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which were only a small part of those left for publication, and a still smaller part of the whole collection, to which no such injunction applies. From these last, most of those now first published have been selected; and if one or two of the former have been added, it has been for the sake of preserving a connexion with the former publication, evidently intended by the author himself, or of giving some strong and peculiar characteristic of his mind and sentiments.

As to the Sermons now brought forward, it may be acknowledged that much will be found in some of them, which will be recognized by any reader of only slight information; but it may be said also, that it seems worth while to see not only how old topics may be made interesting under a new dress, but how this author's manner of reading and reasoning led him to draw out the pith of even the closest writer. It may be well also to observe how he treats of even the most ordinary subject, and how much he dis

dained on more serious subjects to seek only those, on which he might indulge his natural fondness for originality.

With regard to the general arrangement of the volumes, it is yet incomplete, the second volume having been demanded and printed as the second, before the arrangement of this edition was thought of. As being the order which seems to have been contemplated by the author, and as being the obvious arrangement of his subject, the Natural Theology ought to have stood first-the Evidences next, to which, as being connected both in matter and time of publication, the Horæ Paulina and the minor Tracts might have succeeded. The Moral Philosophy and the Sermons obviously come last, as the result of the whole. This, however, concerns more the printer and publisher of the works than myself; and should a future edition be called for, it may be worth attending to.

EDITOR.

LIFE OF DR. PALEY.

As it is one design of these memoirs to seek occasions where the subject of them may speak for himself, so it may be worth while to begin, where such biographical sketches usually do begin, with some short account of the family from which Dr. Paley used to boast his origin. No man was more ready on all occasions to value real merit of any kind, or in any condition; and though he never treated the pride of ancestry with contempt, he neither had, nor thought he could have, any pretensions to be jealous of his rank in society. It will be found in the following pages a striking part of his character, that he not only was perfectly clear from any uneasiness in this respect, or any consciousness of his own importance, that he never therefore was forward to assume importance beyond the most private character; but that he never refused to allow it to others who deserved it, whatever might be their station, nor ever indulged in any but the most cheerful satisfied view of all conditions. He praised what was good in every thing, he passed over good-humouredly what

was weak, he was ever on the watch for the best and most cheering prospects, and equally ready to point out to others the advantages and peculiar felicities of their situation. It was with such views as this that he always expressed himself fully satisfied with his own lot, and showed himself satisfied by the great pleasure he took in reflecting upon his rise in life. It is gratifying to his family and intimate friends, to recollect the amusement he both felt and afforded in giving what are called family anecdotes; and it is no less useful, as showing how far such a character may be modified, if not moulded, by the accidental circumstances of time, place, and early habits. He used to speak much of one of his great-uncles, who kept a hardware stall, on market days, at Settle, in Craven; from the vicinity of which place his family sprung, and who on being directed by a witty neighbour to make a common sewing needle, in value less than one farthing, not only did so with great diligence and simplicity, but gravely charged half-acrown for a very bungling piece of workmanship. Another kinsman of his, who kept a little grocer's shop in the same town, and whom he took great delight in assisting to make, or perhaps to wrap up, tobacco, was held out to his own family as a model of perseverance and industry, because he separated two pounds of black and white pepper which had accidentally been mixed, and went thirty-six times. (as he used to calculate) into his shop for a farthing.

On his finding it necessary to assume what he

used to call his dignity in later life, and having occasion for his armorial bearings, he used to mention with great glee the circumstance of his arms being found on what might probably have passed for a piece of grandeur in his family in early times, on a tankard belonging to an elder branch, to which the family estate at Lancliffe at present belongs; but with a mischievous pertinacity in maintaining the low origin of his family, he used to take every opportunity of insisting that even this tankard was bought at a sale. "Thus," said he, when being subdean of Lincoln, he was in company where family and family arms were more than sufficiently attended to," was I sporting away with the arms of the Lord knows who, and famous blazing arms they were." To which he added, "this I take to be the history of many coats of arms we see now-a-days." Being still in want of a crest, which this same family plate denied to him, he humorously proposed, or was highly pleased with the suggestion of a maltshovel, from its suitableness with what he supposed the only trade of the family, as there still exists upon the premises belonging to the estate a large malt-kiln. This, however, was kept perhaps equally for the convenience of the neighbourhood, as it was usual on many larger estates to afford the tenants the use of a malt-kiln; and in justice to his ancestors, this might serve rather to aggrandize their state than make them into maltsters. There are a few local circumstances connected with the name, which might have

VOL. I.

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