of what amateurs call bottom, after the first knockdown blow, called for quarter, and Hamilton coolly returned into the house. As it had been resolved not to admit O’Rourke again into the vicarage, he was conducted to a public house in the neighbourhood. Our hero, with Dr. Wentbridge, who arrived that morning, called on him in the course of the day, to learn more fully the purpose of his visit, and to explain to him that every expectation of his having now or hereafter any share of the property, or management of the Etterick estate, was totally groundless. They carried with them, for his inspection, a copy of the trust deed. O’Rourke, crestfallen by his defeat, was now totally dejected, and was as abject under disappointment as he had been arrogant and insolent in fancied prosperity. He saw that all his expectations of revelling in the riches of Etterick were forever gone, and that even if the laird were to change his mind, he had put it out of his own power. He balanced with himself, whether it would be wise to return. On the one hand there was the annuity settled on his wife, which, though only a fourth of what he had proposed to possess, might enable him to live very comfortably; on the other, his achievements in the course of his methodistical mission, some of which were now likely to become public, were not such as would make his reception very pleasing in that country, and especially from his own wife, whom he now regarded, as upon her he must depend. If methodistical missionaries are, perhaps, not directly beneficial to the order and virtue of a community, they promote one valuable branch of political œconomy: they are accounted extremely conducive to population; first, unhinging moral principles by establishing the all-sufficiency of faith, and the uselessness of virtuous conduct, they open the way for the uncontrolled dominion of passion; secondly, inflaming the heart with a fanatical enthusiasm, they facilitate enthusiasms of other kinds; and as the pastors have an absolute influence over the minds of their votaries, itinerant preachers, either spontaneous or missionary, are in the country deemed more effectual and successful ministers of sedition and profligacy than packmen, strolling players, gypsies, or any other fraternity of vagabonds. This observation Mr. O’Rourke could testify from his own experience; for having at different times exercised the several professions in question, and being indefatigable in his addresses, was greater in his evangelical itinerancy than in any other. The result he was now apprehensive would be much greater than his finances could bear. Besides, his adventure at the Selkirk bank would not increase the agreeableness of his reception in that part of the country. He, therefore, thought it best to defer his return, and to try his methodistical talents in countries to which neither Scotch bailiffs nor Scotch parish officers could carry their authority. He accordingly