I have delayed writing from day to day till it should please our gracious father to determine the fate of our beloved M^rs. Thornton. That afflicting event has now taken place near a week, and yet I have not had the heart to write. ^[2] You doubtless have been informed by the same kind hand with myself, of the fatal progress and final termination! God’s will be done! This we must not only say but submissively assent to under dispensations the most trying. And surely the removal of our dear friend is a very trying as well as Mysterious dispensation. To herself the charge is most blessed. To her children the loss is most irreparable. Poor dear Orphans! little did we think a year ago of this double bereavement! but let us bless the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ that he enabled this suffering friend to bear her dying testimony to his faithfulness and truth . Never was a sweeter death than that so feelingly painted by M^r. Wilberforce How strong must have been that faith which not only lifted her so much above all worldly considerations /but/ which enabled /her/ to commit her beloved children, about whom her anxiety had been so excessive, to the father of the fatherless. It has pleased God to raise them, among many friends, M^r. and M^rs. Inglis to whose care she consigned, and who have generously accepted the charge. They are peculiarly fitted for the purpose, sensible, pious, amiable, strongly attached to the Thorntons and without children of their own. Thus is the saying illustrated that the Seed of the Righteous shall never be forsaken.^[3] My opinion is that M^rs. T is dead of suppressed grief. She reminds me of part of an Epitaph I have seen, only changing the word day for Year

One year she tried
To live without him, liked it not and died.^[4]

Marianne’s behaviour is angelic. God has put great honour on that dear Girl by making her, at such an early age an example of heroic piety.^[5] May this event be sanctified to us all!

Your dear Son is in perfect health , and I believe going on as well as can be. I have seen him twice lately. I never saw him appear to such advantage as on his last visit. He was without his Mentor, and obliged to take an equal share in the conversation, which he did with spirit and good sense and modesty on general topics.

My heart is not much in tune for indifferent subjects or I could give you a large account of two visits we had from Sir Gore Ouseley the Ambass[ad]or on his arrival from Persia. It was the more obliging as we were not acquainted before. I think I never was so entertained by any conversation, as he was over flowing with information from a court and Country of which we know almost nothing. His manners peculiarly pleasing, as was his narration of his carrying the new Testament to the king of Persia and the favourable reception it met with He paints the people as uniformly treacherous, deceitful and base, and seems to think the king almost the only man of sense and honour. Perhaps you will not think it a great proof of either that he has 500 Wives, 50 Sons and 132 daughters!!^[6] I wish you were here that I might give you the details.

I spent a few days with the Bishop of Gloucester who is going on like an Angel. We are expecting him here. Has M^r. Gisborne’s Letter to said Bishop on the Bible Society yet reached Ireland?^[7] It is a Master piece, for argument for eloquence truth and Spirit. It will make some people wince

Harriet Bowdler has been staying here. She is going to meet dear Mary Gisborne at M^r. Bowdlers the father of our lamented friend near Town. I fear, owing to the prejudices of this father, the much desired Memoir by L^d. Calthorpe and M^r. Inglis does not proceed. ^[8] What a pity! Doubtless M^rs. Henry and Miss Gisborne had promised themselves a sadly pleasing meeting. But a higher interview I trust has taken place between our dear departed with her own husband and the lover of her friend.^[9]

Yesterday was quite an Irish day as it brought me letters from the Archbishop of Cashel,^[10] Knox, Jebb and Lady Lifford.^[11] The latter was happy in the expectation of Lady O. Sparrow the next day. The Arch^p. gives but a gloomy picture of the state of his part of Ireland! I was sorry to see both Knox and Jebb date from Cashel or Limerick, as it makes me fear you missed them at Bellevue, but I hope not.