_William Hone_ (Vol. iii., p. 477.).--I expect that A. N. is labouring
under a mistake in inquiring about an account of the "conversion" of
"William Hone, THE COMPILER of the _Every-day Book_;" and that he means
"_The Early Life and Conversion of William Hone_, a narrative
written by himself, _edited_ by his SON, William Hone, author of
the _Every-day Book_, &c. London, J. Ward & Co., Paternoster Row,
1841. One Shilling."
I have no doubt that the work may be procured at the publishers'; but
should not that be practicable, I shall be happy to lend your
correspondent my copy. It may perhaps be neither unjust nor
uninteresting to add, that _I know_ (from his own communication, shortly
after the memorable trials) he was so affected by the celebrated
_Parodies_ being charged as "blasphemous," that he immediately stopped
the sale of them; that, though money was then of some consequence to
him, he refused tempting offers for copies; and that he did so, because
he declared he would rather suffer any privations than be considered as
having sought to revile the religion of his country, or to do aught to
injure Christianity, which he deemed to be the hope of all, and the poor
man's charter. In making those observations, he emphatically placed his
hand on a Bible which lay upon my table.