debts which he had unavoidably contracted, as a last resource, in an auspicious moment, he had applied to Edmund Burke for assistance, transmitting to him at the same time some verses as a specimen of his abilities. In these sketches Burke at once recognised the hand of a master. He invited the poet to Beaconsfield; installed him in a convenient apartment; opened up to him the stores of his library; watched over his progress, and afforded him the benefit of his taste and literary skill." "The Library" soon appeared, and Crabbe was famous. By Burke's advice he went into holy orders; he was appointed chaplain to the household of the Duke of Rutland, obtained ample Church preferment, and pursued his path to fame. THE WAY TO PROMOTION. Speed relates that Guymond, chaplain to Henry I., observing that for the most part ignorant men were advanced to the best dignities of the Church, one day, as he was celebrating divine service before the King, and was about to read these words out of St. James, "It rained not upon the earth iii years and vi months," read it thus: "It rained not upon the earth one-one-one years and five-one months." The king noticed the singularity, and afterwards took occasion to blame the chaplain for it. "Sire," answered Guymond, "I did it on purpose, for such readers, I find, are sooner advanced by your Majesty." The King smiled; and in a short time thereafter presented Guymond to the benefice of St. Frideswid's, in Oxford. BOLD APPLICATION OF BOURDALOUE. Louis Bourdaloue--who claims the proud distinction of being "the reformer of the pulpit and the founder of genuine pulpit eloquence in France"--was sent for by Louis XIV. to preach the Advent Sermon in 1670. Bourdaloue, at that time at the age of thirty-eight, acquitted himself before the Court with so much success, that he was for many years afterwards retained as a preacher at Court. He was called the King of Preachers, and the Preacher to Kings; and Louis himself said, that he would rather hear the repetitions of Bourdaloue, than the novelties of another. With a collected air, he had little action; he kept his eyes generally half closed, and penetrated the hearts of his hearers by the tones of a voice uniform and solemn. On one occasion he turned the peculiarity of his external aspect to account in a very memorable fashion. After depicting in soul-awakening terms a sinner of the first magnitude, he suddenly opened his eyes, and, casting them full on the King, who sat opposite to him, he cried in a voice of thunder, "Thou art the man!" The effect was magical, confounding. When Bourdaloue had made an end of his discourse, he immediately went, and, throwing himself at the feet of his Sovereign, said, "Sire, behold at your feet one who is the most devoted of your servants; but punish him not, that in the pulpit he can own no other master than the King of kings!" This incident was characteristic of Bourdaloue's style of