'April 26, 1752, being after 12 at Night of the 25th.

'O Lord! Governour of heaven and earth, in whose hands are embodied
and departed Spirits, if thou hast ordained the Souls of the Dead to
minister to the Living, and appointed my departed Wife to have care
of me, grant that I may enjoy the good effects of her attention and
ministration, whether exercised by appearance, impulses, dreams or in
any other manner agreeable to thy Government. Forgive my presumption,
enlighten my ignorance, and however meaner agents are employed, grant
me the blessed influences of thy holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.'


That his love for his wife was of the most ardent kind, and, during
the long period of fifty years, was unimpaired by the lapse of time,
is evident from various passages in the series of his Prayers and
Meditations, published by the Reverend Mr. Strahan, as well as from
other memorials, two of which I select, as strongly marking the
tenderness and sensibility of his mind.

'March 28, 1753. I kept this day as the anniversary of my Tetty's death,
with prayer and tears in the morning. In the evening I prayed for her
conditionally, if it were lawful.'

'April 23, 1753. I know not whether I do not too much indulge the vain
longings of affection; but I hope they intenerate my heart, and that
when I die like my Tetty, this affection will be acknowledged in a happy
interview, and that in the mean time I am incited by it to piety. I
will, however, not deviate too much from common and received methods of