remind the company to be careful in their remarks on others, lest they should unguardedly injure the character of their friends; being himself careful not to make comparisons. He was of a cheerful, contented disposition, and considered it right to derive pleasure and gratification from temporal things, as blessings from the hand of an Almighty Benefactor; provided they were kept in subordination to the great purpose of life, and not suffered to engross too much of the time and affections. He met the vicissitudes of life with calmness, and was careful not to suffer cross occurrences to discompose his mind, or to draw him into the use of impatient expressions.

The remembrance of his absent friends was frequent and lively, and he evinced a warm affection for those whom he had loved and esteemed in his youth. He seldom forgot the afflicted, whether rich or poor. To those of the latter class he was kind and considerate, relieving their wants, often visiting them in their dwellings, when he would enter into conversation in a way adapted to them, and peculiar to himself; and frequently, in the retired circle of his own family, would speak of and commiserate the condition of those who had received fewer blessings than himself, or who had had a greater portion of affliction or suffering.

He was a man of great punctuality and order in the daily transactions of life, seldom deferring until the morrow the work of the day; steady and diligent in what he undertook, and a good economist of time. Few were aware of the extent of his usefulness in cases of a private nature, among his neighbours. To these he was free of access on all occasions; and much of his time was employed in their service. Possessing an intelligent mind and a clear judgment, he was often consulted; and his assistance was frequently solicited to settle little differences. He entered into such cases with great deliberation; his decisions were not hastily formed, and they were mostly well received.

When the Auxiliary Bible Society was formed in that part of the county of Essex in which he resided, he readily united in the support of it, and took an active part in investigating the want of the Scriptures among his poorer neighbours. He was a diligent member of the committee until the time of his illness, and felt a lively interest in the circulation of the Scriptures both at home and abroad. At the same time, he was anxious that the concerns of this society might be conducted under the influence of those feelings, and in that temper of mind, to which the Sacred Writings bear testimony; and, whilst believing, as he did, in the divine authority of Holy Scripture, he was very desirous that these records should be properly designated, and that men should not confound the possession and distribution of the Bible, and the mere knowledge of its contents, with the partaking of those living waters which flow immediately from Christ, the fountain of life-of that bread which cometh down from heaven, and which, when received with a lively, operative faith, enables us to work out the salvation of the soul with fear and trembling.

His friends had ample evidence of his being a firm believer in the essential doctrines of the Gospel. In a memorandum left behind him, he says; "I believe it is consistent with the genuine principles of Friends, that all the communications of the mercy, love, power, and goodness of God to his creature man, are in, by, and through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and no otherwise, and in this belief I am thankful to live and unite."

In a letter, written in the eleventh month, 1823, after alluding, in terms of strong disapprobation, to the views of one whose sentiments were decidedly contrary to those of our society, "on a point of such supreme importance as the divine nature of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ," he proceeds; "Can I close this subject better, than with the following quotation from a recently published pamphlet, in which the writer,

when speaking of Christ, says: What encouragement and comfort is there in the contemplation of his character and offices, both as prophetically indicated, and evangelically displayed, from the first and most obscure, to the last and most comprehensive and expressive: viz. The Bruiser of the Serpent's head; Immanuel, God with us; the Lord our righteousness; the Child born; the Son given, upon whose shoulders the government of his people is for ever to be; whose name should be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace; the root and the offspring of David; the bright and morning Star; the Son of Man; the Son and Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world! who hath loved us, and washed us in his blood.”*

William Grover possessed a sound constitution, and enjoyed remarkably good health, until within a few months of his death. On the 16th of 5th month, 1825, he left home early in the morning, to attend the Yearly Meeting, from which he had been very seldom absent for nearly forty years. He arrived in London in time for the first sitting of the meeting of ministers and elders, and acted as an assistant to the clerk; an office which he had for some time acceptably filled, and which he resigned at the close of that sitting. With his accustomed alacrity and interest in the concerns of the society, he entered, throughout the day, into the proceedings of the meeting. Towards the evening he felt unwell, and, in the course of the night was so alarmingly ill, that his wife was sent for early the following morning. His disorder was a very painful one; and, for several days, his life was considered to be in great danger. His medical attendants attributed his restoration to health, so far as it took place, to the serenity and humble resignation with which he bore his suffer

ings, as much as to the means which were employed.

The following memorandum, written in London, on the occasion of this illness, was found among his papers.

"This has been a remarkable visitation, such an one as I never knew; except that of the small pox, more than forty years ago, may be at all compared with it. I might be said to be attacked very unexpectedly, and in a lonely condition; but help and comfort, as to outward accommodation, sprang up remarkably; and I think it might be said, that every requisite was supplied. As to the most important part, it seemed to have a great effect in breaking the mind off from this world, and exciting earnest desires for a preparation and fitness to enter into rest and peace everlasting.

"One feature was very striking: the kind, affectionate interest of Friends respecting me and my case, was indeed beyond what it would seem proper to record. But, at the same time, perhaps at scarce any period have I so feelingly and clearly seen my own unworthiness and insignificance, or so feelingly prized a state of littleness and humble reduction; so that, like a little babe, I might be permitted, in simplicity and perfect innocence, to draw nourishment in quietness from the breast of ever enduring and inexhaustible consolation."

In a letter to two of his intimate friends, he remarks;

"I am desirous (I hope with a degree of humble gratitude) of informing you, that, within three or four days, considerable improvement in my health has_taken place; and, whilst I am so abundantly sensible, from recent past experience, of the uncertainty of the things of time, yet I wish duly to appreciate this rich favour, permitted to a poor traveller through the chequered vale of time."

Towards the end of the sixth month, he so far reco

vered, as to be able to return home, on which occasion he made the following memorandum.

1825.-7 mo. 13. 66

'Being permitted, on the 30th ult. in company with my dear wife, cousin Elizabeth Glaisyer, and John Hooper, to reach home in safety, I am aware it is my duty, not only as a child, to crave divine consolation, but also to watch the openings and presentations of duty which may be vouchsafed, however small; so that the talent entrusted may not be buried under the feelings of feebleness, or any thing else."

In two letters to his friends, not long afterwards, he thus alludes to his illness:

1825.-8 mo. 7. "We can see but little before us; and what a favour it is, when circumstances arise, to be enabled to meet them with prudence and peaceful resignation. This illness may be said to be a proof that we are not our own keepers, but poor, dependent crea. tures. Oh! that we may have light in our dwelling and on our path; and, through boundless mercy, peace within our borders."

6

8 mo. 26. "Respecting resignation, how just are thy remarks, that our wishes as well as our works should at all times harmonize with the divine will: indeed, our study should be, to be circumscribed thereby; but this is no light matter, but a high and most precious attainment. Do not thy remarks, however, beg two most interesting questions; namely, 'the day's work accomplished, and the expected consequent reward?' also, the time arrived for dissolving every tender, earthly tie? With awfulness and reverence these may be left in the holy, dispensing hand of Him who doeth all things well; whilst we, in grateful, humble, sensibility of the value of the present precious blessings, manifest our due estimation of them, by neglecting no proper means to secure their continuance, in due and filial submission, all the while, to his infinite wisdom, goodness, and mercy."