could only rest satisfactorily on one foundation, and would find nothing in the best works of his best days, that he could dare to produce before God for its own sake; sufficiently blessed and secure, if he could but cry, God be merciful to me a sinner, and let me be found in the beloved, and complete in him." To these, in the course of a long conversation, were added many like words of truth and grace.

During the whole of her illness, her pains never made her impatient; but she seemed more concerned about those who attended her, than about herself. She said tenderly to Lady Ann Erskine and Miss Scutt, whose long, faithful, and tender attachment to her is well known, "I fear I shall be the death of you both" (alluding to their constant watching with her); it will be but a few days more."

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But a few days before her decease, Lady Huntingdon said to a friend; "I cannot tell you in what light I now see these words: If a man love me, he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.' To have in this room such company, and to have such an eternal prospect! I see this subject now in a light impossible to be described. I know my capacity will be then enlarged, but I am now as sensible of the presence of God, as I am of the presence of those I have with me.'

On the very day of her death, she conversed about sending missionaries to Otaheite. She had often in her lifetime mentioned, that, from the first moment that God set her soul at liberty, she had such a desire for the conversion of souls, that she compared herself to a ship in full sail before the wind, and that she was carried on by such a Divine influence as was not easily to be described. Almost her last words were, "My work is done, I have nothing to do but to go to my Father." Her Ladyship died at her

house in Spa-Fields, next door to the chapel, June 17, 1791, in the 84th year of her age.

The body, according to a direction somewhat whimsical, was clothed in a suit of white silk, with the same head-dress which her Ladyship usually wore, and in that attire was buried in the family vault, at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, in Leicestershire. Her funeral sermon was preached at Spa-Fields Chapel, on Lord's-day, July 3, 1791, by the Rev. David Jones of Llangan, on Genesis, li. 24. And Joseph said unto his brethren, Behold I die, and God will surely visit you."

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THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

LADY ANN AGNES ERSKINE.

GENUINE greatness and nobility, a heathen observed, were to be found alone in exalted virtue; and we know that those great in the sight of the Lord, are not usually to be found in high rank, or titled; "not many mighty, not many noble, are called." Yet some singular exceptions are happily seen, demonstrating that the Lord hath in his hand the hearts of all men; and where such rare instances occur, they necessarily stand on an eminence, and engage more particular attention.

The noble lady, who is the subject of this Memoir, was the daughter of the Earl of Buchan, by a lady of the House of Stuart, and the eldest of a numerous family; the surviving branches of which are still the first ornaments of the Bar in England and Scotland, and more distinguished by their talents and integrity, than even by the nobility of their descent. The great grandfather of Lady Ann was a man of distinguished piety, and a considerable sufferer in the cause of religious profession, in the days of Charles the Second; and as the names of Ralph and Ebenezer Erskine have received a stamp of especial reverence in the religious world, it may not be uninteresting to observe, that they were branches of this family. The house in which they lived, is preserved by the present Lord Buchan, in its primitive state, as a relic and memorial of them.

Her early days were spent in Scotland. She mentioned to a lady, her acquaintance, the gracious

dealings of the Lord, when she was only about seven or eight years old. Her maid was reading to her a little book of the nature of Janeway's Token for Children; and the Life of Amelia Geddie, a little girl remarkable for early piety, made a deep impression on her mind, which she for a while retained. From this time, she prayed with fervour and feeling; and, as she then thought, with real answers to her prayer in repeated instances, both of childish infirmity and desires. A guittar, which she preserved to the day of her death, and which sometimes amused her, though she was far from a proficient, was connected with one of the instances she mentioned. Her mother, Lady Buchan, was on a visit from home at Edinburgh, and was to bring her something. Ann was waiting her return; and one day praying, she thought, What shall I ask to be brought me? A guittar struck her mind, though she had never learned, nor thought of it before; and she prayed that this might be brought her. Her mother, just coming through the street, thought of Ann as she passed a music-shop, and preferring a guittar to a toy, went in and bought it. "What

have I got for you, Ann?" said she. "A guittar." Trifling as this may seem, it left an abiding impression that there was a God who hears and answers prayer.

As she grew up, her early impressions wore off; and for some years, she lived like too many of her rank and sex, in fashionable follies, and in the company of those who were stangers to themselves, little affected about the eternal world into which they are going, and whose frivolity and love of pleasure left no place for matters of more solemn consideration. About this time, the Earl of Buchan, for his family convenience, removed to Bath; and there commenced her acquaintance with the excellent Lady Huntingdon, whose life was spent in endea

vouring to do good, and whose efforts were especially directed, at that time, to those of her own rank and station. An acquaintance formed about this time with the elder branches of the Hawkestone family, eminent for their excellence, contributed to fix the sense of Divine truths on her mind; and she became a professor of the principles of evangelical religion. A growing intimacy with Lady Huntingdon contributed to confirm her mind. Some congeniality, of spirit probably engaged Lady Huntingdon to invite Lady Ann to remain with her as her friend and companion; and as this was equally pleasing to both, for many years of the latter part of Lady Huntingdon's life, she was her constant friend and intimate. During these years, as a helper in the truth, she walked with her aged friend in great affection, making herself useful in assisting to discharge the burthen of cares and engagements in which Lady Huntingdon was involved; and how well she approved herself, may be concluded from the disposition which that good lady made of her affairs to such as she thought would most faithfully pursue the line she had so successfully traced. At Lady Huntingdon's decease, Lady Ann Erskine, with several other persons, were appointed trustees and executors of her will.

During Lady Huntingdon's life, Lady Ann was only known as zealously disposed to promote the cause of truth, without appearing in any prominent character; not being by Providence favoured with the liberal provision which her predecessor enjoyed, and which died with her. Indeed, Lady Huntingdon's zeal always outran her income; and though no person ever spent so little on herself, she left such incumbrances as her assets were unequal to discharge, unless some of her chapels were disposed of. These incumbrances, her executors and other friends immediately undertook to discharge, and to preserve the chapels for the purposes to which they had been