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mind! Almighty God, with whom thy angelic soul is almost united, can only soothe thee on the bed of sickness. May that Power supreme, incorporated with the heavenly virtues of my dear sister, lead her to seats of bliss and endless happiness! My beloved and excellent Mary, receive from me the assurance of my perfect love. O could I relieve thee, how would I fly to suffering virtue! but I can only pray, and offer up my prayers and wishes for the long continuance of that dear life that sits so near my heart. I cannot omit to include in that wish my dear Hannah, and the soft lispings of my charming Adriana, who are much distressed to hear of the sufferings of their muchloved friend.

God bless and preserve you, my dear and excellent sister, is the unceasing prayer of

Your distressed, affectionate Brother,

B. O.

To MR. JOHN OAKLEY.

DEAR JOHN,

Stock Exchange, December 19, 1800.

I LOSE no time in communicating to you

Let us

a sad tale of woe. Our beloved and excellent sister Mary died last night about seven o'clock. think of her virtues, and imitate them.

I shall sleep to-night at George's; and if you will contrive to be there, we may form some arrangement respecting the last duty we owe, and ought to pay, to departed excellence.

Yours sincerely,

B. O.

To MR. GEORGE OAKLEY.

DEAR GEORGE,

December 19, 1800.

I HASTEN to announce to you the afflicting news of the death of our dear and much-beloved sister, Mary. I will call upon you this evening, and confer with you what steps we should pursue upon this sad occasion; and as I have written to John, we probably may be assisted with his ideas how to act, in showing the last duty to an amiable sister.

Affectionately yours,

B. O.

TO MR. AND MRS. OAKLEY.

Stock Exchange, December 19, 1800.

MY DEAR FATHER AND MOTHER,

I HAVE imposed upon myself a melancholy duty, in conveying to you the distressing event of the death of my excellent and beloved sister, Mary. She finished a painful and lingering existence last night, about seven o'clock, leaving an affectionate and fond husband overwhelmed in the severest grief, and her relatives and numerous friends in painful suffering, for the loss of so much excellence.

I have endeavoured, for some time past, to prepare you for this sad story; and I hope your minds were fortified, as mine has been, to bear against the shock. Every thing that is respectful, and full of the love I bore my dear sister, will I shew, in the last sad duty to

departed virtue: her worth demands it, and my feelings will be gratified in discharging it.

When we consider the sufferings of poor dear Mary, and the impossibility there was of any assistance prolonging her dear life, it is an event rather to be desired than not; and to myself, I confess, it is matter of relief to hear that her agonized sufferings are at an end.

God bless you both; and may you enjoy as much happiness as falls to the lot of mortals! More I cannot say, but that

I am ever affectionately yours,

TO CAPTAIN LIARDET.

B. O.

DEAR LIARDET,

Upper Tooting, December 19, 1800.

IT is a consolation to me to hear that the sufferings of my dear, dear sister, are at an end. No one (yourself excepted) could be more earnest in the wish that her dear and valuable life had been prolonged than me; but when that life became painful and loaded with sickness, it is more to be desired that the period has arrived which terminates an existence so miserable, than otherwise.

I most sincerely sympathize with you, and feel much for your severe loss; but we must arm ourselves to meet misfortunes like this, and, when they arise, to bear the shock like men.

I shall be glad to be favoured with your arrangements upon this melancholy occasion, and to assist you in any thing I can, in doing the last duty to an exemplary sister.

Most truly yours,

B. O.

DEAR LIARDET,

To CAPTAIN LIARDET.

December 20, 1800.

THE form of the advertisement is well

drawn, and a good portrait of the deceased: it shall be sent to the Times, that being the paper most in circulation.

You ask me for an inscription to the memory of my beloved Mary—I will give you one; and if you have no objection to its being concise, you may give direction for its execution.

To the Memory

of

MARY LIARDET,

Wife of

CAPTAIN FREDERICK LIARDET,

of the Marines,

Died December 18, 1800,

Aged 38 years.

To which you may add what I once saw to the memory of an amiable lady

"She was

-

- but words are wanting to express what

Think what a wife should be, and she was that."

In my letter of yesterday I requested you would inform me of the arrangement for the funeral; and I should also like to be acquainted when, and where, it is your intention to deposit her sacred remains. For myself, I have no choice or opinion to give, only let it be respectful, but not expensive.

Yours very assuredly,

B. O.

To MR. AND MRS. OAKLEY.

Stock Exchange, January 2, 1801.

DEAR FATHER AND MOTHER,

I AM desired by Captain Liardet to request you will attend to the last injunction of poor Mary, in giving five shillings each to the following persons Mrs. Stead, Susan Cox, and Mary Cox, as also to the poorest and elderly persons in Weobley, whom you think objects of charity.

This trait of pious benevolence will (if any thing can add lustre to her bright character) rest imprinted on the hearts of the poor, and raise her to the highest earthly pinnacle of goodness.

You have been made acquainted with the last duty George, John, and myself, paid to this pattern of virtuous excellence. May her pious memory ever live in our breasts, and inspire us to acts of goodness like hers; and may her last words be ours" I am ready, I “I am coming! My Lord, my Lord, my Saviour, pardon me!"

God bless you; and may the commencement of this century open to you as much happiness as can be expected on this side the grave!

My dear Hannah, and the children, join with me in every good wish.

Your loving Son,

B. O.

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