CHAPTER I.

Birth of Rowland Hill. His Father’s Ancestors, 1—His Mother’s Ancestors, 5—His Father’s unusual Character, 7—His Relish of Life, 8—His legal reading, 9—Study of Astronomy. Priestley, 11—His Short-hand, 13—A Schoolmaster, 14—His Love of Theories, 18—Admirable as a Father, 19—A Reformer, 20—A Free-trader, 23—A bad Man of Business, 24—His Death, 26—Rowland Hill’s Mother, 27—He himself a Combination of the strong Qualities of each Parent, 31—Bailie Lea, 32—Birmingham Riots, 33—Birth-place, 34—Life at Horsehills. Dearth of 1800, 35—A Night-alarm, 37—Peace of Amiens, 38—Trafalgar, 39—Currency, 40—Forgers, 41—Mr. Joseph Pearson, 42—Early Courtship, 43—Love of Counting. Water-wheel, 44—Perpetual Motion, 45.