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In his protection they shall be safe in the light of his countenance they shall be happy. They who have no claim to these privileges of the true christian, will be left poor and wretched in the midst of the greatest prosperity of this world; but they who have been wise to secure their interests in these, may solace themselves with pleasures and with hopes, which its most flattering smiles cannot inspire, and which its severest afflictions cannot take away.

I shall not apologize for the serious strain in which I write. It is that which is most familiar to my pen, which I believe will best correspond to the feelings of your heart. The sentiments of religion which I have taken occasion to suggest, cannot be unpleasing to you. Religion I am persuaded, you wish to make the primary object of your attention. In the practice of it, I am sure, you will find your truest and highest happiness. Though its aspect be grave, yet is it not severe. Though its laws inculcate sobriety of mind, and of manners, yet do they not forbid, but rather encourage, cheerfulness of temper. It never was intended to make our pleasures less; but on the contrary, to improve, exalt, and multiply them. And accordingly, its ways will be pronounced by them who travel in them, to be ways of pleasantness, and they will find all its paths peace. Religion is indisputably the highest wisdom, the brightest ornament, the richest treasure, of human nature. The dear young friend to whom I write, will, I trust, ever reckon it among the most attractive charms of her youth. She will certainly find the best support of her age (should life extend so far) of her sweetest solace in every season of affliction and sorrow on earth. But what language can speak the advantage of it, in a

dying hour? And a dying hour is what we should never allow to be long out of view. For even in the season of youth, and gaity, of joy and hope, it may not be far remote. But when it arrives, then to be able to look back upon a life well spent, carefully redeemed from the vanities of the unthinking, and the follies of the vicious, and devoted to the service of our God and Saviour; to the practice of all righteousness and goodness; and to look forward, with that lively animating hope, which is founded on an approving conscience, of rising beyond the grave, to those joys which are unspeakable and full of glory, which shall be the portion of the good through eternal ages; this surely is an bappiness, for the attainment of which, no exertions can be too great; for the want of which, nothing that this earth may afford can ever compensate. This is the happiness which, with all the ardent affection of a friend and christian, I wish you to possess. And as it is to be secured by religion, and by that alone, no other consideration will be necessary to engage you to pursue it, in this way, with all the care and diligence, which so important an object justly challenges. Only study to be good, and you cannot fail to be blest.

According to my usual practice, when I write to those whom I love, I have run my letter considerably beyond the limits, which I had at first prescribed to myself. But I hope you will not think it tedious. It has all flowed from an heart, that feels itself tenderly interested in your happiness, and sincerely desirous of contributing every thing in my power to promote it. With this object in view, I felt too much pleasure in writing, to admit of my laying down my pen, so soon as I intended, when I took it up.

ISAAC S. KEITH.

TO MR.

BATH, (VIRGINIA) AUGUST 3, 1785.

Mr dear friend would certainly blame me, and very justly too, if in my present situation, with my time so much at my own disposal, I should omit a favourable opportunity of discharging one of the kindest offices, that can be shewn to an absent friend. I am apprehensive, indeed, that you will find it performed in a manner little suited to gratify your feelings and expectations; but I am desirous to offer you something in this way, that may serve as a testimony at least of my good will, persuaded that your usual candor, or rather partiality, will dispose you to read whatever I write, with all the indulgence I could reasonably ask, if not with all the pleasure I would wish to afford. And if my writing may only answer the purpose of furnishing you with an innocent and agreeable amusement for a few moments, I shall think the time bestowed upon this, among the best employed, and happiest hours, of the sweet leisure I now enjoy.

After an easy and agreeable journey, my fellow traveller and myself arrived here, through the favour of a kind Providence, on the fifth day after leaving Alexandria. The ride itself contributed to the restoration of my strength and spirits, even beyond my expectations, more especially when we approached towards the mountainous country, where every breeze seemed to breathe health and cheerfulness; and my residence here, as far as I can judge from the experience I have yet had of it, seems likely to prove no less favourable to the object of my visit. Independently of the water for which this place is chiefly famed, it seems to have

been particularly designed by the beneficent Creator, to furnish a salutary and pleasing retreat for the infirm and the languid, during the sultry heat of summer. It lies in a deep narrow vale, formed on the north by a lofty, steep and craggy mountain, and by a considerable hill on the south. The first of these, besides exhibiting to the contemplative mind, a pleasing prospect of nature in her rude, untouched magnificence, and I think not susceptible of improvement by the hand of art, serves the valuable purpose of intercepting the morning and evening rays of the sun, and by these means of protracting, considerably, the coolness of those sweet and refreshing hours, which form the beginning and the close of the summer day. The town is not yet an object of much consideration; though it is scattered over a pretty large extent of ground. The greater part of the houses, which I conjecture amount in the whole, to between one hundred and fifty, and two hundred, are small and indifferent, suited merely to the design of a temporary residence; though there are a few of a neat and convenient structure already built, and others continually rising. The water, which is to be considered as the capital object of the place, is indeed the purest, and the lightest, I have ever tasted. Besides these excellent qualities, it is generally allowed to possess some peculiar medicinal virtues, which render it highly salutary in many complaints.

Whether it will eventually have a good effect in my own case, I cannot yet determine. What I have drank of it has been so far useful, as to promote a good appetite and digestion. I have not yet made sufficient trial of the bath, to form a judgement whether it will agree équally well with my constitution. But to whatever it

is to be ascribed, whether to the use of the water, or to the change of air, or to any other cause, I have certainly felt myself much better hitherto, than when I left home; though I still find that I am not perfectly freed from all remains of my former fever. I am not without hope, however, that after spending two or three weeks more here, I shall return to Alexandria with a greater stock of health, than I have possessed for a twelve month past.

The company collected here is not yet very numerous, but appears to be daily increasing. The methods of spending the time are as various, as the circumstances, characters, and dispositions of the people. We have balls and plays, and gaming houses, and during the last week, sermons almost every day by the metho dists. And upon one or other, upon fewer or more of these, the gay, the dissipated, the serious, attend, as vanity, passion, or conscience happen, to have a determining influence. For my own part, as I never yet found happiness in a crowd, or in the usual occupations, either of the busy or the idle, I have chosen to pass my time chiefly in retirement. And I felicitate my self that I have it in my power to do so, as I am provided with a private room, just large enough to contain a bed and a chair, with the liberty of a comfortable parlour, not yet appropriated, and a charming cool piazza, fronting the high mountain mentioned above, and approaching within a few yards of the fine stream of water, flowing from the springs of health, near to which the house is situated, and yet remote from noise.

Sweet solitude! But ah! one thing is still wanting to complete the scene, and give the full relish of it.