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ceraed because he could not now take me with him to such ministers as he went to see . I remember I visited but one with him daring our fortnight's stay , and that was the celebrated Mr . John Shower , who preached at the
Old Jewry . Nothing was said during the conference of me , and indeed the state in which country brethren are admitted to audience , and the very short time allowed for it , would not admit of such trifles . I thought the haughtiness which I had seen country ministers express to their juniors was
a sufficient indication of their pride , but how was I astonished to behold the state and pride of a London one , who , urthe midst of great compliment and external civility , gave all possible marks of a most enormous contempt for such as lived in the country I I remember he made a heavy splutter about his brother Sir Bartholomew
Shower , and after making each of us a present of his treatise upon the Sacrament , we were dismissed . Being fully satisfied with this specimen of the ministers , I very decently took my leave of them , and employed the rest
of my time in town in court and at theatres . I saw Queen Anne at her chapel , the famous Duke of Marlborough , and several other great personages ,- and was enabled to form a very different notion of crowned heads and ministers of state from what I had
been taught in the country . After a fortnight ' s stay in London , Mr . Giiling thought himself at liberty to return home , and accordingly we set out for Newton Abbot , where we got safe in four or five days , having seen or met with nothing uncommon in the journey .
After we came down , Mr . Giiling invited me to stay some days with him , which I willingly accepted , being very much pleased with the situation and retirement of his house and gardens , as well as with his family and way of living . One day I happened to be in
his study , and saw a letter from my father to him lying open on the table , whether placed there by design or left by accident I know not . My curiosity led me to look into it , in hope of
knowing what report Mr . Giiling had made of me , and what kind of reception I was to expect at Plymouth . The first passage I saw was about the middle of the letter , which ran thus : ** If he continues obstinate , I have lost
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all . ' * I was struck with this beyond all imagination $ I fancied I read in this , despair , resentment and entreaty ; all the tenderness my father had ever shewn me shewed itself in a light I had never seen it , and I was immediately melted into that kind of softness whiea
the < ropyiq is apt to raise on particular occasions . From that moment I de ^ termined to be a minister at all events , or without one reflection , and accordingly I hinted to Mr . Giiling that my
journey had given some turn to my thoughts about the matter , and that if my father approved of it , I should be glad to stay some time in the country , aud prosecute my studies . This message was soon sent , and joyfully received . My request was granted , and I went to Newton in the summer
1712 . And here I must stop to take a little pleasure in reflecting on the most pleasant part of my life . Every thing here suited my taste . The situation of the house and gardens , surrounded by beautiful orchards , all which I could command from my apartment , the
charming retired walks , beautiful groves full of singing birds and soft streams and rivulets , and the variety of rural prospects , - together with the conversation of a large family , which was an house of great hospitality , the advantage of a great collection of books , both for amusement and
instruction , so entirely pleased and possessed me , that I had 1510 desire after any diversion or entertainment besides what I had- I sought after and knew nobody in the town , and though I had a horse of my own , and wps but three hours from Exeter , I never rode there
once during the three quarters of the year I lived at Newton . I believe the friendship which began to subsist between Mrs . Giiling * and me might in some measure heighten these notions ; but , after all , if I know any thing of myself , I could at that time ^ without throwing in that circumstance , have most willingly spent my days in the way and manner I then lived , and in that charming and delightful retreat .
I remember while I lived here , one Mr . Samuel Adams was ordained at Chudleigh . Mr . Giiling wajs con-1 — . 1 . « .,.,, . 1 . 1 .. .. ¦ , , lp , * Miss Giiling , whom Mr , Fox afterwards married . Ed .
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Memoirs $ f Jfimself , by Mr . John Fox . 133
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1821, page 133, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2498/page/5/
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