There may have been a few alterations made in transcribing, but they are very trifling, and the sense and spirit of the composition is the same; from which, and the manner I have expressed myself in giving vent to my feelings, it will be seen, that I had at last got-A PLEASING SUBJECT TO DWELL ON.

And why should I not? For, if it is recorded to the praise of SOBIESKO, who is otherwise represented as a tender and affectionate husband, that, during the memorable campaign (the deliverance of Vienna in 1683) he wrote daily to his wife, and that" at the age of 54 he had lost nothing of the kindness and enthusiasm of his early years." Why might not I, who had witnessed, the endearing and affectionate conduct of my amiable help-mate, for a length of time, so much exceeding that spent on this memorable siege,-not indulge myself, at the age of 57, in an attempt which, without laying the smallest claim to pre-eminence, in the little display it afforded to my versifying powers, proves so incontrovertibly, that, at that more advanced age,-I also, had lost nothing of the tenderness and enthusiasm of my early years.

Let others sing then the praises of the COUNTESS ALBERTI, who, in my own words, p. 217, vol. 1st of my Popular Philosophy, "when every effort to procure her husband's pardon had failed, chose rather to accompany him, to those hopeless regions of premature interment, (the mines of Idria) and to share his miseries in a living tomb, than to be separated from him. Of the PRINCESS VOLSKONSKY, who, in spite of the remonstrances of her friends, and the threat held out of depriving her of her titles and estates, if she attempted to join her husband, in the mines of Siberia, set out and reached her husband, nobly determining to be the companion of his chains and misery.-Of the HEROIC LADY OF ARCHIBALD HAMILTON ROWAN, Esq. in Ireland,-and of MADAME LAVELETTE, in more recent times, in France,-each of whom, effected the escape of her husband from certain destruction, by substituting her own person in his place. Of the self-devotedness of THE WIFE OF BARRY the painter, in order to promote her husband's happiness, through all his caprices or freaks of temper.Or, of the unremitting assiduity and eagerness to assist her husband, as far as she was capable, in every branch of his profession, of, THE WIFE OF SOLOMON GESNER, the

German bookseller, (though better known in the world as the author of that little favourite of the public, "The Death of Abel,”) in order that he might have the more leisure to devote to his favourite propensity, the pursuits of literature— (all of whose praises, however, deserve well to be taken on record.) I will content myself in recording those of MY OWN dear, faithful, AND AFFECTIONATE PARTNER, than whom, a more valuable help-mate-a more patient, uncomplaining, and indefatigable assistant in business, and otherwise,—was never, in mercy, given by a kind Providence to mortal man.*

But her praises, it must have been observed, have proceeded from other pens than mine. So far back as the year 1816, it may be recollected what a gentleman said in his letter, on being made acquainted with our first great, and what I may now call, the beginning of our other misfortunes. In the letter of my friend of the 26th January, and quoted so largely in my last chapter, the services of Mrs M. it will be observed, are not overlooked. The friend with whom the affecting conversation took place on the Sacramental Sunday, designates her, in a letter written to me, some little time before that conversation, (so much to her honour took place) as SHE whose care, had been so assiduous to my son, in his illness.

While the following extract from the letter of a worthy neighbouring clergyman, who had more than once visited us in our affliction, and who had been long and intimate

* Indeed, without such an invaluable assistant as I have had, and nobody could know her value more in this respect than I did, it is most likely, that, with all the aid I have from time to time received from se many sources, few of my lucubrations would have seen the light; for there must have been time for copying out during the day, what was composed during the night watches:— and that time, and that leisure, it is well known in the circle of our more immediate neighbourhood, I could never have commanded, without such an excellent and unflinching substitute in my place. Even now, while I am engaged in writing these pages (although removed to a small distance to be within call, if wanted,) my useful coadjutor is at her post at the back of the counter, little thinking, I dare say, what is the subject of this day's theme,—and which most likely, she will not be aware of, till she sees it in print! for she makes no enquiries, either as to the particulars of my subject, or its exact progress : It is sufficient for her that she knows I have undertaken a task, which, although arduous, she is well aware had become necessary for the purposes intended :her utmost curiosity, therefore, is, to know that it is progressing, and her greatest anxiety, to relieve me from other concerns, as much as possible,-until that task is accomplished.

ly acquainted with the different members of the family, although a little out of place in point of time, may also, be brought well in here, as a testimony to her worth, so far as it respected that dear departed youth, to whose memory, that good gentleman had paid a most honourable tribute, in a sermon which he preached in our parish church, in the absence of our own minister, who had exchanged with him on the first Sunday after the funeral,—as I shall afterwards have occasion to notice. The short extract is as follows:-" You have all consolation in having done every duty to your son,—and Mrs Miller in particular;—she has the rewards of her goodness in her own heart-IN HAVING DISCHARGED THE DUTIES OF A MOTHER, and, I am sure, a mother's blessing will ever attend her."

I might enlarge this precious chaplet further, by the addition of another flower, recently plucked, and in consequence, of a very fresh and fragrant perfume; but which, as I shall not now be long in overtaking it in course of my narrative, I will pass over for the present.

As for myself, the amiable and engaging qualities of THIS DEAR FEMALE, are so numerous, and have operated during the many years we have lived together, in such a variety of forms for my comfort, that I know not which have had the greatest share, in so strongly rivetting those affections, that nothing can sever on this side the grave;-and there is little doubt, that I had just such a one, as my own excellent and invaluable help-mate, in my eye, when, in the note at the passage formerly alluded to in my Popular Philosophy, I described woman as the best boon that heaven in its mercy has bestowed on man, to sweeten the toils-lessen the caressmooth the anxieties-and ease and soften by their many tender offices in sickness and on a death-bed-the pains-and agonizing sufferings of life:-and for these beneficial and other good purposes, may God long preserve her!—to which, I again say, Amen!*

The whole of this note, which will be found at page 218, of the first volume of the publication above alluded to, I recommend to the cowardly assassins of female character, and heartless libellers of the sex. From what 1 have said in the

But before we conclude, I shall produce at least one evidence, that however strong and enduring the conjugal attachment has manifested itself on the female side, it has not been altogether unresponded to on the other, and the instance, that I shall select, a very recent one, is the following,-from the Morning Herald, of Monday, the 5th March, 1832; and taken, by it, from the Huntingdon Gazette:

"Died on the 15th January last, HANNAH, the wife of WILLIAM HALL, of Hemingford, Hunts, at a very advanced age. After the interment of the deceased, her poor, sorrowing, aged husband, grieving at the loss of his long faithful partner, expressed a desire that he might die before the next Sunday passed, and be buried in the same grave with his late wife.-Alas! (but why say alas!) his frail thread of life snapped asunder, and he was a corpse on the Wednesday following. This must have been one of those happy marriages alluded to by Thomson, when he says,

"But happy they! the happiest of their kind!
Whom gentler stars unite,-and in one fate,

Their hearts, their fortunes,-and their beings blend." And were a union of hearts, and a similarity of dispositions, more attended to, with a due deference to my formerly quoted maxim, better to have "a fortune in a wife, than with a wife;" (although the good things of this life are certainly not to be despised, if they can also be had united in the same person) there would be, as I also observed before,-" Fewer jarring,—and more happy,—marriages in the world."

note (†) page 62d, of the present volume, it will be seen, that I speak after the experience, of having twice drawn a prize, in what is foolishly called the lottery of Matrimony, and on that account, I trust, my words will be the better attend

ed to.

CHAPTER XL.-1828 (CONTINUED.)

Again embark on the voyage—or set out on the journey—of life.—A gain exposed to the pelting of the storm.-But, again obliged to veil certain occurrences under the envelope of mystical obscurity.-A new species of trial awaits me.-Affecting extract from a friendly letter, of a kind friend.—My son's death, although daily looked for, comes suddenly at the last.-Affecting tributes to his memory.-Sorrowful reminiscences formerly alluded to.-My troubles not yet at an end.-More of the christian's legacy still in reserve for me,Another flower." Death's" shafts,—again begin to fly thick.-Melancholy walk on a pleasant autumnal afternoon.-Fortunate and timeous diversion of my thoughts to other matters-An unexpected meeting with friends from a distance. The affairs of business must not be neglected.-Publish my new advertisement, with additional testimonies to Popular Philosophy.- How characterized by the Edinburgh Observer, &c. as being fitted for a New Year's, or Christmas Gift.-Another advertisement published in reference to the other departments of my business. Another testimonial, being that of a great traveller.-Again labour under indisposition.-Not yet arrived, (at the close of 1828) at that “comfortable and successful period," so confidently predicted by my friend,-a twelve month before.

It was fortunate for me, that, I had this short respite for a breathing time, at this particular stage of my journey—that, I had this pleasant employment to divert my attention, even for a few days, from the inhospitable and dreary gloom, which was again beginning, or had already begun to overcast my horizon.

I said for a few days, and the days had been very few indeed, for, on the 14th, or within the space of three days from the 11th, I find I had been again exposed to the pelting of the storm, or, in other words, that those torrents had begun to descend upon me, which from more sources than one, with increasing, increased, unmitigated and relentless fury, poured down and beat upon my poor already battered tenementfor many days and months to come,-or, as I may perhaps say, to the end of the year.

These indeed, as belonging to the veiled class, must necessarily be passed over,—and I would not, even here have mentioned them, had it not been, that I wish to impress it