cherish and nurture religious impressions, surrounded by the gay, the thoughtless, and the worldly-herself courted, beloved, and admired by all around-she had the moral courage, the heaven-inspired heroism, to break through the difficulties and hindrances which beset her path, and to avow herself an humble follower of the meek and the lowly Jesus. "Observe her situation," says the Rev. Angell James, "and mark the rare combination of circumstances which it presented to delight and fascinate an ardent mind. Think of the celebrity of her illustrious father, whose political offices and philosophical researches drew around him all the most distinguished men of France, and made his home one of the Parisian centres of intellectual and national greatness; think of those personal accomplishments and mental acquirements, which excited the admiration and interest of all who knew her; think of the respect and attachment of the humane and religious, whose schemes she supported, and whose institutions she patronized; add to this the gratitude she perpetually received from the persons whose wants she had relieved; and, to crown all, think of the attachment of her lover and the prospect of her marriage; and you will then perceive that the world, invested with its brightest and purest glory, stood before her in a form best adapted to captivate a pure and youthful mind, and to compel it to say, "Tis enough, I am satisfied; it is good to be here.' But did it satisfy her mind? Did it fill her heart, and leave her nothing more to wish for? No. Her memorialist tells us that, 'surrounded as she was by all the enjoyments and illusions of this world, she was only happy as she was conversant with the spiritual and substantial

blessings of the kingdom of God. She felt that she must love an infinite object, and that Christ alone could fill the soul. Even to her the world was nothing more than a broken cistern that could hold no water; and she thirsted, panted, and looked round for the fountain of living water, and found it-in religion.""

And what was the character of Clementine's religion? It consisted not of empty forms and unmeaning ceremonies, but was throughout a matter that engaged the whole soul. Even before she had made a decided profession of faith in the doctrines of the gospel, it was observed, from her entire deportment, that she was earnestly solicitous about the things that belonged to her everlasting peace. Hence the gravity of her countenance, the seriousness of her manner. She was in earnest; her mind, her heart was absorbed in a solemn work. Her eye was single. She looked only to Christ for pardon, peace, purity-life everlasting. "Formerly," she said. on one occasion, "I vaguely assured myself that a merciful God would pardon me; but now I feel that I have obtained that pardon, that I obtain it every moment, and that I experience inexpressible delight in seeking it at the foot of the cross." All dependence on her own doings she completely renounced, and was enabled humbly and cheerfully to submit herself to the righteousness of God, which is by faith in Christ Jesus unto all and upon all them that believe. And while Clementine sought pardon and acceptance in God's own appointed way, through the merits and mediation of Christ, she was no less anxious to obtain the purity than the peace of the gospel. The new birth she felt to be as needful for her as for the most abandoned profligate, and there

88

MEMOIR OF CLEMENTINE CUVIFR.

fore her frequent and earnest prayer was, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." To her latest hour she mourned over the workings of indwelling corruption; and yet how seldom can a Christian be found breathing so much of the Spirit, exhibiting so much of the character of the meek and lowly Jesus! Like him, it was her delight to go about continually doing good-feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, comforting the mourner, instructing the ignorant, and promoting in every possible way the temporal and spiritual interests of her fellow-creatures. She afforded, in her whole deportment, a beautiful example of the sanctifying power of true, vital religion. And all the while she was training for heaven. Her time on earth was to be short, and therefore the Spirit was carrying forward his work with amazing rapidity. And as she grew in grace, her heart became more intensely set upon heaven. "What sweetness is there,” she said on one occasion, "in the thought of that eternal life of that state of rest and love! There we shall comprehend those delightful words of our Saviour, 'I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am, there ye may be also."

Such was Clementine Cuvier, cut down in the bloom of early youth, and yet carried as a ripe shock of corn into the heavenly garner. She is, doubtless, now before the throne; and, looking back on all the pleasures and enjoyments of this world, how completely can she set her seal to the declaration of the apostle, that "to be with Christ is far better."

MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM.

ISABELLA MARSHALL, for such was Mrs. Graham's maiden name, was born on the 29th of July 1742, in Lanarkshire, Scotland. Her parents being both decidedly pious, she was trained up in the fear of the Lord, and her mind was early imbued with a love of divine things. In consequence of a small legacy having been left her by her grandfather, whose death-bed she faithfully and assiduously attended, Isabella received a more finished education than she might otherwise have had it in her power to obtain. At ten years of age she was sent to a boarding school taught by a lady of eminent piety and superior accomplishments. It was under the care of this excellent preceptress that Isabella laid the foundation of those high Christian qualities for which she was distinguished in after life.

The early days of this pious young female were spent at Elderslie, an estate near Paisley, which her father rented as a farm. Here she first tasted and saw that the Lord was gracious. Her mind was deeply impressed

with the importance and absolute necessity of obtaining reconciliation with God through a Redeemer. And often, accordingly, did she retire, in a state of painful anxiety, to a bush in the neighbourhood of her father's house, where, unseen by all save Him who seeth in secret, she poured out her heart in ardent aspirations after an interest in that Saviour who alone can give light and life to the troubled soul. The pastor under whose ministry Isabella sat at this period of her life was the late Rev. Dr. John Witherspoon, then one of the ministers of Paisley. By the instructions of this eminent divine she greatly profited, and at the age of seventeen she was admitted by him to the Lord's table. Having openly dedicated herself to the service of her heavenly Father, she resolved, in the strength of divine grace, to live a life of holy consistency and devotedness.

In the year 1765, when she had reached her twentythird year, Isabella was married to Dr. John Graham, a physician of respectable standing in Paisley. About a year after their marriage, Dr. Graham, having been appointed surgeon to the 69th, or Royal American corps, was summoned to join his regiment, at that time stationed in Canada. Before setting out, it was the intention of the young couple to settle permanently abroad. With this view, Dr. Graham wished to sell his commission in the army, and to purchase a tract of land on the Mohawk River, to which his father-in-law Mr. Marshall, and his family, proposed following him.

On their arrival in Canada, Dr. Graham and his wife took up their residence in Montreal, the regiment being quartered there for several months. They next removed to Fort Niagara, on Lake Ontario, where they