HANNAH MORE, she published, in 1788, at the risk of losing all her connexions, " Thoughts on the Manners of the Great," which made such a powerful impression, that scarcely any other book was read for a long time in private families, or mentioned in general society ; and its arguments were even employed by the preachers in the vicinity of the Court. One day, as evidence of its effect, a gentleman friend stepped up to her, as she came from church, and abruptly exclaimed, " Well, the ladies will give up everything but the Sunday hair-dresser !" In the same year her celebrated poem on " Slavery " appeared, and created a great excitement, the question being debated in Parliament at the time. This introduced her to that earnest labourer in the cause of slave emancipation, Wilberforce-Mrs. Montagu's " Red Cross Knight,"-who, the negroes declared, " had white face but black heart ;"-and a friendship, warm and steadfast, was commenced between them which lasted throughout her lifetime. Having exerted herself to check the vices of the great and wealthy, Hannah More next turned her attention to ameliorating the condition of the poor and ignorant. During the summer of 1789, she passed a longer time than usual at Cowslip Green, and made several excursions through the surrounding country, more especially in the direction of Cheddar, a lovely romantic village, ten miles distant, which had formerly been one of the market-towns of Somersetshire. Picturesquely situated in the im- 31
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