EARLY in the present century, a Christian gentleman, named Pinkerton, was engaged by the late Princess Sophia of Russia to teach her children the English language. Fearing he might teach them something she disapproved, the Princess made a point of being present at lesson time; and her haughtiness was such that she invariably sat on a raised seat, with a canopy over her head.
One day the book that Mr. Pinkerton introduced happened to be “The Dairyman’s Daughter.” He saw that the Princess listened with marked attention, and on the conclusion of the lesson, she descended from her seat, dismissed the children, took a seat by their tutor, and said: “I sent for you to instruct my children, but you have taught me such a lesson this day as I hope I shall never forget. Henceforth consider me your friend.”
When Mr. Pinkerton returned from Russia, during the vacation, he mentioned this circumstance to a Christian lady in Ireland, who felt so drawn towards the Princess, that she wrote to her as a fellow-believer, and sent her some books. The following is a copy of the Princess’s prompt reply: ―
―, 1812.
“MADAM, ―I had the pleasure of receiving your kind letter a month ago, so that I should begin mine with an apology for having been so long without answering it, and thanking you both for the friendly address and valuable present. One reason of my silence can excuse me in your sight― it is Mr. Pinkerton’s return. I see in the dear letter that you are well acquainted with him; so that you may well know that every other excuse vanished before the joy of seeing this beloved friend again. The word friend, however, does not express fully what he is to me. Add to it what Paul was to the jailer, what Peter and John were to the lame man, sitting at the gate of the temple called Beautiful; what Philip was to the man of Ethiopia, reading Isaiah without understanding it; in a word, what in many instances the apostles of our Saviour were to the poor lost sinners, when they taught that whosoever called upon the name of the Lord should be saved. Oh, dear madam, when in your letter you mentioned my high rank, you did not think it was a rank of this wicked world, in which the higher we are the more we are surrounded with corruption, and in some respects the more courted and attacked by the enemy of our souls. My high attainments in human science, &c., were nothing but sinful, idle, and useless worldly wisdom, which the apostle styles ‘enmity to God.’ And now every hour of my life is employed in blessing my heavenly Father, who, through my friend, showed me that, alas! I knew nothing.
Yes, madam, I was ignorant of my own sinful, lost, helpless state; ignorant of the only way of salvation; ignorant of my Creator and Redeemer. These were my attainments, and this was my wisdom. Now, dear madam, instead of noticing dazzling qualities, let your charity cover my multitude of sins; but He who has begun the work will not leave it imperfect, and will accept and bring me to the throne of His Father, cleansed in His precious blood, and saved by His almighty atonement and sacrifice. I have no other claim, no other hope, and I believe you are of the same mind. Pray for me that we may one day meet in heaven, and there join in singing-praises in the song of Moses and the Lamb. Marvelous are His works; indeed, every day we have instances thereof.
How marvelous are His ways with the proud sinner, whom He seeks out, calls back, and brings at last to confess his guilty state! How marvelous are His ways with His faithful servants, who, like our worthy friend, Pinkerton, travel far from their friends to become instruments of grace to so many different places and people! Mr. P.’s health, which was so weak in our sight, proved strong in the strength of our Lord. Then let us always, and in all times, depend upon Him alone, and submit in resignation to Him in our hardest trials, believing all is done for our good by a God of mercy and love. But I must stop here, lest my letter become too long. Excuse me if I write and speak too freely. Your friendly letter has opened my heart and mind. I hope we meet daily in prayer and spirit, and that we shall know one another when we stand before the throne of our Lord in glory. Oh! pray for me that I may be in the end acknowledged by you as a sister in Christ, and a redeemed child of God.
“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you and your amiable family. May His grace never depart from you. This is the earnest prayer of your sincere friend,
P. S. M. “PETERSBURGH.”