This is a most seasonable and appropriate tract for the times, which we sincerely hope will obtain a wide circulation, corresponding to its great excellence.

2. The Poetical Works of John Milton. With a Memoir, and Critical Remarks on his Genius and Writings. By JAMES MONTGOMERY. And one hundred and twenty engravings, by John Thompson, and S. and T. Williams, O. Smith, S. Luton, &c, from Drawings by William Harvey. 8vo. 2 vols. Tilt and Bogue.

This is one of Tilt and Bogue's splendid editions of the poets with its rich embellishments, and beautiful critique, by James Montgomery, it will justly supplant all other editions. We hope to notice Montgomery's memoir of Milton next month. 3. Union without Uniformity. The addresses delivered at the meeting for union at Craven chapel, on January 2, 1843. Revised by their authors. Reprinted from the Congregational Magazine. Ward and Co.

This tract will do much god, if widely circulated. It contains many fine sentiments, expressed in a loving spirit.

4. The Voice of Christ to the Churches considered, in a course of Twenty-one Lectures, Expository and Practical, on the 2nd and 3rd Chapters of the Book of Revelation. By EBENEZER MILLER, M.A., of the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow. 8vo. Jackson and Walford.

5. The History of China, Pictorial and Descripfire; from the earliest period to the present time. By Miss CORNER, Author of "Questions on the History of Europe," "the Historical Library," &c. Dean and Co., Threadneedle-street. Part I. 18.

6. The Sea hath spoken. A Sermon, preached November 27th, 1842, in Ebenezer Chapel, Shadwell. By the Rev. E. E. ADAMS, M.A., formerly Chaplain to Seamen at St. Petersburgh. Published by request, under the direction of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society, London. Ward and Co.

7. Ecclesiastical Administration in Westminster. Letters to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, exposing the evils connected with their domains; including the brothels in the almonry; the management, ecclesiastical and financial, of their Westminster Estates; and the prohibitory clause in their leases, for the suppression of dissent. By a Parishioner, printed from the Patriot newspaper. 8vo. pp. 60. J. Snow.

This is a sad, but we have reason to believe, faithful exposure! Alas! alas! that such things should be.

WORKS PREPARING FOR PUBLICATION.

1. In one vol. 8vo; price, to subscribers, 7s. 6d. ; to non-subscribers, 9s.; a Hebrew Grammar, containing a copious and systematic development of the Etymology and Punctuation of that Language. By SAMUEL RANSOM, Classical and Hebrew Tutor in Hackney Theological Seminary.

2. In a few days will be published, the Essay of D. Diodati "de Christo Græce loquente." Edited with a Preface by the Rev. O. T. DOBBIN, LL.B., of Exeter.

This volume is extremely rare. Pfannkuche and Hug, who wrote on a kindred subject, could never obtain a sight of it. There is probably not a single copy of it in America.

MRS. RABAN,

Late of Holloway, Islington: (Addressed to a Lady in the South of France.) January, 1813.

DEAR MADAM,—The interesting fact of your having spent many of your early years under the almost maternal care of this deceased and beloved relative, point you out as the most proper individual to whom this memoir and obituary should be addressed. But it is needful here to say, that various circumstances, beside painful afflictions, have long prevented the fulfilment of the task here assigned to the writer. It shall be a simple narrative, illustrated by facts and incidents; and let them speak for themselves. Embellishment and vain-glory, you know, were always abhorrent to the feelings and character of this worthy lady; and if such thoughts might occasionally intrude, they were checked by the solemn inquiry of the apostle, addressed to the Corinthians,

What have you, that you have not received ?" And then the revenue of praise would be cheerfully offered-" yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." Be pleased, then, to bear these two points in view, and the narrative shall proceed.

Miss F. Buzzard's mortal career commenced at the village of Barton, Bedford

shire. Her parents and other relatives were all most respectable. She was the youngest of four children, a sister and two brothers, who have also filled respectable situations in society. Unforeseen and painful circumstances soon after led Mrs. B. to retire to Ampthill, a small town in that county, her native place. Here Miss F. B.'s early indications for teaching, as well as aptitude in learning, were developed; yet her advantages were but scanty, closing with a brief period of boarding-school education. But her quickness in learning, and her modest, unassuming manners, procured her much esteem from her friends. Take the following characteristic incidents in proof of this. To oblige a beloved relative, she speedily got Psa. 119 memoriter, and said it to him, without scarcely missing or misplacing a word. On her going to Bedford, she saw the late amiable Dr. Parker, a maternal relative, who, on observing a swelling tumour near one of her cheek-bones, advised its removal; and most kindly offered to take the fair patient into his house, that he might not lose her after the somewhat dangerous operation. On herself and friends consenting, she shortly after underwent the operation magnanimously; and, at the doctor's request, lay many hours almost motionless,

The

evincing through the whole affair an invincible heroism and self-command. hæmorrhage being thus stayed, the wound healed, the cicatrice alone remained, to remind her at once of her physician's surgical skill and of God's goodness in her recovery. And at the expiration of nine weeks the doctor dismissed his patient, without fee or recompense; she overwhelmed in gratitude for his skill and generosity; and he commending her fortitude and agreeable manners. The family owe this passing record to departed skill and benevolence.

The next incident in Miss B.'s life was her apprenticeship at a fashionable milliner's in a county town. Here, after two or three years' diligent application, and occasionally much night work, her fine constitution rapidly gave way, till her mother, alarmed by a neighbour, fetched her home, when her medical uncle, who attended her, declared that she would have been irrecoverable in two or three weeks, had she not thus been promptly removed. The cupidity and the immolations in such houses are an outrage on all respectable society. But some time after her recovery, she filled various situations in a ladies' school in the country; with a brother in town; and with another party and being ever industrious, ever anxious for selfimprovement, she was always a favourite, and afforded her friends much satisfaction. Let young female readers here take a lesson from these early traits of character. In this sphere of gay life her previous moral habits were endangered, from the circumstance of her being much flattered for her fine singing and dancing, for she had been complimented by the late Lord Holland and other gentry for these acquirements; but, probably, the influence of revered relatives, and her attendance on the ministry of the late Dr. Stafford, in Broad-street, might be blessed in rescuing her from many youthful temptations, by which many a respectable female has been involved and undone.

Miss F. B.'s next movement in life was in her return to her maternal home; and here, with a beloved mother, and a dear, but blind old grandmother near at hand, a Christian of more than sixty years' standing, she spent several very happy years of her life; for now her religious career commenced. Favoured in a constant attendance on the ministry of the Rev. W. Coles, Baptist minister, of Maulden and Ampthill, she became deeply sensible of the value of personal piety and devotedness to God. In her case the work was a progressive one, but from the first marked by much simplicity and humility. Here she renewed her acquaintance with a distant relative, a young person of great conversational powers, and a sheer enthusiast on the subject of adult immersion. Hence, from her persuasions, and

her own warm attachment to a revered pastor, Miss B. was, like many young female converts, hurried into the water, as the most undoubted evidence of her love to Christ. But in after life she acknowledged the imprudent haste of the early convert. And from her invariable and voluntary adhesion, in subsequent life, to the Independent worship and communion, she gave a lasting proof of the sobriety of her more enlightened judgment. As for strict and exclusive communion, she considered it as the very popery of a party, and a schism in the body of Christ. In this sphere she became incidently acquainted with her future partner in life, then a student in Newport Pagnel Academy. After preaching at Ampthill, one Sabbath evening, he inquired of the venerable pastor, who that young lady was who had sung so melodiously. He accordingly told him, and added, " you will see her shortly, as she generally calls in upon us to wish us good night." Miss B. and a young friend, therefore, soon made their accustomed call; and though the interview was a short one, mutual impressions were then felt; and the old gentleman soon after this told Miss B. that he believed a gracious Providence had designed that Mr. R. and herself would become man and wife. And though subsequent movements, and the absence of all correspondence, seemed to be opposed to it, yet the venerable pastor ever retained his opinion and his wishes; and in four or five years he lived to congratulate them on their happy union; proving, as he facetiously remarked, "in this respect, at least, I am no false prophet." Led on by her ardent young friend before alluded to, they made a singular attempt to convert a large party of soldiers that were soon to embark for the continent, on some of the desperate engagements with the armies of Buonaparte. They sent to town for a sufficient number of the tract called "Pray and Fight;" and having obtained the consent of the officers, they took an occasion one morning, at the roll-call, to go round and give to every soldier one of these tracts. Jokes and jeers were abundantly poured out upon these young ladies, by the men whom they so courageously attempted to prepare for those awful and sanguinary wars that so shortly awaited them. It is hoped that some serious results followed this extraordinary effort of female zeal.

You know, dear Madam, that the happy union of Mr. and Mrs. Raban took place about the period of your birth, and that, a day or two afterwards, your mamma presented you to Mrs. R. as a future pupil of hers, and which, in due course, you be came; but how surprising that almost at the very moment that Mons. D. led you to the sacred altar, your endeared relative was in

the solemn act of committing her spirit into the hands of her God and Saviour. May your union prove as happy, and be as long extended, as hers! You are aware that Solomon says, "Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord: and that a prudent wife is from the Lord." Brought into correspondence and intercourse, through the recommendation of kind friends, Mr. R. found that he was not mistaken in the object of his regard; and, after much prayer and serious conference, the union took place; and from that auspicious day to her last, the development of sound sense, of high principles, and of exemplary conduct, was ever beautifully manifest.

With much calmness and self-command, with uncommon industry and perseverance, she uniformly exemplified the character of "a virtuous woman, whose price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her; she will do him good, and not evil, all the days of her life." The latter part of this description shall have the following illustration: In the following spring after their marriage, Mr. R. had a severe affliction, that brought him to death's door. On his recovery, a friendly physician, who often had heard Mr. R. preach, and witnessed his too zealous exertions, and knew also the Antinomian spirit that prevailed among some of his principal hearers, united with Mrs. R. in urging her husband to give up his charge at Wallingford. He promised to comply after a few months' more trial and consideration; and Mrs. R. solemnly pledged her word that, having commenced a ladies' establishment, she would employ all her energies to make him an Independent Itinerant, and be no more troubled by his Antinomian opponents. In the following year he accordingly resigned, assisting his worthy companion in her profession, and found plenty of sabbath employment in supplying the pulpits of his esteemed brethren at Oxford, Reading, Abingdon, Henley, and the adjacent villages; and through the successive kindness of many estimable friends, Mrs. R. kept to her pledge; and ever after, whether the labours of her partner were more or less stationary, pastoral or occasional, she enjoyed the high satisfaction of making him as entirely independent of the people as if he had a fortune at his command. And if any party dared to whisper anything against so disinterested a labourer, they were sure to be reminded by her of his independence, and of their ingratitude. Indeed, she was remarkable for her own subsequent attachment to the ministries of the Rev. Messrs. Brown, Harris, Spencer, &c., to the end of life; and, according to her opportunities, none could be more punctual, more con

sistent, or more happy, in her attendance in the house of God. In numerous instances could she say, with Jacob, "This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven."

Let us recur next, dear Madam, to her domestic character. Here her good sense, constant economy, and varied talent, shone forth with much order, cleanliness, and propriety. In directing her servants, by her own manual services,-in teaching some to read, to spell, and to write; in other cases, to brush, to scour, or to cook and conserve, they were sure, if not mere dolts, to improve under her skilful management. She rewarded them, too, according to their merits, and the periods of their servitude, which, in various cases, extended to seven, ten, or more years; and she seldom had occasion to refer to the term of "a month's notice or wages," because her constant aim was to confide in her servants, and to make them easy and happy. In this respect many a lady might copy her example with great advantage. Though often in her kitchen, she scarcely ever went there to scold; and never did she condescend to tattle to her neighbours about their conduct. She would teach or reprove them, but never backbite them; and invariably on their leaving the family, she would give them a true character, whether for or against them. The reader will therefore infer, that regularity, peace, and comfort, were the constant inmates in Mrs. R.'s establishment. Numerous as the family sometimes was, such a character, for many years, that establishment obtained. You will remember, also, her great attachment to the brute creation; her cats, dogs, ponies, and poultry were all sure to find a happy home under her fostering care; but she was always afraid of cows, though so useful and gentle as they are. Many pleasing instances of this treatment, and of the facility with which she taught them all but human actions, might be recorded; but space in this brief memorial forbids further detail: but never did her anger more show itself, than when she observed any brute in the street, or on the road, maltreat any of God's poor defenceless animals.

The writer will now take you and the reader to review Mrs. R. as the governess in her school-room. Here, as you remember, she displayed singular talent, address, punctuality, industry, and impartiality. She had no favouritism, even among her nieces, or towards those pupils whose parents paid very handsomely: the half-boarder or the orphan, especially, if well-behaved, often found an apologist in their kind governess. On her removal, and re-commencing her establishment at St. Alban's, her sphere of usefulness was greatly enlarged, though she

had shared many tokens of sincere friendship at Wallingford. Inhabiting the spacious house and premises that were built by Mr. Stone, the mason who re-built St. Paul's cathedral, she found ample scope for the indulgence and culture of her natural industry and scholastic attainments. By her quickness and tact, she could generally equal the services of two teachers, superintending the whole school with admirable ease and spirit. An early riser, when in health, she was frequently in the habit of calling her servants, teachers, and pupils to their respective duties, employing or amusing herself, after her private devotions, in adjusting the school-room, or in gardening, in the summer; or in rubbing tables and chairs, for exercise, in the winter. What a striking example to all her family: surely most of them never can forget that example. Her attachment to her home, with its manifold duties and pleasures, would employ her daily attentions by the half-year together, (for she was no gossip,) invariably watching over the health and improvement of her numerous family. And here it is proper to remark, that from her medical skill, and the prompt use of her medicaine chest, she could sometimes tell her friends that she had not had occasion to call in her medical attendant during the whole year past. Yet in obstinate cases, she was ever prompt to call in that attendance. Add to which, her fearless and excellent nursing, both by day and night, served to ward off, or hasten the cure of, disease and the saving to herself and her friends, in this respect, proved a source of mutual satisfaction. In one instance she nursed and medically treated an intimate female friend, through a most serious attack of scarlatina, and unknown to her family, except to her husband and a servant. the school-room, as you must recollect, her varied talents were often tested, in being competent to do two things at once.

:

In

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she could, with great facility, employ the pen, the needle, the pencil, the crayon, the worsted, the knitting or netting needle, as either might be required; and nothing came amiss to her. Then, again, most of her letters to her relatives and friends, unless very important, were truly school despatches, and written, too, as she was hearing her pupils read to her. And those letters were all well written, were sensible, and correctly punctuated too; and often amounting to four, six, or seven, in an afternoon and evening. Her gait, her sitting at the work or dinner-table, her excellent carving, and her general and minute superintendence, have often been admired. In fine, wherever she was, or however employed, she was a complete mistress of all the proprieties of life; and her lady-like manners gave an

irresistible charm to the whole of her accomplishments. Mrs. R.'s amusements with her pupils out of school-hours were always of an agreeable and interesting character: in the garden or the fields; in the school-room or the parlour, she was always the familiar friend, and the kind counsellor: hence their invariable attachment to her personal worth. Can the success which followed her exer tions in many cases be doubtful? Witness, then, in the progress of life, many worthy wives and mothers, and at least three interesting young ladies, who have married clergymen, and who have left their native shores to promote the great objects of the Church Missionary Society, in Ceylon and India.

As a relative, friend, and neighbour, Mrs. R.'s example is worthy of record in this place. Sincere, frank, hospitable, and generous, she was ever happy in entertaining her own and her husband's relations, and in rendering them any service in her power; and in their temporal or spiritual prosperity, she would ever express a lively interest. And she retained this affectionate regard to the latest period of her valuable life; for when her last illness had begun, she certainly hastened it on by a journey of fifty miles, to see her surviving sister, in the cherished hope, that being, as she said, "probably her last visit, it might be a blessing to her." And, on her husband asking her, in her last final hour, "Shall I give your dying love to all your relatives and friends, she emphatically replied,"Yes, do, do !" She was never backward in attending to the claims of friendship and good neighbourhood. In becoming the treasurer of a ladies' Bible association, or in the institution or support of a lying-in, or Dorcas society, her counsel, her pen, and her needle were always in readiness at the call of duty and friendship. And whenever a servant, or a poor neighbour, stood in need of her domestic medicine, it was promptly and generously given. And on

one occasion, a lady of rank was found as her correspondent when pleading on behalf of the poor; for whether she addressed a countess or a cook, it was always in appropriate language.

Mrs. R., as you well know, dear Madam, was a conscientious yet liberal Dissenter, often going with, or sending her teachers and pupils to the parish church. Had she been a formal, or a feigned adherent of the church, from the patronage that her seminary received from three or four influential elergymen, on her first going to St. Alban's, there is no doubt of her being in the high road to fortune and to fame; and had she preferred a dance with her pupils (though she would dance sometimes with them in the

winter evenings, to the last year of life) to family devotions, her applause had been all but unbounded: and cheerily as she loved to sing with you, or hear you sing, at the piano, she knew and observed the time for all things," a time to dance," and a time also" for the hour of prayer." Never did she appear more in her element than when, in addition to her husband's daily services, (which she always spoke of with pleasure,) she could call in the addresses and prayers of her regular pastors. These were often interesting seasons to herself and family. Her hospitalities to them, and to other occasional visitors, if not costly, were all pure expressions of gratitude, esteem, and good will. Yet, from intuition, or her observant habits, she could, from the countenance or the manners of most persons who came into her society, describe the peculiar or prominent traits of their character. Though she never studied Lavater, her natural love of physiognomy was remarkable. Hence her frequent cautions to her partner and her servants against many a beggar, or a fellow with a petition; and had her suggestions been attended to in time, a well known Jewish swindler at St. Alban's would have been early stopped in his career of deception and fraud; though he came there under the sanction of many of the Evangelical clergy, one of whom had baptized and admitted him into the church.

The errors and failures of your dear relative, Madam, were not notorious, but confined to the parlour, the school-room, and to the venerable old premises. Of her parlour occasional failings, nothing shall here be said: and though sometimes stern and unyielding in maintaining her authority in the school, her known integrity seemed to palliate, if not to justify her measures. Her taste for building, and improving the premises, her love of fruit trees, (rather than of fruit,) shrubs, and flowers, were, perhaps, of too expensive a kind. Yet her prudent measures, in rescuing her partner from certain difficulties brought on him by his disinterested and benevolent exertions; and after this freeing their estate, to a consider. able extent, delightfully proved to him, that "a good wife is from the Lord!" Another imperfection, shall I call it? of this amiable governess was, that, having so much sound prose in her composition, she had no relish scarcely for the mass of modern poetry. Of course, that of Watts, of Young, Cowper, and Montgomery, formed the exception. What she admired was of the sober and epigrammatic kind. Hence, she often valued the effusions of the family bard, in the shape of holiday and birthday versifications.

On one occasion, being previously much fatigued, yet hastening quickly up the stairs, she severely grazed the periosteum of her

right leg, from which she suffered much for several years. She consulted the most eminent surgeons of the metropolis. And once, on her way to Brighton, she sent for the rough, but skilful Abernethy. Aware of his aversion to female volubility, she was almost silent at the first interview: yet, after listening to him about his patients and his book, she softly said, "Sir, I have read your book." "What! you have read my book; then why not stop me before this?" "Because, Sir, I liked to listen to your sensible observations." This was enough ever after to secure his most polite, most humane attention and skill.

In the early part of the year 1838, Mrs. R.'s establishment was singularly visited with the small-pox, through one of her young ladies, while walking out with the rest one morning, having smelt some unpleasant effluvia, remarked instantly that she thought she should have the small-pox: and she accordingly had it, with several others, in rapid succession. Though in no instance fatal, through medical skill and good nursing, Mrs. R. concluded that (as in other instances) it would put the finishing stroke to her establishment at St. Alban's. Thus premonished, she determined, with the full consent of Mr. R., to move from their beloved residence; and by the counsel of a long endeared female friend, she fixed on a house in Loraine-place, Holloway. Here, though much encouraged by her former, and recently acquired friends, she found that her heavy expenses, with some losses, afforded her no adequate remuneration. But many proofs might be adduced, to prove that during this residence of more than the two last years of life, she became more weaned from the world, more alive to personal, family, and public means of grace, than at some former periods, when indulged with the gleams of outward prosperity.

And now, my dear Madam, the writer will give you a brief view of the death-bed scene of this admired relative. The calmness of her mind-the almost minute preparation-the deep humility-the holy fervour of her spirit in uniting with her affectionate husband in reading appropriate scriptures and in prayer, during the last fortnight of life, gave to him the certain presages of the approaching dissolution; and which came on rapidly during the last few days. And though several dear friends tried every agreeable effort to rally her spirits, accompanied by the remarkable bounty of two gentlemen at a distance, and aided by most excellent medical and surgical skill;-yet all was in vain! "The time of her departure was at hand!" And she was daily in a devout state of preparation for "her final hour;" and that hour preeminently "gave glory to her God."

On