Happiness is not found in self-contemplation ;-it is perceived only when it is reflected from another.

We know little of the state of departed souls, because such knowledge is not necessary to a good life. Reason deserts us at the brink of the grave, and gives no farther intelligence. Revelation is not wholly silent. "There is joy in the angels of heaven over a sinner that repenteth." And surely this joy is not incommunicable to souls disentangled from the body, and made like angels.

Let hope, therefore, dictate what revelation does not confute-that the union of souls may still remain; and that we, who are struggling with sin, sorrow, and infirmities, may have our part in the attention and kindness of those who have finished their course, and are now receiving their reward.

These are the great occasions which force the mind to take refuge in religion. When we have no help in ourselves, what can remain but that we look up to a higher and greater power? and to what hope may we not raise our eyes and hearts, when we consider that the greatest power is the best?

Surely there is no man who, thus afflicted, does not seek succour in the Gospel, which has brought life and immortality to light! The precepts of Epicurus, which teach us to endure what the laws of the universe make necessary, may silence but not content us. The dictates of Zeno, who commands us to look with indifference on abstract things, may dispose us to conceal our sorrow, but cannot assuage it. Real alleviation of the loss of friends, and rational tranquillity in the prospect of our own dissolution, can be received only from the promise of him in whose hands are life and death, and from the assurances of another and better state, in which all tears will be wiped from our eyes, and the whole soul shall be filled with joy.Philosophy may infuse stubbornness, but religion only can give patience.

1794, Feb.

SAM. JOHNSON.

LXXXII. Dr. Benjamin Franklin to the Earl of Buchan.
MR. URBAN,

Dryburgh Abbey, July 12.

THE very long intermission of my correspondence with you, has been owing to my particular engagements in

literature, which have prevented me from contributing to your useful undertaking. Being of opinion, that the wide dissemination and extension of useful knowledge in both sexes, in all ages and ranks, ought to be the primary object of every friend to humanity, I have uniformly, with my illustrious friend the great Washington, been a promoter of cheap and well-digested periodical publications. I have, for three or four years past, furnished a good deal of matter for Dr. Anderson's Journal in Scotland, called the Bee; which, from some difficulties in the circulation of it, has been lately suspended by the Editor. Just attachment to my own country induced me to give a preference to that Journal; but now, finding myself disengaged, I cheerfully reassume my literary connexion with the Gentleman's Ma gazine, that truly chaste and respectable repository of erudite and useful information.

As a beginning, I send you a truly interesting letter of the worthy Dr. Franklin. Nothing, in my opinion, can more surely tend to produce peace, industry, and happiness in Britain, than an interchange of citizens with congenial America; and whoever discourages that interchange must be considered as no friend to the happiness of either side of the Atlantic, or the interests of humanity at large.

America presents a country founded upon pure principles of Christian charity, and untainted morality, as flowing from that charity, and such as the world never before exhibited. She, therefore, offers to the reflecting and inquisitive mind considerations and hopes that enter deep and far into a happier futurity. I am, Sir, with esteem, your obedient, humble servant,

BUCHAN,

Dr. Benjamin Franklin, Minister Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary from the United States of America

to France, to the Earl of Buchan.

"MY LORD,

Passy, March 17, 1783.

I RECEIVED the letter your lordship did me the honour of writing to me the 18th past; and am much obliged by your kind congratulations on the return of peace, which I hope will be lasting.

With regard to the terms on which lands may be acquired in America, and the manner of beginning new settlements on them, I cannot give better information than may be found in a book lately printed at London, under

VOL. III.

some such title as "Letters from a Pennsylvanian Farmer," by Hector St. John. The only encouragements we hold out to strangers are, a good climate, fertile soil, wholesome air and water, plenty of provisions and fuel, good pay for labour, kind neighbours, good laws, and a hearty welcome. The rest depends on a man's own industry and virtue. Lands are cheap, but they must be bought. All settlements are undertaken at private expense; the public contributes nothing but defence and justice. I have long observed of your people, that their sobriety, frugality, industry, and honesty, seldom fail of success in America, and of procuring them a good establishment among us.

I do not recollect the circumstance you are pleased to mention, of my having saved a citizen at St. Andrew's by giving a turn to his disorder; and I am curious to know what the disorder was, and what the advice I gave which proved so salutary?* With great regard, I have the honour to be, my lord, your lordship's most obedient and most humble servant,

1794, July.

B. FRANKLIN."

LXXXIII. Dr. Doddridge to Bishop Hildesley.

Chelsea, April 22.

Ma. URBAN, THROUGH the kindness of my valued relation, Mr. Giberne, the following letter has fortunately been rescued from oblivion. He found it by accident, amongst various other papers that fell to him of Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Mark Hildesley, late Bishop of Sodor and Man, At the time when the letter was written, it appears, that Mr. Hildesley was the rector of Holwell, in Bedfordshire, a living presented to him by R. Radcliffe, Esq. who had a singular respect for his many amiable and engaging qualities, and always called him Father Hildesley.

The character, both of the excellent prelate and of his most respectable correspondent, Dr. Philip Doddridge, can never fail to be esteemed, so long as piety and sound learning retain their just value in our land.

The autograph of the letter is inclosed, for your satisfac

* It was a fever in which the Earl of Buchan, then Lord Cardross, lay sick at St. Andrew's; and the advice was, not to blister according to the old practice and the opinion of the learned Dr. Thomas Simson, brother of the celebrated geometrician at Glasgow. B.

tion; and you are requested to return it to me at your leisure. I make it an offering to your Miscellany, as the best means of rendering it permanently useful; and allow me to add, that the task of communicating to the literary and pious world so acceptable a tribute gives no small pleasure to

Yours, &c.

WM. BUTLER.

"Northampton, Oct. 12, 1749.

REVEREND AND DEAR SIR,

HOW shall I sufficiently thank you for the candour, condescension, and friendship, you have been pleased to express to me, in that very obliging letter which the last post brought me? Straitened, as I always am, for time, I could not persuade myself to delay acknowledging it by the first opportunity. Accept, I beseech you; the tribute of a grateful heart,--which finds itself sensibly cheered by such expressions of your regard,-from your poor fellow-servant, who does not esteem you the less his brother, nor feel the less of a fraternal love to you, on account of any diversity of forms, and what are called party distinctions. But I rejoice to be assisted and supported by gentlemen of your character and station, in my cordial though feeble endeavours to spread the spirit of true, catholic, vital Christianity; and to root out, as much as possible, that sour leaven of bigotry and faction, which is, under all denominations, too ready to insinuate itself, to the dishonour of our great Master, and the lamentable detriment of his family. But, blessed be God! I hope it begins to be expelled; and many excellent persons, in the establishment as well as the separation, have shewn so amiable a disposition to unite in bonds of mutual respect and friendship,-while diversity of forms continues, that I look upon it as a happy proof of the prevalency of real religion, in some considerable degree, and a blessed omen of its more abundant prosperity.

I think it a great honour to my writings to have been approved by so ingenious and worthy a person as Mr. Hildesley; an honour which I desire to lay down, with all humble gratitude, at the foot of him from whom every capacity of service, and every instance of acceptance and success proceeds. When I consider-I speak it from my heart-how very much inferior I am in all kinds of knowledge and furniture to many of my contemporaries, among different bodies of men, I have often wondered at the kind reception my writings have received in one place and another; and

have been astonished to observe the hand of Providence raising up friends and patrons to them where I could not at all have expected or imagined it. You, dear Sir, are one instance of this; there are others in the Established Church at home, and some abroad, in Holland and Germany, as well as our plantations; and this to such a degree, as to have produced what no man ever less dreamed of,-eleemosynary editions of some, and translations of others. And, if I know my own heart, it is not from the little vanity of having an insignificant name repeated sometimes, by I know not whom, but from better principles, that this has been and is the joy of my heart, and a great encouragement to go on with my en deavours, such as they are. And oh! that Divine Grace may take occasion to glorify itself in the weakness and unworthiness of the instrument! In this view, my generous. friend, for so I will presume to call you,-I earnestly entreat your prayers; and will detain you no longer than while I answer that part of yours, in which you are so good as to inquire what I have written, and what I am now about.

The pieces, of any size, that I have published, are, the three volumes of "The Family Expositor;" four sermons on Education; seven to Young Persons; ten on the Power and Grace of Christ, and Evidences of the Gospel; ten on Regeneration; "The Rise and Progress of Religion;" and the "Memoirs of Colonel Gardiner:" translations of all which are chiefly by means of one man,-who, till of late, never saw me,—either published in some foreign language, or ready for the press. To these have been added the following detached pieces, several of which are now out of print, and probably will continue so: "Free Thoughts on the State of the Dissenting Interest;" three letters to the author of "Christianity not founded on Argument;" two sermons on Salvation by Grace; single sermons or tracts, on the following subjects, viz. the Funeral of Colonel Gardiner, and of Mr. Norris (the last on Enoch's translation); the Deaths of Children; the Care of the Soul; against Persecution; the Character of a Gospel Minister, at Mr. Johnston's ordination; the Evil of neglecting Souls, at Kettering; Charge at Mr. Tozer's ordination; ditto at Mr. Jenning's; Fast Sermon at the beginning of the War; Thanksgiving, for the Retreat of the Rebels; Thanksgiving, for the Peace; Letters to Soldiers; Sermon on Compassion to the Sitk; Account of Mr. Steff's Life; Funeral Sermon for Mr. Shepherd; Christ's Invocation; Speech at Mr. Newman's Grave; Sermon on the Fire at Wellingborough; and Principles of Religion, in verse, for the use of children.