expression, the end of the LORD," gave her high satisfaction: They were also pleasing subjects of conversation. Her pious observations took a wider range; she looked abroad into the world; she received information from every quarter, with much interest, respecting the state of religion, and the diffusion of the knowledge, and of the triumphs of Christianity, throughout the earth. Though she was a steady member of the Church of Scotland, she was not a bigotted Presbyterian. She hated that bigotry, in all professions, which regards with a suspicious eye whatever is not attempted or effected by ministers of one denomination. If members or ministers of the Church of England; if Moravians, Baptists, Methodists, were zealous, and active, and successful, in the works of benevolence, generosity, and piety; if the established clergy, or the dissenters laboured not in vain, in bringing sinners to GOD, and in diffusing and preserving genuine religion; she rejoiced with St. Paul, and bade all GoD speed, to use the language of St. John, who had these objects in view.

A SHORT time before her death, there was a striking coincidence of many events and circumstances, all pointing towards the checking of immorality and irreligion, and the reviving and promoting of the knowledge and practice of true religion, which affected her mind very much. Such things she pondered in her heart, and talked of them to all those who rejoiced in the prosperity of Zion, and in the opening prospects of the diffusion or of the reviving of the Gospel. I refer, more particularly, to associations for reformation of manners, Sunday evening schools, missionary societies, schemes for promoting religious knowledge among the poor, societies for relief to the industrious sick, &c. A happy change in the stream of opinion respecting order and government gave her also much pleasure. These,

and

and similar events and circumstances, she gratefully remarked as tokens for good, whether considered in a political or moral point of view.

I TURN to another trait of an amiable and venerable character. The worthy Lady, like many of the most eminent saints in every age, was visited with severe trials. One very afflicting and overwhelming dispensation is present to my thoughts. A heart of great sensibility, tremblingly alive to every thing that respects the child of tenderest affection, is ill prepared to receive information of his misfortunes, sufferings, and death. Your Lordship perceives immediately the event to which I refer; it is, indeed, a matter of notoriety. I do not, properly speaking, bring forward a piece of private history, when I mention Captain William Leslie as a most amiable and highly respected young man, and whose fall in the American war was very generally and most sincerely lamented. It is not panegyric that avers that few mothers have met with so severe a trial. On that memorable and melancholy occasion, the power of religion was manifested, in an eminent degree. Grief was blended with acquiescence in the disposals of Providence; mildness, composure, and strength of mind, were preserved. Deep distress was found not incompatible with the serenity, the trust and consolations, of the Gospel. From her behaviour and collected spirit, and resources in devotion and religion upon this occasion, may be judged what she was under other trying dispensations. Under them all, was displayed the profoundest reverence for the Providence of GOD, and a readiness to vindicate his ways, dark and perplexing though they often appeared. Your Lordship knows well that it is in the day of distress we discover what spirit we are of, in the day of affliction, are exercised and exhibited the best and most precious virtues of the 3 A 2 Chris

Christian life. In these seasons were peculiarly mani fested the virtues and graces of our eminent saint.

I HAVE already, in effect, noticed that the Countess of Leven was distinguished by a public spirit, and a fervent zeal to extend and promote the interests of true religion. She who admired, and rejoiced in, the active and successful labours of others, and took a particular interest in what passed in the world of a religious and public spirited nature, could not, in her own sphere, but show the same spirit, and forward the same all-important objects.

I WELL know what names the world bestows on this spirit and its exertions. Their ridicule and condemnation are, in the estimation of a Christian, high praise. A well informed, a well directed, a fervent zeal for the interests of religion and of humanity, is the chief ornament of any character. It was the brightest gem in her coronet of virtues. I am well qualified to bear ample testimony to the sincerity, and warmth and extent of Lady Leven's holy zeal in whatever contributed, or that she imagined tended to contribute, towards promoting the knowledge and practice of religion, or, in other words, the glory of her GoD and Saviour, and the happiness of mankind.

A DETAIL of instances of the schemes and exertions of a pious, humane, and liberal spirit, that fell under my own observation, would fill many pages; they were chiefly known and experienced in the neighbourhood of Melville House. They were not, however, by any means confined to her own family and parish: She devised pious and liberal things; and though she often verged to the amiable extreme of doing too much, what she did and gave was not all that her generous heart desired.

A

A LIVELY interest in the success of religion and plans of humanity had its high gratifications. She had no greater joy than in learning that the word of God had free course and was glorified, that many walked in the truth, that human misery was alleviated and disappeared, that happiness prevailed. The counterpart of this joy, alas! was felt and shown when promising appearances vanished, when promising schemes failed, when expected reformation, and zeal, and piety, became backsliding, lukewarmness, and conformity to the world; when calamities, and judgments, and wars, and desolation, visited the earth. I have known her satisfactions; I have also witnessed her disappointments, her griefs and lamentations.

THOSE, my Lord, who give no credit to the expence, pains, and exertions, that have religion for their object, because it would appear they have no value for it themselves, or even a belief that others may derive enjoyment from this source, refuse not to give due praise to the expence, pains, and exertion, which have immediate relief, and enjoyment, and comfort, of a worldly kind, for their objects. They will join the encomiasts of Lady Leven, when they are assured that more tender interest than her's, in the afflictions, wants, or sufferings of fellow-creatures, is rarely to be found, in any station or condition of life. As minister of the parish, and having a peculiar charge of the poor, I had frequent access to know her solicitude about the lowest of the low, the minuteness of her attentions, and the extent of her donations. She inquired about fuel, clothing, cordials, and medicine. Tales of distress, sometimes injudiciously repeated, considering how much they affected her, often robbed her of her rest, and rendered her anxious, till every thing was done for relief, and comfort, and

health.

health. On the tablet of many a heart her memory is indelibly engraven.

In the character of the worthy Lady, we do not speak of the heart only: Goodness of heart, eminence of rank, the power of doing good, and even superior sanctity, are more amiable, more ennobled, more venerable, when connected with a superior and well cultivated understanding. Discernment and observation distinguished the objects of her zeal, her friendship, and benevolence. Nor did she dislike the pleasantries of wit in others; she did not restrain the easy flow of unbending, cheerful conversation; she could amuse, and be amused, with quaint remarks, and allusions, and lively repartees.

To friendship and its satisfactions intellect is essential. Could I open the escritoires of her friends or her own, I should be able to furnish examples of the effusions of friendship, piety, and good sense, equal to many that have been preserved and published, models for imitation, in respect of worthy sentiments, and unfolding of character, as well as of excellence, of unreserved, judicious, yet lively composition. This I do not suppose or conclude, but know. I was occasionally favoured with the perusal of some letters of her excellent correspondents; I was also favoured with letters to myself. And here I am very naturally led to think of one of her friends and correspondents in particular, and am constrained to insert part of a letter I received from him on his being informed of the event, which he so pathetically laments. The tribute he pays to her memory is no unfavourable exhibition of himself as a friend, a philanthropist, a Christian.

ACCOUNTING for not keeping his purpose of writing

sooner