have already done by your good letter and excellent prayer. I endeavour to make the best use I can of both; but I am so evil and unworthy a creature, that though I have desires, yet I have no dispositions, or worthiness, towards receiving comfort. You that knew us both, and how we lived, must allow I have just cause to bewail my loss. I know it is common with others to lose a friend; but to have lived with such a one, it may be questioned how few can glory in the like happiness, so, consequently, lament the like loss. Who can but shrink at such a blow, till, by the mighty aids of his Holy Spirit, we will let the gift of God, which he hath put into our hearts, interpose? That reason, which sets a measure to our souls in prosperity, will then suggest many things which we have seen and heard, to moderate us in such sad circumstances as mine. But, alas! my understanding is clouded, my faith weak, sense strong, and the devil busy to fill my thoughts with false notions, difficulties, and doubts, as of a future condition *

of

prayer: but this I hope to make matter of humi liation, not sin. Lord! let me understand the reason of these dark and wounding providences, that I sink not under the discouragements of my own thoughts! I know I have deserved my

* Two or three words torn off.

sorrows.

punishment, and will be silent under it; but yet secretly my heart mourns, too sadly, I fear, and cannot be comforted, because I have not the dear companion and sharer of all my joys and I want him to talk with, to walk with, to eat and sleep with; all these things are irksome to me now; the day unwelcome, and the night so too; all company and meals I would avoid, if it might be; yet all this is, that I enjoy not the world in my own way, and this, sure, hinders my comfort: when I see my children before me, I remember the pleasure he took in them; this makes my heart shrink. Can I regret his quitting a lesser good for a bigger? O! if I did stedfastly believe, I could not be dejected; for I will not injure myself to say, I offer my mind any inferior consolation to supply this loss. No; I most willingly forsake this world--this vexatious, troublesome world, in which I have no other business but to rid my soul from sin; secure, by faith, and a good conscience, my eternal interests; with patience and courage bear my eminent misfortunes, and ever hereafter be above the smiles and frowns of it. And when I have done the remnant of the work appointed me on earth, then joyfully wait for the heavenly perfection in God's good time, when, by his infinite mercy, I may be accounted worthy to enter into the same place of rest and repose

come my best support.

where he is gone, for whom only I grieve I do * fear. From that contemplation must Good Doctor, you will think, as you have reason, that I set no bounds, when I let myself loose to my complaints; but I will release you, first fervently asking the continuance of your prayers for

"Your infinitely afflicted,

But very

faithful servant,

"Woburn-Abbey,

"R. RUSSELL,

"September 30, 1683."

Lady Russell to Colonel Russell.

Endorsed" Uncle Russell, October 7, 1683.".

Apology, dear uncle, is not necessary to you for any thing I do, nor is my discomposed mind fit to make any; but I want your assistance, so I ask it freely. You may remember, Sir, that a very few days after my great and terrible calamity, the King sent me word he meant to take no advantage of any thing was forfeited to him; but terms of law must be observed: so now the grant for the personal estate is done, and in my hands, I esteem it fit to make some compliment of acknowledgment to His Majesty. To do this for me, is the favour I beg of you; but I have writ the enclosed paper in such a manner, that if you judge it fit, you may, as you see cause, show

* A word torn off.

it to the King, to let him see what thanks I desire should be made him ; but that is left to you to do as you approve. Truly, uncle, it is not without reluctance I write to you myself, since nothing that is not very sad can come from me; and I do not love to trouble such as I am sure wish me none. I ask after your health, and when I hear you are well, it is part of the only satisfaction I can have in this wretched world, where the love and company of the friends and dearest relations of that dear and blessed person must give me all I can find in it now. It is a great change, from as much happiness as, I believe, this world can give, to know no more, -as never must,

"Yours, &c."

Every consolation that friendship could bestow was lavishly offered to Lady Russell, but in vain. The following testimony to her husband's worth, however, which I leave in her own words, must have been gratifying to her feelings:

"Thursday, the 24th March, 1686-7. "I received a visit from Mr. Dyckvelt, the Dutch ambassador. He spoke in French to this effect:-To condole, on the part of the Prince and Princess of Orange, my terrible misfortunes, of which they had a very feeling sense, and continued still to have so; and as my loss was very great, so they believed my sorrow still was such:

that for my person in particular, as also my own family, and that I had married into, they had great respect and value, and should always readily take all occasions to show it: that it would be a great pleasure to them, if it would give any ease to my thoughts, to take the assurance, that if ever it should come to be in their power, there was nothing I could ask that they should not find a content in granting:

That, for the re-establishing of my son, what I should at any time see reason to ask, would be done in as full and ample a manner as was possible that he did not deliver this message in a private capacity, but as a public minister. Then, again, he hugely enlarged his compliment, giving me the content to tell me the high thoughts the Prince always had, and still preserved, of my excellent lord; that His Highness had never accused his intentions, even at the time of his suffering, and had considered and lamented it as a great blow to the best interest of England, the Protestant religion: that he had frequently before heard the Prince take occasion to speak of him; and that he ever did it, as of one he had the best thoughts of one could have of a man :

"And he said (with protestations that he did (not) do so with design to make an agreeable compliment to me), that he found the very same justice given to his memory here, and that so