Vol 5 - Dumfriesshire & Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian ...

——Transabtions. 29by his Majesty in liis own handwriting ;" and their authenticityis certified by the following holograph note :" This is a trew copy of the original papers, which are now in my hands,and which, when the King my son and i make no mor use of them, are tobe deposited in the Scotts' CoUedge of Paris, ther to be preservied withthe rest of the King of ever blessed memory his papers, conform to hisMajesty's intention." St. Germains, Jan. 22, 1702."The following titles of the papers, which are either" Maria R.in English orin French, will give an indication of their character, and furnishsome light on this unfortunate monarch's later days not generallyknown :1, Advice to Converts; 2, Further Advice to Converts; 3, Motives ofConversion ; 4, Motives for Leading a Christian Life ; 5, Reflections uponthe Vanitys of the World and the Punishment of Sin ; 6, Of God's GoodnessTowards Us ; 7, Reflections upon the Corruption of this Age ; 8,Insensibility of Christians who are not Touched with the J udgments ofGod ; 9, More Considerations upon the Corruption of this Age ; 10, APrayer, made by his Majesty for his own use ; 11, Bad Christians Worsethan Heathens and more Punishable ; 12, Of the Edification and BenefitHis Majesty Received by Visiting La Trappe ; 13, His Christian Purposes;14, Crosses Necessary to Try the Just ; 15, His Distribution of Time ; 16,Necessary Remembrance; 17, Wishes to Dy and to be with Christ ; 18,Reasons for Distinguishing that all such as have a Firme Resolution ofLiving as becomes Good Christians, and do their Parts to Perform it, asfar as Human Frailty will permit, ought to desire to Dy, tho' Content toLive ; 19, A Further Discourse on the same subject ; 20, Continuation ofthe same subject ; 21, Sevei-al Christian Maxims and Subjects of Meditation; 22, His Thanksgiving to God for the Particular Benefits Bestowedupon Him ; 23, That all Christians are bound to aim at perfection ; 24,That there is no true quiet in this world, nor happiness to be expected inthe next, without performing all the dutys of a Christian, and that alldistracting and dangerous diversions should be avoided ; 25, A prayer forthe Church (including a prayer for "mercy on the Queen and all mychildren ;grant they may live as becomes good Christians ; that my sonmay succeed me on the throne ; that he may be instrumental of thy glory,"&c. ) ; 26, Advice to a Religious Person ; 27, "Fatherly Advice to N. N.;''28, To the same ; 29, To the same ; 30, Questions proposed to his Confessor.The other papers, whicli are in French, are—31, Some sentencesconcerning death ; 32, The Vanity of the World ; 33, A letter to,recommending frequent commiinion ; 34, A letter to, exhortinghim to change his life ; 35, A solemn promise and protestation to God,wherein His Majesty declares that he would rather " dy the most ignominiousdeath than commit a mortal sin ;" and 36, Three short prayers.(4) A snuff-box, sent by James' son, the Old Pretender, to theKirkconnell family as a personal keepsake.This relic is of dark