Having arrived at fame, Watts was visited by many persons of distinction, who eagerly seized the opportunity of improving their minds and warming their hearts by conversation with so rare an intellect. To devote an hour to Watts, to listen to the thin, worn prophet, as, in a Chineselooking gown', wig and band, "he talked of the great things of life and death," was considered by not a few as spending it in the highest luxury that a human soul was capable of receiving. Watts doubtless owed part of his charm to having been so much in the company of Lady Abney and other cultured women, for to use the words of one of his contemporaries and admirers: "Frequent conversation with women harmonizes the souls of men and gives them that enchanting grace which has so often delighted us." One of his visitors was the pious Count Zinzendorf. The con

versation, carried on in Latin, was chiefly on the subject of the persecuted Moravian and Bohemian churches to whom Zinzendorf had given refuge in his small dominion, and the "wondrous conversions" in New England, to which reference has already been made; and Zinzendorf, who was about to transplant and to accompany some of his Moravians to Georgia, felt inclined to visit also the scene of the conversions. Writing to a New England friend on

1 It is preserved at New College, London, N

2 J. G. Cooper.

Dec. 21st, 1738, Watts,' referring to the Count, says: "He is a person of uncommon zeal and piety, and of an evangelical spirit. He has pursued learning in several Universities.

If

he should visit you I persuade myself you will show him all Christian civilities, and offices of love, which so excellent and honourable a character deserves."

As in his lodgings in Minories, and as at Theobalds, Watts at Abney Park walked with God. He wept and prayed in secret there, as he had wept and prayed in his "technophyon " at Mr. Hollis's. In referring to the Almighty, he generally used the expression, "My gracious God." To the quickness of his temper, the result, as he so often tells us, of the excess of sharp juices" which had early mingled with his blood," reference has already been made. This idea of his that the vices of men are largely attributable to the ferment of their blood, he thought was supported by the resemblance of pride displayed by the peacock and the well-fed horse.2 The trouble, however, caused by his own "juices" he had been able to counterbalance by means of an abstemious diet, supplication, and self-control. Nowhere in his works, or in the anecdotes of him, would it be possible to find one angry remark made respecting any man. He exhibited towards

1 Letter printed in the Congregational Magazine, Dec., 1836. 2 Works ii., p. III.

those with whom he came into contact the tenderness of an amiable and beautiful woman. He was, as would be judged from what has been said on the subject of his Divine Songs, particularly gentle with children; and the books of instruction and the little poems which he wrote for them are eloquent both of the sincerity of his regard for them, and also of his desire for their happiness, temporal and spiritual. His amiable deportment disarmed his enemies. To know him was to love

him. On the poor he bestowed one third of his annual income, which amounted to about a hundred a year.

Soon after settling at Abney Park he put together the pleasant series of papers, which were afterwards published as Remnants of Time, some of which consist of several of the most beautiful productions of the heathen world converted to Christian purposes, as, for example, Horace's Ode 29, Book iii. But of these labours he soon tired. "Alas! my friend," he wrote to Say, "I am grown into years, and though part of the critic lives yet the poet is almost expired."3

Early in 1737 he went down to Southampton in order to visit his father, whose life (he

his Father 10 Feb., 1737.

was 86) was drawing rapidly to a close. 53. Death of The return journey was made on horseback, his father's servant, Richard

1 Works vii., p. 430.

3

3 Jan. 28th, 1736.

2 Works vii., p. 34.