Gibbon and others, and is consequently so unprecedentedly high, that, if he could obtain the work in time, he would think of publishing the translation on his own account."

Godwin was still extremely anxious to make up his quarrel with Mrs Inchbald. He sent her a copy of his novel, "St Leon," with a letter requesting a renewal of the old friendly intercourse. After giving her reasons for delay in reading it, the seeing a new play through the press, and other engagements, and after a promise to give her sincere opinion on his work, she continues—

Mrs Inchbald to William Godwin.

"LEICESTER SQUARE, Wednesday morning, 4th Dec. 1799. ". . . In respect to the other subject, you judged perfectly right that I could not have expressed any resentment against you, for I have long ago felt none. I also assure you that it will always give me great pleasure to meet you in company with others, but to receive satisfaction in your society as a familiar visitor at my own house I never can.

"Impressions made on me are lasting. Your conversation and manners were once agreeable to me, and will ever be so. But while I retain the memory of all your good qualities, I trust you will allow me not to forget your bad ones; but warily to guard against those painful and humiliating effects, which the event of my singular circumstances might once again produce.-Your admirer and friend, E. INCHBALD.”

Three weeks later she sent an elaborate and very clever critique on "St Leon," written with some bitterness, but it dwells too much on details to be interesting to the general reader, who has not the work in his mind.

That Godwin, in spite of his own difficulties, had sent £20 to Arnot has been already recorded in his own letter.

There are other indications of large and self-denying charity, extending to most distant and unexpected quarters. One such is a letter from Mrs Agnes Hall, of Jedburgh, acknowledging the receipt of £10 for some poor lady whose name is not mentioned, in which Mrs Hall says that, though grief like my friend's can admit of no remedy, yet your judicious bounty was a means, by enabling her to procure the necessary comforts to her dying children, of preventing that grief from becoming absolute despair."

The name of James Ballantyne, the Edinburgh printer, needs no note. The Dr Bell whom he introduces to Godwin was probably Dr James Bell of Edinburgh, who died in Jamaica in 1801, and is still remembered by his writings on professional subjects.

Fames Ballantyne to William Godwin.

66

KELSO, Nov. 14, 1799.

"SIR,-About three years ago there dined in your company at Mr Holcroft's, introduced by the late Mr Armstrong, a young man from Scotland, on whose mind your wisdom and benevolent condescension have left impressions of affection and gratitude, which no time will efface. The writer of this letter is the person so delightfully distinguished; but as he is sensible that an interview which constituted so prominent a period of his life may long ere this have melted into the common mass of uninteresting events which consume your time without attracting your attention, he begs leave to mention a circumstance which may recall him to your memory. He promised to send up to London a distinguished portrait, which promise remains to this day unfulfilled. He was not to blame that on enquiry he found every impression of that portrait was sold off; but he severely condemns the mingled indolence and timidity which prevented him from stating that circumstance to account for apparent neglect.

1

"The customs which fetter man in his intercourse with his fellows do not justify this tardy intrusion on your leisure; but these customs Mr Godwin will disregard when they interfere with his power of communicating instruction and extending happiness. The gentleman who will deliver this letter is Doctor Bell, an amiable and accomplished physician, whose mind since his earliest perusal of your writings, has been filled with the most exalted respect for your talents, and affection for your heart.

"The Jamaica fleet which sails in a few days, conveys him from his country, perhaps for ever. His situation will be one of high influence and authority, and I know he will exert his power to lighten the woes and diminish the horrors of slavery. Once only will he be able to avail himself of this introduction, but to see and converse, for however short a time, with Mr Godwin, will prove a source of pleasure, both in enjoyment and reflection, which he cannot leave his native soil without endeavouring to attain. It is no common motive which would incline me to trespass thus on your leisure.

"I beg to be considered, my dear sir, with the utmost respect and affection, your obliged friend,

"JAMES BALLANTYNE.”

"One line from you to say you forgive what the world would term my presumption would give me supreme pleasure. I confess I would rather be assured of this by yourself, than by the report of my friend."

A few lines from the good old lady at West Dalling contain the only domestic facts worth recording.

Mrs Godwin sen. to William Godwin.

[WOOD DALLING], “Sep. 21st, '99.

"DEAR WM.-I hope yo recd. a letter from me dated 5 July by ye hand of yr. sister. I wish you happy. If you be not I shall have ye sattisfaction in my own mind that I have tryed to make yo so.

"Terms are agreed upon to sell Dalling Estate to yr. brother Hull, that he may not be thrown out of business when I die with his young family which he must mortgage. What will be yr. shares I don't know yet the notes each have given will be considered as past and disstroyed. Is all I can say at present. I have wrote a few lines to John yo may show yours to him if yo please. Have not wrote to Jo. or Hanh. because ye affair is not finish'd. "Yr. affec. Mother,

"A. GODWIN."

"I'm sorry to put y° to this expense, however its not necessary yo shoud write till yo hear from me again."

"MY DEAR WM.-Since the above I've recieved yr. very kind letter of ye 16 Sep. The little dear boy Johny's arm was not out, and was quite well in a day or two. Your bro. Nath came home ye 7 of July, very poorly indeed, went to Norwich next day for advice of Dr. Alderson, whose prescription with the blessing of God was of service. He returned in 3 weeks to his place again, repeated the physick several times, is better, but fear he will never get clear of his laxating dissorder, but like John wishes to be in buissness for himself but fear he will not be a good ecconomist, especially without a good wife, and they are as hard to be met with as farms. However its the last I can do for him in my life time. Your share and John's will fall short of a Hundred, Natt's and Hull's a little more, Hanh's least of all, because she have had most. I purpose clearing of that I gave to Wright, on Jo's account I should have said, and White the former is dead a year or two agoe insolvent, the latter broke lately. I'm not sure I shall not send this in a parcel to Hanh. If I do I shall write a few lines to her. I do put much trust in your advice and management for John and vour sister, who has always told me you was a father to her.'

CHAPTER XIII.

VISIT TO IRELAND-LITERARY SQUABBLES. 1800. GODWIN'S acquaintance with Coleridge rapidly increased, and had now developed into a most cordial and confidential friendship. It will be remembered that Coleridge was the fourth and last of those persons whom Godwin names as having made on him a profound intellectual impression. The change of thought and view which he attributed to Coleridge coincided, however, with that which was brought about also by other causes.

recommenced the habit, now for some time laid aside, of placing on paper the results of his constant self-introspection. He examined the state of his belief, and the causes of his mental change, and then are recorded, truly enough as it would seem, other influences contemporaneous with that of Coleridge. The extract which immediately follows was written indeed some years later, though it chronicles the reading which mainly occupied him about this time.

"A great epocha, or division in my life, which may as well deserve to be recorded as almost any other event, is that at which I began to read the old English authors. This was in 1799-1800, when I had completed my forty-third year.

"During the term of my college life, from 1773 to 1778, I endeavoured to take a survey of the world of knowledge, and to select the branches to which in preference I should devote my