the Rev. W. Turner , Jun. , MA., Lives of the eminent Unitarians

‘ [129] I have no prospect of being serviceable in the work of the ministry, having preached many years without being favoured with the approbation and choice of any one congregation.’ This may possibly be accounted for without any material disparagement either to the preacher or the congregations. Mr. Lardner was probably, even at that time, not possessed of a good elocution; and his sermons, if we may judge by those which he afterwards printed, though abounding with rich and valuable matter, were written in a dry and unattractive style, by no means well adapted to please the taste of a popular audience, however interesting they might be to a discerning few.

Two years after the death of Lady Treby, Mr. Lardner suffered another deep affliction in the death of her son, his friend and former pupil, Brindley Treby, Esq., of whom he speaks in the highest terms of affection and esteem, which are of themselves sufficient to assure us that he must have been worthy of the assiduous instruction of such a tutor. To the distress of his mind on this occasion he partly attributes the increase of an infirmity which had been growing upon him,—his deafness; which was now such, that, when sitting in the pulpit while the congregation were singing, he could hardly tell whether they were singing or not. This infirmity continued with him through life; and must have rendered his delivery far from pleasant, except to those who were in the constant habit of attendance upon him, and who had learnt to look beyond the deficiencies or peculiarities of manner, to the judicious sentiments, sound arguments, and impressive practical applications, which distinguish