turn their thanks, in this public manner, to those gentlemen, for the very laudable zeal which they have thus manifested in the cause of religion and virtue. The Society are willing to hope that such an example will be deemed worthy of imitation, by the ministers and officers of every parish in the united kingdom. They cannot reflect upon the present awful state of the country, without earnestly exhorting their fellow subjects, of all ranks and conditions, to consider that the divine favour alone can afford them effectual security in the hour of danger; and that this nation, on account of its irreligion and vices, has just reason, rather to dread the displeasure, than to rely on the favour, of the Almighty. But among the many crying sins which may now be laid to our charge, the general and increasing profanation of the Lord's Day is one, which may justly be considered as an awful proof of deep corruption, and as a most alarming symptom of impending calamity. This sin, far from being confined to any one class, prevails, in a dreadful degree, among all classes; and, alas! many of those, whose high rank gives to their example an universal influence, not only disregard the solemn duties of the sabbath, but openly profune it, by making it a day of amusement and dissipation. Such conduct, being a direct violation of the divine commands, and tending utterly to destroy all sense of religion, greatly increases the danger of the country, by exposing it to the loss of that aid without which there can be no safety. But the Society still hope that the feelings which such important considerations, particularly at a crisis like the present, are calculated to excite, will induce their countrymen seriously and instantly to set about the great and necessary work of general reformation; and, as the first step towards so desirable a change, to remember and obey the great command, "to keep holy the sabbath day:" and, aware that hunan laws are necessary to promote the observance of those which come from divine authority, the Society will continue those exertions for enforcing the laws against the profanation of the sabbath, which have already been attended with considerable effect; and they will be ever ready to co-operate, for that purpose, with ministers and parish officers, and

To the Editor of the Christian Observer.

IN taking a turn lately in Westminster Abbey, I discovered a monument on the south side of that venerable pile, which attracted my attention by the unusual length of its inscription. It was not an easy thing to make it out; the letters, for want of being blackened, being scarcely legible, and the monument being placed high. Having, however, succeeded in my endeavours to read the whole, I found myself well repaid for encountering the diffi culty, as the inscription contained such a picture of human excellence in the character it gave of the lady to whose memory it was erected, as to deserve the imitation of all. That this admirable portrait may become more conspicuous, I send you a copy of the inscription.

"To the memory of Mrs. Catharine Bovey, whose person and understanding would have become the highest rank in female life, and whose vivacity would have recommended her in the best conversation; but by judgment, as well as inclination, she chose such a retirement as gave her great opportunities for reading and reflection, which she made use of to the wisest purposes of improvement in knowledge and religion. Upon other subjects she ventured far out of the common way of thinking; but in religious matters, she made the holy scriptures, in which she was well skilled, the rule and guide of her faith and actions; esteeming it more safe to rely upon the plain word of God, than to run into any freedoms of thought upon revealed truths. The great share of time allowed to her closet was not perceived in her economy; for she had always a wellordered and well-instructed family, from the happy influence as well of her temper and conduct, as of her uniform and exemplary Christian life. It pleased God to bless her with a considerable estate, which, with a liberal hand, guided by wisdom and

piety, she employed to his glory and the good of her neighbours. Her domestic expences were managed with a decency and dignity, suitable to her fortune, but with a frugality that made her income abound to all proper objects of charity; to the relief of the necessitous, the encourage ment of the industrious, and the instruction of the ignorant. She distributed not only with cheerfulness, but with joy, and upon some occasions of raising and refreshing the spirit of the afflicted, she could not refrain from breaking forth into tears, flowing from a heart thoroughly affected with compassion and benevolence. Thus did many of her good works, while she lived, go up as a memorial before God, and some she left to follow her. "She died January 21st, 1726, in the fifty-seventh year of her age, at Flaxley, in Gloucestershire, and was buried there; where her name will be long remembered, and where several of her benefactions at that place, as well as others, are more particularly recorded."

Permit me, Sir, to detain your readers with a few remarks on the several parts of this exalted character. They deserve a deliberate consideration; and it is only to prevent their being too hastily passed over, that I add any thing of my own to this interesting account.

Mrs. Bovey's character seems to have possessed a rare assemblage of christian graces. We have seen devotion accompanied with indolence, and activity with a neglect of the contemplative part of religion. But with respect to this excellent woman, it appears that the eye might have followed her into all her different situations, and admired her in every

one.

With talents that would have made her shine in the fashionable world, she made choice of a course of life adapted to forward the great business of preparing for the world to come; yet this retirement could not be called a descrtion of social duties. Here she considered herself a servant of God, and her time, her fortune, her influence, as sacred to the best of uses. By withdrawing from corrupt society, we may escape its snares; but to live unemployed, while we have the means of serving our fellow creatures, comports not with the obli

gation that lies upon a Christian to follow him who went about doing good.

It is to be noticed likewise, that in Mrs. Bovey's life, neither the exercise of devotion nor the occupations of benevolence, were disparaged by a want of prudent attention to her domestic economy. Here also she was exemplary: and from this cause, no doubt, she was enabled greatly to extend her charities, while her family was rendered comfortable, by her wise and diligent superintendance sweetened by a truly christian temper. No Christian should forget how much, in the estimation of his state towards God, regard is to be had to what he is in his domestic character. A Christian's family is his peculiar province; and there he should be clearly distinguished from those, who neither in the exercise of authority, the regulation of expence, or the inspection of manners, seem to consider themselves accountable to God.

I must confess that my pleasure, in contemplating this character, is heightened by perceiving that her various other excellencies were accompanied with that tenderness of heart, which "melts at the sight of human woe." To have affected this would have been to play the hypocrite. But when the effusion is spontaneous, it adds grace to beneficence, and endears the benefactor.

One more feature in Mrs. Bovey's character remains to be noticed. The independance with which she formed her opinions on ordinary topics, was accompanied, in religion, with the most humble submission of her under standing to the divine teaching. "She esteemed it more safe to rely on the plain word of God, than to run into any freedoms of thought upon revealed truths." The pride of originality hasled many from the plain path of revelation, till they have at length found themselves without any sure ground to rest upon. The incipient error in this case, is the not sitting at the feet of divine wisdom, to be taught divine things. Here, it appears, that Mrs. Bovey always sat; for this conduct the might have been charged by the self-sufficient, with being afraid to think for herself: but she might have replied, "I am not afraid to think, but I am afraid of error; and to receive implicitly what the word of

God reveals, is, I believe, the only way to escape it."

It is, without doubt, from her having thus taken the holy scriptures as "a lamp to her feet," that her religion, in whatever part it is examined, appears to be all of one texture, while that of too many exhibits a very motley mixture. She had "so learned Christ," as to look for her model where God had placed it, in the holy scriptures. Reader, keep your eye upon that model, and your copy, if you make it with humble prayer to God for his help, will have the perfection of parts, though it be not per

fect in degree. You will see such defect in it as will convince you of the necessity of placing your entire reliance, for the divine favour and acceptance, on him, whose "blood cleanseth from all sin." Your aim, however, will be evident. It will manifestly comprehend the various particulars comprised in the following catalogue:-" Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report."

VIATOR.

EXTRACTS FROM AN UNPUBLISHED TOUR ON THE CONTINENT.

(Continued from p. 479.)

MONT-BLANC.

Ir was dark when I reached Chamou ni, which is situated about the middle of the valley, at the foot of MONTBLANC. When I awoke the next morning (Aug. 11), the first thing that astonished me was the appearance of that stupendous mountain, which, from the foundation of the world, or rather ever since the deluge, has been covered with ice and snow. Two or three guides offered their services. I made choice of one Placard, an honest sensible peasant, who from his knowledge of the mountains and Glaciers, which he has studied for thirty years, has been dubbed Professor Placard. I had no reason to complain of my choice: he explained the nature of the various phenomena, which surround this wonderful portion of the globe, with so much good sense, conciseness, and perspicuity, that I am sure Newton himself would have conversed with him with pleasure. I had an opportunity of conversing with him alone, as my companions did not arrive till late this morning, and took the advantage of it to question him about Mont-Blanc; beginning my enquiry by asking him, if any person had ever attempted to ascend its summit. He told me, he and three of that village, were the only persons

who had ever made the attempt. I will give his relation of this adventure, as far as I can recollect it, in his own words. "Sir," said he, "we set off from the village about eleven at night, and walked by the side of the Glaciers till four in the morning, when we were obliged to go upon the ice, After a painful march of three hours we got above the ice, and found ourselves in the second or snowy region. At nine o'clock we felt an insufferable heat for a quarter of an hour, during which time our breath was almost gone, and we experienced an extraordinary weakness in our bodies, so great that we could scarce keep upon our legs. We ventured to rest for two minutes; for this purpose we laid down our hats, and sat upon them. We were burning with heat; but when we rose, and attempted to take up our hats, we found them frozen so hard to the snow that it was with the greatest difficulty we could tear them from it. The heat began to diminish, and the cold increased considerably as we ascended higher. We were obliged to repose very frequently, and at every quarter of an hour took a mouthful of bread with a small quantity of old wine." I interrupted him here to ask why he had not taken brandy? he replied, he found, by experience, that old wine was the best liquor for those who frequent the niountains, and that brandy was of no use whatever. "This was a necessa ry precaution against the sharpness