Mrs. Ferguson was a stranger to the feelings of a mother, for she had no children; but she knew and had faithfully performed all the duties of that relation to the son and daughter of one of her sisters, who committed them to her care upon her death-bed. They both possessed hereditary talents and virtues. Her nephew, John Young, became, under her direction, an accomplished scholar and gentleman. He died a lieutenant in the British army, leaving behind him a record of his industry and knowledge, in an elegant translation of d'Argent's Ancient Geography, into the English language. A copy of this valuable work is to be seen in the Philadelphia library, with a tribute to the memory of the translator, by Mrs. Ferguson.* The mind of her niece, Ann Young, was an elegant impression of her own: she married Dr. William Smith, of Philadelphia, and lived but a few years afterwards. She left a son and daughter; the latter followed her mother prematurely to the grave, in the year 1808, in the thirtieth year of her age, after exhibiting to a numerous and affectionate circle of acquaintances, a rare instance of splendid talents and virtues, descending unimpaired through four successive generations.

The virtues which have been ascribed to Mrs. Ferguson, were not altogether the effects of edu

* A singular incident laid the foundation for the literary acquirements of this young gentleman. Before his twelfth year, he was an idle boy; about that time his aunt locked him up in his father's library, for four and twenty hours, as a punishment for some offence. In this situation he picked up a book, to relieve himself from the uneasiness of his solitude. This book arrested and fixed his attention. He read it through; and from that time he became devoted to books and study.

eation, nor of a happy moral texture of mind. They were improved, invigorated, and directed in their exercises, by the doctrines and precepts of christianity. To impress the contents of the Bible more deeply upon her mind, she transcribed every chapter and verse in it; and hence arose the facility and success with which she frequently selected its finest historical and moral passages, to illustrate or adorn the subjects of her writings and conversation.

She was well read in polemical divinity, and a firm believer in what are considered the mysteries of revelation. Although educated in the forms and devoted to the doctrines of the church of England, she worshipped devoutly with other sects, when she resided among them, by all of whom she was, with a singular unanimity, believed to be a sincere and pious christian.

There was a peculiarity in her disposition, which would seem, at first sight, to cast a shade over the religious part of her character. After the reduction of her income, she constantly refused to accept of the least pecuniary assistance, and even of a present, from any of her friends. Let such persons who are disposed to ascribe this conduct to unchristian pride, recollect there is a great difference between the sense of poverty which is induced by adverse dispensations of providence, and that which is brought on by voluntary charities. Mrs. Ferguson conformed, in the place and manner of her living, to the narrowness of her resources. She knew no want that could make a wise or good woman unhappy, and she was a stranger to the "real evil" of debt. Her charities, moreover, would not have been her own, had they been replaced by the charities of her friends.

The afflictions of this excellent woman, from the causes that have been mentioned, did not fill up the measure of her sufferings. Her passage out of life was accompanied with great and protracted pain. This welcome event took place on the 22d of February, in the year 1801, in the sixty-second year of her age, at the house of Seneca Lukens, a member of the society of Friends, near Græme Park. Her body was interred, agreeably to her request, by the side of her parents, in the enclosure of Christ Church, in Philadelphia.

NARRATIVE.

THE BLACK VELVET PELISSE.

BY MRS. OPIE.

MR. BERESFORD was a merchant, engaged in a very extensive business, and possessed of considerable property, a great part of which was vested in a large estate in the country, on which he chiefly resided.

Beresford was what is commonly denominated purse proud, and so eager to be honoured upon account of his wealth, that he shunned rather than courted the society of men of rank, as he was fond of power and precedence, and did not like to associate with those who had an indisputable claim to that deference of which he himself was desirous. But he earnestly wished that his only child and heiress should marry a man of rank; and being informed that a young baronet of large estates in his neighbourhood, and who was also heir to a barony, was just returned from his travels, and intended to settle at his paternal seat, Mr. Beresford was resolved that Julia should have every possible opportunity of shewing off to the best advantage before so desirable a neighbour; and he determined that his daughter, his house, and his table, should not want any charm which money could procure.

Beresford had gained his fortune by degrees; and having been educated by frugal and retired

parents, his habits were almost parsimonious; and when he launched out into unwonted expenses on becoming wealthy, it was only in a partial manner. His house and his furniture had a sort of pye-bald appearance; his style of living was not consistent, like that of a man used to live like a gentleman; but opulence, with a timid grasp, seemed to squeeze out its indulgencies from the griping fingers of habitual economy. True, he could on occasion, be splendid, both in his public and private gifts; but such bounties were efforts, and he seemed to wonder at himself whenever the exertion was over.

Julia Beresford, his daughter, accustomed from her birth to affluence, if not to luxury; and having in every thing what is called the spirit of a gentlewoman, was often distressed and mortified at the want of consistency in her father's mode of living; but she was particularly distressed to find that, though he was always telling her what a fortune he would give her when she married, and at his death, he allowed her but a trifling sum, comparatively, for pocket money, and required from her, with teasing minuteness, an acCount of the manner in which her allowance was spent; reprobating very severely her propensity to spend her money on plausible beggars and pretended invalids.

But on this point he talked in vain; used by a benevolent and pious mother, whose loss she tenderly deplored, to impart comfort to the poor, the sick, and the afflicted, Julia endeavoured to make her residence in the country a blessing to the neighbourhood; but, too often, kind words, soothing visits, and generous promises, were all that she had to bestow; and many a time did she purchase the means of relieving a distressed fel