to be by at the time, forbade it, saying, " John, poor fellow, suffers enough already from the anguish of his mind at the reflection of what is past; pray, let not this song, or any thing else which can tend to aggravate his misery, be ever touched upon in this house.'

"Human nature could not long support the state of mental agony which I experienced; and a very alarming and dangerous illness, which soon reduced me to the brink of the grave, was speedily the consequence of my continual anxiety and sorrow. Now it was that I experienced the real and essential goodness of my mother's heart. She hung over my bed-side with the most affectionate solicitude, nursed me herself, and provided every thing with her own hands which she thought could be serviceable of agreeable to me; and my father's conversation, and exquisite tenderness, served effectually to preserve my life, in spite of the disease and of the doctors also. After a six months' lingering malady, I slowly, but gradually, recovered. My situation was now somewhat less intolerable; my father's af

fection, if possible, increased daily; and my mother's propensity to dealing in pleasant reflections, and obliging observations, was very much checked by the lowering brow of contempt, and of defiance, which all such attempts never failed to produce in me, who had now nearly recovered the firm and unyielding tone of mind that bends only to kindness,

kisses gentleness

• So much it loves it; but to o'erbearing spirits
It swells, and grows as terrible as storms.'

My eldest brother, indeed, kept aloof, and at a distance from me; but at that I did not much wonder, his mighty mind, and extensive knowledge, and splendid erudition, and sound, accurate judgment, could but ill brook the childish observations, and disgusting ignorance, and undiscriminating -heedlessness of a brat, who knew nothing save a very little smattering of classical literature, and who never evinced any capability of clear reasoning, or precise thinking. Indeed, here I cannot but pay the tribute of applause and homage to his very superior

abilities and attainments.

His character

adorns and dignifies the sacred function (that of a clergyman in the English church,) which he fills. On the two great foundation stones of pure religion and sound morality, he has reared a most noble superstructure of human learning. With the deep researches of mathematical science, he has joined the ornamental and useful splendour of classical learning and, the belles lettres. Music he is well skilled in, both theoretically and practically in architecture, is no mean proficient; and of the fine arts, is not only an amateur, but an excellent judge. His pulpit eloquence is of that strong, manly, impressive kind which serves to rouse and to fix the attention of the hearer, while his discourses are admirably calculated to promote the great ends of Christianity, peace on earth and good will towards men. From. my sisters I experienced every thing that the purest benevolence, aided by the most lively affection, could give. My eldest sister possesses a good understanding, which hath been well cultivated, together with a most humane and amiable disposition, and

a heart exquisitely tuned to the finest feelings of tenderness and of sensibility. But with what words can I describe my youngest sister?

• And thou, Amanda, come, pride of my song! • Come with those downcast eyes, sedate and sweet, Those looks demure, that deeply pierce the soul, Where, with the light of thoughtful reason mix'd, Shines lively fancy and the feeling heart.

I should be an ingrate, indeed, if I neglected to pay the tribute of gratitude to her, from whose conversation I have reaped so much of amusement and instruction. Her education, which hath been entirely her own, for she, very fortunately, was never crippled by the interference of a dull, routine-moving, systematized, contracted school-mistress, or governess, hath been conducted on the broad basis of science, and of general literature; which, aided by a most even and unruffled disposition, with an inexhaustible and irresistible store-house of wit and humour, make her one of the most entertaining and improving companions I ever met with. With all this, she is so perfectly unassuming, not obvious,

not obtrusive, that when you saw her at her needle-work, you would imagine her to be a quiet, harmless, industrious, inoffensive girl; till you saw her eye flash lightening, and her whole countenance beam with intelligence, if the proper incitement was applied to her mind, when she would appear in her true light, that of one of the most superior women this day existing in the universe. Her very brilliant talents are only equalled by the mildness, the meekness, the purity, the philanthropy of her mind, and the holiness, the fervour, and piety of her devotion. My youngest brother was of too tender an age to give any strong indications of a marked character; he was volatile, sprightly, abundantly quick and ready, of a most tenacious memory and excellent temper, and most ́ardently affectionate. So circumstanced, it might be asked, was it not my own fault if I was not happy? Perhaps it may be so; and yet I could discover in the looks of our acquaintance a coldness, a constrained civility, with regard to me, very different from the smiles, the welcome, the warmth of expression towards the other part of the fami