mmoned to their eternal home: whilst under the pressure of sorrow
occasioned by the removal of Ann Hodgkin, the following letter was
penned:--

Tottenham, 12th Month, 9th, 1845.

"My losses have been many and great, but the greatness of this, I am
increasingly coming into the apprehension of. She was lovely in her
life, and in death may we not be divided! or _by_ death, but may her
sweet spirit be very near in my remembrance, to the end of my days,
and then may I join Father and Mother, Brothers and Sisters, Husband
and Children,--how many of the nearest ties now, we trust, in heaven,
and how few on earth comparatively. On this subject I cannot now
dwell,--when I can view her free from all weakness, corruption, and
suffering, in the enjoyment of _that_ rest, she knew so well how to
appreciate, I could smile with a joyful sorrow; but few of such
moments have been given; in general a patient bearing of the present
moment, is the most we have arrived at, under the blessed unmoved
confidence that all is well.

Your very affectionate sister,
H. C. BACKHOUSE."

From this time a cessation from labour was granted, and after having thus
devoted the meridian of her life to the service of her Lord, she was
permitted for some years previous to her decease, to enjoy a season of
almost uninterrupted repose. Love, meekness, gentleness, and peace were
eminently the clothing of her spirit; and like Moses viewing from the
Mount the Promised Land, she seemed almost to live above the trials and
temptations of time; nothing appeared materially to disturb or ruffle the
repose of her soul, deeply centred in God. Her ministry was often
strikingly beautiful and impressive, especially exhorting to unreserved
dedication, and dwelling on the glories of the heavenly kingdom.

During the latter part of 1849, her health, which had long been delicate,
began increasingly to give way; at the end of the 3rd Month of 1850, she
was seized with alarming illness, from which little hope was entertained
of her recovery; from this she so far rallied as to leave her bed-room,
and go into an adjoining sitting-room, but never was able to go down
stairs. It was evident her strength was very small, but no immediate
danger was at this time apprehended. She was at times, cheerful, always
tranquil and full of repose, and able to enjoy the company of those
immediately around her; at other times illness oppressed