united in prayer, but soon found, that she was unable to speak or to hear what we said to her. She breathed shorter and shorter, and in the course of fifteen minutes quietly fell asleep in Jesus. This event took place on the 7th of May, a few minutes before seven o'clock, A. M.

At six o'clock in the evening we interred her remains in a spot of ground near the church. The missionaries in the district, who had assembled at Batticotta to observe the monthly prayer meeting, were present at the funeral. On the following Monday evening, brother Chater preached an occasional sermon at Jaffna, in the Wesleyan Chapel, from Psalm cxvi, 15. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

From the Missionary Herald, Vol. 18.-1822.

MRS. ELIZABETH DOLSON.

ELIZABETH RIDLEY, (this was her maiden name) was born of respectable parents in Detroit, 1st of January 1785. Her father was an English merchant, but dying when Elizabeth was young, the care of her education devolved on her mother, who being a member of the Roman Catholic Church, took much pains to have the mind of her daughter early imbued with the tenets of that church. At this period, and for a long time after, the inhabitants of the Detroit country (then principally French) had no means of religious instruction, except from the Romish clergy, who had taken very little pains to cultivate even the lower branches of literature among the people of their charge. The consequence was that great ignorance prevailed, so that very few of the common people knew any thing about reading. A happy exception it was Elizabeth's good fortune to enjoy, for she was taught to read, and the fluency which she acquired in reading the French marked her superior genius, and which with other circumstances of improvement, shewed her possessed of a capacity beyond the ordinary children of her age.

She remained in the belief and practice of all the tenets of the Roman Catholic religion till the age of fifteen, when she was married to John Dolson, Esq. and settled on the river Thames, where she spent the remainder of her life. After her marriage she was instructed by her husband to read the English, which gave her access to the Bible; and in which she took much delight. As she read the word of God she compared with it the articles of her faith, and was surprised to find that the bible seemed to condemn some of them.

As she took a deliberate and leisurely review of the articles of her faith, she became more and more convinced that some of them were inconsistent with the word of God, and with sound reason. The first of which she doubted was the practice of praying to saints and angels. These she thought are created beings as well as ourselves, and are principally employed around the throne of God. Their knowledge therefore must be principally of a heavenly nature. How then shall I know that any of them are acquainted with my wants. If, indeed, God please to send them to minister to his saints on earth, how shall I know which of them to pray to, unless I may know which of them is commissioned to minister unto me? but this is no where revealed! but if I knew this, is it not God alone "from whom cometh every good and perfect gift," "and there is but one God, and but one mediator between God and men." Thus she thought, and thus she reasoned in her inquiries after the great truths of her salvation.

In the bible she also read this awful prohibition, "thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image," "thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them, for I, the Lord thy God, am a jealout God." Exodus xx. 5, 6.

But notwithstanding the discovery of these errors in her church of praying to saints and angels, and bowing down to images, yet she had no idea of leaving the communion in which she had been raised, for she had strong prejudices against every system but the Roman Catholic. Such was the sanctity which she attached to the name that she thought every thing else in religion must be wrong; not considering that it was truth, and not the outward appearance or name that unfolds the kingdom of Christ to the believer. Indeed, when the force of education is considered, this is not to be wondered at. Even the apostles of our Lord were so prepossessed in favor of the errors prevailing among the Jews, that Christ's kingdom was to be a temporal one, that it was not till after his resurrection, that they understood that his kingdom cometh not with observation (in outward appearance) but that it would be established in the power of the Spirit, producing "righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost." Mrs. Dolson, however, as yet enjoyed no means by which her prejudices might be removed. For though the settlement on the river Thames was made soon after the American Revolution, and consisted principally of English inhabitants, yet it was more than twenty years before any religious society was formed, and but rarely that the people had the opportunity of hearing a protestant sermon.-The consequence was that a careless indifference about all religion was manifest throughout the settlement, and few if any in the acquaintance of Mrs. Dolson knew any thing of experimental religion. The deep depravity of the heart-and consequently the importance of the new birth-justification by faith in the atonement made by Jesus Christ-a sense of pardon by the witness of the Spirit-the consolations of the Holy Comforter, and victory over sin and the fear of death.-These precious truths and privileges of the gospel she had never heard properly stated and enforced. Doubting many things in the system of her own religion, and being dissatisfied with her own state, she was at times greatly troubled, and related the trials of her mind to her husband, adding, "if I am wrong, I hope God will by some providential event, shew me my errors and the way to amend."

I must here be indulged in a little digression, that the reader may perceive that God is not unmindful of those who sincerely desire to know him, and the way which the great shepherd takes to lead the sincere inquirer to his own fold.

The destitute state of Canada had twenty years before, excited the attention and Christian sympathy, of the New York Conference, and missionaries had been sent out by Bishop Asbury into almost all the settlements in the Upper Province; but from its remote and isu

lated situation (being nearly eight hundred miles from New York, and separated by a wilderness from any other settlement) this part of the country remained unsupplied, though for years several of our preachers had felt the spiritual interest of this people deeply impressed on their minds. At length, such was the concern felt by a Methodist preacher for the salvation of these people, that in the spring of 1809* he wrote Bishop Asbury on the state of the country, and offered his services at the ensuing conference. Accordingly, at the New York conference in May, he was appointed as a missionary to the Detroit country. He arrived on this river in July 1809. At first he had little hopes of success, for in traveling through the settlements he found that great ignorance of the nature of religion pervaded all ranks, and in some places the greatest immoralities were practised. A view of these things afforded but a gloomy prospect, and the heart of the missionary was greatly affected with the moral condition of the people. Prejudices too had been formed by various false reports unfavorable to the methodists, so that in the commencement he had no small difficulties to encounter. But by a patient perseverance in duty, and by a conciliatory address, prejudices gave way, and the friendship and affection of the people generally were gained. Mrs. Dolson, however, with some others, remained prejudiced against the methodists, and she supposed it wrong (from the reports she had heard) to shew them any countenance. At length she was prevailed upon to hear for herself. The doctrine of the preacher she could not but assent to: it was the language of scripture, and the advice was suited to her case. From this time her prejudices gave way, she became more and more alarmed at her sinfulness. Her awakened mind now felt the importance of this question, and the inquiry became her own, "what shall I do to be saved?" this question was soon solved, Jesus Christ was set forth as the only mediator, and as one altogether willing and able to save to the uttermost. Having given up the mediation of saints and angels, she now began earnestly to pray to God for his mercy through Jesus Christ who died for sinners. She did not long mourn for him who was waiting to be gracious. She was soon enabled to cast her burden on the Lord. In his all sufficiency to save from guilt and sin, she found that "peace which is like a river," and her joy in the Holy Ghost became unspeakable. Thus, notwithstanding the strong prejudices she had imbibed, the impressions which the first discourse made upon her mind were lasting and led to a happy conversion.

*This writer is under a mistake in respect to the time when this settlement was first visited by a Methodist missionary. In 1805, four years previous to the time when the missionary above referred to went there, a Methodist preacher under the sanction of Bishop Asbury, volunteered his services, and actually visited that settlement; and he continued with them about four months, faithfully preaching in every town and neighborhood where the English language was spoken and with no little satisfaction to himself and profit to the people.-Editor of Meth. Magazine.

She now remembered her former desire and prayer that God would show her all her errors, and lead her into the way of truth. She believed her petitions were answered, and that her heavenly father would now guide her in a scriptural and consistent way of serving Him. After her conversion the bible became her closet companion, and she read the blessed truths of her salvation with tears of gratitude and joy.

The change which was wrought on the mind of Mrs. Dolson was remarkably manifest in her whole deportment. Her conscientious observance of all the duties of religion-the advances she made in christian experience, as well as the Christian benevolence she always shewed towards the poor and the suffering, were highly creditable to religion, and tended much to establish and confirm the truths of the gospel among her neighbors and friends. After her conversion she began to prove the truth of our Savior's words to his disciples, "in the world ye shall have tribulation," but she endured as seeing him who is invisible, and at last overcame with a triumphant victory.

Soon after her conversion, she wrote to her priest the reasons of her change, and requested a formal dismission from the church. This she never obtained; but it produced considerable excitement among some of her Roman Catholic friends, especially after she became a member of the Methodist church. The part she had taken in "changing her religion," as they termed it, roused their displeasure, and very considerably influenced their conduct towards her. This new and unexpected scene was the cause of much grief and trial to her mind. Being a person of amiable disposition and agreeable manners, she had been always greatly esteemed and caressed by her friends; but now their countenances and words were changed and the treatment she received was the occasion of many tears. The opposition which was shewn her, however, was not altogether from her Romish friends. Whether in Papist or in Protestant the carnal mind is enmity, as other endeavors were made not only to destroy her influence in religion generally, but they even endeavored to lessen her in the estimation of her affectionate husband. Happy indeed for the peace of the family, this artful device proved unsuccessful. He perceived the grounds of their wicked devices, and he repelled with suitable indignation their malicious insinuations. These painful circumstances, instead of discouraging, seemed to strengthen her resolution. She saw with deep concern the influence which bigotry has over the benighted mind, and she fled with horror from the spirit of violence to the religion of Jesus, whose kingdom is righteousness and peace. The more opposition raged against her, the more she was invigorated to pursue the blessed cause she had espoused; and she has often since remarked that some of the sweetest moments in her religious experience were in the midst of this opposition and abuse. Being persecuted for righteousness' sake, she could flee for support to the promises. "If ye be reproached for