Star.
London, England, 1830-05-22 00:00:00

THE FAMILY OF MR. HONE.

We alluded some days ago to the handsome notice of
Mr. Hone in Mr. Southey's Life of Banyan. The fol-
lowing correspondence has since been sent 'to us : it dis-
plays in an advantageous light the modesty of Mr. Hone
and the amiable and candid disposition of Mr. Southey.
The business, wholly foreign to Mr. Hone's former pur-
suits, which is alluded to in the letter, is explained in an
athcrtisement in this day's paper:—

" TO 1101 T. SOUTHEY, ESQ. LL.D. KESWICK.

..13,

London, April 23.

Stn—Late last night I got a copy of the new edition of the
ritorint's Progresv, at Mr. Major's; and, this morning, my first
csr.ployment is to obtrude upon you my most sincere and respect.
na thanks, for your unexpected and generous mention of my name,
lnd recent writings, in the conclusion of your Life of Bunyan.

For obvious reasons, such a notice from you is especially grate-
'ni to me, and is the more gratifying now, when the humble doings
you are pleased to publicly favour can benefit me no otherwise than
by sometimes occasioning reflection on the honesty of purpose which
stimulated my labours, and which consoles me, after I have lost
every thing on earth, except my integrity and ten children; these,
I trust, I shall be enabled to keep to my life's end. To further
literary exertion, lam beyond the reach of ' encouragement.' At
this moment, the last remains of my ruined fortunes, a few of the
books that assisted me in working out my Erin Day Book and
Table Book (which, by the by, are mine no longer,) are passing
;under the hammer of an auctioneer, to realise a small instalment
towards insufficient means of commencing business, wholly foreign
to all my former pursuits and addictions. I have thrown down my
pen for ever, and, at 50 years of age, am struggling to enter on a
strange drudgery, for the future support of my wife and family.
" In the autumn of last year, while sojourning in a quiet ham-
let, I packed up a book or two respecting the Pilgrims' Progreso,
with the intention of sending them to you. I had misgivings,
however, as to whether you would receive from me, as a token of
good-will, which I unfeignedly desired to communicate in that
spirit, and the parcel was put aside, sealed up, as it still remains.
In that state, I shall forward it for conveyance to you, through Mr.
Major, simply to evidence my feeling towards you several months
ago. You may be convinced by it that your liberality has a kin in
my own mind. After all, perhaps, the best testimony I can give
to the fact, that I am duly sensible of your unlooked-for kindness,
is the promptitude with which I acknowledge the obligation.
" I am, Sir, your very respectful and most obedient servant,
" W. HONE."

" TO ML TIMM 13, OILACICAUTCH-STIEET.
" Keswick, April 26.
" Sir—Your letter has given me both pain and pleasure. lam
cony to learn that you are still, in the worldly sense of the word,
an unfortunate man—that you are withdrawn from pursuits which
were consonant to your habits and inclinations, and that a public'
expression of respect and goodwill, made in the hope that it might
have been serviceable to you, can have no such effect.
" When !observed your autograph in the little book, I wrote to ,I
inquire of Mr. Major whether it bad come to his hands from you,
directly or indirectly, for my use, that, in that case, I might thank
you for it. It proved otherwise, but I would not lose an opportunity
which I had wished for.
" Judging of you (as I would myself be judged) by your works,
I saw in the editor of the Every Day and Table Books a man who
had applied himself with great diligence to useful and meritorious
pursuits. I thought that time, and reflection, and affliction, (of
which it was there seen that he had had his share,) had contributed
to lead him into this direction, which was also that of his better
mind. What alteration had been produced in his opinions it con-
cerned not me to inquire : here there were none but what were
unexceptionable,—no feelings but what were to be approved.
From all that appeared, I supposed be had become a sadder and
a wiser man: I therefore wished him success in his literary under-
" Ite little parcel which you mention I shall receive with
pleasure.
" I wish you success in your present undertaking, whatever it be,
and that you may one day, under happier circumstances, resume a
pen, which has, of late years, been so meritoriously employed. If
your new attempt prosper, you will yet find leisure for intellectual
gratification, and for that self-improvement which may be carried on
even in the busiest concerns of life.
" I remain, Sir, your's with sincere good will,
Times. " ROBERT SOUTHEY."

SOCIETY FOR THE PROMOTION OF PER-