intention of the writer that it should meet the eye of any human being besides herself. For many years it was never seen by any other person, but as the events which she had recorded became less recent, she occasionally read passages to her children, and a few other persons. Hearing them express great satisfaction in what was thus communicated, and finding that some under afflicting circumstances were soothed and comforted, and likewise reaping benefit by recurring to it herself from time to time, she was unwilling to destroy it, and left it behind her without any injunctions or directions what ever. Her children, who had before been acquainted with it, naturally had recourse to this Journal for consolation under the heavy affliction occasioned by her death. The comfort they derived from the perusal, induced them to shew some parts to a few friends, who mourned with them the loss of one of the best of women and of Christians. By these friends they were so earnestly solicited to lay extracts from it before the public, that after much deliberation they have resolved to do so, from the hope that the pious effusions of one of the tenderest and purest hearts that ever warmed the human breast, may edify others. The MS. from which this selection has been made is very voluminous, being part of the weekly, and sometimes daily employment, of five-and-twenty years. It was the custom of the pious writer to retire to her closet on a Sunday evening for two or three hours, to reflect on the occurrences of the week that was just expired, and to examine into her past conduct and sentiments. Most solicitous was she to take this frequent retrospect, that she might stand with her lamp burning in her hand ready to obey the summons of her great Lord and Master whenever he should call her. Happy would it be for hundreds and thousands of her fellow Christians, would they adopt the same practice; how many bitter pangs of remorse would be spared by such an exercise: how many self-reproaches avoided! As it is by the concurrence of the children of Mrs. Trimmer that these papers are published, an apology may, perhaps, be necessary, for the flattering manner in which they are occasionally spoken of; those expressions would, indeed, have been omitted, could it have been done without injury to the work. That they had the happiness to give satisfaction to the best of mothers will ever be their pride and their consolation; but had they not done so, how inexcusable must have been their conduct! how ill would they have repaid attentions which were never remitted, tenderness that never failed. In these papers it will be seen how exquisitely her heart was formed for the conjugal and the maternal characters, and how anxiously solicitous she was to perform the duties of both. Never was there a more dutiful and affectionate wife, never a tenderer or better mother! What her sufferings were upon the loss of her husband, and upon the death of three of her children, will be best seen by her own expressions upon those mournful occasions, and it is presumed that others under similar circumstances may learn by her example that the feelings of humanity are not incompatible with the meek resignation of the pious Christian. Is is much to be lamented that some parts of her Journal which shew her character in the finest point of view, cannot be brought forward, as they are connected with the concerns of others; but it is hoped that many persons will be benefited by what does appear, and that they will be led by the perusal to apply to the same source from whence she drew those living waters which sustained |