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Southern District of New-York, ss.

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the twenty-second day of February, in the fortieth year of the Independence of the United States of America, Divie Bethune, of the said district, hath deposited in this office the title of a Book, the right whereof he claims as proprietor, in the words and figures following, to wit:

"The Power of Faith, exemplified in the Life and writings of the "late Mrs. Isabella Graham, of New-York. The fear of the Lord "is the instruction of Wisdom; and before honour is humility. The "Lord will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the "border of the widow " Prov. xv 25. 33.

In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States entitled, "An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by secur ing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned ;" and also to an Act, entitled, "an Act, supplementary to an Act, entitled, an Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints."

THERON RUDD,

Clerk of the Southern District of New-York.

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LIFE, &c.

IN writing the volumes of biography, so frequently

presented to the world, the motives of their authors have been various, and the subjects diversified.

Mankind take an interest in the history of those, who, like themselves, have encountered the trials, and discharged the duties, of life. Too often, however, publicity is given to the lives of men, splendid in acts of mighty mischief, in whom the secret exercises of the heart would not bear a scrutiny. The memoirs are comparatively few of those engaged in the humble and useful walks of active benevolence, where the breathings of the sou! would display a character, much to be admired, and more to be imitated,

As the celebrated Dr. Buchanan has observed, that if you were to ask certain persons, in christian countries, if they had any acquaintance with the religious world, they would say, "they had never heard there was such a world." So, whilst the external conduct of individuals is made the subject of much critical remark, the religion of the heart, the secret source of action, too frequently escapes unnoticed and unexplored.

It is only when the career of life is closed, that the character is completely established. On this account, memoirs of the living are, in few instances, read with much interest by others; or contemplated without the danger of self-deception, and too much complacency, by the living subjects themselves.

But, when the soul has departed, and the body sleeps in dust, it may prove useful to survivors, to examine the principles which led their departed friend to a life of honourable benevolence, and to a peaceful end.

On this account, and at the urgent request of many respectable characters, it has been deemed advisable to publish some of the writings of Mrs. ISABELLA GRAHAM, recently called away from us; whose character was so A

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esteemed, and whose memory is so venerated in the city where she dwelt.

Self was so totally absent from all her motives of activity in deeds of benevolence, that she at once commanded love and respect; and, in her case peculiarly, unalloyed with any risings of jealousy, envy, or distrust.

Blessed with a spirit of philanthropy, with an ardent and generous mind, a sound judgment, and an excess of that sensibility which moulds the soul for friendship ;-~ of a cultivated mind, and rich experience, her company was eagerly sought, and highly valued by old and young. Though happily qualified to shine in the drawing-room, her time was seldom wasted there; for such a disposition of it would have been comparative waste, contrasted with her usual employments. Her steps were never seen ascending the hill of ambition nor tracing the mazes of popular applause. Where the widow and the orphan wept, where the sick and the dying moaned, thither her footsteps hastened: and there, seen only by her heavenly Father, she administered to their temporal wants, breathed the voice of consolation on their ear, shed the tears of sympathy, exnibited the truths of the gospel from the sacred volume, and poured out her soul for them in prayer to her Saviour and her God.

In a few such deeds she rested not; the knowledge of them was not obtruded upon others, nor recorded by herself. The recollection of past exertions, was lost in her zeal to accomplish greater purposes and greater good; her heart expanded with her experience, and her means were too limited, her activity almost inaction, in the abounding desires of her soul to alleviate the miseries, and to increase the comforts of the poor, the destitute, and afflicted.

Let no one think this picture the painting of fancy, or the colouring of partial affection. It is sober truth; a

real character.

To know the latent springs of such external excellence, is worthy of research; they may be all summed up in this, the Religion of the Heart.

The extracts from Mrs. Graham's letters, and from her devotional exercises, will form the best develope

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