CHAPTER XXI.

1805-1814. OCCUPIED DURING THE SUMMERS OF 1805 AND 1806 AT WEST-TOWN BOARDING SCHOOL-PROPOSES AND ASSISTS IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SCHOOL FOR POOR CHILDREN ON THE LANCASTERIAN SYSTEM-EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS WRITTEN TO SUSANNAH HORNE ACCOMPANIES S. HORNE TO THE YEARLY MEETINGS OF NEW YORK AND RHODE ISLAND, AND VISITS SOME OF THE MEETINGS COMPOSING THEM.

FROM an apprehension of religious duty, he spent the summers of 1805 and 1806 at West-town boarding school, sometimes assisting in teaching, as well as in the care of the pupils. He was very fond of the society of children, and deeply interested in their eternal welfare: he freely mingled with the pupils, and participated frequently in their amusements, which gained their confidence and affectionate regard, and enabled him to exercise an important and valuable influence upon them. His religious counsel was also very strengthening and encouraging to the teachers and others, who found in him a true sympathizer in the arduous duties of their important stations. A friend who resided at the Institution at that period, speaking of his services there, remarks, that "he was concerned to enter closely into the care, the exercises, and the trials under which the care-takers were then wading; and very useful and beneficial were his labours, not only in their schools and private collections, from which he was seldom missing, but in their religious meetings also; as many of those there in that day can testify, to their great comfort. From my distinct remembrance of his gospel labours, I then believed they were owned, and now at this day can say, I believe they have been crowned with success in many instances. He was greatly favoured and enlarged in testimony in their religious meetings, many times to the tendering and contriting of the minds of those present who were of susceptible feelings; and often was favoured in supplication with near access to the throne of grace, to the comfort and bowing of every contrite soul. Ah! these opportunities cannot be forgotten."

His interest in the institution continued to the time of his de

cease. After returning from it, the last time in 1806, he addressed a letter to the teachers through one of their number, from which the following extracts are taken:

“The plan thou sent me met my approbation, and immediately my thoughts were turned towards all the thoughtfully exercised teachers; and I said in my heart, go on precious servants as you have begun, and doubtless you will prosper. Your station and work is honourable, and no doubt remains on my mind, but that you are watched over and cared for by the great Shepherd of Israel, who said, 'feed my sheep.' This is your employ; let your hands be strong in the work, and resist all those discouragements, both within and without, which at times, very likely, assail you. I am not a stranger to your exercises, having been sensibly dipped with you.

Yes, you will believe me when I say my mind was exercised, feelingly so, and plunged into most or all your trials, when with you, and how preciously comfortable was the little fragment of my pilgrimage there filled up. Many comfortable moments I enjoyed; many pleasant prospects were opened respecting the rising of the Church out of Babylon; and I have, since that day, said in my heart, O! that there were many schools erected for children's guarded education As I have told you, your work is honourable, so I believe a precious reward awaits for giving up the prime of your days to perform it. It is an easy thing in the sight of the Lord, even sometimes of a sudden, to enrich for little acts of faith, and labours of love. I frequently look at I frequently look at you with sweetness, and send this little messenger, desiring it may prove, in some degree, an encouragement to you all, on both sides of the house, to continue in the way of your known duty; continuing to be, according to present ability,-your affectionate and sympathising friend,

"First Month 6th, 1806.”

"THOMAS SCATTERGOOD."

From his labours at West-town, and the above letter, it will be seen that he felt a lively concern for the religious, guarded education of the youth of our Society, being fully aware of the important influence such a course of instruction would exercise upon them in after life. His interest in schools, and the course of education, was not, however, confined to any particular class. He felt for all descriptions of his fellow-men, and was ready to promote their welfare in every right way. He was especially qualified to feel for and sympathize with the poor, among whom he was a very

frequent visitor, whose wants he was enabled largely to relieve by the assistance of his friends, who frequently sent him sums of money to be appropriated for this purpose, at his discretion. His visits among the poor, afforded him a good opportunity of observing the idle habits and neglected education of their children, which he saw led them into many immoral practices. Being much impressed with the demoralizing influences attending the situation of this class, he communicated his feelings to a number of Friends, and proposed to them to unite in an effort to establish a school for such, on the Lancasterian system, which was then just claiming attention. Having succeeded in interesting several in such an undertaking, a meeting of Friends was called, in the Ninth Month, 1807, to consider the propriety of forming an association to carry out their benevolent object. The plan was cordially approved, and in the next month the association was duly organized, and was subsequently chartered by the Supreme Court, under the name of "The Association of Friends for the instruction of poor children." It was found necessary, in a short time, to build a house for the purpose of accommodating the large number of children who applied for admission. Thomas Scattergood and another Friend gave the association a lot for this purpose, and early in 1809 a building was erected, in which the school was continued for nine years, affording the blessing of moral and literary instruction to many destitute children. In 1818, the education of the poor being adequately provided for by law, the school was discontinued, and the funds of the association allowed to accumulate for four years, when they were appropriated for the instruction of poor coloured children, for which object they continue to be very usefully applied.

The following are extracts from letters, addressed by him to his friend Susannah Horne:

"1806.-I have done but little at writing of late, and feel but small ability, nevertheless my thoughts often waft over to you, and I still feel interested in your welfare, though much as one on whom the ends of the world are come. This thou knows was much the case once, and what marvel, when it has been, and very likely must be, the experience again of many in your land. Wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins? &c.; this is the portion of Zion that dwells in the midst of Babylon; and when the dispensation is yet more fully known, there will be a rising and shaking of the dry bones. I am glad thou remainest desirous to be one of her exercised travailers; go on and prosper, and fulfil

thy task, whilst strength of body and mind is vouchsafed; and thou wilt never have cause to repent thy enlistment into such a

work."

"Sixth Month 9th, 1809.

Extract." Leaving the things that are behind, let us press forward: O! that the blessed Master may account us worthy to be employed in his work during our few remaining days. As for thee, thou seems to be going from one little service and journey to another, much, I think, as I was when about thy age. I seem, at least sometimes, like a vessel laid up in dock. Perhaps this may be more thy state by and by, and if thou art upright and honest in the present season, it will be no matter then. Though the body has been much stationary, yet my mind is oft far off from it. My exercise was not small when among you, in often mentally visiting the continent, and beholding the distress began and coming more upon nations and kingdoms; and I am still often abroad in mind. Surely, I have said in my heart, the Lord has arisen, and is shaking the foundations of the earth; this I think was more like a promise than otherwise, that the heavens and earth should be shaken, that so that which could not be shaken might remain; but how little is this seen into by many. May we, dear friend, be washed from every defilement, both of flesh and spirit; and press after holiness - press after a settled stable mind, in which the Divine will is given up to, is the desire of thy friend, on his own account, and also on account of thee, whose welfare is very near to him, and who yet remains thy affectionate friend,

"THOMAS SCATTERGOOD."

In the Fourth Month, 1811, he obtained the necessary certificates of unity with his prospect to pay a religious visit to the Yearly Meetings of New York and Rhode Island, and some of the meetings composing them. In this journey, he accompanied his beloved friend Susannah Horne, from England, [with her companion Mary Allinson] who was then engaged in a religious visit to this country. The first memorandum of this visit com

mences at Lynn, and is as follows:

"Seventh Month 21st, First-day.-Attended two meetings at Lynn; on the 23rd, a meeting at Salem, which was a comfortable time and on the 25th, had a meeting in the large Methodist house at Boston, at four o'clock, which was satisfactory.

"28th, First-day. Went to Salem meeting, where I was silent,

The afternoon meeting was

and it was a very low time with me. largely attended by people of other societies, and I was favoured with enlargement toward them.

"29th.-To Amesbury, to old Jacob Rowell's; he is in his eighty-eighth, and his wife in her eightieth year. Stopped and dined at Newburyport, and as soon as I was out of the chaise, I turned involuntarily down the street to view the ruins made by a late fire. It appears to have consumed even to the water's edge, and some of the wharfs did not escape, about two hundred and fifty houses were burned. We sent for some of the inhabitants; eight or ten of whom came, and we proposed a meeting for to-morrow afternoon, to which they readily consented, and the court-house was procured. 30th.-Amesbury meeting was small and a poor low time; after which proceeded to Newburyport, and had a very crowded meeting, which was satisfactory-we were taken home by Ebenezer Wheelwright to tea, where a number of the neighbours came in, and it was an agreeable time.

31st. To meeting at Seabrook it was a remarkably warm day, and the labour fell on me. Susannah Horne was so overcome

with the heat as to take to her bed for a time, but afterwards she took courage and rode in the afternoon eighteen miles, to B. Folsom's, at Epping.

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Eighth Month 1st.-To meeting at Epping, where divers of the neighbours came in, though it was a rainy morning, and it proved a pretty open time. After dinner set off accompanied by Eli Beede, and lodged at an inn about fifteen miles distant, where we met with poor accommodations, but the kindness manifested made it easy.

"2nd.-Rode to Henniker, over a rough road, eighteen miles, and lodged at Pelatiah Purington's, which was a comfortable resting-place. Had a satisfactory meeting, and a good opportunity in the family.

"4th, First-day.-To the meeting held in the North House at Weare dined at W. D.'s, and before we set off had a tendering opportunity, in which the old man was much affected. At four o'clock went to meeting in the South House, about three miles off --both of these meetings were laborious and pretty large.

"5th.-After a pretty early breakfast, and a good opportunity with this large, and in good degree well conducted family, where there are hopeful children and careful parents, accompanied by David Gove, we rode back to Concord. Stopped at R. B.'s, whose husband is not a member; she has seven miles to go to meeting;