truths of salvation. We confess that it has ever appeared to us a strange inconsistency, that the most zealous opponents to the union of true Christians, upon common principles, should themselves have united with Lutherans, and employed them as their agents to plant churches, and disseminate religious knowledge, and that for a long period of time; though, in discipline wholly, and partly in doctrine, those agents differ from their own establishment. The allusion will be readily understood. We do not mean to

recriminate in the spirit of hostility; but we must be allowed to protest against the unfairness of denouncing their brethren of the Church of England, for uniting with Dissenters in the propagation of our common Christianity, where both discipline and peculiarities of creed are excluded, by mutual consent, and collision is consequently avoided.

From this vindication of our friend, we turn to the important results of the Tract Society. Every part of the globe has been the scene of its operations; and from every country the most pleasing testimonies of approbation and usefulness have been received. Bishops and archbishops, emperors and kings, ministers of the Reformed, and even of the Roman Catholic Church, have been loud in its praises. We regret that the limits of this Memoir will not allow us to insert numerous interesting proofs of the Divine favour, attendant

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on the publications of the Society. We must refer the reader, for these, to the summary of proceedings for the last twenty years, published in one volume, by the Tract Society; and which contains a most satisfactory vindication of the character of the tracts, and of the design of the institution.

We have purposely omitted numerous testimonies to the usefulness of Mr. Richmond's tracts, received from almost every part of Great Britain, as well as from many foreign countries (so numerous, indeed, that they would fill several chapters), lest we should seem to depart from that Christian modesty so conspicuous in the character of their author. We hope the candid reader will pardon what the warmth of our affection has dictated; and the more readily, when he remembers that all that we have said of the man magnifies the grace of God which was in him, and wrought effectually by him.

CHAPTER XI.

His appointment as chaplain to the Duke of KentMrs. Richmond's illness-New school-room-Report of his son's death-Embarrassment, arising from his publication of The Fathers of the English Church'-Interview with the Emperor of RussiaLetters to and from his Imperial Majesty-Princess Metstchersky Letters to Mrs. Livius Verses written on the marriage of a friend's daughter.

AMONG the distinguished characters who gave the sanction of their rank and influence to the public institutions of this country, his late Royal Highness the Duke of Kent is pre-eminently entitled to our grateful remembrance. Every religious and benevolent undertaking found in him a powerful friend and patron. He was the avowed advocate of the British and Foreign Bible Society. He was the patron also of the Society for promoting Christianity among the Jews. He usually attended, and took the chair, at the anniversaries of the numerous public charities which confer so much honour on the city of

London; on which occasions Mr. Richmond often met his Royal Highness, and by the intervention of a common friend, became one of his chaplains.

In the discharge of his functions, Mr. Richmond was sometimes required to officiate at Kensington palace. On one of these occasions, the Duke and Duchess and their retinue were present. His Royal Highness heard Mr. Richmond's sermon with profound attention; and when the service was concluded, he was pleased to express his approbation of the impressive, scriptural, and faithful truths which he had heard; adding, that he fully concurred in their importance, and wished to feel their influence. At the same time he inquired how he had attained so remarkable a fluency in the expression of his ideas; and asked whether his discourse had been delivered from memory. Mr. Richmond replied in the negative; and said that he usually prepared and digested the leading heads of his subject, but he modestly ascribed his ready utterance to the effect of habit. His Royal Highness expressed a hope that he would preach at the palace whenever he came to town; and added, " you must converse, Sir, with the Duchess on these subjects, for she understands them far better than I do."

On the evening of the same day, Mr. Richmond received a polite request from the Duke of Kent, that he would favour him with the perusal of the

notes from which he had preached in the morning. A discussion had taken place at the palace, on the the subject of Mr. Richmond's extempore preaching; and it had been said, that no man could preach so accurately, as well as fluently, without a large portion of his sermon being duly transcribed.

The notes, on inspection, were found to occupy a very small space; and we mention this little anecdote as another proof of that talent in extempore preaching for which he was so remarkable.

Mr. Richmond continued to be honoured with the uniform marks of His Royal Highness's esteem and regard. And when that solemn event occurred, which was mourned by the nation at large, and by the friends of religion and humanity in particular, Mr. Richmond was one of those who followed his royal patron to the grave. There, as well as in various parts of the kingdom, where his public exertions called him, he heard many a testimony to the virtues, the zeal, and benevolence of this beloved and venerated prince. Charity in him lost its patron; the cause of God its firm and unshaken supporter; and illustrious rank its ornament and example. Testimonies like these are instructive to the living, while they are honourable to the dead. They prove that in this country, whenever exalted station is adorned with corresponding virtues, and consecrated to high and noble ends,