her bed, she blamed them, saying, "Weep not for me, I pray you. God, by this sickness, calls me hence to enjoy a better life; and now I shall enter into the desired haven, toward which this frail vessel of mine has been a long time steering."

She expressed some concern for her children, as they would be deprived of her in their tender years; but added, "I doubt not that God himself will be their father and protector, as he has ever been mine in my greatest afflictions. I therefore commit them wholly to his government and fatherly care. I believe that Christ is my only Mediator and Saviour; and I look for salvation from no other. O, my God, in thy good time deliver me from the troubles of this present life, that I may attain to the felicity which thou hast promised to bestow upon me."

14. COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDON.

"Why should we dwell on that which lies beneath,

When living light hath touch'd the brow of death?"-HEMANS

DURING the whole of her illness her pains never made her impatient, but she seemed more concerned about those who attended her than about herself. She said, tenderly, to Lady Ann Erskine and Miss Scutt, whose long, faithful, and tender attachment to her is well known, "I fear I shall be the death of you both, (alluding to their constant watching with her;) it will be but a few days more." She appeared, during the tedious nights and days of pain and sickness, engaged in prayer, and animated with thankfulness for the unutterable peace which she had experienced, saying, "I am encircled in the arms of love and mercy;" and, at another time, "I long to be at home; 0, 1 long to be at home!" A

little before she died she said, repeatedly, "I shall go to my Father this night;" and shortly after, "Can he forget to be gracious? Is there an end of his lovingkindness?" Dr. Lettsom had visited her between four and five; shortly after her strength failed; and she appeared departing. Alarmed, they summoned up a friend, who was waiting anxiously below; he took her hand, it was bedewed with sweat; he applied his fingers to the pulse, it had ceased to beat; and that instant she breathed her last sigh, as he leaned over her, and fell asleep in Jesus.

Dr. Lettsom's letter to Lady Ann Erskine, the day following, speaks the worthy sentiments of his own heart, and the satisfaction so noble an example afforded him :

"I deeply sympathize with thee, and all the family in Christ, in the removal of that evangelic woman, so lately among us, the countess of Huntingdon. Your souls were so united, and your affections so endeared together, that I cannot but feel, in a particular manner, on thy account, lest the mournful state of thy mind may undermine thy constitution, and endanger a life spent in mitigating the painful sufferings of body of our deceased friend, while living. Her advanced age and debilitated frame had long prepared my mind for an event which has, at length, deprived the world of its brightest ornament. How often have we, when sitting by her sick-bed, witnessed the faithful composure with which she has viewed this awful change! Not with the fearful prospect of doubt-not with the dreadful apprehension of the judgment of an offended Creator; hers was all peace within; a tranquillity and cheerfulness which conscious acceptance alone could convey. How often have we seen her, elevated above the earth and earthly things, uttering this language, "My work is done; I have nothing to do but go to my heavenly Father!"

Let us, therefore, under a firm conviction of her felicity, endeavour to follow her as she followed her Redeemer. Let us be thankful that she was preserved to advanced age with the perfect exercise of her mental faculties; and that, under long and painful days and nights of sickness, she never repined, but appeared constantly animated in prayer and thankfulness for unutterable mercies she experienced. When I look back upon the past years of my attendance, and connect with it the multitudes of others to whom my profession has introduced me, I feel consolation in acknowledging that, of all the daughters of affliction, she exhibited the greatest degree of Christian composure that ever I witnessed, and that submission to Divine allotment, however severe and painful, which nothing but Divine aid could inspire.

"It was on the 12th of this month that our dear friend appeared more particularly indisposed, and afforded me those apprehensions of danger which, on the 17th, finally terminated her bodily sufferings. I had, on former occasions of her illness, observed that when she expressed 'a hope and desire to go to her heavenly Father,' for this was often her language, she usually added some solicitudes upon her mind respecting her children, as she spoke of her people in religious profession, adding, 'But I feel for the good of their souls.' When under the utmost debility of body, she has continued this subject in animated and pious conversation, extending her views to all mankind; she has expressed a firm persuasion in the gradual and universal extension of virtue and religion. Wherever a fellow-creature existed, so far her prayers extended. In her last illness I never heard her utter a desire to remain longer on earth. A little before she died she repeatedly said, in a feeble voice, just to be heard, 'I shall go to my Father this night; adding, 'Has God forgotten to be gracious? or

is there an end of his loving-kindness?' It was on this day she conversed a little on the subject of sending missionaries to Otaheite, in the South Seas, in the pious. hope of introducing Christianity among that mild, but uninformed, race of people. Indeed, her whole life seemed devoted to one great object,-the glory of God and the salvation of his creatures."

The countess died in the eighty-fourth year of her age.

15. MRS. LEGARE.

THIS excellent woman resided at Charleston, S. C. When she had nearly closed her eyes in death, her physician came and found the family in tears.

"Well, doctor," said Mr. Legare, "what do you think of the scene in the next room?"

"Indeed, sir," said he, "I know not what to think of it; it is all a mystery to me. I have seen numbers of men in all the vigour of health, and thirsting for martial honour, rush into a field of battle, and in that confused scene put on the appearance of fortitude, not one of whom could face the gradual approaches of death or a sick-bed without visible horror; but here is a poor, emaciated woman, whose whole nervous system is unstrung by long disease, welcoming the grim messenger with the utmost serenity, composure, and joy, though approaching in all the horrors of the most gradual progress imaginable, (for she was three days in the agonies of death.) Indeed, it is a mystery, and I know not how to account for it."

"Do you not, sir?" asked Mr. Legare; "go, then, to Calvary. You see us dissolved in tears; but I do no believe there is a tear in the room extorted by grief. no, sir, they are tears of joy."

The doctor went down stairs, and met a gentleman at the door, who inquired after Mrs. Legare, to whom he replied, "Just gone, sir."

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Well," said he, “Mr. Legare is a philosopher, and I hope he will bear the stroke like one."

"Philosophy!" replied the doctor; "I have thought as much of philosophy as any man, but the scene within beats philosophy."

16. LADY ELIZABETH HASTINGS.

"And O, when I have safely pass'd
Through every conflict but the last,
Still, still unchanging, watch beside

My bed of death, for Thou hast died."-GRANT.

It appears to have been the great aim of this eminent and truly pious woman to promote the glory of God and the welfare of men, keeping her talents, extensive fortune, and other means of doing good, continually employed for the benefit of her fellow-creatures. Of all her cares, a most special one was that of the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow; the needy, and him that had no helper; the lame, the halt, and the blind. These objects excited her most tender compassion. She participated in their sufferings; she often conversed with them, and inquired into their history with great condescension. She studied their particular cases, and put them in the way of improving their condition. She often visited them in sickness, bore the expenses of it, and endeavoured to cheer and encourage them under all the apparent hardships of their allotment.

The following character of this noble-minded woman was drawn by the hand of an eminent writer :

“Her countenance was the lively picture of her mind, which was the seat of honour, truth, compassion, know