denunciations, always produce a reaction, and often defeat the best ends of zeal and love. When you perceive men really animated with a candid, generous temper, which seeks mainly for truth, it promotes very much the effect of conviction. And surely if there be any one dictate of that charity which thinketh no evil," more prominent than another, it is the fairness I am now enforcing.

6. Let me next mention a spirit of perseverance, notwithstanding difficulties, notwithstanding apparent impossibilities, not withstanding opposition, menaces, delays, disappointment. Not a mere momentary impulse is wanting; not a mere convulsive and short-lived effort; we require an enlightened, persevering, constant spirit. We want a system, not an act; a positive, self-denying course of exertions, resting upon principle, kindled and animated by the love of Christ. To raise up such a country as Ireland from the abyss of its misery, ignorance, and irreligion, to the ordinary standard of other enlightened nations, is no easy task. It cannot be done in a day. Especially with such habits of intolerance, such prejudices, such superstitions as the Roman Catholics cherish, we cannot hope for success without a

perseverance never

weary, never exhausted, never renouncing its pursuit. We must sit down and count the cost. We must be ready to vary our means of action. We must be prepared for local defeats. We must return again to our object with redoubled vigour. A holy determination of mind never to relax our efforts till we have repaid to Ireland the long arrears of kindness we owe heris the temper in which we should enter upon our task..

7. I would next mention a spirit of unaffected humility, prayer and dependance on the influences of the Holy Spirit.-For without Divine grace we can do nothing. All means fall dead and impotent without the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. If He move not upon the waters, there is no virtue to heal. Prayer, therefore, fervent, humble, united prayer, must be addressed to Him, who alone can help us. We must humble ourselves before God for our national and personal offences, the sins of our church, the sins of our bishops and clergy, the sins of our magistrates and ministers of state, the sins of our legislators and princes, the sins of our nobles and gentry, the sins of our commerce, of our literature, of our journals and periodical writings, of our SUNDAY NEWSPAPERS, SUNDAY TRAVELLING, and SUNDAY PARTIES. We must humble ourselves in the dust

under our family sins, our parochial sins, our individual transgressions; and we must, like Moses, and Nehemiah, and Isaiah, and Jeremiah, and Daniel, plead with the Almighty to spare us as a nation, and to grant us a revival of his grace and blessing. We must renounce ourselves, that God may be exalted. We must compare ourselves with our advantages,-the mercies we have received, the deliverances which have been granted to us, the duties to which we have been called, and the opportunities which now present themselves. We must consider not only the evils we have to remedy in Ireland, but the sins we have to amend in ourselves the popery of our Protestant churches. We must confess from whence we have ourselves fallen, the deep corruption of manners in our people, the gross ignorance which prevails amongst us, the decay and decline in our clergy and bishops from the standards of their own church, the hatred of spiritual religion, which lurks still in so many breasts, the little recognition of God and true Christianity in our legislature, the tardiness with which any measures of a moral and religious character are obtained and executed, the neglect of the ever-blessed Gospel which still prevails. When true abasement of soul has brought us low before God, we shall be prepared for earnest and importunate supplications for the quickening influences of the Holy Ghost; and we may then hope that the Lord will bless our efforts, animate us with love, zeal, and fortitude, guide our judgments and hearts, and prosper our several undertakings.

8. I say nothing, finally, on a spirit of charity and forgiveness amongst ourselves. I take that for granted. Surely, if we are not prepared to forgive our offences against each other, to extinguish the embers of discord and irritation, to forget absolutely and for ever the different sides we have taken in a moment of unparalleled excitement-if we are not prepared to bury these petty causes of complaint-how can we hope to heal the gigantic evils of Ire. land? But I have no fears. CHARITY WILL COVER A MULTITUDE OF SINS. Englishmen will approach the greatest duty of charity in the spirit which it ineulcates. They will rejoice to sacrifice every personal feeling to a sublime re-union of national affection-they will rejoice to see England and Ireland, united under the same laws, flourishing in the knowledge and peace of the same Gospel of Christ.

I am sir,

Your very faithful friend,

DANIEL WILSON.

MRS. MARY ANN LOUISA
MORTLOCK.

To the Editor of the Christian Observer. SIR,-In your former volumes I have endeavoured, I trust not merely in order to solace my own feelings, but, by the blessing of God, to benefit some who might peruse my brief memorial, to embalm the memory of two of my children, now for ever sheltered in a happier clime. I now enclose for your perusal, and, if you think it not unfitting, for that of your readers, a few particulars respecting a third, lately received to the arms of her Saviour, and whose truly amiable and spiritually-minded character, I would trust, may strengthen and encourage them to follow her as she followed Christ. They will not expect to find in the life of a retired and suffering Christian lady, those remarkable incidents which are usually sought for in the records of biography; but if they meet with what is better, that which is practical, spiritual, and edifying, that which will teach them how to live and how to die,-that which will animate them in their Christian course, draw them nigher to their Saviour, and lead their minds from the vanities of the world to the glories of heaven, this simple memorial will not have been written in vain. I have purposely thrown my remarks into the third person to spare both myself and my readers the record of private feelings; and I have omitted many details highly interesting to surviving friends, but which would swell the narrative beyond your limits. Wishing the best blessing of God upon your labours,

I remain, sir, your very faithful friend,

BASIL WOODD.

Ann Louisa, eldest daughter of the Rev. Basil Woodd, minister of Bentinck chapel, St. Mary-le-bone, was born January 17, 1786. Her mother, Ann, was the daughter of Colonel John Wood, of Madras, commandant of Tanjore, the attached patron of the celebrated missionary Swartz. To the pious instructions and exemplary conduct of this devoted servant of God, both the Colonel and Mrs. Wood were indebted for their knowledge of Divine truth, for those consolations of the Gospel, which sustained them under a series of painful events, and carried them through the last trial of life with a hope full of immortality. Nor was the benefit of the Reverend Missionary's instruction confined to the parents; he felt a truly

pastoral affection for the children, and laboured to impress their infant minds with the importance and excellence of true religion. When the Colonel died at Madras, in 1774, and the family came over to England, Mr. Swartz was accustomed to encourage his young friends with his affectionate letters, some of which, characteristic of tender affection and apostolical simplicity, appeared in the January and February Numbers of the Christian Observer for 1829, and well deserve the attentive re-perusal of the reader, especially of young persons.

Ann, the eldest daughter, who is parti cularly mentioned in some of the above letters, was born at Madras in 1764, married to the Rev. Basil Woodd in 1785, and died of pulmonary consumption in 1791. Her four children have now all followed to the grave: Edward died an infant; Basil Owen, her eldest son, died of pulmonary consumption in 1811; Hannah Sophia, of the same complaint, in 1817; and Ann Louisa fell a victim to the same malady, after an illness of ten months, August 25th, 1828. Of the two former, memoirs have appeared in the Christian Observer for 1811 and 1817: the latter is the subject of the present memorial. All have left the most satisfactory testimonies that they knew in whom they had believed, and that they were separated only for a season from each other and their beloved parents, and would one day meet again to part no more for ever.

The subject of this memoir, like her mother, evinced symptoms of early piety, especially an evident conscientiousness, attention to mental improvement and duty, appropriate seasons for devotion,. respect for the Holy Scriptures, and the privileges of the Christian Sabbath. She was remarkable for a tender cultivation of domestic harmony; she felt a lively interest in the younger branches of the family, who were much attached to her; and she shewed uniform kindness to all the household, who loved and esteemed her. Nor was she less remarkable for her affectionate regard to her father and her second mother, in whom her ardent affections centered, and to whose familiar instructions she invariably ascribed her early and her matured delight in the ways of God. As it was the chief ambition of her parents to bring up their children, not so much for this world, as for the world to come, the embellishments of education

were not so prominently cultivated as those acquisitions which were of moral and religious value, and, as considered with a view to the highest ends of our existence, of infinitely more importance.

She was always cheerful and lively, never so happy as when at home, fond of music, particularly of Divine Psalmody, but had no taste for the light and frivolous compositions which are so fatally seductive and injurious to devotion. Whatever presented a lure to dissipation, she always regarded with suspicion, and was jealous over with godly jealousy. On the other hand, general history, the studies of nature, the works of God in creation and providence, generally engaged her attention. She had also a general knowledge of the Latin and French languages; and, from an earnest desire to read the Scriptures in the original, had made a moderate proficiency in Hebrew.

As she grew up, a desire to promote early piety in others was a distinguished feature in her character. After the establishment of Bentinck School in 1798, she superintended and instructed a class of girls. Incipient and juvenile as were her efforts, some of the pupils, now grown up, speak of them with grateful recollection, and describe them as not having been in vain in the Lord. Nor can her bereaved parent ever forget the pleasure afforded at a subsequent period, now nearly twenty years past, when, in a country village, where they had not resided six weeks, one afternoon he came in, and unexpectedly found both the parlours of the house occupied by about fifty poor children, whom his beloved children had collected, and were instructing in the elements of the Gospel of Christ.

When she attained her fifteenth year, she was anxiously desirous of being admitted to the holy communion. On this subject she communicated her sentiments to her mother, and evinced a very humble estimate of herself, and deep attainments in self-knowledge. Some of her expressions were, "I feel my mind engaged with mere trifles, and my attention wanders from God. Blessed be his holy name, he, is not extreme to mark what is amiss. I have a Saviour, whose precious blood cleanseth from all sin. I pray for his grace to enable me to love, honour, and serve him as long as I live in this world. I hope I may go to him in early life; for this world has many snares, and nothing but Divine grace can guard me. I had rather go to my Saviour, and then I shall be safe for ever, and love him as I would."

On the 19th April, 1808, she entered the state of matrimony, with one of her father's congregation, Mr. John Mortlock.

Her means of doing good being now considerably increased, her scale of beneficence increased in proportion. Where.. ever she resided, though but for a time, the instruction of poor children was alway one of her first objects of attention. The interests of the kingdom ofthe Redeemer, the conversion of Jews and Gentiles, the distribution of the Holy Scriptures, Prayerbooks, and religious Tracts, were objects which lay near her heart, and engaged her prayers, and unsolicited contributions. The poor and afflicted of the neighbourhood always shared in her sympathies ; her judicious advice when health permitted, and her prayers and liberal aid when she could not render her active services.

In May 1820, it pleased God to visit her with the loss of her eldest child, who, after most painful suffering for two years, sustained with exemplary patience and piety, resigned her happy spirit to her heavenly Father. The memoir of this tender and pious sufferer, who departed this life at the age of nine years, has been read in manuscript by many hundreds of persons, and exhibits not only great precocity of intellect, an engaging sensibility of heart, and a delightful illustration of infant piety, but a powerful confirmation of her mother's lively affection, blended with wise and firm regulation, and constantly directed by a holy and persevering regard to her child's eternal welfare. The last farewell the dear child took of her grandfather, was also highly indicative of the religious sympathies of her beloved parent. Pressing his hand, she said, "I pray that God may strengthen you in every good work; and bless your ministry; and make you a blessing to the children of our congregation."

In January 1823 she was called to experience a second bereavement in the loss of an engaging infant of twenty months. By these afflictive dispensations, and long painful experience, the heart of the mother was weaned from the world, prepared to quit this scene of trial, and to anticipate that haven of rest which she was shortly to enter.

It would be easy to fill a large space with interesting passages from her con versation and letters, and with appropriate texts and hymns which she cited with great promptitude and facility. But I must content myself with a very few brief illustrations. On one occasion she ob served to her sister, "I have had a long and painful illness; I have for weeks scarcely sat up an hour; I am reduced exceedingly. I cannot sit up except for a few minutes, but it is wonderful how I am spared year after year; I trust that to depart would be gain; but when I look at my dear child, I cannot help wishing, if it,

were the will of God, to abide yet for a little season. But at the foot of the cross I desire to leave my soul and body, my child, and all.

"I would praise Him for all that is past, And trust Him for all that's to come.' Such was her constant feeling. She would say, when extremely ill, and in great pain," God hath delivered; in him will I trust; he will yet deliver; and if not, all will be well for eternity."

Frequently she would say, "My pain is very great. Oh what a trial is pain to faith. Still it is my Father's hand. Oh, support me! spare me a little, that I may recover my strength! I am very ill, in extreme pain; my nerves are greatly agitated. Oh, pray for me, that I may not be taken away while in this state. I hope I shall have patience given me to bear all the will of my God.

"Sweet to lie passive in his hands, And know no will but his. This is comfort.' Then, in a most heavenly and feeling manner, "Oh, may an abundant entrance be ministered to me! May I depart in peace, according to thy word." Again she added, "Pray much for me. I am weak and helpless. Jesus is the Advocate; he ever liveth to make intercession; he is merciful and faithful. Here is my strong hold.”

During her last illness, she was too feeble to sit up, but she would lie in her bed and occasionally make clothes for the poor; and within five days of her departure, when too weak to do this any longer, she gave directions to others, and expresed pleasure in seeing her charitable intentions executed.

After receiving the holy communion, as it proved for the last time, she said, "If we should never again be partakers together upon earth, I trust we shall be among the happy number who shall sit down at the marriage supper of the Lamb."

In a letter written on her bed, in a recumbent posture, to her much-loved mother, with a tremulous hand, dated last June 27, the last letter she ever wrote, she thus expressed herself: " I had an alarming attack in the night of the 7th inst.: for six hours my labouring for breath was most distressing. I thought I was dying. Blessed be God, every fear was gone; and no parting pang known. The twenty-first and twenty-second verses of Jude were my strong consolation. Praise, O praise his name. I could not bear to speak or be moved. I had a similar attack on Sunday, June 15, and I certainly think disease is making progress, and my strength declines. I am much less anxious, and do hope I leave all simply, with scarce a wish or prayer, except for grace and patience to bear all it may be the will

of God to lay upon me. I am very weary in body and mind, unable to think, or read, or hear: but at the foot of the cross I have lived; there I hourly cast myself; there I desire to die, in full assurance I shall awake up after his likeness. Farewell, dearest parents; pray, praise; and trust your affectionate child to our dear and precious Saviour."

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To her father, who went to Brighton to see her, alas, little suspecting to witness her dissolution, she said, with great feeling, "How I admire the sublime words of your dear mother on her dying bed. She was speaking of the boundless love of Christ, and his salvation, and she observed, It is a glorious salvation; a free, unmerited salvation! a full, complete salvation! a perfect, eternal salvation! It is deliverance from every enemy; it is a supply of every want; it is all ĺ can wish for in time; it is all I can now wish for in death; it is all I shall want in eternity.' ." She repeated these words several times, at different periods, with elevated feelings, and her eyes directed to heaven.

To one of her nieces she said, "Oh, what a blessing it is to know the Holy Scriptures from a child. I cannot tell you what a comfort it is to be able to remember what I have learnt; and to think of it, when I am too ill to do any thing else. Oh, endeavour to store your mind well with portions of Scripture, while young and in health." It had been the custom,for, the children, even when very young, to repeat every Saturday morning, at family prayer, a few verses of Scripture, selected from Bishop Gastrell's Christian Institutes, and also a Psalm or Hymn. By this early and constant habit, combined with her diligent perusal of the sacred records, she had acquired so familiar an acquaintance with the Holy Bible, that there were few passages which she could not readily quote.

She frequently desired the liiid and ly th chapters of Isaiah to be read to her, and one day remarked, "The liiid chapter speaks of the salvation provided for fallen sinners; the lv th invites all to receive it. I love those chapters which describe the sufferings of Christ. I find nothing so profitable as the consideration of what he endured for our redemption; the simplicity also with which the Evangelists relate every circumstance, is very striking.' To her mother, for so she ever delighted to call her second parent, she said several times with great affection, "My beloved mother, mercy attended my entrance into life; mercy has accompanied me through life; and mercy is crowning my departure out of life; with the prospect of everlasting glory." To a friend she said, "I have

been meditating on the glorious multitude that no man can number, all saved by the same Redeemer, all washed in the some blood; all clothed in the same righteousness. Sometimes I tremble at the idea of the soul quitting the body, and going forth alone naked into the presence of God. Yet not naked, for being unclothed, we shall be clothed upon." On the same friend remarking, It is a peculiar mercy, that in your present weak state, you are so preserved from oppressive fears, she replied," Six weeks ago I was deeply tried with doubts and fears, but they are all past away now, as the morning cloud: the valley is not dark: but I am too ill to rejoice; sickness and pain have brought me very low, but I have not one fear. Underneath me are the everlasting arms, and on them I repose." Three days before her death, she applied to herself the words of the ever-memorable Richard Hooker, and said, "Blessed be God, I have been long preparing to leave the world. I have, by his grace loved him in my youth, and feared him in mine age. O Lord, shew mercy unto me; I plead not my righteousness, but the forgiveness of my unrighteousness, through his merits who died to purchase pardon for penitent sinners. She then desired her father to read the whole passage, from a little tract of his, called The Contrast, which he had given to her beloved child Louisa, and which,ever since her death, had been kept in her New Testament. He read the whole paragraph, and when he came into the room in the evening to read and pray with her, she desired him to read it again. After he had read it, and also the short account of the death of Dr. Doddridge, and had prayed with her, she repeated Dr. Doddridge's sublime Hymn : "O Thou, that hast redemption wrought! Patron of souls thy blood hath bought! To thee my spirit I commit, Mighty to rescue from the pit."

In this exertion, her feelings were highly elevated, till she became quite exhausted. The day before her death, when her father entered the room, stretching out her emaciated arms, and putting them round his neck, she said, "Beloved father!' After a pause, speaking with great difficulty," Look at your poor sinking child in the arms of her heavenly Father."

Sunday, Aug. 24. was truly Dies lachrymabilis, gloriosa dies. She had repeatedly said, "I have had three very painful Sundays; the fourth, I trust, will be a Sabbath of rest in heaven."

She appeared this day sinking, and could scarcely

speak so as to be heard. Her father remained with her, and she was apparently dying. About noon, she desired him to read Rev. vii. 9, &c. and at the close observed, "Ah,there the inhabitant shall never say I am sick.” After this, some Psalms and Hymns were read, and the family being all present, joined in Divine worship for the last time in this world. Immediately after, she spoke very affectionately, and then said, "Now leave me quite alone." On which all retired, except her beloved child, whom she desired to remain. The endeared scenes of domestic affection and solicitude are sacred to privacy: these, the reader will perceive, have therefore been passed over, though they would not have been the least interesting part of the narrative.

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In the evening, her father, at her desire, repeated to her a Psalm, and prayed with her; when, being so exhausted that she could scarely look up, she just thanked him very affectionately, and advised him to retire to rest. Returning about eleven o'clock, he found her almost torpid, but perfectly calm and intelligent. In answer to his affectionate inquiries, she whispered that, as to the sufferings of her body, she was now " very comfortable, and free from pain ;" and in her mind "perfectly happy, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith;" adding, " There is no other foundation, no other comfort now." Her voice was at this time faint, and faultering. She continued in a state of extreme exhaustion, dozing and taking no notice of any thing around her. About twelve at night, she endeavoured to raise herself, but had no power. The nurse supported her; she said, "Well, I suppose I must take my medicine;" then dropt her head on the nurse's shoulder, and, in the presence of her husband and child, without a sigh expired. Not a doubt or fear was permitted to distress her mind: as in life, so in death, her trust was only in her Saviour.

Thus died Ann Louisa Mortlock, aged forty-two years, seven months. It is not necessary to dwell upon the features of her character, which will be readily gathered from the foregoing narrative. In the sympathizing language of an esteemed friend, to whom her infancy, youth, and growing years were well known; "The conviction of her blessed state, the memorial of her holy life, almost prohibit the language of condolence, notwithstanding her inestimable loss. Her departure has caused tears to flow, but not unmingled with tears of joy."