The conduct of their relations did not gratify this lady and her eldest son, neither did the family letters afford them pleasure, and they therefore destroyed nearly all the correspondence which passed in these years. There are however records of a brother John who settled in London in "sickness and poverty," of another, Nathaniel, in scarce better case, who became a sailor and died at sea, of another, Joseph, who had got into trouble and disgrace, and of a sister Hannah, who wrote poetry, but could not spell-few women then could-and who had settled in partnership with a dressmaker in London. Between her and William Godwin existed a strong affection which survived their not infrequent quarrels.

It may well be supposed that so complete a change of life and views on Godwin's part had given much pain to the honest, homely folk at Wood Dalling, and to Mrs Sothren to whom he was once so dear. The first indication of this is to be found in a letter from her, in answer to a request for some information in regard to his family, and with this for the letters from his mother will find place hereafter-may close the record of his early life.

Mrs Sothren to William Godwin.

"NORWICH, March 7th, 1788.

"DEAR COUSIN,-I was indeed much surprised to receive a letter from you, but on opening it found it to be one of meer curiosity, and what is not in my power to satisfy, as I know not so far as you, for I never knew my grandfather; he being dead before I was born, nor have I anything in my possession relating to it. Am very glad your Sister (for I think that a much more indearing title than Miss G. but suppose 'tis polite, as I know your partiality for your Sister used to be great, and hope she has not done any

LETTER FROM MRS SOTHREN.

23

thing to abate it) is to appearance so agreably fixed, sincearly wish them success.

"Wish Joseph may not hurt you; if report says true he has been very imprudent. There is an old proverb 'Keep your shop, and your shop will keep you,' am very sorry for the poor woman and dear little children. Mary is with your mother. "You seem to keep out of these troubles. Shure you must want a companion, cannot think how you live. Since I received yours am told you have commenced Novel writer, own it gives me some concern that you that are so capable of turning your thoughts to some thing that would have been for the good of mankind should take that turn.

"Indeed your disposition of maintaining yourself without troubling your friends is very commendable but it has always been a profound secret what the productions of your pen were (to me).

"Young Wilkins seems very happy. Am very sorry for poor Miss Gay; she is a great favourite of mine, I think her an amiable young lady. Yours affectionately, HAN. SOTHREN.

"P.S.-Hope you will not take it ill what I have wrote, if you can read it. My pens and ink are so bad I am quite ashamed.”

Mrs Sothren became a widow in 1785 and died in 1796.

CHAPTER II.

LITERARY WORK. 1785-1788.

IN 1785 Godwin was fairly started as a literary man in London, and became gradually known as a useful political writer on the liberal side. He was a constant contributor to the Political Herald, of which Dr Gilbert Stuart was editor, a publication the aim of which is sufficiently described by its title, and which expired at the close of the following year. Some attempts were made to revive it under Godwin's own editorship, and Sheridan, as representing Mr Fox's party, had repeated interviews with Godwin on the subject. It was proposed to him that he should receive a regular stipend from the funds set apart for political purposes by the adherents to the party of Mr Fox, but this he declined, resolving to limit his pecuniary advantages to the fair profits of the pamphlet. He was at this time, and indeed long afterwards, struggling with great pecuniary difficulties, having no fixed income whatever, with the payment for one pupil sent him by Dr Kippis, as the only addition to the small and precarious sum obtained by his fugitive writings.

Through Murray he became known to many literary men, who were accustomed to meet at Murray's, and at the house of Mr Robinson the publisher in Paternoster Row, while through Sheridan he made the acquaintance of some who were already, or were soon to be known in the world

of politics. At Sheridan's he met at dinner " Mr Canning, then an Eton schoolboy, just become known to the public by the paper of the Microcosm, &c., &c. Mr Canning was very pressing with me for the cultivation of my acquaintance." Sheridan and his circle, finding him not venal, soon dropped him, but not before he had fairly taken his place in the best London literary and scientific society. Fawcet, the dear and chosen friend of a few years back, was not in London, but his place was soon supplied by Holcroft. This name is the second among those of the four men who profoundly influenced the tone of his mind. The acquaintance was made in 1786, but it was not till the year 1788 that he writes of himself and Holcroft as "extremely intimate." The outward facts of Holcroft's life are well known, or may be read in his life by Hazlitt. The son of a shoemaker, he had been himself a stable-boy, shoemaker, and actor, before he became a dramatic author, and, self-educated as he was, a successful translator of works from French and German. His home life was far from happy, as will in part appear in these pages. He died in 1809, aged 65. Mrs Shelley writes of him :

"The name of Holcroft at once gives rise to a crowd of recollections to those who are conversant with the history of the times, and that particular circle of literary men of which my father was one. The son of a shoemaker, he rose to eminence through the energy of his character, and the genius with which nature had endowed him. To think of Holcroft as his friends remember him, and to call to mind whence at this day he principally derives his fame as an author, present a singular contrast. He was a man of stern and irascible character, and from the moment that he espoused liberal principles, he carried them to excess. He was tried for life as a traitor on account of his enthusiasm for the objects of the French Revolution. He believed that truth must prevail

by the force of its own powers, but he advocated what he deemed truth with vehemence. He warmly asserted that death and disease existed only through the feebleness of man's mind, that pain also had no reality. Rectitude and Courage were the gods of his idolatry, but the defect of his temper rendered him a susceptible friend. His Comedy, 'The Road to Ruin,' will always maintain its position on the English stage, so long as there are actors who can fitly represent its leading characters. He was a man of great industry, unwearied in his efforts to support his family. When they first became acquainted neither he nor Mr Godwin had yet imbibed those strong political feelings which afterwards distinguished them. It required the French Revolution to kindle that ardent love of Political Justice with which both were afterwards, according to their diverse dispositions, warmed."

Godwin had now entirely severed himself from his former faith, and he thus writes of the change:

"Till 1782 I believed in the doctrine of Calvin, that is, that the majority of mankind were objects of divine condemnation, and that their punishment would be everlasting. The‘Système de la Nature,' read about the beginning of that year, changed my opinion and made me a Deist. I afterwards veered to Socinianism, in which I was confirmed by Priestley's Institutes,' in the beginning of 1783. I remember the having entertained doubts in 1785, when I corresponded with Dr Priestley. But I was not a complete unbeliever till 1787."

By "complete unbeliever," however, Godwin must be understood to mean an infidel to Creeds only, and not an infidel to God. That he was at any time a "religious" man may be doubted, if by that term be meant one who has the emotional nature exercised in regard to a Being apprehended by faith alone. Reason, far more than the affections, guided his actions, and while he sought after