us, the foreign tracts, though they bear the name of Mr. Richmond, are far from being his own work. The first letter of the Dairyman's Daughter, which contains her religious principles, is wholly omitted; the interesting fact relating to the burial service is suppressed; no less than nineteen pages of the narrative are removed; and in short, there are so many omissions, transpositions, and alterations, that the reader would with difficulty recognize the real features of the character of the pious daughter of the Dairyman. We cannot but complain of this gross mutilation of our friend's interesting memoir, as an imposition on the reader, and an injustice to the author's reputation."

Without intending to impugn the integrity of our American brethren, or to assign motives for their conduct, we must express our regret ; considering, as we do, such interpolations and false presentments to be both injurious to the memory of an author, a misrepresentation of his principles, and an interference with his design, by no means consistent with fair honourable feeling; and we cannot but hope that the evil complained of will be corrected in subsequent editions. The justness of these remarks must plead our excuse (if any be needful,) for their introduction in this place.*

"A very useful method," says Archbishop Secker, "of spreading the knowledge of religion, is by distributing, or procuring to be distributed, such pious books, especially to the poorer sort, as are best suited to their capacities and circumstances. Much good may be done in this way, to considerable numbers at once, in a more acceptable manner, for a trifling expense."

With similar views and sentiments to those expressed by the venerable Archbishop, a number of pious persons, more than twenty years ago, formed an association, which they called "The Religious Tract Society." Publications like those of Mr. Richmond, could not fail to attract the notice of such an institution: and his well-known liberality, together with the high estimation in which his character was held, induced the committee of that society to make proposals to him of becoming one of their secretaries. At that time, the institution had no church representative, though the committee was composed of persons of all denominations. The secretaries were the Rev. Joseph Hughes, and the Rev. Dr. Steinkopff, well known from their connection with the British and Fo

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*Since writing the above, we have seen an American edition, published at Philadelphia, in the year 1827, which, we are happy to say, is in every respect conformable to the original.

reign Bible Society. By the accession of Mr. Richmond, it was justly expected that the society would derive increased wisdom in its counsels, and vigour and unity in its operations. The editor well remembers the circumstances of this application, and the reasons which induced Mr. Richmond to accept the office of joint secretary. It was a proposition which required serious deliberation. On the one hand, Mr. Richmond considered that a strong prejudice was known to exist against the society, not only amongst the enemies of true piety, but also among some of its friends. It was supposed to consist almost exclusively of Dissenters, and its tracts were regarded with jealousy and suspicion. To accept this offer, The feared, might identify him with dissent, (though he was ever warmly attached to the doctrines and discipline of his own church,) and might endanger his usefulness in the legitimate field of his labours. On the other hand, he recognised in the institution many claims to his regard. Its object was the same which lay near to his own heart-the circulation of tracts, and the revival of the doctrines of the Reformation. He saw in the connexion, an opportunity of extending his usefulness; and certain pledges and securities seemed alone to be wanting, to allow of the co-operation of a conscientious churchman. He thought that, under the sanction of a sufficient guarantee against the introduction of peculiarities, there was no just reason for his refusal of the office proposed to him; and that by his acceptance of the secretaryship, he might even promote the interests of his own church, by preventing the circulation of tracts hostile to her opinions; as well as advance the common cause of true religion. The required guarantee was given; Mr. Richmond yielded to the wishes of the Society; and from that period to the day of his death, he had no reason to complain that the engagement was violated in a single instance.

Mr. Richmond's decision may give occasion to a difference of opinion. By some he may be censured;-by mosts persons his conduct will be approved and admired. Those who consider a union with Dissenters, under any circumstances, as a virtual surrender of principle, and a violation of ecclesiastical discipline, will condemn his connexion with the Tract Society; but we have never been convinced that a union, on common ground, with any part of the family of Christ, is an act of treason against our own church. The union requires not a surrender of principle, but of prejudice it requires no compromise of forms, but it does require a just estimation of the essential truths of salvation. We confess that it has ever appeared to us a strange inconsistency, that the

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most zealous opponents to the union of true Christians, upon common principles, should themselves have united with Lutherans, and employed them as their agents to plant churches, and disseminate religious knowledge, and that for a long period of time; though, in discipline wholly, and partly in doctrine, those agents differ from their own establishment. The allusion will be rea dily understood. We do not mean to recriminate in the spirit of hostility; but we must be allowed to protest against the unfairness of denouncing their brethren of the Church of England, for uniting with Dissenters in the propagation of our common Christianity, where both discipline and peculiarities of creed are excluded, by mutual consent, and collision is consequently avoided.

From this vindication of our friend, we turn to the important results of the Tract Society. Every part of the globe has been the scene of its operations; and from every country the most pleasing testimonies of approbation and usefulness have been received. Bishops and archbishops, emperors and kings, ministers of the Reformed, and even of the Roman Catholic Church, have been loud in its praises. We regret that the limits of this Memoir will not allow us to insert numerous interesting proofs of the Divine favour, attendant on the publications of the Society. We must refer the reader, for these, to the summary of proceedings for the last twenty years, published in one volume, by the Tract Society; and which contains a most satisfactory vindication of the character of the tracts, and of the design of the institution.

We have purposely omitted numerous testimonies to the usefulness of Mr. Richmond's tracts, received from almost every part of Great Britain, as well as from many foreign countries, (so nume.rous, indeed, that they would fill several chapters,) lest we should seem to depart from that Christian modesty so conspicuous in the character of their author. We hope the candid reader will pardon what the warmth of our affection has dictated; and the more readily, when he remembers that all that we have said of the man, magnifies the grace of God which was in him, and wrought effectually by him.

CHAPTER XI.

His appointment as chaplain to the Duke of Kent-Mrs. Richmond's illness-New school-room-Report of his son's death-Embarrassment, arising from his publication of The Fathers of the English Church'—Interview with the Emperor of Russia-Letters to and from his Imperial Majesty-Princess Metstchersky-Letters to Mrs. Livius-Verses written on the marriage of a friend's daughter,

AMONG the distinguished characters who gave the sanction of their rank and influence to the public institutions of this country, his late Royal Highness the Duke of Kent is pre-eminently entitled to our grateful remembrance. Every religious and benevolent undertaking found in him a powerful friend and patron. He was the avowed advocate of the British and Foreign Bible Society. He was the patron also of the Society for promoting Christianity among the Jews. He usually attended, and took the chair, at the anniversaries of the numerous public charities which confer so much honour on the city of London; on which occasions Mr. Richmond often met his Royal Highness, and by the intervention of a common friend, became one of his chaplains.

In the discharge of his functions, Mr. Richmond was sometimes required to officiate at Kensington palace. On one of these occasions, the Duke and Duchess and their retinue were present. His Royal Highness heard Mr. Richmond's sermon with profound attention; and when the service was concluded, he was pleased to express his approbation of the impressive, scriptural, and faithful truths which he had heard; adding, that he fully concurred in their importance, and wished to feel their influence. At the same time, he inquired how he had attained so remarkable a fluency in the expression of his ideas; and asked whether his discourse had been delivered from memory. Mr. Richmond replied in the negative; and said that he usually prepared and digested the leading heads of his subject, but he modestly ascribed his ready utterance to the effect of habit. His Royal Highness expressed a hope that he would preach at the palace whenever he came to town; and added, "you must converse, Sir, with the Dutchess on these subjects, for she understands them far better than I do."

On the evening of the same day, Mr. Richmond received a polite request from the Duke of Kent, that he would favour him with the perusal of the notes from which he had preached in the morning. A discussion had taken place at the palace, on the subject of Mr. Richmond's extempore preaching; and it had been said, that no man could preach so accurately, as well as fluently, without a large portion of his sermon being duly transcribed.

The notes, on inspection, were found to occupy a very small space; and we mention this little anecdote as another proof of that talent in extempore preaching for which he was so remarkable.

Mr. Richmond continued to be honoured with the uniform marks of His Royal Highness's esteem and regard. And when that solemn event occurred, which was mourned by the nation at large, and by the friends of religion and humanity in particular, Mr. Richmond was one of those who followed his royal patron to the grave. There, as well as in various parts of the kingdom, where his public exertions called him, he heard many a testimony to the virtues, the zeal, and benevolence of this beloved and venerated prince. Charity in him lost its patron; the cause of God its firm and unshaken supporter; and illustrious rank its ornament and example. Testimonies like these are instructive to the living, while they are honourable to the dead. They prove that in this country, whenever exalted station is adorned with corresponding virtues, and consecrated to high and noble ends, it never fails to obtain the best of all kinds of homage-the homage of the heart.

About this time, Mr. Richmond was visited with a domestic event, which threatened the most distressing consequences. Mrs. Richmond, after having given birth to another child, and being apparently recovered from the effects of her confinement, was attacked by a dangerous illness; occasioned, as was supposed, by an imprudent exposure to the air. The symptoms became very alarming, a high fever followed, and after the utmost exertion of medical skill, and the most unremitting attention, her recovery was declared to be hopeless.

The suddenness of this shock to the feelings of Mr. Richmond, who had long known her value, both as a wife and a mother, and the tender age of most of his children, gave to this dispensation the poignancy of the severest trial. Never can the writer forget the impressions made on his own mind at that period. In the expectation of her immediate dissolution, she had taken leave of all the members of her family. A very few of their more intimate friends were permitted to see her on this occasion, and he was included in the number. On entering the room with another endeared friend, to pay this mournful visit, he was surprised to see an expression of joyful feeling on the countenance of the wife, and a calm and delightful serenity depicted on that of the husband. He could not help exclaiming-is this the chamber of Death? stripped of its terrors, and religion so surrounded with all its consolations, that the place looked more like the portals of heaven, than

Death was so