heard of a fire somewhere, and could not go to sleep for fear our house should be burnt: however I thought the Lord could protect me and receive me to his arms if I was burnt: and so went to sleep very comfortably. In the morning I read a chapter where the book opened. It was at these words in the 91st Psalm: 66 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right han 1, but it shall not come nigh thee," &c. The whole Psalm was very comfortable to me. Another time I was very low and dull; and thought my sister being out made me so; and that I should be more cheerful, if I went out; but I remained the same, having the fear of death before me. I strove to drive it off, but could not. I had these words in Heb. xii. 25. before me: "See that ye re fuse not him that speaketh, &c." I thought it was God who put these thoughts of death into my mind. I was taken ill the next day and was afraid of death, though I did not apprehend it nigh: I had terrible views of eternity, of my state being fixed in a mo ment, to be in endless misery, or endless happiness. Soon after this text of Scripture came to me, Isa. xl. 11. "He shall gather the lambs in his arms, &c." I went on

pretty comfortably for some time, when Mr. Ryland preached from Jer. iii. 22.

“Turn,

ye backsliding children, and I will heal your

backslidings." He mentioned the symptoms of backsliding: 1. The neglect of secret prayer. 2. An aversion to religious conversation and preaching the Gospel. 3. A fear of death on any sudden illness. I was afraid that I had backslidden, but he said we had encouragement to return: therefore I hope it will be my daily prayer that God would keep me close to himself, and be the guide of my youth, as I am unable to keep myself. Thus far I hope the Lord has brought me on my way, and that he will continue his work in my heart for whom he loves, he loves unto the end. And I hope and pray, he will make me sensible of my own vileness, and more of the beauty and fitness of Christ to save me; and that he will be with me to bless me, with all those who, through the goodness and mercy of God, have been made useful in confirming and strengthening me in my way to heaven. I am now comfortable. I long for that glorious time, when we shall meet I hope in glory. I hope there will not be one of the family left behind. I thought I should have had the pleasure of seeing my papa and brother at Northamp ton; but hope we shall meet before Christ

mas.

With love to my brother and sister,
I am, Dear and honoured Parents,
Your dutiful daughter,

JANE FLOWER.

BURNING WIDOWS IN INDIA.

DEAR SIR,-During a residence in India of nearly twenty years, I yesterday, for the first time, went to witness a suttee. The victim chosen for this cruel and ungodly act was the widow of a Bramin, who died in Southern Conkan a few days ago. Twelve o'clock at noon was the hour appointed by the priests for the ceremony to commence, but the sun had descended more than three hours in the western sky ere the party arrived at the fatal spot. She at last made her appearance, preceded by two led horses handsomely harnessed, and attended by ten or twelve Bramins, and about the same number of women, with drums, music, &c. common on those occasions, and chiefly intended to drown the cries of the sufferer. A few idle spectators were in the procession,

and but a very few, considering the scene of action lay near the city, and close to the old Palace.

At first sight of the woman I was impressed, among others, with the idea that she was more or less in liquor, but before the various ceremonies were gone through, which in such cases precede the act of burning, these doubts had given place to a perfect conviction in my mind, that she was in her sober senses, and fully aware of the dreadful act she was about to perform. Of this I am the more satisfied from the question being often asked her by the European gentlemen present, “Whether it was her own wish and inclination to burn herself ?" to which she always returned the same answer, that "she knew what she was doing, and that it was her own pleasure to burn." Having offered up the more harmless sacrifice of incense on a small fire from which the pile that was to consume her was afterwards to be lighted, and having parted with all her golden ornaments to those in attendance, she very coolly, and without shedding a tear, took a last farewell of all she held dear on earth, ascended the pile, and there laid herself down with the ashes of her deceased husband tied round her neck. The entrance was then closed up with dry straw, and the whole pile surrounded with the same com

bustible material, and immediately set fire to by the priests.

I had placed myself directly opposite to the entrance to the pile, and could distinctly observe the unfortunate woman struggling to make her escape from the flames, which now completely covered her. This did not pass unnoticed by the attending Bramins, who instantly began to knock down the covering, which contained nearly as much wood as the pile itself, and would most effectually have secured their victim in the fire had it fallen on her as they intended it should. All this while, no one, excepting the priests, interfered; but when the miserable sufferer did make her escape