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was soon exchanged for the strong expressions of filial grief. He saw what was the matter, and forbore to speak, but stepping gently to her bed side, he kissed her, and let fall some heavy drops of heart struck sorrow on her face, "Is she dying?" and just as these words were uttered, we saw a slight motion of her hand, and soon after she began to breathe softly. This was a solemn and an affecting scene, rendered still more affecting by her sudden spring back into life, to embrace her long lost child. No words were uttered by them, but a frequent interchange of these relative terms which fell from their lips in alternate responses, "My child!" "My mother !" We withdrew to the window while they remained for many minutes locked in each others embrace; when at length the dying saint consented to receive a glass of wine, which revived her, and after reclining on the bosom of her son for some time giving vent to her feelings, she became sufficiently composed to converse with him. "You are near port mother," said the hardy looking sailor, and I hope you will have an abundant entrance." Yes, my child, the fair haven is in sight, and soon, very soon, I shall be landed,

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on that peaceful shore,

Where pilgrims meet to part no more."

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"You have weathered many a storm in your passage, mother; but now God is dealing very graciously with you by causing the winds to cease, and giving you a calm at the end of your voyage." "God has always dealt graciously with me, my son. of the greatest scenes of tribulation sing,

Even in the midst he has enabled me to

"Blest is the sorrow kind the storm,
That drives me nearer home."

"Oh

but this last expression of his kindness in permitting me to see you before I die, is so unexpected, that it is like a miracle wrought in answer to prayer." mother," replied the sailor, weeping as he spoke," your prayers have been the means of my salvation, and I am thankful that your life has been spared till I could tell you of it."

She sat and listened with great composure to his

pleasing and affecting tale.-On his return from his last voyage, they brought home a pious Missionary, who was returning from Sierre Leone for the benefit of his health; to whose conversation and preaching on board the vessel he ascribed his conversion to God. "Before he came on board, I had many qualms of conscience; and was often terrified at the thought of death, but never felt that I needed a Saviour, till he discoursed to us one Sunday morning. His word was like an arrow shot through my soul, and I could get no comfort till I prayed to Jesus Christ," paused to weep, and we wept with him-when he renewed his conversation, and after giving us a detailed account of his recent preservation during a violent storm, which drifted his vessel on some rocks, we knelt down and he commended the soul of his dying mother into the hands of the Lord Jesus; when we arose, and I' took my leave.

He

She remained for several days without undergoing any material change; but on the eighth day after her son's return, he called at the Elms, and said that his mother wished to see me. I immediately went, accompanied by my sister Jane. We found her in a most heavenly frame of mind. After a conversation which lasted about half an hour, I observed a sudden alteration in her countenance, which convinced me that the time of her departure was drawing nigh. She now sat for several minutes in perfect silence; a death-like stillness pervaded the room, and we all felt an awe on our spirits that seemed to betoken' some great event. She then raised her head, and first expressed her gratitude to her nurse, for her kind attention; thanked me and Jane for the few favours we had the privilege, and the honour of shewing her; and then taking the hand of her son, she pressed it to her lips, and said, "Yes, thou art a faithful God! and as it hath pleased thee to bring back my long lost child, and adopt him into thy family; I will say, Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, acccording to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation;" and smiling, as she fell back on her pillow, she gave one deep sepulchral groan, and left us.

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"Having made these prefatory remarks, I will now entertain my readers with a few letters, which I have selected from the mass which is lying before me; and though I may not give the most amusing, I will present what I deem the most important."

Page 3.

London:

PRINTED FOR FRANCIS WESTLEY, 10, STATIONERS COURT, AND AVE-MARIA LANE.

THE AUTHOR'S REPLIES TO SOME OF HIS CORRESPONDENTS.

PART I.

"I am afraid that I may be taxed with insensibility by many of my correspondents, who believe their contributions unjustly neglected. And, indeed, when I sit before a pile of papers, of which each is the production of laborious study, and the offspring of a fond parent, I, who know the passions of an Author, cannot remember how long they have lain in my boxes unregarded, without imagining to myself the various changes of sorrow, impatience, and resentment, which the writers must have felt in this tedious interval."

JOHNSON.

I HAVE received many communications from unknown correspondents, but comparatively few possess any intrinsic merit, to justify me in bringing them out of that state of oblivion in which they are cast. Some are full of flattery, and others of censure; some point out the excellencies of my papers, and others their defects; some commend me for the catholic spirit which I have diffused through my writings, and others reproach me for my intolerance; some say that I am a Dissenter, courting popularity amongst the members of the Establishment, and others that I am a Clergyman, aiming at the destruction of the Church, whose altars I have sworn to protect; some accuse me of attempting to diffuse Arminian sentiments to the extent of my influence, and others condemn me as one of the most rigid Calvinists of modern times; some are anxious that I should continue to afford them instruction and amusement, even beyond the time I have fixed for the termination of my labours; and others inform me they are happy to hear that I shall finish my ramblings with the 108th Number. As my correspondents may wish to know what sort of reception their communications have met with, I will so far gratify them by saying, that I have read every letter I have received; and though my feelings may have been excited, as powerfully by their censures as by their congratulations, yet the equilibrium has been so nearly preserved, that I have never risen to ecstasy, nor sunk into depression; but, upon the whole, have maintained that sobriety of thought, and even

ness of temper which has enabled me to dictate advice without arrogance, to reprove without severity, and to execute my weekly task without fearing the result.

Having made these prefatory remarks, I will now entertain my readers with a few letters which I have selected from the mass which is lying before me; and though I may not give the most amusing, I will present what I deem the most important.

“SIR,

"I am always pleased when men of genius, of taste, and of piety, devote their talents to the amusement and instruction of society, and do not object to their just animadversions on its corruptions; yet, as I am an enemy to indiscriminate commendation, so I am to undeserved censure. You will allow me then to say, that while I have derived great pleasure, and some improvement, from many of your weekly Numbers, I have occasionally met with some objectionable sentiments.

"As a parent, I offer you my thanks for the advice you have given our children, on the important points of courtship and marriage, and hope they will be wise enough to receive it. But you will permit me to say, that I think they would have been more disposed to have received that advice, if you had not interdicted those sources of amusement which they are so fond of. I agree with you, Sir, that the stage, as it is usually conducted, tends to corrupt the morals of the thoughtless and the gay; though I have sometimes attended a theatrical performance without receiving any injury. Nor do I approve of the pomp, and parade, and expensive dresses of the ball-room and the assembly; yet I see no objection against a private dance, when our young friends meet together to spend the evening in recreation. I have read, with entire approbation, all your remarks on the professed gamester, and join with you in condemning, in the most unqualified terms, the billiard table, as the altar on which the fortunes of the rich, and the morals of the incautious, are sacrificed with an unfeeling hand; but I must say, that you have suffered, at least in my opinion, your dread of conse

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