(Vol. iii., p. 477.)
In reply to the inquiry of E.V. relative to the conversion of the late
Mr. William Hone, I send a slight reminiscence of him, which may perhaps
be generally interesting to the readers of the _Every Day Book_. It was
soon after the period when Mr. Hone (at the time afflicted both in "body
and estate") began to acknowledge the truths of Christianity, that I
accidentally had an interview with him, though a perfect stranger. Our
conversation was brief, but it turned upon the adaptation of the
Christian religion to the wants of man, in all the varied stations in
which he may be placed on earth, independent of its assurance of a
better state hereafter. With child-like meekness, and earnest sincerity,
the once contemner and reviler of Christianity testified to me that all
his hope for the future was in the great atonement made to reconcile
fallen man to his Creator.
Before we parted, I was anxious to possess his autograph, and asked him
for it; as I had made some collection towards illustrating, his _Every
Day Book_, to which it would have been no inconsiderable addition. After
a moment of deep thought, he presented me with a slip of paper inscribed
as follows, in his small and usual very neat hand:--
"'He that increaseth knowledge
increaseth sorrow.'[3]
"_Think on this._
"W. HONE.
"15 January, 1839."
[Footnote 3: Ecclesiastes, i. 18.]
Shortly after his death, the following appeared in the _Evangelical
Magazine_, which I transcribed at the time:--
"The following was written by Mr. Hone on a blank leaf in his
pocket Bible. On a particular occasion he displaced the leaf, and
presented it to a gentleman whom we know, and who has correctly
copied its contents for publication.