WILLIAM TILGHMAN. 65 



trating himself before the Supreme Being, in medita- 

 tion, thanksgiving ami prayer;'' and he concludes his 

 memorial by offering, as he expresses it, " with a 

 grateful heart, his unworthy thanks to the Almighty 

 and Merciful God, for past favours, far exceeding his 

 merits," and by ^< imploring with all humility, that 

 he would graciously assist his weak endeavours to 

 keep the resolutions he had made." 



Before the 12th of August, 1820, that feeble ray 

 which was promised to his declining days, was ex- 

 tinguished. The only child of his only daughter was 

 taken from him. Yet observe, how the light of the 

 divine philosophy shone inward, and dispelled the 

 gloom in which unassisted man would have sunk to 

 despair. "Great God, during the last year, thou hast 

 thrown me on the bed of sickness, and raised me up 

 from it. Thou hast taken from me my last earthly 

 hop&. I submit to thy providence, and pray that 

 thou will grant me fortitude under all my afflictions, 

 I am sure that whatever is ordained by thee is right. 

 May 1 never forget that thou art always present, the 

 witness and judge of my actions and thoughts. My 

 life is hastening to an end. May I, by thy gracious 

 assistance, so employ the remainder of it, as not to 

 be altogether unworthy of thy favour." 



On the last anniversary that he ever saw, he begins 

 his paper with this prophetic declaration, ^^ this day 

 completes my seventieth year, the period which is 



said to bound the life of man. My constitution is 

 9 



