husband and child, without a sigh expired. Not a doubt or fear was permitted to distress her mind: as in life, so in death, her trust was only in her Saviour.

Thus died Ann Louisa Mortlock, aged forty-two years and seven months. It is not necessary to dwell upon the features of her character, which will be readily gathered from the foregoing narrative. In the sympathizing language of an esteemed friend, to whom her infancy, youth, and growing years were well known; "The conviction of her blessed state, the memorial of her holy life, almost prohibit the language of condolence, notwithstanding her inestimable loss. Her departure has caused tears to flow, but not unmingled with tears of joy."

Faint, yet pursuing, might still be considered as the motto prefixed to the short remnant of the life of our highly favoured but now keenly suffering friend. A still heavier stroke was now threatening him, one which was to sever from him her who had been long endeared to him by the most tender tiesthe companion with whom he had taken the sweetest counsel for a period of thirty-eight years, and who had ever evinced the most affectionate interest both

in his joys and his sorrows. His sufferings under this afflicting bereavement may readily be imagined. Her character and history must be presented as they have been recorded by his own pen.

MRS. SOPHIA SARAH WOODD.

THE subject of this Memoir was the eldest daughter of William Jupp, Esq. architect, in the city of London; and was born April 19, 1766.

She appears in early life to have been of a serious and devout turn of mind, fond of reading and retirement. She perused many valuable authors, moral, religious, and historical; nor did she ever manifest any lively interest in the vanities and dissipations which ordinarily attract the attention of youth.

When I was elected lecturer of St. Peter's, Cornhill, in the month of July 1784, I found her family in the habit of attending the afternoon service at that church. This circumstance led to an acquaintance, which lasted forty-two years-provided for me a most valuable and congenial companion for life-and formed that permanent friendship, which, although death has interrupted it for a short season, will, it is humbly trusted, again revive, and continue unalloyed to eternity.

A sermon preached at that lecture, on the subject of Psalm ciii. deeply fixed her attention, and, as she often expressed herself, awakened her mind to more serious contemplation of divine things. She had never before been so sensibly attentive to the mercies of her God and Saviour. Many instances of spiritual negligence which then occurred to her mind, heightened her impressions of the character of God, as "slow to anger and abundant in mercy." What particularly attracted her attention was, the love of God in the redemption of man, by the mediation, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. She at this period began to suspect that the life she had hitherto lived, though strictly virtuous, innocent, and amiable, was very inadequate to the claims of redeeming mercy, and, upon the review of her youthful exercises of devotion, they appeared to her to be far below the spiritual character and privileges of our high calling in Christ Jesus.

From this time she sought her happiness supremely in God; and would frequently say,— "Return to thy rest, O my soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee." Her seasons of prayer, retirement, self-examination, and perusal of the sacred Scriptures, became more stated. She now read several commentaries, and was particularly delighted with the works of Mrs. Hannah More. She kept an occasional diary, recording the feelings, trials, and consolations which she was conscious of

in her own experience. She was also very partial to the writings and ministry of the late Rev. John Newton, whose church she regularly attended, and enjoyed the benefit of his pastoral acquaintance. Under the pressure of much personal and family anxiety, she found in this highly esteemed and sympathizing clergyman a constant source of kindness, instruction, and judicious counsel.

In the year 1792, having been bereft of an endeared partner, and reduced to the solitary state of a widower, with a family of three children, it appeared to me that an alliance with one of her character would tend to fill up the painful chasm of my domestic circle, be a source of maternal comfort to my little motherless babes, and a provision of as much temporal happiness as I had now by affliction and bereavement learned to expect in this uncertain world. I accordingly made the proposal to her, and we entered the marriage state on the 3rd of July 1792, at the parish church of St. Clement's, near Lombard Street. Our revered friend, the Rev. John Newton, had promised to perform the service; but being absent at Southampton, his place was supplied by one of high estimation, the Rev. Richard Cecil, minister of St. John's chapel, Bedford Row. 1

1 On the subject of her marriage I have, since her decease, found in her diary the following insertion

When I first saw Mr. Newton after his return to town, he addressed me with his accustomed pleasantry, "Ah, brother, brother! so while I was out of town, you came and fished in my pond, and stole one of my best fishes!",

The various avocations and duties to which her marriage introduced her, were almost too exciting and fatiguing for her timid and nervous system. In addition to the ordinary occupations of the marriage state, and a very extensive general acquaintance which pastoral engagements occasioned, the constant excitement of feeling which arose out of her daily intercourse with the poor of the flock— greatly harassed a constitution little formed for the accumulation of painful histories, and constant scenes of lamentation, mourning, and woe.

On a visit to her mother-in-law, Mrs. Woodd of Colchester, with whom we were in the habit of spending a few days about twice in the year, and who always received her with lively affection and regard, as the tender protectress of the children of her own daughter; she was so much interested with the account of a lying-in-charity which had been there instituted, that on her return home she resolved to make a similar attempt. Having, by the circulation of short statements of the plan on cards, made known her intention to several friends, she soon received a sufficient sum wherewith to begin this little work of charity. Upon the average, she was enabled to relieve about seventy cases yearly; and the total number at the beginning of this year, 1829, amounted to upwards of two thousand.

Of this charity she undertook the entire manage

ment.

Each of the poor women was three times at