in marriage. At length, at a very proper age, she was united to the husband of her peculiar affection, (a case, alas, not so common as it might be wished in the higher circles,) and by a singular combination of causes, this object of her choice was cordially approved by those most nearly concerned, and by almost the unanimous voice of the nation : while his conduct fully proved that he was truly worthy of this predilection.

Apart from all the dazzling circumstances of royal parentage, and of being next in succession to him who now virtually sways the sceptre of an united kingdom, at least equal to that of any other on earth in solid advantages; and the prospect of being the ancestor of princes to rule this kingdom through successive ages: apart, even from the increasing favour of the public, which every day was augmented by a tenor of conduct suited to conciliate esteem and affection; apart from this, few persons in any rank of life have ever had brighter prospects of connubial felicity. At the same time a good constitution, and a very prudent regard to health, united to give our beloved princess, and the public in general, the expectation of a length of years, and of whatever else can give life on earth its largest measure of solid enjoyment.

The prospect of one so highly favoured and so much beloved becoming a mother, and the near approach of the season, without one cloud to darken that prospect, so raised the public expectation, that the nation seemed, as it were, to stand on tiptoe, waiting only the signal to express their joy and congratulation in every way which could be devised. And, though the expected period is in all such

cases one of pain and sorrow, yet nothing occurred to damp, even in her mind, the prevailing confidence that she should speedily "forget the sorrow, "for joy that a man was born into the world," and born in such circumstances of peculiar interest. Doubtless her affectionate consort shared both the solicitude and the hope; and could not but anticipate much satisfaction, in the prospect of an event which would fill the nation with joy and gladness.

I own I took so much interest in these events, both from what I learned concerning the parties themselves, and from the consideration of the probably beneficial effects to my beloved country, that I was fully disposed to concur, in my way, in the public rejoicing: and, from my weekly paper on the preceding Saturday, was led to expect in the next week's journal the welcome news of the birth of an heir or heiress to the throne of Britain. But what were my feelings, when, on receiving that journal, the very appearance of it confirmed reports I had just before heard!-and when I read the words, Our blooming, our beloved princess is 'no more!' no public event was ever felt by me as so bitter a disappointment; or excited so deep and lasting sorrow in my heart. Accordingly, as some of you know, I the next day gave vent to my feelings, in preaching on the words of the apostle, "All flesh is grass, and all the glory of man is as the "flower of the grass."1

But I would hear the Lord say, "Be still, and "know that I am God: I would be "dumb be

'I Pet. i. 23-25.-' He was so overpowered by his feelings, ⚫ that it was with the utmost difficulty he proceeded.'—Letter in the Author's Life, p. 463.

cause he did it." I would "hear the rod, and "who hath appointed it."

The national strong attachment to our revered and afflicted monarch, and all that concerns his family; the public favour, into which the deceased princess has been growing for a long season, and more especially since her marriage; her retired, studious, beneficent habits of life, during this period; and the exemplary regard shewn by her and her royal consort to the holy day of God, and the sacred ordinances of religion; with the regret, the disinterested regret, that such opening prospects of peace and felicity should all at once be closed ; joined to deep sympathy with the survivors, especially her disconsolate husband; may well account for these strong expressions of sorrow, (I hardly know whether to call them voluntary or involuntary,) which the afflictive tidings have excited throughout the nation. Nay, the very severe, yet patient sufferings of the deceased; the expression of resignation to God, when informed that her infant was dead; and all the circumstances preceding and attending her death, getting possession of the imagination, may, and doubtless do enhance the mournful feelings of great numbers. Yet even these things could hardly warrant us in speaking of the event as a national calamity; as the voice of the Lord "crying to the city;" as the call of the man of wisdom, and of Wisdom itself, to "hear the rod, and who hath appointed it; " except as they are connected with circumstances which darken our prospects respecting the interests of the nation, and of our posterity in future years. Indeed even they who are the least apt to forebode evil, and most disposed to prevent all alarm in others, yet

evidently shew, notwithstanding, that this event does damp their too sanguine expectations.

My subject, however, requires me to speak of the combined catastrophe as a public correction, the voice of God to us; and therefore I must, very briefly and cautiously, assign some reasons for considering it in this light: at the same time expressing a prevailing hope that the stroke will be so sanctified, as not only to prevent the threatened evils, but to produce much national benefit : for no doubt it will do this, if properly submitted to and improved.

Britain, in the person who fills her throne and wields her sceptre, in order to promote as far as man can see, her true benefit, needs one who has entirely the heart of a Briton; who feels a predilection for the peculiarities of her inhabitants, and is accustomed to bear with the effects of them: for, with all their estimable qualities, there is a certain roughness of manner in the conduct of Britons towards their rulers, the offspring of our liberty, which those who have been accustomed to authority in other countries are not well prepared to brook. A British monarch must be a decided protestant; and a firm friend to our constitution and establishment, in church as well as state: yet he must also be a firm supporter of enlarged toleration, and neither use his own authority to molest his peaceful subjects on account of their religion, nor suffer those who are eager enough to do it to molest them. Such a monarch our aged sovereign has been such a rule we are still under; and nothing could have given a better hope that our posterity would be favoured with monarchs of this description, than a family of children of our beloved

princess, educated as we had every reason to think they would have been. But this hope is at once cut off, and will to-night be buried in her tomb!

The branches of our royal family are numerous; but they are advancing in years, from forty to fiftysix: while not an heir is found from any of them to succeed to the throne, in case of the demise of the present race. The two eldest are married, and now childless. Should any of the others have issue, as it may be reasonably hoped, there must be some prospect of a long minority, which cannot be considered otherwise than as a deduction from national advantages. Without the least blame on the persons themselves, the wisdom of God hath told us, that "for the transgressions of a land many are "the princes of it: "I and in this country especially it can hardly, by any human prudence or equity, be prevented from giving a keener edge to party, which is already too keen. Perhaps our being carried through all the storms of the eventful period in which we have lived, is in some considerable degree, owing to the long-continued reign of one revered and beloved king. I shall only add, that possibly a foreigner may at length succeed to the throne; possibly one who cannot well become a naturalized Briton; possibly not a decided protestant: or if so, even probably not at once so attached to our establishment, and so steady a supporter of toleration and religious liberty, as our late and present rulers have been. Nay, possibly, disputed claims may be advanced, that will admit of no settlement but by that decision which must be deprecated as the greatest of all national judgments; and of which

'Prov. xxviii.