Ar the commencement of the year 1820, Mr. Buxton thus enumerates the subjects which he hoped to accomplish in the course of the year:-"First; to assist, to the best of my ability, in Parliament, to amend our criminal code; and, secondly, to amend our Prisons. Thirdly; to obtain a return of the number of widows who burn themselves at their husbands' funeral in India, preparatory to a law prohibiting such enormities. Fourthly; to establish a fund for supporting the Sunday schools, (on the plan of that at Friar's Mount,) in Spitalfields." He then mentions, that his thoughts had been principally engaged upon the Criminal Code, till incapacitated for study by an attack of illness; his health having been indifferent for some months previously. "Now what a lesson is this," he says, "not to delay preparation for death, till our death-beds; till our bodies, weakened and wasted, are unfit for every exertion? "Let us work while it is called to-day.' I have prayed for love to God, for faith in Christ, and for the spirit of The death of the King, and the consequent prospect of a dissolution of Parliament, occasioned some anxious thoughts. "I have felt some doubt," he says, on the 6th of February, "whether I should stand; and he mentions his "eight children," among the reasons against doing so. He adds, "Lord guide my heart and will aright, and lead me to determine for the best. Oh that I could from this day offer myself a living sacrifice to the Lord, doing or abstaining, speaking or being silent, spending or forbearing to spend, simply because it was the will of God! "Oh that I could thus put off the old man and put on the new man. I think the time that is past should suffice me to have wrought my own will; and for the future, let me try all things by this standard, 'Is it the will of God?' Oh, gracious God, this is what I would be; but what am I? Is one hundredth part of my time, talents, money, strength, spent for God? No!" He determined at length to stand again for Weymouth. He was successful, and after announcing his re-election, he proceeds; "I heartily hope I may make some good use of my present privilege, and that some of the oppressed may be less miserable in consequence.' To J. J. Gurney, Esq. [From the house of Mr. W. Forster, at Bradpole.] "March 12. 1820. "I came here yesterday, and have had a full opportunity of learning a lesson of humility. It is very well to do good, and to serve one's country, while at the same moment we are feeding our ambition and gratifying our pride; but what are the sacrifices I make? I may call them sacrifices, but their true name is, the pleasures I enjoy. Here, however, the 1820. LETTER TO J. J. GURNEY, ESQ. 95 pleasure and the sacrifice are totally at variance. How truly and exactly do the words, They left all and followed him,' convey my view of William's two years' absence from a home, a wife, a boy, (not to mention the dear horse, and ducks, and flowers,) the very darlings of his heart, all his wishes and desires centering in this spot! Well, I cannot pity him, I am more inclined to envy one who is wise enough to make a bargain so incontestably good. I went to Meeting with him twice to day; his morning sermon on Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths,' was one of the very best I ever heard. But the text is one particularly interesting to me. I return home on Wednesday, and mean to study hard till Parliament meets, having at this time the following subjects in my mind:The Criminal Law;' The Prisons;' The Police; Botany Bay;' The Slave Trade;' The Practice of burning Widows in India, by Authority of the English President;' Lotteries; Colonisation; viz., Land for supporting Schools; and Emancipation of Slaves;'The Prosecution of the Quarterly Review by order of the House, for Libels on America: '— cum multis aliis. "So you see, my dear brother, I am likely to be fully engaged, — whether usefully or not is at His disposal, who disposes all things; but I am thankful that He has given me a desire, (mixed, indeed, and polluted, but still a desire) to serve my brother men. "The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; and there are some very few occasions in which labour fails; but labour unactuated by selfish considerations, and solely fixing its eye on the goal of duty, and steadfastly determined to reach it is, I believe, never defeated, 'His way once clear, he forward shot outright, Thus far Mr. Buxton's career had been one of almost unchequered prosperity,—as a member of Parliament; as a man of business; as a husband; as the father of a large and promising family, his heart's desires had been fulfilled. His public undertakings were becoming daily more important and engrossing, and his home was a scene of unclouded happiness. His valued friend, the Reverend Charles Simeon, thus writes to him from Cambridge: 66 My dear Friend, January 14. 1820. "Certainly if I should live to visit your house again, I shall do it with no little joy, for I do not expect to see in this world a brighter image of heaven, than I was there privileged to behold. A sweet savor of love remained upon my spirit for a long time after, and I am not sure that it is quite evaporated yet. But I do not know that I shall not thrash you for supporting the Radicals. I look to you, under God, to be an instrument of great good in the House of Commons; and I would not that you should subvert the influence which your habits and talents are so calculated to command." After further warnings against the supposed danger of Mr. Buxton's joining with the Radicals, Mr. Simeon proceeds "I am no politician; but I feel a regard for you, and seem to think that the more I know of you, the more my heart will be knit to you; so you must bear with this impudent letter, from one who is, with no common affection, Yours, C. SIMEON. But all this happiness was about to be marred by a rapid succession of calamities. Mr. Buxton had been hastily summoned back from the election, in consequence of the alarming illness of one of his children. His eldest son, a boy of ten years old, had been sent home from school unwell, but no suspicion 1820. OF HIS ELDEST SON. 97 of danger was at first excited; his disorder, however, proved to be inflammatory; and, in the course of a very few days, he sank under it. His father writes in his Journal "Thus have we lost our eldest son, the peculiar object of our anxious care; a boy of great life and animation; of a most beautiful countenance; of a most sweet disposition: and, blessed be God, we feel that in the whole event His mercy has been extended to us. We can rejoice and mourn together, mourn at our loss, and rejoice that, without exposure to the trials and temptations of the world, it has pleased God to take him to himself. We feel the most certain assurance that he is with God, and we feel persuaded that, if we could but be permitted to see him as he now is, we should never bewail him for another instant. • He pleased God, and was beloved of Him, therefore, being among sinners, he was translated; yea, he was speedily taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul.' He is gone unto Mount Zion.' If these things be true, and true they most certainly are, can we repine, can we wish to recall him? For myself, my heart's desire and prayer has been, that this event may wean me from the world and fix my heart on God. . . .. Tonight I read Hopkins's most admirable sermon, Death disarmed of its Sting.' O God, make me thy servant and soldier, was and is my prayer. I went this morning and sat down on the top of the hill above my house; I then prayed for myself, my wife, each of my children, especially Edward, now my eldest son! and Harry; for my servants; for the heathen; for the sanctification of my pursuits and God grant that my prayers are heard!" His faith was destined to be more severely tried. The younger children, who were already suffering from the whooping-cough, were seized within a few days with the measles. He writes H |