1815.]

RECOMMENDATION OF READING.

Needs there be any thing said, in an age of education and learning like our's, in recommendation of reading! Alas, many there are still, who cannot read-morally and intellectually so speaking-who have no relish for

"The feast of reason and the flow of soul !"

Shame to the professors of Christianity, if such there be among them :--who can deprive themselves of so much happiness—violate the precepts of sacred obligation— and act so unworthily of their honourable profession. "Give attendance to reading" is indispensable to every youth in particular, who desires life that he may see good" all his days.

INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS. [Sect. III.

SECT. III.

HIS INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS; AND RESIDENCE AT COCKERMOUTH.

(From 1816 to 1820.)

In the Autumn of 1816, Joseph left home and became a resident at his Uncle's, at Cockermouth, with a view to engaging in the pursuits of trade. How he felt on the occasion, or what reconciled his ardent mind to such a change of situation, does not appear from any recorded intimations among his papers. His residence here however, was mainly of a probationary character; nor was he unfavoured with those literary advantages, which he had enjoyed at home.

His book of

Extracts" shews him diligently persevering in his studies; and with the selections transcribed, he has occasionally introduced some of his own observations. Here occur two instances, of the present date, which must not be omitted, for they very interestingly develope that critical acumen and Catholicity of Christian feeling, by which his future character was so prominently and honourably distinguished. The former comprises his

1816]

HIS CRITICAL READING.

queries on a sentence in Dr. E. D. Clarke's Travels; and the juvenile reader has indeed most properly corrected the misapprehensions of the learned traveller.* "Does the Dr. understand Hebrew ? Does he not know that Jordan means, "the river of Dan ;" and that the termination of dan is not expressive of the river, but of its geography and topographical situation?" The latter relates to Eustace's Classical Tour through Italya work, by the way, which no mind of cultivated taste and right feeling, can ever peruse without being charmed and edified. After transcribing that sublime and exquisitely beautiful comparison between Jerusalem and Rome," he has appended: "A Work worthy of being inscribed in letters of gold!"

"In what a variety of languages has this word Don, with its roots and ramifications, been used to signify a river, lake, or cities near the mouth of rivers! Don, Danets, Dun, Den, Dan, Danan, Tan, Tane, Ain, An, En, &c. ! Thus we have Jordan, Tanris, Danube, Thames, Tyne, and many others !"--Clarke's Travels, v. i. p. 258.---B. i. p. 57.

"In the whole Universe, there are only two cities interesting alike to every member of the great Christian common-wealth, to every citizen of the civilized world, whatever may be his tribe or nation---Rome and Jerusalem. The former calls up every classic recollection, the latter awakens every sentiment of devotion--the one brings before our eyes all the splendors of the present world--the other, all the glories of the world to come. By a singular dispensation of Providence, the names and influence of these two illustrious Capitals are combined in the same grand dispensation; and as Jerusalem was ordained to receive, Rome was destined to propagate "the light which leads to heaven." The cross which Jerusalem erected on mount Calvary, Rome fixed on the diadem of Emperors, and the prophetic songs of Mount Zion have resounded from the Seven Hills to the extremities of the earth."---Eust, i« p. 352. B. i. p. 58, 59.

PETITION TO PARLIAMENT

[Sect. III.

His reading now became more extended and useful, as he was allowed every day to devote an hour or two specially to this object, beside other intervals which he could occasionally redeem for the improvement of his mind. Having access to some valuable Libraries, and enjoying the counsel and direction of his Uncle, he was enabled to prosecute his literary studies with growing advantage, notwithstanding the necessary calls and interruptions of attendance in the shop. While his reading, however, was manifold in its character, it was equally judicious in its selection, of which we have gratifying evidences in his own record of the books he perused,† as well as in the fine intellectual and moral character afterwards produced.

While our young friend was here, he was very unexpectedly called upon to take part in a public transactionthe preparing of a Petition to Parliament, on behalf of the Protestant Dissenters in and about Cockermouth, for Catholic Emancipation. Most heartily did he engage in this liberal and honourable measure; and he vindicated the proceeding, in a manner highly creditable to his juvenile character. He felt assured that any objections, which may still be pertinaciously entertained against this

They cannot be consistently transcribed, but the amount of their number may be specified for some succeeding years. In 1816, he read 25 vols.-in 1817, so many as 63-in 1818, about 100.-67 in 1819-53 in 1820-67 in 1821-and about 60 in 1822.-B. i. of the MSS.

-1818.]

FOR CATHOLIC EMANCIPATION.

great political question, originate either in interested motives or in sheer ignorance---that they are, however, rapidly subsiding in this age of enlightened sentiment and feeling---and that they ought to be dismissed for ever, as the relic of a barbarous and bigotted age. The Petitioners, he conceived, were obligated by the very principles and profession of Non-conformity, and as fellow-sufferers with their Roman Catholic brethren,† to demand from the Legislature the restoration not of their liberties only, but of their civil rights, the forfeiture of which they had never justly warranted, either by their own or their fathers' deeds. It is sorrowful to observe any thing like a diversity of opinion on the subject of political free

+ At a late period of his life, he thus advorated their cause:"What bishop Newton has said to persuade lenity and gentleness towards Jews, may very fairly be applied to the treatment and estimation of Catholics-and indeed the argument is Paul's, Rom. ix. 4, 5. "We should consider, that to them we owe the oracles of God, the Scriptures of the New Testament as well as the Old; we should consider, that the glorious company of the Apostles, as well as the goodly fellowship of the Prophets were Jews: we should consider, that of them as concerning the flesh, Christ came, the Saviour of the world; and surely something of kindness and gratitude is due for such infinite obligations -Prophecies, i. p. 139.

"Mosheim, ii. p. 105, 106. What little relics of Literature were preserved from the general ruin, were in the hands of the Monks. Where had been the writings of Antiquity, or the volume of Scripture-if God had not made these despised men the depositories of his Oracles ?"

"The velvet Cushion reminds good Protestants,' that all which in our religion deserves the name of a Church has descended from the Papists. It may be asked in continuation, what is there in us that deserves the name of Religion, which has not so come down ?"-Selections from No. ii. Adversaria, p. 2.