BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 161
thus speaks of himself-“I am now in my eighty-sixth year. I have never
used spectacles, nor is my hearing in the least diminished ; and my mind is as
acute as ever.” He died on the 21st of April 1827, in the eighty-seventh year
of his age.
Dr. Hamilton’s personal appearance is described as having been prepossessing,
and his manner dignified and agreeable. His time was almost wholly devoted
to good deeds and piety; and so much did he indulge in self-debasement,
that he withheld from his friends all records which could assist them in
compiling any lengthened memoir of his life. He even forbade the delivery of
a funeral sermon on his demise. Several interesting reminiscences, however,
have been preserved by some of his old friends, in letters to his son, Mr.
Francis Hamilton of Kentish-town. From these we shall make two quotations.
The first, illustrative of his talent for religious conversation-the other, of his
charity :-
‘‘I was privilege*’ (says the Rev. Robert Johnson), “with his company on a journey of
upwards of one hundred miles. He was a most pleasant and instructive travelling companion.
There were several passengers in the coach at different stages, to whom we were entire strangers.
During the whole of the journey the Doctor’s conversation was upon divine things. He, in a
familiarly instructive and striking manner, explained many important passages of Scripture, and
showed the necessity of experimental and practical religion. The eyes and ears of the passengers
hung upon his lips. He eyed
the Doctor from head to foot, and on every side. At that time the Doctor dressed in the costume
of the old physicians ; having a wig, with a large square silk bag behind. The Scotchman for
a long time looked and listened : at last he said, ‘ Pray, sir, are you a minister ’?’ The Doctor
very pleasantly replied, ‘ No ; I am only his man.’ ”
“Compassion for the poor ” (writes the Rev. James Wood), “was another trait in the
character of my departed friend. When he resided in Leeds, he attended in the vestry of the
old chapel one day in every week, where the poor had full liberty to apply for his adyice. If I
found any sick poor destitute of medical attendance, he was always ready to visit them without
fee or reward. One instance of the kindness he felt for the poor, I am thankful for an opportunity
of recording. When I was stationed at Leeds, Dr. Hamilton called on me one morning,
to ask me if I knew of any person in particular want, saying, he had just received a sum of money
which he had considered as a bad debt, and he therefore wished to give it to the poor. I had
just received a letter from a pious man at Sunderland, where I had been stationed a few years
before, stating his difficulties through want of employ, and that it had been impressed on his
mind to write to me. I showed the Doctor this letter, who gave me two guineas for the poor
man, which was sent without delay ; shortly afterwards a letter from the same person, full of
gratitude to God and to the donor, came to hand, which I showed to my friend, who gave me
three guineas more for the worthy object. The impression on the mind of the poor man-the
time when the letter came-a sum of money unexpectedly received-and the inquiry made after
proper objects, all concurred to show the hand of Providence, and that the Lord careth for the
righteous.”
The figure to the left of Mr. Wesley is that of the REV. JOSEPH COLE,
of whose life almost no memorial whatever has been preserved. He was for
thirty-five years a Methodist preacher, having joined the Rev. John Wesley in
1780. He maintained an unblemished character, and was esteemed an acceptable
“ labourer in the vineyard’’ His talents were respectable ; and his &-
courses were distinguished for simplicity, spirituality, and energy. He was
stationed in Edinburgh during the years 1789-90 and 179 1. ‘‘ His recollections
Amongst them was a Scotchman, who appeared quite astonished.
VOL. II. Y