In a letter to an intimate friend, she thus describes her sense of the goodness of the Almighty in her youth. "On looking over years that are past, I find abundant reason to acknowledge the mercies of Providence, in extending his heavenly visitation in the very early part of life, which raised strong desires to walk acceptably before Him. I well remember the exemplary care of my dear mother, at that time, whose conduct and advice made lasting impressions on my mind; though, as I advanced in years, the lust of the eye and the pride of life,' too much influenced the judgment, and weakened my good resolutions, which made even life a burden. But how have I admired to be in this state allured to prefer Jerusalem before my chief joy; concluding, that whatever I parted with or suffered, was not to be compared with the enjoyment of divine good."

When about fourteen years of age, she was deprived of her mother. By this loss, and other events which succeeded, her mind appeared to be increasingly turned to seek for the consolations of religion. She resided at that time at Sheffield, and manifested a pious care and solicitude for the younger branches of her father's family: she was much beloved by her young friends generally, to whom she was also a good example, in a humble and circumspect deportment.

In the year 1783, she was married to Benjamin Middleton, of Wellingborough, when her religious sefulness became more extensive, in an enlarged

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sphere of relative duties, in the faithful discharge of which, the meek equanimity of her conduct presented an instructive lesson to many.

After a time of much thoughtfulness, she had, when about twenty-five years of age, yielded to a belief, that it was required of her to appear as a minister. Her communications in this character were acceptable to her friends, and delivered in great clearness and simplicity; and she was, for several years, at times, diligently employed in various parts of this nation, in visiting the meetings of her fellow-professors. She was much concerned for the right exercise of our christian discipline, in the spirit of love and meekness; and being clothed with true charity, administered counsel, and sometimes close admonition, in a way that often appeared to be not only well received, but to be attended with a blessing, particularly to those in early life. She was indeed a mother in Israel, an experienced and judicious counsellor, a firm and sympathizing friend.

She attended her own and a neighbouring quarterly meeting, in the autumn of 1809, and was soon afterwards taken ill. The symptoms were not alarming until the day preceding her death; but the awful messenger was not to her a king of terrors. In the course of this illnes she remarked: "I have been permitted to live, until I am not afraid to die; nor am I anxious to live, except on account of husband and children. If I should be taken away, it may be said, I am released from all my labours."

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She died in peace, on the 18th of the tenth month, 1809, at the age of fifty-nine.

MARY ALEXANDER, of Needham-market in Suffolk, was, at a very early age, tenderly affected with the visitation of divine love, which inclined her mind to piety. Before she had attained her seventeenth year, she was impressed with a strong apprehension, that, if faithful to the manifestations of the Holy Spirit, she should, at a future day, be called to the work of the ministry; yet, notwithstanding this gracious condescension of the Almighty, for want of steadily abiding under the operation of his power, she deviated from the simplicity of her guarded education, and gave way to youthful propensities averse to religious restriction and seriousness. Yet mercy and truth followed her; her heart was often made sad, under a sense of disobedience; and she sorrowfully felt, that there was much which required to be slain by "the sword of the Lord," before she could be brought into a state of acceptance. Thus humbled and contrited before Him, she became at length effectually awakened to a search after enduring happiness, often and earnestly imploring that all within her might be brought into subjection to his holy will.

She now found much consolation in the perusal of the Holy Scriptures, and deeply lamented

having spent any of her time in reading plays, and writings of a similar description; being sensible, that nothing she had ever been in the practice of, had so much alienated her mind from the fear and love of God; and she often wished she could warn all, and especially the youth of her own religious Society, of the pernicious tendency of such writings.

About the year 1786, she lost her surviving parent, from which time, to the year 1789, she sustained, from various causes, many deep conflicts of spirit. Many, also, were the baptisms of her soul, from a nearer view of the prospect she had long had of a call to the ministry, which now came weightily upon her, and on which service, in much humility and fear, she entered in the course of the same year, being the thirtieth of her age.

The general tenour of her subsequent conduct, gave evidence to others that she loved "the habitation of the Lord's house, and the place where his honour dwelleth." She was given up, in much devotedness, to leave her own comfortable dwelling, and to advocate the cause of Christ, both among her own friends, and in more distant parts; and was frequently constrained to manifest her interest in the spiritual welfare of her fellow-members, by paying religious visits to the families of Friends; a duty for which she appeared eminently qualified; and there is reason to believe that her faithful labours were often productive of solid benefit, both in and out of our Society, and that they yielded to her own mind the peaceable fruits of righteousness.

In the discharge of her more private duties, she gave proof of possessing a heart expanded by benevolence; and to sympathize with others, and render assistance to them in times of difficulty or affliction, was a conspicuous part of her cha

racter.

Her last christian efforts, in advocating the Gospel, were comprised in a visit to the families of Friends, in the city of Worcester, and parts adjacent, and in holding some public meetings, in conjunction with a friend under similar concern, The last meeting which she attended was held at Alcester, on the 13th of 11th month, 1809, and was one to which the inhabitants of the town were invited: it was very large, and was considered to be remarkably solemn. In this meeting she was engaged in fervent, vocal supplication. She had been unwell for several days, and soon after the conclusion of this engagement, it appeared that she had taken the smallpox. The disorder did not assume an alarming aspect until after the usual crisis, when the symptoms were such as to dispel the hopes that had been entertained of her recovery. Through the whole of her deeply-trying illness, she discovered much patience and resignation, and her mind seemed to be divested of every burden. Speaking of her late visit, she said she had been favoured with a precious evidence, that she had been there in better wisdom than her own. Articulation being often difficult, she did not express much; and, from