Mr. Newton from Cambridge, at the close of his second long vacation, be deemed uninteresting.

"It was about a year and a half ago," he observes, “on her return from boarding-school, that her piety first ap"peared, though on her death-bed she confessed that her "heart had been inclining to God nearly two years before "that time. About three months since she was seized by a "consumption, which has now given her a happy release " from all sin and all sorrow."

A letter still remains, written by Mr. Buchanan from Cambridge to his dying sister, for the purpose of cheering and supporting her under her early departure from the world, the piety and fraternal affection of which will sufficiently recommend the fellowing extracts.

"I rejoice to hear that you are about to enter into the joy "of your Lord, to behold the Saviour whom you love, face to "face; to be clothed by him in a spotless robe, and present"ed to the Father as an heir of everlasting glory.

"Let me encourage you to pass over Jordan's flood with a "resolute step, undismayed; let me remind you of the pro"mise of Him, to whom the death of his saints is precious. "Let me enforce the immutable love of your God, and pro"claim to you the truth of your Redeemer. You have al"ready known him as the way; on your death-bed you "will find him the truth; and he will quickly welcome you "to the gate of Zion as the eternal life.

"My dear sister, be of good cheer; lay hold of Jesus as "the anchor of your soul. Was it ever heard that any one "who fled to him for refuge was deserted in a trying hour?

Was it ever known that he suffered one of his sheep to be "plucked out of his hand? Has he not said, I will never "leave thee, nor forsake thee? When thou passest through "the waters, I will be with thee; Fear not, thou art

mine.' These are exceeding great and precious promises, "on which you may safely rest. If your faith be weak, yet "waver not. The promise is to the weak as well as to the "strong; yea, to all those who can say, Thou knewest, "Lord, that I love thee.'

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"While you have life, magnify the praises of Him who "hath called you with such a holy calling. Evince to the "world that the Bible is not a cunningly devised fable. "Seek to glorify God in your death, and assuredly he will "give you faith to do it. Speak from your dying bed of the

"things of the kingdom to which you are hastening; impart "your views of the vanities of life, for the benefit of those ❝ who survive you. Pray that a double portion of your spi"rit may rest upon your brother, that he may gladden your "eyes at the last day with a view of many souls whom he has "brought with him to glory. Leave him such exhortations, "encouragements, and reproofs, as an immediate prospect "of heaven may inspire you to give.

"And now let me conduct you as far as I can, even to the "gates of Jerusalem. Many a song will be sung, many a "harp be strung, on your entrance into the kingdom of hea❝ven. Who is this that I see foremost to welcome you? Is "it not your grandfather, or your father? My dear sister "what joy is this! They, accompanied by a heavenly host, "conduct you to your Saviour, your King, and your God. "Then your glory begins; you are crowned with honour "and immortality. You join in the never-ending song of "Worthy the Lamb,' and drink of the pleasures which are "at God's right hand for evermore."

The preceding pious and animated address did not arrive until the relative for whose consolation it was intended was beyond the reach of human joy or sorrow.

The account, however, which Mr. Buchanan, in the words of another sister, gives to Mr. Newton of the last trying scene is peaceful and encouraging.

"She now," he says, " in faith looked forward to her rest, ❝and spent much of her time in reading the Scriptures, and ❝ in prayer.

"On the evening of the day she died, she said to her mo"ther, I think that my hour is now come.' Her mother "was surprised at this, as there appeared no visible change "in her countenance. She immediately began to pray, and "prayed long. Her mother overheard some of her words

She prayed, that she might be found in Christ; that she "might have a title to that covenant which is well ordered ❝and sure. About the conclusion of her prayer, death ap"peared to be fast approaching. She begged that the fami"ly might come round her bed; and then she began to ex"hort them, and to speak to them of the kingdom of God. "Her mother observing that her last moment was now at "hand, asked her if she had any thing to say to her brother "at Cambridge. Yes,' said she; tell him, be sure you "tell him,' (repeating it emphatically,) that I die trusting "in the Lord Jesus Christ.' She then lifted up both her “hands, and looking up to heaven, committed herself to the "Lord, her eyes streaming with joy; which having done, "she sunk on the pillow and expired."

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"The manner of her death," continues Mr. Buchanan, "has given my mother a comfort inexpressible.

"I know nothing which has had a greater tendency to "animate me in my Christian course, than this triumph of my sister. O were the work done which my Father hath "given me to do, how gladly should I accompany her!

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"I hope you are at present a large partaker of the conso"lations of the Spirit. Though I am young, I know thus "much, that without those consolations, there is no happi"ness. What a blessing, that the pleasures of holiness be"gin on this side the grave!"

On the 5th of November Mr. Buchanan again delivered a public Latin speech on the Revolution in 1688; and on the 15th a declamation in favour of modern learning. His relaxation in mathematical studies exposed him, he informs Mr. Newton, to frequent remonstrances from different friends; and amongst others, from the late excellent Mr. Robinson of Leicester, who was anxious that he should view academical honours with less indifference. "They are lit"tle aware," he adds, "that I need no spur on this head, "were I conscious that my abilities warranted me success. "In arguments of this kind I usually urge the plea of duty; "though I must confess, that the other weighs more strong"ly with myself, which it ought not to do."

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Mr. Buchanan, as it will presently appear, probably, and perhaps happily, underrated his talents in this particular. However this may be, he was unmoved by the representations of his friends, and persevered in the course of study which, as we have seen, he had deliberately adopted.

Early in the year 1794, a letter occurs to his venerable friend Mr. Newton, which affords a specimen of that union of playful remark with Christian seriousness, by which his correspondence was occasionally enlivened.

"Mr. F. writes to me, that your recommendations have "been of great service to him at Edinburgh. I am happy "to find that his zeal increases. More of my friends err "through too much prudence than too much zeal. I think I “have observed that a man who is well acquainted with the "world, cannot have too much zeal. If he is ignorant of ❝men and manners, his zeal will injure his cause; and it is "not till after repeated lessons that he is put right.

"Your aged domestics will wonder why I stay so long at "Cambridge, when I have so much work to do in the mini"stry. I wish they could impart to me somewhat of their "experience, self-knowledge, and humility; and in ex"change I promise to give them on my return from college, "all my mathematics, pure and mixed, geometry, algebra, "fluxions containing the nature of pneumatics, hydraulics, "hydrostatics, the doctrine of incommensurables, indivisi

bles, and infinities, parabolic and hyperbolic logarithms, ❝summation of series, solution of quadratics containing im"possible roots, together with the properties of parallelepi❝peds and dodecahedrons, not forgetting Sir Isaac Newton, "his celebrated corollaries to the paradoxical lemma re"specting curvilinear straight lines! together with other "particulars, too many to be here enumerated.

"What a mercy, you will say, that Phobea has not to "learn all this in order to get to heaven!

"I thank you for your dissertation on Cambridge learn❝ing. I hope I have passed the ordeal now, and that I shall "be led to the study of those things by which I may be best

a Alluding to an old and highly valued domestic of Mr. Newton.

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"able to promote the glory of God. I sigh for the sublime "grace of self-denial. It is the preservative of the youthful "Christian from snares innumerable."

Not long after the date of the preceding letter, Mr. Newton made the first direct proposal to Mr. Buchanan of a voyage to India. His reply was as follows.

"I request you to accept my thanks for the affectionate "letter which I have just now read. I have only time to "say, that with respect to my going to India, I must de"cline giving any opinion. It would argue a mind ill"instructed in the school of Christ, to pretend to decide on "an event so important and unexpected; an event, which "will doubtless give a complexion to the happiness and use"fulness of every hour of my future life.

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"It is with great pleasure I submit this matter to the de"termination of yourself, Mr. Thornton, and Mr. Grant. "All I wish to ascertain is the will of God. I hope that the "result of your deliberations will prove to be his will. "Were I required to say something, I should observe that "I feel myself very ill qualified for the arduous situation in "question. My intimate friends know that my plan of col"lege study was, to attend more immediately to academical "learning the two first years, and to preparation for the mi"nistry in the third and last, upon which I am but now en"tering. I think that our regard for the glory of God re"quires us to endeavour to find a person of acknowledged "ability in things both human and divine, who has already "approved himself such an one as might successfully resist "gainsayers, and prosecute his mission with energy. A "beginner, particularly if he be of slender capacity and at❝tainments, will naturally shrink from such a situation, "fearing lest he should tarnish the honour of his embassy "by an unskilful or ungraceful negociation.

"On the contrary, if the Lord does with me as with Je"remiah, and bids a child go and teach a great nation, it "would be vain to plead my incapacity, since, if he sends "me, he will certainly touch my mouth.' Only I would "observe, that in the present state of Christianity, it would