offered, though not the product of what may be accounted shining endowments, are so fraught with virtuous sentiments and just distinctions, as may sufficiently warrant their publication. Nor can it be doubted that the developement of the character of their revered father, the elder Abraham Shackleton, will prove equally interesting and instructive. Various anecdotes and allusions, respecting other individuals, amongst relations, family connexions, and friends, are also interspersed, as being too immediately connected with the principal subjects to admit of exclusion. The circumstances of the prominent characters in this little work, being closely interwoven, the editor has generally adopted a chronological order, considering that the advantage resulting from this, will be paramount to any inconvenience which may arise from a broken narrative. CONTENTS. ERRATA. Page 4, line 2, for brother read brothers. Page 12, line 2 from the bottom, for days read love. Page 15, line 7 in the note, dele who. Page 26, line 16, for on read an. Page 33, line 10 from the bottom, for over for us good read over us for good. Page 51, line 14, for friends read friend. Page 51, line 19, for 1759 read 1769. Page 82, line 2 from the bottom, for precure read procure. Page 88, line 14, for had good time read had a good time. MEMOIRS AND LETTERS, &c. CHAPTER I. Birth of Richard Shackleton.-Some account of his parents.— Circumstances attendant on Richard Shackleton's youth.-His marriage.-Extracts from letters.-Decease of his wife. RICHARD SHACKLETON was born in Ballitore, on the 9th of the 10th month, 1726. His grandfather, whose name he bore, was a native of Yorkshire, where he married, in the year 1683, Sarah Briggs. Of their six children, Abraham, born in 1696, was the youngest. His mother died when he was six years of age, his father two years afterwards. Though deprived so early of religious parents, the impression made on him, by their careful education, was not in vain. He used frequently to mention the tender concern of his pious father, who, following him to his bed-side, was wont, on leaving him to his repose, awfully to recommend him to seek the Divine blessing. And that blessing did remarkably attend him during the course of his life; for whilst as yet very young, and exposed to manifold dangers, he was enabled to preserve the tenderness and innocence which constitute the happiness of childhood; and often, retiring from his companions, he mused in solitude on the love of his Maker. In his B youth, he underwent great exercise and conflicts; but persevering in the strait path of duty, and yielding obedience to the Divine monitor, through every stage of life the same protection was extended, as the same watchful care to seek after it was maintained. His bodily frame not being robust, after having made trial of other means of gaining a livelihood, he resigned them, and cultivated his natural taste for literature. Though he was twenty years of age when he began to learn the Latin language, yet, with genius and application united, he speedily became a good classical scholar, and even wrote pure and elegant Latin. His acquirements, his diligence, and still more his character, induced some of the most respectable families of the Society of Friends in Ireland, (of which religious body he was himself a member,) to encourage him to come into this country, and undertake the tuition of their children. He first engaged in the employment of a private teacher; and in great simplicity of heart, and awful fear, discharged his important trust, greatly to the satisfaction of his employers. Having, before his removal, been a teacher in the school of David Hall, of Skipton, in Yorkshire, he there became acquainted with Margaret Wilkinson, first cousin to David Hall, an inmate in his family, and daughter of Richard Wilkinson, of Knowlbank, in Yorkshire. She was pleasing in person and manners, cheerful, of a sweet temper, and endowed with good sense; but what attracted and confirmed Abraham Shackleton's affection to her, was the excellence of her humble and pious spirit. He loved her with a true love, and, in a few years, returned to England, solicited, and obtained her hand. Those friends who had had trial of his abilities as a private teacher, and who saw the advantages accruing to the youth, from such an example as his, were glad to find he had determined to settle in Ireland, and to open a boarding-school. They, probably, sug |