pected men of low birth, on account of their science. The Emperor replied, In one day, I can confer knighthood or nobility on many in many years, I cannot bestow genius on one. Wise and learned men are created by God only.' No advantage of education, no favourable combination of circumstances, produce talents, where the Father of Spirits dropped not the seeds of them, in the souls which he made."

Were I to dwell on all the subjects which still rise before my mind, I should extend this Memoir to an undue length. Indeed, while I have been passing from scene to scene and ruminating on the past, I seem to have presented but a mere outline, which it is impossible to fill up with the more interior, affecting, and interesting shades

"How dark, though fleeting, are the days of man!
What countless sorrows crowd his narrow span!

For what is life?---A groan, a breath, a sigh,

A bitter tear, a drop of misery,

A lamp just dying in sepulchral gloom,

A voice of anguish from the lonely tomb.

Or wept or weeping, all the change we know;
Tis all our mournful history below.

Pleasure is grief, but smiling to destroy;
And what is sorrow but the ghost of joy?"

To look backward, is but the retrospect of a weary day's journey, or a distempered night's dream: to look forward, is to awaken sorrows more acute-to view a dark prospect and a lonely pilgrimage, which nothing can brighten on this side the grave, but those hopes which stretch be

yond it, and that faith which penetrates the veil of time and follows the deceased to his blest abode!

Having beguiled my sorrows by paying this tribute to the memory of my beloved husband; and having stated some FACTS in his history and character, with which none can be so well acquainted as myself: and recorded a few singular instances of an ever-ruling Providence, with some of the exercises and effusions of a gracious heart-during a life of labour, pain, and affliction-I now resign my pen, and leave to my kind friend, the Editor of Mr. Cecil's works, the task of speaking largely and justly on his character-while I mournfully remain, esteeming it my highest honour, still to subscribe myself by his dear, and revered name

POSTSCRIPT.

I BEG leave to avail myself of this, as the only public opportunity of acknowledging the continued remembrance of my dear husband, in a subscription opened by his friends, for the support of his family. This answer to his faith in God, and his confidence in his friends' kindness, becomes a subject of my praise to HIM, who is the first cause of every benefit; and of my gratitude both to Him, and to those who "have been forward” on this occasion.

On the review of my irreparable loss, on the one hand, and of my circumstances on the other, I was reduced to cast my burden on Omnipotence, in the hope "That the Lord God of Hosts would be gracious to the remnant of Joseph"-and I may Now add, "Blessed be the Lord God of our God Fathers, which hath put such a thing as this into many hearts."

Though I can render no other recompense than a grateful acknowledgment, yet, while passing my eye over the record of names, still testifying their love to the deceased, it affords me some consolation to recollect, that there is also ANOTHER reCORD-one on high; and a time hastening on,

when those books will be opened, the contents made public to angels and men—and when no instance of love will either be overlooked or forgotten-but a full reward be rendered to every one, though but for a cup of cold water. In the mean while, may the Father of the Fatherless and Judge of the Widow render back a present recompence, equal to all the kindness for which, under God, I am indebted.

Whatever is cast into this treasury, is placed in the hands of trustees: and, whatever be the amount, I desire to regard it with thankfulness, as a token of the mind and will of the God of my husband, respecting those whom -"He has left, destitute-in weakness-in sin-and in the world."*

See these Memoirs, p. 85.