Hannah, preparing to become the wife of a man of large property, renounced her share in the school, and incurred considerable expenses. The day was now fixed for the marriage; but, before its arrival, Mr. Turner, very unaccountably, postponed it. When the day thus newly appointed came, a second postponement was proposed from the same quarter; and afterwards a third. The matter was thus protracted for about six years. Hannah's elder sisters and Sir James Stonhouse now interposed, and prevailed with her to renounce the alliance of a man who was capable of treating her with so much caprice. On this communication Mr. Turner still expressed the hope that he might not be considered as absolutely discarded; but, finding Miss More firm, he offered to settle an annuity upon her by way of compensation for the injury she had suffered through his waywardness; a proposal which was promptly and decidedly declined. Mr. Turner then sought an interview with Sir James Stonhouse, to whom he renewed the offer of the annuity, saying, at the same time, that he would marry Miss More at any hour the doctor would call upon him to do so, if only her consent could be obtained. Sir James, having consulted with some other friends on both sides, agreed to accept for Miss More the sum of two hundred pounds per annum. The subject of this negotiation was altogether ignorant of its existence until it was concluded, and she then refused to become a party; but the importunity of Mr. Turner and the friends who had conducted the arrange

ment at length prevailed on her to consent where further resistance might be thought ungracious and resentful. Mr. Turner, indeed, always entertained the most respectful friendship for Miss More. His first toast daily, whether alone or in society, was "Hannah More." Twenty years after these transactions, when the sisters were settled at Cowslip Green, a gentleman made his appearance at the gate, who, admiring the beauty of the situation and garden, was requested by the eldest sister to walk in and inspect the place. On inquiring to whom it belonged, Mr. Turner (for he it was) was surprised and gratified to hear the name of Hannah More. A friendly conversation immediately ensued, and the long suspended intercourse was revived on the most cordial terms. Mr. Turner occasionally dined at Cowslip Green, and was present at the last festival given by Mrs. More to the school-children on the Mendip. Mrs. More made a point of presenting him a copy of every work she published. Mr. Turner often remarked to his friends that Providence had overruled his wishes to be the husband of Hannah More, and that she was intended for higher things. At his death he bequeathed to her the sum of one thousand pounds; thus testifying to the last the esteem with which he regarded her.

It was, perhaps, necessary to be somewhat circumstantial in detailing the particulars of the above transaction, which has been so grossly misrepresented by some, and so libellously characterized by others. The above narrative may be

implicitly relied on in every particular, as it rests not only on contemporary letters in the hands of the writer, but on the evidence of a lady who was as well the Misses More's pupil at the time as a connection of Mr. Turner; and who was fully acquainted with all the circumstances. The rectitude and propriety of Hannah's conduct were never questioned at the time. Mrs. Gwatkin, her early munificent and judicious friend, approved it entirely; the school continued to sustain its elevated reputation; and Hannah was as much countenanced and beloved by the purest in religion and the strictest in morals as by the most distinguished in scholarship, philosophy, and taste.

They that use this world as not abusing it. 1 Cor. vii. 31.

CHAPTER II.

HANNAH'S matrimonial disappointment appears to have determined her in the adoption of single life, though none could have been better adapted than herself to be the solace and ornament of the connubial hearth. She afterwards received two offers, which she declined without hesitation, but with so little offence, that the respective parties always maintained with her the most friendly relations. One of these was the well-known writer, Dr. Langhorne, then vicar of Blagdon, with whom she long maintained a poetical and literary corre

spondence. The introduction took place in 1773, while she was recovering from an attack of ague, at Uphill, on the Somersetshire coast. The doctor was at the time taking his recreation at the neighbouring and better known watering-place, Westonsuper-Mare. They often rode together upon the sands; Miss More, as the custom then was, on the pillion behind her servant; and when it happened that either chanced to miss the other, a paper was placed in a cleft post near the water, generally containing some quaint remark, or a few verses. On one of these occasions, the Doctor committed his wit and gallantry to the sand, on which he inscribed with his cane:

"Along the shore

Walk'd Hannah More ;
Waves! let this record last :

Sooner shall ye,

Proud earth and sea,

Than what she writes, be past.

JOHN LANGhorne."

Miss More, with her riding-whip, wrote imme

diately beneath:

"Some firmer basis, polish'd Langhorne, choose,

To write the dictates of thy charming muse;

Thy strains in solid characters rehearse,

And be thy tablet lasting as thy verse.

HANNAH MORE."

After this, the Misses More, Hannah especially, were frequent guests at Blagdon Vicarage; and Hannah has described with much grace a Sunday visit to this hospitable and elegant abode, which, as I am not aware that it has ever been published, will be found in the Appendix (IV).