There was truly an indescribable charm about him, which, with all his rather ungainly ways, and by no means winning face, attracted almost every one, and which helped him so much in his after-wanderings in Africa.
"He won those who came near him by a kind of spell.

There happened to be in the boarding-house at that time a young M.D., a saddler from Hants, and a bookseller from Scotland.

To this hour they all speak of him in rapturous terms.
"After passing two examinations, we were both so far accepted by the Society that we were sent to the Rev.Richard Cecil, who resided at Chipping Ongar, in Essex.

Most missionary students were sent to him for three months' probation, and if a favorable opinion was sent to the Board of Directors, they went to one of the Independent colleges.

The students did not for the most part live with Mr.Cecil, but took lodgings in the town, and went to his house for meals and instruction in classics and theology.