insatiate monster. The decree of God, "dust thou art, "and unto dust shalt thou return," must be obeyed. All must die. "We see one generation of men coming into "life after another-each one makes his appearance on "the stage of action-performs his part and makes his "exit-and is seen no more!" MELANCHOLY REFLECTION!

But that which should most interest us in the contemplation of this humiliating subject, is the uncertainty, in which the period of our death is involved.

It is not always by protracted disease, or the infirmities peculiar to advanced age, that the springs of life stand still. The history of man furnishes a bill of mortality, in which the catalogue of those, whose prospects of descending to the grave laded with years, were as flattering as any who compose this assembly; but e're the clock struck, and measured another hour, sickened, and died! "This night thy soul shall be required of thee," has been verified in thousands of instances, and in circumstances precisely the same, as those which distinguished the foolish man in the Gospel. The shafts of death are flying in our land, and may perchance number us with the myriads slain, when we may least expect it. "Go to now, ye that say, to-day, or to morrow, we will

go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy "and sell, and get gain: whereas ye know not what shall " be on the morrow; for what is your life? It is even a "vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then van

"isheth away "

"Strange that a harp of thousand strings
"Should keep in tune so long."

And what does this vast uncertainty on which our lives are suspended, suggest to us?-"Be ye also ready." Yes, it speaks in a voice louder than seven fold thunder, "Prepare to meet thy God." It reads an important lecture on the vanity of all things here below, and says to us, as the Angels who were sent to deliver Lot from the destruction that awaited his city, "Escape for thy life." It opens to the imagination, the awful realities of a future state, and exhorts us by the joys of Heaven, and the miseries of Hell, to procrastinate no longer our return to God. It calls to us, to embrace the present momentfor to-morrow, yea, the succeeding hour, and the opportunities that are now afforded us to prepare for death, may be gone forever. And so reads our text; " for in such an "hour as ye think not"-when the motion of your pulse may exhibit the surest indications of health, and you are sketching to yourselves a long career of worldly pleasure, "the Son of man cometh." Death will put an end to all this strife, and usher you into the presence of your Eternal Judge.

But what catastrophe is this, which has clad our temples in mourning, and whispers to us, "be ye also ready?" What means this large assembly? And these expressive signs of bereavement, which strike mine eyes in every direction? How shall I tell it? God of my Fathers! how shall I express it?

We haне срened follow siting soond on event

At yonder Village, the summer retreat of the inhabitants of this immediate country, occurred the event which we so feelingly deplore. On the day of the 27th of September last, our people, as was their accustomed manner, were making, and receiving visits, and smiling in all the sweets of social intercourse. No note of discord was heard to intrude on the pleasures of the day, and no incident of death whereof to lament.

All, were cheerful, contented, and happy. The day, though rendered unfair by clouds and frequent showers of rain, furnished no just grounds to apprehend a storm. The Heavens did not discover an unusual restlessness, and our people retired to rest, unsuspicious of harm. It was not long, however, that they were permitted to re. cline on their downy pillows, and "give slumber to their "eyelids." The winds began to lift up their voice, and with a violence which threatened one general ruin, alarmed them for their safety. The sea too, as if tossed from its bed, poured in upon them its agitated waters, while livid meteors, as if mocking their distresses, were playing all around.

All hearts were appalled! The wife, with wishful countenance, looked to the arm of her husband, while the tender infant, alarmed by the general confusion, clung to the bosom of its mother!

But He, "who has his way in the whirlwind, and in "the storm-who layeth the beams of his chambers in "the waters, and stilleth the raging of the sea," brought us salvation by his own arm; and turned from our dwell ing day opened to their vision. All eyes were turned to a neighbouring creek, by the side of which lived, two of as lovely families, as ever graced the society of man. The stare of phrenzy was seen in every countenance, while the air was rent with one burst of lamentation! Save a few shattered posts, and there was no mark which pointed to the spot, on which the dwellings of Dr. Myers, and Mr. Robert F. Withers, stood! All gone! and their lovely inmates consigned to the caverns of the deep, with the exception of Mr. Withers!

Separate from the usage of funeral rites, the chasm, which the night of the 27th of September has made, in the virtues of our Community, renders this public expression of our feelings meet and proper.

In the character of Dr. Myers, we see every thing to admire, that ennobles and dignifies the character of man. His life was one course of well ordered conduct, and was replete with lessons of the purest morality. He disdained the bondage in which many are held by their passions, and by a philosophy, the most exalted and sublime, brought his temper within the control of his reason. Under circumstances, however trying, he was seen to observe the utmost decorum, and to foil his adversary by the sweetness of his manner. To "render unto all their dues," was one of the exalted attributes of his character; and so happily had he cultivated that cardinal virtue, that the Hon. Mr. Mitchell remarks that, " he never knew man or woman say, that he ever attempted to injure his neighbour in thought, in word, or in deed." He was well ture of the State had raised him, sufficiently speaks his worth. In the chamber of the sick, the tenderest sensibilities of his soul, were seen expressed at every sigh, that would heave the bosom of his patient. But he is gone! gone! forever gone! His example is all that is left us, and this we will cherish and hand down to our Children's Children !

In his amiable lady, interesting little son, and fascinating daughters, the pen of the panegyrist might figure all the graces which adorn their sex. Fostered by the care of so good a man, to whose lips they all looked for the lessons of each day, they exhibited an amiableness of character in the various relations of life, which commanded for them the reputation they enjoyed. Engaging in their manners enlightened in their understandingsand liberal in their charities-they occupied a seat in the affections of all who knew them. But the water, opened its bosom to receive them, and has borne them from our sight! Daughters of Jerusalem! emulate their virtues.

In the rapid succession of thought, which the slightest review of this melancholy catastrophe begets in the mind, we are led in our imagination from the place, where stood the house of the Myers' family, to the dwelling of Mr. Fort, where lie the remains of Miss Scott, and the venerable Mrs. Botsford.

It was the portion of this excellent woman* to occupy that happy mediocrity in life, which is most propitious