another part should be trifling, giggling, and talking comparative nonsense to each other. Ever shew the interest which you take in the subjects of schools for the poor, the distribution of tracts, the Bible and Missionary Societies, and all those important topics which so deeply occupy the people of God: and when you can find a congenial friend, talk of heaven and eternity, and your soul and your Saviour. This will be as a shield to your head and your heart. ESTIMATE OF CHARACTERS. Look first for grace. Do not disesteem good people on account of their foibles, or deficiencies in matters of little importance. Gold unpolished is far more valuable than the brightest brass. Never form unfavourable opinions of religious people hastily," Charity hopeth all things." Prize those families where you find constant family prayer; and suspect evil and danger, where it is avowedly unknown and unpractised. Always remember the astonishing difference between the true followers of Jesus, and the yet unconverted world, and prize them accordingly, whatever be their rank in society. Gentility and piety form a happy union; but poverty and piety are quite as acceptable in the eyes of God, and so they ought to be in ours. Not only are the poor far more in actual number than the rich, but experience proves that the proportionate number of the truly serious amongst the poor is much greater than the corresponding proportion of numbers amongst the rich. Take 1000 poor and 100 rich; you will probably find 10 of the latter serious; but 200 of the former shall be so at the same time. Beware of the critical hearing of sermons preached by good men. It is an awful thing to be occupied in balancing the merits of a preacher, instead of the demerits of yourself. Consider every opportunity of hearing as a message sent you from heaven. For all the sermons you have heard, you will have to render an account at the last day. PARENTS. Seck to make them happy in you. If you perceive that any thing in your ways makes them otherwise, you ought to have no peace until you have corrected it; and if you find yourself indifferent or insensible to their will and wishes, depend upon it yours is a carnal, disobedient, ungrateful heart. If you love them, keep their commandments; otherwise love is a mere word in the mouth, or a notion in the fancy, but not a ruling principle in the heart. They know much of the world, you very little trust them, therefore, when they differ from you and refuse compliance with your desires;-they watch over you for God, and are entitled to great deference and cheerful obedience. You may easily shorten the lives of affectionate and conscientious parents, by misconduct, bad tempers, and alienation from their injunctions. Let not this sin be laid to your charge. "I shall add no more at present, than that I am "Your affectionate father, L. RICHMOND." We reserve the insertion of some interesting letters, addressed to Mrs. Richmond, for another part of this Memoir. CHAPTER X. Detection of an extraordinary imposture by Mr. Richmond-Publication of his tracts-Review of themTheir great popularity and extensive circulation, &c.-American editions-Remarks on the subjectMr. Richmond's connection with the Tract Society. In the year 1813, Mr. Richmond was the means of detecting one of the grossest impostures ever practised upon the credulity of the public. A woman of the name of Ann Moore, of Tutbury, in Staffordshire, professed to have lived six years without having taken any solid food, and four years and a half without any liquid. The singularity of the case led persons to visit her from various parts; and on and on these occasions she maintained an appearance of moral feeling, which left an impression favourable nature on the minds of those who conversed with her. She ascribed her existence, in this state of inedia, to absorption by the lungs and skin; and declared that some physicians had assured her of the possibility of the case. U and religious of a of a highly Leaving disquisitions of this nature to medical men, it is, nevertheless, a well-established fact, that after a watch of sixteen days, in the year 1808, during which no discovery was made of her having taken any food or liquid whatsoever, a strong disposition prevailed among several physicians and surgeons of known talent and respectability, to give credit to her assertions. A second and stricter watch, was, however, agreed upon, and the arrangement of it committed to the direction of Mr. Richmond, who felt a peculiar interest in the case, and formed a committee for the purpose, composed of several medical and other respectable gentlemen. gentlemen. The precautions were so well taken against the admission of any kind of nourishment, that the woman was reduced to a state of exhaustion, and finally confessed the imposture. An excellent pamphlet was drawn up on this occasion, by Mr. Richmond, containing many valuable remarks of a physiological nature; but as we feel most interested in the moral view of the subject, we insert the following reflections of the author, arising from the discovery of the hypocrisy and pretended abstinence of this extraordinary impostor. We refer the reader to the pamphlet itself for further information.1 1 By the committee, which consisted of 33 clergy and gentry, with Sir Oswald Mosley as their chairman, it was resolved unanimously—“ That the thanks of the Committee be given to |