He

and friend in Christ Jesus, and of admiring you as a chosen servant of his, a vessel unto honour, sanctified and meet for the Master's use, and for the edification and comfort of his children. Yes, sir, I hope I am united to you in one body and soul, which is Christ Jesus the Saviour; and I say, with Little Jane,' that I am happy to be even the smallest and lowest of all his members. How much I delighted in reading this narrative; how wonderful the grace of our Lord! how happy the country where children are brought up in the fear of God, and taught so young to love and serve the Saviour! what an eminent Christian-so young a child! But this is neither to be taught nor learnt. alone can give it, who is love itself, and who purchased us to himself by shedding his precious blood for us. Oh, sir! you do not know, perhaps, to what an unworthy being you wrote. I have passed all my life in the ignorance of Him who died for me, without love to Him who loved me first, and sought me out, when I hastened to my ruin in a life of enmity to my God. He sought me out, and mercifully sent His servant Pinkerton to open my eyes and my ears by the power of his word, so that I plainly see now what a sinful, wicked creature I am what a gracious merciful God to offend! and how kind, and always ready and willing to receive us, our Saviour Jesus Christ is, and always will be! How good He was to me, sending such a meek, patient loving soul, as the worthy Mr. Pinkerton proved to be during his living in my family. What a life of disgust it must have been to a man of his distinguished merit, to bear with the caprices and wickedness of a spoiled, ignorant, and proud woman :—but charity seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, beareth all things; hopeth all things; endureth all things; charity never faileth: I have had an evident proof of it in my dear friend and instructor. But I must stop, and ask to be forgiven for having written so much; my heart opens at the voice of a friend, and then I speak out of the fulness of it. Excuse me, then, sir, for intruding so much upon your time. Pray for me, that I may come in faith and grace to the happy

day, in which I shall be enabled to join with you in joyful hallelujahs and eternal praises of our heavenly Father and divine Saviour. Oh, may his peace always be with you! Receive with indulgence, dear sir, my hearty thanks, and in the assurance of the sincere esteem and high regard with which I am

"Your much obliged and obedient,

P. SOPHIA METSTCHERSKY."

The two letters to Mrs. Livius, which are next inserted, were written about this period, and the editor.cannot recur to them without feelings of the liveliest emotion. The first alludes to the death of one who ended a life of uniform pain and sickness, by a death cheered with the hope of a joyful immortality. The person adverted to in the second letter, the late G. Livius, Esq., is endeared by recollections which time cannot impair-which live not only in the memory, but in the heart. He once knew the world, but had long left it in pursuit of a better portion. He was the well-known Gaius of the county where he lived—the lover of good men, of whatever name or title: he was purified in the furnace of affliction; but his trials are now terminated, and his sun shines bright and unclouded through an endless eternity.

"Allow me once more to express the friendly solicitude which I feel for you and my honoured friend Mr. Livius, under your recent and present trial. His strength and spirits would not admit of my saying all which my heart dictated, when I saw him yesterday. I wish him to know how much I have valued his friendship, and how grateful I feel for a series of hospitality and kindness of no ordinary character, for a period of now near eleven years. I wish him to know that I have ever been a sympathising observer of his bodily and mental anxieties, and have entertained a cordial esteem and regard for his many amiable and excellent qualities of head and heart.

"The confidential intercourse with which at various periods he has been pleased to favour me, cannot be obliterated from my recollection nor effaced from my affections. It is my heart's prayer that his consolations may be neither few nor small;' that the peace of God may be his restingpillow, and that God will make his bed in all his sickness.' Not one affliction has ever befallen him beyond what his heavenly Father designed for his present and eternal good. Wisdom, mercy, power and faithfulness, have guided all. May each of his children be blessed with a heart taught by the same spirit who hath taught him and you to look to the Strong One for help; and may they be effectually preserved from the snares and delusions of this present evil world.

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May you, my dear friend, be upheld by a Saviour's power and love, to fulfil every arduous task which his wisdom assigns you. Forgive this intrusion, solely prompted by grateful friendship. Accept our united assurances of love for you and yours,

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"And believe me most sincerely yours,

In the bonds of strong regard,

My very dear Friend,

LEGH RICHMOND."

"It is fit that the same moment which brings me the long-expected, yet afflicting tidings of my much-loved friend's departure from this vale of tears, should dictate a few.sympathetic lines to his dear relict. Your mind has long waited this event with Christian resignation May the Spirit of power and peace bless his own preparation, now that the hour of trial has arrived! You have the prayers of many friends. to mingle with your own. These, in God's sight, are riches. May you enjoy them spiritually and eternally! Tribulation worketh patience; patience, experience; experience, hope;' hope thou therefore in God. Time is swiftly passing away, and its stream is gradually absorbed in eternity Our years roll on, and we shall soon be there; and there we shall meet those who have loved Christ, and loved us. There, dear madam, in

6

the bosom of your Saviour and God, you shall meet your dear husband. Till then, may faith, hope, peace, tranquillity and love, gild your horizon, like resplendent clouds round the setting sun, prophetic of a bright approaching morning. Christ has bequeathed his peace to you; take it as his legacy, and use it to his glory. Mrs. Richmond unites in affectionate regards to you and all yours, under this present trial, with

"Your affectionate friend,

LEGH RICHMOND."

We close the chapter with a pleasing little poem, written about this time.

A WIDOWED MOTHER'S ADDRESS TO HER DAUGHTER, ON THE DAY OF HER MARRIAGE.

Say, why should my bosom thus heave with a sigh,
And the tear of affection now start from my eye?

Forgive me, my child, whom my soul holds so dear

You've a smile from my heart, though my eye drops a tear !:

This sigh is the tribute of tenderest love,

And I trust shall be heard in the mansions above;

For it breathes a warm prayer to the Bridegroom of heaven,
That to thee, now a bride, his best blessing be given.

May He weave thee a garland on this nuptial morn,
With the roses of Sharon thy brows to adorn ;
With the ring of his love, may he claim thee for his,
And pronounce thee "joint heir" of his heavenly bliss.

May his true wedding-robe, which he purchased with blood,
Be thy portion, my daughter, by Jesus bestowed;

By his grace freely pardoned, and cleansed from all sin,
Be thou spotless without, and all glorious within.

May my child and her partner, in holy connexion,
Be united, through grace, by true Christian affection;
May the wife prove a sister, the husband a brother,
And each find a help in the faith of the other.

Thus thy marriage on earth a sweet emblem shall be,
Of a far brighter union provided for thee;

And then, the few days of thy pilgrimage past,
Thy Saviour will own thee his spouse at the last.

Peace be with you, my children! I speak without guile;

I began with a tear, but I end with a smile;

'Tis my hope that your happiness nothing shall cloy, And the heart of the widow shall sing with new joy!

CHAPTER XII.

Letters, Poetry,-Description of Lake scenery,-Brief account of his first tour to Scotland,-His sentiments on Oratorios.

It was usual with Mr. Richmond to mark with peculiar solemnity the birth-days of himself and all his family. These he kept as a kind of religious festival-writing letters to the different members of his family, and preaching to his parishioners on an appropriate subject. The following letter he wrote to his mother, on one of these occasions:

"The return of this day demands a return of affectionate regards to God, the author of my being, and to you, the instrument employed by him to convey life and existence to my unworthy self. Often do I reflect with love and gratitude on your kindness and watchful care over me, from infancy to the present moment. Your qualities of heart and head cannot be forgotten, any more than the name of parent-a title consecrated by every principle, divine and human. This being my birth-day, I propose to preach on Psalm cxxxix. verses 14 to 18. How suitable for such a meditation! What a miracle is the life of man,