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moment of her dying could not be distinguished; it was more like a translation.

I have reason to remember, with great thankfulness, that her life was preserved a year longer than I expected: in consequence of which I had the blessing of her attendance in a tedious illness last summer; under which I should probably have sunk, if she had been taken away sooner. It pleased God that when she grew worse, I became better, and able to attend her with all the zeal which the tenderest affection could inspire. But how different were our services! She, though with the weakness of a woman, and in her seventy fifth year, had the fortitude of a man, I mean of a Christian; and all her conversation tended to lessen the evils of life, while it inspired hope and patience under them. The support which she administered, was such as might have been expected from an angel; while I, when my turn came, was too much overwhelmed with the affliction of a weak mortal.

My loss comprehends every thing that was most valuable to me upon earth!--I have lost the manager, whose vigilant attention to my worldly affairs, and exact method in ordering my family, preserved my mind at liberty to pursue my studies without waste of time, or distraction of thought. I have lost my almoner who understood the wants of the poor, better than I did; and who was always ready to supply them to the best of our ability.I have lost my counsellor, who generally knew what was proper to be done in difficult cases, and to whom I always found it of some advantage to submit my compositions; and whose mind, being little disturbed with passions, was ever inclined to peaceable and Christian measures.I have lost my example, who ob

served a strict method of daily devotion, from which nothing could divert her; and whose patience, under every kind of trial, seemed invincible. She was blessed with the rare gift of an equal, and a cheerful temper ; and preserved it, under à long course of ill health, I may say for forty years. To have reached her age would to her have been impossible without that quiet, humble spirit, which never admitted of murmuring or complaining. It might be of use to some good people to know, that she had formed her mind according to the rules of the excellent bishop Taylor, in his "Holy Living and Dying ;" an author of whom she was a great admirer, in common with our dear friend, bishop Horne. I have lost my companion whose conversation was of itself sufficient for me, to the surprise of some of my neighbours, who remarked how much of our time we spent in solitude, and wondered what we could find to converse about. But her mind was so well furnished, and her objects were so well selected, that there were few subjects in which we had not a common interest.— I have lost my best friend, who, regardless of herself, studied my ease and advantage in every thing.

These blessings are gone as a vision of the night: the memory of them will always be upon my mind, during the remainder of my journey; through which I must now travel alone. But I need not be solitary, if the Word of God be my companion, and his Holy Spirit my guide, till I shall once more join my departed saint, never more to be separated; which God grant in his own good time!

I am your faithful and afflicted friend,

William Jones.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES

OF THE

WRITERS FROM WHOM THE LETTERS ARE SELECTED.

ARBUTHNOT, John,-a celebrated physician, scholar,

and wit, was born, soon after the Restoration, at Arbuthnot, near Montrose; and died in London, on the twenty seventh of February, 1735.

"Ar

Dr. Johnson, in his life of Pope, describes the character of Dr. Arbuthnot in the following striking terms. buthnot was estimable for his learning, amiable for his life, and venerable for his piety. He was a man of great comprehension, skilful in his profession, versed in the sciences, acquainted with ancient literature, and able to animate his mass of knowledge by a bright and active imagination: a scholar with great brilliance of wit; a wit, who, in the crowd of life, retained and discovered a noble ardour of religious zeal." He was much beloved and esteemed by the most eminent persons of his time. "He has more wit than we all have," said Swift, "and his humanity is equal to his wit."

His principal work is "Tables of ancient Coins, Weights, and Measures." He published also some pro fessional treatises; and several pieces of wit and humour.

His letters, contained in Pope's Epistolary Correspon dence, are written with ease and beautiful simplicity. His thoughts seem to drop from his pen as they rise into his mind. "One of the most interesting and manly letters in the collection addressed to Pope," says Mr. Hayley, "is the last of Arbuthnot's," (inserted in this volume,) "containing the dying advice of that genuine, accom plished friend, to the too irritable poet."

ATTERBURY, Francis,-bishop of Rochester, was born on the sixth of March, 1662. He was, from early youth, distinguished by his fine talents, great learning, and aspiring mind. In 1713, he was advanced, by queen Ann, to the episcopal dignity. On the accession of king George the First, he gave strong proofs of disaffection to the government. In 1722, he was committed to the

Tower, on suspicion of being concerned in a plot in favour of the pretender; and in the following year, he was de prived, by a special act of parliament, of all his offices, benefices, and dignities, and was banished the realm. He spent the remainder of his days in exile; and died, at Paris, on the fifteenth of February, 1732.

The character of Atterbury, both in a moral and a poli tical point of view, has been variously represented; but it is universally agreed that he was a man of uncommon abilities, a fine writer, and an eloquent preacher.-His works are, chiefly, Sermons in four volumes octavo, and controversial pieces. His letters, published in the Epistolary Correspondence of Mr. Pope, are remarkable for their ease and elegance; and they exhibit him, in a pleasing light, both as a writer and as a man.

BARKER, John,-a dissenting minister in London, and author of two volumes of sermons. The rev. Mr. Stedman, editor of "Letters to and from Dr. Doddridge," says that he had endeavoured, but in vain, to procure some biographical information respecting Mr. Barker.His pious and beautiful letter to Dr. Doddridge, which is inserted in this volume, was written during the last illness of that excellent man. He shed tears on the perusal of it; and was deeply affected with the friendship which it expressed, and with the divine consolations which it administered.

BEATTIE, James,-an eminent poet and moral philosopher, was born on the twenty fifth of October, 1735,

at Lawrencekirk, in the county of Kincardine, in Scotland. His parents kept a small retail shop in his native village : they were poor, but honest and respectable. He received his early education at the parish school of Lawrencekirk; and, by means of a bursary, he was enabled to pursue a course of academical studies in Marischal college, Aberdeen. When he left the university, he was appointed parochial schoolmaster at Fordoun, a small village near Lawrencekirk. He continued there about five years; and then went to Aberdeen, where he spent the remainder of his life. On the eighth of October, 1760, he was installed professor of moral philosophy and logic in Marischal col lege; and, during a long course of years, he was indefatigable in the discharge of all the duties of that important and honourable office. By the gentlest means, he pre served the most exact discipline. He took particular pains deeply to impress the precepts of morality and religion on the minds of the young men committed to his charge. His mild manner, his amiable disposition, and his fine talents, rendered him the object of their mingled love, respect, and admiration.

In 1770, he published his first work, (except some juvenile poems,) his celebrated" Essay on the nature and immutability of Truth, in opposition to Sophistry and Scepticism;" and, soon after, his beautiful poem of "The Minstrel" appeared. In testimony of high approbation of these works, particularly of the " Essay on Truth," he received, in 1773, the honorary degree of doctor of laws from the University of Oxford, and a pension of two hundred pounds a year from the king.

In the latter years of his life, Dr. Beattie experienced great afflictions, which he endured with Christian patience and resignation. His wife had sunk into a state of incurable derangement, which wholly deprived him of her society and assistance: his own health was very infirm: and he lost his two sons, the darling objects of his affection; the elder at twenty two, and the younger at seven

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