the hearers. Thus, though not a handsome man, he was more than
commonly engaging, exciting the warmest affection in all who were
concerned with him, and giving in return an immense amount of
interest and sympathy, which only became intensified to old friends
while it expanded towards new ones. Here is a letter to his father,
undated, but written not long after his settling down at Alfington.
After expressing his regret that his voice had been inaudible to his
sister Joanna at a Friday evening service, he proceeds:--


'I did not speak very loud, because I don't think I could do so and
at the same time keep my mind at work and thoughts collected.
Anything which is so unnatural and unusual as to make me conscious of
myself in a peculiar manner would prevent, I fear, my getting on with
my oration at all.

'I am glad you think I could not have acted otherwise with E---. I
quite expect ere long to find something going on which may call for
my interference, and I specially guarded myself on this point. It is
distinctly understood that I shall speak to him quite plainly
whenever and wherever I think it necessary to do so. I do not
suppose it very likely that he can go on long without my being forced
to take some step; but I really feel so very unequal to expressing a
decided opinion upon the great question of Bible readers, that I am
certainly glad I have not taken up a hostile position hastily. As a
matter of fact, he reads in very few cottages in my district; tracts
he distributes almost everywhere.

'Now I see of course the distinction between a man making it his
business to read the Bible and neighbours dropping in occasionally to