transcribed Sermons to the press, that this plan was laid aside for a few months, owing to the following circumstances.

In the spring of this year, some ladies in London, well known for their rank and fortune, and who had been previously subscribers to the "Society for bettering the condition of the Poor," were prevailed upon by Mr., now sir Thomas Bernard, the active friend of many useful and benevolent Institutions, to form themselves into a Committee, for the purpose of inquiring into the situation, and, as far as it might be in their power, of ameliorating the condition of the female poor, throughout the kingdom. The Queen and the Princesses came forward as the avowed patronesses, and the Society emphatically styled themselves," The Ladies' Committee."

In their first papers they proposed that District Committees of Ladies should be established throughout the kingdom, to correspond and cooperate with the primary Committee, which by enquiring into the state of poor females, in their respective neighbourhoods, and communicating the result, might at once afford relief to distressed individuals, and throw such light upon the general subject, as would lead to a comprehensive view of the whole. I was charmed with the outline, when I first heard it mentioned, not only for its utility in a variety of subordinate respects, but principally, as setting an illustrious example of female attention, to civic duties. For it seemed to me that although we are not permitted, and perhaps wisely, to take any part in the legislation

of our country, or in the administration of its laws, yet why should we not endeavour, collectively as well as individually, to contribute towards the observance of them, by promoting, recommending, and rewarding habits of industry, and good order, so essential to the alleviation of poverty and distress? And above all things, why should we not desire and labour to assist and preserve those unhappy victims of our own sex, who without such aid, must inevitably fall a sacrifice to vice, to infamy, and want? why should we not strive to save those who are innocent, and to amend and reform those who are guilty, by shewing them their true interest, and teaching them their indispensable duty? I did not indeed expect that the plan would be practicable to the extent proposed, but I thought it was a great point gained, that a number of ladies of weight and influence, should even form the project; hoping it would lead to some benevolent exertions, as useful to themselves, and eventually as important to their own happiness, as to that of those whom it was their primary object to serve and benefit.

It had so happened, that my little publication relative to the Spinning School and Grey-Coat School, had been transmitted to the Ladies' Committee, by my friend Mrs. Gray, which had induced an application on the part of one of their members, to send them any hints, if such should occur, for the furtherance of their benevolent design.

Ignorant as I was of the peculiar talents, dispositions, connexions, and relative situation of the

several individuals; not knowing how far they might all of them be willing to adopt any spe cific plan, or be likely to draw together in the execution of it; feeling also that I should step out of my province, by presuming to dictate, I did not see that I could be of any use to them, unless it were in an incidental way. It had always been my intention, at some time or other, to write and publish the result of some years experience, in the constitution of Charity Schools, and the establishment of Female Benefit Clubs; deducing thence, if I were able, a few first principles respecting them, which ought to be strictly adhered to, and considered as indispensable in their original formation: and it occurred to me, if this projected plan were immediately put in execution, with reference to the Ladies' Committee, that the work might possibly be of use to them, and that at the same time their patronage would extend its circulation.

I applied for permission to dedicate my book, when it should be written, to their Committee; which being obtained, I set about it immediately. I began to write in November, and having thus publicly committed myself, and not knowing how I might be able to execute my purpose, I felt the undertaking extremely formidable. Persons who have enjoyed the advantage of a cultivated education, and have been early accustomed to composition, can have no idea how difficult an attainment it is to those who have not possessed these advantages; I did however the best I was able; and had my pamphlet printed, and copies

sent to own, to be presented to her Majesty, the Princesses, the President and others of the Ladies' Committee, previously to their monthly meeting, in February, 1805.

This business being completed, I resumed the employment, to myself still more interesting, of transcribing and arranging the Sermons already mentioned; and which were accordingly published the May following. The primary object of these Discourses, is to demonstrate the extreme importance of many subjects which at first view, may seem speculative, to the formation of the genuine Christian character, not only in their first and immediate effects, but also in their subsequent operation on the habits, temper, and conduct of the individual. Of this description, are the first three; on Faith, those on the Love of God, on the Love of Pleasure; Reflections on the Tomb of Jesus; David's morning hymn of praise; and the two last, on the Author's recovery from a severe fit of sickness. The character of these Sermons has been fully established, by the suffrage of many undoubted judges of pulpit excellence; and their reception by the public at large, has been as favourable as could perhaps be expected, taking into account their total want of patronage,*

* A second edition of these Discourses was published by the Editor of the first, in the spring of 1816.

CHAPTER 42.

Death of the Author's mother... Her tranquil old age... Her picture....Second visit to London... Excursion into Kent....Reflections on the tomb of the Black Prince at Canterbury....On the tremendous cliffs of Dover.

On the 18th of May, 1805, when the last sheet of my preface to Mr. Cappe's Sermons, was in the press, I lost my dear mother, after a few days' illness, in the eighty-ninth of her age, and the fortyfirst of her widowhood. I have great comfort in reflecting that the last few years of her life were by far the most happy. Her mind was totally free from anxiety; she was surrounded by affectionate friends, and most sedulously attended by faithful, affectionate servants; looking backward, she had nothing to regret, and forward, every thing to hope. "I used to think," she said to me, but a few days before her death, "that the race would be hard run between myself and good Mr. Cappe, yet have I survived him almost four years."

Among the friends who contributed essentially to my mother's comfort, I must particularly mention Mr. Cappe's sister, who went to live with her in the third year of our marriage. This worthy woman was only eighteen years younger than herself; and it was a singular circumstance, that two persons already so much advanced in life, whose previous situations, habits, mode of life, and way of thinking, had so totally differed,