The Queen's joy on the prospect of the King's Return. Whitehall, Sept. 8th, 1690.

one.

Lord Winchester is desirous to go to meet you, which you may believe I will never hinder any Whether I ought to send him out of form sake, I cannot tell, but it may pass for what it ought to the world; and to your dear self, at least, I suppose it is indifferent. Nothing can express the impatience I have to see you, nor my joy to think it is so near. I have not slept all this night for it, though I had but five hours sleep the night before, for a reason I shall tell you. I am now going to Kensington, to put things in order there, and intend to dine there to-morrow, and expect to hear when I shall set out to meet you-God send you a good journey home, and make me as thankful as I ought for all his mercies!

We have thus endeavoured to delineate and present to the public view, the true and full character of this most amiable woman,- this, we had almost said, angel clothed in clay; and have been the more desirous to do justice to her, as the memoirs of her eminent virtues may not hitherto have been so particular as the subject of them might deserve.

We shall conclude with one excellent poem, which was written in honour of her.

On the Sight of QUEEN MARY, in the Year 1694.

BY THE REV. ISAAC WATTS, D.D.

I saw th' illustrious form; I saw
Beauty that gave the nations law:
Her eyes, like mercy on a throne,
In condescending grandeur shone.
That blooming face! how lovely fair
Hath Nature mix'd her wonders there!
The rosy morn such lustre shows,
Glancing along the Scythian snows.

Her shape, her motion, and her mien,
All heav'nly such are angels seen,
When the bright vision grows intense,
And fancy aids our feebler sense.

Earth's proudest idols dare not vie
With such superior majesty:

A kindling vapour might as soon
Rise from the bogs, and meet the moon.

I'll call no Raphael from his rest:
Such charms can never be exprest.
Pencil and paint were never made
To draw pure light without a shade.
Britain beholds her Queen with pride,
And mighty William at her side
Gracing the throne, while at their feet
With humble joy three nations meet.

Secure of empire, she might lay
Her crown, her robes, her state away,
And 'midst ten thousand nymphs be seen:
Her beauty would proclaim the queen.

EPANORTHOSIS.

Her guardian angel heard my song,
"Fond man," he cried, "forbear to wroug
"My lovely charge. So, vulgar eyes
"Gaze at the stars, and praise the skies.

Rudely they praise who dwell below,

"And heav'n's true glories never know; "Where stars and planets are no more "Than pebbles scatter'd on the floor.

"So, where celestial virtues join'd "Form an incomparable mind;

"Crowns, sceptres, beauties, charms, and air, "Stand but as shining servants there."

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

THE LADY MARY VERE.

THIS lady derived her birth from respectable families on both sides. On her father's side, she descended from the ancient family of the Tracys, of Toddington in Gloucestershire; and on her mother's side, she sprang from the best line of the Throg

mortons.

She was the youngest of fifteen children, and was born on the 18th of May, 1581. Her mother died three days after her birth; and her father when she was only eight years of age. Thus was she soon left an orphan in the world; but, when her father and mother forsook her, the Lord took her up; and the experience she had all her life long of God's most tender care over her, made her choose this for her motto, which was found written by her in the front of most of her books in her closet, "God will provide."

She took much delight in speaking of one of her ancestors, as one of the greatest honours of her family, namely, William Tracy, of Toddington, Esq., who, in the reign of King Henry VIII., for the sound profession of his faith contained in his last will and testament, was, two years after his decease, condemned to have his body taken up and burnt; which sentence was accordingly executed.

The subject of our memoirs was twice married. Her first marriage was to Mr. William Hobby, when she was nineteen years of age. By him she had two sons, whom she religiously educated, and at whose pious deaths, she reaped the blessed harvest of her labours, there being good reason to conclude that they were ripe for heaven, having lived long in a little time. The younger died in the fourteenth year

of his age; and the elder in his twenty-third, who was much admired for his parts, and as much beloved for his piety.

Her second husband was Sir Horace Vere, afterwards Baron of Tilbury; a person not to be mentioned without some honourable character, and whose personal achievements in the field, especially at the battle of Nieuport, in Flanders, ennobled him more than the high blood derived from his ancestors. But his unstained piety was his crowning glory. This noble lord was one who could wrestle with God, as well as fight with men. His good lady used to say, that she honoured him for his valour, but more so for the grace of God that shone in him.

But, passing by the civil and secular distinctions of this lady, we will present her in her spiritual excellencies, which, indeed, are the only things that give an intrinsic value to a person. We may apply to her what Nehemiah said of an eminent person in his time, (chap. vii. 2.) "She was a faithful woman, "and feared God above many."

Her zeal for the public worship of God was very eminent which she evidenced,

First; By her great care and diligence to provide able and faithful ministers for those livings of which she had the disposal; and also by improving her utmost interest to procure the like for the parish in which she lived, in its several vacancies.

Secondly; By her constant attendance on public worship, so long as Providence granted her health to do it. And she not only attended herself, but took care that her family attended also; and they were no servants for her, who would not join in the service of God with her.

Thirdly; She was no less devout than constant at the public worship. She durst not trifle with holy things, nor in holy duties; which gave occasion to one to say of her, "that the Lady Vere, by her solemn

"and reverent deportment in divine worship, would "make one believe that there is a God indeed." As for the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, her desires were eager and ardent to partake frequently of it, declaring, that she durst not neglect, no not any one opportunity that was offered for the enjoying this sacred ordinance. She was also very serious and intent in her preparation for it. The whole preceding week was taken up by her for that work, in which she would also always have a private fast kept for her family, or a secret one in her closet.

As her zeal was thus eminent for the worship of God in public, so, it was eminent for the worship of God in private. Follow her but from the church to her own house, and you will find that she brought her devotion home with her. If ever any private dwelling might be called a chapel, or little sanctuary, that of Lady Vere's much more. Twice every day she and her family were upon their knees offering their solemn worship to Almighty God. There you might see them humbly sitting at his feet to hear his holy word read to them, constantly concluding their evening service with one of David's psalms. Whatsoever strangers were present at her house, there was no putting by, or adjourning the service of God to a more convenient time on their account.

On the Lord's-day, the sermons preached in public, were repeated to the household; the servants were called to give an account before her, of what each of them remembered, and the high praises of God were sung by the associated family.

Twice every day she shut up herself for some hours in her closet, which was excellently furnished with pious books of practical divinity. Here she spent her precious time in reading the sacred Scriptures, and other good books that might give her further light into the oracles of God, and edify her in her most holy faith. Here she poured out her devout soul with such fervour in prayer, as could not be hid,