After much devout reasoning of this kind, the good and wise preacher makes a practical appeal:  “Nor should such thoughts excite over-hasty, impatient desire of following presently to heaven, but to the endeavour of serving God more cheerfully on earth for your appointed time, which I earnestly desire your ladyship to apply yourself to, as you would not displease God, who is our only hope; nor be cruel to yourself, nor dishonour the religion of Christians, as if they had no other consolations than the earth can give, and earthly power can take from them.  Your ladyship, if any one, would be loth to do anything unworthy of your family and parentage.  Your highest alliance is to that Father and family above, whose dignity and honour are, I doubt not, of highest account with you.”

Mr. Howe wrote to Lady Russell without revealing his name, but she laid to heart the excellent counsel he gave.  The style of the letter, and some special phrases in it, discovered who was the author, and Lady Russell, as we learn from Dr. Calamy, Howe’s biographer, wrote to him a letter of warm thanks, and told him he must not expect to remain concealed[1].  She promised to endeavour to follow the excellent advice he had given.  She often afterwards corresponded with him, and the friendship lasted during Howe’s life.

[Footnote 1:  Cf. John Howe, Biographical Series, No. 94 (R.T.S.).]

IX.

In the great public affairs of the time she could not but feel interest, and her letters abound in references to the most striking events as they occur.  Her sister, Lady Elizabeth Noel, was in Paris at the time of the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, and describes the terrible scenes of which she heard or witnessed.  Hundreds of thousands were driven into exile, their property seized by their persecutors; those who remained being exposed to the cruelty of the dragonnades.  Then there were the excitements at home, following the Monmouth rebellion and the bloody assizes where Judge Jefferies obtained his notoriety.  The trial of the seven bishops; the overthrow of the Stuart cause; the glorious revolution of 1688 and the accession of King William and Mary; the war in Ireland, where the de Ruvignys served under William and the Mareschal Schomberg; the reign of Queen Anne and the Hanoverian succession under George I.; all these historical events are referred to in Lady Russell’s correspondence which she carried on with the most notable persons of the time.  A letter of hers to King William about the King’s favourable designs for the Duke of Rutland and his family was found in his pocket when he died.  Several letters are addressed to Queen Mary.  The great Duke of Marlborough told her that if ever there appeared a chance of Popery getting again the upper hand, he would retire from public affairs.  Even the proud Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, regarded Lady Russell with marked deference and respect.  In reference to the accession