worship with more than 2000 people, at John Angell James's Chapel, [when] the last chapter of Revelation was much before me. This meeting crowned and concluded our whole service, and left us clear, without a feather's weight upon our minds.* O how great is the compassion of Israel's shepherd who went before us, throughout this journey, and was our rere-ward: yea was, and is, "our exceeding great reward!” Earlham, 9th mo., 20th. We have received pleasant and interesting calls from Samuel Wilberforce, Dean of Westminster,† also from Sir T. D. and Lady Ackland and their family. 1 called on Lord Lansdowne, at the Bishop's, and met with a kind and cordial reception from him and the circle there collected. It was the Musical Festival which drew them hither. What a happiness it is, that we and ours, are sheltered from this species of worldly amusement. I cannot think that it is right for any serious people to patronize displays of sacred music, mixed up with balls and concerts, and uttered so generally by profane and ungodly lips.

9th mo., 29th. More than three weeks have now elapsed since our return home. It has been a time of a good deal of enjoyment, and fraught with some lively interests. At the same time, it would be very satisfactory to my feelings, were I more engaged, in my home life, in doing good to others. Much peace is permitted in the retrospect of our late journey, but a very indulgent life is now my portion; and, from a

*Of this meeting John Angell James writes, in a note received from him whilst these sheets were passing through the press :"We felt on that occasion, as we feel on some others, that there is a bond of union between the true followers of Christ, which lies deeper than that of denominational connexions, and which these, however they may appear to separate us, cannot sever, and do not always disturb. The sheep of Christ know the Shepherd's voice, through whatever organ it may come to them; and it was heard at that time, when our friend spoke to us of justification by faith, too distinctly to be misunderstood, and too impressively to be unheeded."

Now Bishop of Oxford.

considerable degree of bodily infirmity and other circumstances, I seem to be much more useless than a Christian might desire to be. The great matter is, to dwell near in spirit to him, who is himself the spring of all good, and to endeavour, in humility and watchfulness, to follow his counsel in all things.

Soon after my return home, I had, in unison with some others, to attend at the Mayor's office, in order to appeal to the magistrates on behalf of our "Society for the Protection of Young Females," against licensing public houses of notoriously "ill fame." I hope some good effect may be produced. It appears to me a dangerous doctrine that the civil power ought never to interfere with the morals of the community. Although the civil power cannot lawfully interfere with conscience, in matters of religion, or so far meddle with the concerns of the kingdom of Christ, as to establish or endow a particular form of worship, it may surely be exerted, on the most unrestricted principles of religious liberty, for the purpose of maintaining the good order of society; such an order as is essential to the welfare of the subjects or citizens of the state, individually and generally, whatever may be their creed. As it is its business to punish, so much more is it within its province to prevent crime; and for this purpose it is bound to protect and promote a healthy state of public morals, and to put down all such nuisances as disorderly public houses, and that odious traffic in vice, for which our large towns and cities are so painfully notorious. In all such cases, the arm of the law is exerted on the simple principle which lies at the foundation of all civil government, namely, that the licentiousness of individuals is not to be allowed to trench on the welfare and good order of the whole community. There is nothing in this principle, so far as I see, which can be perverted to the support of the interference of Government with religion, or the marriage of Church and State.

The year had been already marked in their circle by a bereavement of no common order. They had

ÆT. 58.

DEATH OF HIS SISTER ELIZABETH FRY.

473

now to mourn the loss of another tenderly beloved member of the family with whom he had long been accustomed to sympathize and labour.

10th mo., 13th. We have just received the deeply

affecting account of our beloved sister Fry's having been attacked, last seventh day afternoon, with pressure on the brain, which appears to have continued until yesterday morning, producing torpor, or perhaps insensibility, with difficulty of breathing. The dear patient did not know those around her, except occasionally for a moment, and did not appear to suffer pain; but the medical man evidently considered her end to be approaching, unless something effectual could be done to relieve the breathing. Overwhelming as

this stroke would have been two years ago, we are now mercifully enabled to receive it in great quietness of mind. Her long continued, and of late, increasing infirmity, though with very precious alternations of hope, and, on her part, of great brightness, have gradually weaned us from that close dependence on her, to which many of us were prone; and it is impossible to say how much of pain and difficulty a prolonged state of increasing debility might have occasioned her. Most dearly have I been bound to this beloved sister ever since I knew anything; and our being brought into the same religious course, has rendered that bond one of peculiar intimacy and tenderness. What a favour it is, that peace is the mantle of my spirit, on the hearing of this intelligence, in the delightful assurance that, whether she be in life or in death, peace is everlastingly hers, through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Third day morning. Our tenderly beloved sister appears never to have recovered from her state of unconsciousness, although the struggle of nature to the beholders was great. She drew her last breath about four o'clock yesterday morning. We are quiet under the blow, yet somewhat stunned.

CHAPTER XLVI.

1845-46. ET. 58.

BRIEF MEMOIRS OF SIR T. F. BUXTON AND ELIZABETH FRY; LETTER TO SIR ROBERT PEEL ON THE DISTRESS AMONG THE NORWICH POOR; CORRESPONDENCE ON THE OREGON QUESTION; PERSONAL TRIALS; ATTENDS THE YEARLY MEETING FOR THE LAST TIME; LETTER TO

SIR ROBERT PEEL ON THE INTRODUCTION OF SLAVE GROWN PRODUCE; DECLARATION OF FAITH.

LARGELY as Joseph John Gurney was thus again called upon to partake of the cup of sorrow, it was one mingled with mercy and abundant consolation. But the loss of such a brother and sister was one, in this world, never to be supplied; and it was not the less felt amidst that quiet, confiding trust, and that steady diligence in the performance of duty, which seemed not obscurely to intimate that his own separation from them was not to be long.

10th mo., 27th. It is almost impossible for me to describe the last two weeks. We have deeply felt the blow; and have been closely occupied by the subject. The leisure of fourth, fifth, and sixth days was occupied in drawing up a sketch of the dear departed one.

On seventh day, the 18th, we went by railroad to London, and joined the Upton party at dinner. The following first day was very interesting. The funeral on second day, at Barking, was very large and deeply solemn. I was led to

pour forth my praises and prayers at the grave; and a large meeting was afterwards held to our satisfaction, under a tent. The dinner, at Upton Lane, was indicative of her own liberal and impartial mind; so many there, and so hospitably entertained, and so thoroughly united in heart and feeling. Great relief and much peace were felt at the close of the day.

On fourth day last we were favoured with a blessed parting season, and returned home in peace. The newspaper containing the sketch, sent off to about 400 people in different parts of the world. May it be accepted in the Lord unto edification!

Sixth day morning. We have enjoyed much of a feeling of quietness and solemnity in our meetings; some precious tokens, I trust, that we are not forsaken. I am preparing the Memorials of Fowell and my sister Fry for publication, and deeply feel what a chasm their departure has produced. Surely we shall never see their like again.

11th mo., 18th. Last second day to dinner, by the train, came the Chevalier Bunsen and his lady, and stayed with us until fourth day morning, when I accompanied them to Blickling, on their way to Northrepps. Their visit was uncommonly bright and pleasant, and I hope I have formed with the Chevalier, a very valuable literary and Christian friendship. * * To-day I have been at home; writing letters, reading, and pondering many things in my heart. In the multitude of my thoughts within me, O Lord, let thy comforts delight my soul!

*

12th mo., 15th. These gaps in my journal, so full is my mind and so weak my memory, are difficult to fill up; but sure I am, that the ever-rolling stream of time is bringing me nearer and nearer to eternity. May it through infinite mercy and ever-flowing grace be more and more a happy, yea a joyous thought! How important, yet how impossible without that grace, to dwell in the meekness and purity of Christ, in the very truth and power thereof! The decease of our truly dear friend and relative, Ann Hodgkin, induced us to go to Tottenham, on fifth day in last week. There we continued

* *