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time be determined with considerable accuracy; and if at some future period an instrument should be invented, that would give the altitude of the moon with as much accuracy as that of the sun, this problem would be of very great importance, as a more perfect method, and less liable to. errour, than the lunar one now pursued for discovering the longitude at sea.

Various circumstances contributed to render unpleasant the latter part of Mr. Walker's. residence at Durham. Though the stipulated salary ought to have exceeded 50%., yet it had averaged considerably less; and the payment of this, from some culpable neglect, was always protracted. A lukewarmness and indifference about religious concerns, too, had generally pervaded his congregation for a number of years, and had previously been a source of great dissatisfaction to his uncle; for nothing certainly can tend so strongly to discourage the well-meant and earnest endeavours of an ingenuous mind, as to find them accompanied with little or no effect.

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Independently of the personal mortification inflicted, the consciousness that you are scattering your seed upon a barren soil, where no friendly culture, no diligence of attention, can nurture it into maturity, sinks the mind at once into languor and despondence. At one time he was so overwhelmed by these considerations, that he had serious thoughts of abandoning his profession, as affording no prospect of advantage either to himself or to others. After detailing the various causes of his discontent in a letter to his uncle, he continues: "Every

thing is discouraging. Even on Sundays, "when I should look for my only consola"tion, I meet nothing but solitude and in"difference ; yet I sit here indolently repining "at my lot without endeavouring to better "it..... I am doomed to have no prospect "in life, either of a private or public, a selfish "or benevolent kind; to be flattered with "the notion of abilities more than common, "yet to no end; to be of no importance to my"self, or to any one around me; to waste my

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"youth and health in hardly providing for my daily wants, while tomorrow is all un"certainty; yet all this (I lay my hand upon ec my heart and say it) owing to no conscious "misconduct on my part. Perhaps you "will say, I betray a discontented mind. I "do not think so. Were I old and feeble, "I should think it my duty, to sit down "resigned'; but while I have youth and "abilities, I think I owe to myself, and to "the world, to endeavour to extricate my"self out of so mortifying, so impotent a "situation. You do not however in your "last approve of such an intention, and my "friends at Newcastle join with you in opinion. I submit therefore, to sacrifice myself and all my hopes."

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During this unpleasant state of his mind, he was invited by the congregation at Great Yarmouth, to become one of their ministers. In answer to their inquiries respecting him, the following spirited character of him was sent them by the Rev. Mr. Lowthian of Newcastle :

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"My dear Friend,

"Newcastle, 19 October, 1761.

"Your last is before me, to which "I would have replied sooner, had I not been indisposed: I think myself honoured by "the deference you and the gentlemen con"cerned have paid to my judgement, and "will endeavour to secure your good opinion by using the same openness and freedom; "though 't is with some reluctance I give you a character of Mr. George Walker, apprehending it may contribute something to my being deprived of a very agreeable "neighbouring brother: but friendship de"mands, and I will comply.

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"The method of his compositions is al"ways natural, and consequently adapted to "excite and secure attention ;-his invention is lively, but under the correction of judgement; his diction is pure and elegant, " and his delivery spirited (some think too "theatrical)—his devotional performances "are animated and fervent, flowing from grateful piety and warm benevolence: in

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"these however he is apt at times to hesitate "a little, owing I apprehend to his being too "nice and scrupulous in the choice of his epithets, and therefore I hope time will remedy it. In his ordinary conversation "he is frank, cheerful, and facetious; but prudently so.-He is apt to be somewhat “keen in argument, but 't is more in his “manner than in his temper.-In short, in "him you will find a good scholar, a rational "popular preacher, a young man of irre"proachable morals, a steady and an affec❝tionate friend. Thus, my dear sir, you "have the mere outlines of the young gentle"man's character drawn without art or co

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louring from personal acquaintance and my own knowledge, and you have my "free leave to make what use of it you "please, for I am confident he will do ho"nour to my recommendation.

"SAM. LOWTHIAN."

Dissatisfied with his present situation, he had no hesitation in acceding to this proposal, though the place which he was to fill

was

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