310° Reminiscences. [Sei 
nor dé, “fi “bédtity nor venius, is’a refuge ‘from’ their ingress, b Mita~ 
se dl tite, 1 on ‘all fiortal' things ; and the’atin 6f'deatln is%extended 
to, destroy. all that is most precious to the eye and’to thé! niind?™The® 
cultivation,of benevolent, affections and the practice of beneficent acts, 
cansalone console us in..our pilgrimage, and bring us peace.at, the las . 
Néthing:isimore delightful than serene old age, reposing, all its hopes, of 
futtire’ bliss'ona blameless conscience and an uncorrupted. heart... Igno- 
rant'of passion that “mats the beauty of all-it touches; . unconscious: of | 
crime ; relying on the constant indulgence of virtuous intention; and» 
grieving that it was ever thwarted by unforeseen and uncontrollable’ cir- 
cumstances; the venerable father contemplates ‘the’ children’ he ‘has’ 
reared through troubles and sufferings with that holy feeling which 
ambition never knew: and he lies down each night in the midst of his 
happy household, prepared to awake in earth or heaven. When he 
finally disappears, he leaves his name, and the sweet flavour of his 
virtues behind; and his tomb becomes to every feeling heart a holier 
shrine ‘than Loretto to the Romanist. It should be both the pleasure 
and the duty of man to visit the sepulchres of the virtuous dead ; there 
is a holiness breathing around them, which imparts its influence unto 
every. visitant. Over the graves of those who have gone to the land 
«where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest,” the 
soft breeze sighs its music, as if attendant spirits were watching around 
the good man’s tomb, and hallowing the earth with which his corse com- 
mingles... There the world-sick wanderer should come in the deepness of 
his despondency; and, in communion with the spirit of the scene,. for- 
give what could not gratify him to revenge, and, \bemg at peace with 
his own heart and all human kind, prepare to live as becomes a wise and 
accountable creature, in the fulfilnient of his duties:to: himself, his fellow 
men, and his God. 20% Osi H. K. 
/ 
ORIGINAL, LETIERS, OF, WILLIAM, HAYLEY. 
(To Mrs. Spilsbury.)’ 
Dear Ena: April, 26 1806. 
It grieves me to hear that you have been in the number of the deeply afflicted 
—alas, how extensive'is that number !—When I received your letter, I was 
endeavouring to console a friend, whose affliction is similar to your’s, but of 
redoubled weight. She lost'an amiable brother by a most unséasonable illness— 
like you, she had the comfort of knowing that the sufferings of the departing 
mortal were soothed by her kindness ; but while her heart was agonized by the 
recent loss, she had.the additional misery of hearing that, a distant brother, who 
had kindly endeayoured to reach the dying invalid before he expired, had 
suffered such an’ accident in: his’ journey, that it not only prevented) /his 
reaching London, but o¢casioned immediate danger to his! ownolife.ym 10! yrios 
Our sublunary” ‘world is “indeed ‘a ‘world’ of many sorrows; and: blessednaré 
those who'are mildly and mercifully advanced to happier existence. .v¥etobhad 
hoped your favourite seaman might become one of our ‘renowned naval heroesy 
and adda new lustre to the name of Gilbon—a man so dear tome; thatyto 
prove my affection for it, if you will send: me a brief sketch from, yotim owm 
hand ‘of ‘your brother’s life and character, I will try (im some favourable chon) 
megs Eales a simple‘and just epitaph for him, in ‘verse, as inay 
be soothing to the heart of his affectionate’sisters 9° touoo08 v9 mo euoixas 
Let this friendly suggestion atone for the refusal which} am!under aneces4 
sity of returning to your request concerning a new periodical publication, —In- 
truth, my dear Emma, my hands’and eyes ate $0 overloaded with various pro- 
