It is only a few Days since the kind Letter of my dear young Friend dated Decr. 24. came to my hands. I had before in the public Papers met with the afflicting News that Letter contain’d. That excellent Man has then left us! His Departure is a Loss not to his Family and Friends only, but to his Nation and to the World: For he was intent on doing Good, had Wisdom to devise the Means, and Talents to promote them. His Sermon before the Society for propagating the Gospel, and his Speech intended to be spoken, are Proofs of his Ability as well as his Humanity. Had his Counsels in those Pieces been attended to by the Ministers, how much Bloodshed might have been prevented, and how much Expence and Disgrace to the Nation avoided!

Your Reflections on the constant Calmness and Composure attending his Death, are very sensible. Such Instances seem to show, that the Good sometimes enjoy in Dying a Foretaste of the happy State they are about to enter.

According to Course of Years, I should have quitted this World long before him: I shall however not be long in following. I am now in my 84th Year, and the last Year has considerably enfeebled me, so that I hardly expect to remain another. You will then, my dear Friend, consider this as probably the last Line to be receiv’d from me, and as a Taking Leave. Present my best and most sincere Respects to your good Mother, and Love to the rest of the Family, to whom I wish all Happiness; and believe me to be while I do live, Yours most affectionately