As to the ladies I have mentioned, they both did wonders in specious arithmetic; but AZORA was the brightest of the two, and in pure algebra, had gone much further than ANTONIA. With wonder I beheld her, while she answered the most difficult questions as fast as fingers could move; and in the solution of cubics, and the resolution of equations, both according to Des Cartes laborious method, and the better universal way, by converging series, work with a celerity and truth beyond what I have ever seen any man do. Nor was it only algebra in'dependent of geometry that she understood. She could apply its reasoning to geometrical figures, and describe the loci of any equations by the mechanical motion of angles and lines. She was in this respect the greatest prodigy I ever saw.

But it was not on account of this excellence that I so much admired AZORA, and honour her memory so greatly as I do; nor because she talked so excellently on various subjects, as I have related; but, for her knowledge of the truths of Christianity, and the habits of goodness she had wrought into her soul; for the care she took of the people under her government, by communicating every felicity in her power, to their bodies and minds; and the pure religion of Christ Jesus, which she publicly maintained, in all the beauty of holiness and, in a just

fervour of practice. She was herself, in her manners and piety, a fine copy of those blessed women who conversed with our Lord and his apostles: and her society, in innocence and goodness, in usefulness and devotion, seemed an epitome of the first Christian church at Jerusalem. Under a just impression of the most heavenly principles they all lived, and strictly regarded their several offices. As the gospel directs, they worshipped a first cause, the Deity, as the disciples of the Christ of God, our holy mediator; and the authority of a being of infinite wisdom, and unchangeable rectitude of nature, had made such an impression upon their minds, that they laboured continually to acquire that consecration and sanctity of heart and manners, which our divine religion requires. Excellent community! happy would Europe be, if all her states were like this people. A false religion would not then prevail; nor would superstition be the idol to which the world bows down. The evils, which now dishonour human nature, and infest society, would not be seen among us; nor those excesses of passion be known, which are the parent of discord and calamity, and render this lower world one scene of sin and sorrow : but, as revelation inculcates, as reason suggests, mankind would worship the Almighty Principle, the One God, the Only True God, with a worship suit

In

able to the nature of a Being, who is not confined to, or dependent upon, particular places and circumstances, who is always, and every where present with us; and like the ministers attending on the glorious throne of the Monarch of the world, they would, according to their measure, be pure, benevolent mortals, and as perfect in goodness, as men can be within the degree and limit of their nature. a word, the supreme Father of all things would then be the God of all Christians; and in doing his will, in imitating his perfections, and in practising every thing recommended by the great and universal law of reason, that law which God sent our Lord to revive and enforce; they would find the greatest pleasure. Such were the people of Burcot-Hamlet. AZORA and ANTONIA were indeed most glorious women *.

* AZORA BURCOT died in 1732, six years after I left them, but ANTONIA FLETCHER was [1756] living in the same happy situation; and by advising the young women to marry some young men of those mountains, has made an alteration in the community for the better, and encreased the number of her people. The settlement is now like to continue, and they find many advantages from having men among them. The rising generation thereby acquired, now proves a blessing to the first colony, whom years have rendered much weaker and de

The 18th of June, 1725, I took my leave of Mrs. BURCOT and Mrs. FLETCHER, for so they would be

pendent than when I first saw them. AZORA, a little before she died, did intend to get in a recruit of female children for the support of the society: but ANTONIA judged it was much better, to let the young girls of the community get honest youths for their spouses; for, by this means, they can never want young people to assist and comfort them, and to encrease and perpetuate their happy republic. For these reasons, she sent for some young men to several neighbouring villages in Richmondshire, to make several things wanting, and to dig, and work in the gardens, for so much by the year certain; and as they were smitten with the clean, civil girls of Burcot-Hamlet, several marriages soon ensued, and infants were produced before the twelve months had expired. More than half of the twenty women that married, had twins the first year, and all of them had strong, healthy children. The ten extraordinary girls I mentioned, got very good husbands, and as ANTONIA was particularly kind to them on their marrying, and gave to all the wedded folks great encouragement in profitable gardens and houses, grain and cattle, they and their spouses became rather more dutiful and useful to their mistress and ruler than otherwise, and in gratitude, and for the sake of their children, did their best to please Mrs. FLETCHER, and encrease the common felicity. In this condition I found them on my second arrival at

called, as they informed me, after I had once used the word Miss; and from this fine place, proceeded

Burcot-Hamlet. They were a flourishing village, and a most happy people. My second visit was in 1739, fourteen years after the first; and I saw them a third time in 1752. They were then all well, and enjoyed every comfort of life that can proceed from good and useful manners. Mrs. FLETCHER, though now in years, has no sign of age in her constitution, and still leads a most active and pious life. She is a subaltern providence to them, and with the tenderest care, makes it the labour of her every day to secure and advance the temporal and eternal interest of the people: but their souls is her main care. She performs to them divine service twice every day, as good AZORA was wont to do. She reads the best sermons to the aged, and constantly catechises the young ones. She is a blessed woman.

By the way, reader, I must observe to you, that in travelling over that part of Richmondshire, which is called Stanemore, I found several small villages, that are not mentioned in Camden, or the Britannia Antiqua et Nova, or in England's Gazetteer; and though not so pretty and happy as Burcot in the northern ends of the fells of Westmoreland; yet in tolerable condition, and remarkable on account of several things and people; though they live entirely on what their spot affords, and have little communication with their countrymen beyond the mountains that separate the inhabitants of Stanemore