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    mourning , and hung the pulpit , desk , &c , in black cloth ; and the Rev . A . Bishop , the Independent Minister , in a manner creditable to himself and honourable to the dead , gave notice that his

    chapel would be closed on the evening her funeral discourse was to be preached . This duty was ably performed by the Rev . A . Bennett , of Poole , ( who well knew her , ) before a crowded congregation , from John xiv . 1 . In reference to the

    melancholy occasion , the preacher observed , *• When death enters the circle of our friend * and acquaintance , we all feel the intrusion . If he seize on one to wjiom we are held in the bonds of friendship and affection , the pleasure of whose company we have oftentimes enjoyed , whose conversations we found edifying , and who

    evidently endeavoured to contribute to the innocent gratifications of society , whom we know to have been always ready to discharge the duties of humanity , whose liberal disposition we could not but admire , and of whose bounty we may have partaken ; who was careful in the midst of ail the duties of social life to

    preserve the spirit of religion , and whose example was evidently sincere and pure ; to know that there is now no more remaining of that person , in this world , than a mass of cold and lifeless clay , consigned motionless to the narrow space of a coffin , and committed to the silent grave , to be no more seen ; at such a dissolution of

    the ties of friendship and esteem , whose heart is not moved with pity , regret and grief ? Probably each one of us now in this house of prayer , assembled to contemplate the excellencies of a friend lately deceased , feel the truth of what I say . You can , in general , bear testimony to

    her virtue and piety , to her benevolence and charity , to her social disposition and cheerfulness , and those who were around her could speak of her steady patience under a long state of delicate health , and of her resignation to the will of God in her last moments . She was a sincere

    believer in the existence , goodness , and superintending providence of one God , the Father of Jesus Christ , and of all mankind . In the benevolence and fatherly character of God she found a constant source of satisfaction and comfort

    through many years of bodily weakness , and under several painful e \ r cnts and bereavements . And , on the bed of death , a short time before she expired , she evinced submission to the appointment of Providence , in the words of our Saviour , * God ' s will be done . ' In the divine

    mission of Jesus , she was a firm and grateful believer , and delighted to contemplate those scenes of future bliss and tflory which it opens to the view of the genuine Christian , and would often ex-

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    press her thankfulness to God for the gift of bis Son , by whom life and immortality were brought to light . As far as one human being can judge of another , it may be affirmed , that her piety was unaffected and genuine , rational and sincere . She preferred practical , vital religion to that which is speculative , and which has no

    tendency to warm and amend the heart to render men more devout , benevolent and good . Sincerely attached to the cause of genuine and evangelical Christianity , she was anxious and zealous to promote its prosperity and success in this place , by every rational and Christian means in her power . Her last moments were not disturbed , by any of those apprehensions which arise either from a sense of guilt , or from narrow and appalling views of the Almighty Parent of the world , as if his goodness or his grace were of a limited nature . Neither conscience nor dread of her Maker ' s frown .

    gave her any uneasiness . Under the influence of these religious sentiments , she lived beloved and respected , and expired as one falling asleep , without a struggle , a groan , or a sigh . Alas ! she is now gone to the land of forget fulness , and this house , in which she offered , conscientiously , her devotions to the Almighty , will know her no more . Ah ! think not ,

    respected stranger , that there is no religion bot in thy creed ; that there is no piety but in thy bosom !"— " While therefore we grieve and sympathize with each other at the departure of our friend , we hope and trust it will be well with her , and that we shall meet her again in another and a better world . The worthy

    preacher concluded his excellent discourse with an impressive exhortation to his hearers , not to let the present awful scene pass without producing a determination in all to consider their latter end and prepare for it , while the golden opportunity was in their power . After which the following beautiful lines were sung , for the first time , in Ringwood , by the choir of the Meeting :

    " Forgive , blest shade , the tributary tear , That mourns thy exit from a world like this ; Forgive the wish that would have kept thce here , Aud stayM thy progress to the realms oi bliss . No more confiu'd to grovelling scenes ol

    night , No more a tenaut pent in mortal clay , Now should we rather hail thy glorious flight , f And trace thy journey to the realms oi da y- " J . B , B .

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    496 Obituary . —Mrs . Bristowe .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1825, page 496, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2539/page/40/