28 
MEMOIR OP 
field, — I feel my body decay daily, my spirits and 
strength continually decrease, and something within 
me tells me that dissolution — dreadful dissolution, is 
not far distant. No heart can conceive the terrors 
of those who tremble under the apprehension of 
death. This increases their love of life, and every 
new advance of the King of Terrors overwhelms 
them with despair. How hard — how difficult — how 
happy to prepare for eternity ! and yet, how dread- 
ful to live or to die unprepared 1 Oh ! that I were 
enabled to make it my study to interest myself in 
His favour, who has the keys of hell and of death. 
Then all the vanities of life would appear what they 
really are, and the shades of death would brighten 
up a glorious path to everlasting mansions of feli- 
city ! — Theso are the sincero effusions of my soul, 
and I hope that, through the Divine aid, they shall 
be my future delight, whether health shall again 
return, or death has left the commissoned dart." 
Other causes besides the illness and poverty un- 
der which he laboured at this time, tended to dis- 
tract him ; for although his biographers do not 
admit his having been a devotee to the tender pas- 
sion, yet we have reason to know that the charms 
of Martha Maclean, the sister of his friend Mrs. 
Witherspoon, had materially interfered with his 
mind’s ease. In the New World, after a lapse of 
time, new attachments were formed; and had he 
lived, ho was to have been married to Miss Miller, 
daughter of a proprietor in the vicinity of Winter- 
ton, and this lady he appointed his executrix. 
