"Thursday.-Sent to his daughter Fanny this message: 'Her father's love, crowned by the blessing of Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think.'" [How truly realized in her future

career of usefulness.]

"October 7th.-The day appointed for fast and humiliation. He did not sleep the night previously, but seemed like a watchman in Israel; and when he thought I slept, I could hear his heavenly musings: 'May all my people and all mine be humbled before Thee. May the hearts of all be bowed down as one man. May it be no lip service. I need to be humble. Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. Let Thy Name be known, Thy righteousness acknowledged, Thy praise be extended over the whole earth!

"October 12th, 1858.-Took me with him to visit the parishes of Durston and Lyng, to which he was ordained in 1816. As we entered the parish from the station, standing still and looking up to heaven, he said, 'The Lord look upon us and bless us; go before and follow us with His blessing.""

"From morning Family prayer, January 1st, 1859. And though Thy promises are new every morning, yet are they old as the everlasting hills; help us therefore ever to trust them.""

'Sunday, 6th.-The bell ceasing for service, he said, 'Now hush!' closed his eyes and clasped his hands: 'Now, Lord, be there, help Thy servant, bless Thy Word, sow the seed, water it, and make it bring forth abundantly.'"

"February 9th.-He sat up for the first time. Presently he said, 'Ah, I want—ah, I want a trinity. I want to be all thankfulness, all holiness, all devotedness."

"December 3rd.-Speaking of a poor woman, one of Christ's rich ones, whom he had been praying with, he remarked, 'Ah! she is a blessed one-one wing in heaven, though a foot yet on earth.'"

"December 4th.-He had preached on the Bereans, being the second Sunday in Advent, and remarking on some good poor people he said, 'They are God's gentry. As I said in preaching, many of God's kings and queens live in cottages.""

In March, 1860, Mr. Havergal entered upon the charge of the village of Shareshill, near Wolverhampton. For the next two years he led a retired life, but his active spirit spared

no labour that could benefit his new parishioners. The parish Almanack addresses and hints were much valued, and large congregations showed how truly his faithful ministry of the Word was appreciated.

As an item of family affection, in 1861 a silk cassock was given him by "F. R. H.," in which he had inserted a piece of parchment bearing the inscription:-"The loving gift of my loving daughter Fanny, the firstfruits of her pen, 1861."

His failing eyesight compelled him again to visit Germany in 1862. His letters home to his grandchildren are models of condescending and winning anecdote and simplicity. He gives one-only seven years old-who had sent him these words of Latin, "Dulcis est libertas "— a "little bit" more :- "Libertas est dulcis, sed Pater et Mater et sorores dulciores sunt; Christus autem est Dulcissimus."

On his return he attended a Ritualistic service in London at All Saints', Margaret Street. The service greatly pained him. Of the sermon he writes:-" Many good things and some ill ones were said in a free and easy style e.g. Prayer and patience are the weapons of our victories.' I thought of faith which overcometh the world. He also said, "The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man, viz. one who is wistful of being righteous,' etc.! Not a syllable about Who is to help us to pray. Much said about truth, but no definition given, nor any holding up of Christ."

Among Mr. Havergal's pleasant ministra tions during his residence at Shareshill were his visits to Lord Hatherton, the patron of his living. In his long illness he requested an interview at least once a week, and with thoughtful kindness provided a carriage for the long drive to Teddesley Park. He much valued the conversations and prayers on these occasions, and on the last visit emphatically thanked him, saying, " Mr. Havergal, you have taught me two things, that I am a great sinner, and that Jesus Christ is my great Saviour."

On one or more occasions, by Lord Hatherton's wish, "F. R. H." accompanied her father, that, in an adjoining room, he might hear her voice and touch on his piano. Thus was her skilful "Ministry of Song" appreciated by the solitary invalid, as it was in following years by assembled hundreds.

In 1865 he was again seriously ill in Germany. Writing to his children he says:

"You have heard how the God of love has been dealing with me. He is righteous, even when He tries most severely. I, no doubt, was very ill, but again I am better; I am feeble and thin. All this of external things: the internal I can but little recount. My days of illness were days of deep humbling. I found I was a 6 worm and no man.' I wish to lie at the lowest step of the saints' gallery. I thought intensely of each one of you-what if I should never see you again? But I was not distressed; I could leave all with confidence in the Saviour's hand. All is of the Lord. I bow, Amen. Only pray for me: I need all grace. I have had the most tender, sedulous nursing by night and by day."

In later years, during his visits to the oculist there, he held services at Pyrmont, which were highly valued; but his increasing weakness at length induced him-in 1867-to place Shareshill in the sole charge of the Rev. R. Butcher, who, after his death, three years later, was appointed to the living by the wish of the parishioners. His new and last home was Pyrmont Villa, Leamington. Between his illnesses he frequently preached for his friends in Leamington, and his active mind knew little

rest.

'My head is full of texts and preaching, and what I would do. Music and poetry, too, all come busying me." After an attack, on going out for the first time, he was soon tired, and rested in the porch: "I am standing," he said, "at the wicket where I would be always standing, waiting and watching." After a restless night, he said:-"I was thinking in the night of St. Paul and the Hebrews; though writing especially to the Jews, yet what an entire absence of allusion to the music of the temple services. The silence of the Epistles on this, on the Virgin Mary, etc., shows how the Holy Spirit by silence left all Christians to infer the insignificance of form and ceremony. There is also only a single reference to the Lord's Supper in the Epistles."

His last visit to Pyrmont was in 1869, where he again volunteered his services on Sundays. His influence in Pyrmont had always been great. One who visited the place says:—

"From all classes of people I have heard of him-English and German alike, whom he visited in their houses, and to whom he had been wont to speak on the way, whenever he met them, never omitting an opportunity for doing good. The testimony which all bear to

the example and labours of that good man is one of affectionate gratitude."

After his return to Leamington, his health continued to fail; but there were no special tokens that the end was drawing near. It is noteworthy that the last letters he ever wrote were written on what he says" was my beloved mother's birthday," April 14th. One was to his daughter Miriam. In this he said :-" As to the future, the vista is full of odd shapes and the atmosphere is strange, as though something were about to occur out of the usual course. ... But the God of my life' will bless and comfort. May my Father and your Father, my Saviour and your Saviour, always remember you and yours." The second letter was a reply to a request to sign an address to the Dean and Chapter of Worcester, and since it dealt with an impor tant subject, that of oratorios, on which Mr. Havergal could speak with weight, we give a full extract.

"The 'dignity' of Divine worship in a noble cathedral is very dear to me. But oratorios, as at present conducted, are a burlesque of such worship, and the use of such books as 'Hymns Ancient and Modern' both musically and theologically debase it. Some declaim bravely about ecstatic worship in the performance of oratorios. All facts belie this. Pleasurable

feeling is mistaken for reverential worship. Handel, as can be proved, did not write any oratorio, not even the 'Messiah,' with an eye to worship. The performers show no consciousness of it, and the mass of the audience never dream of it.

"And yet I am humbly of opinion that more may be said for an oratorio in a cathedral than, as far as I know, has been said. I cannot now attempt to say what that more is. Suffice it to add, that if an oratorio could be held in a cathedral, apart from worldly adjuncts, and so performed as to elevate the best emotions of the mind in listening to a fine and forcible representation of Scripture facts and truths by means of musical expression, then our highest style of Churchmanship may be fostered and refreshed."

The following Saturday, April 16th, was his last conscious day. Writing on Monday morning, his daughter speaks of that day as "a very climax of peace and brightness in all respects. He twice walked out a little in front of his house, hoping to have a word in sea

any

HIS work represents the last completed task of the late Dr. Doran. It will be found to possess many attractions, without in way professing to supply the place of the ordinary hand-book. The author had a keen eye for detecting what was quaint and curious in old sites, as well as in antique books; and, wielding a facile pen, he was always able to weave his materials, when gathered, into a telling narrative. The book contains nineteen articles, and they constitute "that charming series of papers which dealt annually with the locality selected for the approaching meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science." The papers are thus reprinted from The Athenæum, and now enjoy the additional advantage of being illustrated by an exceedingly well-executed series of engravings, of which the representation of the tower of York Minster from the old shambles is a specimen. The book will at this season make a charming holiday companion.

The original wooden church which occupied the present site of the Minster was set up in the third decade of the seventh century, and this was substituted by a stone church about 150 years later. Soon after the Conquest, or in 1069, the work of rebuilding commenced, and this continued in one way and another until the fifteenth century was considerably advanced. The general appearance of York Minster is too well known to need any description. One of the most noteworthy events in its history was its damage by fire in 1829, to the extent of £65,000, and in 1840, by a similar catastrophe, to the extent of £23,000, the damage having all been since effectively restored. The population of the parliamentary borough is on the increase, the number in 1871 having been 50,765. The general market is on Saturday, besides which there is a cattle market once a fortnight, a wool market once a week from Lady-day to Michaelmas, a leather market four times a year, four annual fairs,

and a horse show in the week preceding Christmas. "Commerce has never been so extensive as the facilities for export might have made it, and is now less than formerly," we are told by one authority. "A considerable trade is done in drugs, tea, coffee, and confectionery. The general retail trade is very large. The manu. facture of linens was at one time flourishing, but fell away. The making of combs, gloves, saddlery, and glass is considerable; and there are roperies, tanneries, breweries, and large iron foundries." A Lord Mayor, a dozen aldermen, three times as many councillors, and forty policemen suffice to govern and keep order in a city which has sent its two members to Parliament since the time of Henry II. What the population of the city was at the time of the Reformation we are not aware; but the number of churches and chapels was then quite as numerous as now, the total hav. ing amounted to fifty-eight. In regard to the bishopric, we are told by the historians that it dates from the early part of the fourth century, the archbishopric being a somewhat later institution. The archbishop of York, as primate of England, is expected to place the crown on the head of the queen-consort at coronations; while, as primate of all England, the archbishop of Canterbury crowns the sovereign.

Comparatively speaking, the city of York was of more importance in former times than it is at present, because, being neither a mining nor a manufacturing town, it has not been able to keep pace with the growth of other places, now of imposing magnitude, but which were nothing more than little-known villages when York was the second city in the country.

York is pleasantly situated in a great valley watered by two navigable rivers, the Ouse and the Foss, and in the olden time the high tides of these tidal streams were wont to occasion the inhabitants considerable inconvenience. Floods may still at times afflict the lower parts of the city, but, speaking generally, the evils which in the Middle Ages generated plague and other dreadful diseases have providentially