merits." "You surprise me," said Mr. Berridge, "in speaking so coldly of a countryman in whose praise they are so warm." "I have the best reason," he replied, "for speaking of him as I do-I am John Fletcher!" "If you be John Fletcher," said Mr. Berridge, "you must do me the favour to take my pulpit to-morrow; and when we are better acquainted, without implicitly receiving your statement, or that of your friends, I shall be able to judge for myself." Thus commenced an intimacy with Mr. Berridge which controversy could not interrupt.*

We pass over a period of three years, during which Mr. Fletcher still remained as tutor in the family of Mr. Hill. One of his pupils died as soon as he became of age, and the other became a member of Parliament for Shropshire, and finally took his seat in the House of Peers. Mr. Hill, as a mark of his high esteem for Mr. Fletcher, and an additional compensation for the valuable service rendered to his two sons, presented him the living of Madeley. This was in 1760. We find the curious account of this presentation in the work just quoted:

"One day Mr. Hill informed him that the living at Dunham, in Cheshire, then vacant, was at his service. "The parish,' said he, 'is small, the duty light, the income good, (£400 per annum;) and it is situated in a fine, healthy, sporting country.' He thanked Mr. Hill most cordially for his kindness, but added, 'Alas! sir, Dunham will not suit me; there is too much money, and too little labour.' 'Few clergymen make such objections,' said Mr. Hill; 'it is a pity to decline such a living, as I do not know that I can find you another. What shall we do? Would you like Madeley?' 'That, sir,' said Mr. Fletcher, 'would • Life and Times of Selina, Countess of Huntingdon.