behold. His state is bright in every one's view but his own. To his own apprehension, he in great measure walks in darkness. I have myself scarcely witnessed a gleam of joy. His habitual temper is that described by Job, "though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." This is often painful, sometimes discouraging to our feelings; yet we are sensible there is a call upon us for unbounded gratitude and praise.

Indeed it cannot be wondered at, that my dear father should have much to contend with, considering how his mind has been absolutely worn down by labour, without intermission or recreation-the extraordinary fact of his pulse having been now for ten days at one hundred and seventy-and his deafness, which almost entirely shuts him up, and leaves him to his own resources. We cannot pray with him, to make him hear. Thrice, indeed, hehas received the sacrament, with edifying and most affecting solemnity; and then, from his knowledge of the words, aided by painful vociferation on the part of the person officiating, he could follow the service. One of these occasions was succeeded by blessed relief and comfort to his mind: but, as he says, "the clouds return after the rain."-I am very shy of addressing one to whom I so much look up: but occasionally the attempt to convey to his ear some sentence of God's word has succeeded; and it is so kindly and thankfully received, as is very affecting. But we are obliged to keep, on these occasions, almost entirely Lo first principles-such as the coming of the sinner to the Saviour. A great part of his time he prayed and thought alone, as insensible of the presence of any fellow-creature ; and the train of his thoughts, thus discovered, has been striking, and often highly elevated. Thus, "Posthumous reputation! the veriest bubble with which the devil ever cheated a wretched mortal. But posthumous usefulness-in that there is indeed some.

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thing. That was what Moses desired, and Joshua, and David, and the Prophets, the Apostles also, Peter, and Paul, and John, and most of all, the Lord Jesus Christ." Again: "O Lord, abhor me not, though I be indeed abhorrible, and abhor myself! Say not, Thou filthy soul, continue filthy still; but rather say, I will, be thou clean."

LETTER XC.*

To a Mother, on the death of a Child.

Dear Madam,-This letter will not, I hope, reach you many days before me; in a distress which can be so little relieved, nothing remains for a friend but to come and partake it.

Poor dear, sweet little boy! When I read the letter this day to Mrs Aston, she said, "Such a death is the next to translation." Yet, however I may convince myself of this, the tears are in my eyes, and yet I could not

love him as you loved him, nor reckon upon him for a future comfort as you and his father reckoned on him.

He is gone, and we are going! We could not have enjoyed him long, and shall not long be separated from him. He has probably escaped many such pangs as you are now feeling.

Nothing remains but that, with humble confidence, we resign ourselves to Almighty Goodness, and fall down without irreverent murmurs, before the Sovereign Distributor of good and evil, with hope that though sorrow endureth for a night, yet joy may come in the morning.

From Dr. Johnson to Mrs Thrale.

I have known you, madam, too long to think that you want any arguments for submission to the Supreme Will: nor can my consolation have any effect but that of shewing that I wish to comfort you. What can be done, you must do for yourself. Remember first, that your child is happy; and then, that he is safe, not only from the ills of this world, but from those more formidable dangers which extend their mischief to eternity. You have brought into the world a rational being; have seen him happy during the lit tle life that has been granted him; and can have no doubt but that his happiness is now permanent, ana immutable.

When you have obtained by prayer such tranquillity as nature will admit, force your attention, as you can, upon your accustomed duties, and accustomed entertainments. You can do no more for our dear boy, but you must not therefore think less on those whom your attention may make fitter for the place to which he has gone. I am, dearest Madam,

Your most affectionate humble servant.

LETTER XCI.

Rev. Robert Hall to a Lady.

Leicester, 16th April 1819.

Dear Madam,-I feel much gratified and honoured by your kind and affectionate expressions of remembrance of an old friend; who, though long detained by circumstances from personal intercourse and correspondence, will never hear the name of Mrs Tucker with indifference. I am delighted to hear from you; and to learn that, with all the changes effected by time, to which you so affectingly allude, the ardour of mind and warmth of sensibility, by which you were formerly distinguished, remain unimpaired.

How wonderful, how complicated, the mazes of

providence through which we are conducted in our pilgrimage to eternity! Could we foresee the trials which await us, the agonies and vicissitudes we are called to pass through, life would be insupportable; but we are led, like the blind, by a way that we know not; and strength is dealt out just in proportion to our day.— Let us my dear friend, look forward, and remember that our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. Let us hope that the fiercest part of our mortal warfare is passed, and that the evening of life will be more tranquil than the morning, and the noon. May our deep experience of the mutability and vanity of the present shadowy state be improved into a perpetual motive for cultivating that heavenly-mindedness which is the only effectual' antidote to the miseries of life. With respect to my visiting Plymouth, I have heard nothing of it from any quarter.. Should my steps be directed thither at any time during your life, I shall never for a moment think of taking my abode but at your house, with your permission, should I be invited by a prince. You little know me, if you suppose that rank and fashion would have the smallest influence in inducing a forgetfulness of ancient friendship. My chief inducement to visit Plymouth, would be the pleasure of once more seeing and conversing with Mrs Tucker. With my kindest remembrances to Mr Tucker, I remain, dear Madam, your affectionate friend.

LETTER XCII. *

On the Death of a Brother.

I can hardly bring myself to write, under the severe blow which we have lately experienced, to the news of which, my dear Pretyman, you are probably not a stranger. You will, I know, be anxious to hear from I wish to say as little as possible on this melan* William Pitt to Dr Pretyman, formerly his Tutor

me.

choly subject, too melancholy indeed for words. have to regret the loss of a brother, who had everything that was most amiable and promising, everything that I could love and admire; and I feel the favourite hope of my mind extinguished by this untimely blow. Let me, however, assure you, that I am too much tried in affliction not to be able to support myself under it, and that my poor mother and sister, to whom I brought the sad account yesterday, have not suffered in their health from so severe a shock. I have prevailed on them to think of changing the scene, and moving towards Hayes, which is a great comfort to me, as the solitude and distance of this place must now be insupportable. I imagine that we shall begin our journey in a few days. Adieu, you shall hear from me soon again.

Yours, most sincerely and affectionately.

LETTER XCIII.

Bishop Heber to Miss Stowe, on the sudden death of her Brother, Mr Stowe.

With a heavy heart, my dear Miss Stowe, I send you the enclosed keys. How to offer you consolation in your present grief, I know not; for, by my own deep sense of the loss of an excellent friend, I know how much heavier is your burden. Separation of one kind or another, is indeed one of the most frequent trials to which affectionate hearts are exposed. And if you can only regard your brother as removed for his own advantage to a distant country you will find perhaps, some of that misery alleviated under which you are now suffering.

Had you remained in England when he came out hither, you would have been for a time divided no less effectually than you are now. The difference of hearing from him is almost all, and though you have not that comfort, yet even without hearing from him, you may bs well persuaded (which there you could not always