a moderate sum with his name; but, shortly after, the committee received a blank letter, having the post-mark of Bristol, and enclosing a Bank of England bill for five hundred pounds." Dr. Pole gave the following account:-"It is well known, that he made it his constant practice from religious principle annually to spend the whole of his income. What his moderate domestic establishment did not require, he disposed of in subscriptions and donations for promoting whatever was useful to society, as well as to lessen the sufferings of the afflicted, without regard to names, sects, or parties. At one particular time (if I am rightly informed), he wrote to a friend in London, acquainting him that he had not, that year, spent the whole of his income, -requesting that, if he (his friend) knew of any particular cases, claiming charitable relief, he (Mr. R.) might be informed. His friend communicated to him the distressing situation of a considerable number of persons confined in a certain prison for small debts. What did this humane and generous philanthropist do on this representation? He cleared the whole of their debts. He swept this direful mansion of all its miserable tenants. He opened the prison doors, proclaimed deliverance to the captives, and let the oppressed free." go "Mr. Reynolds, in 1795, resided at Coalbrook Dale. He addressed a letter to some friends in London, stating the impression made upon his mind by the distresses of the community, and desiring that they would draw upon him for such sum as they might think proper. They complied with his request, and drew, in a very short time, to the extent of eleven thousand pounds. It appeared, however, that they had not yet taken due measure of his liberality: for, in the course of a few months, he again wrote, stating, that his mind was not easy, and his coffers were still too full. In consequence of which they drew for nine thousand pounds more!" Mr. Stephen Prust told this characteristic anecdote:-"Mr. Reynolds having applied to a gentleman whom he thought rich, but who was really only in circumstances of mediocrity, to stimulate him to give, made use of the following argument: - When gold encircles the heart, it contracts it to such a degree, that no good can issue from it; but when the pure gold of faith and love gets into the heart, it expands it so that the last drop of life-blood will flow into any channel of benevolence.'" The following pleasing circumstance comes from the same authority :-" A lady applied to him on behalf of an orphan. After he had given liberally, she said, When he is old enough, I will teach him to name and thank his benefactor.' 'Stop (said the good man), thou art mistaken-we do not thank the clouds for the rain. Teach him to look higher, and thank Him who giveth both the clouds and the rain."" The Rev. William Thorpe, in the course of a most impressive speech, related a circumstance which strikingly exemplifies the humility of this excellent man:-"So far was he from being inflated with the pride of wealth, that he spoke the genuine sentiments of his heart when he said to a friend who applied to him with a case of distress, My talent is the meanest of all talents—a little sordid dust; but the man in the parable, who had but one talent, was accountable; and for the talent that I possess, humble as it is, I am also accountable to the great LORD of all.'" A simple but noble monument, from the association of illustrious names, was erected to the honour of Richard Reynolds, during his lifetime, by one of his most favoured friends, who entered into rest long before him. On hearing of Lord Nelson's victory at Trafalgar, the late worthy Mr. John Birtill, of Bristol, placed a marble tablet in a private chapel in his dwelling-house, bearing this inscription: "JOHN HOWARD. JONAS HANWAY. JOHN FOTHERGILL, M. D. "Not unto us, O LORD! not unto us, but unto Thy Name be the glory.' "Beneath some ample hallow'd dome, The warrior's bones are laid, To names the poor shall ever bless, To soften human woe their care, The following extract of a letter, from a benevolent friend of the deceased, introduces a most interesting document, written some years since by the departed philanthropist :-"A short time before the last illness of our late venerable friend, Mr. Reynolds, I had a pleasing conversation with him on the subject of the various charities in this city | which he had so liberally patronised. He informed me, that he thought it right to be his own executor, as it respected these and other charities; and, in confirmation that this had long been his opinion, put into my hands the following copy of a letter he had written twelve years ago on the subject. "A. T. "Bristol, Oct. 11. 1816." "Bridgewater, "11th of 6th month, 1804. been done had he continued in the body. I am pleased to find the reflection warmed thy heart. I hope it will move thy hands also upon an occasion of which the same post that brought me thy letter brought me an account, styled a case of distress, relating that ———, of- was drowned near —, leaving a wife and nine children, without any provision for their support; that contributions would be received at the banks there till the 5th instant, after which time the inhabitants would be applied to personally. I suppose thou art not a stranger to the case-most likely not to the individuals; and, as a neighbour, still more as a parent of a numerous offspring, I conclude thy assistance will be proportionably liberal, nor the less for its being a deed done in the body. I know not who sent me the case, which I did not receive till the time was expired for public contributions; nevertheless, if thou wilt inform me what thou and others have done, and ye have left room for more, though a stranger to the persons, and remote from the place, my mite shall not be withdrawn by "Thy affectionate friend, "RICHARD REYNOLDS." Finally, "mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace," as the annexed authentic document will testify. Richard Reynolds. "The sentiment to which thy brother- alludes, though I know not that I expressed it to him, was in consequence of a reference to some post-mortuary charities, if thou wilt allow of the expression, when, adverting to the saying of the Apostle that we were to receive hereafter according to the things done in the body, I contended that these were not deeds done in the body; and I do not think the assertion need be qualified by the alteration thou suggestest, of being best done while we are in the body, for in the case under consideration we keep what we have as long as we are in the body, and would keep it longer if we could. All that we do is to prevent our heirs from doing as we have done; and the "September 14. 1816.- Memorandum respecting the late deed is not done, either by them or by us, while we are in the body. If we should admit there is any merit in the deed, it certainly cannot belong to us who do it not; and that which we do, by enjoining what others shall do, is lessening, as much as we can, every thing like merit in them, by depriving them of a free agency, especially if they are the persons to whom the money would have gone if we had died intestate; these, if any, have a right to take credit on account of the act. Perhaps those, if any such there be, who prevent others from having that which the law would give them, would do well to consider whether the account is properly adjusted by their obliging those, to whom they do give it, to apply it to charitable purposes which can do them no credit; the testator certainly can claim none as far as a deed done in the body, which, as I said before, neither was then done, nor would have "In the spring of this year, his anxious friends thought they saw in his countenance indications of declining health; he was indeed, about this time, frequently complaining of weakness and loss of appetite. In May he was very unwell from a cold; but had nearly recovered it, when a bilious attack reduced him considerably, and did not permanently yield to medical skill. Seeing this, he was urged to try the waters of Cheltenham: to which he submitted, evidently to satisfy his friends; for his mind was fixed on the probability, that the complaint would terminate his earthly pilgrimage; and with this view he frequently expressed himself quite satisfied, having brought his mind to a dependence only on the mercy of GoD in CHRIST JESUS. He went to Cheltenham the 7th August; and continued, with but little variation as to his disorder, till Friday the 6th September-walking and riding out every day, and even driving the carriage himself, accompanied by his daughter or cousin only-on which day he walked out before breakfast; but soon after became much weaker, and towards evening declined rapidly. On Sunday, however, he revived so much as to give hope that it would be possible to remove him to Bristol the next day,-the prospect of which had before appeared to be agreeable to him. But these hopes were disappointed; he sunk again in the course of that night never to revive. For many years, he had not been confined to his bed a whole day; and, during this illness, he got up and sat at table with the family at all their meals, till Monday, his last day, when he was induced by his friends to lie in bed till the afternoon; then he arose, drank tea with them in another room, and went to bed at his usual time. At five o'clock next morning, an alteration for the worse appearing In his breathing, some of his relatives, who had retired for a while, were called to him; but none of them thought his end so near. He had before desired that his daughter would be with him at his close; and now about six o'clock, raising himself a little, he signified that she should go to the other side of the bed; when, turning on his side, and taking her hand in his, and pressing it, he quietly, and almost imperceptibly, expired!- A silence, which can hardly be described, pervaded the room; no one quitting the awful scene for more than an hour. This was the 10th September, 1816. Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?' "A few days previously to this event, after something consolatory had been ministered by an endeared female friend, he said, 'My faith and hope are, as they have long been, on the mercy of GOD, through JESUS CHRIST, who was the propitiation for my sins, and not for mine only, but for the sins of the whole world.' Thus, beneath the' horizon dim, He would hide his radiant head, And, on eyes that saw not him, Light and consolation shed. Oft his silent spirit went, Then the widow's heart would sing, As she turn'd her wheel, for joy; Then the bliss of hope would spring On the outcast orphan-boy. To the blind, the deaf, the lame, To the ignorant and vile, Stranger, captive, slave, he came With a welcome and a smile. Help to all he did dispense, To the evil and the good. Deeds of mercy, deeds unknown, Shall eternity record, Which he durst not call his own, For he did them to the LORD. As the Earth puts forth her flowers, Heaven-ward breathing from below; As the clouds descend in showers, When the southern breezes blow; Thus his renovated mind, Warm with pure celestial love, Shed its influence on mankind, While its hopes aspired above. Full of faith at length he died, And, victorious in the race, Won the crown for which he vied Not of merit, but of grace. III. A GOOD MAN'S MONUMENT. THE pyre, that burns the aged Bramin's bones, Runs cold in blood, and issues living groans, When the whole Haram with the husband dies, And demons dance around the sacrifice. In savage realms, when tyrants yield their breath, Herds, flocks, and slaves, attend their lord in death; Arms, chariots, carcasses, a horrid heap, Rust at his side, or share his mouldering sleep. When heroes fall triumphant on the plain; For millions conquer'd, and ten thousands slain; For cities levell'd, kingdoms drench'd in blood, Navies annihilated on the flood; -The pageantry of public grief requires The splendid homage of heroic lyres And genius moulds impassion'd brass to breathe The deathless spirit of the dust beneath, Calls marble honour from its cavern'd bed, And bids it live-the proxy of the dead. Reynolds expires, a nobler chief than these; No blood of widows stains his obsequies; But widows' tears, in sad bereavement, fall, And foundling voices on their father call: No slaves, no hecatombs, his relics crave, To gorge the worm, and crowd his quiet grave; But sweet repose his slumbering ashes find, As if in Salem's sepulchre enshrined, And watching angels waited for the day When CHRIST should bid them roll the stone away. Not in the fiery hurricane of strife, No sculptured imagery, of bronze or stone, Not to record and praise his virtues past, |