Maynard that by the account she had given me of their income, their
expenses fell far short of it. She whispered me that their accidental
charities were innumerable, all the rest being employed in that way.
Their acquaintance know they cannot so much oblige as by giving them an
opportunity of relieving distress. They receive continual applications
and though they give to none indiscriminately, yet they never refuse any
who really want. Their donations sometimes are in great sums, where the
case requires such extraordinary assistance. If they hear of any
gentleman's family oppressed by too many children, or impoverished by
sickness, they contrive to convey an adequate present privately, or will
sometimes ask permission to put some of their children into business, or
buy them places or commissions.
We acquainted the ladies that we should trouble them no longer than that
night, and with regret saw it so soon ended. The next morning, upon
going into Lamont's room, I found him reading the New Testament; I could
not forbear expressing some pleasure and surprise at seeing him thus
uncommonly employed.
He told me he was convinced by the conduct of the ladies of this house
that their religion must be the true one. When he had before considered
the lives of Christians, their doctrine seemed to have so little
influence on their actions that he imagined there was no sufficient
effect produced by Christianity to warrant a belief, that it was
established by a means so very extraordinary; but he now saw what that
religion in reality was, and by the purity of its precepts was convinced
its original must be divine. It now appeared evidently to be worthy of
its miraculous institution. He was resolved to examine whether the moral
evidences concurred with that divine stamp which was so strongly
impressed upon it and he had risen at day break to get a Bible out of
the parlour that he might study precepts which could thus exalt human
nature almost to divine.
It was with great joy I found him so seriously affected; and when we
went to breakfast could not forbear communicating my satisfaction to my
cousin, who sincerely shared in it. As soon as breakfast was over we
took leave of the ladies, though not till they had made us promise a
second visit, to which we very gladly agreed, for could we with decency
have prolonged this, I know not when we should have departed.
You, perhaps, wish we had done it sooner and may think I have been too
prolix in my account of this society; but the pleasure I find in
recollection is such that I could not restrain my pen within moderate
bounds. If what I have described may tempt any one to go and do
likewise, I shall think myself fortunate in communicating it. For my
part, my thoughts are all engaged in a scheme to imitate them on a
smaller scale.
I am, Sir.