“The approach of your Annual Meeting at Nottingham reminds me of what I have seen and heard on such occasions; viz., that small donations, and comparatively trivial incidents, in the hands of your ingenious and able speakers, have often been turned to good account, and produced a very happy impression.  This consideration induces me to mention a few particulars relative to myself, which otherwise would be impertinent.

“When very young, a kind friend of mine, for whom I had a great affection, gave me a piece of silver newly coined, with which I was so well pleased, that I was resolved to keep it for the sake of the giver; or, as the common phrase is, to make a keepsake of it:  and this resolution I held so sacred, that neither childish toy, or youthful pleasure, could wrest the treasure from me.

“When in my twentieth year, it pleased God to bring me to the knowledge of His salvation; which so rejoiced my heart, that the natural consequence was a readiness on all occasions to contribute my mite to promote the cause of the Redeemer, through whom I had experienced such unspeakable happiness.

“On one occasion it happened, that I had no money about me but this piece, which I had so long and sacredly kept in remembrance of my friend.  As the collectors were handing the boxes round to the different pews, I began to argue in my mind the propriety of giving away my piece, as the best way of keeping it.  The thought of laying it out upon myself I could not entertain for a moment; and was aware there would come a time when I could no longer retain it.  At length, to test the propriety of giving it, I supposed I had done so; and afterwards met my much-loved friend in the world of spirits.  I imagined she was well acquainted with what I had done; but, on consulting her countenance, I could not perceive the least mark of displeasure:  on the contrary, I thought she gave me a smile of approbation.  This determined me; accordingly, when the box was presented to me, I dropped my piece into it; and from that moment to the present, whenever the circumstance has occurred to me, I have always felt perfectly satisfied with my decision.

“At the present I have a few choice things, bequeathed to me by a dear friend, now, I trust, in heaven; and I wish, as in the former instance, to keep them for the sake of the giver; but I can think of no means so satisfactory as that to which I have adverted.  I therefore send them as specified in the margin; [Footnote:  The articles were—­a silver coffee-pot and stand, a silver plated tea-pot, a silver cream-jug, do. fish-knife, and half-a-dozen do. dessert spoons.] and request they may be appropriated to the furtherance of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Perhaps some may be disposed to question the propriety of such a mode of preserving their treasure; but, I think, I cannot do better than put the precious things to those which are most precious.

  “With most fervent prayer for the prosperity of Zion,