At the table of this hospitable gentleman the Kensington pastor met Serjeant Goulburn, then a young man; Mr. Stephen, of anti-slavery renown and Wilberforce’s friend; Miss Edgeworth, the novelist; and the John Owen, early Secretary of the Bible Society. The cheerful host experienced a great reverse, lost a fortune on the Stock Exchange, but bore it with equanimity, saying, when he came home and was asked by his wife how he was, “Pretty well, my love, for a ruined man.” Dr. Leifchild, through the medium of rich neighbours, befriended him in his trouble, for which he was ever afterwards grateful; and in subsequent years I enjoyed the friendship of one of his daughters, who with her husband, a Governor of the Bank of England, attended Hornton Street Chapel when I was minister. Her sisters also, who attained rank and fortune, always felt kindly towards the place where their father worshipped; but I knew nothing at that time of the circumstances respecting him described in the “Life of Dr. Leifchild.” Mr. Leifchild met with curious characters in Kensington: “The Honourable Mrs. S— lived next door to him. One morning she said to him, looking over the garden wall, ‘Leifchild, can I come in; I want to speak to you?’ “‘Certainly, Mrs. S—,’ was the reply, and they were soon together in my father’s parlour, when the following conversation took place, the lady commencing abruptly as follows: “‘Leifchild, I want a spade.’ “‘A _spade_, madam!’ exclaimed her neighbour in astonishment. “‘Yes, a spade!’ was the rejoinder. “‘But, Mrs. S—, your garden is always in good order.’ “‘Nonsense! you know what I mean.’ “‘Well, I will send the servant round with a spade.’ “‘Nonsense! you know I do not mean that.’ “‘Excuse me, Mrs. S—, I really do not know what you mean.’ “‘Well, then, you frightened me yesterday by saying that very few were converted after fifty years of age, and I am now forty-nine. And then you spoke of the diligent husbandman, and said we must all set to work. Now, I mean to work, and that is why I want a spade.’ “‘You shall have one, madam, and gladly too. We have abundance of work, and shall be most thankful for your help.’” {51}