SOME ACCOUNT

OF THE

LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH

OF

CHARLES STANGER JERRAM.

My son was taken seriously ill on Friday night, the 18th of September. Previous to that time, he had been far from well, and the day before, I had requested a medical friend to write to an eminent physician in London, to request him to give us an audience early in the following week, and to subject my son's state of health to a very minute examination. His attack was a morbid secretion of bile, which terminated in an inflammation, and ultimate suppuration of the liver. At first, no apprehensions were entertained for the result; and it was not till the morning preceding his death,

and a week after the commencement of his illness, that we felt any serious alarm. It is true, that from the first, the nausea and vomiting, with which his disease was attended, prevented the use of such active medicines as his case seemed to require: yet it was thought that the malady would yield, though not quite so soon, to such remedies as his stomach would receive. During the first four or five days, therefore, we all indulged the hope of soon seeing him better, and returning to convalescence, with a fairer prospect of enjoying sounder health than he had done for two or three previous years. During this time, I said but little to him on the subject of religion, fearing that he might consider conversation of this nature as an intimation that we thought him in danger; and knowing, also, that this was not an affair which he had thoughtlessly neglected. did, however, now and then drop a hint and prayed with him once or twice. I asked him, at the commencement of his illness, whether, upon the whole, his mind was uneasy or composed, when he reflected

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upon the relation in which he stood to God. He replied with much feeling, that he felt rather composed, and seemed to entertain no alarm on this subject. I mention this, because the result shows that his reply originated in a well-grounded hope of salvation through Jesus Christ; for he never, so far as I can learn, during the whole of his illness, expressed a single fear or doubt of his acceptance with God.

Being under the necessity of going to town on Thursday, the 23d, and being assured by one of his medical attendants, that there was no apparent cause for expecting an unfavourable termination of his malady, I spoke to my son of my intention, and asked him a few questions on the state of his mind. He said his faith and entire confidence were placed on Jesus Christ; and he asked me, as I then thought, to pray for him, though it afterwards appeared that he meant I should pray with him. After he found I was gone, he expressed much uneasiness, and was particularly grieved that I had not prayed with him. This, indeed,

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I should have done, notwithstanding my mistaking his request, had I not been afraid lest under the circumstance of my going away for that and the following day, it might be too much for his feelings. I regret, however, the omission; and I hope I shall hereafter think less of momentary emotions, and take the opportunity, when it occurs, of discharging every christian duty.

On the Thursday evening his disease assumed somewhat of an alarming aspect, and he became exceedingly anxious for my return. On Friday morning he was much relieved, and all were sanguine that he would soon be restored to health. On my return in the evening of that day, he was overjoyed to see me. He took my hand between both his, and embraced it with much affection, expressing the pleasure he felt at my arrival. On my explaining the mistake which had occured about praying with him, I put some general questions to him, and he manifested the same confidence in the Saviour as he had done from the first. On my praying with him, he was much affected, and

thanked me most tenderly. About 8 o'clock, I again said, “I hope, my dear Charles, that you will still recover; but if not, Jesus Christ is a blessed Saviour, and if you look to him he will support you." He replied, with great earnestness, "O yes, I know he will, but I can scarcely get my breath;" this he said that I might see the reason why he spoke no more on this subject.

About 4 o'clock on Saturday morning, I was called up, and informed that he was considerably worse. When I approached his bedside, I found him labouring under extreme difficulty of breathing; and the pulse and other symptoms convinced me that his case was one of extreme danger. On his medical attendant being sent for, he confirmed my opinion; and from this moment, I entertained no hope of his recovery. I then thought it right to apprize him of his situation, and to prepare his mind, as well as my own agitated feelings would allow, for the event. He received the intelligence without any apparent alarm; and

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