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tian principles would allow Mrs . Cappe to be an " inactive member of society . Ijier history , from the time of her settling at York , is the narration of incessant literary and philanthropic
labours , her literary pursuits being in fact philanthropic . Two whole chapters ( 34 and 35 ) of the Memoirs are taken up with the History of a deserted Young Irishwoman whom she patronized ; and the tale , which is interesting of itself , exhibits the
writer ' s character , ever forward to shew , sympathy with the oppressed , andbold and unceremonious in rebube of vice and cruelty . There is a species ' of feminine delicacy which all good men must approve , but this becomes a weakness that is to be pitied when it shrinks from the more hardy duties of human life . We admire the
female , who like Mrs . Cappe , sensible of her own intellectual superiority , and a stranger to all but Christian views , step 3 forth from the privacy of domestic life at the call of charity , and exposes herself fearlessly to the
Observation of the world in the performance of acts of unquestionable humanity . All women are not to be blamed foe not copying in this respect the example of Mrs . Cappe 3 but , on the other hand , let not her be tried
by a common standard . By a differen < ce of talent , temperament and condition , Providence determines some persons to privacy and others to publicity and uing conscientiousl
; , purs y the path marked out for them by the Disposer of human life , all may obtain , though in very different ways , satisfaction of mind , and' entitle
themselves equally to the approbation of society , as the earnest of the blessing of Almighty God . Of the death of her excellent
husband Mrs . Cappe writes in language which is alike honourable to them both , Qn tins melancholy occasion , Mrs . Lindsey wrote a truly characteristic letter of condolence to the widow , of which the following is an extract :
" You are now under the severest trial of your fortitude and resignation that you ever experienced , in the loss of the object of . your tenderest and best affections , and r who was so truly worthy of them . That . lie suffered no more , nor longer , is some consolation ; that hfa mind was more sensible than las body ,
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and alive to the feelings of friendship to the last ; and possessed ^ , of iiqe , divine composure of a true Christian , abput to ( enter into the joy of his ' Lipid , * for the internal will not be perceivedT . :
iC Indeed , you have every thing that can comfort you , having fp £ so many years ministered in every possibly way to his relief under great iufirniLties ; aud trying by engaging "his attention to the decypheriiig his previous valuable labours , to afford him all the , pleasure' disease left
him , of being useful to others , which was always his / delight . That , he knew your value , and was full of affection and gratitude , I have no doubt : that your love of his talents and virtues flowed over to those
who were very cjear to him , and whose esteem and affection will how contribute to your ease and comfort , ( for they are all good , ) and thereby will shew the stability of their tender dutiful attachment to so excellent a father . But whatever
sources of human consolation may belong to you , there is one omnipotent Protector , whose favour and support no time or circumstance can withdraw from those who sincerely desire and endeavour to serve and obey him ; and there our chief confidence lies .
' * All things have for a long time had a tendency to moderate your hopes of any great comfort in his living , or any great length of life ; yet , even the absence of that tender , anxious attention and soothing , night and day , to so amiable an
object , will leave a painful chasm , which only time and a sense of dutiful submission to the appointment of God will fill up , with the occupations and demands of general benevolence , such as you have been in the habit of exercising .
" I write more to relieve my own mind than to impress yours ; we have all a manner of feeling peculiar to ourselves , and have points of consolation and regret to which others must be strangers ; but the voice of friendship cannot be silent or uninterested under the events which break the affections and habits of those
one loves . "—Pp . 310—312 . Many passages , and even entire chapters of the Memoirs , testify Mrs . Cappe ' s maternal affection to her husband's children by a former marriage ;
which we $ ake notice of in order to remark , that hers was a case in which public spirit and an honourafile desire of literary distinction were fotwd quite consistent with the most regular and faithful observance of the domestic
duties . Mrs . Gappe ' s life was ^ connected by her warm feelings of Christian charity with all tU $ principal events , of *
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§ 40 Review . —Memoirs pf the Life of the fate Mrs . Catharine Capp ^
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1823, page 240., in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1783/page/48/
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