imitation of the phraseology of the professing world, which if she had adopted, would have excited a suspicion, that she had taken no distinct views of these impressive truths.

In May 1815, she received a letter informing her of the indisposition of a younger sister, in a reply, which she sent to her Mamma, she says, "I am sorry to hear, my dear Mamma, that the baby is so unwell, but I hope she will soon recover, and should she not, I am very well aware that we must bear all trials that God sees fit to exercise us with, as patiently as possible." From this trial she was exempted, but in the space of a few months, she was unexpectedly called to prepare for her own departure. She went to School for the last time in the following July, and till the moment she was taken ill, applied herself with great diligence, to her respective engagements. Towards some of the more fashionable accomplishments of the female character, she discovered a gradual disinclination; preferring those of a more useful nature. Her natural taste pre-disposed her for Music, in which she excelled; "and always," says her governess, "seemed richly compensated for the trouble a

* She requested that she might not continue to learn to dance.

difficult piece had given her, in anticipating the pleasure which her Papa and Mamma would have in hearing her play it." This was a motive which operated habitually on her mind, and perhaps, there are but few instances, if any, in which filial attachment was more pure and ardent.

The prospect of returning home at the ensuing recess, afforded her a degree of enjoyment, which no other circumstance could equal, but this gratification was denied her. In October, a fever, termed by the Medical Gentlemen, a typhus mitior, began to spread through the town. Miss Weston immediately informed Mr. Humphries of the fact, assuring him that every precaution had been taken to protect the School from its ravages, and if he wished his children to remain, every possible attention on her part,* and on the part of the attendant Apothecary and Physician, should be paid to their welfare. The Physician, being on a visit to Frome, was con sulted by a Medical Gentleman of respectability,

* Too much praise cannot be given to the Misses W. for the affectionate anxiety which they manifested for Miss H. during the whole of her illness, and I believe that their conduct has excited those emotions of admiration and es teem in the breasts of the bercaved Parents which will not suddenly subside.

on the propriety of removing them home, but es the disorder prevailed at Frome, and no case of mortality had occurred (AT THAT TIME) at Shepton, he did not think it adviseable. For nearly two months it continued to diffuse its contagious influence in almost every direction, proving fatal to a few, when it apparently relaxed its violence, but before it was entirely checked, it entered the peaceful habitation of the Misses W. and very slightly affected Miss H. No danger was apprehended, but having been very much reduced by a previous indisposition, her constitution became inca ble of withstanding it. The unwearied and multiplied efforts of her Medical attendants, who deservedly hold high rank in their profession, were frustrated by Him, "who fixes the bounds of our habitation and appoints the number of our days on earth;" and after languishing for three weeks without having her mental faculties impaired, she

"Clos'd her eyes, and saw her God."

She was reduced to such an extreme state of debility during the progress of her illness, that she could not endure the fatigue of conversation, and though she cheerfully received every expedient which was calculated to afford her relief,

yet she expressed no impassioned desire to live. Her Parents visited her several times, and messengers were regularly despatched, to report the state of her complaint. Being summoned in

the middle of the night," says her Father, in a letter which communicated to me the mournful intelligence of her death, "I went; when there, she seemed to revive; we thought that the disorder had turned, and she was getting better. O with what a thankful heart did I bear the tidings home to my wife. The next night another swift messenger arrived with accounts of her approaching departure. This I thought would have been a death stroke to me." They went to see her

for the last time on the 28th of December. The scene was affecting. They beheld their firstborn, their lovely Emma, gradually sinking in the arms of death; but they found her resigned. Overwhelmed with sorrow; they retired to wait in solemn suspence, the issue of the most severe affliction that had ever befallen them. On the 29th she grew worse, "the time of her departure was at hand;" the whole family (of the Misses W.) deploring the loss which they were about to sustain, assembled in her room, when her nurse, a pious woman, engaged in prayer. Whilst in this holy exercise, her eyes were fixed, as if she

joined in every sentence, her countenance remained calm, and shortly after it was finished, she heaved a gentle sigh and expired.*

Forgive, blest shade! the tributary tear,

E

That mourns thy exit from a world like this;
Forgive the wish that would have kept thee here,
And stay'd thy progress to the seats of bliss.

No more confin'd to grov'ling scenes of night;
No more a tenant pent in mortal clay :
Now should we rather hail thy glorious flight,
And trace thy journey to the realms of day.

In the life of so young a person, there are but few incidents to interest the feelings of a stranger; but on analyzing her character, it will be evident that the principles of religion had acquired and maintained a powerful ascendency over her mind. When she first felt the power of divine grace, changing her heart, and producing that attachment to devotional habits, which the generality of young, and even aged, people contemn or neglect; or through what external medium that grace was communicated, no one is able to de

*As the author was in London the whole time of Miss II's illness, he was denied the melancholy pleasure of attending her in her last moments. He improved her decease on his return, and the concourse of people which attended the service, proved the high estimation in which she was held.