such attention and acts that you
are pleased to acknowledge. My best wishes will accompany you on
your return to Canada; and I am sure that I express the feeling of
all my ministerial friends when I say that your appearance among us
at our late Conference in Nottingham heightened its interests with
us and that your utterances in it render it joyously memorable to
us.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

CHAPTER LXV.

1877-1882.

Closing Years of Dr. Ryerson's Life-Labours.

After Dr. Ryerson's return from England, he devoted some time to the
final revision of his principal work, in two volumes: _The United Empire
Loyalists of America_, and to two additional volumes on the Puritans of
Old and New England. These works cost him a good deal of arduous labour,
but their preparation was in many respects a source of pleasure to him,
and of agreeable occupation. After their completion, he lived in quiet
retirement at his residence, No. 171 Victoria-street, Toronto. His pen
was soon again employed in writing a series of essays on Canadian
Methodism for the _Canadian Methodist Magazine_, which were afterwards
re-published in book form. Immediately after his return from England,
his brother John addressed him the following letter on the 23rd March,
1877:--

I heartily congratulate you on your safe arrival in your native
land, and also that in health and strength you are spared to see
your seventy-fourth birthday. As age advances time seems to fly
more and more rapidly; and however it may be with others, certainly
we are to the "margin come," and how important it is that we live
in readiness, and in continual preparation for our departure.

[Illustration: Dr. Ryerson's Private Residence and Study (in the rear
building), 171 Victoria St., Toronto.]

On the 7th May, 1877, Dr. Ryerson received a letter from his brother
John urging him to commence a proposed series of essays on Canadian
Methodism. He says:--

I am glad that you think of writing a review of Church matters, and
that there are so many leading ministers who think you ought to do
so. The more I think and pray about the matter, the more I am
satisfied that is a path of duty opened up to you, the pursuit of
which will be a great blessing to the Church and the country in
coming time. The matters referred to and somewhat explained and
exhibited, with other things wh