cially I note that you seem to have forgotten how I wrote, sick or well, in spirits or out, lively or dull: the tale of bricks must be delivered. I agree with you, that great points give the best occasion to practical observations; but that is when a man has the genius, and is in frame to improve them: and I often feel a sad deficiency in both respects. Indeed, my maturer judgment may correct and improve what I formerly wrote; but I verily believe I am now incapable of writing, de novo, so much to the purpose, and so rapidly, as I then did. I would however query, whether leading the ordinary reader from verse to verse, with useful observations, though not striking to persons of superior cultivation, may not be as beneficial in teaching him to think, and deduce instruction for himself.—But enough of this."

The close of this passage may be considered as the author's reply to those who have thought, that it might have been an advantage had the Practical Observations, after all particulars had been explained in the notes, taken up the more general topics which a review of the whole suggested, rather than again have retraced the passage from verse to verse, which not unfrequently, (especially in the Epistles,) leads to a repetition of what had occurred in the explanation. In the historic parts, the plan alluded to is frequently adopted: and hence the most interesting reflections not uncommonly occur, on apparently unpromising chapters.*

"January 27, 1803. I am obliged to you for your hints on some of the Psalms, particularly the xvth and xxiid. I write a great part of the notes over again. I was very ill, and very much discouraged, when I hurried over this part of the work: and as I am vastly desirous of doing something less inadequate on this most delightful part of scripture, I wish you, with all freedom, to give me your sentiments. A man who reads at leisure, and has a tolerable measure of taste and judgment, will strike out thoughts, and ways of stating things, which his equal or superior, in laboring through his daily task, would not hit on."

The observation here made is one, to the benefit of which every commentator is certainly entitled. The preacher, or the writer of remarks on particular passages, selects those parts of scripture which strike his mind, and on which he has something, perhaps, more than common to offer: the regular commentator must travel through all alike; and may

See, for example, the Practical Observations on Genesis v.-the catalogue of antediluvian patriarchs.

thus perhaps rise to a less height on many given passages than even inferior men may attain.

In 1807, before the edition in hand was completed, all the earlier volumes were so nearly sold off, that it became necessary to commence a new one. On this occasion the question recurred, whether my father should undertake the publication on his own account, or dispose of the work to the booksellers: and it was again decided in favor of the former plan, for the same reason as before,-that he might be at full liberty to give it every improvement in his power. "It would certainly," he says, "be more agreeable to me to pay all the sums which I owe, and to have no further concern with the trading part of the service: but I do not at present feel this much of a burden to me; and I am conscious that I have property sufficient, and more than sufficient to discharge all in due time; and that both the debts and the dealings were the result of a wish to do my best to promote the cause of true religion, and proceeded not either from the desire of worldly lucre or honor, or from a scheming spirit. It was the only possible plan at the time."

The same letter (dated March 11,) gives the following notice of the progress which the work was making on the other side of the Atlantic, and of "a mark of esteem and regard" there conferred upon the author, of which, though he would meet it with a return of respect and gratitude, he never thought it proper further to avail himself." had two letters from North America about three weeks since, in o of which I am informed by a bookseller, that he has twelve hundred subscribers for the Bible, and expects a great many more; and that it is read with approbation by the religious people of all descriptions. As a proof of this approbation, the packet contained a parchment by which I am constituted D. D. by the Dickensonian College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, by persons whose names I never before heard. What use I may make of this honorary distinction is a subsequent consideration: but the whole encourages me to hope that my labor is not in vain.”

The letters referred to (which are now before me,) assured him that "if he could know half the extent of good which had already resulted to the interests of our glorious Redeemer's kingdom in that country, from his Commentary and other works, his joy would be full.”

In April 1809, we find the third edition advanced about half way towards its completion. "I was not aware," the

author writes, "at the beginning of the former edition, that the nature of the work would render the printing so tedious; (for it never stopped for me one day, except when I lost the preface;) and nine years was far more than I looked forward to: ... but three years, that is, a year and a half from this time, may without difficulty finish the present edition..... On the whole, I believe few persons would have found courage and pertinacity to struggle through all the difficulties of so vast an undertaking, as compared with my circumstances: and, though many may see, or think they see, mistakes in my manner of conducting the work, on the most careful review, I cannot see how I could, consistently with my principles, and with reserving the copy-right, have done materially better. I have accomplished my object; and am more disposed to rejoice and be thankful, than to complain."

At the close of 1810, my father contracted with the present proprietors for the sale of the copy-right, for which he eventually received 2,000!., and for the remaining copies of the third edition. The following year they proceeded with a new edition: and near the close of 1812 the injunction against them was obtained, by representations which could not be substantiated. My father wrote concerning it, as follows, January 22, 1813.

"Could it be established, the consequences would be, the sweeping away of all my little property; the locking up of 50001, expended by the purchasers of the copy-right, besides the money paid me,—which they would have a right to reclaim; and the perpetuating of the first edition, with all its imperfections on its head, to the exclusion of all subsequent improvements; unless some compromise could be submitted to. . . . It is wholly in the breast of one man (the Chancellor) to decide: but that man's heart is in the hand of the Lord!. Pray that I may be enabled to act as it becomes a Christian, and an aged minister of Christ, in the business; and, as to the rest, the will of the Lord be done.”

-'s

Another extract of about the same date is communicated to me by the Rev. Mr. Mayor. "An instance of his disinterestedness," says that esteemed friend, "I have before me, when relating the difficulties he was placed in by suit. Besides the ruin which it would be to his property, which would oblige him to throw himself upon his creditors, and for maintenance upon God's providence, he laments the heavy loss it would be to the purchasers of the copy

right, and adds: 'Should he succeed, it would render all my labors in this respect, for the last twenty years, at present useless. But, if God see the work suited to be an instrument for promoting his glory, neither the devil nor his factors can hinder its circulation: if not, let it go to the dogs. As to the rest, were I a poet, I would add another line about authors to those of Virgil,

'Sic vos non vobis vellera fertis, oves,' &c.

If good be done, let both the profit and the credit go to others. I exult that I am not the injurious, but the injured party." Mr. Mayor proceeds: "From a subsequent letter of the 12th of February, 1813, I could not but admire his perseverance, in preparing a new edition to be printed at some future period, notwithstanding the uncertainty of the present use or emolument to be made of it."

-'s af

February 11th, after having been twice in London upon the subject, he says: "I finished my answer to fidavit, made my own, and signed it on the 29th ult.; and, after a most wearisome time to body and mind, returned home on the 30th, fully expecting to hear the Chancellor's decision in a few days: but hitherto I have heard nothing.... I was very poorly in town, worse than usual, and feared returning home quite il: but I did not. I have, however, been very weak and low since, as if recovering from a fever; but I rather get better, and the spring is coming on. Close study, which is too much for me, is, next to prayer, my chief relief from gloomy thoughts: but they are not so much about my temporal vexations, as concerning the reason why God thus contends with me. . . . While fully conscious before Him, that I never meant to injure any man, so many other things recur to my remembrance, as to the presumption of my undertaking, and all the evil attending the whole prosecution of it, that I am often much cast down: yet hope prevails."

The following extracts of a letter addressed to his daughter, two days previously, further illustrate his state of mind at this anxious period.-The first is from another hand.

"February 9, 1813. Your father returned from London very poorly, but, through mercy, not laid up as on former occasions; for the next day he preached two excel. lent sermons, on, Set your affection on things above, and, The

end of all things is at hand. The first especially was most admirable."

The next is his own addition to the letter.

speaks as if a final settlement of

-'s business might soon be expected; but I am far from being so sanguine. The gross blunders of my former lawyers, and the clumsiness of the deeds, throw intricacy on what we might think so plain that the event was certain. What the partners are doing I cannot conceive. Eleven days have elapsed since I completed my answer, which I supposed would have been brought into court directly. . . . However I am not anxious. Let who will take property and credit, if the Lord Jesus does but receive my soul! But should it go wholly against me, I shall never more, as far as I can see, have money for travelling expences, except unavoidable."

The next letter (dated March 12th,) brought intelligence that the injunction was dissolved. The partners handsomely defrayed all expences of the suit: and here my father's embarrassments, though not his labors, respecting his Commentary ended.

The first edition of this work, completed in 1792, consisted originally of three thousand copies: but, after all that remained of it had been sold in 1798, for 450l., (the retail price of little more than one hundred copies,) it continued to be reprinted, as different parts were wanted, by the purchaser, and afterwards by others into whose hands it came, and who advertised their reprints as a third edition; and was sold exclusively till 1802, and then jointly with my father's editions till 1814 so that it is making a low calculation to say, that it extended to five thousand copies. The first edition with references, commenced in 1802, and completed in 1809, consisted of two thousand: the second begun in 1807, and finished in 1811, of the same number: the third, which was in the course of publication from 1812 to 1814, of three thousand. The edition, on the revision of which the author labored from the year 1818 till the very commencement of his last illness, and which is just completed, is in stereotype; and forms, I presume, the largest work ever submitted to that process. The copy was fully prepared by himself for the press to the end of 2 Timothy iii, 2: and for the remainder he left a copy of the preceding edition, corrected, though less perfectly, to the very end of Revelation; from which the work has been finished, ac