But aUs ! the utmoft efforts of my
abilities are far inadequate to do juitige to
their merits; happily that plealiug theme
has engaged the attention of theableft and
worthtefl of men, from the remotefl period
down to the prelent time ; and I truA ever
will, aay mufi:, io long as a I'park of virtue
remains to dwell In the human breaft* And
when I reflect, tliat
" Hhcy arc not only r ai&» but jysT as fair/*
1 have nought to fear.
I therefore proceed with cheerfiiloeis to
fay, that in Kdiuburgh, Glaigow, Stir-
ling,
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 451
ling, &c. there are more really flue women
to be found than in any place I ever vifited,
I do not mean to infer^ we have not a$
many handfome women ^in England ; but
the idea I wiih to convey is, that we have
not fo many tn proportion: that is, Go to
any public place where a number of ladies
are aflembled, in either of the above towns,
and then go to any place in England where
an e^ual number are met, and yo\x will no-
tice a greater number of fine women, among
the former^ than among the latter. It muft
be obvious that in making this declaration, I
allude to the genteeler part ; for among the
lower clafles of women in Scotland, by being
more expofed to the inclemency of the xvea-
ther, the majority arc very homely, and the
want of the advantages of apparel, (which
thofe in a higher fphere can avail themfelves
of, and know how to apply) together with
their -fluttiih and negligent appearance, does
not tend in the leaft to heighten their
charms*
D d 2 Having
Digitized by Google
«a LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
Having both read and heard much related
of the manner of waftiing their iincu, which
1 muft coniel's 1 would not creJk without
having ocular demooftration, during my
continuaace at Glafgow, curlofity led me to
the mead by the river fide* For the poor
women here, inftead of the water curuiug to
them, as in London, arc obliged to travel
loaded with their linen to the iK^ater ; where
you may daily fee great numbers wa£bing,
iu ibcir way i which if feen by fbme of our
Loudon prudes, would incline them to form
very unjuft and uncharitable ideas of the mo-
defty of thefe Scottiih laifes. Many ot them
give a trifle to be accommodated with the
ufc of a large wafh-houfe near the water,
where about a hundred may be furniflied
with every convenience for their purpoie*
But by far the greateil part make tires, and
liwiit the water in the open air, and as they
iiniih their linen, they fpread it on the grafs
to dry ; which is the univerfal mode of drying
throughout Scotlaind. Here tixe
MiMeu bleach tlidr Aimmer fmocks/'
I had
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LAC KINGTON. 453
I had wnlked to and fro feveral times, and
began to conclude that the cullom o( getting
into the tuhs and treading on the linen,
either never had been praS:ifed, or was come
into difufe ; but I had not waited more than
half an hour, when many of them jumped
into the tubs, without Ihoes or ftockings,
with their fhifts and petticoats drawn up far
above the knees, and flamped away with
great compofure in their countenances, and
with all thcli iliciigth, no Scotchiuaii taking
the lead notice, or even looking towards
them, conftant habit having rendered the
fcene perfedl^ familiar,
On converfing with fomc gentlemen of
Gla(gow on this curious fubjedt, they afiured
me that thele fmgular lauudreffes (as they ap-
peared to me) were ftridly modeft women,
who only did what others of unblemilhed re-
putation had been accu%med to lor a long
feries of years j and added, that at any other
time a purfe of gold would not tempt them
to draw the curtain fo high. By. way of
^;ontraft, let me obferve that many of our
P d ^ London
Digitized by Google
454 I-IFE OF J. LACKINGJON.
Ix>ndon iervant-mtf/i&, though not always ib
nice in other relpe^ts, would not be fcen
thus habited m public oa auy terms, left
their precious charadlcrs fliould be called in
queftion* . A ftrikiug inftance of the power-
ful iui^uence ot habit I Fomfret iay$,
Caftom's the world's g^t idol we adore»
And knowing chat weftdc to know Qomoie*"
Moft of the female fcrvants ia Edinburgh,
Glafgow, &c. do all their work, and lua
about the town the fore part of the day with-
out ftays, fhoes or ftockiags ; and on Suut
days I faw the country-women going tq
Ward*s Kirk, ia the fame manner (ftays ex-
cepted j) hpwcvcr they do not go info kirk,
till they have dreffed their kgs and feet j for
that purpole they ieat themfelyes on the
grafs, fomewhcrc near, put on their ftioe$
and ftockings, and garter up very dejibe-
rately,
•* N^r heed the pafienger who looks that way.*'
■
Moft of thefe poor young country-womgi>
go without any caps or hats ; they have iq
geiiera^
V
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 455
r m
general fine heads of hair, many plait it,
others let it haug looie down their backs j
and I aflure you, my Irieud, they look very
agreeable,
i returned each time through Buxton,
where flaying a week or two, I vifited
Caftleton, and fpent feveral hours in ex-
ploring that ftupendous cavern, called The
Devils A— *• in the Peak* I alio furvey^d
Poole's Hole, near Buxton, aiiJ purchafed a
great variety of petrifadions. In our way
borne 1 faw the great marble manufa&ory at
Ailon, in the water, fpeut ibn^ days at
Matlock, the moft romantic vilLgc that I
ever faw, but the fight of it coft me dear ;
as we were conveyed there in' an old crazy
poA«chaife, in which I caught a violent cold,
the Uning being very damp.
I am,
r
Dear Friend,
Yourst
Dd4 LETTER
Digitized by Google
4S6 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
LETTER XLV,
** Good ftea ezpeded» e?il uiiibfe(eeii»
*• Appear by turns formne fliifts the fcene :
. Some rais'd aloft come tumbling down amaio»
*^ Then fall fo hacd* they bottod iind rife agtio/'
Dry den's Virgil,
New tams and changes eveiy day
Are oi inconllanl chance the conftant arts;
Soon fortaiK gives, fooa take« away,
•* She oomet, embraces, naufeacesyott* ^ parts.
But if fhc Hays or ii Cic goes,
** Hie wife man Uttle joy or little forrow knows;
For oftr all diere hangs a doabtfnl ftte,
•* And few there be who re always i'ortunate.
" One gains by what another is bereft :
*' The frugal deiHnies have only left
*' A common bank of happinefs bdow,
M Maintain'd, like nainie* by an ebb and flow."
How's Indian Em^
DEAR FRIEND*
X Did not intend to trouble
you oi* the public with an account of any
more of my wonderful travels^ but being now
at Lyme, for want of other ainufemeots tbi^
rahiy
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 457
iratny morning, I thought that a fliort ac^
count of this journey might afford you fome
fsntertatnment. *
My ilate of health being [)ut indifferent,
and Mrs. Lackington's ftill worfe, I was In-
duced to try what effe& a journey would pro*
duce ; it being immaterial what part I travel-
led to ; and as I had not for a long time ftcii
my native place, and perhaps might not be
furnilhed with another opportunity, we r^-r
folved to viiit itt
And many a year elapiM^ retain to view
•* Where once the cottage ftood, the hawthorn grcw^
Rememberaoce wakes with all her bufy tiaia,
** Swells at my breaft
f I ftUi bad hopes. Bat pride attends ds r
ff Amidft the fwains to (hew my boojc-learn'd ^ill.
Yes, let the rich deride, with proud difdain
V The firople bleffings of the lowly train,
f« To me more dear, congenial to my heart,
** One native charm, thau all the glofs oi' art;
•« Spontaneoos joys, where natore has its play.
Hie Ibnl adopts, and owns their firft-botn fwa/ :
<• Lightly they frolic o'er the vacant mind,
ff Unenvy'd, unmokfted^ unconfin'd,"
Go|.D£l|ITI|»
AfCQi'dijigljf
Digitized by Google
4s8 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
Accordingly in July Uft, 17 9 U wc ftt
out from Mertont which I now make my
chief refidence, taking Bath, Briftol, &c. in
our way to my native place Wellington,
In Briiloiy Exbridge^ Bridgewater, Taun-
ton» Wellington, and other placesi I amufed .
inyfelf in calling on fome of my matters,
with whom I had about twenty years before
WQrked as a journeyman ihoemaker. I ad-
drcffed each with, Pray Sir, have you got
any occafim f** which is the term made ufe
of by journeymen in th^t ufeful occupation,
when feeking employment. Moft of thofe
honeft men had quite forgot ray perfon, as
many of them had not ieen me fince I
worked for them ; ib that it is not eafy for
you to conceive with what furpria^e and
aftoniflimcnt they gazed on me. Fur you
muft know that I had the vanity (I call it
/jumour) to do this in my chariot, attended
by my fervants ; and on telhng them who I
"was, all appeared to be very happy to fee me,
And I aflure you, my friend, it afforded mc
much real pleafure to fee fo ^lany of my ol4
acquaintance^
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINOTON, 459
acquaintances alive and well, and tolerable
happjr. The folJow iug lines often occurred
to my mind :
•* Far from the maddjng crowd's ignoble ftrifc.
Their foher wiflies never karo'd to lln^ :
*• Along the cool feqoefter'd vale of Hfe
*• They keep the noifekfi tenor of their way.** ,
At Taunton ^nd .Wellington it feemed to
)}e the unanimous determination of ^11 the
poorer iprt, that I fhould by no means be
deficient in old acquaintance. Some poor
fouls declared that they had known me for
ffty years (th^t is, years before 1 was bora ;)
others had danced me hi their arms a thou*
land times ; nay, better dill, Ibme knew my
grandmother \ but, bed of ^11, one old man
claimed acquaintance with me, for having
feea me many times on the top of a flx-and-
twenty round ladder, balanced on the chin
^ a merry Andrew ! The old man was how-
ever egre^ioufly miftakcn, as I never was fo
jprecarioiifly exalted, my ambition, as you
well know, taking a very different turn. «
]^ut that Avas pf no confequence : all the old
fellovy
Digitized by Google
46o LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
fellow wanted was a Jhilling — aiid I gave it
him. No matter (as Steriie laysj hum what
motive. I never examine into thefe things*
This I obfervedt that none of them were
common beggars, but poor ufeful labouring
people. Giving to common ftroUcrs i$
but encouraging idlenefs 'and every other
vice, as Jmall matters made many bappy^
I was jfupremuly fo, to be the means of con-
tributing to their comfort. And indeed who
• would heiitate at beiiig the means of dtf-
fufing happinefs on fuch ealy terms, an4
with fo liaic trouble ?
The bells rang merrily all the day of my
arrivah I was al^o honoured with the at-?
tent ion of many of the moil refpedable peo-
ple in and near Wellington and other parts :
Some of whom were pleafed to inform me,
that the reafon of their paying a particular
attcuiioiiao mc was their having heard, and
now having themfelves an opportunity of
obferving, that 1 did not fo far forget my-i
felf, «|s many proud upftarts had done j that
the notice 1 took cf m^ poor relations and
1 • /
Digitized by Google
»
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 461
old acquaintance merited the relpe£k and ap--
probation of every real gentleman. Th^y.
were alio pleafed to exprefs a wifh, that as
ibon as I could difpofe of my bufmefs, I
would come down and fpend the remainder
of my days among them. This reception
was the more pleafing, as I have fbmetimes
obferved a contrary condud praflifed by
fome, wiio have been pleafed to flile then)-
felves gentlemen, and on that fcore tlni-k
that they have a right to treat men of bufi-
nefs (however refpedable they may be) as
by much their inferiors; and it too often
happens that one of thofe petty gentry who
pofleiles but a hundred or two per annum«
will behave in a haughty manner to a man
in bufinefs who fpends as many thoufands ;
but fuch fliould be told, that a real gentle-
man in any company will never either ^y
word or adion, attempt to make the meaneft
r
pcrfoa feel his infciiority, but on the con-
trary.
They ihould be informed alfo how highly
impoUtic and unjuft it is to attempt to fix
a ftigma
Digitized by Google
462 LIFE Of h tACKIHGTON*
a Aigma on trade and commercey the veiy
things that have caufed England to rife fa
high' in the political fcal^ of £urope*
^Tis true that even in England you may
fee great numbers of very opulent tradei-
men who liave net ?.n IJca but what they
have acquired behind the counter j but you
may alfo Hud many thoufands of the lame
clafs of life who are pofl'elTed of very liberal
ideas, and who would not commit an zStion
that would difgrace a title* For my part^
1 will endeavour to adhere to the advic«
give a by Perfius as it is tranflated :
V Stady tbyfdf wbit fwk» orwhaid^M
The wife Creator has oidain'd for dice:
And all the offices of that fiate
Berfom ! ttid with thy pradeoce ^nide diy faie.^
^ ^ William Jones, Efij. of Foxdowne, near
Wellington, hiformed me of a remarkable
progncpcalion in my favour ; he told me that
when I was a boy, about twelve years of age,
Mr. Paul, then a very coniiderable wholefale
linen-draper, in Friday-ftreet, London, (I
believe
Digitized by
LIFE OF J. LACKIKGTON. 4,63
believe ftill living) pafling by my father's
houfe oiie day, flopped at the door and aiked
various qucftions about fbme guinea-pigs
which I had in a box. My anfwers it ieems
pkafed aad furprized him, aod turning to-
wards Mr. Jones, laid, Depend uponit^fir^
that bey win gh€ day rife far ahave the Jituatitm
. that his prefefU man circumftances feem to pro^
mife^^ So who knows what a great man I
may yet be ? — ^perhaps
A dogUe pica in tlw book of fame.**
Give me leave to introduce another pre-
didion, though not altogether fo pleafing as
that juft related. An Italian gentleman, and
if we may judge by appearance, a perfon of
rank» was fome years iince looking at fome
books q( palmi/lry in my (hop, and at the
fame time endeavoured to convince me of
the reality of that fcience. In the midft of
his difcourfe, he fuddenly feized my right-
hand, and looking for fome time with great
attention on the various lines, he informed
me that I had twice been in danger of lofing
my
Digitized by Google
464 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
my life, once by water, and once by a wound
in my head. He was certainly right, but I
believe by chance, as I have many other
times been in very great danger. He ad-
ded, that I had much of the goddefs Venus
In me, but much more of Mars ; and aflured
' me that I (hould go to the wars, and arrive
at great honour. He likewife informed me^
that I Ihould die by fire-arms pointed over
' a walh — How far the former part of this
gentleman's predi£tion may be relied 00, I
will not pretend to decide, but. the lad part
of k wub lately very uear coming to fuch a dc-
cifion as would have proved the fallibility of
that part of his prognofiication, though even
in that cafe he might have pleaded his being
pretty near the matter of faft, only fubfti-
tuting gunpowder inftead of fire^armsf and I
Ihould not have had it, in my power to con-
tend the point with him. I will endeavour
to render this intelligible : On' Tuefday the
fifth of July, 1 79 1, I very nearly eicaped
being blown up with the powder-mills be*
longing to Mr. Bridges, at Ewell, near Mer-
ton
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 465
ton ill Surry. A quarter of aa hour before
that event took place, I was riding out with-
in one mile of the mills, and having en-
quired of Mr. Rofe, at Coom-Houfe, for the
way that leads round by the mills, I a£lually
rode part of the way, with an Intent of
vifiting them. But ibmehow or other^ I
fcarce knew why, I turned my horfe about,
and a few minutes after I had done fo, I faw
the fatal cataftrophe 1 which happening by
day, reiembled a large cloud of fmoke, of
a very light colour, and the report reached
my cars Immediately after« I iiiftautly con-
cluded, it could be nothing leis than the
powder-mills blown up ; and on my return
to my houfe at Mcrton, I foou learnt that
it was the Identical powder-mills that in all
probability I fliould have been in, or clofo
k>y, at the time of the explofion. By this
accident it feems four men were killed,
fome of whom had large families. The
bodies were fo much mangled by the explo-
iion, that, they could not be diAinguilhed
E e ' ' from
4k LIFi; OF J. LACKItiGTOH.
from each other, and the head of one of diem
waa throvvu to a great di^taace.
But to proceed with my journey. I efteem
my leif peculiarly happyi on one accoiuit in
particular, that I undertook it; and have
only to regret it did not take place Iboner, at
it tended to undeceive me in a matter in
which I had long been in an error. The
caie was this : I had for feven years paft Tup-
|x>red that the parents of my ficft wife were
dead ; and on enquiring after them of Mr*
Cafli at Biidgewater^ he confirmed the re-
port* However, as we pafled through South
Pelherton, being but a mile from the place
where they toriperiy livcjd^ I could, not helj^
ilupping to find out the time when they dkd»
and what other particulars I could learn re-
lative to them» but to my yery great furpiife^
I was informed that tii£y .we^ie both living
at Newton, two miles Jlftaut. On this in-
formation 1 gpave the coachman orders ta
drive us there> but ftiU could fcarcely. credit
that tliey really were aUve^r— But, O my dear
s Friend^
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTOll. 467
Friend, it is utterly impc^bie for nieto
defcrlbe the fenfatious of Mrs. Liacklngtoa
and myieif) on entering
which contaioed them I
** Aad ImvoK u^nt die pio^cft tfuw*''
There we found'— two
^ Poor haman smnt, tottetiiig o'er tbe gnrel**
The dim light on our entrance (eemed a little
to flaih in the: iodcet, and every moment
thn^tened to difappear for ever 1 while their
pale withered hands were ftretched out
towarda me, trembling at once with eager*
oefe and age«** Never before did i feel tha
lull force of Shakeipear's deicription,
i* _ Lsftfceneorall
** That cndi this Grange evcutful hiftory,
I|ib60adcfaikliihoe6) wdiiiaeoblififMit ^
" Sam tctlli» fiueyes^ im tat» : fanieitiy Hfi^gT
*
£ € a Froaa
Digitized by Google
46S OP J* XACKINGTOlM.
From fuch a ftate of poverty and wretched*
licfs, Gpp«d. Odd, deliver cvciy worthy
cbarader. *
The old mau is ninety years of age, and
the good old woman eighty. The old man's
intellefts are much impaired ; he for a mo*
ment knew me, and. then his recoUedioa
' forfook him. The old .womaa retauied her
leuies^nd knowledge during the whole of
the lime w e were with them. On inquiry
I found, that what little property they had
pofleiTed had bieeii all expiended for fome years.
^ow many once la Fortotie's lip high fed*
* • «• 'Sottcir die cold lumd of Cliafii^ I '
1 o ihock US more— folicit it in vain V*
Dtp YouKC.
Amidft this dreary fccnc, it was fbme alle-
viatiOQ t0^*fearn that their pious fon had given
them weekly as much as he could afibrd from
his own little family, and I have added
enough to render them as comfortable as
their great age can pofiibly admit of. But
for your fake and my own, I will drop this
gloomy
Digitized by
LIFE OF J. LAGKiNGTON. 469
gloomy fubjedt ; which to me proved one
of the moft affecting fcenes that ever i expe-
rienced in the whole courfe of my life,
Di^rliig our continuance at Wellington, I
one morning rode oyer to jBla(:k -Dowi^ ott
purpofe to mfpea » lUKnenfe heap H Ooaei
on the top of the hiil, ft rait before the town,
which I remembered to have feen when a
boy. The diftance from Wellington is about
two miles. Thofe ftones cover about an
acre of ground, and riie to a great height. ,
The country people informed me with great
gravity, that ^* the Devil brought them
there in one night in his leatbem apron/*
But the name of it, as well as the form,
prove what it was. It is called Symmon's
PofQUgk or Barrow j which, you know,
fignifies a burial<*place* I ihould *not have
taken any notice of it here, had I ever feen
, any Barrow of Jiones beiides this, and hve
Other fmaller Barrows, about half a mile
from the large one. The country people in-!*
fbrnied me that the devil brought the five
JE <5 3 heaps
Digitized by Google
«7# ttlE OF j. LACKINCTOK*
heaps in his gAve. I alio oblerv^ the iq»
mains of a large camp near the fpot* Cam*
den has taken uotice of a larg^ cauip a(^
Roach Caflle, three or four miles from
hence t it is ftrange that neither he nor
Goi^h fliould take any notice of fo iingular
a Barrow as this certainly is.
I remain.
Dear Friend,
Ywrs^
LETTER
•
Digitized by Google
I
LIFE OP J. LACKINGTON.
47«
LETTER XLYI.
^ Ye wlio amid diit ievenfli world woqU wear
A bodf Im of pain, of caret iht mud.
Fly the rank city : fhnn its (urbid air :
Bieathe HOC the dim of eternal fmoke
^ And volatile cormptton from tfie dead*
The iiying, fickcning, and the living world
•< ^Khal'd : To fully Heaven's tranfpaient dome
With dim mortality. It i§ not air
That from a ihoufand lungs icclcs \h\ck to thine,
M Saied with exhalations, tank and (ell,
Tbelpoilof donghiOs, and the patrid dww
*f Of Natua* : when from (hape aod teaiom fhe
■
Relapfed into fighting Elementi i
^ It is not air« but floati a naufeous mafs
^1 Of all obfceoe, eormpt, offufivethingi,
Moch aoiftoit hntts : hen a feedid bach,
f* With daily rancour fraught, relax.es more
The folids than fimple moiftore can."
Aau STnowc's Art of Health*
places vfaally called w^trnf^^phca^ that is,
^ place where invalids reibrt iu great uum«
bers 6r tfce rc^l or pretended purpole of
E e 4 . drinking
Digitized by GcQgle
472 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
drinking the waters for which each particu*
lar fituatiou is in repute, and bathing in them
with a view to the rcftoi ation of their health
I ihall trouble you with a few ob^rvafiions
which have occurred to tx^ on the fubjedl.
I cannot entertain a <;ioubt but that many
by this practice luyc been highly bcuelitcd ;
but at the fame time I muft obferve that fuch
relief is only to be reaibnably expected where
the parties pofiefs a fufficieut fliare o/ pru-
dence to conforni thofe rules, which aic
laid down to them by thoie who are beft ac-
quainted with the nature of the feveral com^
plaints, the ftrength, pr weaknefs of their
couftltutiQUS, and the different vli tues thofe
leveral waters poflefs, le as properly to adapn
them to each particular cafe, by drinking
the waters at proper ilated periods, as well as
in proper dofes ; befides conforming to luch
a regimen as fliail co-operate with them in
producing the defiri^d efte^* But where
invahds negle£l all, or indeed any pf thofe
rules, is it. t}0t rather an atifurdity to expe^
rplief irri will eufleavour to tipkiB my^lf s
Thofe
Digitized by Google
Un OF h LACJmWTON; ' 47i
Tfaoie wfttftr$ either pofleis powerful vir*^
toest or ihcy 4o not. If tb^y do, is it not
obvious that l<WBe judgflieAt and caution is
neceffary In the ufe of them ? which muft
jeither produce good or bad effeds» according
to th^ prUdencp with which they are applied*
If on the ojhcr hand, they are of fo hifigni-
^cant a nature, that they may be ufed at any
time, and in any propoftibd without injury i
gnd that, top in diiorders and conlbtutiona
very much varying fron^ each other, then
furely the inference muft be, that no depend-
^nce is to be placed on^ them, and confe*
quentljr it matters not if they are never ukd
^t alL For what pur^ule then do (uch
^umbers putthemfelves to the ingonveiiiehce',
4BXpince, and trouble of travelling (frequently
from diAant parts of the kingdom) and that
too when many of them arc in io ucbllitated
;i ftate, that their very removal is attended
with e3;;treme danger, and fometimes proves
fatal f But that thofe waters are not
iaacllve, I \\dl convinced, leaving
fecp thf bid tCfcCi? arising frgm -the im^
jprudent '
Digitized by Google
474 UFE OF J. LACiUl»d10K.
prudent ufe of them» in many inftanoes, as
well as the happy ocmlequonoes atcendiog
(heir beiqg ufed with due cautiou*
I W4S fir ft led into thcfe reflexions by
having been highly diverted, when I viiited
Buxton feveral fun^noers, with the prepofte*
(TQUS 4Qd ^bfi^rd (!oqdu£); of ibme of the coiht
pany who relbrtcd thither for the purpofe
of leftoring their heakht I remember fiz or
ieven gentlemen informing pfie, that they
were violently afEided with the gout an4
rheumatifm, and had undertaken this jour«*
liey in hopes of receiving benefit by the wa-
ters. Thefe gentlemen often rode or walked
about the cold dreary hills, in very .damp wet
inomings, and afterwards drank claret fronx
three o'clock in the afternoon to three the
next morning : B^t | did not continue there
long enough to he ]f, witnefs pf the happy
^fl^r which muft inevitably be produced by
? perieyeran^e in iuch a judicious regimen.
4
I alio vifited Freeftone, near Boftou in
ipiiicolnfliire : to which place a number of
fradefmeix
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J, LACKINGTON. 475
Cradefineti and farmers referred with thth:
wives, in hopes of receiving benefit from the
vie <^ the (alt water; in a variety of com-
plainta ; which they had been advifed to do
by the faculty, for a month , with pafticn-
lar due£tions to bathe every other day, and
on the iotemiediate days to drink half a pint
of the water in the courfe of that day. But
thefe wife people on duly confidering the -
matter, were fuUy convinced that this would
detain them from thdr families and buiinefs
longer than was altogether convenient ; and
alio (which they fuppofed their medical
friends never thought of) that they could
bath6 the full number of times, and drink
. the prefcribed quantity of the water, in a
week or a fortnight at farjiieil, and thus not
pnly expedite the cure, but likewife enable
^hem to return tp their families and buiinefa
ib much earlier, as well as fave the necefliiry
expences attending (h^ir ^ntinuing for iuci^
a length of time at the watering place.
. Thefe united cpnfiderations appeared to theo^
|o confident with pnidence and oeconomy^
y . " • • . - ^^^^
Digitized by Google
476 LIFE OF J. LACICINGTON;
that they refblved to put them into imme*
diate practice. I remonftrated with ieveral
of tbefe good people' on the impropriety of
their coiidud ; but whether they concluded
I was a party interefted in detaining them on
the fpoty or whether they deemed my judges
meat inferior to their own, I know not ; hut
I obferved that Ibme of them bathed feveral
times in a day, and drank- fait water by th^
quarts the confequence of which was,^ that
they left the place when the time expired
which ibey had prefcribed to themfelves,
jBUch wprfe than they came* Some indeed
. were fo very weak, that I am perfqaded they
could with difficulty reach their homes alive^
And in< thefe cafes the want of fuccefs, in?
flead of bein^ attribute4 to the jfoJiy of th^
patients, is generally transferred to the w^-
iers^ and to the want of judgment iii thofp
who advifed the ufe pf thetn*
I aflure you, my dear friend, this is pretty
much the cafe at Lyme. My rooms com-
manding a view bf the fea, I have this atni
feveral other days noticed many decent look*^
<
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKiNGTON. 477
ing men going down the beach three or fai^
tinnes in 'as many hours^ and drinking a pint
of water each time. I have made the fame
oblervaiion at Scatoriy Char mouth aiid" other
places, that <be obfervatton of Crabfii^wV
uurfe in the .adventures of Sir X^aiicelot
Greaves** has frequently pccprred to lae;
** BklLJ be G — (faid.fhe), my patient Is la
a fair way ! his apozeiii has had a b^efiad
eiieclJ £ve and , twenty ilools fmce thre^
o*clock in the morning J**
Relating thefe pahicularft to ' a medical
iiriend, he informed me that fuch fpecimens *
- of ignorance and obftinacy were by no means
CGiifiiied to the watering places^ as lie had
sa the courie of his praftice met with re<-
peated inftances^ where patients with a view
of haftening the cure, and getting out of the
doctor s hands (whom the vulgar charitably
fuppofe wiik to retain fhem there as long as
pofiible) have fwallowed a half pint mixture
iatended for feveral doies at once^ and a
m
whole box of pills in the fame manner. The
coofequences of which have been, that from
the
Digitized by Google
478 UFE OF J. LACKINGT(W.
the violence of the (^rations they have re»
mained in bis bamis a conilderabie lime, fimie
ib loDg as life (thus ibolUkly trifled with)
lafted.
But here are many of another chfi ; Ibme
of whoaif though not all^ came on purpofe
to bathe, but during the whole of thdr con-
tinuance here, never found time to bathe
once. Some haften to the btUiard-room as
£x>u as they are out of their beds ia the
moining, and there they continue until bed-
time again. A few of thele are indeed much
benefited, being cured of confumptiam in ibdr
purfes^ while others become proportionabljr
as much emaciated. And a great number,
both of ladies and geotlemea devote the
whole of their time to dreiling* ^ting, and
playing at whift. Charming tx^rdfs it muil
be! as they frcc^uently Ht ftUl in their chairs,
for eight or ten hours together*
Here are ethers again, who, like the gen*
tleuien at Buxton, fit drinking until three or
four in the morning i making a delightful
noiicf
Digitized by Google
UF£ OF }. LACKINOTON. 479
iiotfe^ to wnpofe thole in the iame houie who
are real moalids^ and who de^ous of obtaia*
4iig refl, retire early, though frei^uentljr to
very little purpoie«
1 have alfo obferved, that all the above
places are as healthy for horja^ as they are
fat their mailers. For as the innkeepers de-
pend almoft entirely on the ieafbn, they take
great care^ and do all they can to make theie
places comfortable. So that if gentlemen
have fat, lazy, prancing hor&s, and want to ^
reduce them in fize and temper, they may be
fure to have it done in fome of the inns
and Aables at the various watering places:
Where fuch Iny is procured as muft infalli^-
bly anfwer the purpoi^ even though they be
allowed a double portion of corn.
There is yet another very great advantage
(which I had like to, have forgot) refulting
from attending the watting places.^ Such
gentlemen who happen to have fervants too
honeil, too induilrious, too. atteuuve^ too
cleanly, toQ humble, too .^^ber, &c. by Uik>
iog
Digitized by Google
4^9 LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.
«
ing them to any of theie places, where they
have fo much leiiure> time, and where theie
party-coloured gentry meet together fo ofceu,
and in fuch numbers, uo one can go^way
unimproved, except he is a very dull fellow
indeed. — This is not merely my own obfer-
vatlou : fui" IcvGral geutlcmen of my ac-
quaintance alTured me that they had always
lound their fervants improved prodigiouity
after eacli of thefe excurfions.
■
We purpofe fettiiig out for Weymouth in
a day or two : but as I intend that this fliall
be my laft epifile, I will not conclude it un-
til I arrive at Merton.
V If into diflant parts I vainly roani»
*' Aod novel^ from varied objeds tiy^
My baiy thoughts refeek thehr wonted home^
And ficken at the vain variet)'/'
MertoHy Sept. nth. We arrived here fafe
laft night, being my birui- day. At Wey-
mouth we had the honour of walking ieveral
eveuiiigs on the Efplanade^ with their ma-
jefties and jhe four princefl'es. His majefty
feems
Digitized
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 481
4
feems in perfeA health and fpirits, and dif»
fui€8 life and ipirits to all around him«
Long, very long may hw continue to cnjuy
the Tame degree of health and happinefs !
But I could not help pitying Mr. Hughes,
the manager of the Theatre there i as the
company in gen vial f«em to pay but very
little attention to plays, while they can par*
take of the; pleafure of walking and breathing
the fea air with fo many of the royal family.
But his majcily, whofe humanity is by no
means the leaft of his many virtues, will no
doubt confider Mr* Hughes, who is induftri«
ous to an extreme, as he is fcarce a moment
idle. For befiJes managing his company,
performing himielf fix, fbmetimes eight cha« •
ra£i;ers in a week, he paints all his own
fcenes, and attends to many other iubjcccs;
and although he has had a large expenfive
family (nine children,) the theatre there,
and that alfb at Exeter is his own* Wey-
mouth theatre he rebuilt about four years
fince ; every thing is very neat ; his Icenes
are hne, and his company a very good one*
I faw them perform four pieces with a deal
F f of
Digitized by Google
4la LIFE OF J. LACKINGTOK/ ^ »
of pleafuf e ; notwlthftanding I had often
ieenthe fame in London, I remarked here*
as I had long before done at Bath, that the
parts were more equally fupported than they
often are at Dniry-lane and Covent-gardeu ;
ibr although at thofe places we have m&ny
firfl-rate a^^ors and a&refles, yet fometimes
parts are given to fuch wretched performers
as would difgrace a barn, which I never faw
. done at Bath or Weymouth.
lu, our road home^ wichia half a mile of
«
Dorchcller, we ftopt aud fpent half au liouk-
I*
theatre. It isi clofe.to the road» on tbe right
haiKl iide, aud covers about au acre of ground*
It is judged that ten thouiand people might
without interruption have beheld fuch exer«
ciies as were exhibited lu th^s ichool of the
ancients ; it is called Mambucy, and is fup*
pofed to be the compleateft antiquity of -tb^
kind in England.
I alfb amufed myfelf^ as I travelled
through Dorfetfhire and Wiltfhire, in fur-
vcyJng many of the numerous camps, for*
tiUcations^
Digitized by Google
■
« LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON. 483
tlHcationSy and barrows i which la{lii>g mo*
Auments of antiquity are to be feen in abun*
iJance in thefe comities, a great number df
(hem remain in a perfeA ilate^
Nor could 1 any longer omit the opportu*
nity of Teeing that ftupendous piece of anti*
quity on Sahibury Fiain, the famous Stone^
henge^ two miles from Amefbury. We fpcnt
near two hours there in aftont(hment 1 and
had not night came on, tve fliould not have
been able to have parted from it fo foon. We
found a very good inn at Amefljury, which
proves very convenient to fuch Whom eu-
riofity may detain on this wonderful fpdc
until it is late* It is remarkable, that al«
though fo many able antiquaries have de-
voted their time and attention to the invefti«
gation of Stonehenge, it remains iliii a mat*
ter undecided when and for what purpofe
this amazing pile was formed j nor" is there
lefs cauie of admiration, bow ftones of fuch
magnitude were brought hither ! I ihall not
prefume, either to decide on this curious
point, or offer any oonjedures of my own*
F f z I have
Digitized by Google
I
4S4 LIFE 0¥ J. LACICINGTON'. *
I have now, fir, not only given you the
moft material circumftances of my life, but ■
have alfa fuper^added a flicrt (ketch of foni6
of my travels* And ihouid the hne air of
Mcrton preferve the ftock «f health and
fpirita which I have acquired in this tail ex->
curfion, I intend during the (ummerto fpend
a few hours in the middle of three or four
days in every week in Chifwell-ftreet, devot-
ing th^ morning? and evenings to my rural
retreat,
Wliere dieetfbTiMA trionphant hitg
** Dilpels the painful doud of an,
Og fweet of langatfe, mild of waka,
O, Virtue's friend, and pleafure's qaeen !
By thee our board with fiow'nia oowo'd,
** Bf ihae with fogt oar waUuidbond}
•* By ihcc the fprightly mornings fhinc.
And evening hoan in peace decline."
Durii^ the winter I purpofe fpending moft
of my time in town ; where I hope again to
enjoy the company of you, fir, and fbme
otheis of our old phllofophlcai friends. la
the mean time^ I am,
«
Pear friead, jouri:
r. s.
Digitized by Google
LIFE OF J. LACKINGTON.- 485
P. S, I ihould deem myfelif deficient |in
point of juftlce to the ingenious artift mhQ
. painted the portrait from whence the engrav.'^ .
ing aiiixed as a frontiipiece to this volume is
taken, if I di^not embrace this opportunity
of acknowledging the approbation it has been
honoured with by all who have feeu it, ^as a
ftriking Ukenefs*
The ioliowing circumftance, though to
liuuy it may appear ia a luulcrous polut of
view, yet as it is a fad which does not
depend loieiy on my .aiiertiony I ihall not
hefitate to mention it.
Before the portrait was finiihed, Mrs.
Lackington, accompanied by another lady,
called on the painter to vi^ it. Being intro-
duced into a room filled with portraits, her
little dog (the faithful Argui) being with
her, immediately ran to that particular por-
trait, paying it the lame attention as he is
always accuftomed to do the original ; which
made it neceflary to remove him from it, left
he ihould damage it j though this was not
aocom^ilihed without exprefiions of diffatis-
fadion on the part oi poor Argus.
Thofe
Digitized by Google
486 UFZ OF J- iACiaNerON,
Thofe who are converfaat in hiftorjr wilt
not doubt the hSt ; leveral iimilar inilauces
being iccoi JcJ of th^; fagaclty aad nice dll-
crimination of theic animala*
A PRAYER.
" O may my work for ever live !
(Dear friend, this felfifli zeal forgive:)
May no vile mifcreant (aucy cook
Prefume to tear injr learned bookt
•* To fingc his fowl for nicer gueft, .
Or pin it on the turkey*? brtafl.
Keep it from pailry bak'd, or \my\ngf
. From broiling fteak, and fritters frying )
** From lighting pipe or wrapping fnuff.
Or cafing up a feather muff ;
From all the feveral ways the grocer
(Who «o the learned worid'a a fos, Sir,)
** J Ia6 found in twifting, folding, packings
His brain and ours at once a rac kingt
And may it never curl the bead
** Of either living block, or dead.
^ Thus when all dang^ they hnfv paftf
My leaves Hkt leaves of brafs (hall laftw
No bUil Lh Ai frooa a critic's bmth,
Bv vik infe^ioncaufe their deaths
m
** 'Till they in flames at laft expire.
And help to fet the world on fiie."
AMEN.
F i N i St
Digitized
Digitized by LiOOgle
Live Music Archive
Librivox Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Internet Arcade
Console Living Room
Books to Borrow
Open Library
TV News
Understanding 9/11