a little stool with my work; whilst she related to me the several events of her past life-the trials she had endured, (for she had known much sorrow)-and how the Providence of God had always supported her through them. She never failed to conclude with this remark: "I do not tell you these things, my dear child, to lead you to imagine that I have had more afflictions than others; but to impress upon your young mind this great truth, that those who put their trust in God, he will never forsake." "One might almost think," she added, " that my grandmother had foreseen what would be the events of my life. This pious and just remark of hers, has never for a moment, been absent from my mind; in all my sufferings and alarms, it has been my polar star; it has conducted me hitherto in peace and comfort; and I believe and trust that it will continue to conduct me in safety to the end."

What a striking proof is this little anecdote of the lasting and salutary effects which are sometimes produced on the whole character, by reflections immediately deduced from the circumstances of real life; and what an encouragement to proceed in the employment, to the writer of her own memoirs! The great truth affirmed by the pious grandmother, had been equally true, had it merely been stated as a religious aphorism; but without the connexion in which it stood, it would not have made the same impression, or have been followed by the same happy consequences.

A a

Miss R. is extremely ingenious in various sorts of needle-work, and imitates flowers and birds, upon card and pasteboard, with the point of a needle, or a fine pen-knife, with great truth of design, grouping the flowers with extraordinary taste and elegance.

But the part of her history that will perhaps be deemed the most extraordinary, "in these degenerate days," when "the age of chivalry is past," is the fact I am now going to relate.

Previous to her illness, she had engaged the affections of a youth, who was at that time an apprentice to a surgeon and apothecary at Dover; and they were to have been married, as soon as he was in a situation to maintain a family. The same fatal stroke which deprived her of her health, destroyed likewise all hope of their union; but did not destroy their mutual attachment. He went to Edinburgh to finish his education; but the resolution he had previously formed before he went, continued unshaken after his return, and still remains, of never forming any other connexion during her lifetime. He determined to fix near her, that he might not be deprived altogether of her conversation, and that he might have it in his power occasionally to contribute to her comfort. apothecary was wanted for a public Institution in the county, and the place being only seven miles distant, he determined to accept the situation, solely on that account. He fills this station, as I was told, in a very exemplary manner: and once a fortnight, every alternate Wednesday,

An

walks to Woman's-wold, to spend the day, with the beloved object of his affections. He supplies her with books, and with every other comfort within the power of his slender income, that may contribute to her happiness. She in return, makes him all his linen, and ornaments his little sitting-room with various specimens of her ingenious performances, which doubtless have a value in his estimation, far beyond any thing that money could purchase. "Have heard of my you C?" she said to me." That my attachment to him should continue is nothing wonderful, but that in my situation he should retain his for me, and this through a long period of more than twenty years, is perhaps without a parallel."

After we had left the room, her mother told me, and she wept when she gave the account, that she had never seen her daughter discover the smallest fretfulness-so admirable is the tone of her mind! She delighted in having the curate of the parish come to pray with her on the Sunday, who was a pious character, and one capable of suiting himself to her extraordinary mental, and religious attainments.

* Since this was written, the house were she resided, at Woman's-wold, being appointed to be sold, there was a necessity for her being once more removed; and Mrs B., a neighbouring lady, had the goodness to fit up for her a cottage, in her own park, about four miles from Canterbury, where she now resides; and which gives her faithful friend the privilege of visiting her once a week, instead of only once a fortnight, as he tells me, in a letter lately received from him. -Nov. 1816.

CHAPTER 44.

Satisfactory visit to Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey....Introduction to some of the Ladies' Committee....Death of Mr. Cappe's sister....Her character contrasted with that of a late celebrated duchess, who died the same evening, in their walk through life, and in their departure out of it....Singu lar accident of the Author; the various minute independent circumstances required for her preservation....Lessons to be learnt from such deliverances.

IN returning home, I stayed some time in London, and had a lodging in Essex-street, near my old friends Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey, with whom I spent a considerable portion of every day, with more complete satisfaction and uninterrupted enjoyment, than I had ever done since their leaving Catterick. Often did we look back on those trying scenes, as on a troubled sea, long passed in safety; and the only sentiment excited by the retrospect, was that of ardent gratitude to the merciful hand, by whose guardian care, through the course of a long eventful period, we had hitherto been preserved in peace and comfort! I had the satisfaction of keeping the birth-day of my venerable, aged friend, then entering on his eighty-third year. He was become very feeble, in consequence of the repeated slight paralytic attacks already mentioned; and his eye-sight failed him so greatly, that it was not in his power to read much, or for any long time together; yet such is the force of habit, that he delighted to sit

with a book open before him, that he might refer to it whenever he found himself able. He had still great pleasure in hearing the discussion of literary, inoral, or religious subjects, by the numerous friends, some or other of whom generally visited them every day and although he could no longer take an active part in the diffusion of pure religion and virtue, the great object of his whole life-he could still instruct by his patience, cheerfulness, and resignation, under the growing infirmities of old age, and supply a living example of the character pointed out to imitation, by the royal bard of Israel, "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace."

I had the pleasure, whilst in London, of being introduced to many worthy, excellent persons, and among others, to some of the Ladies' Committee; also of bringing forward by subscription, the poems of an unlettered Muse, which have since passed through three editions, and obtained for their author, Charlotte Richardson, some degree of celebrity, together with the means of a more comfortable maintenance.

On my return home, in November, 1805, I found my sister-in-law, Mrs. Mary Cappe, declining very fast; she lingered however, until the 1st of April, 1806, and then expired in the seventy-third year of her age.. Few persons perhaps ever trod the path of humble duty, through the course of a long life, with more undeviating steps. In the faithful discharge of every relative obligation, she was exemplary. De