beg you'll be kind enough to permit me to implore your forgiveness, and to unload a heart, torn with anxiety ever fince I may, with the greatest truth, juftly say, the unfortunate moment I became an alien to your affection, my child, and long lamented home: a fevere trial, although I with fhame and forrow acknowledge, but too juft a punishment for my faults. But if ever gentle pity dwelt in your breaft; if ever affectionate regard for this wretched unfortunate had place in your heart, as I once had reafon to believe it had ;-oh! that once, would I could but fay now!-it would be like precious balm to this unhappy breaft, fo long inured to woe. Let my Uncle bring me the kind affurance of your forgiveness. Distressed on every fide, both in body and mind, a wretched out-cast and forlorn wanderer, I fought this heavenly hospitable asylum to hide myself and my forrows, where I enjoy every bleffing I could wifh or hope for, but peace] of mind; which is for ever loft unless restored by you. When amidst all the kind indulgence I meet with here, when I reflect I am a childlefs mother, and a widowed wife, what tongue or pen . can exprefs the agonies I feel! therefore let me beg it once more, that you'll fend to me by my uncle, and give me leave to know how my child does; and that I may be indulged in hearing of you and him, will greatly add to my fatisfaction. The hopes of being reftored to you again, though it would crown my utmost wishes, I dare not think of; but leave to you the decifion of my fate, and can only wifh that fome affectionate fpark may yet re-kindle in your breaft for her, who will ever remain the future part of my life, Magdalen-houfe, 0đ. 19, 1760.

Moft affectionately and
Faithfully yours.

Fom the Mother of one of the young Women,to a Governor. SIR,

HE favour of your moft kind letter, I received,

ΤΗ

which filled me with joy at the confirmation of my once unhappy daughter's being under fuch good hands, and with gratitude to you for the trouble you have taken in informing me to whom I am obliged for my daughter's prefervation from utter ruin; and I fhall take care to obferve your kind instruction, and to fhew my gratitude to the good lady; and be pleafed to accept of my heartiest and best thanks for your fpecial care of, and kindness to the distressed daughter of her who never can fufficiently acknowledge it, but who fhall ever pray for the happiness of her benefactors. And am,

YOUR

I have not an opportunity of feeing you, I hope you will pardon my writing to you, to return you my thanks for advifing me to this happy retreat. I can't help ftanding to admire how good God has been to me, to raise me fuch friends: I must not forget to tell you, the kindness I received from our good matron, and that fhe ftudies to make us all happy.

When I reflect what inward happiness I loft for fome years, it is a great trouble to me; but now I hope, Sir, you will pardon my asking you to join thanks with me that am fo fuon called out of it, and I can truly fay,

heartily

heartily forry for what is past: and now with fubmiffion

muft conclude,

Your most obedient humble fervant.

LETTER XI.

From H. to two young Girls, her former Companions. Dear P. and B.

I

Was thinking it would be right to let you know of my welfare in this bleffed place, where I hope I fhall flay my life-time. life-time. When I look back, and think of the fad way of life which you know I was in a great while, ¦ the reflection grieves me to the heart; for there is nothing but mifery attends it at the long run, and so you will find. Dear P. and B. think of what I fay, for now I have nothing to think of but happiness, and to repent of my former fins, which I am now ashamed of, and fo you will both, with the grace of God. I may bless the hour that I came to this house, for now I am reconciled to all my friends, and I hope I shall with God.

Only think what a bleffing it is to go to bed with God in your heart, instead of tearing about all night with the devil's inftructions in that way of life; for you are always troubled in your minds, unless you are in liquor. It is a great favour to get admitted into our house, but if you have a mind to come, I hope you will both get in. Don't think our house a place of confinement, for our benefactors won't keep any body against their will, nor detain

them a minute.

From your fincere friend and well-wisher.

A

SERMON,

Preached before the

PRESIDENT, VICE-PRESIDENTS, TREASURER, and GOVERNORS

O F THE

MAGDALEN-HOUSE.

By WILLIAM DODD, M. A.

Published at the Requeft of the Prefident, &c.

HE THAT IS WITHOUT SIN AMONG YOU, LET HIM FIRST CAST A STONE AT HER.

JOHN viii. 7.

The SIXTH EDITION.