My first attack was a violent fit, which threatened immediate death, and left me no signs of life but breathing for about an hour. I soon grew better; but the sudden stroke made such an impression upon my dear wife, that it cost her more than a twelvemonth's severe illness. My friend, Mr. M****, procured me a place in the Custom-house; and when I was constrained to return to take possession of my office, she had been but a few days a little revived from a state in which the physicians had given up all hope of her recoverey. The second series of my letters were written while I was tide-surveyor of the port of Liverpool.

Letters to a Wife.

WRITTEN IN ENGLAND,

FROM 1755 TO 1785.

Thou dost but take the dying lamp away,

To bless me with thine own unclouded day.

MRS. ROWL.

Behold 1 take away from thee the desire of thine eyes, with a stroke; yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down EZEK. xxiv. 16.

LETTERS TO A WIFE.

1755.

WHILE RESIDENT AT LIVERPOOL.

MY DEAREST,

Towcester, August 12.

BEFORE this reaches you, your brother will have told you how easy and composed he left me. Indeed, I wonder at myself. But the Lord has been very gracious to me, and fulfills his promise of giving me strength according to my day. My mind is not distressed. My companions in the coach are civil and agreeable, in their way; but I had rather have been alone; for to commune with God and my own heart, would be much more pleasing than the empty amusing chit-chat I am engaged in at present.

I was enabled, this morning, to commend you to the Lord's blessing with much comfort. And I have a cheerful hope that He will raise you up in due time; and that we shall again have a happy and thankful meeting. Till then, let us attend to present duty, and keep close to him by humble prayer, and a renewed dependence upon the blood of Jesus. Let us, while the rod is upon us, inquire into the meaning of it, and hear his voice by it: let us bow to his chastisement, and acknowledge that we have rebelled against Him, and that he afflicts us far less than our iniquities have deserved. Then we may be assured that though He cause grief, He will have compassion; and will not only deliver us, but give us to see, and to say, that it was good for us to have been in trouble. I esteem it a mercy that you found some mitigation of your pain, and some symptoms of amendment, before I left you. But had I been called away in the hour of your greatest extremity, I ought to have relied on the Lord's goodness, and to have been resigned to his will. But, alas! how weak is my faith!

I am in perfect health, and not uneasy for you. To be sure I think of you continually, but my trust in God bears me up. I shall endeavour to write by every post, but if one should pass me upon the road, I hope you will not be anxious. The Lord is my guard and my guide.

Litchfield, August 13. THUS far I am brought in safety, and am not willing to trust the post any further, and therefore must be brief. I met Mr. T**** at Daventry, and requested him to send you word how cheerful he found me; fearing you would scarcely believe my own report, unless I had some one to vouch for me. I shall be glad to hear a like account of you, but I know who has the care of you, and what good ground I have to trust him. I hope my first news will be, that your recovery is advancing. Many prayers to this effect I have offered, and am every hour adding to the number, though not with the solemnity I could wish. For we have hitherto found so much company upon the road, and have come in so late, that I have not had the opportunity of a single retired room. This is the only inconvenience I have met with. But I know I do not scrve a hard master. I pray to Him who can hear the breathings of my thoughts, when in the midst of company, and who is more ready to hear than I am to ask.

I hope you, my dearest, will continue waiting for Him, for from Him only our help can come. Pray for a praying spirit; lay all your hopes and all your fears before Him. In this way, and in no other peace and comfort will be surely found: I recommend you to his blessing, and remain, beyond expression,

Yours.

Liverpool, August 15.

I CANNOT write much to-night, but I must tell you, in a few words, all is well. I have met with the usual kind reception from our dear friends-have done my business at the Custom-House, and received many congratulations. I have a holiday till Monday, and shall then enter upon my office. As there are two surveyors, and I shall be upon the river only every other week, the place is likely to afford me liesure, which, in its turn, will be as welcome to me as money. Well: since the Lord has given me so many blessings, shall I not trust him throughout? Yes, I thank him, I hope I am warranted to say, I can, and do. My thoughts were much interrupted while in the coach; but I had a pleasant ride indeed from Warrington hither, and was fed to wonder at my many mercies, and to resign both you and myself into the hands of God, with much satisfaction.

I have received your brother's letter, and I thank him for his punctuality. As the Lord is pleased to give you intervals of ease and sleep, so I know he can remove all your pains by a word; and I trust he will in the best season. May he, at present, sanctify his hand, to the increasing of our faith and patience. Amen!