complete mill, according to the form of one that was then building in the neighbourhood. The process and progress of the building he narrowly observed every day, and every day he also proceeded with his own little work. When the mill was finished, some obstruction to its regularly working was discovered, which seemed for the time to puzzle even the builder. At this juncture of disappointment, the little self-taught architect entered the mill, and, soon hearing of the obstruction, observed, that his mill was perfect and went most regularly, and in a few minutes, to the surprise of all present, pointed out the defect and the remedy.

He was, from his earliest years, intended for the ministry; and was placed, at the age of eleven, at the grammar school at Exeter, under the instruction of the Rev. Mr. Hodgkinson, the then respected master of that seminary. Here he was distinguished for his progress in the usual routine of classical learning, for a very retentive memory, for a readiness and facility in composition, and he especially excelled in Latin versification. His early turn of mind to mechanical pursuits did not lie dormant while at school. He frequently exercised his talent in constructing many curious and ingenious articles for his own recreation, and for the amusement of his school-fellows.

At the age of eighteen he was entered at Baliol College, Oxford, and took the degree of A. B. at the usual period. During his residence at college, he formed the idea of compiling a "system of divinity," from the united labours of both ancient and modern writers in the school of sound theology. With this view, he read with avidity the most eminent authors of almost every date, and carefully noted, in a common-place book, the names of the author, the section and page, together with the heads of the subjects; so that he might know accurately where to turn, and what

author to consult, and also what part of his work to examine, when, at any future period, he might be disposed to write at large on any one subject in divinity.

On his leaving college, he was ordained on the curacy of Moretonhampstead, in the diocese of Exeter. At his examination for holy orders, he was highly complimented for his extensive theological knowledge and attainments. Soon after his ordination, he married Miss Gilbert, the daughter of Mr. W. Gilbert, of Longbrook, near Kingsbridge. When fixed in his curacy, he diligently applied himself to regular reading and study, and now began seriously to reduce to practice what he had only conceived in theory at college. In the course of a few years, he had compiled twelve volumes in manuscript, towards the completion of his design.

About this time he had removed to the curacy of Drewsteignton, a parish adjoining to that of his former residence. Soon after his entering on this cure, his mode of preaching had been represented to the then Bishop of Exeter, to be of so disagreeable a nature, that the most respectable part of the parish could not, without painful feelings, attend his ministry. On being called on by the bishop for his defence, he presented, for his lordship's perusal, the twelve volumes above mentioned; declaring that these volumes contained the very sermons which he had preached, and which had given to some persons such great offence. It appeared, that the sermons which gave offence, were those on the different vices of mankind; while those on the Christian graces and virtues were heard with pleasure, and often drew, even from the complainants themselves, expressions of high approbation. The bishop, having had the volumes in his possession for some time, sent for Mr. Davy, and expressed his sense of his diligence and labours, and avowed his intention of noticing with his marked approval his zeal and fidelity in his

Lord's vineyard. His lordship even desired him to point out any living in his patronage which would be most acceptable; and noted it in his book of memoranda. Thus encouraged, Mr. Davy proceeded with renewed vigour towards the completion of his intended plan, and spared neither labour nor expense, as far as his slender income would permit, to accomplish his long-projected system of divinity. But the hopes of the curate were disappointed; for the living which Mr. Davy considered as promised to him was, when vacant, bestowed on another. Mr. Davy did not, even amidst his unwearied theological studies, relinquish his favourite recreation in mechanical pursuits. The time of relaxation from severer study was devoted by him to the invention and construction of time-pieces of various and ingenious forms, and to the modelling and management of his garden. These pursuits were, however, simply for relaxation and amusement, and were never allowed to interfere with his stated labours, in the work of ministerial duty and usefulness. He had, at one time, undertaken a small farm, with the hope of providing more comfortably for the support of his increasing family but he soon found that divinity and agriculture were incompatible pursuits; that in proportion as the one was regarded and prospered, the other was neglected and suffered loss; and he therefore abandoned his farm, though at a considerable disadvantage. About this period he had, on the death of his rector, removed to the curacy of Lustleigh, with a salary of forty pounds a-year. In the year 1786, he published six volumes of sermons, by subscription, as a kind of commencement of his intended system of divinity. The work was noticed with considerable approbation by different reviewers, and many private individuals: but it brought him no advantage, either of patronage or pecuniary profit; and even proved

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a serious loss, as he found that he stood engaged to his printer for the payment of more than 1007. after deducting the proceeds of the copies disposed of. This circumstance may appear extraordinary, as the work was published by subscription; but it seems that some persons who subscribed their names omitted to transmit the stipulated payment. This failure, though it involved him in considerable difficulties, did not abate his resolution to proceed with unwearied perseverance towards the execution of his design. He continued therefore to collect materials from every quarter, wherever he could obtain access to public or private libraries. Having, at length, completed his long projected plan of a system of divinity, which should include the distinguishing doctrines and prescribed duties of Christianity, he had a prospectus of his laborious work printed, and transmitted to the different bishops of the realm, and to other eminent personages throughout the kingdom. But he was not fortunate enough to obtain such support or encouragement as would justify him to proceed to the publication of his labours; for the work would occupy twenty-six massy volumes, and it was puted it would cost at least 20007. to publish it. He had not property sufficient for this purpose: and yet, if it were not printed in his own lifetime, and under his own eye, he considered it would be lost to the world; for the work, from his mode of collecting and enlarging it, was of too complex a form in manuscript for any one but himself to unravel. Not unfrequently in one page might be added a hundred pieces of print or manuscript, which were all to be most minutely examined, in order to perceive exactly by what marks they were to be adjusted to each other, and to what parts of the body of the text they corresponded. After much perplexing uncertainty, he determined to make a trial to print the work with his

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own hands, not only that it might be extricated from its then almost unintelligible form, which might have been effected by means of a fair transcript, but also that so many copies might be given to the public, as he trusted would lead the way to a demand for new and enlarged editions.

He instantly resolved "to do what he could." He borrowed money to purchase a font of cast-away types of a printer at Exeter; and, finding that the expense of a press would be too great for his finances, he deter mined to make one himself, which he effected on a principle very different from the presses in general use. At this period his income was extremely narrow ;-his little property was overloaded with debt; and his curacy, though nominally forty pounds a year, was really but thirty-five pounds, as he for many years paid five pounds as rent for the rectory-house, or expended that sum in repairs.

Having constructed and set up his small press, he began to print. None but those who have been engaged in the art of printing can form any conception of the difficulties he met with in the prose cution of his plan. But amidst all his failures his mind was calm, and his temper unruffled. Nothing disheartened him; his favourite maxim was, "Labor omnia vincit," and amidst his most perplexing disappointments, he would mildly say, "Nil desperandum:""never mind, I will try again; I may do better the next time." His patience and perseverance, at last surmounting all difficulties, at the end of three weeks he was able to compose five or six pages in octavo, strike them off, and replace the letters in their cases, in the compass of one day. In this manner he proceeded with his first volume, printing forty copies; as even the purchase of paper was more than his very contracted circumstances would well admit; and not unfrequently did the press remain inactive for want of paper, and money to procure it.

His regular habit was not to purs chase any quantity of paper, until he had the money to pay for it.

Having completed his first volume in the year 1795, he thought it advisable to distribute most of the copies, as specimens of the work, among those who were most competent to appreciate its value. He therefore transmitted copies to various bishops, to the two universities, and to other persons of reputed talent and piety; reserving for himself only fourteen copies. Having waited, as he considered, a reasonable time for encouragement from those to whom he had sent copies, but finding none, he sat down quietly to his former labour, and resolved, if his life were spared and strength supplied, to print the whole himself, striking off, however, only fourteen copies, instead of forty as before; being, as he pathetically lamented, unequal to the purchase of sufficient quantities of paper for forty copies; living also in a ruinated house; having an increasing family; and being unable, for want of types and greater skill in printing, to work off more than one page at a time; so that, even labouring almost day and night, he could not hope in a quarter of a century, and before he should arrive at the age of eighty years, to complete perhaps more than half his intended work.

To assist his labours, he taught a female servant to compose the types, and, with her aid alone, he proceeded so steadily in his laborious undertaking, that in the year 1807 he completed it, in twentysix octavo volumes, of nearly 500 pages each, the printing of which was the unremitting labour of almost night and day for more than twelve successive years. His health, strength, and eye-sight did not seem to have suffered the least injury during the whole period. Great were his joy and gratitude to God at the completion of his undertaking; but his hopes, that his work would now attract the attention of the public, and be considered worthy

of encouragement, were too sanguine. He, however, presented copies of his twenty-six volumes to persons of high station in the church, who, he hoped, would regard it with attention; but his hopes were again frustrated. Some returned the copies, while some retained them. Various letters of thanks and commendation were received by him, but no advantage or encouragement followed; and, as far as his own interest was concerned, his toil and expense were wholly in vain. His own interest, however, was the least part of his care; for in his successive applications for assistance towards completing his design, he expressly engaged to apply, not to himself, but to the publication of his work, what ever might be bestowed upon him. Discouraged and discountenanced, Mr. Davy sat down in his old age to rest awhile from his labours on earth, before he entered into his rest in heaven. He now retired from the parsonage of Lustleigh, where he had not the power to keep either a horse or cow for his relief and comfort in his declining years; and resided at Willmead, a small farm belonging to his son; still however retaining the curacy of Lustleigh, now advanced to sixty pounds a-year. Here he had the conveniences and comforts that he so much needed in his old age, and which he could not possess and enjoy at the rectory. In this quiet scene he spent a part of his time in laying plans for gardens among the rocks, on the summit of the hill above his residence. By removing portions of the rocks, he recovered several small spots of ground, sufficient for gardens to plant box, roses, small shrubs, and flowers of various kinds. With the displaced rocks be built walls around as a fence to the gardens; and as the walls were of different elevations, the whole had the appearance of a fortification in miniature. The view from the most elevated garden is remarkably beautiful and grand. These gardens

were the amusement of his declining years, and the admiration of the neighbourhood. He had planted, in box, texts of Scripture, in small borders around the walks, with his own name, and the date of the year; so that in every walk some divine or moral precept met the eye; the different letters being kept regularly trimmed, so as easily to be read. He also amused his leisure hours in constructing ingenious pieces of mechanism, and was not proof against the splendid delusion which has cheated so many other mechanists of discovering a perpetual motion; but failing of the desired success, he did not suffer any of his inventions to remain.

His press had been for some time laid aside, and he had no intention of ever using it again. But at the age of eighty, the energies of his mind were roused to action, by various tracts that had been industriously circulated in his neighbourhood by Deists and Socinians. He in consequence brought forth again his little press to light; and having selected from his own system of divinity, such extracts as appeared to him calculated to refute the errors of the Infidel and the Socinian, he, in the winter of 1823, actually printed, without any assistance whatever, an octavo volume of 480 pages under the title of "Divinity; or Discourses on the Being of God, the Divinity of Christ, the Personality of the Holy Ghost, and on the Sacred Trinity," being "Improved Extracts" from the author's System of Divinity in twentysix volumes. He printed fourteen copies only, and distributed them principally among his friends. The volume was highly spoken of by some, and was requested by many. Among the persons who requested a copy was the late Bishop of Durham, who sent him twenty pounds in return for it". Mr. Davy

formed in stating that the Bishop of DurWe think Mr. C. Davy is misinham sent the twenty pounds as a return for a copy of this limited and curious