volumes on religious subjects possessed by the former, and an interesting map of Europe, (on which was pointed out to him the route by which the Emperor Napoleon retreated from Moscow,) belonging to the latter, who was, he says "the greatest reader in the village, he being in possession of a library consisting of above a hundred volumes." He complains, in describing the manner in which he perused these volumes, of the very desultory style of his reading, which prevented his acquiring much solid information from them. Indeed, throughout the entire history of his character, quickness of comprehension is evinced, rather than steadiness of application, and a regular course of mental training, would have been necessary, before (even with the powers which he naturally possessed) such a character could have been fitted for occupying any useful station in society. He was taught to work at the loom with his father, in which occupation he continues until the present time. In the summer of 1815, he lost his mother. She had been accustomed while she lived, to accompany him once every year upon a visit to her brother, and during those periods he was much excluded from intercourse with his fellow-creatures, as neither his mother nor uncle were able to read writing. He speaks feelingly, at this point of his history, of the evils of ignorance. "Surely it must be a very deplorable condition to continue thus long in a state of ignorance, as I deem it infinitely far worse than the most destitute condition of outward poverty, as a well enlightened mind is a means to preserve many a one from sink ing under misfortunes, understanding being thus a well-spring of life to those who have it, and every one has themselves alone to blame if they were not to take much pains to know and consider." From this time we have but few notices of his life, until the year 1827, when his affectionate father was removed from him by death. He here speaks of his deep distress, as having induced him to consider his lost condition by nature, and to search the Scriptures upon this all-important subject. But, even in the midst of these confessions, we cannot trace that deep consciousness of utter sinfulness and weakness, which renders a Saviour so truly precious. Immediately after having recorded the death of his father, John Chapman introduces a short description of the person and character of his affectionate parent. "My father, to whom I was so very much attached from my earliest years, as he was a very sober and quiet man till his decease; he being at the time when I lost my hearing, a tall and very agreeable good looking man."—"His open frankness, while we lodged together at Pathhead, had in my recollection procured him the favour of almost every person with whom he wished to converse."" He used to treat me with the utmost kindness when I had behaved well; ever since I lost my hearing, he used almost every Sabbath to keep up a kind of Sunday-school at home during the evening hours, and he continued this practice until a few years before his death." In the year 1830, he mentions his delight in seeing the ancient marbles at the seat of the Earl of Elgin, which he visited with a relation, at the sight of which, he says, "I was very much charmed, and felt myself as if I were upon old Greek classic ground." Upon the same day he crossed the Frith of Forth to Edinburgh, and called upon a lady, who lived in Gloucester Place, and had been a friend to him. She sent him to visit the Deaf and Dumb Institution. "The teacher, Mr. Kinniburgh, after having examined him, seemed well pleased, and thought there was little or no need of his getting any education in the said Institution. However, he kindly gave him a present of almost all the books which he had published for the benefit of his pupils. In one of these volumes there was printed a finger alphabet, the use of which Mr. Kinniburgh kindly explained to John Chapman, before he left the Institution; and, on his return home, he communicated the knowledge of it to his companions in the shop in which he was working, one of whom began to learn it with him during times of leisure as an amusement. This attracted the no+ce of a young woman who learned the use of this alphabet, and by means of it was for some time enabled to converse with him; "but he has," he tells us, "now wholly given up the use of it-as this young woman has left her native village, and there is no one remaining in it who is able to make use of this method of conversation." He next alludes to the knowledge he has acquired from books, comparing profane writers with the Holy Scriptures, in the following words: "To inform you how I have attained further knowledge up till this moment, that excepting the knowledge contained in the Bible, any other knowledge I have got from books is altogether superficial, as I scarcely ever remember any thing out of the numerous kind of books which I had long used thoughtlessly to read in my younger years, in neither considering deeply nor retaining them. However, I little or never regret this, as I well know that almost all these books now will not well do in this present improving age, besides which I am so very sceptical to trust to whatever particulars they relate, as many of the most approved and authentic histories, and travels, and divinity are often to me little better than an entertaining novel, merely for the just reason that I often find authors so much divided among themselves upon the same topics, that nothing certain can be learned from them; whereas I am now an only believer in the Bible alone, which is all-sufficient of itself." While the witness which this opinion bears to the infallible truth, and all-sufficiency of the Sacred writings is most just, there is manifested in the criticisms bestowed upon profane writers, the half enlightened state of a mind too advanced to receive every work presented to it with implicit credence of its contents-and yet too uncultivated to estimate aright the difference between facts and opinions; and to examine the grounds, and balance the relative weight of the latter when conflicting. He concludes, after having apologised for the inaccuracies of his manuscript, by stating his ignorance of English grammar, and expressing his intention to make it a subject of study; meanwhile, begging the aid of the Editors in revising and arranging his little work, -he gratefully acknowledges the kindness of the lady to whom his manuscript is addressed, and pleading the uncertainty of his present occupation continuing to afford him the means of a comfortable subsistence, he earnestly desires to be admitted to the Hermitage of the Duke of Northumberland at Warkworth; or of the Duke of Athol; or of obtaining a little spot of ground upon the estate of some landed proprietor, upon which he might erect a cottage, and fence a garden in ir 'tation of the beloved home of his childhood. LINES ON HEARING THE CLOCK STRIKE TWELVE ON THE LAST DAY OF THE YEAR 1842. HARK! 'tis the funeral of the passing year! Reflect on all that thou hast left undone, And of the work that still remains to do ; What hast thou done for thine eternal weal?- |