LETTERS. 75 
leave a world in which I have met with nothing 
but misfortunes and all their concomitant evils? 
" I will, on the contrary, endeavour to divest 
myself of all wishes for the futile and sublunary 
enjoyments of it, and prepare my soul for its 
reception into the bosom of its Redeemer. For 
though the very strong recommendation I have- 
had to his Majesty's mercy by all the members 
of the court may meet with his approbation, yet 
that is but the balance of a straw, a mere uncer- 
tainty upon which no hope can be built. The 
other is a certainty which must one day happen 
to every mortal. Therefore the salvation of my 
soul requires my most powerful exertions during 
the short time I may have to remain on earth. 
" As this is too tender a subject for me to 
inform my unhappy arid distressed mother and 
sisters of, I trust, dear sir, you will either show 
them this letter, or make known to them the 
truly dreadful intelligence, in such a manner as, 
assisted by your wholesome and paternal advice, 
may enable them to bear it with Christian for- 
titude. The only worldly feelings I am now 
possessed of, are for their happiness and welfare. 
But even these, in iny present situation, I must 
endeavour, with God's assistance, to eradicate 
from my heart, how hard soever the task. 
I must strive against cherishing any temporal 
affections. But, dear sir, endeavour to mitigate 
my distressed mother's sorrow. Give my ever- 
lasting duty to her, and unabated love to my 
disconsolate brothers and sisters, and all their 
relations. I have encouraged them, by my ex- 
ample, to bear up with fortitude and resignation 
