with a calamity which, it is scarcely figurative language to say, paralyzed for a considerable time all power of thought and action; at all events, left me in a state in which I dared not resume occupations so terribly associated with the thought of a happy past.

After an interval of some months, it became absolutely necessary that I should resume the work. I did so with inexpressible reluctance; but I found, as I proceeded, that I became interested in spite of myself, and that my attention was

sometimes so com

that I enjoyed, for No sooner

pletely absorbed by it,
hours, a sort of happy oblivion.

did I find it attended with this result, than I was impelled by the strongest motive—that of excluding the terrific images which haunted me-to pursue my task almost without intermission. At this voluntary endurance of almost incessant toil, some may perhaps be surprised. They know not-and I heartily wish that all my readers may share in their happy ignorance that there are states of mind in which labour, more exhausting and severe than that of a galley-slave, affords a species of relief.

I do not know that I should mention these

circumstances, were it not to record my experience, (confirmed by that of many sufferers better known to fame,) of the absorbing effect of literary labour; and to encourage those who, under any similar circumstances, may be able to avail themselves of the same remedy, to use it unsparingly. Oblivion, alas! cannot be had, but unceasing occupation produces something like it. It is not the fabled Lethe, but it is a tolerable substitute.

This volume, therefore, however little value it may possess in the eyes of others, will never be without deep interest in my own. The toil it has imposed upon me has had the effect of a most precious anodyne.

ὦ φίλον *

* θέλγητρον, ἐπίκουρον νόσου, ὡς ἡδύ μοι προσῆλθες ἐν δέοντί γε.

But though the peculiar circumstances under which this work has been produced, justify me in asking the reader's indulgence towards the little inaccuracies or blemishes which he may detect in it, I ask none for the opinions I have expressed on the various important topics which have come under consideration, or for the general views which I have given of the character and conduct of the extraordinary

man, who forms the subject of the narrative. These have not been hastily adopted; if erroneous, they are erroneous upon mature deliberation, and can have, therefore, no claim to indulgence.

In the course of the work, I have, of course, been compelled to touch on many points which have often excited the utmost bitterness of party-spirit. In these cases, I can sincerely

say,

I have endeavoured to maintain a tone

of historic impartiality. I should have felt myself utterly unworthy of being the biographer of Howe, had I not been emulous of imitating, in some humble measure, that calm, candid, dispassionate temper of mind for which he was so justly eminent.

Howe was a Nonconformist; I have endeavoured faithfully to represent his reasons for his nonconformity: but it has been infinitely far from my purpose to employ his name in subserviency to party purposes. To enlist him, whose temper and spirit were so transcendently catholic; whose whole life was devoted to the cause of our common Christianity; and who abhorred all excess of party feeling, whether displayed by those with

whom he agreed, or by those from whom he differed;-to enlist him, I say, in the mere strife of party, would, in my estimation, be a flagrant insult to his memory.

I have not therefore made Howe's nonconformity a topic disproportionately prominent, or more so than the impartial history of his life demanded. I could not help feeling that the name and memory of such a man are the property, not of one denomination, but of the whole Christian church; and that, however strong the reasons which endear him to any one party, the reasons are still stronger which should endear him to all.

To write the life of Howe with any mean, sectarian feeling, would, in my estimation, be as unutterably absurd, as to write the life of Cromwell merely to show that he was an Independent, or that of Milton, to prove that he was a Baptist.

I have only further to add, that no source of information to which I could possibly obtain access, whether in the shape of MSS. or printed books, has been neglected. The reader will see that research has not been in vain; many letters of Howe, and one or two other docu

ments, have been recovered, as well as a considerable number of facts, not mentioned in Calamy's "Life."

My cordial acknowledgments are due to the several gentlemen who have kindly answered inquiries, and contributed to my materials; more especially to Joshua Wilson, Esq., of the Inner Temple, justly distinguished for his minute and extensive knowledge of literary antiquities; to Jeremiah Wiffen, Esq., Librarian to the Duke of Bedford; to Dr. Williams, of Shrewsbury; to the Rev. Thomas Milner, of Northampton; to the Rev. R. Slate, of Preston; and to the trustees of Dr. Williams's Library, for the access they afforded me to the Baxter MSS.