PREFACE.

THE Author of the following Narratives has been prevailed upon, by the frequent and urgently-repeated solicitations of friends, to consent to their publication in one volume. Some of them appeared about the time they were written, in different periodical works, and others of them are now published for the first tine. However low may be the estimate he himself has formed of their probable utility in comparison with many of a similar character, he feels that he can no longer withhold his consent to their publication, without subjecting himself to the charge either of pride or of obstinacy. He sends them forth, therefore, into the world, upon the strong recommendation of others, and without being at all responsible for the reception they may meet with; whilst, at the same time, he cannot but feel anxious that their success should be such as to justify those expectations of usefulness which some persons have been pleased to form of them. He thinks it but fair to state, that several of them were written long before the attainment of those years when the judgment is supposed to arrive at any thing like maturity; and he therefore trusts, if any persons should deem them to be worthy of critical notice, that due allowance will be made for any juvenility of expression or sentiment which may be discovered.

The Sunday school which is referred to in the whole of these narratives, and of which the author is a stated Visitor, is that situated in Bennett-street, Oldham Road, Manchester, and attached to St. Paul's Church in that town. It was formed as far back as the year 1801: and, at its commencement, consisted of only 50 children. It was, at that time, placed under the superintendence of one whom the author is now happy to call one of his most valued colleagues; and through whose unremitted, judicious, and self-denying exertions, is mainly to be attributed, under God, its continued state of prosperity. The number of scholars at present belonging to it is about 2700 of both sexes; for whose accommodation the present large and commodious building, consisting of four stories, each 60 feet by 40, exclusive of anti-rooms, was erected about twelve years ago, at an original cost of 2400 pounds. Of this sum, more than 800 pounds were raised by free subscriptions among the teachers and scholars, and about 1300 pounds more from other sources, (being chiefly donations from the VISITORS and their friends,) leaving a debt at the present time of nearly 300 pounds. The building is, by the original deeds, secured to be a Sunday school conducted in accordance with the doctrines and forms of worship of the Church of England; and may be attached to any of the churches in the town, with the consent of the clergyman of such church, at the discretion of the trustees.

Nearly all the Church-of-England Sunday schools in Manchester and Salford are at present, and have been for 30 years past, conducted by one General Committee, whose Rules and Proceedings, however, do not interfere with the internal Regulations of each school, but have reference, chiefly, to the financial concerns of the whole; and thus the poorer and more populous parts of the town derive great advantage from the superabundant funds of the more wealthy districts. It is by this General Committee, (which educates about 10,000 scholars,) that the Bennett-Street School is now rented from the Trustees;