Soon after Dr. Vaughan had sent in his resignation, he wrote to me inviting an interview for the purpose of ascertaining whether there might be a likelihood of my leaving Windsor, where I had been happily “settled” for eleven years. I was taken by surprise, though I had before received intimations from brethren that it might be my duty to undertake a sphere of wider service than I then occupied. I could give no reply to Dr. Vaughan at the moment, but told him I must at once consult my Windsor friends. This may seem strange, but we had so much mutual affection and confidence, that I could trust to their disinterestedness, whilst they trusted to my attachment. The result was, after much anxious conference, and the advice of two eminent brethren who happened to be on a visit to Windsor, {68} that I consented to preach at Kensington, with a view to the pastorate. I had no desire to leave Windsor. Far from it. I longed to remain, if it were the will of God, and in that spirit prayed for direction. After preaching a few times, I received a cordial and unanimous invitation to Kensington, and the Windsor Church agreed to my acceptance of it with expressions of unabated affection, saying they knew I must leave them, and that if I went away to so short a distance, there seemed more chance of their seeing me often afterwards. The spirit manifested by the Society left and the Society joined was so beautiful, that I record the fact as expressive of my own gratitude, and as an example worthy of imitation. Before Dr. Vaughan went into Lancashire, steps had been taken with a view to this result, and within two months it was accomplished. Some may think this a hasty settlement; at all events it lasted for thirty-two years, with growing affection on both sides. The following letter of acceptance was written on the 27th of July, 1843:— “MY DEAR BRETHREN,— “I do not think it desirable to delay any longer than is absolutely necessary a decided reply to the unanimous and affectionate invitation which you have sent me, to accept the pastoral office. It appears to me to be the path of duty to remove from my present charge to the Church at Kensington. Had I not been gradually prepared for this step, I do not think I could have found it in my heart thus to sever the tie which has pleasantly bound me for more than eleven years to my present people; but the way has been opened by degrees, and the hand of Providence has, I conceive, now placed me in a position, with regard to you, from which it would not be proper to retreat. “Confiding in the sincerity of that approval and affection which you are pleased to express, and above all, looking up to the Fountain of all good, for His aid and blessing, I venture to advance, and accept your united call.