66 The two children" mentioned in My Father's Narrative," as having been left by him in Bath with my mother, were myself, and a sister who died soon afterwards. My mother and I were then sent for by my father, and we came to London accordingly, bringing with us the will of my mother's late father, "William Stawell, of the city of Bath, in the county of Somerset, Cooper, "dated 3rd September 1759, with other papers of the Stawell family; also an agreement between John Brabant and my father, dated 17th June, 1782, for letting to him, for a year, from Midsummer then next ensuing, "a house on St. James's parade, being the corner house there, next to Wine-street, late in the possession of Messrs. Steeres and Roberts." We arrived in London in June, 1783. Of the origin of my father's family I know nothing more than I learned at Ripley that my grandfather came from Woking, a few miles distant. But among my father's papers I find the draft of a lease, dated 1st September, 1759, for twenty-one years, at the yearly rent of £63, from Johu Hone, of the Excise Office, London, gentleman, to John Stedman of Bisley in Surrey, husbandman, of a house and farm in Bisley, called Lavender. I also find the draft of a will dated the 15th of October, 1760, which commences thus: "I, John Hone, of the Excise Office, London, gentleman, and now living in Red Lion Street, in the parish of St. Andrew, Holborn, and county of Middlesex, being (I bless God) of sound and disposing mind and memory, do humbly and cheerfully submit myself and posterity to the good providence of Almighty God, whose mercy is over all his works." He afterwards says, “ I give unto the Honourable Augustine Earle, Esquire, ten guineas for a ring, and desire he will be pleased to accept the same, as a small but grateful remembrance of his and his family's long friendship. I give, devise, and bequeath unto John Trendley of Doctors' Commons, proctor, and to John Hoan of Limehouse, gardener, all my freehold estate, called Lavender, at Bisley in Surrey, and all my freehold and copyhold estates at Malden and Esher, also my estate at Denham, in Bucks, and all other my real estates whatsoever," to their use upon trust, for his grandchildren, as therein specified. And he further directs "That all and every person or persons coming into the possession of, or being entitled unto the said estate called Lavender, which Estate hath been in my Family for several Ages, shall take and bear the sirname of HONE, and for ever thereafter be called by that name." In default of any of them taking the name of Hone, the estate of Lavender to go as he directs; and he recommends persons who enjoy Lavender estate, to see that "the profits of Broach Mead be duly applied for the repairs of Bisley church, according to Mrs. Campion's will, which appoints the owners of Lavender estate trustees for that purpose for ever." The late Rev. Richard Cecil was incumbent of Bisley. When I was just stepping into the stage running through Ripley from Guildford, I learned that in Bisley churchyard is a large tomb to a person named Hone, but whether my father was related to him, or how these papers came into his possession, I know not. Bisley, I am told, adjoins Ripley. My father's father lived away the produce of Homewood farm, died broken-hearted, and his family were dispersed. I remember his widow visit. ing my father in town when I was a child, and that shortly afterwards he went down to Ripley to bury her. Soon afterwards he printed, and pasted within her snuff-box, the following lines: AT THE BOTTOM. My sister she and mother too; WITHIN THE LID. "My friend, if blest with filial fear, And all's obtain'd by Faith and Prayer." On my father's arrival in London, he attended the ministry of that remarkable man, William Huntington, S.S, who was preaching, and preached, at Margaret - street Chapel, Cavendishsquare, until Providence Chapel, in Little Titchfield-street, was built. I went with my father to both places, and sometimes on a Tuesday to Monkwell-street, from three until I was thirteen years old. Mr Huntington's power over his hearers was great: my father revised several of his works for the press, and some were copied by me. His people made him an idol, and the self-will they engendered engulphed him. As a textuary, he showed great genius, by wonderfully adapting to his purposes plain scriptural passages; whence he deduced hidden meanings, which seemed naturally to belong to them. His hearers listened to him breathlessly; he spoke oracularly; often with an emphatic declaration, as God liveth;" enforced by the only action he ever used-a twitch down of his coat in front by the right breast. 66 My father's kindness was shown by his attachment to the broken-spirited son of his old unkind master, Freeland. He was ever kind to all. His honesty, love of truth, and integrity, were inflexible. In difficulties, he left all to God, and in all he was marvellously helped he literally lived a life of faith, and while counted a fool, was wise. It often seemed that he would be over whelmed, yet he never suffered from distress. He had great domestic affliction; walked about with his children dying in his arms, and smiling through his tears; was poor, yet never wanted; wearied heaven with his prayers till they were answered; and read one book only-his Bible. About 1803 my father managed the business of the lime works at Harefield, near Uxbridge, in Middlesex. The proprietors of that concern afterwards became owners of the Old Lime Kilns at Hammersmith, where for many years my father resided, and carried on the business under the firm of Hodder and Hone, Lime-merchants, until the Company of the West London Water-works dispossessed my father, and he was driven into the wide world, to live as he could. He had many years before managed the parochial business of Clerkenwell, under Messrs. Rhodes, Cook, and Handley, the vestry clerks, and clerks to the different boards. In ation destroyed himself in a fit of intemperauce, and my father re-occupied his original post, and afterwards held it under Mr. Selby, till disabled by infirmity. In December, 1826, he had a paralytic attack, and from that time was unable to dress or undress himself. His infirmity increased with his years. On the 20th of October, 1828, my father's brother, Mr. John Hone, died of paralysis, at his house in Islington. My father and mother attended his funeral. All his property he left to his widow and their three grand-children. In August, 1829, Mrs. Johnson, my dear wife's mother, who lived with us on Newingtou-green, died. My father on that occasion my mother's) "health is good, but the says, Our" (his and weakness in my ancle-bones, feet, and legs, is the same. able to walk a small distance, by your I am, thank God, mother's arm, for a little exercise, which I esteem a great blessing_from the gracious Author of all good. Many thousands of poor mortals are in a far worse bodily plight. I beg for more gratitude, love, thanksgiving, and praise daily to my gracious God. I am daily growing older and weaker. All things are possible with my gracious God, and with him I leave all my case.' As death drew nearer, his weakness increased, and he kept his bed, wholly powerless. I saw him in that state, and his eye anxiously spoke to me while he laid speechless. I could but receive the pressure of his hand. He died early in February, 1831. In Januuary, 1833, I was attacked myself by paralysis, and under its effects I still labour. In the following April my dear mother died. My father and mother I caused to be buried in Bunhillfields, where several of their children lie, and where I had buried Mrs. Johnson. In Guildford, and the villages around, were scattered many poor and despised people of God, to whom he occasionally made preaching visits; for which purpose he took the oaths, and held a licence from the magistrates. He left two hundred and thirty-seven hymns, fairly copied out. And here something respecting my1813, the person who had held his situ- self may be expected. I therefore subjoin an extract from Mr. Simpson's New Edition of his father's "Plea for Religion." "There is a delicacy to be observed in referring to living individuals; and, without infringing on it, a slight allusion may be made to Mr William Hone, whose name, a few years ago, stood associated in the public mind with profaneness and infidelity. "It is but justice to Mr. Hone to state, that the object of his parodies was political, and that they were not composed for the purpose of bringing religion into contempt, although, that was their unquestionable tendency. While, however, this is admitted, it must also be admitted, that, if the promotion of infidelity did not enter into the plan of the parodies, yet, that no person could have aimed at a political object by such means, whose mind was not at the time under the complete influence either of infidelity or indifference of opposition to religion, or carelessness about it. "Mr. Hone, in early life, was led to reject Christianity, and to adopt sceptical if not atheistical opinions. At the time of his celebrated trials, his opinions may have been less extravagant, but neither his intellect nor his heart had submitted to the authority of revealed religion. After that period, he became convinced of the truth of the Bible, as a communication from God, but satisfied himself with something like Unitarianism. This, however, he found would not satisfy the heart. About six years since, his conscience was awakened to a just sense of man's condition, as a sinner, and the need in which he stands both of an atoning sacrifice and a sanctifying Spirit. After many painful exercises of mind, serious examination of the Scriptures, prayer, and attendance on the preaching of the Gospel, he came fully to accept the faith which once he destroyed,' and to acknowledge that Saviour whom he had formerly dishonoured. The change in the minds of his family was equally remarkable. One after another was brought to the knowledge and belief of the truth,' though at first contemned, and res sted; till, at length, in the close of the year 1834, Mr. Hone, his wife, four of their daughters, and a sonin-law, were received to Christian communion by one of the congregational churches in London; and three of his children and three of his grand-children were baptized. The interest excited by the circumstance was intense; the scene was felt to be one over which angels might be supposed to rejoice, and which demanded the thanksgiving of Christians on earth. "The substance of this statement is communicated on the best authority, and is purposely brief and general, as there is reason to hope that Mr. Hone will give to the public, from his own pen, some account of the change which he has experienced." The preceding note was written by a very dear friend, who knows me intimately, and for the present it must suffice. The history of my three days' trials in Guildhall, may be dug out from the Journals of the period;-the History of my Mind and Heart, my Scepticism, ny Atheism, and God's final dealings with me, remains to be written. If my life be prolonged a few months, the work may appear in my lifetime. I add the name of the village where I reside with my dear wife, and our two youngest daughters, "the world forgetting, by the world forgot," and bid the reader Farewell! WILLIAM HONE. 3rd June, 1841,-My Birth Day. Now entering my 62nd year. CHURCH ROAD, TOTTENHAM GENERAL INDEX. A. B. C. & 3., Alphabet for Beginners, 708 | Angling, fish-hooks, the best, 154; Rev. Account keeping, use of, 96 Acre, the landlord's, 776 Adam and Eve, tea gardens, 24, 159 Advent in Normandy, 716 Advice, to a son, 598; for public conduct, Aikman, W., artist, 347 Aitken, John, Jack the Painter, 225 described, 801 Song, 804 Apothecaries' Garden, Chelsea, 37 260 Apple Florentine, 798 April Fool-day, 199; verses, 199 Apropos of rain, 111 Arch, coronation of James I., 529 Albemarle, duke of, car ions account of his | Argyle, duke of, his tailor, 355 sea battle with Van Tromp, 325 earl of, his death dreamed of, 743 Alchemists and Alchemy, 16, 71, 115 All Souls, 653 College, Oxford, 44 Alliterative advertisement, 548 Armorial escutcheon at Croydon palace Armour worn by sergeants-at-law, 63 Arthur's round table, 81 Artist's Card, an, vignette upon, 721 Ash Wednesday, 77 Ass story, 96 piper, | Assumption day, court ceremonies, 12 castle, E 97 Attornies, limited by act of parliament, 63 Almanacs, old, their absurdities, prices, Aurora borealis, 15, 150 Austin, his landing place, 761 Autumn characterised, 642 evenings, 514, 572, 582 gale! a song, 580 departure of exiles in, 538 Ayleston, Leicester, exemplary minister 462 Babies in the eyes, 448 Bacon, Roger, epistle of, 214 of Royeton, almanac maker, 59 | Bailey, Mr., manager of the Nor wich com - pany, compiler of a Directory, 770 Bannockburn, battle of, 370 Barbers, Cambridge, 754, last Windsor. Bargains in witch-making, 781 Bishop, a drink, 57 in the pan, 58 and his clerks, 612 Barlow, maker of repeating watches, 157 Black's the white of my eye, 445 Barnes church, Surrey, 602 Bartholomew fair, curious tract, 492 Bath prophecy and solution, 191 Becket, Archbishop, outwitted, 88; Beckford, ald., penury and profusion of, Blackbird, the, to rear, 374 Blackwall, plough tavern, in winter, 113 Blandy, miss, poisons her father with of the murdered, 590, 592 Blencowe, decypherer, 390 Sir John, judge, 390 Blindness, 250, 617; Milton's, 571 Boar's head song, 750; ancient carol, 752 Bois de Boulogne, May trees, 264 Bonnivard de, patriot of Chillon, 210 Booksellers, old, 341; of Little Britain, Boots, Oxford, D.D., made in, 57 Bothwell, earl, kills sir W. Stewart, 447 conjurer, 47, 415 Bowman, Robert, of Irthing, in Carlisle, Boxley, Kent, visit to, 312; abbey, 120 Bradbury, rev. Thomas, dissenter, 533 Branston and Wright's wood engravings, Bread-making charm, 775 Briony, used in witchcraft, 784 Bristol, 149; Black John of, 107 Britton, T., musical small coal man, 542 |