too often estranged my spirit from that delightful communion with thee, the only true source of all perfection, and in which alone can consist permanent and real felicity. I acknowledge, with the devoutest gratitude, that the disappointments and privations to which I have been subjected, as well as the success with which I have, on many occasions, been favoured, have equally been the effects of thine infinite goodness. Praise the Lord, O my soul! and all that is within me bless his holy name! And now, O Lord, for what remains, having attained, through thy goodness, to the age of threescore years and ten, enable me, I humbly beseech thee, to dedicate the short remainder of my life wholly to thee. I ask not so much to be exempt from the weakness and pains of declining age, as that I may so conduct myself under them, whatever they may be, as shall finally tend to thy glory, and to promote the interests of true and undefiled religion. Amen.

Amen."

September, 1814.

At the beginning of a Year, and shortly after the republication of the Memoir, &c.

"York, January 2nd, 1820. For ever blessed be thy name, O most merciful Father, that thou hast brought me in safety to the commencement of another year; and that although I feel many of the infirmities of old age increasing fast upon me, yet that thou hast enabled me, to contribute, in some small degree, towards what I humbly hope may be for the good of others.-May this

separate Memoir of my honoured husband, and the Discourses on Pleasure, stimulate some, by their more ample diffusion, to be followers of him as he was of Christ; and give a blessing, I humbly beseech thee, to the feeble endeavour to point out the incompatibility of the love of pleasure with that devotedness to thee, that ardent desire to be conformed to thy likeness, which alone constitutes our supreme felicity, whether in time or in eternity.

"Whatever may be the trials and privations to which, during the short remainder of life, I may be subjected, enable me, I beseech thee, to bear them with patience, resignation, and cheerfulness, as the true and faithful disciple of him who endured the cross and despised the shame, for the sake of others, and whose ardent prayer it was, Heavenly Father, not my will, but thine be done!'"

On arriving at Ackton Hall, when she last visited her relation, Sir EDMUND WINN.

Ackton, July 7th, 1820. I humbly thank thee, that notwithstanding many and daily increasing infirmities thou hast most mercifully brought me hither in health and safety, to admire and to enjoy the beauties of thy glorious creation.-Enable me, I most humbly beseech thee, to dedicate the small remainder of my life wholly to thee, by a constant attention, as far as may be in my power, to promote the happiness and welfare of my fellow-creatures."

The general strain of the preceding Memoirs, manifests the attention with which the Author was accustomed to mark the course of events, and the habit she had formed of looking beyond all secondary causes, to Him "in whose hands are the hearts of all men, and who turneth them whithersoever he pleaseth;" "in whom all live and move, and have their being." In the doctrine of a divine providence, she had found the source of consolation and peace, amidst all the vicissitudes of life, an effectual means of piety and virtue, and a strong incentive to active, persevering benevolence. She was therefore deeply concerned, whenever she found this important doctrine overlooked and neglected by others; and was most anxious to recommend it to the serious attention of all with whom she had any intercourse. Under such impressions, she wrote the following letter, shortly before her death, to a lady of her acquaintance, who had recently published a valuable work relating to America, and in the perusal of which she had been greatly interested.

My dear Miss W.

York, June 14th, 1821.

ALTHOUGH I was highly gratified and much obliged by your letter, and especially by the information it contained, yet I should not have troubled you with the expression of sentiments for which I hope you would give me full credit, had I not been anxious to tell

you, that I immediately commissioned my bookseller to send to London for the Englishwoman's account of a country, in whose mental, moral, and religious improvement, I have for many years, been deeply interested, and with some of whose eminent sons I have the privilege of occasionally corresponding. I need not tell you that at the very advanced age of three-score and seventeen years, (attained to this day) with a very failing memory, and very little previous knowledge on subjects of general legislation, I feel myself quite incompetent to judge accurately on many of the topics ably discussed: I can say, however, with great truth, that myself and my daughters have read the whole with a very lively interest; that we exceedingly admire the patriotism, generosity, and disinterestedness of many of the characters so affectingly delineated, and sincerely join the writer in her ardent wishes, that the seeds of a more equitable government than the world has ever yet seen, scattered upon a soil peculiarly fitted for their further improvement, and more extensive cultivation, may go on peaceably to unite together in one mighty empire, the advantages of every climate, peopled from the same ancient family, of the same language, manners, and attachments, where human life shall attain to superior happiness, and human nature to superior perfection. One alteration, however, in the future editions, I would beg leave to suggest and recommend to the amiable author; namely, that she should rather lead her readers to look up to an over-ruling providence, which "from seeming

evil still educes good," so strikingly manifested in the whole of the American history, than to fortune, a most capricious sovereign, whose empire had it real existence, would be most uncertain and unsatisfactory: I admit, indeed, in its fullest extent, the instrumentality of second causes; such as the love of freedom, and the blessings of a liberal, equitable government, in promoting the improvement, and increasing the happiness of its subjects; but I would ask, by what means it was that those choice spirits, that host of patriots were raised up, and placed in the very peculiar circumstances that should stimulate them to attempt, and enable them to perform, services to their country like these? Were there no unforeseen coincidences under a higher direction, which were essential to their final success? For instance, had not the eyes of the British rulers been misled and blinded by prejudice, the love of power, and the desire of gain, could her American children have thus triumphed? You must forgive these remarks from an aged pilgrim, who has past through a long-protracted life, not wholly inattentive to the current of events; of one who has nearly done with "things seen and temporal," and who every day feels more and more impressively, that all her future hopes and expectations rest solely on the "Rock of Ages;" on His goodness, who has graciously promised, and will assuredly most faithfully perform!

C. C.

During the last year of her life, it had occurred to her, that the Practical Reflections accom