But to return to the vicar of Morwenstow, and the Dissenters in his parish. Although very bitter in speech against Dissent, he was ready to do any kindness that lay in his power to a Dissenter. He took pains to instruct in Latin and Greek a young Methodist preparing for the Wesleyan ministry, and read with him diligently out of free good-nature. His pupil is now, I believe, a somewhat distinguished preacher in his connection. He was always ready to ask favours of their landlords for Dissenting farmers, and went out of his way to do them exceptional kindnesses. Some one rallied him with this:— “Why, Hawker, you are always getting comfortable berths for schismatics.” “So one ought,” was his ready reply. “I try my best to make them snug in this world, they will be so uncommonly miserable in the next.” He delighted in seeing persons of the most opposed religious or political views meet at his table. A Roman Catholic, an Independent minister, a Nothingarian and a High Anglican, were once lunching with him. “What an extraordinary thing, that you should have such discordant elements unite harmoniously at your table!” said a friend. “Clean and unclean beasts feeding together in the ark,” was his reply. “But how odd that you should get them to meet!” “Well, I thought it best: they never will meet in the next world.” One day he visited the widow of a parishioner who was dead. As he entered, he met the Methodist preacher coming out of the room where the corpse lay. “When is poor Thomas to be buried?” asked the vicar. “We are going to take him out of the parish,” answered the widow; “we thought you would not bury him, as he was a Dissenter.” “Who told you that I would not?” The widow lady looked at the Nonconformist minister. “Did you say so?” he asked of the preacher abruptly. “Well, sir, we thought, as you were so mighty particular, you would object to bury a Dissenter.” “On the contrary,” said the vicar, “do you not know that I should be but too happy to bury you all?” He was highly incensed at Mr. Cowper Temple’s abortive proposal for admitting Dissenters to the pulpits of the Church. “What!” said he in wrath, “suffer a Dissenting minister to invade our sacred precincts, to draw near to our pulpits and altars! It is contrary to Scripture; for Scripture says: ‘If a beast do but touch the mountain, let him be stoned or thrust through with a dart.’”