In the month of September, the state of Mrs. HAWKES's health requiring sea-bathing, she went to Dover, accompanied by Mrs. Jones. But those anxieties which had induced the present depression of her strength and spirits, followed her there, and drew from Mr. Cecil the following sympathetic letter:

"My dear Daughter.

Oct. 7, 1796.

"The melancholy cast of your letter so meets the present complexion of my mind, and some sentiments in it are so exactly my own, that like a man who hears a tune which touches him, and he begins humming, so I fall to writing. I too am at sea, and sea-sick. I laugh outwardly, and inwardly say of laughter, "It is mad." When the candle of the Lord shines upon my head, I am well, and so are you: but when I cannot see Him, (you understand me,) a more forlorn creature does not walk the earth; and that, sometimes for days together, though surrounded with comforts and comforters.

"The truth is, He deals out my comforts who furnishes yours; and if you could weigh them against each other, you would find them more equal than you are ready to believe.

"Another truth is, that among the many things you have learned of me, there is one which I have often brought to your ear, but which none but God could bring to your heart; I mean the real state of the country in which we live, as described, Psalm lxiii. 1. You are the woman whose heart the Lord opened,' and which none but himself can fill. The woman who stood beside me praying unto the Lord,' and to whom the Lord has given the petition she asked of him. What, I pray you, was the petition; and what are the

things you meet with, but an answer to it; and what need I repeat on the subject? You know these things as well as I do; and I should never have known them, (though I might have preached about them,) if I had not been, like you, taken from the crowd by a mighty hand, and brought, with faltering steps and slow,' to tread the narrow solitary way.

"Still' He giveth songs in the night;' therefore let us sing when we can. He also commands us to help one another; and to help you, as far as I am able, will always afford satisfaction to

"Your most affectionate friend and father,

"R. CECIL.

The depression which, at this period, rested on MRS. HAWKES's mind, was not from imaginary causes. She saw the clouds darkening, and ready to break over her head in a storm of trouble, which, within a few weeks, actually burst, and nearly overwhelmed her. The most serious embarrassment was threatening Mr. Hawkes's affairs, occasioned by his having incautiously, though from motives of friendship, allowed an unsuccessful speculator to draw bills upon him, by which the whole of his property became irretrievably involved. On MRS. HAWKES's return from Dover, in the month of October, she was informed that the shock had actually been felt at Holloway, and that every thing was on the point of being given up for security. A lively and pathetic description of her feelings, at this time, appears in the following memorandum.

Holloway, 1796.-" I have of late felt much solemnity of mind: and have been enduring much agony of spirit, and learning to 'go softly.' But I would rather go weeping with my face heavenwards, than dancing in the

broad way, which must end in misery. Thanks be to God, that I have at least a weeping eye, if I have not the true soldier-like spirit that dares the fierce onset of the battle. I am, I trust, made willing to endure, and abide the conflict, however severe. I must indeed ever shrink at the approach of the two-edged sword. But I desire to put myself into the hands of my great Physician, to do with me as seemeth him good; and that without reserve. My Bible and my secret chamber can witness for me, the floods of tears I pour out for my weakness, and my wickedness, and for the depravity of my fallen nature. And He, whose eye pierceth the reins and the heart, knoweth I do not act the part of a hypocrite. My sins are indeed more than the hairs of my head: nor could I bear the sight, were I not enabled to lay hold of the hope set before me in the Gospel. In this I have always strong consolation; and find it an anchor both sure and stedfast, upon which, by faith, I will now lie down and sleep, amidst surrounding waves and storms of sorrow. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen again."

Mrs. Jones, who had come to town with her afflicted sister, was apprehensive lest the present agitating scene at Holloway should seriously affect MRS. HAWKES'S already much impaired health. She therefore anxiously wished to procure for her a temporary shelter, in the house of some friend, during this threatening storm, which it was hoped would shortly blow over. Such a temporary shelter she ventured to solicit in the house of MRS. HAWKES's spiritual father, the Rev. R. Cecil, a request which was readily granted.

Friendship subsisting between MRS. HAWKES and Mr. Cecil-Habits of MRS. HAWKES while at Holloway-Sale of the house at Holloway - Her grief occasioned by that circumstance― She goes to meet Mr. Hawkes at Portsmouth-Has a narrow escape from being drowned, in bathing-She returns to Mrs. Cecil, then at Clapham Letter from Mrs. Ely Bates-Remarks on MRS. HAWKES's keen sense of her sorrows-She resumes the use of her diary-Suffers great depression of spirits-Goes to Birmingham-Dangerous illness of Mr. Cecil, in 1798-MRS. HAWKES visits the Isle of Wight, and comes under the ministry of the Rev. John Newton-Her happy visit to her sisters-She returns to London-Accompanies Mrs. Cecil to Chobham-Is seized with illness, and obliged to return to townExpectation of death through the Summer of 1801-Visit of Mrs. Jones, who provides for MRS. HAWKES's removal from Little James Street-MRS. HAWKES'S memorandum on leaving Mr. Cecil's house.

The close and intimate friendship which subsisted between MRS. HAWKES and Mrs. Cecil, has already been mentioned. Never were two friends more capable of appreciating each other. The prominent features in Mrs. Cecil's character were, benignity, generosity, maternal tenderness, and charity. MRS. HAWKES'S present circumstances called these dispositions into delightful exercise; and Mrs. Cecil experienced an

increase of her own happiness, in that ready flow of sympathy, with which she welcomed to her house a beloved friend; an event which took place the latter end of October, 1796.

In order to conceive properly of MRS. HAWKES'S feelings on this occasion, her whole character and circumstances must be taken into the account. There were certain restraining considerations, which interfered with her entire complacency in this friendly arrangement. Her warmest gratitude was, in some measure, overpowered by a keen sensibility, shrinking from obligation, in proportion to the sense of favours conferred. That delicacy of feeling, which accompanied her strength of mind, would naturally revolt at any, even apparent encroachment on generous friendship: while her quick apprehension was more than alive to the inconvenience which might attend the increase of an already large family. It must also be acknowledged, that the love of independence was a prominent feature in MRS. HAWKES's character: nor was it in the power of human kindness to tranquillize her mind under her present accumulated afflictions. Divine consolations alone could have supported her; and that these were not wanting in this hour of extremity, the following memorandum bears testimony.

Holloway, Oct. 1796.-" The experience of this day is," He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." The hand of special grace has been stretched out to lift me above surrounding billows. Every thing around says, 'Escape, daughter, escape:' and faith and hope provide the plank that shall convey me safe to shore. The name of the Lord is a strong tower.' Here let me seek shelter, and leave the storm to God."

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