ship of God morning and evening in her room, and was usually accompanied by some of the ladies who boarded in the house. Her fund of information, vivacity of manner, and the interest which she felt in the happiness of all around her, made her society highly valued and pleasing. Few of those ladies who stayed with her at Rockaway, for any length of time, failed to express, at parting, their esteem for her, and they generally added a pressing invitation for a visit from her, if ever she should travel near where they dwelt.

In the year 1810, whilst bathing, she was carried by the surf beyond her depth, and for some time there was scarcely a hope of her regaining the shore. Her grand-children were weeping on the beach, and the company assembled there were afflicted but hopeless spectators of her danger. At that moment of peril, she prayed to the Lord for deliverance, but acquiesced in his will, if he should see fit to take her to himself in this manner. Able to swim a little, she kept herself afloat for some time she became at length very faint; and when her friends on the beach apprended her lost, they perceived that the waves had impelled her somewhat nearer to them. A gentleman present, and her female attendant, stepped into the surf, and extending their arms for mutual support, one of them was enabled to lay hold of Mrs. Graham's bathing gown, and to pull her towards them. When they brought her ashore, she was much exhausted, and had swallowed a considerable quantity of

water. It was some hours before she revived, when she addressed the company in a very serious and impressive manner, that affected them to tears. Her health during the following winter was much impaired by the shock it had received. In the year 1811, some gentlemen of New York established a Magdalen Society: they elected a Board of Ladies, requesting their aid to superintend the internal management of the Magdalen House. This board chose Mrs. Graham their presiding lady, which office she held until her decease; the duties attendant on it she discharged with fidelity and zeal. In 1812, the trustees of the Lancasterian School solicited the attendance of several pious ladies, to give catechetical instruction to their scholars, one afternoon in every week: Mrs. Graham was one of those who attended regularly to this duty.'

During the last two years of her life she found her strength inadequate to so extensive a course of visit. ing the poor as formerly; there was some distressed families, however, that experienced her kind attention to the last. She would occasionally accompany the Rev. Mr. Stanford on his visits to the State Prison, Hospital, and to the Magdalen House. This gentleman is the stated preacher, employed by "the Society for the support of the Gospel among the poor." He devotes his time to preaching in the Alms House, Hospital, State Prison, Debtor's Prison, &c. with great assiduity and acceptance. Mrs. Graham now spent much of her

time in her room, devoted to meditation, prayer, and reading the Scriptures; she seemed to be weaning from earth, and preparing for heaven. Prayer was that sweet breath of her soul which brought stability to her life. Genuine humility was obvious in all her sentiments and deportment. Religious friends prized her conversation, counsel, and friendship; sometimes they would venture on a compliment to her superior attainments, but always experienced a decided rebuke. To her friend, Colonel L-, who expressed a wish to be such a character as she was, she quickly replied, with an air of mingled pleasantry and censure, "Get thee behind me, Satan." To a female friend who said, "If I were only sure at last of being admitted to a place at your feet, I should feel happy."" Hush, bush,” replied Mrs. Graham, "there is ONE SAVIOUR." Thus she was always careful to give her Divine Redeemer the whole glory of her salvation.

This example of humility, self-denial, and sensibility to the imperfection of her conduct, is the more to be valued, as it is so difficult to be followed. Flattery is too commonly practised; and there is no sufficient guard against its dangerous consequences, except a constant and humbling recognition of the spirituality of the law of God and our lamentable deficiency in fulfilling it. Pride was not made for man; 'I have seen an end of all perfection,' said the Psalmist, but thy commandment is exceeding broad.' It was by

cherishing this sentiment, by studying her bible, by searching her heart and its motives, and, above all, by grace accorded of heaven in answer to her prayers, that Mrs. Graham was enabled to maintain such a meekness of spirit, such an uniformity of Christian character, throughout her life. May all who read her history, be directed to the same sources of true peace and genuine happiness!

In the spring of 1814 she was requested to unite with some ladies, in forming a Society for the Promotion of Industry amongst the Poor. As this was the last act in which she appeared before the public, and because some acquaintance with the design of this Institution may prove useful in exciting others to similar exertions, the petition sent to the Corporation of New York will be given here at full length, as it appeared in the publications of the Society.

To the Honorable the Mayor and Common Council of the city of New York.

WE, whose names are subscribed, beg leave respectfully to address you, on a subject which has engaged our attention. Notwithstanding the large amount of money expended by private benevolence for the relief of the indigent, it is a cause of regret that such relief is of so limited a character; cast as it were into a troubled sea, it sinks to rise no more. Could a fair proportion of the money indefinitely expended on the poor, be placed under the care of an institution, which should use it to stimulate industry, by providing work for the indigent, paying them only for their labor; that proportion would be directed to the most

beneficent purpose. Such a course would encourage indus trious habits, do away the necessity of begging, and foster self respect in the honest poor.

"Such an Institution, we trust, your Honorable Body will deem worthy of public patronage; we are willing and desirous to support it by our personal exertions, according to a plan which we now respectfully submit to your examination. A House of Industry forms a principal feature of this plan. Should your Honorable Body so far patronize us, as to assign us a building for that purpose, we shall commence the work, trusting to the benevolence and dis cernment of our citizens.

"The admonition of holy writ, 'much food is as the tillage of the poor, but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment,' we feel as a strong incitement to render the industry of the poor useful to themselves and to the community. Without the aid now respectfully solicited, the attempt would on our part be hazardous and efficient. Our zeal to promote an Institution, having this object in view, must be our excuse for addressing ourselves to the guardians and rulers of the city."

This petition was signed by about Thirty Ladies.

The Corporation having returned a favorable answer, and provided a house, a meeting of the society was held, and Mrs. Graham once more was called to the chair. It was the last time she was to preside at the formation of a new society. Her articulation, once strong and clear, was now observed to have become more feeble. The ladies present listened to her with affectionate attention; her voice broke upon the ear as a pleasant sound that was passing away. She consented to have her name inserted in the list of managers, to give what assistance her age would permit in forwarding so beneficent a work. Although