to-morrow refreshed, and without any other wish than that

of His service.

At

"Thursday. I was with Graun till breakfast. breakfast I conversed. I began to talk with an intention to relieve my mother; but finding what I said seemed to entertain some present, I went on solely to gratify my own vanity; and though I felt repentance at the time, I said many foolish things, in order to raise myself in the esteem of those I was with. Afterwards I walked in the garden; I could not help thinking how foolish I had been. The pensile boughs of the laburnum and honeysuckle, the corn and the long grass, were waving in the wind; as I watched them alternately stooping and rising, flexible to every breath that blowed, I could not help longing that my heart were, like them, flexible to every breathing of that Spirit which God sends to all the children of men, but which we so often resist.

"Saturday.-Experience gathered by watchfulness is the same in religion, as perception, strengthened by observation, is in reasoning. Let me observe myself, that I may know my own vileness, and observe the Lord, that I may know His goodness.

"Monday.-At about ten, I went in, and wrote my pamphlet, for two hours, on the Education of the Poor,' to my satisfaction on the whole, though I did not near enough feel myself in the presence of God while I wrote. After that, I spoke to my mother about my plans, and my wish to write for the public. Yet I believe I spoke more in my own spirit than in that of Christ, forgetting that, if He had appointed it for me to do, He would smooth the

way. Afterwards I practised sacred music, took exercise, lay down, and dressed. After dinner, I went to see Mary Capper.

Friday. Whilst I dressed, I thought much of my pamphlet, but was not able to bring it into any good form. I then walked, and read some Olney Hymns. After breakfast, I went with my sister to visit her poor school. Then I wrote my pamphlet, which advanced beyond expectation. I practised sacred music. After dinner, Mr. Longscarter told me several anecdotes of Lavater, with whom he has spent some months. I suffered much this day from my melancholic disposition. I felt no confidence in God. Everything looked black. Several little things occurred to disappoint me. Then I thought of Miss D, and of how much use she had been to me in opening and presenting things to me which I had never before thought of. I found reason truly to be thankful, even for that coldness and austerity which I least liked in her.

66

Sunday. After breakfast I enjoyed walking with J. H Till the carriage came to take us to meeting, I walked, reading Hervey with much pleasure. I was engaged during part of the time I was at the meeting with truly happy thoughts. I felt the love of God, and His providence watching over me. I felt how the clouds which had beset me had dispersed, how many things which had seemed insuperable difficulties in prospect had given me tenfold blessings in the execution. How many things now seemed plain that had caused me doubts and fears. I felt happy in the hope that God watched over all my family; and for my dear father and mother and each of my dear

brothers and sisters I prayed separately, and felt their interests very near my heart.

"Thanks be to God, for the comfort I now feel. I believe it truly the will of God that I should leave worldly pursuits, I mean serious as well as dissipated worldly ones; and if I am careful only to follow His leadings, and not my own will, that He will make the way plain, and bring things round, though I do not see how. After dinner, I walked alone, but my mind was not enough with God; many vain and idle fancies intruded. How vain, and foolish, and inconsistent is my heart; if I had no righteousness but my own to plead before God, what a wretched, vile outcast should I be and how should I dare to appear in His presence?

"Monday. This day has not been well spent. I rose about seven; I walked out with Hervey, and read one of his letters with delight, and frequent prayer, which was, I believe, more than answered. The style of Hervey as a writer is often turgid and affected; yet I enjoy this book, because it is just the food I now want, and because its falling in my way seems such an immediate answer to prayer. I have often a delightful sense of the presence of God, and of His peculiar providence; but I have not a sense of the evil of sin, or of His holiness. I often seem to myself like those persons, the height of whose disease prevents their thinking themselves ill. I saw these doctrines in the Bible, but somehow they did not come home to my heart; and I applied to many, but none explained them to my satisfaction. Thus, I went on trying to help myself, and trying to get others to help me, never once

thinking of asking Him from whom all truth comes, till compelled by necessity; and scarcely had I prayed, when the very book which was to remove my doubts was given I then went to learn a short lesson in

me.

thorough bass. After breakfast, I walked about half an hour, entreating the Lord to put in my heart that spirit by which I might best write to His glory, and for the good of others. When I think of my own blindness, and of the unawakened state of my conscience, I feel writing for the public like a blind man undertaking to teach the knowledge of colours; but when I again consider that, if the Lord calls me, He can overrule my ignorance, and will guide and support me, if I am but willing, I feel encouraged."

CHAP. V.

1806-1807.

"Let a man get but one glimpse of the King in His beauty, and then the forms and shapes of things here are but the types of an invisible loveliness, types which he is content should break and fade."-ROBERTSON.

"Be not over exquisite

To cast the fashion of uncertain evils,

For grant they be so, while they rest unknown,
What need a man forestall his date of grief?"

MILTON.

IN 1806, the subject of this Memoir married Mr. Lambert Schimmel Penninck, of Berkeley Square, Bristol. This gentleman belonged to a branch of the noble Dutch family of that name, the head of which, the late Count SchimmelPenninck, was for many years Stadtholder of Holland.

"I really feel very joyful," Mrs. Galton wrote, while this marriage was in prospect," in the unexpected conference with the Mores. They speak with much interest, and very favourably, of the SchimmelPenninck family. They consider it as being uncommonly intellectual. The principal person in question they represent very favourably, sensible, amiable, well read, but not brilliant. They appeared, however, a little surprised at his presumption. Hannah More in particular expressed herself fully and liberally.