42.
NOTE 4 .-- COLONEL GARDINER I have now given in the text the full name of this gallant and excellent man, and proceed to copy the account of his remarkable conversion, as related by Dr.Doddridge.
'This memorable event,' says the pious writer, 'happened towards the middle of July, 1719.

The major had spent the evening (and, if I mistake not, it was the Sabbath) in some gay company, and had an unhappy assignation with a married woman, whom he was to attend exactly at twelve.

The company broke up about eleven; and not judging it convenient to anticipate the time appointed, he went into his chamber to kill the tedious hour, perhaps with some amusing book, or some other way.

But it very accidentally happened that he took up a religious book, which his good mother or aunt had, without his knowledge, slipped into his portmanteau.

It was called, if I remember the title exactly, THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER, or HEAVEN TAKEN BY STORM; and it was written by Mr.Thomas Watson.