David Saunders, the individual of whom we now speak, or as he is more generally designated on account of his piety, the pious Shepherd of Salisbury Plain, was early brought under the itinerant labours of some of the followers of John Wesley; at what exact period is not known. On one occasion going to hear a Methodist preacher, probably at Imber or Seend, with a young man, one of their society, he complains of a painful and distressing disease, to which from early life he had been subject, which not only caused him great trouble but was regarded by him as a great affliction (the leprosy). His companion, while compassionating his case, took occasion to remind him that he was afflicted with a far worse disease, that not only afflicted his body but ruined both body and soul, making it loathsome in the eyes of a pure and holy God, and entailed upon it eternal misery; recommending him instantly to apply to the great Physician for that balm which alone can effect a perfect cure. Thus made acquainted with the Gospel, he continued the pursuit until he was brought to a full realisation of its power: the sincerity of his profession evidenced itself by the anxiety awakened in his mind with reference to the condition of those around him; for, as was stated at the commencement of this section, the religious state of the neighbourhood was awful and alarming; he was a light in a dark place, and as was said of the church of Pergamos, “Thou dwellest where Satan’s seat is.” Pains and penalties awaited those who dared to think and act in opposition to the authorised teachers, and to disturb the heavy gloom that rested on the public mind; for at this time the same person held the two livings of East and West Lavington. The statement in the tract published by the Religious Tract Society would lead to the formation of a high estimate of the piety of the neighbourhood and the resident clergy; there is nothing whatever to warrant this, quite the reverse, and would apply to times of a much later date. There is also a very great inaccuracy as to the shepherd being placed in the situation of parish clerk, and removing to the house of his predecessor, where a Sabbath school is reported to have been commenced under the auspices of the vicar and Mr. Johnson, who was no other person than Dr. Stonehouse, the projector of the Infirmary at Salisbury and the resident surgeon there, but having been unsuccessful in his treatment of a small-pox patient, which affected his reputation and very much depressed him, he quitted the medical profession and took holy orders; the living of the two Cheverills, which were then united, being presented him by Earl Radnor. And it is further stated those individuals established a day school for a few girls to be instructed by the shepherd’s wife, who was incapacitated for out-door employment, being heavily afflicted with the rheumatism. These facts are utterly false; she was chiefly employed in visiting and nursing the sick, being the only