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494 HER LAST REQUEST TO LADY MAXWELL. [1786.

cabinet after her death, prove distinctly that she had been preparing for it. In fact, the scroll of it, together with the stamp paper on which it was to have been written, were found, and she had actually appointed her attorney and his clerks to attend her for the execution of it the evening of the day on which she died.

This occasioned her executrix considerable trouble and expense, as some of the memoranda clashed one part with another, and yet by the gentlemen of the law were considered to have codicillary powers. Lady Maxwell, however, by much patience and labour, adjusted the whole to the satisfaction of all parties.

Lady Glenorchy had left a sealed letter addressed to Lady Maxwell to be delivered after her death, requiring her to finish Hope chapel at Bristol-wells, and to aid those of Carlisle, Workington, and her other chapels and institutions, which she did, and not long before her death, had completely exhausted all the funds Lady Glenorchy left.

Lady Alva survived her daughter more than twenty years, and Miss Hairstanes died only three or four years ago.

A neat marble slab has been placed at a considerable height, directly above the pulpit in her chapel in Edinburgh, on which is the following inscription :—

1786.]

INSCRIPTION TO HER MEMORY.

495

In Memory

OF

THAT MOST EXCELLENT LADY,

WILLIELMA MAXWELL,

VISCOUNTESS GLENORCHY,

Few characters in the religious world were better known, or more universally and justly respected. Her many amiable personal qualities, and superior understanding, improved by education, genuine religion, reading, and experience, greatly endeared her to her numerous acquaintances, her family, and select friends.

And

this house, with several other places of worship in Scotland and England, founded by her, together with the large sums she bequeated to the Societies for Promoting Christian Knowledge, will be a lasting monument how much she had at heart the glory

of the Redeemer,

and the best

interests of mankind.

She died July 17, 1786, aged 44.*

Her remains are deposited in the centre of this chapel. This monument was erected as a tribute of respect, by her executrix,

LADY MAXWELL.

* This inscription in the former edition of this book is an exact copy of that on the monument, which was executed in London, and from some cause not now known, the sculptor erred both with respect to the time of her death and her age. This line therefore is altered, to make it consistent with the account given of these in the work, and which is the truth with respect to these circumstances.

Lady Glenorchy's friends, after her death, expressed a wish to have her picture engraved; but although there was one in Lady Sutherland's house in George'ssquare, painted in Italy, in which she is represented as playing on a lute, it bore no resemblance to the original. There is another in the hall of the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge: this was painted by Martin, at the particular request of the Directors ; but as he had no personal knowledge of her Ladyship, and therefore drew from imagination and the description of her person which he obtained from others, he did not, as indeed it was impossible he could, succeed. On this account, the wish of her friends could not be gratified.-It matters not: her likeness can never be effaced from the memory of those who knew her; and those who knew her not, may discover the features of her mind, and the dispositions of her heart, in the lasting productions of her beneficence and piety, as long as they shall endure; for,

The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.

APPENDIX.

APPENDIX:

CONTAINING

LETTERS

FROM

MISS HILL TO LADY GLENORCHY.

LETTER FIRST.

November 3, 1766.

YOUR letter, my dear friend, of the 13th of October, gave me very great pleasure; accept of my sincerest thanks for this, as well as for every other mark of your regard; and be assured you are always on my heart, and mentioned with much earnestness in my petitions at the throne of mercy, that you may be partaker of every gospel blessing, interested in the unchangeable covenant, and enjoy all those precious privileges which were purchased for us by a bleeding Saviour. That same Saviour, my dearest friend, continually intercedes for you, he is the Keeper of Israel who neither slumbereth nor sleepeth. Your name is written on the palms of his hands. A mother may forget her sucking child, but he cannot discontinue his affectionate concern for the weakest believer. What a sweet comprehensive prayer does this glorious Immanuel offer up for the little flock, to whom it is the Father's

I i

good pleasure to give the kingdom, in the 17th chapter of John, where he pleads that we may be preserved from the evil that is in the world; that we may be sanctified through the truth, that is, through the word of Scripture; that we may be united to himself, have fellowship with the Father by faith, and fellowship with one another by brotherly love; that we may be made perfect in his righteousness, presented without spot through his blood, and finally be with him where he is, to behold his glory, and partake of his joy.

Should you be desirous (says one) of knowing whether you are of the number of those for whom Christ intercedes, you may determine this important point by the following questions: Do you value above all things the blessings for which Christ intercedes? Do you join your own repeated and earnest supplications to his intercession? and, Do you rely wholly on Christ's unspeakable merits, for the acceptance of your prayers? If so, be not discouraged: Christ is your advocate with the Father; he died for you on the cross, and pleads his meritorious oblation for you on his throne. Is not this an inestimable blessing? If Hezekiah desired the prayers of Isaiah-if Darius desired the prayers of the godly Jews, for himself and his sons; how should we rejoice in having an interest in the prayers of the exalted Jesus? If we are tempted, let this be our security, Luke xxii. 32. "I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not." If we fall into sin through the infirmity of the flesh, let this be our refuge, 1 John ii. 1, 2. "And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins." If we are under apprehensions of death or eternal judgment, let this be our consolation, Rom. viii. 33, 34. "It is God that justifieth; who is he that condemneth ?" The above cited com

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