of it given to one of the sects or parties of dissenters. In consequence, even the Bishops there are quite poor men. This Bishop, whose death I am about to narrate, though a learned as well as a pious man, lived without even one servant. He used to light his own fire, and prepare his own breakfast. His only attendant was a young man, whose practice it was to come to him in the middle of the day to get ready his dinner, and do whatever else was necessary, and then go away. At last, this Bishop became very feeble, and at times suffered this person to stay all night in the house. However, just towards his death the good Bishop was very much taken up with reading a very beautiful old book, lately published anew, called "Learn to Die," a book full of most comfortable and profitable meditations. On the 28th of June, S. Peter's eve, feeling rather better, and being very much occupied with his book, he would not let the young man sleep in the house, on purpose that he might be quite to himself. He came, however, in the evening, to assist the aged Bishop to bed, and the Bishop told him to come again in an hour, as he wished to read on in this book. When the hour was out, the Bishop was still able to go on, and was very anxious, if possible, to finish it, and put off his going to bed for another hour. He found himself, however, unable to read quite to the end of it, and told his friend to mark the place with a tape, and put the book by, and then went to bed, telling the young man to come to him again at seven o'clock in the morning. At the time appointed the young man came, and found the LORD had taken His aged servant to Himself. The good old man was quite dead: he had been strong enough to close his own eyes, and draw over his face a small white napkin, which he had carefully kept under his pillow for some time, and which his attendant had noticed, though he could not guess what it was for, and did not like to ask. He then had crossed his hands upon his breast, and had "fallen asleep❞—to use the language of the Bible-without the least struggle. In this state he was found on the morning of S. Peter's day. The ease, and calmness, and tranquillity with which he died, must have been quite extraordinary. His arms were placed in the most careful way, in the form of the blessed Cross, each hand laid flat on the opposite shoulder.

Such a death seems most enviable. It is comfortable, indeed, at such an hour to be supported by the kindness of friends; but there is surely a more full, and sweet, and perfect consolation when the Christian falls calmly asleep at last, looking only for comfort and support to Him Who alone can then give it effectually.

This good man had been warned that he was likely to be

found dead some morning; and his answer had always been, that he wished to learn to die alone. Surely he seems to have been watching to have been ready: for he learned to make the LORD entirely his support at the hour of death; and we know "Blessed are those servants whom the LORD, when He cometh, shall find watching."*

Church News.

THE OPENING OF THE HALL OF SACKVILLE COLLEGE, EAST GRINSTED.

THE name of this College will be familiar to most of our readers, who with scarcely an exception must have derived both pleasure and profit from some of the numerous works of the present warden, adapted, as they severally are in their infinite variety, to every age and station.

It may not be so generally known that this College was founded by Robert Sackville, second Earl of Dorset, by his will bearing date February 8th, 1609, and is one of the most liberal foundations which have their origin in the Reformed Church of England. It is interesting to know that Andrewes was Bishop of Chichester at the time of the foundation, and that a charter was granted by King Charles I. in the year 1631, a corporate seal was given to the College, and the statutes were confirmed and authorised by Act of Parliament.

It consists of a warden, two assistant wardens, (who are householders resident in or near the town,) six brethren, and six sisters.

Besides these, six poor widows are accommodated with rooms, but derive no further advantage from the institution.

The College is most beautifully situated on gently rising ground to the east of the town. It commands a lovely and extensive view over the rich and varied country from Reigate to beyond Tunbridge Wells, and is a most picturesque building, grouping admirably with the surrounding objects, and more especially with the tower of the parish Church, from every point of view. It is built of the grey sandstone of the country, in the form of a quadrangle, enclosing a spacious court, carpeted

* Extracted from a volume of "Plain Sermons."

with the softest turf, which is intersected by cross walks of brick. The southern half of the building contains the rooms appropriated to the brethren and sisters. The chapel, in the centre of the east side, divides them from the warden's lodgings, occupying the north-east corner, and separated by the great hall from the Dorset lodgings in the north-west, so called from having been set apart for the reception and accommodation of the founder and his family. These apartments are divided from those of the collegians by the wood house and a large room over it, corresponding to and opposite the chapel. In the north-west corner of the court stands the well, an ivycovered edifice surmounted by a cross and bearing on the north the inscription, “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again, but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst ;" and on the south, “O ye wells, bless ye the LORD; praise Him, and magnify Him for ever." This has been erected by the present warden in the place of an unsightly pump, from a design by Mr. Butterfield, under whose direction all the other improvements and restorations have been carried on. Mr. Neale was appointed warden in 1846, and during the two years he has resided in the College, has done much by his influence with the patrons, and by his personal exertions to repair the injury that had been done to the edifice by more than a century of neglect. The principal of these restorations has been the rebuilding of the Hall, at the expense of the patrons, the Earls De La Warr and Amherst, and it is of the opening of this hall, on the 27th of September last, that we propose to give an account.

The morning was wet and gloomy, but as it brightened towards mid-day, it was only the more delightful on that account from its resemblance to S. Peter's. About eleven o'clock, the College flag of the Sackville arms was hoisted over the old south porch, and a brass band, stationed in the court, pleasantly beguiled the time till the arrival of the expected guests. Lord and Lady De La Warr, and their party, appeared about halfpast one, and were conducted to the parlour of the "Dorset Lodgings," where the other guests were assembled. Thence they proceeded to the large west room, where dinner was provided at the patron's expense for forty workmen who had been employed on the restorations. Grace having been said for them by the warden, he led the way to the hall, where the brethren and sisters of the College were to dine with the invited guests. When all had taken their places, grace was said according to the following directions, invariably observed.

THE GRACE TO BE SAID AT SACKVILLE COLLEGE.

All being assembled and standing up, the Priest shall say,
The eyes of all wait upon Thee, O GOD.

Ans. And Thou givest them their meat in due season.
Priest. Thou openest Thine hand.

Ans. And fillest all things living with plenteousness.

Priest. Glory be to the FATHER, and to the SON, and to the HOLY GHOST;

Ans. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.

Priest. Let us pray.

We beseech Thee, O LORD, to bless us, and these Thy gifts, of which we are about to partake of Thy goodness, through CHRIST our LORD.

One of the Brethren. Sir, pray for a blessing.

Priest. The King of eternal Glory make us partakers of the heavenly table. Amen.

Or, if it be supper, he says,

The King of eternal Glory cause us to sit down at the supper of the LAMB. Amen.

AFTER DINNER,

All standing up, the Priest shall say,

All Thy works shall praise Thee, O LORD.
Ans. And Thy saints shall give thanks unto Thee.

Priest. We yield Thee thanks, O Almighty GOD, for all Thy gifts; Who livest and reignest for ever and ever.

Ans. Amen.

Priest. The memory of the righteous shall endure for ever

more.

Ans. And shall not be afraid of any evil report.

Priest. The souls of the just are in the hand of God.
Ans. And there shall no harm touch them.

Priest. Almighty God, Who art the Resurrection and the Life, Who art always to be praised, as well in them that live in the flesh as in them that are departed to Thee: we yield Thee hearty thanks for Robert, Earl of Dorset, our Founder; for George John, Earl De La Warr: Elizabeth, Countess De La Warr; and all other our benefactors: beseeching Thee to give us grace so rightly to use their gifts, that finally we with them, and they with us, may attain to Thine Everlasting Kingdom, through JESUS CHRIST our LORD: Who, with Thee and

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the HOLY GHOST, liveth and reigneth, One GoD, world without end.

Ans. Amen.

Priest. The Grace of GoD remain with us evermore.
Ans. And with our brethren that are absent.

Amen.

About forty persons sat down to dinner in the hall, and about half that number (the families of tradesmen) were supplied with refreshments in the minstrels' gallery at the west end, which was gaily decorated with flowers, the most prominent ornaments being a "D. S. A.” in dahlias, for De La Warr, Sackville, and Amherst, in front of the balusters, which were twined with hops. We will for a while leave the party, to describe the hall wherein they were assembled.

Previous to its late restoration it was in a dreadful state of repair. The roof was dangerous, the ceiling had been plastered and whitewashed, till none of the timbers were to be seen, the belfry was two feet out of the perpendicular, the fire-place was walled up, the doors were of the meanest painted deal; in short the whole building was in the last stage of decay.

The restoration was commenced on May 15, 1848; the south wall was entirely rebuilt the roof is altogether new, though the exact model of the old one: the screen was cleaned from its repeated coats of white paint; the walls which had before been only whitewashed, were panelled with old oak: two erections of brick, which had been used as stewing places, were removed; the gallery was rebuilt; and the only materials employed in all the works were stone and the best oak. The solid repairs were at the expense of the patrons, who have also rebuilt the belfry, which serves likewise for the chapel. Two new bells have been given by the warden, and the old one recast at his expense.

At the east end is a canopy of old oak, with crimson hangings, behind the warden's seat. Above it is the legend

66

Beati, qui ad Coenam Nuptiarum Agni advocati sunt." "Blessed are they that are called to the Marriage Supper of the LAMB."

Lower down

"Beati misericordes; quoniam ipsi misericordiam consequentur."

"Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy." Under this is a portrait of the founder. Over the screen supporting the gallery at the west end

"Ederint pauperes, et saturabuntur; et laudabunt Dominum, qui quærunt eum."