FEMALE BIOGRAPHY. LADY RUSSELL. VOL. II Lady Russell survived her husband many years. She was repeatedly solicited in marriage by the admirers of her virtues, but she chose to spend the remainder of her life in widowhood, seeking the alleviation of her sorrows in the education of her children, the society and correspondence of her numerous literary friends, and above all in the inestimable comforts of religion. Her letters, in which her talents served as the handmaids of her virtues, and portrayed her beautiful character in all its simplicity and purity, were collected long after her death and published. They furnish a model well worthy of imita tion. Among her correspondents we find the names of Archbishop Tillotson, Bishop Bur the truly pious Dr. Fitzwilliam, and many other persons equally distinguished for rank, talent, piety and learning. Some of the letters of these eminent individuals are introduced into the volume with those of Lady Russell, and they uniformly bespeak the highest respect for her character. We might, perhaps, usefully extend the present article by a few extracts from the letters we have giving one entire, which was written to Dr. Fitzwilliam soon after her husband's death, and which gives an admirable view of her truly amiable character. Lord Russell was brought to the scaffold on the 21st of July, 1683, and this letter is dated the 30th of Sep The name of LADY RACHEL RUSSELL de-net, Bishop Patrick, the Princess of Orange, serves an honorable place in the calendar of those who by their virtues and talents, have adorned and illustrated the female character. Belonging to one of the noblest families in Britain, passing a long series of years in the uninterrupted enjoyment of all the dangerous gifts of rank and wealth, and happily requited affection; then a lonely widow, the full cup of felicity suddenly dashed with a rude hand from her lips, the husband of her youth mur-named, but we must content ourselves with dered on the scaffold, and his name vilified by the minions of tyranny;-prosperity never spoiled the humility of her disposition, nor did bitter adversity ever wring from her a murmur against the wisdom or the justice of the most afflicting dispensations of the providence of her GOD. This distinguished wo-tember in the same year. man was the daughter of the Earl of South- To Dr. Fitzwilliam.-I need not tell you, hampton, and the wife of the illustrious Lord my good Doctor, how little capable I have William Russell, whose memory is so dear to been of such an exercise as this. You will every patriot as the martyr of liberty, and the soon find how unfit I am still for it, since my fellow sufferer of Hampden and Sidney. To yet disodered thoughts can offer me no other Lord Russell she was an object of the most than such words as express the deepest sordevoted attachment which she nobly requit- rows, confused as my yet amazed mind is. ed, adhering to him with all a woman's con- But such men as you, and particularly one stancy, through good report and through evil so much my friend, will I know bear with report, sharing with him the blessings of for- my weakness and compassionate my distress, tune and "troops of friends," and breasting as you have already done by your good letter by his side the torrent of persecution by which and excellent prayer. I endeavor to make the close of his short but brilliant career was the best use I can of both; but I am so evil embittered. For sixteen years she enjoyed and unworthy a creature that though I have in his society as much of happiness as falls to desires, yet I have no dispositions or worthithe lot of human nature; when he was ar- ness towards receiving comfort. You that rested for a pretended participation in the knew us both, and how we lived, must admit "RYE-HOUSE PLOT," she enlisted by her ef- I have just cause to bewail my loss. I know forts some of the most distinguished men in it is common with others to lose a friend; but the country in his favor; on his mock trial to have lived with such a one, it may be the assisted him in taking notes and making questioned how few can glory in the like out his defence; and after he was executed happiness, so consequently lament the like in pursuance of a sentence of judicial murder, loss. Who can but shrink at such a blow, she devoted her exalted talents to the vindi- till by the mighty aids of his holy spirit, we cating of his character. Her letter to King will let the gift of God which he hath put Charles the Second is a standing monument into our hearts interpose? That reason which of her devotion to his memory; it might have sets a measure to our souls in prosperity, will moved the heart of a stone, though it made then suggest many things which we have no impression upon that of a voluptuary. I seen and heard, to moderate us in such sad No. 7. Castle and Port of Seyda. 169 circumstances as mine. But alas! my un-not be dejected; for I will not injure myself derstanding is clouded, my faith weak, sense to say, I offer my mind any inferior consolastrong, and the devil busy to fill my thoughts tion to supply this loss. No; I most willingwith false notions, difficulties, and doubts; ly forsake this world-this vexatious, troublebut this I hope to make a matter of humilia- some world, in which I have no other busition, not sin. Lord, let me understand the ness, but to rid my soul from sin; secure by reason of these dark and wounding provi- faith and a good conscience my eternal indences, that I sink not under the discourage-terests; with patience and courage bear my ments of my own thoughts. I know I have deserved my punishment and I will be silent under it; but yet secretly my heart mourns, too sadly I fear, and cannot be comforted, because I have not the dear companion and sharer of all my joys and sorrows. I want him to talk with, to walk with, to eat and sleep with; all these things are irksome to me now; the day unwelcome, and the nights so too; all company and meals I would avoid, if it might be; yet all this is, that I enjoy not the world in my own way; and this sure hinders my comfort: when I see my children before me, I remember the pleasure he took in them; this makes my heart shrink. Can I regret his quitting a lesser good for a greater! O! if I did steadfastly believe, I could' eminent misfortunes, and ever hereafter be But very faithful servant. CASTLE AND PORT OF SEYDA, THE ANCIENT SIDON. The present town of Seyda extends along some other port, or for convenience while the sea shore for a space of less than a mile discharging and taking in their cargoes here. in length, and is not more than half a mile in The buildings of Seyda are not at all suits general breadth from the water to its in-perior to the common order of Mahommedan ner border; standing on a gradually ascend- edifices in the modern towns of Syria; the ing slope, from the sea to the more elevated streets are extremely narrow, the mosques ground behind, its appearance from without mean, the caravansaries small and incommois more pleasing than many other towns of a dious, and the bazaars few and badly furbetter description in their interior. Towards nished with even the necessaries in general the sea side an old castle, said to have been request. The inhabitants are variously estibuilt by the crusaders of France, and the mated, at from 5,000 to 10,000; perhaps the ruins of another, running out at the extremi- true number would be found to be between ty of a ledge of rocks, with arches, tend to 7,000 and 8,000. The great majority of these give the harbour a picturesque appearance, are Mahommedans, the Christians not exparticularly when a few of the native vessels ceeding 1,000, and the Jews less than 500.of the coast are seen behind this ledge, where Buckingham's Travels among the Arab they usually anchor for shelter, if bound to Tribes. There in dark bowers embosomed, Jesus flings And while the group, each hallowed accent gleaning, Wonder and weep, they pour the song of sorrow, priests and officers of the temple, and above them, glittering like a succession of diadems, those alabaster porticos and colonades, in which the chiefs and sages of Jerusalem sat teaching the people, or walked, breathing the pure air and gazing on the grandeur of a landscape, which swept the whole amphitheatre of the mountains. I see, rising above this stupendous boundary, the court of the With their loved Lord, whose death shall shroud the Jewish women, separated by its porphyry pil lars and richly sculptured wall; above this, the separated court of the men; still higher, the court of the priests; and highest, the crowning splendor of all, the central temple, the place of the sanctuary and of the Holy of Holies covered with plates of gold, its roof planted with lofty spear heads of gold, the most precious marbles and metals every where flashing back the day till Mount Moriah stood forth to the ey of the stranger approaching Jerusalem, what it had so often been described by its bards and people, a mountain of snow, studded with jewels! The scenery of Palestine is alive with holy recollections. The modern traveler, at this distance of time from the date of the grand transactions which have rendered Judea a land of sacred classics forever, can scarcely place his foot where there is not a fragrance exhaling from ancient story connected with the dust, the rocks, the hills, vales and tombs, of the land of Canaan. So striking is the face of nature now, that the mind is lost in wonder in striving to conceive the glorious But a little way from this glorious mounappearance of the country, when it was em-tain, castward, over the valley of Jehoshaphat, phatically the glory of all lands-when the through which Cedron flows, is the Mount hills were green to the summits, the vales of Olives, now a lonely place, where contemwarm and irriguous, and the tops of the ele plation loves to dwell and muse on two events vations crowned with fortresses and battle-in our Saviour's life which have consecrated ments, that frowned defiance to the invader. its scenery-the mental agony in the garden, But Jerusalem itself, with its temple-crested and his final ascension from the earth. Of mountain, and the scenery around it, may be the first named incident, the evangelists supposed the diadem of beauty, sublimity and speak in tones of sorrow-and, although strength to the whole country. In Croly's Jesus ascended into heaven to prepare manlively pencillings we give the outlines of the sions for all his followers, the elevated and temple as it rose on the adoring eyes of the original Bossuet speaks thus despondingly of chosen nation. I see the court of the Gen- his separation from the church :-' but she tiles circling the whole; a fortress of the has only heard his enchanting voice, she has whitest marble, with its wall rising six hun-only enjoyed his mild and engaging presence dred feet from the valley; its kingly en- for a moment. Suddenly he has taken to trance, worthy of the fame of Solomon; its flight with a rapid course, and, swifter than innumerable and stately dwellings for the the fawn of a hind, has ascended to the high No. 7. Written on the Last Page of a Lady's Album. est mountains. Like a desolate wife, the church has done nothing but groan, and the song of the forsaken turtle is in her mouth; in short, she is a stranger and a wanderer .upon the earth.' The Mount of Olives, even now shaded in part by the tree from whence it derives its name, is situated to the east of Jerusalem, from which it is separated by the brook Cedron and the valley of Jehoshaphat. The garden of Gethsemane lies over the brook on the acclivity of the mountain. As the traveler approaches Jerusalem, through the village of Jeremiah, Olivet bursts upon his sight along with Moriah and Zion. It has three eminences or summits, one of which stretches away to a sabbath day's journey from Jerusalem. The engraving which we present in this number gives its appearance from the city. It was up this elevation that King David three thousand years ago went weeping when Absalom's rebellion forced him to abdicate his throne for a season; and from its elevation Jesus beheld and wept over the devoted city. 171 the heathen are represented as being gathered together to be judged. The prophet seems to represent the Almighty as sitting in his holy temple, or on the summit of Zion, to judge the multitudes in the valley beneath him; and their executing his judgments, while the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining, and Jehovah roars out of Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth shake; and it is thus made manifest to the confusion of idolaters, and to the joy of the true Israel that God dwells in Zion, his holy mountain, and is the hope of his people, and the strength of his children of Israel." For the Ladies' Garland. WRITTEN ON THE Last page of a LADY'S ALBUM. The cheering smiles of spring are o'er, Spring called to life the tender germ, 'Tis even so with mortal man, In passing to the tomb; But let thy thoughts with faith ascend, We close this article with a few extracts from the journal of the lamented missionary to Palestine, Fisk, who with his friends, Par-Anon-'twas pressed by autumn's frost, Into a wintry grave. sons, King and Wolff, frequently repaired to Olivet to gaze on Jerusalem, and ponder on the sublime and melancholy associations connected with its scenery. 'We made our first visit to Mount Olivet, and there bowed down before Him, who, from thence ascended to glory, and sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. There we held our first monthly concert of prayer in the holy land. There is no doubt that this is the mount from which the Mediator ascended to his Father and to our Father. On this in-Nor autumn's frost, nor winter's blast, teresting spot, with Jerusalem before us, and on this interesting day, when thousands of Christians are praying for Zion, it was delightful to mingle our petitions with theirs, and pray for our friends, for ministers, for churches, for missionaries and the worid. From this Mount we have a view of the Dead Sea where Sodom and Gomorrha stood, and the mountains beyond Jordan from which Moses beheld, in distant prospect, the pro mised land. 'With some olive branches from Olivet, and some flowers from the mansion house of Lazarus in our hands, we returned by a winding way around the south of Mount Olivet, till we came to the brook Cedron, where it enters the valley of Jehoshaphat. This valley seems like a frightful chasm in the earth, and when you stand in it, and see Mount Zion and Moriah towering above it with steep hills and precipices, on your right hand and left, you can easily feel the force of those sublime passages in the prophet Joel, in which Can nip one gentle flower; E'en should thy days be lengthened out, Alas!-she once has been. Learn from the thoughts true friendship drops, Whose fruits are joy in age. Soon will thy spring of life be o'er, Bridgeport, November, 1838. N. S. W. None are more loath to take a jest, than those who are the most forward to bestow it. 172 A Christmas Hymn-Beauties of Salathiel. For the Ladies' Garland. A CHRISTMAS HYMN. On Bethlehem's fertile plains, as humble shepherds lay When lo, they heard celestial strains And sought and found the noblest gift of heaven. Like them let's haste in lowly plight, Attended on his natal day; BEAUTIES OF SALATHIEL. BY THE REV. GEORGE CROLY. The cavern so splendidly decorated into which they penetrated, proved to be the resort of a band of pirates, who shortly returned;|| and our adventurers hardly escaped with their lives; and were indebted for their safety to the commander. As the retreat of the pirates had been discovered by the Romans, they anticipated an immediate attack, as soon as the storm, which at that time raged with unparalleled fury, should subside. With the first hush of the elements the marauders put to sea. But to our author. 66 VOL. II. I am sorry," said he, "that we have been compelled to give you so rough a specimen of our hospitality; and this is not altogether a summer sea; but you saw how the matter stood. The enemy would have been upon us; and the whole advantage of our staying at home, would be, to have our throats cut in company." Odd and rambling as his style was, there was something in his manner and voice that had struck me before, even in the boisterous. ness of the convivial crowd. But now in the solitary ocean, there was a melancholy sweetness in his tones, that made me start with sad recollection. Yet, when by the lightning I attempted to discover in his features any clue to memory, and saw but the tall figure wrapped in the sailor's cloak, the hair streaming over his face in the spray, and every line of his powerful physiognomy at its full stretch in the agitation of the time, the thought vanished again. "I hinted," said he, after an interval of silence, "at your taking chance with us.— If you will, you may. But the hint was thrown out merely to draw off the fellows about me, and you are at full liberty to forget it." "It is impossible to join you," was my answer; my life is due to my country." 66 "Oh! for that matter, so is mine; and due a long time ago: my only wonder is, how I have evaded payment till now. But I am a man of few words. I have taken a sort of liking to you, and would wish to have a few such at hand. But let this pass. The point between us is, will you take service?" "No!-I feel the strongest gratitude for the manliness and generosity of your protection. You saved our lives; and our only hope of revisiting Judea in freedom is through you. But, young man, I have a great cause in hand. I have risked every thing for it.— Family, wealth, rank, life, are at stake; and I look upon every hour given to other things as so far a fraud upon my country." We stretched far out to sea for the double purpose of falling by surprise upon the Roman squadron, and avoiding the shoals. The I heard him sigh. There was silence on wind lulled at intervals so much, that we had both sides for a while, and he paced the deck; recourse to our oars; it would then burst down then suddenly returning, laid his hand on my with a violence, that all but hurled us out of shoulder. "I am convinced of your honor," the water. I now saw more of the captain, said he, "and far be it from me to betray a and was witness of the extraordinary energy,||man who has indeed a purpose worthy of manactivity, and skill of this singular young man. hood, into our broken and unhappy-aye, let Never was there a more expert seaman. For the word come out, infamous career. every change of sea or wind, he had a new tell me that I have been of some use to you; expedient: and when the hearts of the stout- I now demand the return. You have refused est sank, he took the helm into his hands, and to take service with me. Let me take service carried us through the chaos of waters, foam, with you." whirlwind, and lightning, with the vigor and daring of one born to sport with the storm. As I was gazing over the vessel's side, on the phosphoric gleams that danced along the ridge of the billows, he came up to me. But you I stared at him. He smiled sadly, and said, "You will not associate with one stained like Aye; for the robber there is no repentance. Yet why shall the world," and his voice was full of anguish, “why shall the ungener me. |