JAMES FENIMORE-COOPER	69
brother was baptized by the Rev. Mr. Gregg, during the
summer we passed at Hallett's Cove, and I made him
quite an elaborate christening dress, with bands of
insertion, tucks, and other ornamental work.
Our dear Grandfather De Lancey died while my
Mother was in London. His death was a great shock to
her. He died very suddenly, having just returned from a
drive, and was alone in his own room, with the young
man who waited on him. My dear Aunts Caroline and
Martha, who had been most devoted daughters to him,
were greatly afflicted. They were of course obliged to
leave Heathcote Hill, where they were bora, and had
lived all their lives. They went to Philadelphia, to live
'with their brother the Rev. William Heathcote De
Lancey, then Rector of St. Peter's Church. My Grand-
father, just before his death, sent us each a handsome
Prayer-Book with our names stamped on the binding in
gilt letters. My dear Mother's Prayer-Book was of a
large size; she used it constantly herself, and during the
last years of their lives my dear father and herself used
it daily together, in their private morning devotions, in
their own room. I have given directions that this Prayer-
Book shall be placed under my head in my coffin. My
dear Father was a great admirer of the Litany of our
Church. After his death, in speaking of their use of the
Prayer-Book together, my dear mother said to me, "Oh,
he lived on those Collects the last year of his life!"
In the month of July, 1828, just two years after we
entered Paris, we took leave of our dear Governesses, and
school friends in the Rue St. Maur, and set out in a
roomy family carriage, coachman's box in front, rumble
behind, with our faces towards Switzerland and Italy.
We travelled post—much the pleasantest of all modes of