"Remember, dear Sir, that I am but a scholar, a very new one, and quite unfit to correspond with such a man as you, though my soul is capable of loving you as a brother and friend in Christ Jesus; and of admiring you as a chosen servant of his, a vessel unto honour, sanctified and meet for the Master's use, and for the edification and comfort of his children. Yes, Sir, I hope I am united to you in one body and soul, which is Christ Jesus the Saviour; and I say, with 'Little Jane,' that I am happy to be even the smallest and lowest of all his members. How much I delighted in reading this narrative; how wonderful the grace of our Lord! how happy the country where children are brought up in the fear of God, and taught so young to love and serve the Saviour! what an eminent Christian—so young a child! But this is neither to be taught nor learnt. He alone can give it, who is love itself, and who purchased us to himself by shedding his precious blood for us, Oh, Sir! you do not know, perhaps, to what an unworthy being you wrote. I have passed all my life in the ignorance of Him who died for me; without love to Him who loved me first, and sought me out, when I hastened to my ruin in a life of enmity to my God. He sought me out, and mercifully sent His servant Pinkerton to open my eyes and my ears by the power of His word, so that I plainly see now what a sinful, wicked creature Į am: what a gracious, merciful God to offend! and how kind, and always ready and willing to receive us, our Saviour Jesus Christ is, and always will be! How good He was to me, sending such a meek, patient, loving soul, as the worthy Mr. Pinkerton proved to be during his living in my family.* What a life of disgust it must have been to a man of his distinguished merit, to bear with the caprices and wickedness of a spoiled, ignorant, and proud woman; but 'charity seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, beareth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things; charity never faileth :' I have an evident proof of it in my dear friend and instructor. But I must stop, and ask to be forgiven for having written so much: my heart opens at the voice of a friend, and then I speak out of the fulness of it. Excuse me, then, Sir, for intruding so much upon your time. Pray for me, that I may come in faith and grace to the happy day, in which I shall be enabled to join with you in joyful hallelujahs and eternal praises of our heavenly Father and divine Saviour. Oh, may his peace always * Mr. (now Dr.) Pinkerton, was entrusted with the education of this distinguished lady's children, be with you! Receive with indulgence, dear Sir, my hearty thanks; and the assurance of the sincere esteem and high regard with which I am "Your much obliged and obedient, "P. SOPHIA METSTCHERSKY." The letters to Mrs. Livius, which are next inserted, were written about this period, and the editor cannot recur to them without feelings of the liveliest emotion. They allude to an excellent and highly valued character, the late George Livius, Esq. who is endeared to the writer by recollections which time cannot impair— which live not only in the memory, but in the heart. He once knew the world, but had long retired from it, and left it in pursuit of a better. He was the well-known Gaius* of the county where he lived-the lover of good men, of whatever name or title: he was purified in the furnace of affliction; but his trials are now terminated, and he has entered on those blest abodes where rest is promised to the weary, and where sorrow and sighing flee away?† The editor trusts he shall be pardoned this short indulgence of awakened feeling towards one who was his father-in-law, and who eminently united to the interesting qualities that adorn the man, the principles and graces that constitute the Christian. "My dear Madam, "Nov. 15, 1816. "Permit me to exercise the Christian privilege of at once condoling and consoling. Often have I felt with and for you, as it has long respected your departed son; yet I doubt not, every pang of his, and every grief, have alike had their allotted embassy, and that a message of mercy to both. The valley of tears is strewed with rocks and thorns, and the pathway often lies through deep waters: yet the rocks are placed there by him who is em * A name given to him, expressive of his hospitality. St. Paul alludes to Gaius, as the host by whom he was entertained. Romans xvi. 23. + The following anecdote deserves to be preserved, relating to this gentleman. He was formerly resident in India, where he held an important office, in the time of Warren Hastings. Being some time after requested by Mr. Burke, who conducted the celebrated impeachment of Governor Hastings, to furnish him with some fresh charges, of which it was known that Mr. Livius was in possession, the latter inquired what number he already intended to prefer? "We have now," replied Mr. Burke, "twenty-seven charges against him." "Then," said Mr. Livius, "I will not add one more to the number, for you have twenty too many." phatically the Rock; the thorn of care is not unaccompanied by the Rose of Sharon; and in the deep waters God has promised to deliver. If this valley be a wilderness, it is one through which his people are journeying, and in the midst of its darkest shades they fear no evil, for He is with them; his rod and staff are their support and consolation. Is it not so, my honoured friend? That you and I may ever prove it, is the sincere prayer of my dear wife and of "Your affectionate Friend, "LEGH RICHMOND." "Nov. 23, 1816. "My dear Madam, "Allow me once more to express the friendly solicitude which I feel for you and my honoured friend Mr. Livius, under your recent and present trial.* His strength and spirits would not admit of my saying all which my heart dictated when I saw him yesterday. I wish him to know how much I have valued his friendship, and how grateful I feel for a series of hospitality and kindness of no ordinary character, for a period of now near eleven years. I wish him to know that I have ever been a sympathising observer of his bodily sufferings; and have entertained a cordial esteem and regard for his many amiable and excellent qualities of head and heart. "The confidential intercourse with which, at various periods, he has been pleased to favour me, cannot be obliterated from my recollection, nor effaced from my affections. It is my heart's prayer that his consolations may be 'neither few nor small;' that the peace of God may be his resting-pillow, and that God will 'make his bed in all his sickness.' Not one affliction has ever befallen him beyond what his heavenly Father designed for his present and eternal good. Wisdom, mercy, power, and faithfulness, have guided all. May each of his children be blessed with a heart taught by the same spirit who hath taught him and you to look to the Strong One for help; and may they be effectually preserved from the snares and delusions of this present evil world. "May you, my dear friend, be upheld by a Saviour's power and love, to fulfil every arduous task which his wisdom assigns you. Forgive this intrusion, solely prompted by grateful friendship. Accept our united assurances of love for you and yours." * The death of one of their sons, and the dangerous illness of Mr. Livius. "My very dear Friend, "Dec. 18, 1816. "It is fit that the same moment which brings me the long-expected, yet afflicting tidings of my much-loved friend's departure from this vale of tears, should dictate a few sympathetic lines to his dear relict. Your mind has long waited this event, with Christian resignation. May the Spirit of power and peace bless his own preparation, now that the hour of trial has arrived! You have the prayers of many friends to mingle with your own. These, in God's sight, are riches. May you enjoy them spiritually and eternally. Tribulation worketh patience; patience, experience; experience, hope;' hope thou therefore in God. Time is swiftly passing away, and its stream is gradually absorbed in eternity. Our years roll on, and we shall soon be there; and there we shall meet those who have loved Christ, and loved us. There, dear madam, in the bosom of your Saviour and God, you shall meet your dear husband. Till then, may faith, hope, peace, tranquillity, and love, gild your horizon, like resplendent clouds round the setting sun, prophetic of a bright approaching morning. Christ has bequeathed his peace to you; take it as his legacy, and use it to his glory. Mrs. Richmond unites in affectionate regards to you and all yours, under this present trial, with "Your affectionate friend, "LEGH RICHMOND." We close the chapter with a pleasing little poetical effusion, written about the same time: A WIDOWED MOTHER'S ADDRESS TO HER DAUGHTER, ON THE DAY OF HER MARRIAGE. Say, why should my bosom thus heave with a sigh, Forgive me, my child, whom my soul holds so dear- You've a smile from my heart, though my eye drops a tear! This sigh is the tribute of tenderest love, And I trust shall be heard in the mansions above; For it breathes a warm prayer to the bridegroom of heaven, That to thee, now a bride, his best blessing be given. May he weave thee a garland on this nuptial morn, May his true wedding-robe, which he purchased with blood, Be thou spotless without, and all glorious within. May my child and her partner, in holy connexion, Thus thy marriage on earth a sweet emblem shall be, And then, the few days of thy pilgrimage past, Peace be with you, my children! I speak without guile, I began with a tear, but I end with a smile; 'Tis my hope that your happiness nothing shall cloy, CHAPTER XII. Letters-Poetry-Description of lake scenery-Brief account of his first lour to Scotland-His sentiments on Oratorios-Tribute to the memory of his mother, &c. It was usual with Mr. Richmond to mark with peculiar solemnity the birth-days of himself and all his family. These he kept as a kind of religious festival;-writing letters to the different members of his family, and preaching to his parishioners on an appropriate subject. The following letter he wrote to his mother on one of these occasions. "My dearest Mother, "The return of this day demands a return of affectionate regards to God, the author of my being, and to you, the instrument employed by him to convey life and existence to my unworthy self. Often do I reflect with love and gratitude on your kindness and watchful care over me, from infancy to the present moment. Your qualities of heart and head cannot be forgotten, any more than the name of parent-a title consecrated by every principle, divine and human. This being my birth day, I propose to preach on Psalm cxxxix. verses 14-18. How suitable for such a meditation! What a miracle is the life of man, viewed naturally, spiritually, and eternally! How incomprehensible, from the first to last! from conception to the cradle-from the cradle to the grave |