We learn from Robert Philip, author of "The Life and Times of Whitfield," "The Experimental Guides," &c., in his valuable work, entitled, "The Life, Times, and Characteristics of John Bunyan," that "There is one fact in the history of Bunyan's Chapel, which illustrates the progress of public opinion. In 1806, the Magistrates allowed the County Hall to be licensed as a place of worship for the Rev. S. Hillyard and his congregation, whilst the Chapel was shut up for repairs. Such was the influence of Bunyan's fame; of Howard's and Whitbread's example; and of the character of the Pastor and his flock! This fact speaks volumes, as well as redeems the character of Bedford. The Rev. S. Hillyard himself has thus written :-" When our Meeting-house was lately repaired, we were allowed, by the Lord Lieutenant and the Justices, to carry on our public worship, for a quarter of a year in the Town-hall, where, if it had been standing in Mr. Bunyan's time, he must have been tried and committed to jail for preaching." Mr. Hillyard died on the 4th of March, 1839. On the north side of the monument erected to his memory, in the burialground of Bunyan Meeting is the following inscription: 66 BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHICH DIE IN THE LORD FROM HENCEFORTH YEA, SAITH THE SPIRIT, THAT THEY MAY REST FROM THEIR LABOURS; AND THEIR WORKS DO FOLLOW THEM."-Rev. xiv. 13. "IN MEMORY OF THE REV. SAMUEL HILLYARD, XLVIII YEARS PASTOR OF THE CHURCH ASSEMBLING IN THE ADJOINING PLACE. BORN NOVEMBER XI, MDCCLXX, DIED MARCH IV, MDCCCXXXIX. HE WAS A FAITHFUL AND AFFECTIONATE PASTOR, A ZEALOUS CONSISTENT, UPRIGHT, AND UNIVERSALLY RESPECTED. THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED BY HIS CONGREGATION AS A At a special meeting of the church, held on Thursday, December 5th, 1839, it was proposed and seconded, that the Rev. John Jukes [the present senior pastor], who was then labouring at Yeovil, should be invited to the pastoral office of this church and congregation. It was then requested that those of the members who approved of the motion should raise the hand, when there was a unanimous show of hands, and not one opposed it. Mr. Jukes, whilst preaching one of his last sermons in the Old Meeting, previous to its being pulled down, said:" An invitation thus unanimous and cordial, obtained by a process, originated and carried on quite independently of my own solicitations, I did not feel at liberty to decline: notwithstanding the scene of action to which it called me, presented so much to task the prudence, the courage, and the constancy, as well as to try the intellectual, moral, and physical strength." In the year 1849, it was found necessary for the comfort and accommodation of the congregation to pull down the chapel, and to build a fresh one. The present edifice known as BUNYAN MEETING was built upon the same site, at the cost of £4,300, and was first opened for Divine worship February 20th, 1850; Thomas Jobson Jackson, Esq., (a churchman), was the architect, and the first stone was laid by Mr. Hindly, M.P., May 2nd, 1849. It is a strong, well-built, spacious, and handsome building; and a great deal of praise is due to all who were concerned in its erection: it is massive enough to bid defiance to centuries, and commodious enough for the listening multitudes, who for ages to come may throng to this shrine, which will be hallowed in remembrance, until all recollection of that illustrious hero, whose name it bears, shall have been obliterated from the mind of man. It contains about one hundred and twenty-five pews, and is capable of seating one thousand one hundred and fifty persons. The pulpit is placed on the south side of the chapel, instead of the east, as in the former building; and the roof (unlike that of the Old Meetinghouse), is very high. The first gallery occupies the east, the north, and the west sides of the building; a portion of the north side is set apart for the accommodation of the female scholars belonging to the Sunday School, whilst the entire upper gallery, which occupies only the north side of the chapel is appropriated to the use of the boys. The eastern and western sides have, each, six fine-looking windows above, and six smaller windows below the galleries, which allow plenty of light to enter the building during daylight; and the large chandelier (which is suspended from the centre of the ceiling), together with about eighteen or twenty smaller gas-lights in different parts of the chapel, afford sufficient light at night. In the porch, immediately opposite to the entrance is a mural tablet, bearing the following inscription :— JNO. GIFFORD DIED SEPTR. 21ST: 1656 BENN. BURTON DIED 1660 BENN. WHITEMAN DIED 1671 SAML. FENN (CO-PASTOR WITH JOHN BUNYAN) DIED NOVR. 12TH; 1681 'BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHICH DIE IN THE Lord.'” The chapel has two vestries on its south side, the larger of which is used for Prayer-Meetings, the "Bunyan Meeting Young Men's Association," &c., while the smaller, which is built on the eastern side of the larger one, is for the use of the minister. In the last-mentioned vestry, Bunyan's chair is still preserved as a sort of relic: this chair is plain in its appearance, and is remarkable for nothing, save the lowness of the seat, and its belonging to that class "Whose back erect Distress'd the weary loins that felt no ease." COWPER. The following paragraph, relating to Bunyan's pulpit, is an extract taken from Paul Betney's little work, entitled "Rambles in Bedfordshire." "We learn from a reliable source that the pulpit from which |