THE ANNUAL MONITOR FOR 1853. OR OBITUARY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS En Great Britain and Ireland, FOR THE YEAR 1852. LONDON: SOLD BY W. AND F. G. CASH, (SUCCESSORS TO C. GILPIN,) 1852. INTRODUCTION. Ir is now forty years since the first number of the "Annual Monitor and Memorandum Book" was published; and for the last ten years the successive numbers of the "New Series" of the "ANNUAL MONITOR," have become familiar amongst Friends. So far, therefore, as it relates to the past, the character of the work, and the mode of conducting it, are well known and generally appreciated; and it will be readily admitted, that for many years it has occupied a useful place, and exercised, in a religious sense, a "sanitary" influence in our Society. 66 Many an instructive or animating lesson, and many a solemn warning, have, no doubt, passed from its pages to the minds of readers of every age and station in life;" and, the Divine blessing accompanying, we may venture to believe, that it has not been ineffectual as an instrument of "winning souls" to Christ, or of confirming them in Him, if already won. Among the means which have contributed to this result, no doubt much is due to the judicious care and discrimination exercised in its compilation, and the healthy tone it has sustained, under the guardianship of the late Editors. On many occasions, besides the final parting on earth, it is hard to break off our accustomed intercourse with those whom we have long known, and loved, and justly esteemed, on their own account, and for their works' sake;-and, the Christian "farewell" contained in the last number of the Annual Monitor, will have come home, with peculiar emphasis, to many of its readers. It may have prepared them for the information, that the dear friends who have so long and so ably conducted its publication, have transferred the work to other hands,--but it will not have lessened the feeling of regret in being thus deprived of their valuable services. Cordially participating in this feeling, the present Editors, in accepting the offer of proprietorship, cannot but be sensible that they are placed in a position of no small delicacy and of rather peculiar difficulty. They would have shrunk from the responsibility of attempting to carry on the work of their predecessors, but for their kind countenance and encouragement in the undertaking, and the hope that, though they cannot lay claim to the same confidence, they may be allowed to share in the same kindness and con descension, and the same efficient aid, which have been extended to the former proprietors, by a large number of Friends and Correspondents. For, simple and unpretending as is the character of the work, they feel that without the continued exercise of great care and judicious discrimination in conducting it, this interesting little volume would soon cease to be an instrument of good, "to the use of edifying," in our beloved Society. They are very desirous that, whilst in their hands, it should fully preserve its monitorial character, without, in the remotest sense, assuming a merely monumental one; and in order to keep in view its real object, it may not perhaps, be inappropriate, at the commencement of a new decade of this little periodical, to revive the principles laid down by their predecessors for conducting it. Impressed with the value of that part of the work which relates to the notices of departed friends, inserted in its pages, it is apprehended, that the facility which it affords for publishing these brief memorials, may not be unattended with danger. For, "who does not know how apt we are to give an undue importance to whatever concerns those whom we have loved, and who are removed from us! and how our affection leads us to desire to do whatever may tend to the honour |