As confidential adviser of Charles Grant in the Court of Directors, in the appointment of chaplains, Simeon always sought to attract the best of his curates to that career, and it would appear from the _Journal_ that so early as the beginning of 1803 he had hinted at this to Martyn. Now the way was plain. Martyn could no longer support himself as one of those volunteer missionaries whose services the two great missionary societies of the Church of England have always been happy to enjoy, nor could he relieve his sister out of the subsistence allowance of a missionary. Mr. Grant's offer of a Bengal chaplaincy seemed to come to him as the solution. But a new element had entered into his life, second only to his spiritual loyalty. He had learned to love Lydia Grenfell. FOOTNOTES: [1] See the _Statistical Society's Journal_, September, 1888, for invaluable notes on the 'System of Work and Wages in the Cornish Mines,' by L.L. Price, M.A., of Oriel College, Oxford. [2] The late Henry Martyn Jeffery, M.A., F.R.S., in 1883. [3] Rev. Henry Bailey, D.D., Canon of Canterbury, supplies us with this story from the lips of the late Rev. T.H. Shepherd, who was the last surviving Canon of the Collegiate Church in Southwell:-- 'Henry Martyn had just entered the College as a Freshman under the Rev. Mr. Catton. I was the year above him, _i.e._ second year man; and Mr. Catton sent for me to his rooms, telling me of Martyn, as a quiet youth, with some knowledge of classics, but utterly unable as it seemed to make anything of even the First Proposition of Euclid, and desiring me to have him into my rooms, and see what I could do for him in this matter. Accordingly, we spent some time together, but all my efforts appeared to be in vain; and Martyn, in sheer despair, was about to make his way to the coach office, and take his place the following day back to Truro, his native town. I urged him not to be so precipitate, but to come to me the next day, and have another trial with Euclid. After some time light seemed suddenly to flash upon his mind, with clear comprehension of the hitherto dark problem, and he threw up his cap for joy at his _Eureka_. The Second Proposition was soon taken, and with perfect success; but in truth his progress was such and so rapid, that he distanced every one in his year, and, as everyone knows, became Senior Wrangler.' [4] _Early Years and Late Reflections_, vol. iii. p. 5. [5] Introduction to _Journals and Letters of Henry Martyn_, 1837. [6] See the delightful _Charles Simeon_, by H.C.G. Moule, M.A. (1892), published since this was written. [7] Rev. Mr. Curgenven, curate of Kenwyn and Kea. [8] William Carey's most intimate friend. See p. 46 of _Life of William Carey, D.D._, 2nd ed. (John Murray). [9] Rev. A. Caldecott, M.A., Fellow and Dean of St. John's College. CHAPTER II LYDIA GRENFELL