ing of the sick and the baptizing of the children
occasioned. By these means, however, I came to the knowledge of their
condition, their lives and conversation, of which the latter were the
most deplorable--habitual profanation of the Sabbath-day, drunkenness,
rioting, immodest dancing, revellings, fightings, an improper state of
females on their marriage, and an absence and ignorance of the Holy
Scriptures."

Mr. Procter then goes on to relate how he was brought to attempt their
improvement.--"After a few months' residence I was invited to take the
afternoon duty of the chapel at Coleford. Curiosity brought some of the
colliers to hear, and the report they carried home with them induced
others to come and judge for themselves. We passed on very quietly for a
little time, when a collier, named Thomas Morgan, sent to request that I
would call upon him. I did so. After the accustomed salutations were
passed, he assigned certain impressive reasons for wishing to see me,
and, in stating them, his eyes, his voice, and humble gesture strongly
marked the agitated feelings of his soul. After an interesting
conversation of two hours, I promised, at his request, to call upon him
again the following week. On taking my leave he said, 'I hope your
honour will not be offended, but some of my relations and neighbours are
in the same ignorant state as myself; they would be happy to hear your
conversation, and with permission I will ask one or two to come.' Under
the impression of a private conversation with six or eight people, I went
to the cottage at the time appointed. Upon laying my hand on the latch
of the door, the opening of it was prevented--the resistance proceeded
from the number of people collected within. A profound silence
prevailed. The collier smiled and looked for a pardon. Astonished at
this unexpected scene, not being accustomed and perfectly unprepared to
address such an assemblage, I felt for some moments at a loss how to
proceed. But there was no time for hesitation; taking the Bible, the
61st of Isaiah was the chapter read and commented upon. The attention
with which the poor heard, the very humble manner in which they returned
thanks, and the earnest hope they expressed that I would come again, made
a deep impression in their favour. Under these circumstances I was led,
as it were, unintentionally to the commencement of those lectures which
continue to the present time (1819). The first effects of