mained there more or less during six years. He took several continental and other trips. The first was to Paris. He writes: "I was intensely delighted as I stepped on board the steamer at Newhaven; so much so that at first I could scarcely realize it. My dearest of mothers was pleased too, and I think that knowing this gave me such great joy.”

Another trip was to Brussels, Antwerp, Lucerne, and other places. At Wiesbaden he notes (the gaming tables were then in full swing): “Those who seemed to be regular professional gamblers were the ugliest set of people that I ever saw in my life. A gambling table is a curious sight. I recollected those awfully eager and ugly faces for many a long day."

A verse which concludes his diary for 1864 shows that though he might not, at that time, have had any real and vital religion, yet that he was not disinclined to think seriously. In 1865 he seems to have inclined to Romanism: but he was much struck by "Cardinal Wiseman's" last words, "Let me have all the Church can do for me." He says: "I seemed to see at once that if the highest ecclesiastic stood thus in need of external rites on his death-bed, the system must be rotten, and I shortly after gave up all idea of departing from our Protestant Faith."

He tried hard to interest himself in the Brighton business, but in vain. "I hoped to do well; but, alas! it was not from the bottom of my heart. I never could like the business."

A yachting trip to the Mediterranean took him to Rome. Then he went to Russia, Copenhagen, Stockholm, etc. An incident which throws light upon his character occurred on the return voyage. The elder brother, who was in command of the expedition, having been recalled home by domestic affairs which required his presence, the leadership fell to James. He at once took the reins, and held them with no uncertain hand. He writes: "The men have of late been very disorderly, and getting worse. So, on my assuming command, I instantly gave them my mind on the subject, and told them that in future any man breaking leave would be discharged. The first to do so, as it happened, was the captain, who remained ashore, and, by his own confession, helplessly drunk.” The captain had no doubt that he would be able to make it all right with the young commander. But he reckoned without his host. Discipline was at stake. Hannington felt that now or never was the time to assert his authority, and in such circumstances he was not accustomed to hesitate for a moment. To the astonishment of the whole crew, and not less so of the

culprit himself, the captain was there and then sent

ashore with all his belongings.

After this example They recognised the

the crew gave no more trouble. fact that they had one at the head of affairs who might be expected to execute what he threatened, and, after the manner of sailors, they liked him none the worse for it.

The year 1868 proved an eventful one for Hannington. The family had been hitherto, at least nominally, Independents. Mr. Hannington had built a chapel in his grounds, in which Nonconformist services were held. Feeling the differences with the Church of England were not serious, the family returned to her communion. Hannington thus got to know many of the clergy, and his disinclination for business led him to think of ordination. “I had it fixed upon my mind that I was to be ordained; but as for real motives I had none, or next to none."

"To outward appearance," Mr. Dawson says, “he was still as gay, thoughtless, and reckless as ever." But as is often the case in such instances, the religion of penance presented its claims upon his conscience. “He kept Lent with much severity." Then on July 5th he received the Holy Communion for the first time; but it was in the spirit of fear, not of adoption. He felt "afraid whether he was fit," and then strove

to "brace up to his duties, both religious and secular." He was to be seen frequently at service in the Parish Church, or at choral and other festivals, and waited diligently upon the lips of distinguished preachers who came near his home.

"But," writes his biographer, "his time had not yet come. If the town of Mansoul was beginning to feel the stress of the siege, it was by no means yet taken, or even ready to be taken by assault. The volatile and fun-loving nature of the young man soon resumed its sway over him, the newly-fanned flame of ecclesiastical ardour soon paled and died down; and though he certainly never repudiated religion, it is equally certain that, for some years to come, he laid no claim to be esteemed 'religious.'"

In October of this year, Hannington's life at Oxford began. Mr. Dawson gives a graphic wordportrait of his friend. "His face was the very index of his character. Whether he walked, stood, or ate, he was distinctly himself, and never quite like anybody else. When he laughed, the spirit of laughter took full possession of him, and his laughter was contagious, he so evidently enjoyed it." From the first he gained popularity: took the college by storm. His rooms in St. Mary Hall were full of curiosities, gathered from all sources, and he gave a frank and

CHAPTER II.

DEATH OF HIS MOTHER.-" PRAYER FOR HANNINGTON.' ORDINATION.-CURATE OF TRENTISHOE.-THE SEED GERMINATING.-HIS EYES OPENED.-NEW LIFE IN HIS MINISTRY.-AT DARLEY ABBEY.-AT HURSTPIERPOINT.

HA

ANNINGTON was soon to learn that God's training-school for usefulness is often, if not always, found in trial.

"The path of sorrow, and that path alone,
Leads to the land where sorrow is unknown."

We have noted his boyish tenderness for his "dearest, sweetest mother." This controlling love of his life had grown with his growth: and her illness and death "moved him to the centre of his being." On the 30th of September, 1871, her doctor pronounced that there was little or no hope of her recovery. She lingered, "peaceful and happy," till the 26th of February, 1872. Her son says, on that day," She kept dozing and rousing, and commencing sentences. Especially she would repeat again and

124