erate. Let us leave judgment to Him who cannot err." In June
of that year he paid a visit to England, spent Sunday at Leeds, and was
much interested with Dr. Hook and his church. "I have considerable
dubitation as to the expediency of making the services of our parish
churches choral." He went on to London and Oxford, where it was long
vacation, but he met with great kindness from the heads of University
College and Exeter. "Magdalene is faultless."

After mentioning some visitors in March 1844, he writes--"Dickens's
Christmas Carol really a treat, a thoroughly wholesome book." On the 8th
April he was present at the lunch given to the children of the Episcopal
poor in the Old Town. "This, I trust, is the commencement of a scheme to
bring some actually poor into our church. I made a speech, and, to my
astonishment, rather a good one." After a pretty long tour in the south
of England he comes home in August 1844, and notes a letter from the
Bishop of London, containing the offer of the Bishopric of New
Brunswick, in a handsome and gratifying manner. "I think I was right to
refuse. May God forgive me if it was an improper shrinking from duty."
October 14, 1844: "I have now brought up this record of my life's
transactions to the present time, and my purpose is, in future
journalising, to take the leading points, to notice subjects only,
painful, joyful, or difficult. All my thoughts since the offer of the
New Brunswick mitre have confirmed the correctness of my judgment."
October 17, 1844: "I am trying to repeat the experiment of last week,
and write my sermon over again. I see clearly that in such work we
cannot take too much pains: dinner at Lord Medwyn's to-day--very
pleasant--rather an exception this to dinners: how dull the routine!
October 22: succeeded in my resolution of rewriting the whole of my
sermon, and found the advantage; in fact, nothing in the way of public
speaking can be done without a thorough preparation. How high parties
are running! It has a sad effect on my mind; but my refuge must be in
keeping off controversy and adhering to edifying and practical
subjects." In the same month he records the death of a dear friend, whom
he visited on his deathbed. "Nothing," he says, "could be more
satisfactory than his state of mind;" the Dean lost a kind Christian,
attached and delightful friend. "I was glad to be able to answer his
scruples and fears about being an object of Christ's mercy and pardon."
December 1