PART II.

SOCIAL AND PUBLIC USEFULNESS-PRESENTED WITH A PIECE OF PLATE BY THE TANNERS-OFFERED THE MAGISTRACYVICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE DEPUTIES OF THE THREE DENOMINATIONS-ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL SOCIETY-AND OF THE MILL HILL GRAMMAR SCHOOL PRESIDENCY OF THE ORPHAN WORKING SCHOOL-AUXILIARY TO THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY PIGGOT'S HILL- ERECTION OF A CHAPEL AT WHEATHAMPSTEAD ADDRESS AT THE OPENING PARTICULAR BAPTIST FUNDFUNDEES REQUEST HIM TO SIT FOR HIS BUST-BAPTIST ACADEMICAL INSTITUTION AT STEPNEY CORRESPONDENCE WITH REV. JOSEPH KINGHORN-CARE FOR THE STUDENTSRETIRES FROM ITS MANAGEMENT BAPTIST MISSION RENEWAL OF EAST INDIA COMPANY'S CHARTER-LETTERS TO THE DUKE OF KENT AND MR. WILBERFORCE ANECDOTE OF MR. FULLER-THE ANNUAL MEETING AT CAMBRIDGE-PLACED ON THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE-MINUTE ON OCCASION OF HIS DEATH-FORMATION OF BAPTIST CHURCH AT CAMBERWELLERECTION OF A NEW CHAPEL-HIS PUBLIC WORK DONE.

THE middle period of Mr. Gutteridge's life was, to a considerable extent, devoted to social and public usefulness. The character he had now established for integrity and wisdom, combined with his capacity for business, occasioned his aid to be sought in the management of many of the religious and philan

thropic institutions of the period, as well as in various matters connected with trade and commerce.

He was especially instrumental in obtaining the repeal of certain laws, enacted at a period when the principles of trade were imperfectly understood; and the operation of which, while it was prejudicial to the community, pressed severely on persons engaged in his own line of business. The contest with the upholders of these injurious restrictions was long and arduous. On their side some of the most eminent men at the English bar were employed. The Tanners committed their interests to the hands of Mr. Gutteridge, who argued their cause in so masterly a manner, both with the government, and before a Parliamentary Committee, as not only to satisfy his friends, but to elicit also the admiration of his opponents. In the end they were defeated, and the obnoxious laws repealed. A handsome piece of plate presented to him on the occasion, at once expresses the sense entertained of the value of his services, and records their success.

It appears to have been about this time that he was invited to hold His Majesty's commission of the peace. The instances were few in those days in which this honour was offered to dissenters; nor indeed could they accept it, unless they could see it right to practise what was called occasional conformity. Mr. Gutteridge's views would not permit the adoption of such a course; and as he was far too

devout a man to qualify, as the law required, for the sake of office, and too honest to evade its obligation by taking advantage of an annual indemnity, the proffered distinction was declined.

In connexion with the deputies appointed to protect the civil rights of dissenters, he took an active part in the various measures pursued by them, in discharge of their public trust, and especially in the great, and ultimately successful struggle to obtain the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts. For many years while the chair of that important and influential body was occupied by William Smith, Esq. M.P., Mr. Gutteridge was deputy chairman, and devoted himself, with great assiduity, to the management of its affairs.

The friend of popular education, at a time when few efforts were made to promote it, and its advocates were exposed to ungenerous suspicions and misrepresentation, he became, in conjunction with William Fox, and a few other philanthropic individuals, one of the founders of the Sunday School Society. Extending his concern from the children of the poor to those of the wealthier classes, he entered warmly into the origination and early conduct of the Protestant Dissenters' Grammar School at Mill Hill. For many years also he acted on the committee of the Orphan Working School, and the just appreciation of his services led the governors of that excellent institution, on the decease of Ebenezer

Maitland, Esq., to elect him to the office of president; an honour, however, which his advanced age at the period induced him to decline.

Other societies, occupying a wider sphere of benevolence, engaged also his efficient co-operation. He promoted the formation of an auxiliary to the British and Foreign Bible Society, in his own neighbourhood, and became, on repeated occasions, at the anniversary meetings, its public advocate. Indeed, his aid was never sought in vain, in any effort of Christian usefulness, and seldom was a public meeting held in the place where he resided, having a religious, philanthropic, or humane object in view, at which he did not either preside, or take part as one of the speakers.

Attached to agricultural pursuits, Mr. Gutteridge purchased a small manor farm at Piggot's Hill, near St. Alban's, where in the comparative retirement of a country life he passed the summers of twenty years. The healthful occupations of the farm engaged his mornings; and in the domestic circle, not unfrequently enlarged by the presence of congenial friends, his evening hours were spent with books and conversation. These were to him seasons of great personal enjoyment; and he often expressed the wish, that in this secluded spot he might be permitted to spend the latter period of his life. There was indeed one circumstance which occasioned him much anxiety; he painfully felt the manner in which the spiritual

interests of the neighbourhood were neglected. No sabbath school provided for the instruction of the cottagers' children, nor was the gospel preached to the cottagers themselves when they went to their parish church. For a long time he was the only dissenter known to reside in the place; and no means seemed open to him beyond such as were of a private nature, by which to promote its religious improvement. At length, however, the providence of God favoured his designs. He succeeded in collecting a sunday school at Harpenden; and his efforts, as in many similar instances, provoking the dormant zeal of the clergyman, led to the institution of another in connection with the Established Church. Much about the same time also another person came to reside in the village, who like himself was concerned for the salvation of his fellow men. This good man's house was soon opened for divine worship on sabbath evenings, and a chapel was shortly afterwards erected at Wheathampstead, in which a few godly persons were united in Christian fellowship, and formed the rudiments of the present Congregational church. At the opening service, Mr. Gutteridge addressed the congregation in the following paper, which he had prepared for the purpose.

"FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS,-The building of this place for the worship of God, has probably given rise to many conjectures, and much misconception