min) was born, and two years and a half afterwards, in September 1790, my wife died; while my hands were full of employment, and my heart of most overwhelming cares: so that my distress and anguish, at that period, were beyond whatever will be known or conceived by others, at least in this world. But the Lord, in unspeakable mercy, gave me my present wife, who has proved in every respect a blessing to me and my children; a very useful assistant in my various labours; and I trust an instrument of good to numbers."

I shall add little to what my father has here said upon this subject. Of the overwhelming distress which he felt on my mother's decease, I could bear striking testimony: and many could join me in declaring the tender affection with which he ever cherished her memory. If any one should be ready to think the fact of his marrying again, within much less time than is usual, an evidence to the contrary, I confidently affirm that such a person is mistaken; and I fully believe that, if the whole case could be fairly laid before a wise and impartial judge, he would justify my father's conduct. Let it be considered in what circumstances he was left-with four children of an age peculiarly requiring superintendence-without any person to take charge of them superior to a servant—himself involved in labours and struggles, sufficient, one would imagine, not only to occupy all his time, but to wear down his health and spirits-his habits so perfectly domestic, that he never thought of seeking relaxation out of his own doors, unless it were in a short walk, and one evening in a fortnight in meeting his clerical brethren in a private society

To them he submitted his case and the question of his marriage they did not disapprove the measure, and he determined upon it. His situation was peculiar; nor was his character quite of the ordinary standard. I am persuaded he acted rightly, and that the blessing of heaven followed the step he took. Indeed, no person could be more happy than my father was, in both his marriages. The person who formed the object of his second choice was a Miss Egerton, the daughter of an officer in the army. She was, for some time previous to his acquaintance with her, a constant hearer at the Lock Chapel, and had derived great benefit from his ministry; but as she survives him, I shall say nothing more, than that the whole family concurs in the sentence which he pronounced on his dying bed, "That she had been an unspeakable blessing to him and his for more than thirty years."

I annex a few letters connected with the changes which have thus been adverted to. They are valua'ble in themselves, and tend further to illustrate the character of the writer.

The following letter announced the death of my dear mother to her sister, and through her to the rest of her family.

Chapel Street, September 9, 1790. Dear sister, I should be glad to spare you, and our poor aged mother, and my other friends in Northumberland, the pain and sorrow which this letter must occasion : but it must not be. Your dear sister is gone to heaven before us; and has left many, and me especially, and her children, selfishly to lament that she is no longer a sinner or a sufferer, and almost to wish her

back again. She was taken, about a fortnight ago, with apparently a slight indisposition in her stomach, which it was thought some trivial medicines would remove; but it proved obstinate, and at length terminated in fever and nervous delirium, and baffled every effort of the medical gentlemen who kindly attended her. She died yesterday a little after seven in the evening.--I see, and trust you will see, and submit to the hand of the Lord in this most painful dispensation and I would study how to get comfort under it, and derive benefit from it. But my heart rebels against my judgment frequently; and I feel my loss to be so great, that gloom and distrust rush in. Yet the Lord can make it up to us by his own all-sufficiency.-I can truly say, that during the fifteen years and three quarters that the Lord hath lent me this loan, I have valued it more and more daily. In every sense, she has been a blessing to me, even as a minister, as well as a Christian: and few persons have died more generally and justly lamented by all that knew her. But the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away; and blessed be the name of the Lord! I would say so from my heart: though

The last time she had

it aches when I attempt it. the clear use of her faculties, she expressed the fullest joy and confidence in the Lord, and assurance, that, if she died, she should go to be with Christ: and she wished me to say to all her friends, as her last advice, that they would never know happiness, till they left all other dependences and vain pursuits, to seek salvation and comfort by faith in Christ crucified, and in communion with God through him. She was greatly rejoiced by your last letter: but she would

have said a good deal to brother

about the snares of the world, and the danger of willing to be rich, if he had stood by her bed side. I must leave it to you to break the melancholy subject to our mo ther, as you see best..... My dear unknown sister, to whom I sincerely wish all happiness for my poor wife's sake, this world, believe me, is a bubble: we shall soon be in the same situation with her: let us then seek the one thing needful more diligently, even that good part which shall never be taken away." in

To the husband of the same correspondent, April 4, 1791. "I should have written before this, had it not been for my excessive engagements; notwithstanding that I was aware you and other friends in the north would not be very well pleased with the step which you have heard I have taken. But, whatever you may suppose, I certainly acted most/conscientiously in what I did; and, I doubt not, this will appear in the day when all the motives of all actions shall be made known. A variety of pest culiarities in my situation, disposition, &c. rendered it† necessary for me to deviate from the etiquette of human custom, if I would go on with my many and impor tant undertakings with a quiet mind. I have nos doubt that your dear deceased sister, could she come to give her opinion, would sanction my conduct...) No body, that knows me, and my behaviour to her from the time we met till that most distressing hour of my life when the Lord separated us for a season, ¿ will, suppose that my conduct arose from want of love to her, or of respect for her memory; which will be dear to me to my latest hour,.....I can only add that I shall always be glad to see, or hear from, ord

do any service to any of you, as much as ever; and I have not forgotten my proposal made to my mother last year, as I mean shortly to evince. Whenever you come to London, you will meet with as hearty a welcome in my house as ever, if you will favour me with making it your home..... My most affectionate and dutiful remembrances to my mother Kell. May the Lord be her support and comfort under the infirmities of her old age, and in the hour of death, and her portion for ever! I seldom forget to pray for you, that you may be all made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light: that we may be there united for ever, after the various changes and troubles of this sinful world.”

The following letter he addressed to his deceased wife's mother.

August 5, 1791. Honoured madam, Unexpect-› eddincidents, arising from the expensive publication in which I am concerned, have rendered it inconve nient to me to send the enclosed 10%. sooner; though the delay has grieved me. I understand that you now reside with brother; yet there may be many little matters, tending to the comfort of your advanced age, that you may wish for, and should have in your power. Probably, as the providence of God hath ordered matters, you and I may never meet in this world; but your present comfort and future felicity are and must be near my heart, for the sake of your valuable daughter,now a saint in glory, surrounded with her three children that went thither before her, as I am fully satisfied. Whilst it pleases God to continue your life and mine, you may be assured of the same sum every year, and probably

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to