He then relapsed into his former devotional mood, and seemed again absorbed in prayer.

After the expiration of an hour, observing the Duke change his position, one of his household ventured to ask him if he had any commands to give, or if there was any thing which His Royal Highness required? He replied with difficulty:

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Nothing NOW but a simple trust in the merits of the Redeemer. THAT I possess."

These were almost the last words he uttered.

Contrasting these death-scenes with that of FREDERIC THE GREAT, the remark of Chalmers involuntarily recurs: "The damps of death do not more effectually chill the body than the doubts of infidelity chill the soul."

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CHAP. IV.

A Steward mindful of his Trust.

BISHOP BARRINGTON.

"The princely-minded Sutton, founder of Charterhouse, used often to repair to a private garden, where he poured forth his prayers to GOD: LORD, THOU hast given me a large and liberal estate; give me also a heart to make use thereof."- ENGLAND'S WORTHIES.

SHUTE BARRINGTON, D. D.,

successively

Bishop of Salisbury and Durham, may be considered as a faithful type of a CHIEF Pastor, who rendered patronage, means, influence, authority, subservient to the eternal interests of those around him; and who, thoroughly convinced himself of the truth and value of revelation, was deeply concerned to further the spread of vital religion.

Blessed with ample means and an active mind, he was the sworn foe of ignorance, and the firm friend of worth in the day of adversity.

Of village schools he was a generous supporter; and to the aged and disabled clergyman a sympathising and liberal friend. The laborious curate in his own diocese he promptly beneficed; and distinguished literary merit in an ecclesiastic of any diocese he readily detected and lavishly recompensed.

Whatever tended to establish or disseminate religious truth - whatever aimed at dissipating the mists of error and ignorance whatever contemplated making man wiser or happier, was fostered by him. He bounded his munificence by no limits when either of these results was to be obtained.

On this point there survives of him a characteristic anecdote.

The representative of a charity, of admitted utility but of limited funds, waited personally on the Bishop, at Auckland Castle, to entreat his lordship's support. The Bishop listened very attentively to his statement; put various leading questions; sifted the replies; asked "what, during the last five years, had been the

results;" and being told, was silent and seemed to hesitate. The representative, anxious for the success of his mission, construed this silence as unfavourable to his cause, and somewhat nervously observed, "I am aware, my lord, that in a society like ours, whose aims are so many, there are various points for your lordship's consideration, but "

"Pardon me," interrupted the Bishop, smiling, "there are but two points to be considered: first, what your necessities require, and, next, what may be a proper sum for me to give."

The travelling secretary, almost aghast at his own impudence, ventured to suggest "fifty."

"Well! well!" said the prelate, writing a eheque, which he carefully enclosed in an envelope and sealed. "Look at this on your return home, and in a few months, if necessary, let me hear from you again."

The draft was to the amount of two hundred pounds.

Nepotism he sternly discountenanced.

A young relative apprised him of his intention of taking holy orders; not that he liked the church as a profession, but because from the Bishop, (as his pear relative, and having much splendid preferment at his disposal,) he might naturally expect a benefice.

"In truth," returned the prelate, in reply to this frank avowal, "the expectation is not unreasonable. We are closely connected, and I have much in my gift. What would content you?"

"From you, my Lord," rejoined the young Oxonian, frankly, "nothing under a living of six hundred a year!"

“You shall have that provision for life out of the Church; NOT IN IT. That income shall be assigned you from my private resources. God forbid that I should be accessary to any man's taking holy orders from sordid motives! The stipulated provision is yours; but, mark me, on this condition, that you remain a layman."

His appreciation of literary merit was only