Large and Small Books.--" The smallness of the size of a book is always its own recommendation; as, on the contrary, the largeness of a book is its own disadvantage, as well as a terror to learning. In short, a big book is a scarecrow to the head and pocket of the author, student, buyer, and seller, as well as a harbour of ignorance. Small books seem to pay a deference to the readers quick and great understanding; large books to mistrust his capacity, and to confine his time as well as his intellect."--Robert Holkot's Philobiblion.

Herculaneum Manuscripts.--Every genuine lover of antiquity and ancient literature, must deeply regret the extraordinary silence which prevails with regard to those interesting relics which have been discovered in the ancient city of Herculaneum. We have been informed, that the original number of rouleaux was 1696, of which 500 have been distributed throughout Europe, the remain. der being kept by the Neapolitan Government, who will neither publish the recoverable portions themselves, nor will they allow this to be done at the expense of others, although they are in possession of nearly one thousand columns of these manuscripts ready engraved at the expense, we believe, of His present Majesty King George. About twenty years ago, eighty rolls were imported into this country, and submitted to the inspection of the University of Oxford, but we have never heard what success that learned body had in deciphering them; many of the papyri, we understand, were quite incapable of being unrolled, but there is certainly an unpardonable indifference manifested towards their recovery, in those quarters where we might expect a very different line of conduct.

Duelling.--Not many months ago, a very respectable friend related to me the circumstances of a young man's death who was killed in a duel. I omit naming the person or the place, though I could mention both, for they were inserted in the public papers, just after the event; and my friend was on a visit at the time in the neighbourhood. The two combatants were expected soon to have been closely allied by the marriage of the one to the other's sister.

But a

quirrel taking place, a challenge was given, and this unhappy youth was carried home mortally wounded. When his medical attendant intimated his persuasion, that the consequences would be undoubtedly fatal, instead of any repentance for thus throwing away his life, and presuming to rush unbidden into the presence of his Judge, the dying sinner rejoined, "Well, I don't mind it, I would stand to be shot at again." He consented,

however, at the instance of the surgeon, to send for a clergyman, end began himself brokenly to repeat the Lord's prayer. [How must the fifth petition fit the lips of a duellist!] His father being informed that his son was near his end, came into the room, to take his leave of him, and attempted to comfort him in the following manner :--" Well, son! I find you must die. I am sorry for it. But I would not have you to be too much cast down; you are a very young man, and cannot have committed any great sins. Besides, you know Christ died for us all; and we all stand the same chance." If possible, it is more awful still, that this miserable address should have been mentioned with appro"Old bation, by one who heard it. *****•** talked well to his son, 1 did not think the old man had had so much religion in him."--Dr. Ryland's Sermon, The First Lye Refuted.

The Extraordinary Fate of the Town of "Having mentioned some falls Pleurs of mountains in those parts, I cannot pass by the extraordinary fate of the town of Pleurs, that was about a league from Chavennes to the north in the same bottom, but on a ground that is a little more raised The town was half the bigness of Chavennes; the number of the inhabitants was about two and twenty hundred persons, but it was much more nobly built; for besides the palace of the Francken, that cost some millions, there were many other palaces, that were built by several rich factors, both of Milan and the other parts of Italy, who liked the situation and air, as well as the freedom of the government of this place; so that they used to come hither during the heats; and here they gave themselves all the indulgences that a vast wealth could furnish. By one of the palaces, that was at a little distance from the town, which was not overwhelmed with it, one may judge of the rest. It was an out-house of the family of the Francken, and yet it may compare with many palaces in Italy; and certainly house and gardens could not cost so little as one hundred thousand crowns. The voluptuousness of this place became very crying; and Madam de Salis told me, that she heard her mother often relate some passages of a Protestant minister's sermons, that preached in a little church, which those of the religion had there,. and warned them often of the terrible judgments of God, which were hanging over their heads, and that he believed would suddenly break out upon them. On the 25th of August, 1618, an inhabitant came, and told them to be gone, for he saw the mountains cleaving; but he was laughed at for his pains. He had

a daughter, whom he persuaded to leave all and go with him; but when she was got out of town with him, she called to mind, that she had not locked the door of a room in which she had some things of value, and so went back to do that, and was buried with the rest. For at the hour of supper, The Hill fell down, and buried the town and all the inhabitants, so that not one person escaped. The fall of the mountains did so fill the channels of the river, that the first news those of Chavennes had of it, was by the failing of their river: for three or four hours there came not a drop of water; but the river wrought for itself a new course, and returned to them. I could hear no particular character of the man

who escaped; so I must leave the secret reason of so singular a preservation, to the great discovery at the last day, of those steps of Divine Providence, that are now so unaccountable. Some of the family of the Franken got some miners to work under ground, to find out the wealth that was buried in their palaces; for besides their plate and furniture, there was a great deal of cash, and many jewels in the house. The miners pretended they could find nothing; but they went to their country of Tirol, and built fine houses, and great wealth appeared, of which no visible account could be given but this, that they had found some of that treasure."- Burnet's Letters from Switzerland.

DERBYSHIRE.

(Continued from page 278.)

FINDERN.-Mr. DANIEL SHELMARDINE, who was ejected from Barrow-uponTrent, resided in this place, and died here, October 1699. When the liberty was settled by law, he preached, says Calamy, at Derby, and several other places, occasionally, not daring to hide his Lord's talent in a napkin. Hence

it is probable that he collected a congregation in this the place of his residence. The Rev. THOMAS HILL, son of the ejected minister of that name, preached, and conducted an academy, in this place. He died early in 1720, and was succeeded by Dr. Ebenezer LatHOM, who also for many years kept an academy here with great reputation. His pupils consisted both of candidates for the ministry and sons of gentlemen, and many of them afterwards became eminent characters. He died in 1754, having some years before his death become one of the ministers of the Presbyterian Congrega tion at Derby; and from that time there is reason to believe that the congregation at Findern was chiefly supplied by one of the Derby ministers, till about the year 1800.

Mr. D. MERCER was the pastor of this congregation for a considerable time, and died a few years since.

GLASSWELL.-There was, in the early part of the last century, an Independent Congregation at this place, which was supported chiefly by the Hallows family.

Mr. OGLE RADFORD was the minister in 1715. Previously to that time, an annuity of £20. had been left by a Mr. Woolhouse, for the benefit of the minister for the time being; but the congregation has long been extinct, and we are not informed in what way this endowment is appropriated.

GLOSSOP was, till the ejectment, the incumbency of Mr. WILLIAM Bagshaw, of whom see a particular account under Ashford, pp. 52, 53.

GRIESLEY.-The following interesting account is given by Calamy of the zeal, perseverance, and sufferings of Mr. THOMAS FORD, who was ejected from the pulpit of this parish. Vol. 2. pp. 204, 205.- "He was born at Willington, in this county, and brought up at Repton school, where he profited in learning beyond most of his years. From thence he was sent to Cambridge, and there settled in Trinity College, under the care and tuition of Dr. Hill. He was earlier than ordinary in piety, in learning, and in preaching, upon which work he entred at the age of twenty-one; and that with the full approbation both of judicious divines, and understanding Christians. The first exercise of his ministry was in the capacity of an assistant to Mr. George Cross, of Clifton, in Staffordshire, whose sister he marry'd. He was a very lively, weighty, pertinent, and methodical preacher. He was never settled in any parsonage or vicaridge; but preach'd under other ministers for the space of seven or eight years. He

was at Seale, in Liecestershire, when King Charles came in, and there he was mention'd, p. 367 of my former edition; but he was preaching at Griesly when the Bartholomew Act slew him, with so many others of his brethren. But being civilly dead, and yet continuing to speak both to God and men in a way forbidden by human laws, tho' as he conceiv'd allow'd and approv'd of God, he, together with another minister, Mr. Thomas Bakewel, was sent to Stafford Goal, where they continu'd prisoners for the time appointed. After which, he ceased not by day or by night to preach the Gospel, for which he was again apprehended, and committed prisoner to Derby Goal, in the company of another minister, Mr. Timothy Staniforth. And fulfilling his time of suffering there also, he still went on in his Master's work as long as he was able. But as he began betimes so, his work was ended betimes; for by his extraordinary pains upon a day of fasting and prayer he broke a vein, which brought him into a consumption, whereof be dy'd, in a little village, near Burton-upon-Trent, about the year 1677. He was not allow'd to be bury'd in consecrated ground. He was a hard student, and a celebrated preacher. His memory is very precious to the inhabitants of Burton, and the neighbouring villages. Mr. Swinfen improv'd his death from those words, Joh. 5. 35. he was a burning and a shining light."

HENGE.--The dissenting church at this place is a branch of that at Belper, from which Henge is distant about three miles, and enjoys the labours of the pastor of Belper, once on the Lord's day, and once in the week. The meeting-house was erected in the year 1708, and will contain about 300 people. At the time of its erection, the congregation was under the charge of the late Rev. DANIEL GRONOW, a minister of the Presbyterian denomination, who divided his labours between this and three other places. He died in the year 1796, and at the unanimous request of the congregation, which is respectable, Mr. GAWTHORNE Succeeded to the charge. There is a Sunday school connected with this congregation, which consists of about 120 scholars.

HOGNESTON,-Mr. STEPHEN PARKER was the minister of an Independent congregation in this place, in 1715; but he afterwards conformed. We have no account of any successor to him, or of the subsequent history of the congregation, except that it is not now in existence.

HOLCOME. At this place, which is about a mile and a half distant from Park Chapel, was an old meeting-house, in the year 1798. It was then in a ruinous condition, for which, and other

reasons, the small congregation that formerly worshipped in it has merged in the congregation assembling in Park Chapel.

HUCKLOW, Great, near Tideswell.-The dissenting congregation at this place is one of those which was founded by the Rev. Mr. ASHE, and for several years it enjoyed the ministry of that eminently pious man and his assistants; of whom, see more under Ashford. Mr. ROBERT KELSAL settled here early in the last century, and preached at this place, and at Bradwell, for nearly fifty years, performing the duties of his office with great zeal and integrity, and died June 23, 1772, aged 73 years. (See more of him under Bradwell, p. 261.) The original meeting-house, or chapel, at Hucklow, was erected near the mansion of John Bagshaw, Esq. the maternal uncle of Mr. Ashe, who was High Sheriff of the county; and it is believed that it was erected at his expense. The minister was also for a long time supported and patronized by him. To Mr. Kelsal succeeded Mr. JOHN BOULT, from Cheshire, in December 1774, who was followed by Mr. DANIEL GRONOW, afterwards of Alfreton, who was followed in succession by Messrs. EVANS, ASTLEY, MEANLEY, and EBENEZER ALDRED. The last of these gentlemen removed to Cosby in 1798, and afterwards to Sheffield, where he died last year. Some time before 1798, the meeting-house having become dangerous through decay, a new one was erected, by the help of contributions from Mr. Shore, and other generous individuals. The congregation is now supplied by Mr. NAYLOR, of Ashford, who is, as several of his predecessors have been, professedly an Unitarian.

ILKESTON is a large and populous village, about ten miles from Derby. The number of its inhabitants is estimated at between three and four thousand. Their principal occupations are the manufacture of stockings and twist net, and the working of coal mines. Exclusive of the established church, there are in this town six places of worship for Protestants, of which one is occupied by Primitive Methodists, two by Wesleyan Methodists, one by a congregation of Independents, whose doctrines are Unitarian, one by a congregation of General Baptists, and one by a congregation of Calvinists. Of these congregations, four, that is, the two Wesleyan Methodists, the Baptists, and the Calvinists, support Sunday schools, in which not less than 700 poor children are from Sabbath to Sabbath taught to read by gratuitous teachers. It is nevertheless a curious fact, that, in the parliamentary returns which were furnished by the clergy of the several parishes, not one Sunday.

scholar is stated as receiving instruction in this town; with so little regard to truth and decency do the professed agents of the State in matters ecclesiastical and moral, conduct themselves towards that Legislature, from which they derive their ample endowments and exclusive privileges. The Parliament, tendering the moral and mental welfare of the people, ask what means of Sabbath instruction exist in the country? the appointed and paid teachers reply, in the very face equally of truth and a good conscience, in the instance before us,

NONE.

Ilkeston Unitarian Dissenters.-This congregation is the most ancient in the town. Their place of worship appears to have been erected early in the last century; but after much inquiry, we have not been able to obtain any documents respecting it. The earliest mention of any of its ministers, which we have met with, is in the year 1735; in which year, on the 30th of November, the Rev. Mr. PLATTS, pastor of the dissenting church here, died. We have no account how the congregation was supplied from that time till 1750, when Mr. WILLIAMS began to occupy the pulpit, and continued so to do till his decease, in 1783. It is generally believed that he endowed the meeting-house with £40. per annum, in addition to some land which had been previously bequeathed to it by a Mr. Rowe. Mr. Williams was succeeded by Mr. DAVIS, sen., and Mr. DAVIS, jun., who preached here till 1787, when they were succeeded by Mr. T. OWEN, who remained here till 1791. The next minister was Mr. HEWIS, or HUGHES, who was succeeded by Mr. WALTERS, till 1807. In 1808, Mr. GRUNDY, now of Manchester, supplied the pulpit, and continued to fill it till 1811. He was succeeded by Mr. WHITEHOUSE, who still continues to preach to this congregation. The attendance is very small.

Ilkeston General Baptist Congregation.This congregation had its origin in the labours of Mr. NATHANIEL PICKERING and Mr. JOHN TARRAT, ministers of the Baptist church at Kegworth, in Leicestershire, who preached occasionally in the neighbourhood for some time before the year 1766, in consequence of which a small meeting-house was erected in that year, at a place in this parish called Little Hullam. This place was taken down in 1784, and a more commodious edifice erected in the following year at Ilkeston. Those members of the Baptist church of Kegworth, who resided at Ilkeston, together with the residents at Smalley, and several of the surrounding villages, at the same time separated themselves from the church at Kegworth, and formed themselves into a

distinct church. Their minister was Mr. JOHN GODDARD, who was afterwards unanimously called to the pastoral office, and ordained on Whit Monday 1789, by Mr. Dan, Taylor and Mr. Benjamin Lollard. Mr. Goddard's ministry was very prosperous, and he continued to labour among the people till 1795, when he resigned his office, and withdrew from the church. Upon the retirement of Mr. Goddard, Mr. WILLIAM FELKIN, one of the members of the church, was called to preach regularly at Ilkeston and Smalley, and the congregation increased so much under his ministry, that it was found necessary to erect a gallery in the meetinghouse at Ilkeston. In 1800, Mr. Felkin accepted a call to the pastoral office in the church at Kegworth, and was succeeded in the same year in this place by Mr. WILLIAM PICKERING, whose ministry was eminently beneficial to the people. In the year 1807, while Mr. Pickering had charge of the congregation, a large school room, capable of containing 80 children, was erected adjoining to the meeting-house. Mr. Pickering continued pastor of this church till 1815, when he removed to Stutey Bridge, and the pulpit was supplied by neighbouring ministers, and by Mr. WEST and Mr. HOLMES, who were members of the church, till Mr. G. W. PURCELL came to reside among them about two years since, who took charge of the church and congregation, and is at present their pastor.

Ilkeston Calvinist Congregation.-Of the origin and history of this congregation the following account has been communicated to us :-" Some time before the year 1770, a few persons in this town not being fully satisfied with the doctrines and discipline of the dissenting congregations at that time existing here, began to attend other places of worship. Of this number were Mr. Thomas Barker and Mr. John Bowes. These good men frequently travelled upon a Sabbath morning to Breedon on the Hill, a distance of between sixteen and seventeen miles, where they heard the Rev. Mr. Laddon preach twice, and returned to Ilkeston in the evening. They afterwards became acquainted with the Independent congregation which assembled in Castlegate, Nottingham, with whom they united in church fellowship. From this time ministers were sent upon week-day evenings to preach in Mr. Bowes's house at Ilkeston. Among these was the late Rev. Mr. POPPLEWELL; the Rev. GEORGE GILL, of Market Harborough; the Rev. JONATHAN TOOTHILL, of Hopton, Yorkshire; the Rev. TIMOTHY PRIESTLEY, late of London; the Rev. ROBERT GALLAND, and several others who had been students under the Rev. James Scott, of Heckmondwike, Yorkshire. The Lord greatly blessed the occasional labours of

these good ministers of Jesus Christ for the conversion of sinners, and the building up of his saints in their most holy faith. The congregation continuing to increase, the friends at Nottingham recommended the Ilkeston people to unite with the congregation which assembled at Moorgreen, which also enjoyed the fostering care of the Castlegate church. After this union was formed the united congregation agreed to invite the Rev. ROBERT GALLAND, then of Warwick, to take the oversight of this infant cause. He accepted the invitation in 1770, and receiving encouragement from the generous friends of religion at Nottingham, a new meeting-house was erected at Ilkeston in the following year, and on the 25th August, 1772, a church was formed on the congregational plan, which was composed of twelve members, one of whom is still living. On the 4th of November, 1772, Mr. Galland was ordained to the pastoral office over the church and congregation of Ilkeston, and the congregation at Moorgreen, in which service were engaged the Rev. Richard Plumb, of Nottingham, the Rev. Mr. Popplewell, and the Rev. T. Priestley. Mr. Galland continued to labour in this part of the Lord's vineyard between seven and eight years, but experiencing a rapid decline in his health, he was compelled, by that and other afflictive circumstances, to remove to a less arduous field of usefulness at Holmfirth, in Yorkshire, in the year 1779, where he continued till his decease on the 12th of January, 1801. At both places he was highly respected, and bis labours were crowned with considerable success. On the 23d September, 1779, the Rev. THOMAS HALL was ordained

pastor over this church. He was a zealous and good man; his conduct corresponding with the glorious truths which he advocated; when he took charge of the congregation, a debt remained upon the meeting-house, for the liquidation of which he, at the request of the people, undertook to visit London and collect money from the religious public there. The individual who supplied his pulpit in his absence is considered as having sowed the seeds of disaffection among his people, and alienated their affections from him to such a degree, that a division ensued, which issued in his voluntary withdrawment from the place. He was succeeded on the 4th of June, 1788, by the Rev. W. ENTWISTLE, a man of popular talents, under whose ministry, during the former part of it, the congregations increased much; a gallery was erected in the meeting-house at Ilkeston, and the old meeting-house at Moorgreen was taken down, and an excellent one built of larger dimensions, with three galleries. Mr.

Entwistle, in connexion with several neighbouring Independent ministers, preached at Belper and Mansfield. In particular he preached in the playhouse at the former place, and was the first person who did so; but his conduct not proving afterwards to be, in the estimation of his people, consistent with the obligations of his ministerial character, he was deserted by the greater part of them, and removed out of the neighbourhood. On the 9th of April, 1795, the Rev. BENJAMIN SUGDEN, from the Independent Academy, at Northowram, in Yorkshire, was set apart to the pastoral office over this united church and congregation, the important duties of which station he continued to discharge till May, 1799, when he removed to Skipton, in Craven, Yorkshire. Mr. Sugden conducted himself while resident among the people with Christian prudence, and his humility, amiable temper, and circumspect deportment gained for him the esteem of those who had objected to his ordination over them. In June, 1799, the Rev. JOSHUA SHAW, from the Independent Academy at Rotherham, came here as a supply, and after some time received a unanimous call to be their pastor, and was ordained on the 10th of September, 1800, by the Rev. Dr. E. Williams, and Messrs. M. Phillips, R. Alliott, J. Kirkpatrick, and J. Whitehead. Under the ministry of Mr. Shaw, attended with the divine blessing, the church and congregations have considerably increased. In 1808, a room for a Sabbath school was erected, adjoining to the meeting-house, and a new gallery in it. This school contains more than 250 children. The school-room is also used as an adult school. Connected with this congregation, and supplied from it with teachers, is a Sabbath school at Lucote Gate, in the parish of West Hallam, at a distance of a mile and a half from Ilkeston, which did contain 140 children, but has recently suffered a small diminution of numbers, occasioned by the opening of a Sunday school in the parish church. The itinerant labours of Mr. Shaw in the neighbourhood of Ilkeston, and within 20 miles of it, both in Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire, are considerable, and the congregations under his pastoral care contribute largely to the Missionary, Bible, and other benevolent Societies."

The Greasley and Eastwood Bible Society was chiefly raised by the instrumentality of Mr. Shaw, who has been one of its Secretaries from its commencement in 1813. It has circulated between three and four thousand copies of the Holy Scriptures. In 1815, the Committee visited the whole parish of IIkeston, from house to house, in order to ascertain the state of the inhabitants,