The inscription on the tomb

This is a reminder of the words on Anne Steele's tomb. The author appears to be her niece, Mary Steele.

Silent the lyre, and dumb the tuneful tongue

That sung on earth her great Redeemer's praise;

But now in heav'n she joins th' angelic song,

'In more harmonious, more exalted lays'.

An anonymous description in verse

Her hymns are evangelical
They are of matchless worth.
They are sung by congregations
Through nearly all the earth.

Anne Dutton's Bible

In a 1919 edition of  Notes and Queries there is an entry on page 247 that reads thus

Mrs. ANNE Dutton (12 S. ii. 147, 197, 215, 274, 338, 471; iii. 78, 130).— Hearing that the identical Bible used by her was still in existence and preserved in the Baptist Library, Broughton, Hants, I wrote making inquiries, when I received a photograph of it, with the following particulars. Size 64 in. by 3 1/2 in. by 1 3/4 in., bound in leather, with two metal clasps, one of which is broken. Title page: — "The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testament. Newly translated out of the original tongues and with the former translations diligently compared and revised. |With Marginal notes| showing| The Scripture to (be) the best Interpreter of Scripture |London.| Printed by Charles Bill, and the Executrix of Thomas Newcomb deceas'd.| Printers to the King and Most Excellent Majesty Anno Dom. 1698."

After the names and order of the Books there is an address, "To the Reader on the Scripture being the best Interpreter of Scripture," signed -"John Canne."

On one of the fly-leaves (in very minute writing) is a copy of an address:—

"To the right honourable Lords and Commons assembled in the high Court of PARLIAMENT, Great Reformers, &c., also signed 'John Canne.' Extracted from ye Amsterdam Edition of Canne's Bible. 12mo, 1647.'

"Inscriptions| Ann Dutton or One who hath tasted that the 'Lord' is gracious.| Great Gransden |Huntingdonshire."

Inserted in another hand:—

"Died 1706, November 17| Anne Steele Junr. |Broughton, Hampshire?

Also in another hand :—

"Theodosia died 1778, Nov. 11th, aged 61 yrs."

The last inscription is in Dutton's own unmistakable minute hand, with "the Lord " as always by her in capitals, and most probably the above extract from Canne's is hers also, as her husband visited Holland, and preached at Rotterdam in 1736.
My kind correspondent at Broughton asks the usual question: "Who was Mrs. Dutton?" The unique library at Broughton was collected by John Collins of Devizes, a former deacon at Broughton, and bequeathed to the church there at his death. Diligent search has been made, but no work of Mrs. Dutton's can be found among its treasures, and how or when the Bible came into the possession of the afflicted but gifted hymn writer Anne Steele yet remains to be known. Neither ladies at any time travelled far from their homes but might have known each other by correspondence, and similarity of sentiment. Mrs. Dutton's correspondence was very extensive. R. H.

(This Bible is now in the Angus Library, Oxford).

The Butterfly

Pretty vagrant of the air,
Emblem of the thoughtless fair:
Near akin their life and thine,
Both a fleeting summer shine.
Short delight your charms impart,
Charms to catch the human heart:
Hearts that can be caught with show.
The virtuoso or the beau.
Thoughtless nymphs are butterflies,
Different species, larger size;
Strangers both to needful care,
Fluttering, roving here and there;
Basking in the vernal ray.
Trifling out the summer's day:

Summer's day from youth to age,
Trifles all their cares engage:
But when wintry storms arise,
Beauty fades, and pleasure dies.
Me let nobler cares employ.
Cares which terminate in joy.
Ere the summer sunbeams flee.
Let me, like the frugal bee,
Well improve the smiling hour,
Gathering sweets from every flower.
O may virtue's charms be mine.
Charms that still increasing shine!
These will cheer the wintry gloom.
These will last beyond the tomb.