It will afford some idea how happy the aged Christian can be, if I extract a passage from a letter written to me by one who had recently by marriage become his grand-daughter. She writes May 16th, 1843; when Mr. Gray, consequently, had just entered his ninety-third year :"But old Mr. Gray, my grandfather! what a beautiful and excellent old man he is! I looked at him with a sort of reverential wonder. He is remarkably well, enjoys his food, enjoys the company and conversation of his friends: indeed, he appeared to me to enjoy every thing about him, and to enter into the enjoyments of others, as if he were just beginning life with us. And yet he often speaks as if his mind were filled with heavenly thoughts. He went to church twice on Sunday: a sedan is his carriage, and he says he has little fatigue in going and then, he added, 'I have happy thoughts by the way, or it is my own fault if I have not.' He repeats his hymns to little Margaret Gray, his great grand-daughter, by way of keeping them up."

The last interview I had with him was in January, 1844; when, being in the North, I requested permission to visit him at York. He readily welcomed me. He was now quite blind, but quick of hearing; and sensible which was the sunny and bright side of the room. Our conversation turned, among other points, on the state of religion at present in this country; and deeply did he mourn over the injuries doing to our Establishment, by false teachers within it. Yet, on the whole, he took a cheerful view of things; his mind was deeply impressed by those mighty movements which had taken place in his day, for the extension of the Gospel. He viewed the present struggle as only a more visible and violent exhibition of the conflict which has always been going on in the world betwixt Christ and Belial. As our conversation drew to a close, I made a brief summary of the evils we had noticed; adding, "Now, what is the remedy for all these?" I shall never forget the calmness and decision with which he replied, "Preach the Gospel." After a pause, I said, (as it were complaining), "This is a very short answer to my question, which was not a short one." He simply answered, "It is enough."-At the same time he expatiated on what was a favourite theme with his venerated pastor, Mr. Richardson, namely, the glory brought to God by the plan of redemption: the Gospel being the only scheme by which the Divine Attributes are all displayed in perfect harmony. "For the glory of thy Name,' is a plea," he said, "which we ought frequently to urge: it must prevail."-He reminded me also of a favourite sentiment with that school of preachers to whom he had been accustomed; namely, that the Application of the Sermon was the main point: Mr. Milner often saying, that it was the only part that most persons attend to.

After this I went out to see the Minster, and some friends; and returned to an early dinner. What a company was assembled before my departure! After dinner he had his whole household in to prayers, his grandson's family also coming in from the next house. It was a most affecting sight, to see four generations, all uniting in family-worship at that hour: the aged patriarch next to me on one side, and his great grand-daughter sharing my chair on the other. The passage of Scripture read, was John xv. 1-9. Here was, indeed, a lovely specimen of branches of the True Vine! We closed with prayer; the good old man kneeling towards the table as straight as if he had been a younger

man.

In the course of the Spring of 1845, being conscious of increasing

weakness, and having his two sons with him, he took that opportunity of describing to them what he judged to be his spiritual state. Considering all the circumstances, it may not unfitly be regarded as his dying testimony. He said: "You know it is not at all likely that I shall again see you both here together, before I die; and I should like you, my two clerical sons, to know that I have no joy in the prospect of the future: I have no joy in believing, but I have perfect peace. For some length of time I have had uninterrupted peace. That verse of St. Paul's entirely expresses my feelings; "The peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." " He then added with great feeling and emphasis, "When I look at the sins of to-day, and of yesterday, and of my whole life, I cannot believe there is anything against me: with such a Sacrifice provided, I am sure it is all washed away!" It was remarked to him, that perhaps he had no right to expect any triumphant feelings, not being in affliction, or under persecution: to which he most heartily assented. He said, "I entirely agree with you: I do not expect more, or wish for more: it is all perfectly right: I only thought you ought to be made acquainted with my feelings." After this, before the five months during which he kept his bed, he often dwelt on the text quoted above: as also when afterwards confined to his bed.

As his end drew near, he became very silent, yet he was evidently meditative. During the last few days, he hardly spoke ten words. He seemed desirous neither to talk, nor to be talked to. During this period, apprehending his end to be near, he said, "Into thy hands I commend my spirit:" on his daughter's finishing the sentence, "For thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, thou God of truth," he answered, "That is my hope." One of the last things he was heard to say, was, "God is not angry with me."

He was honourably attended at his burial. On the Sunday after his death, the Rev. W. V. Harcourt, Canon in residence, (son of the Archbishop, who highly esteemed Mr. Gray) made a touching allusion to the event in his sermon at the Minster; with great pathos quoting the words, "When the ear heard him, then it blessed him; and when the eye saw him, it gave witness to him." Other sermons also were preached on the occasion. On the day of the funeral, his fellow-citizens marked their regard for him, by closing their windows in the vicinity of the procession; the Lord Mayor and Corporation attended in state; upwards of thirty Clergymen, and many gentlemen of the city and from distant parts, joined the mourning train, besides an immense concourse of the inhabitants; while the great Peter-bell of the cathedral, and the funeral-bells of several of the parish churches, added to the solemnity of the last scene. He was interred in his family-grave in the churchyard of St. Maurice, Monkgate.

The Rev. Mr. Camidge, whose church he had latterly been accustomed to attend, remarks in his funeral sermon :

"So long as health and strength were continued to him, no one was a more regular attendant at the Sanctuary, or a more devout communicant at the Lord's table. The last time we were privileged to look upon his venerable countenance, was within the walls of this church. The last time we were permitted to unite with him in an act of public devotion, was in partaking of the emblems of his dying Lord's love. His feeble voice was never wanting in the hearty responses of the service; testifying that the forms of the church were not, with him, the mere labour of the lips, but the fervent aspirations of the soul."

The same Clergyman remarks :—

"Another source of spiritual joy with this truly good man, was the contemplation of the pure Gospel now happily proclaimed from so many pulpits, contrasted with the mere moral essays which were generally to be heard at the period when his spiritual father, the venerable William Richardson, commenced his ministerial labours in this city.' He was often heard to say, 'I thank God that I leave the world better than I found it.'"

Mr. Gray was, at the time of his death, Treasurer to the County Hospital, and President of the York Church Missionary Association. His desire to make himself useful in communicating religious instruction to others, was shewn by his diligent attendance as a visitor and teacher at the Sunday Schools, from their first establishment in York: which practice he continued till he reached the age of threescore years and ten.

After the preceding notices, partly derived from his own pen, and so distinctly indicating the consistent and holy course of this venerable man from youth to age, it may appear almost superfluous to attempt any further delineation of his character. He speaks for himself; and what he says carries its own light with it. Where he began, there he continued, and there he ended,- -AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS! He was a consistent Churchman also; honestly and firmly attached to the Establishment, but without bigotry: cordially loving "all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." He was a wise counsellor ; comprehensive in his views; cautious in judging, but firm in action utterly averse from all unprofitable novelties. He stood in the good old paths! In all these respects, he and his venerated near connection, Mr. Hey of Leeds, were remarkably congenial. It would be difficult to conceive of two persons more perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment.

;

This Memorial may suitably close with a well-known hymn (a version of Ps. lxxi.), which derives peculiar interest from the use made of it by Mr. Gray, and from its being in reality an epitome of his eminently Christian life. He was accustomed to carry this hymn in his pocketbook; and had it copied out for him every year, each successive year in a larger hand than the previous one. To the last, when blind, he used to stand by the window in the bright sun-light, to read it off the paper, as he fancied; while he was really repeating it from memory.

My God, my everlasting hope,

I live upon thy truth:

Thy hands have held my

childhood up,

And strengthened all my youth.

Still has my life new wonders seen
Repeated every year:

Behold, the days that yet remain,

I trust them to thy care.

Forsake me not when strength declines,

When hoary hairs arise:

But round me let thy glory shine,

Whene'er thy servant dies.

Then in the history of my age,
When men review my days,

They'll read thy love in every page,
In every line thy praise.

W. J.

**The friend who has so kindly complied with our request in furnishing us with the preceding Memoir, mentions the death of Mr. Gray's eldest son, Jonathan, to whom we alluded last month (page 132.) A few brief notices of him will not be an unsuitable postcript to the memoir of his venerable father. We will retain his initial J. throughout, to prevent confusion with W. Gray, his father.

Mr. J. Gray, during many years, occupied a prominent position among his fellow citizens in York, and on all public occasions evinced unwearied zeal and energy, united with great and varied talents. He was brought up to the profession of a solicitor, and for more than thirty years was actively engaged in a most extensive practice; but his ardent mind could not be confined to mere official routine; and he was ever ready to engage in the pursuit of knowledge and 'general information. He possessed great strength of intellect; a mind original and masculine, and never failing in its resources; a fund of wit and humour; considerable reading; a clear and penetrating judgment, with extraordinary facility of expressing in writing not only his own ideas, but the more vague ideas of those around him. At committee or public meetings, he with dispatch and aptness drew up resolutions or other public documents admirably expressive of the sentiments of the assembly.

Mr. J. Gray was born in 1779, and received his education at the grammar school in St. Andrewgate. His first appearance in any public proceeding was in 1807, in which year he was Under-Sheriff, and was actively engaged in arranging the poll at the great contested election between Lord Milton and the Hon. Henry Lascelles. He was concerned in an arduous struggle a few years after, respecting the management of the York Lunatic Asylum, and in promoting an improved system; and had the gratification of seeing the cause of humanity triumph. During this enquiry he attracted the attention of the Archbishop of York, who conferred upon him the office of Solicitor to the See, and honoured him on many occasions with marks of his confidence and regard.

In 1819 Mr. J. Gray, with several of his friends, established the Yorkshire Gazette, and for several years he contributed largely towards its success, by giving, on many and often very trying occasions, his personal attendance, and by writing articles not only of a political, but, occasionally, of a scientific and literary description. He possessed, and had early in life cultivated, the species of talent suited for popular writing. The exercise was to him a source of relaxation and amusement. His powers of satire were considerable; and the exercise of them was a dangerous temptation. Mr. J. Gray's political principles were those of Mr. Pitt; and his pen was ever ready to advocate what he considered to be the cause of the Constitution.

As a citizen, Mr. J. Gray was ever forward to give his aid to any measure having for its object the benefit of his native city. He was one of the founders of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society, and was among the most active of the Governors of the York County Hospital, the Dispensary, the Savings' Bank, and almost every public institution in York; and upon the corporation being thrown open, he was elected an alderman. He was also recommended by the city council as one of the new magistrates, and received that distinction; the alleged rule prohibiting practising solicitors being waived on account of his peculiar merit.

To science he was not altogether a stranger. He had qualified himself to make astronomical observations with considerable accuracy, and had a particular turn for the true regulation of time. He was curious in clocks and

watches, and devoted much attention to the proper management and exactness of the Minster clock. He also possessed some skill as a meteorologist. To music he was devotedly attached. This fascinating pursuit engaged from his earliest years much of his leisure time. He played upon the organ with great facility of execution, and kindly gave his amateur services as organist, for a long series of years, at the Sunday evening service at St. Saviour's church. For his private use he had an organ of very considerable powers put up in his own house, which was used in assisting the devotional harmony of his family, and of parties of religious friends. He had also some skill as a composer of music, and published a few chants for cathedral service. He made the selection of hymns used at St. Saviour's and other churches. He wrote a preface to this collection, which he afterwards enlarged and inserted in the Christian Observer, and subsequently published as a separate tract. This production was the result of great study and inquiry, and is a work of authority upon the psalmody and choral services of the Church of England.

Mr. J. Gray was, from inquiry and conviction, a sincere and attached member of the Church of England. He was well acquainted with her doctrines and services as established at the period of the Reformation. In the belief of those doctrines he lived, and upon them he ventured his eternal salvation. He was instructed in them by his venerable father; and confirmed in them by the ministry of his godfather, the late Rev. W. Richardson. To the memory of that faithful and eminent clergyman Mr. J. Gray was greatly attached; and upon his decease in the year 1821, he composed a memoir of him, which was published, with extracts from his private papers. Mr. J. Gray selected and abridged a volume of family prayers, which has been used by many with great profit. He also abridged Rambach's Meditations on the Sufferings of Christ, and of which two editions have been published. He took a warm interest in all our great religious societies. In addition to being a member of the old Church Societies, he was Secretary of the York Auxiliary Bible Society, a Vice-President of the York Church Missionary Society, Treasurer to the Auxiliary Society for the Conversion of the Jews, and President of the York Auxiliary Tract Society. The agents of these Societies, on occasion of their various anniversaries in York, were generally inmates of his hospitable house, and always departed with feelings of high respect for Mr. J. Gray and his amiable lady. He was, during its existence, Secretary of the York Anti-Slavery Association, and only gave up his office when the passing of the Act for the emancipation of the negroes happily rendered its labours no longer necessary. Though highly venerating his own church, and acquainted to minuteness with its ritual and general constitution, he was nevertheless ready, and he esteemed it a privilege, to unite with members of other communities in promoting benevolent and religious objects, when it could be done without sacrifice of principle. His pecuniary liberality was upon a large scale; very few applied to him in the cause of charity and were refused. In his domestic enjoyments, he was truly a kind husband, and was mourned for by an attached wife. In the year 1826, he had the severe trial of losing an only and beloved daughter, a young lady of great promise, and whose piety he recorded in a short memoir, which he printed and circulated amongst his friends. The last work published by him, was a pamphlet upon the superstition and idolatry of the Church of Rome, written in consequence of a challenge by Mr. Anderson of York. It was read with great avidity, and two editions of it were extensively circulated.