Worcester.
Mr. Hone, whose friendship I enjoyed for some years, became toward the latter part of his life a devout and humble Christian, and member of the dissenting church under the pastorate of the Rev. Thomas Binney, to which also several members of his family[3] belonged. Meeting him accidentally, about ten years since, in Great Bell Alley, London Wall, he led me to a small bookshop, kept I think by one of his daughters, and showed me part of a pamphlet he was then engaged upon, relative to his own religious life and experience, as I understood him. This, I believe, has never appeared, though he published in 1841 The early Life and Conversion of William Hone, of Ripley,[4] his father.
[3] "His wife, four daughters, and a son-in-law."
[4] London: T. Ward and Co. 8vo. pp. 48.
At p. 46. of this interesting narrative, he subjoins an extract from a new edition of Simpson's Plea for Religion, printed for Jackson and Walford, describing the happy change which had taken place in his own mind. To this account, written, as Mr. Hone says, "by a very dear friend who knows me intimately," he sets his affirmation; so that there can be no doubt of its accuracy.
A Life of William Hone, by one who could treat it philosophically, would be so deeply interesting, that I am surprised it has never been undertaken. "The history of my three days' trials in Guildhall," says he, "may be dug out from the journals of the period: the history of my mind and heart, my scepticism, my 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." This was written June 3, 1841. Was any progress, and what, made in it?
Who so fit to "gather up the fragments," as his late pastor, Mr. Binney, the deeply thoughtful author of one of our best biographies extant, the Life of Sir T. F. Buxton?
DOUGLAS ALLPORT.
[The concluding words of our correspondent are calculated to mislead our readers. The Life of Sir T. F. Buxton is by his son; whereas Mr. Binney's is merely a sketch of his character, with that of other eminent individuals, published, we believe, in a small pamphlet.]