naturally fearless) resolved to serve you, but on cooler consideration see I cannot.

*

"With every wish for your success, in business and in publications, I remain,

Whitaker had predicted, Mr. Polwhele was content to let the matter drop, and to forbear any further direct attack on the Methodists. He had learnt to respect the abilities and the motives of his antagonist; and Mr. Drew, as far as he was personally concerned, was ready, on the first indication of friendly overture, to offer the hand of reconciliation. By an act of voluntary and unexpected magnanimity, shortly afterwards, Mr. Polwhele made Mr. Drew his debtor; and this led to a correspondence, and an interchange of friendly offices.

Between Mr. Polwhele and Mr. Drew hostilities had ceased; but among the seconds in this warfare the controversial spirit was not at rest. This, in the following year, brought Mr. D. again into the field.

It has been intimated, that several anonymous writers took part in the Hawkerian controversy. With being the author of one of these publications against Mr. Polwhele, entitled, "Methodism tried and acquitted at the bar of Common Sense," Mr. Drew was publicly charged, in a pamphlet of nearly one hundred pages, by a person calling himself A Friend

of the Church. Allegation was considered by the writer as equivalent to proof, and personal invective was freely dealt out towards him, on this assumed ground. To rebut this gratuitous and unfounded charge, Mr. Drew wrote a letter, for insertion in the Cornwall Gazette, which his friend Mr. Flindell declined publishing. In consequence of this refusal, it was printed, with some additions, in a small pamphlet, to which Mr. Drew thus alludes, in the postscript of a letter to Mr. Whitaker, July 27. Since your departure, I have been attacked by an anonymous writer in behalf of Mr. Polwhele, who charges me with a pamphlet of which I am not the author, and makes that mistake the source of attack. I have in the press a small pamphlet, price fourpence, in reply, which I expect will be out in about a week."

This publication led to an overture of friendship from his unknown opponent, which, through some misapprehension, was afterwards retracted. To this circumstance the following letter of Mr. D. alludes; and with it the controversy, as far as he was engaged terminates.

"To the Friend of the Church.'

"GOOD SIR,

"St. Austell, October 26, 1801.

"I have lately received from you two letters, which, although dictated by the same primary occasion, are evidently written under very different impressions, and discover a mind agitated by a conflict of opposite sensations. The first of these letters is replete with civility and overtures of friendship; but the latter upbraids me with a breach of confidence, and the guilt of a most deliberate falsehood.

T

The former letters, from the concealment of your name, I suspected of insincerity; and the latter, by throwing off the mask, has sanctioned my suspicion.

"I should, however, have replied to your first, had not the omission of your name defeated the design for which it was avowedly written. It has been observed by Dr. Young, on the nature of friendship, that

'Reserve will wound it, and distrust destroy.'

If, therefore, confidence be necessary either to the existence or stability of friendship, you have violated its fundamental principle in your first overture; and it is to this violation alone that you have to look for that answer which, in your first letter, you requested from me.

"That you, sir, have been the sport and prey of rumour and conjecture,' your charging me with being the author of Methodism Tried' is a convincing proof; and I feel myself rather at a loss to conceive how you could so easily fall a victim a second time to the same species of imposition.

"If there be in human nature that magnanimity which poets have feigned, and which philosophers have attempted to prove, I doubt not that you will assent to the sentiment of Homer, that

A noble mind disdains not to repent.'

And I doubt not that you will readily suspend those unfavourable impressions which that report has made on your mind, and which my present letter is designed to do away. Your friendship, or that of any other gentleman, I should be ambitious to acknowledge, and solicitous to retain; but such overtures as are revoked through error, carry a presumption that they are offered through caprice, and leave the person to whom they are made, and from whom they are taken, but little reason to lament his loss. Whatever is held by a precarious tenure sinks in value in proportion to its instability.

"I have not written this to renew hostilities, but to convince you of your deception; not to upbraid your credulity, but to mark the folly of depending on conjecture and report. It is for you, sir, after the reception of this letter, to say on what foundation your letters stand, and to decide whether or not I have acted unworthy of that confidence which you have reposed in me.

"To ask you now to reveal your name, may, perhaps, be imposing a task for human frailty too severe.' I shall not, therefore, urge my solicitations. I will, nevertheless, frankly tell you, that the avowal of your name is essential to the reciprocity of that friendship which the concealment of it forbids me to express: I therefore sincerely say - Give me your name, and I will give you my hand.

"Animosity, sir, has never formed the smallest part of my character, in my conduct towards you; and this letter will convince you, that I scorn to avail myself of those advantages which your error might occasion. Should you, sir, think proper to avow your name, if Providence spare me to take another journey in your neighbourhood, I will do myself the pleasure of waiting upon you; when, I doubt not, a renewal of hostilities will (in a general sense) be precluded by a concurrence of sentiment. And would you, sir, act in the same manner, I should esteem it as a favour. In the meanwhile, passing by those mistakes and differences which will unavoidably arise from the chequered state of human life, and sincerely wishing you every blessing for time and eternity,

"I subscribe myself, your well wisher, SAMUEL DREW,"

66

SECTION XIII.

Progress of Mr. Drew's Essay on the Soul- Interview with Mr. Whitaker-Acquaintance with Mr. Britton— Essay on the Soul published — Its favourable reception- Mr. Polwhele's generous conduct.

We now advert to Mr. Drew's more important work, theEssay on the Immateriality and Immortality of the Human Soul,' the publication of which placed him in the highest rank of christian metaphysicians.

Although he had received so many marks of kindness from his friend and adviser, Mr. Whitaker, and there had been a frequent interchange of letters, yet, until the close of the year 1800, no personal interview had taken place. In a letter from his friend and printer, Mr. Flindell, dated October 10th of that year, this question occurs:-"Why do you deprive yourself of the opportunities that open to you of becoming acquainted with great characters? Go and see Mr. Whitaker, Dr. Hawker, and all that fall in your way. Exchange a little of your modest worth for my impudence. You love what is curious and excellent, in art and in nature, What is more curious, more excellent, more to be admired, than wise and good men- the noblest work of God?" Acting probably upon this suggestion, and recollecting the frequent and pressing invitations which