has lost ground in my heart lately, a day or two of pain, through grace, may help to restore it. I had this morning in bed more comfortable intercourse with my Maker than of late. Sunday, 15th.-Ill health detains me from church-have been awakened to-day to more than usual fervour in prayer, in which I have been lately so dead. God grant there may not be more servile fear than filial love in it. O Lord, I have not loved thee as I ought, and therefore I have not served thee devotedly. I know not how much unbelief may be at the root of all this deadness. The Miss S-'s here for some days-a painful breach healed-no misunderstanding ought for a day to subsist between Christian friends; life is too short-peace too precious-we must "bear one another's burdens;" Christ bore all ours. Lord! look upon Cheddar-suffer not the work begun there to fail. Lord, I come to thee persuaded that all thy ways are perfect wisdom, and thy dispensations perfect goodness. Sunday, 22d.-After a week of too much worldliness, my mind has somewhat recovered its tone in devout prayer in the night. I have also to-day prayed with more affection. I have endeavoured to check my own spirit, by placing death before my eyes, and carefully reading Doddridge's last chapter-the dying scene. While I read, the impression is strong and my mind serious, but when the book is closed, the heart grows cold, and the world rushes in. Some worldly trials in the week have given me less vexation than usual, but that may be not because my resignation is greater, but my animal spirits better. 25th.-I bless God for the holy example my friend N―― is giving of the power of religion-under tedious, painful, and dangerous disease-she is divinely supported-her children and servants are grown serious through her means; divine grace has made her to be willing to die, and resign her numerous children into the hands of her heavenly Parent. Sunday, February 19th.-How uncertain are all sublunary things. Just as the delay of the invasion was lulling the country into a false peace, it has pleased God to afflict us with an awful visitation-the sudden and desperate illness of the king. Into what new calamities may this sad event plunge this unthinking nation! Oh Lord! in mercy remember us. Avert, if thou seest fit, this heavy stroke. Though we have rebelled against thee, and our national iniquities cry aloud against us, yet do thou spare us, or do thou overrule this event to his everlasting salvation, and for the public good; comfort and bless the royal sufferer, support and strengthen him under every trial, especially under the last great conflict. Sanctify it to his family, and grant that it may bring us all to a more serious temper; to a close personal application of the vanity of life, and a constant preparation for another world. February 27th.-I have been hindered from writing, by an application to compose the address for Lloyd's committee for the Patriotic Fund: I thought it my duty to contribute to that good work, though they might have found another pen. Lord, Let not a foolish vanity be the consequence of the compliments received on this occasion. 28th. Our Bath house is sold. I am thankful for an event which fixes us to this place for the short remainder of life, without the turmoil, care, and expense of a divided dwelling and bustling town. Lord, grant that this may prove a blessing to us all, and draw us nearer to thee. Make us thankful that our own lot has fallen in so pleasant a place,-that we have a goodly heritage; but let us not take up with so poor a portion as this life, or any thing in it. March 7.-My diary is here interrupted, and may be so for a long time; the idea has been suggested to me to write a pamphlet on the education of a certain royal personage. I am unequal to it, yet they tell me it is a duty to attempt it; I feel reluctant, but no irksomeness in the task should prevent me, if I dared hope I could do any good. Lord, if it be fit that I should undertake it, do thou strengthen me for the work; fill me with a holy boldness,—with prudence and wisdom; and if I really set about it, let thy blessing, without which all is nothing, attend it. Have been reading the lives of Pascal, Cranmer, Hall. Few things so profitable or so pleasant as the lives of eminent and holy men: the last is not impressively written does not enter into those domestic details so interesting in the lives of good men. Cranmer seems faithfully delineated by Gilpin, and is of all characters the most interesting to me; partly from a corresponding weakness; a more religious use might have been made of it by Gilpin. 12th.-A visit at last from Mrs. —, ardent, amiable, pious. I am humbled at her assuring me that my writings have been the honoured instruments of bringing her to the knowledge of the truth; for, alas! how little power have they on my own heart and life! Here her diary is suspended by the new call made upon her exertions, to which she has above alluded. CHAPTER II, After IN 1805 she produced "Hints towards forming the Character of a Young Princess." It was written at the earnest request of a dignitary of the church. She undertook it with reluctance, as being in her own estimation wholly unequal to the task; and it was only from the consideration that the princess* was at this time solely under the care of ladies, no preceptor having been yet appointed, that she suffered herself to be engaged in this delicate task. When she had nearly finished the work, the appointment of Dr. Fisher, Bishop of Exeter (afterward Bishop of Salisbury), to that important office, made her for a time resolve to desist from prosecuting the undertaking; as she thought it might be deemed at once intrusive and superfluous to interfere in a vocation which had now been authoritatively confided to a learned and able man. some scruples, the mildness and urbanity of the bishop's character determined her to proceed in the work. It was to be anonymous, and a profound secrecy was observed respecting it. But she now conceived the design of meeting objections, by dedicating the book to the right reverend preceptor himself. The work was kindly and politely received by him; and on her sending his lordship a copy, without any intimation from whence it came, a little correspondence was opened between them, in which the bishop addressed her as a gentleman. The internal evidence, however, as usual, soon betrayed the secret, and the discovery gave birth to an acquaintance and intercourse with the Bishop of Exeter, which was equally agreeable to both the parties. From Mrs. Kennicott to Mrs. H. More. MY DEAR FRIEND, Fulham, 1805. I delayed writing to you till I came hither, because I thought I should have something to say to you from our dear bishop; and now I find he is writing to you himself, so I must make out my letter from my own bat, as the cricketers say. Perhaps, too, we may tell you the same things, but we shall not tell them in the same manner, so no matter. I received your last letter at Mongeville, and put your queries to that bishop, concerning the title to your intended publication. *The late Princess Charlotte of Wales. He approved of the title; he said he thought it modest and appropriate. It is a mistake that I have been thought of for the princess's establishment-if I could be thought of. A plain question, such as Farmer Worthy would have put to himself, would determine the point. Am I fit for the situation? I understand there is to be a governess, a sub-governess, and an assistantgoverness. I have not rank for the first, or qualification for the second, and I am too old for the third. Lady Elgin brought the princess to chapel here yesterday; she is certainly a wonderful little creature. She has taken a great liking to the bishop, and always desires to walk alone with him. Yesterday she desired to repeat a hymn to him, and repeated one of yours. I have heard some things of her lately which lead me to believe she has a thinking mind, uncominon for a child of her age. Just before I left Windsor, I had some conversation on the subject with Princess Elizabeth, and she gave opinions with regard to her education so like some that you have given, that I could almost have thought she must have conversed with you on the topic. Did I tell you of the princess's soliloquy on reading the second chapter of St. Matthew? "I think," says she, "Joseph ought not to have been afraid of returning into Judea, when God had told him by an angel that he might return; but I leave that to be settled by the Bishop of London and Lady Elgin." What curious and interesting information Lady Waldegrave's letter gives you; and in addition to it, the bishop will tell you he has had accounts of the beneficial effects of your writing in Nova Scotia. Yours affectionately, A. KENNICOTT. From Mrs. H. More to Mrs. Kennicott. MY DEAR FRIEND, Barley Wood, 1805. I have been shamefully remiss in answering your letter, considering the sincere pleasure it always gives me to hear from you; and especially when I reflect in what a sad melancholy scene you are constantly engaged. I feel much for you, often talk of you, and think of you still oftener. I cannot plead illness for my silence, for though my general health has been very poorly, and I suffer a good deal, yet the complaint now not falling, blessed be God, on my nerves, does not much disqualify me. But we have been overdone with company all the summer. I have, however, completed my princess, though amid interruptions very unfavourable to a work which requires close attention and long sittings. I think very moderately of it myself, and suppose the world will think still less favourably. I trust, however, that my intention is pure, though my hopes are low. Lady Kingston, who was here on Saturday, gives a very good account of our dear bishop and Mrs. Porteus, whom she met at Villa Maria. She has just returned from a visit to all the German courts. She brings a good report of the health and apparent happiness of our princess royal. I rejoice with trembling that our beloved king is going to Weymouth; I rejoice that he is well enough, but tremble at his putting himself in so bustling, and perhaps perilous, a situation. How awful things look! I had the honour of a visit from my diocesan about a month ago. He and Mrs. Beadon seemed much pleased with little Barley Wood. I also passed a day with them at the beautiful villa of my neighbour Whalley. My visit to Wells is deferred, in order to give me an opportunity of meeting Lady Waldegrave there, who is soon expected, and I suppose she will come here also. Mrs. Bere has left this country. It is a curious thing that no less than four of my assailants should have been tried in the court of King's Bench for libels, and found guilty. Thankful am I that it has not been by me, nor in my cause. I cannot sufficiently acknowledge that restraining grace which has preserved me, not only from attacking others, but from defending myself, and that I was enabled to commit my cause to Him who judgeth righteously. Adieu, my dear friend, believe me ever, Yours affectionately, H. MORE. From the Bishop of Exeter to the Author of "Hints to a Young Princess." Parliament-street, May 3, 1805. SIR, A severe fit of the gout has prevented my taking earlier notice of the very handsome present I have received from the unknown author of Hints for a Young Princess. I shall now no longer delay returning you my best thanks for the very high degree of pleasure and satisfaction the perusal of your very excellent performance has given me. The world will soon, I am confident, be as anxious to know as l'am, to whom we are all indebted for so useful a work. I am, sir, With great respect and esteem, Your much obliged and faithful servant, |
