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,
And the tear of affection now start from my eye?

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,
With the roses of Sharon thy brows to adorn;
With the ring of his love, may he claim thee for his,
And pronounce thee "joint heir" of his heavenly bliss.

362

MEMOIRS OF THE REV. LEGH RICHMOND.

May his true wedding robe, which he purchased with blood,
Be thy portion, my daughter, by Jesus bestowed;
By his grace freely pardoned, and cleansed from all sin,
Be thou spotless without, and all glorious within.

May my child and her partner, in holy connection,
Be united, through grace, by true Christian affection ;
May the wife prove a sister, the husband a brother,
And each find a help in the faith of the other.

Thus thy marriage on earth a sweet emblem shall be,
Of a far brighter union provided for thee;
And then, the few days of thy pilgrimage past,
Thy Saviour will own Thee his spouse at the last.

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,
And the heart of the widow shall sing with new joy!

CHAPTER XII.

Letters-Poetry-Description of lake scenery-Brief account of his first tour 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, from the grave to the resurrection,-from the resurrection through eternity! Then to consider the endless variety of frames, providences, events, souls, bodies, and spirits! Sometimes when I meditate on futurity, I am lost in inexplicable thought I then see the importance of the mind's retiring into the consolations of the past and the present, as they arise from the revealed plan of salvation; and through that medium, even eternity assumes a solid and hopeful aspect.

:

"If ever I felt it more than ordinarily due to a valued parent to express my gratitude, it is at a time when she has so kindly and so considerately met the peculiar circumstances of difficulty, in which a variety of events have conspired to place Between my last and present birth-day, many sorrows, many shocks to feeling, many heavy expenses have occurred; my heart has been tried to the utmost: but your affectionate

me.

unupbraiding, and liberal conduct, has proved a great cordial to me and my dear wife, in all our trials."

The following letter will introduce to the reader a son of Mr. Richmond's, of whom we shall have occasion to speak more fully towards the close of this Memoir. The name, as has been observed, was given to commemorate that remarkable event of his own life which arose from the perusal of Mr. Wilberforce's work on Practical Christianity. This boy was now in his twelfth year; and we insert this letter principally to shew the manner in which Mr. Richmond addressed his children at an early age.

"My dear Wilberforce,

"Shall I have no cause for heart-ache at my return, when I inquire how my child has behaved? how he has attended to his learning? how he has adhered to truth in his words? Shall I be comforted with the glad tidings that your heart, and your conscience, and your ways, all seem to partake of a happy influence? That you shew your love to mamma by keeping her commandments? That you pray to God to forgive you your sins, and hourly offences? Do the four walls of your little chamber bear witness to your prayers and supplications for yourself and me? Do the sun's rays, as they early penetrate your window in the morning, find you carly and