ome Whitsuntide. He was universally loved and
respected in that district where he had lived so long and ably, by
rich and poor alike, and those of many creeds saw him to his last
resting-place. Mr. Carroll, of Carrollton, who was an ardent Catholic,
stood bareheaded beside the grave.

Doctor Hilliard was indeed a beacon in a time when his profession among
us was all but darkness, and when many of the scandals of the community
might be laid at the door of those whose duty it was to prevent them.
The fault lay without doubt in his Lordship's charter, which gave to the
parishioners no voice in the choosing of their pastors. This matter was
left to Lord Baltimore's whim. Hence it was that he sent among us
so many fox-hunting and gaming parsons who read the service ill and
preached drowsy and illiterate sermons. Gaming and fox-hunting, did
I say? These are but charitable words to cover the real characters of
those impostors in holy orders, whose doings would often bring the
blush of shame to your cheeks. Nay, I have seen a clergyman drunk in the
pulpit, and even in those freer days their laxity and immorality
were such that many flocked to hear the parsons of the Methodists and
Lutherans, whose simple and eloquent words and simpler lives were worthy
of their cloth. Small wonder was it, when every strolling adventurer and
soldier out of employment took orders and found favour in his Lordship's
eyes, and were given the fattest livings in place of worthier men, that
the Established Church fell somewhat into disrepute. Far be it from me
to say that there were not good men and true in that Church, but the wag
who writ this verse, which became a common saying in Maryland, was not
far wrong for the great body of them:--

"Who is a monster of the first renown?
A lettered sot, a drunkard in a gown."

My grandfather did not replace Dr. Hilliard at the Hall, afterwards
saying the prayers himself. The doctor had been my tutor, and in spite
of my waywardness and lack of love for the classics had taught me
no little Latin and Greek, and early instilled into my mind those
principles necessary for the soul's salvation. I have often thought with
regret on the pranks I played him. More than once at lesson-time have I
gone off with Hugo and young Harvey for a rabbit hunt, stealing two dogs
from the pack, and thus committing a double offence. You may be sure
I was well thrashed by Mr. Carvel, who thought the more of the latter