we feel in many cases. Oh! what delight it would be to have them changed, and glorified and spiritual bodies. I often ponder on the mystery of sin, to think that after all I have known and felt, I can still go on sinning against such an unspeakably merciful Saviour, who has given me so much in delivering my soul from the "net of the fowler "-delivering it from the world. Who hath made thee to differ? we may well say.

Did you get a "Free Press"? Mr. Sinith wished me to send it to you. Did you ever see such insolence as the

account of the Clonmel meeting?

I went to see poor Mrs. during Mrs.'s short illness. Passing through Fethard, I found myself in the midst of a funeral, with such a number of gigantic priests dressed up with such quantities of white linen, that they were really like something spectral as they stalked about. My heart grew sick. The people were only collecting for it, and everyone had white linen on them, so that literally the town. seemed peopled with spectres. I cannot describe the effect of the appearance, it was very depressing. The dear Pennefathers are also much depressed. I think they were at

one day, and had a melancholy scene with the girls before Mrs. -'s death. I saw her in her room for an hour, with the melancholy group that were round her bed; she lay insensible nearly the whole time. It was something of apoplexy. She looked quite beautiful. There was no opportunity for any preparation for the great change, as she was insensible throughout. She was a devoted wife and mother. Tell dear Catherine I was very much obliged for her nice letter, which I will soon answer. I fear my letters to you of late have been so full of gloomy events, that you will think of me as a bird of ill omen. But I hope and trust in the goodness of our God that the present cloud will soon pass away, and the "Sun of Righteousness appear with healing

on His wings" to every mourner and to every sinner; and may we meet in light and joy. God bless you, my dearest friend.

Ever

your most sincerely attached,

A. RIALL.

"Mrs. Hill in speaking of Lady Osborne used to say, "To no one so much as her" can be applied the term used to Nathanael," Behold an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile!"

Mrs. Hill, the wife of a clergyman in the County of Tipperary, was one of those people gifted with great mental and moral superiority, who, having no career in the world save that of quiet domesticity-made no noise out of their own circle but who within that are honoured-if not as prophets, at least as much valued intellects and bright examples. Mrs. Hill collated the edition of Bacon edited by Archbishop Whately. The ensuing scrap is an analysis of hers."

The kind of double action of mind cannot be better exemplified than in a story Georgina tells of a man who said "The pig did not weigh so much as I expected, but somehow I never thought it would."

5, Graham Terrace, Queenstown.

MY DEAR LADY OSBORNE,-I am encouraged to hope that a renewal of long suspended intercourse between us may be rendered acceptable to you by one of the enclosures I send being from the Archbishop for you, as you will perceive by his autograph; the other I forward to you from myself, wishing to know what you think of the tone and spirit of the criticism. It was sent to me anonymously in an envelope bearing a Cumberland post mark; I must own it made me not a little angry. Was it that you were angry with me for

my last letter that made you allow it to be the last to pass between us for so long a time? I was so glad to hear that that you had recovered the severe attack you had of illness, and I trust you are by this time quite restored to your usual health and that your Christmas is a happy one with those dearest to you, around you. I am passing the Christmas away from home. My dear Frances has been suffering severely with Neuralgia, and I thought a change would be of use to her besides taking us both away from some sad associations, which a recent bereavement within this year connects with a home circle, more peculiarly at this season; you have, and dear Mrs. Osborne too, my warmest wishes that this anniversary may bring to you as happy recollections as earth can give, and those bright hopes which nothing earthly can dim.

When you see Mrs. Phipps pray give her my love and warm Christmas greeting. Believe me, dear Lady Osborne, Ever yours affectionately,

ALICIA HILL.

5, Graham's Terrace, Queenstown, January 2, 1856.

MY DEAR LADY OSBORNE,-I must not, by delay in telling you, lessen your amusement in hearing that the criticism which I sent you was written by the Archbishop himself. While it is fresh in your memory you will better appreciate the accurate knowledge he there displays of the charges usually brought against him of egotism and dogmatism. He got it copied by a friend of his in Cumberland and sent to me through the post just as I sent it to you. I was completely taken in, as was everyone else in the house, a few hours after he arrived at Blackrock; it was during his late visit to Cork, and he kept up the joke admirably till a short time before he left, he pleaded guilty to having concocted the whole. I thought of trying whether you would be taken

in and he caught eagerly at the idea, and begged me to send it to you. Does not what seemed to us virulent abuse assume a totally different character of real wit, now that we know it to be his own criticism on his own works? He will be delighted to hear you were taken in as I was. [A fragment of a letter.]

MY DEAR LADY OSBORNE,-Miss Hutchinson and I, on our return, communicated to each other our mutual anxiety as to your state of health, and we both blamed ourselves for not having pressed upon you the absolute necessity of your allowing yourself more rest than you do, and determined to speak to you the first opportunity, but I am now induced not to wait for one, as I am furnished with too good a text not to preach upon it. I write from bed, where nothing but complete exhaustion has placed me; while I was with you I was suffering so much from headache and pain in my side that it was quite an effort for me to speak, and instead of yielding to my weakness, I absurdly persisted, on my return home, in getting up at five as usual, and this morning when I had been up about an hour, my five senses chose to take leave of me and I only recovered them to find myself again in bed; this I can ascribe only to my having for the last ten or twelve days got but four hours' sleep. I am now quite well again, and only mention it to you as an excuse for what you may perhaps deem officious, in one known to you for so short a time; and yet I do not think you will, for you must perceive that you have excited in me a more than ordinary affection; you are more to me than any woman has ever been, for I can honour your character as well as love it. Why is it that I can write this to you, while not one word of affection escapes my lips while with you? But it was not of myself I wanted to speak, I will not tell you that your life is valuable, this is nothing; but I will say that I am deeply

persuaded that your dear child's eternal happiness is, humanly speaking, bound up with your being spared to her; you know how varied her temptations will be-spare yourself then to be her earthly guide till her eyes are opened to recognize and trust her heavenly Guardian. has, with grateful emotion, told me of your kindness to her; the Friend of him who hath no friend will bless you for it.

Your affectionate,

ALICIA HILL.

"As this book is a memorial of Lady Osborne and her friends, a very few letters, not addressed to herself, but to the Editor, are inserted as showing the characters of those who were her chosen companions. Possessed of every other moral quality, gratitude was not omitted in Mrs. Hill's character, and she dedicated the noble intellect with which God had gifted her to His service."

Tuesday, December 17, 1839.

MY DEAR CATHERINE,-I send you part of the "Heroine," but I am sorry to say the first volume somebody has borrowed, and not returned; but if I can see you, as I hope, to-morrow, I shall endeavour to put you at least into possession of the "dramatis persona." I am inclined to believe that you will think it too broad farce, and not like it. The four little tracts (I know you like that word), translated from Krummacher, await your acceptance, as I have taken the liberty of writing your name. I like the encampment of Judah best; will you think it too imaginative? And yet I do not believe you have decided that imagination—that falcon of the mind-is to be hooded when religion is in the field. Fancy, at least, in embellishing solid themes by analogies, is a sweet minister. Take that appeal in Romans v. 7, 8, where reason seems called upon to weigh the supe

VOL. II.

F