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ELIZABETH FRY: 
 
 LIFE AND LABORS 
 
 EMINENT PHILANTROPIST, PREACHER, 
 AND PRISON REFORMER. 
 
 COMPILED FROM HER JOURNAL AND OTHER SOURCES. 
 
 By EDWARD RYDER. 
 
 "Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this Gospel shall be 
 preached in the whole world, there shall also this which this 
 woman hath done be told for a memorial of her." 
 
 — Matt. 26 : 13. 
 
 Third Edition. 
 
 NEW YORK : 
 
 Published by E. WALKER'S SON, 14 Dey St., 
 
 FOR THE AUTHOR. 
 I 8 S4. 
 
" Mr. Harvey, two days ago I saw the greatest curiosity 
 in London — aye and in England too, sii', — compared to 
 which Westminster Abbey, the Tower, Somerset House, the 
 British Museum, nay Parliament itself, sink into utter in- 
 significance ! I have seen, sir, Elizabeth Fry in Newgate, 
 and have witnessed miraculous effects of true Christianity 
 upon the most depraved of human beings." 
 
 — John Randolph. 
 
 "We shall not look upon her Kke again ! and must try to 
 preserve the impression of her majesty of goodness which it 
 is a great privilege to have beheld." 
 
 —Baroness JSunsen. 
 
 "To see her was to love her; to hear her was to feel aa 
 if a guardian angel had bid you follow that teaching which 
 could alone subdue the temptations and evils of this life, 
 and secure a redeemer's love in eternity." 
 
 — Captain K. JB. Martin. 
 
 "May you continue, my dear madam, to be the honored 
 instrument of great and rare benefits to almost the most 
 pitiable of your fellow-creatures." 
 
 • — William Wilberforce. 
 
 " Of all my contemporaries none has exercised a like in* 
 flaence on my heart and life." 
 
 ^Thomas JTliedner, 
 
2 
 
 BLIZABETH FB7. 
 
 "Though faithful to her duty as a wife and mother, into 
 
 the night of the iDrisou Elizabeth Fry brings the radiance 
 of love, brings comfort to the sufferer, dries the tear of re- 
 pentance, and causes a ray of hope to descend into the 
 heart of the sinner. She teaches her that has strayed again 
 to find the path of virtue, comes as an angel of God into 
 the abode of crime, and preserves for Jesus' kingdom that 
 which appeared to be lost." 
 
 — German '•^Almanac Jor the Beautiful and Good." 
 
 *'Your name has long been to us 'A Word of Beauty.' " 
 
 — German JPastor. 
 
 "TO MES. FEY. 
 
 Presented by hannah more 
 As a token of veneration, 
 Of her heroic zeal, 
 Christian charity, 
 And persevering kindness 
 To the most forlorn 
 Of human beings. 
 They were naked and she 
 Clothed them ; 
 In prison and she visited them; 
 Ignorant and she taught them, 
 
 For Jlis sake. 
 In His name, and by His word 
 Who went about doing good." 
 
 — //. More, in copy of "Practical Piety.''* 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 My aim has been not to preserve every thiog she said and 
 did, but to present a Life Portrait of Elizabeth Fry and her 
 unique career. This can best be done by letting herself be 
 the chief speaker, since she has spoken so admirably : — next 
 those who knew her well. Of the latter we have many wit- 
 nesses, but the principal are her two daughters, Katherine 
 Fry and Eachel E. Cresswell, both still living at this date, 
 who in 1847, two years after her death, published a "Mem- 
 oir of the Life of Elizabeth Fry," in two octavo volumes of 
 525 and 552 pages. This was extensively read at that time, 
 when the name of Elizabeth Fry was in all mouths ; but 
 it necessarily contained much of transitory interest to 
 the rapidly changing world of men, who are too busy 
 to dwell long on what does not closely concern them. 
 The work was not reprinted and has long been out 
 of the market, and only to be found among those 
 who purchased at the time of its publication. An 
 abridgement of it was afterwards published, with some 
 additional notes and recollections by Susanna Corder, a 
 teacher of Friends' schools, who was well acquainted with 
 Mrs. Fry, and a member of the same religious Society. 
 
4 
 
 XXIZABETH FBT. 
 
 This work of 667 pages is still to be obtained at Friends 
 book stores, and seems to have been undertaken partly with 
 a. view to furnishing members of that Society with a "Life 
 of Elizabeth Fry," relieved of both a portion of matter 
 passing from public interest, and of the unquakerly style 
 in which the original Memoir was written — one of the 
 daughters, Mrs. Cresswell, and apparently the larger writ- 
 er, having become a member of the Episcopal church, and 
 not conforming to the peculiarities of her mother, Mrs. 
 Fry, also left on record some observations looking towai'd 
 greater liberty than her Society were then ready to adopt, 
 though they are now approaching the standard to which 
 her catholic spirit and wide experience at length brought 
 her sympathetic mind. 
 
 In reading first this Abridgement, obtained for a circu- 
 lating library in a community partly made up of Friends, I 
 was struck with the large number of highly interesting 
 facts and incidents it contained, as well as with the delight- 
 ful spirit which it exhibited — a spirit which I felt ought to 
 bring a contagion of heavenly-mindeduess into the soul of 
 each reader — and I found a regret arising that such choice 
 seed of the Kingdom of Heaven was not scattered broad- 
 cast through all lands. I therefore resolved, as I trust un- 
 der the inspiration of Him whose eyes run to and fro in the 
 earth, seeking where good may be accomplished and Hia 
 children made haj^py, to undertake a further pruning of 
 decaying branches from this noble olive tree, leaving only 
 Buch as will bear fruit for all times and places, and then to 
 essay its introduction not only into the parks of those who 
 are rich in knowledge and spiritual wisdom, but also in the 
 
ELIZABETH FBI; 
 
 5 
 
 little gardens of the poor where Elizabeth Fry was so fond 
 of sowing seeds of kindness and love, hoping they might 
 spring up unto everlasting life. 
 
 The part I have had to perform is mainly that of an arti- 
 san whose material is already furnished to his hand, requir- 
 ing only careful selection and judicious arrangement to give 
 effect to the simple beauty which the subject itself contains, 
 I have ventured to add .the <^onnecting thread of a few ob- 
 servations in passing, and occasional comments on portions 
 nrhich seemed to invite further illustration, or criticism. 
 
 Pawling, Duchess County, N. Y. 
 Feb. 1. 1883. 
 
 E. Etdeb. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER PAGE 
 
 I^EAKLY LIFE ... - 9 
 
 n^MARRIAGE AND THE MINISTRY - 58 
 
 m~MOTHER AND mNISTER - . 94 
 
 IV— NEWGATE - - - 120 
 
 V— NEWGATE CONTINUED - - 145 
 
 VI^EXCUESIONS IN GREAT BRITAIN - 164 
 
 VII*-PASSING THROUGH THE VALLEY - 201 
 
 VIIIi-EISING UP THE MOUNTAINS - - 224 
 IX^-FiRST AND Second VISITS to the CONTINENT 264 
 
 X«-TfliB0, FouETH, Fifth " ** « 297 
 
 XI— THE PEARL GATE - • 854 
 
ELIZABETH FRY. 
 
 CHAPTER FIRST. 
 
 EARLY LIFB. 
 
 Elizabeth Fry was born in Norwich, England, on the 
 21st of May, 1780. She was the third daughter of John 
 Gurney of Earlham, a liberal-spuited Quaker, "a man of 
 ready talent, of bright discerning mind, singularly warm- 
 hearted and affectionate, very benevolent, and in manners 
 courteous and popular ;" and of Catherine Bell, daughter of 
 Daniel Bell, a Loudon Merchant, and great-grand- daughter 
 of Robert Barclay, the well-known and able expounder of 
 Quakerism. 
 
 From this excellent stock eleven children, seven daugh- 
 ters and four sons, grew to maturity, and several of them 
 became active and useful members of the Society of Friends, 
 including Elizabeth Fry, Joseph John Gurney and Priscilla 
 Gurney, whose memoirs have been given to the public. 
 
 From the "Memoir of the Life of Elizabeth Fry," edit- 
 ed by two of her daughters, the following extracts relat- 
 ing to her early life are taken; 
 
 "In the year 1786, Mr. and Mrs. Gurney removed to Earl- 
 ham Hall, a seat of the Bacon family, about two miles from 
 iS^orwich. Mr. Guruey subsequently purchased an adjoiuing 
 property, thus adding to the range and variety afforded to 
 
10 
 
 ELIZABETH FRY. 
 
 his large young party, by that pleasant home. Earlhamhas 
 pecuhar charms from its diversified scenery. The house is 
 large, old, and irregular ; placed in the centre of a well- 
 wooded park. The River Wensum, a clear winding stream, 
 flows by it. Its banks, overhung by an avenue of ancient 
 timber trees, formed a favorite resort of the young people ; 
 there, in the summer evenings, they would often meet to 
 walk, read, or sketch. On the south front of the house ex- 
 tends a noble lawn, flanked by groves of trees growing from 
 a carpet of wild flowers, moss, and long grass Every nook, 
 every green path at Earlham, tells a tale of the past and re- 
 calls to those who remember the time when they were peo- 
 pled by that joyous party, the many loved ones of the num 
 ber, who, having shared with one another the pleasm-es of 
 youth, the cares of maturer age, and above all, the hope of 
 immortality, are now together at rest ! 
 
 "Of the twelve childien of Mr and Mrs. Gurney, nine 
 were born before their removal to Eailham ; one of them 
 died in infancy. The three youngest sens were born after 
 their settlement there. 
 
 "The mode of life at Bramerton was continued with little 
 alteration at Earltenn, till Nov. 1792, when it pleased God to 
 remove from this large family, the kind mistress, — the loving 
 wife, — the devoted mother. She died after an illness of 
 three weeks, leaving eleven children, the eldest scarcely .sev- 
 enteen, the youngest not two years old. During a period of 
 comparative leisure, Elizabeth Fry occupied herself in perus- 
 ing her early journals. She thought it well to destroy all 
 that were written before the year 1797, and to substitute the 
 following sketch of their contents, assisted by her own recol- 
 lecticus. 
 
 " ' Dagenham, Eighth Month, 23<f, 1828. — My earliest recol- 
 lections are, I should think, soon after 1 was two years old ; my 
 father at that time had two houses, one in Norwich, and on© 
 at Bramerton, a sweet country place, situated on a Common, 
 
EASI7 UFE. 
 
 11 
 
 near a pretty village ; h'^re, I believe, many of my early 
 tastes were fonned, though we left it to reside at Earlham 
 when I was about five years old. The impressions then re- 
 ceived remain lively on my recollection ; the delight m the 
 beauty and wild scenery in parts of the Common, the trees, 
 the flowers, and the httle rills that abounded on it, the farm 
 houses, the village school and the different poor people and 
 their cottages; particularly a poor woman with one ai'm, 
 whom we called one-armed Betty ; another neighbor. Green- 
 grass, and her strawberry beds round a little pond ; our 
 gardener, who lived near a large piece of water, and used to 
 bring fish from it ; here, I think, my great love for the 
 country, the beauties of nature, and attention to the poor, 
 began. My mother was most dear to me, and the walks she 
 took with me in the old-fashioned garden, are as fresh with 
 me, as if only just passed; and her telling me about Adam 
 and Eve being driven out of Paradise : I always considered 
 it must be just hke our garden at Bramerton. 1 remember 
 that my spirits were not strong : that I frequently cried if 
 looked at, and used to say that my eyes were weak ; but I 
 remember much pleasure and little suffering or particular 
 tendency to naughtiness, up to this period. Fear about this 
 time began to show itself, of people and things: I remem* 
 ber being so much afraid of a gun, that 1 gave up an expe- 
 dition of pleasure with my father and mother because thera 
 was a gun m the can-iage. I was also exceedingly afraid of 
 the dark, and suffered so acutely from being left alone with-, 
 out a light alter I went to bed, that I believe my ncrvoua 
 system was injured in consequence of it ; also, I had so great 
 a dread of bathing, (to which I was obliged at times to sub- 
 mit) that at the first sight of the sea, when we were as a 
 family going to stay by it, it would make me cry ; indeed, 
 fear was so strong a principle in my mmd as greatly to mar 
 the natm-al pleasure of childhood I am now of opinion, 
 that it would have been much more subdued, and great suf- 
 ering spared, by its having been still more yielded to ; by 
 
12 
 
 ELIZABETH FRY. 
 
 having a light left in my room ; not being long left alone ; 
 and never forced to bathe; for I do not at all doubt that it 
 partly ai'ose from that nervous susceptible constitution, that 
 has at times, throughout my life, caused me such real and 
 deep suffering. I know not what would have been the con- 
 sequence, had I had any other than a most careful and wise 
 mother, and judicious nurses, or had I been alarmed, as too 
 many children are, by false threats of what might happen. 
 
 " 'I had, as well as a fearful, ralher a reserved mind, for I 
 never remember telling of my many pamful fears, though i 
 must often have shown them by weeping when left in the dark, 
 and on other occasions . this reserve made me httle under- 
 B ood, and thought vei-y little of, except by my mother and 
 one or two others. I was considered and called very stupid 
 and obstinate. I certainly did not like leai'ning, nor did 1, 
 I beUeve, attend to my lessons, pai'tly from a delicate state 
 c)f health, that produced languor of mind as well as body; 
 but, I think, having the name of being stupid, really tended 
 to make me so, and discom-aged my efforts to learn. I re- 
 member having a poor, not to say low, opinion of myself, 
 and used to think I was so very inferior to ray sisters, Cath- 
 erine and Rachel. I believe I had not a name only for be- 
 ing obstinate, for my nature then had a strong tendency that 
 way ; and I was disposed to a spirit of contradiction, always 
 ready to see things a little differently from others, and not 
 willing to jdeld my sentiments lo theii-s. 
 
 " ' My natuial affections were very starong from my early 
 childhood, at times almost overwhelmingly so f such was the 
 love for my mother, that the thought that she might die and 
 leave me used to make me weep after I went to bed, anc 
 for the rest of the family, notwithstanding my feai'ful na- 
 ture, my childlike wish was, that two large walls might crush 
 us all together, that we might die at once, and thus avoid 
 the misery of each other's death. I seldom, if I could help 
 it, left my mother's side ; I watched her when asleep in the 
 day with exquisite anxiety, and used to go gently to her 
 
EARLT LIFE. 
 
 13 
 
 bedside to listen, from the awful fear that she did not 
 breathe ; iii short, I may truly say, it amounted to deep rev- 
 erence that I felt for my father and mother. I never re- 
 member, as a little child, but once being punished by my 
 mother; and she then mistook tears of soitow for tears of 
 naughtiness, a thing that deeply impressed me, and I have 
 never foigotten the pain it gave me. Although I do not im- 
 ply that I had no faults, far from it, as some of the faults of 
 my childhood are very hvely in my recollection ; yet, from 
 my extreme love and fear, many of these faults were known 
 aliflost only to myself. My imagination was lively, and I 
 once remember, and only once, telling a real untruth with 
 one of my sisters and one of my brothers. We saw a bright 
 light one morning, which we represented far above the real- 
 ity, and upon the real thing being shown us that we had 
 seen, we made it out not to be it. My remembrance is of 
 the p,'easiu-e of my childliood being almost spoiled through 
 fear, and my religious impressions, such as I had, were ac- 
 companied by gloom; on this account I think the utmost 
 cai'e is needed in representing religious truth to cki.tj'£u, 
 that fearful views of it should be most carefully avoided, iest 
 it should give a distaste for that which is most precious. 
 Fir st show them the love and mercy of God in Christ Jesus, 
 and the sweetness and blessedness of His service ; and such 
 things in Scripture, for instance, as Abraham's sacritice, 
 should be carefully explained to them. I think I suffered 
 much in my youth from the most tender nervous system; 
 I certainly felt symptoms of ill health before my mother 
 died, that I thought of speaking to her about, but never did, 
 partjy because I did not know how to explain them ; but thej 
 ended afterwards in very severe attacks of illness. I have 
 always thought being forced to bathe was one cause of this, 
 and I mention it because I believe it a dangerous thing to do 
 to clii'dien. What care is needful not to force chiidi-en to 
 learn too much, as it not only injures them, but gives a dis- 
 taste to intellectual puisuils. Tnsi-.nietion should be adai^t- 
 
14 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 ed to their condition, and communicated in an easy and 
 agreeable way. 
 
 "How great is the importance of a wise mother, directing 
 the tastes of her children in very eai"ly life, and judiciously 
 influencing- their affections. I remember with pleasure my 
 mother's bed for wild flowers, Avhich, with delight, I used, 
 as a child to attend to with her ; it gave me such pleasure in 
 observing their beauties and varieties ; that though I never 
 have had time to become a botanist, few can imagine, in my 
 weary journeys, how I have been pleased and refreshed, by 
 observing and enjoying the wild flowers on my way. Again, 
 she collected shells, and had a cabinet, and bought one for 
 Kachel and myself, where we placed our curiosities ; and I 
 may truly say, in the midst even of deep trouble, and often 
 most weighty engagements of a religious and philanthropio 
 nature, I have derived advantage, refreshment and pleasure, 
 from my taste for these things, seeking collections of them, 
 and various natural curiosities, although, as with the flowers, 
 I have not studied them scientifically. 
 
 '"My mother also encouraged my most close friendship 
 with my sister Eachel, and we had our pretty light closet, 
 our books, our pictures, our curiosities, our tea things, all to 
 ourselves ; and as far as I can recollect, we unitedly partook 
 of these pleasures without any of the little jealousies or the 
 quarrels of childhood. 
 
 " ' My mother, as far as she knew, really trained us up in 
 the fear and love of the Lord. My deep impression is, that 
 Bhe was a devoted follower of the Lord Jesus; but that her 
 understanding was not fully enlightened as to the fa nes3 
 of Gospel truths : she taught us as far as she knew, and I 
 now remember the solemn religious feelings I had whilst 
 sitting in silence with her, after reading the Scripture, and 
 a Psalm before we went to bed. I have no doubt that her 
 prayers were not in vain in the Lord. She died wheu I was 
 twelve years old ; the remembrance of her illness and death 
 is sad, even to the present day. ' 
 
EAKLY UFB. 
 
 iS 
 
 "Among the vast changes of the last century, there was 
 DO change greater than that which took place in the educa- 
 tion of women. 
 
 "Addison and his coadjutors were among the foremost to 
 teach the women of modern England, that they possessed 
 powers of mind and capabilities of usefulness. 
 
 "Many, as they sipped theii' coffee with the Spectator of the 
 morning in theh hand, were awakened to the consciousness 
 of a higher destiny for woman, than the labor of the tapesti-y 
 frame, or pui'suits of an enthely frivolous nature. A taste 
 for reading became more or less general. The heavy wis- 
 dom of Johnson, the lighter wit of Swift, the sathe of Pope, 
 the pathos of Gray, and the close painting of Goldsmith, 
 foimd among women not only those who could enjoy, but 
 who could appreciate their different excellencies Mrs. Mon- 
 tague, Mrs. Carter, Mrs. Chapone, with a group of gifted 
 friends and associates, proved to the world the possibility 
 of high literary attainments existing with every feminino 
 gi'ace and vii-tue. The stimulus was given, but like all oth- 
 er changes in society, the opposite extreme was reached bo 
 fore the right and reasonable was discovered. Infidelity waa 
 making slow though sure advances upon the continent 
 Kosseau and Voltaue were but types of the state of feeling 
 and principles in France. The effects gradually extended 
 to our own country, and England has to blush for the per- 
 version of female tpk-nt, the evil influence of which was on- 
 ly- counteracted by its showing as a beacon light, to warn 
 others from shipwreck. Science, and philosophy, so called, 
 advanced and flourished, but by their side flourished the 
 Upas tiee of infidelity, poisoning with its noxious breath 
 the flowers and the fruits otherwise so pleasant to the eye, 
 and so good for the use of man. The writings of Hannah 
 More were well calculated to enhghten and improve her sex; 
 she spoke as woman can alone speak to women ; but she was 
 then only rising into celebrity, and as an author was little 
 known. 
 
16 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT 
 
 "Norwich had not escaped the general contagion. On 
 the contrary, at the period of which we speak, it was noted 
 for the chai'm, the talent, and the skepticism of the society 
 of the town and neighborhood. The death of Sirs. Gurney 
 had left her seven daughters unprotected by a mother's care 
 to pursue the difficult path of early womanhood. 
 
 " They appear to have been rich in attraction and talent, 
 lively and original, possessing a peculiar freshness of char- 
 acter, with singular purity of purpose and warmth of affec- 
 tion. But their faith was obscure, and their principles nec- 
 essarily unfixed and wavering. They appreciated the beau- 
 ty and excellence of religion ; but it was more natural than 
 revealed religion with they were acquainted. 
 
 " There was something of mysticism amongst the Qua- 
 kers of that day, and by no means the clear and general ac- 
 knowledgment of the doctrine of the * Trinity in Uiiity^ 
 as revealed in the New Testament, which is now to be met 
 with amongst the greater part of the Society of Friends. 
 To the present time, that expres.sion as designating the De- 
 ity is not in use among them, from its not being found ia 
 the Bible. The family of Sir. Gurney, thus left to their own 
 resources, unaccustomed to the study of the Scriptures, and 
 with no other source of information from which to learn, for 
 a time were permitted to ' stumble upon the dark mountains 
 seeking rest and finding none.' 
 
 " These remarks apply especially to the three older daugh- 
 ters, as they gradually advanced in life. The four younger 
 ones, sheltered in the schoolroom, were comparatively spared 
 the difficulties through which their sisters were pioneering 
 the way. Mr. Gurney's occupations, both public and pri- 
 vate, and his naturally trustful disposition, prevented his 
 seeing all the dangers to which they were exposed. They 
 formed many acquaintances, and some friendships, with per- 
 sons greatly gifted by nature, but fearfully tainted with the 
 prevailing errors of the day. Great pain and bitter disap- 
 pointment resulted from these connexions ; but demanding 
 
EARLY LIFE 
 
 17 
 
 only an allusion here, as they indirectly aflfected Elizabeth 
 through the suffering of others, and the experience gained to 
 herself. 
 
 " To the gayeties of the world, in the usual acceptation ol 
 the term, they were but little exposed. Music and dancing 
 are not allowed by Friends; though a scruple as to the for- 
 mer is by no means universal. Mr. Gurney had no objec- 
 tion to music : they all had a taste for it, though almost un- 
 cultivated ; some of them sang delightfully. The sweet and 
 thrilling pathos of their native warblings is still remembered 
 with pleasure by those who heard them, especially the duets 
 of Rachel and Elizabeth. They danced occasionally in the 
 large ante-room leading to the drawing-room, but with little 
 of the spirit of display so often manifested on these occa- 
 sions. It was more an effusion of young joyous hearts, who 
 thus sought and found an outlet for their mirth. When her 
 health permitted it, no one of the party entered with more 
 zest into these amusements than Elizabeth. Her figure tall, 
 and at that time slight and graceful, was peculiarly fitted 
 for dancing. She was also an excellent horse-woman, and 
 rode fearlessly and well ; but she suffered much from deli- 
 cacy of constitution, and was liable to severe nervous attacks 
 which often impeded her joining her sisters in their differ- 
 ent objects and pursuits. In countenance, she is described 
 as having been as a young person very sweet and pleasing, 
 with a profusion of soft flaxen hair, though perhaps not so 
 glowing as some of her sisters. 
 
 "She had much native grace, and to many people was 
 very attractive. Elizabeth was not studious by nature, and 
 was, as a child, though gentle and quiet in temper, selfwilled 
 and determined. In a letter, written before she was three 
 years old, her mother thus mentions her; — 'My dove-lik© 
 Betsey scarcely ever offends, and is, in every sense of the 
 word, truly engaging.' Her dislike to learning proved a 
 serious disadvantage to her after she lost her mother ; her 
 education, consequently being defective and unfinished. In 
 
19 
 
 EUZABETH FBT. 
 
 natural talent, she was qiiick and penetrating, and had a 
 flepth of originality very uncommon. As she grew older, 
 enterprise and benevolence were two prominent featm-es in 
 her character. In contemplating her pecuhar gifts, it is 
 Underfill to observe the adaptation of her natural qualities 
 to .'her future career; and how, through the transforming 
 power of divine grace, each one became subservient to the 
 highest purposes. Her natural timidity changed to the op- 
 posite virtue of courage, but with such holy moderation and 
 nice discretion, as never failed to direct it ai'ight. The touch 
 of obstinacy she displayed as a child, became that finely 
 tempered decision and firmness which enabled her to execute 
 her projects for the good of her fellow creatures. That 
 frhich in childhood was something not unlike cunning, ripen- 
 ed into the most uncommon penetration, long-sightedness, 
 end skill in influencing the minds of those around her. 
 Her disinclination to the common methods of learning ap- 
 pearfid to be connected with much original thought, and a 
 tml^^'^eting on its own resovu'ces ; for she certainly always 
 possessed more genius, and ready, quick comprehension, 
 tJjan apphcation or argument. 
 
 *'Such were the circumstances, and such the character of 
 Elizabeth Gumey and her sisters, after the death of their 
 mother : and years passed on, with few changes, but such as 
 aecessarily came with the lapse of time, and their advance 
 ia age. But He who had purposes of mercy towards them, 
 In His own way, and in His own good time, was prepaiing 
 for them emancipation from their doubts, and^gl^t for their 
 darkness. Wonderful is it to mark how, by little and little, 
 through various instruments, through mentaJ conflicts, 
 through bitter experience, He gradually led then;, each one, 
 into the meridian light of day — the glorious liberty of the 
 ehildi-en of God. 
 
 "At a time when religion in a more gloomy form might 
 not have gained a hearing, when the graver countenance of 
 sebuke would probably have been, unheeded, a gentleman 
 
EAELY LIFE. 
 
 became acquainted with the Earlham family, of high princi* 
 pie and cultivated mind. With him the sisters formed A 
 Strong and lasting friendship. He addi'essed himself to 
 thpir understandings on the grand doctrines of Christianity; 
 he referred them to the written word as the rule of life ; 
 lent them, and read with them, books of a reUgious tendeib* 
 cy. He treated rehgion, as such,, with reverence; and at* 
 though himself a Roman Catholic, he abstained from every 
 controversial topic, nor ever used his influence, directly ok 
 indirectly, in favor of his own church. There was another 
 individual who proved an important instrument in leading 
 the sisters to sound views of rehgion, though, when first ac- 
 quainted with them, herseK wandering in the wUdemess of 
 doubt, if not of error. This was Marianne Galton, afterward 
 Mrs. Schimmel Penninck. Being a highly educated persoq, 
 of great mental power, and accustomed to exercise her ablE* 
 ities in the use of her reason and an honest seai'ch aftof 
 truth, she acquired considerable influence over them. Ab 
 the truth of revelation opened upon her own imderstanding, 
 and her heart became influenced by it, they shai-ed in har 
 advance, and profited by her experience. There were otheu 
 individuals with -whom they associated, whose influence waj 
 desu'able, but leas p,owerfuJ, than that of either Miss Galtofi 
 nr Mr. Pitchf ordL 
 
 "They appear ajso to have derived advantage, at times* 
 ficom the reUgious visits of Friends to Earlham. The f ami- 
 ly'-(if' Ml-. Gm-ney were in the habit of attending no place of 
 worship but the Friends' meeting. The attendance of Eliz- 
 abeth was continually impeded by want of health, and it is 
 difficult; to know when the habit of absenting herself might 
 ha-vie/befim^broken througjj, but for her uncle, Joseph Gur- 
 ney, who urged ihe duty upon her and encouraged her to 
 make the^attempt. He was a decided Friend, and had muob 
 influence with he,ir, both then and during her subsequent hie. 
 She , was readyj-indeed to essay anything that might tend to 
 satisfy liOU aousoiejaoe, ut metit tiia cravings Oi. her heart Air 
 
no 
 
 ELIZABETH FEY. 
 
 a sometliing -wliicli as yet slie had not obtained. There itt 
 occasionally to be met with in the character of fallen man s 
 longing after perfection — after that which can alone satisf J 
 the immortal spirit: this she experienced in no commosi 
 measui;^ Her journal is replete with desires after 'virtue"" 
 and 'truth.' She seeks and finds God in His works, but as 
 yet she had not found Him as He stands revealed in the page 
 of inspiration-" 
 
 I shall now present such selections frcm the Journal 
 as seem best adapted to give a clear and life-like portralit of 
 Elizabeth Fry's mind, character and career. Happily the 
 materials are so abundant as chiefly to require an exercise of 
 judgment in omitting those which may, with least inju* 
 tj, be sacrificed to the demands of brevity. 
 
 "My mind is in so dark a state that I s«e everything 
 through a black medium." 
 
 "I see everything darklyTT— I can comprehend nothing— -I 
 (loubt upon everything." 
 
 April. — Without passions of any land how different 1 
 should be. I would not give them up, but i should like to 
 have them under subjection; but it appears to me, as I 
 feel, impossible to govern them ; my mind is not strong 
 enough, as I at times think they do no harm to others. But 
 ftm I sure they will hurt no one? I believe by not govern- 
 ing myself in little things I may by degi'ees become a des- 
 picable character, and a curse to society ; therefore my doing 
 Vn:ong is of consequence to others as well as to myself." 
 
 "April 25th. — I feel by experience how much entering in- 
 to the world hurts me ; worldly company I think materially 
 Injures; it excites a false stimulus, such as a love of pomp, 
 pride, vanity, jealousy, and ambition ; it leads to think about 
 dress and such trifles, and when out of it we fly to novels 
 and scandal, or something of that kind, for entertainment. 
 
EAELY LIFE 
 
 21 
 
 J have lately been given up a good ai6al to worldly passions^ 
 By what I have felt I can easily imagine how soon I should 
 be quite led away. 
 
 " 2'dth. — I met the Prince,* it showed me the folly of the 
 world ; my mind feels very fiat after this storm of pleasure, 
 
 "May 16«A. — There is a sort of luxury ia giving ^tvay to 
 the feelings ! I love to feel for the sorrows of others, 16 poor 
 'mne and oil into the wounds of the afflicted : there is a lux*- 
 Ury in feeling the heart glow, whether it be vrith joy or sor* 
 JfoW. I think the different periods of life may well be con?* 
 pared to the different seasons. 
 
 ■ " I love to think of every thing, to look at mankind ; I love 
 fo 'look through Nature up to Nature's God.' I have no 
 more religion than that, and in the little I have I am not the 
 Jeast devotional ; but when I admii-e the beauties of Natura 
 I cannot help thinking of the Source from whence such beai?- 
 ties flow. I feel it a support ; I believe firmly that all iS 
 guided for the best by an invisible Power, therefore I do not 
 feel the evils of Ufe so much. I love to feel good, I do whal 
 I can to be Mnd to everybody. I have many faults which 1 
 hope in tiSie to overcome. 
 
 "Monday, May 21st.— ^ am seventeen t6-day. Am I g 
 happier or a better creature than I was this time twelve* 
 month? I know I am happier ; I think I am better. I hopfl 
 I shall be much better this day year than I am now. I hop9 
 to be quite an altered person, to have more knowledge, tO 
 have my mind in greater order; and my heart too — th£^ 
 wants to be put in order as much, if not more, than any parii 
 of me, it is in such a fly-away State ; but I t hink if ev6r 
 were settled on one subject it would never, no never fl^ 
 away any more ; it would rest guietly and happily on the 
 heart that was open to receive it ; it will then be more con* 
 
 *H. R. H. William Frederick, afterwards Duke of Gloucester, tbei^ 
 quartered, with bis regiment, at Norwich. 
 
22 
 
 JELIZABETH PKY. 
 
 Btant ; it is not my fault it now flies away, it is owing to 
 circumstances. 
 
 '■'■Monday, June. — I am at this present time in an odd 
 state ; I am like a ship put to sea without a pilot ; I feel my 
 heart and mind so overburdened. I want some one to lean 
 upon. 
 
 ( "Written on a bright summer's morning.) 
 
 "Is there not a ray of perfection midst the sweets of this 
 morning? I do think there is something perfect from 
 which all good flows. 
 
 '■'Juue 20th. — ^If I have long to live in this world may I 
 bear misfortunes with fortitude ; do what I can to alleviate 
 the sorrows of others ; exert what power I have to increase 
 happiness ; try to govern my passions by reason, and ad- 
 here strictly to what I think right. 
 
 "July 1th. — I have seen several things in myself and oth- 
 ers I have never before remarked ; but I have not tried to 
 improve myself; I have given way to my passions and let 
 them have command over me. I have known my faults and 
 have not corrected them, and now I am determined I will 
 once more try, with redoubled ardor, to overcome my wick- 
 ed inclinations. I must not flirt ; I must not be out of 
 temper with the children ; I must not contradict without a 
 cause ; I must not mump when my sisters are liked and I 
 am not ; I must not allow myself to be angry ; I must not 
 exaggerate, which I am inclined to ; I must not give way to 
 luxury ; I must not be idle in mind; I must try to give way 
 to every good feeling and overcome every bad. I will see 
 what I can do : if I had but perseverance, I could do all that 
 I wish ; I will try. I have lately been too satirical, so as to 
 hurt sometimes ; remember, it is a fault to hurt others. 
 
 " 8iA. — A much better day, though many faults. 
 
 "lO^A. — Some poor people were here; I do not think I 
 gave them what I did with a good heart. I am incUned to 
 give away ; but for a week past, owing to not having much 
 money, I have been mean and extravagant. Shamefull 
 
EAKLT LIFE. 
 
 23 
 
 Whilst I live may I be generous ; it is my nature, and I will 
 not overcome so good a feeling. I am inclined to be ex- 
 travagant and that leads to meanness, for those who Vvill 
 throw away a good deal are apt to mind giving a little. 
 
 " 11th. — I am in a most idle mind, and inclined to have 
 an indolent, dissipated day ; but I will try to overcome it 
 and see how far I can. I am well ; oh most inestimable of 
 comforts! Happy, happy I, to be so well ! how good, how 
 virtuous ought I to be ! May what I have suffered be a les- 
 son to me, to feel for those who are ill, and alleviate their 
 sorrows as far as lies in my power ; let it teach me never to 
 forget the blessings I enjoy. I ought never to be unhappy. 
 Look back at this time last year ; how ill I was, how miser- 
 able! yet I was supported through it. God will support 
 through the suffering he inflicts. If I were devotional, I 
 should fall on my knees and be most grateful for the bless- 
 ings I enjoy ; — a good father, one whom I dearly love, sis- 
 ters formed after my own heart, friends whom I admire, 
 and good health which gives a relish to all. Company to din- 
 ner; I must beware of being a flirt, it is an abominable char- 
 acter ; I hope I shall never be one, and yet I fear I am one 
 now a little. Be careful not to talk at random. Beware, 
 and see how well I can get through this day, without one 
 foolish action. If I do pass this day without one foolish 
 action, it is the first I ever passed so. If I pass a day with 
 only a few foolish actions I may think it a good one. 
 
 " 2oth. — This book is quite a little friend to my heart ; it 
 is next to communicating my feelings to another person. 
 I would not but write in it for something, for it is most 
 comfortable to read it over and see the different workinsrs 
 of my heart and soul. 
 
 "30iA., — Pride and vanity are too much the incentives to 
 most of the actions of men. They produce a love of admi- 
 ration, and in thinking of the opinions of others we are too apt 
 to forget the monitor within. We should first look to our- 
 selves, and try to make ourselves virtuous, and then pleas-i 
 
24 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 tag. Those who are tnily virtuous not only do themselveB 
 good, but they add to the good of all. All have a portion 
 entrusted to them for the general good, and those who cher- 
 ish and preserve it are blessings to society at large; and 
 those who do not, become a curse. It is wonderfully order- 
 ed, how in acting for our own good we promote the good of 
 others. My idea of religion is, not for it to unfit us for the 
 duties of this life, like a nun who leaves them for prayer and 
 thanksgiving, but I think it should stimulate and capacitate 
 us to perform these duties properly. Seeing my father low 
 this evening, I have done all I could to make him comforta- 
 ble ; I feel it one of my first duties ; I hope he will always 
 find in me a most true and affectionate daughter. 
 
 '■^Augmt ist. — have done Uttie to-day, I am so very 
 idle. Instead of improving I fear I go back. My inclina- 
 tions lead me to be an idle, flirting, worldly gii-1. I see what 
 would be acting right, but I have neither activity nor perse- 
 verance in what I think right. I am like one setting out on 
 a journey; if I set out on the wi'oug road, and do not tiy to 
 recover the right one before I have gone far, I shall most 
 likely lose my way foreveb, and every step I take the more 
 difficult shall I find it to retuic ; therefore the temptation 
 will be greater to go on, till I get to destruction. On the 
 contrary, if now, w^hilst I am innocent of any great faults, I 
 turn into the right path, I shall soon feel more and more 
 contented every step I take. Trifles occupy me far too much, 
 such as dress, &c., &c. I find it easier to acknowledge my 
 vices than my follies. 
 
 «6«^. — I have a cress to-night. I had very much set my 
 mind on going to the oratorio, the Prince is to be there, and 
 by all accounts it will be quite a grand sight, and there wiL' 
 be the finest music ; but if my father does not like me to go 
 much as I wish it I will give it up with pleasure, if it be in 
 my power, without a murmur I went to the oratorio; I 
 enjoyed it but spoke sadly at random , what a bad habit! 
 
 ^^Aug. 12th. — I do not know if I shall not soon be rather 
 
EARLY UPE. 
 
 25 
 
 relifjious, because I have thought lately what a support it ia 
 through life ; it seems so delightful to depend on a superior 
 Power for all that is good ; it is at least always having the 
 bosom of a friend open to us, to rest all our cares and sor- 
 rows upon ; and what must be our feelings to imagine that 
 fiiend perfect, and guiding all and everything as it should 
 be guided. I think anybody who had real faith could never 
 be unhappy ; it appears the only certain source of support 
 and comfort in this hfe, and what is best of all it draws to 
 vii'tue, and if the idea be ever so ill-founded that leads to 
 that great object, why should we shun it? Religion has 
 been misused and corrupted: that is no reason why religion 
 itself is not good. 
 
 "15th. — For a few days past I have been in a worldly state, 
 dissipated, a want of thought, idle, relaxed and stupid, all 
 outside, no inside. I feel I am a contemptible fine lady. 
 May I be preserved from continuing so, is the ardent prayer 
 of my good man, hxit my evil man tells me I shall pray in 
 vain. I will try. I fear for myself. I feel in the course of 
 a little time I shall be all outside frippery, vain, proud, con- 
 ceited. I could use improper words at myself, but my good 
 man will not let me. But I am good in something; it is 
 vdcked to despair of myself ; it is the way to make me what 
 I desire not to be. I hope I shall always be virtuous ; can 
 I be really wicked ? I may be so, if I do not overcome my 
 first weak inclinations. I wish I had more solidity and less 
 fluidity in my disposition. I feel my own weakness and in- 
 sufficiency to bear the evils and rubs of life. I must try by 
 every stimulus in my power to strengthen myself both bodi- 
 ly and mentally ; it can only be done by activity and perse- 
 verance." 
 
 How beautiful is this deliberate stepping forward of 
 the young and ardent spiiit into the doorway of eternal 
 
26 
 
 ELIZABETH FEY 
 
 happiness ! " I will try what prayer can do," said Elizabeth 
 Gurney ; and she was so well satisfied with the result that 
 prayer became her staff in life and her pillow in death. 
 
 Soon after this time a Quaker preacher from America, 
 named William Savery, visited Norwich, and his ministry 
 had the effect of fanning the secretly burning embers of pi- 
 ety into an open flame. This important event is thus de- 
 scribed by one of Elizabeth's sisters : — 
 
 "On that day we seven sisters sat, as usual, in a row un- 
 der the gallery (the speakers' seat,) at Meeting; I sat by 
 Betsey. "William Savery was there — we liked having Year- 
 ly Meeting Friends come to preach ; it was a little change. 
 Betsey was generally rather restless at Meeting; and on 
 ihis day I remember her very smart boots were a greai 
 amusement to me; they were purple, laced with scarlet At 
 last William Savery began to preach. His voice and mRO- 
 ner were arrestmg, and we all liked the sound. Her atten- 
 tion became fixed. At last I saw her begin to weep, and she 
 became a good deal agitated. As soon as meeting was over 
 I have a remembrance of her making her way to the men's 
 side of the meeting, and, having found my father, she asked 
 bim if she might dine vnth Mr. Savery, at the Grove, (the 
 residence of an uncle,) to which he soon consented, though 
 ratber surprised by the request. We went home as usual, 
 and. lor a wonder, wished to go again in the afternoon. I 
 have not the same clear remembrance of this meeting, but 
 tbe next scene that has fastened .'tself on my memory is our 
 return home in the carriage, Betsey sat in the middle and 
 astonished us all by the great feeling she showed. She wept 
 most of the way home. The next morning William Savery 
 came to breakfast, prophesying of the high and important 
 calling she would be led into. What she went thi'ough in 
 her own mind I cannot say, but the rpsults were most pow- 
 
IABI.T LIFE. 
 
 27 
 
 erful, and most evident. From that day her love of pleas- 
 are and of the world seemed gone." 
 
 The description from the inner side is as follows: 
 
 Sunday, February 4:th, 1798. — This morning I went to 
 meeting, though but poorly, because I wished to hear an 
 Ajnerican Friend named William Savery. Much passed there 
 of a very interesting nature. I have had a faint light spread 
 over my mind, at least I think it is something of that kind, 
 owing to having been much with, and heard much excellence 
 from one who appears to me a true Christian. It has caused 
 me to feel a little religion. My imagination has been worked 
 upon, and I fear all that I felt will go off. I /ear it now 
 though at first I was frightened that a plain Quaker should 
 have made so deep an impression on me; but how truly 
 prejudiced in one to think that because good came from a 
 Quaker I should be led away by enthusiasm and foUy. But 
 I hope I am now free from such fears. I wish the state of 
 enthusiasm I am in may last, for to-day I have felt that there 
 is a God ; I have been devotional, and my mind has been 
 ed away from the folUes that it is mostly wrapt up in. We 
 had much serious conversation ; in short, what he said and 
 what I felt was like a refreshing shower falling upon earth 
 that had been dried up for ages. It has not made me un- 
 happy : I have felt ever since humble. I have longed for 
 virtue. I hope to be truly virtuous ; to let sophistry fly 
 6:0m my mind ; not to be enthusiastic and f ooUsh, but only 
 to be so far religious as will lead to virtue. There seems 
 nothing so little understood as religion. 
 
 **6<A. — My mind has by degrees flown from religion. I 
 rode to Norwich and had a very serious ride there; but 
 meeting and being looked at with apparent admiration by 
 some officers brought on vanity, and I came home as full of 
 the world as I went to town full of heaven. 
 
 **tSundayt llth.-~lt is very different to this day week (a 
 
28 
 
 ELIZABETH FET. 
 
 day never to be forgotten while memcry lasts). I have been 
 to meeting this morning. To-day 1 felt all my old iiTelig- 
 ious feelings My object shaU be to search, to try to do 
 right, and if I am mistaken it is not my fault; bat the state 
 I am now in makes it difficult to act. What little religion I 
 have felt has been owing to my giving way quietly and hum- 
 bly to my feelings. But the more I reason upon it the 
 more I get into a labyinnth of uncertainty, and my mind ia 
 so much inclined to both scepticism and enthusiasm that if 
 I argue and doubt I shall be a total sceptic; if on the con- 
 trary I give way to my feelings, and, as it were, wait for re- 
 ligion, I may be led away. But I hope that will not be the 
 case ; at all events, religion true and uncorrupted is of all 
 coinf orts the greatest ; it is the first stimulus to virtue ; it 
 is a support under every affliction. I am eui'e it is better to 
 be so in an enthusiastic degree ihan not to be so at all, for 
 it is a delightful enthusiasm.'' 
 
 Soon after this she visited London, and spent seven weeks 
 in the Metropolis. She mingled freely in the gaieties of city 
 life, went to balls, theaters, social gatherings, etc., and at 
 other times attended the meetings of her own sober, re- 
 ligious society. It was a crucial test for her of the rival 
 claims of the World and Religion. She tried both, and 
 freely and heartily chose the latter. In after life she es- 
 teemed this experience of great value to her. She agair 
 met her American evangehst at this time, and thus re- 
 cords her impressions and progress: 
 
 March 11 th, 1798. — May I never forget the impression 
 Wniiam Savery has made on my mind ! As much as I can 
 eay is, I thank God for having sent at least a gUmmeriag of 
 light, thi'ough him, into my heart, which I hope with cai'e, 
 
EARLY LIFE 
 
 29 
 
 and keeping it from the many draughts and winds of this 
 life, may not be blown out, but become a large, brilliant 
 flame that will direct to that haven where will be joy with- 
 out sorrow, and all will be comfort. I have faith ! how much 
 is that to gain ! Not all the pleasures in this world can 
 equal that heavenly treasure. May I grow more and more 
 vhtuous, follow the path I should go in, and not fear to ac- 
 knowledge the God whom I worship. I will try, and I do 
 hope to do what is right. . . . May I never lose the lit- 
 tle religion I now have; but if I cannot feel religion and de- 
 votion I must not despair : for if I am truly warm and earn- 
 est in the cause, it will come one day. My idea is that true 
 humility and lowliness of heart is the first grand step to- 
 wards true religion. I fear and tremble for myself, but I 
 must humbly look to the Author of all that is good and 
 great, and, I may say, humbly pray, that He may take me 
 as a sheep strayed from His flock, and once more let me en- 
 ter the fold of His glory. I feel there is a God and Immor- 
 tality ; happy, happy thought ! May it never leave me, and 
 if it should may I remember I have felt that there is a God 
 and Immortality." 
 
 '■'■April 1\st. — I am glad I do not feel Earlham at all dull 
 after the bustle of London ; on the contrary a better relish 
 for the sweet innocence and beauties of Nature. I hope I 
 may say I do look ' through Nature up to Nature's God.' I 
 go every day to see poor Rob, (a servant in declining health 
 living in a cottage in the Park,) who I think will not live. 
 I once talked to him about dying, and asked him if he would 
 like me to read to him in the Testament. I told him I felt 
 such faith in the blessings of immortality that I pitied not 
 his state. It is an odd speech to make to a dying man. I 
 hope to be able to comfort him in his dying hours. 
 
 "I gave some things to some poor people to-day ; but it is 
 not there I am particularly virtuous, as I am only following 
 my natural disposition. I should be far more so if I never 
 spoke against any person, which I do too often. I think I 
 
so 
 
 XLIZA.BSTH FBT. 
 
 am improved since I was last at home, my mind is not so 
 fly-away. I hope it will never be so again. We are all gov- 
 erned by our feelings. Now the reason why religion is far 
 more likely to keep you in the path of virtue than any theo- 
 retical plan is that you feel it, and your heart is wrapt up 
 in it ; it acts as a furnace on your character ; it refines it ; it 
 pm-ifies it ; whereas principles of your own making are with- 
 out kindling to make the fire hot enough to answer its pur- 
 pose. I think a di-eam I have had so odd I will write it 
 down. Before I mention my dream I wUl give an aecoimt 
 of the state of my mind from the time I was fourteen years 
 old. I had very sceptical, or deistical principles. I seldom 
 or never thought of religion, and altogether I was a nega- 
 tively good character : having naturally good dispositions 
 I had not much to combat with ; I gave way freely to the 
 weaknesses of youth. I was flirting, idle, rather proud and 
 vain, tUl the time I was seventeen, wh«n I found I wanted 
 a better, a greater stimulus to virtue than I had, as I was 
 wrapt up iu trifles. I felt my miad capable of better things, 
 but I could not exert it, till several of my friends, without 
 knowing my state wished I would read books on Christian- 
 it ; but I said, till I felt the want of religion myself I would 
 not read books of that kiud, but if ever I did would judge 
 clearly for myself by reading the New Testament, and when 
 I had seen for myself I would then see what others said. 
 About this time I believe I never missed a week, or a few 
 nights, without dreaming I was nearly being washed away 
 by the sea, sometimes in one way, sometimes in another; 
 and I felt all the terror of being di'owned, or hope of being 
 saved. At last I dreamed it so often that I told many of 
 the family what a strange dream I had, and how near I was 
 being lost. After I had gone on in this way for some 
 months William Savery came to Norwich. I had begun to 
 read the New Testament with reflections of my own, and he 
 suddenly, as it were, opened my eyes to see religion ; but 
 again they almost closed. I went on dreaming the dream, 
 
EABLY LIFE. 
 
 31 
 
 The day when I felt that I had really and timly got true and 
 real faith, that night I di-eamed the sea was coming as usual 
 to wash me away, but I was beyond its reach ; beyond its 
 powers to wash me away. Since that night I do not re- 
 member to have di'eamed the di'eam. 
 
 Odd ! It did not strike me at the time so odd ; but now it 
 does. All I can say is, I admii-e it, I am glad I have had 
 it, and I have a sort of faith in it ; it ought, I think, to make 
 my faith steady. It may be the work of chance, but I do 
 not think it is, for it is so odd not having dreamed it since. 
 What a blessed thought, to think it comes from Heaven. 
 May I be capable of acting as I ought to act ; not being 
 drowned in the ocean of the woi'ld, but permitted to mount 
 above its waves, and remain a steady and faithful servant of 
 the God whom I worship. I may take this dream in what 
 hght I like, but I must be careful of superstition, as many, 
 many a e the minds that are led away by it ; believe only in 
 what I can comprehend or feel. Don't, don't be led away 
 by enthusiasm; but don't fear. I feel myself under the 
 protection of One who alone is able to guide me in the path 
 in which I ought to go. 
 
 "29«A. — The human mind is apt to fly from one extreme 
 to another : and why not mine like others ? I certainly seem 
 to be on the road to a degree of enthusiasm, but I own my- 
 self at a loss how to act. If I act as they would wish me, 
 I should not humbly give way to the feelings of religion; 
 I should dwell on philosophy, and depend more on my own 
 reason than anything else. On the contrary, if I give way 
 to religious feelings to which I am inclined, (and I own I 
 believe much in inspiration,) I feel confident that I should 
 find true humility and humble waiting on the Almighty, 
 the only way of feeling an inwai'd sense of the beauties and 
 the comforts of religion. It spreads a sweet veil over the 
 evils of life; it is to me the first of feelings. I own my 
 dream rather leads me to believe in and try to follow the 
 path I would go in. But I should think my wisest i)lan of 
 
32 
 
 ELIZABETH FBY. 
 
 conduct would be warmly to encooi'age my feelings of de- 
 votion, and to keep as nearly as I can to what I think right, 
 and the doctrines of the Testament — not ac present to make 
 sects the subject of my meditations, but to do as I think 
 right, and not alter my opinions from conformity to any 
 one, gay or plain. 
 
 May %th. — This morning, being alone, I think it a good 
 opportunity to look into myself, to see my present state, 
 and to regulate myself. At this time the first object of mj 
 mind is religion. It is the most constant subject of my 
 thoughts and of my feelings. I am not yet on what I call 
 a steady foundation. The next feeling that at this present 
 fills my heart is benevolence and affection to many, but 
 great want of charity, want of humility, want of activity. 
 My inclinations lead me I hope to virtue ; my passions are 
 I hope in a pretty good state ; I want to set myself in or- 
 der, for much time is lost and many evils committed by not 
 having some regular plan of conduct. I make these rules 
 for myself: — 
 
 First, — Never lose any time ; — I do not think that lost 
 which is spent in amusement or reci'eation. some time every 
 day ; but always be in the habit of being employed. 
 
 Second, — Never err the least in truth. 
 
 Third, — Never say any ill thing of a person when I can 
 Bay a good thing ; — not only speak charitably, but feel so. 
 
 Fourth, — Never be irritable, or unkind to any body. 
 
 Fifth, — Never indulge myself in luxuries that are not nee 
 essary. 
 
 Sixth, — Do all things with consideration, and when my 
 path to act right is most difficult, feel confidence in that 
 Power which alone is able to assist me, and exert my owa 
 powers as far as they go. 
 
 "19iA. — Altogether I think I have had a satisfactory day 
 I had a good lesson of French, and read much in Epictetus. 
 Saw poor Rob. and enjoyed the beauties of nature which 
 
EARLY L,Ii<J5. 
 
 33 
 
 now sliine forth; each day some new beauty arrives. I 
 love the beauty of the country ; it does the mind good. I 
 love it more than I used to do. I love retirement and qui- 
 et much more since my journey to London. How little I 
 thought six months ago I should be so much altered ; I am 
 since then, I hope, altered much for the better. My heart 
 may rise In thankfulness to that Omnipotent Power that haa 
 allowed my eyes to be opened, in some measure, to see the 
 light of truth, and to feel the comfort of religion. I hope 
 to be capable of giving up my all, if ifc be required of me, 
 to serve the almighty with my whole heart. 
 
 "21st. (May.) — To-day is my birth-day. I am eighteen 
 years old! How many things have happened since I was 
 fourteen ; the last year has been the happiest I have expe- 
 rienced for some time. 
 
 "23?'t?. — I have just been reading a letter from my father 
 in which he makes me the offer of going to London. What 
 a temptation! But I believe it much better for ipe to be 
 where I am, quietly and soberly to keep a proper nfedium of 
 feelings, and not be extravagant any way. 
 
 "2itK, — ^1. wrote to my father this morning. ^ I must' be 
 most careful not to be led by others, for I kno'^ at tliis time 
 I have so great a liking for plain Friends, that, my affec- 
 tions being so much engaged, my mind may be also by 
 them. I hope, as I now find myself in so wavering a stats, 
 that I may judge without prejudice of Barclay's Apology. 
 
 "27th. — I must be careful of allowing false scruples to 
 enter my mind. I have not yet been long enough a relig- 
 ionist to be a sectarian. I hope by degrees to obtain true 
 faith ; but I expect I shall lose what I gain il I am led to 
 actions that I may repent of ; rememeber, and never f orgefe 
 my own enthusiastic, feeling nature.?} It rec^jjres cautioo 
 and extreme prudence to go on as I jfehould do. In the bI» 
 ternoon I went to old St. Peter's and' heard a goo£i sermon. 
 The common people seemed very much occupied ajld Avrapt 
 up in the service, which I was pleased to see. Afterwards 
 
34 
 
 ELIZABETH FRY 
 
 I went to the Cathedral ; then I came home and read to the 
 Normans and little Castleton. 
 
 " 2dth. — I feel weak in mind and body. If I go on ap- 
 proving revealed religion, I must be extremely careful of 
 taking the idle fancies of the brain for anything so far supe- 
 rior. I believe many mistake mere meteors for that heavenly 
 light which few receive. Many may have it in a degi'ee,but I 
 should suppose few have it so as to teach others with authority. 
 
 " fTune 1st. — I have been a great part of this morning with 
 poor Rob, who seems now dying. I read a chapter in the 
 Testament to him — the one upon death — and I sat with him 
 for some time afterwards. Poor fellow ! I never saw death, 
 or any of its symptoms before ; sad to see it truly is. I 
 said a few words to him, and expressed to him how happy 
 we should be in the expectation of immortality and everlast- 
 ing bliss. Father of mercies, wilt Thou bless him and take 
 him unto Thee? Though my mind is flat this morning, and 
 not favored with Thy Spii'it in devotion, yet I exert what I 
 have, and hope it will prove acceptable in Thy sight. Al- 
 mighty God, Thy will be done, and not ours. May I always 
 be resigned to what Thou hast ordered for me. I humbly 
 thank Thee for allowing my eyes to be opened,so as even to 
 feel faith, hope and love towards Thee. First and last of 
 everything infinite, and not to be comprehended except by 
 Thy Spii'it which Thou allowest to enlighten our hearts." 
 
 The above is the first of those written prayers which 
 abound in this devoted Christian's Journal, increasing in 
 frequency and fervency to the close. It is worthy of re- 
 mark, how gradually the devotional sphit became developed 
 in her mind. At about the age of seventeen she wrote, "I 
 love to ' look thiough nature up to nature's God.' I have 
 no more religion than that; and in the little that I have 
 J am not the least devotional." Two or three months later 
 
EABL7 LIFE. 
 
 83 
 
 she says, "If I were devotional I should fall on my knees 
 and be.most grateful for the blessings I enjoy." This was 
 in July. In January following, "I should think it almost 
 impossible to keep strictly to principles without reUgion; 
 I should think those feelings impossible to obtain, for even 
 if I thought all the Bible was true, I do not think I could 
 make myself feel it: I think I never saw any person who 
 appeared so totally destitute of it. I fear I am by degrees 
 falling away from the path of virtue and truth." When, 
 a month afterwards, the Holy Spirit was first sensibly shed 
 Upon her through the preaching of the Gospel, causing 
 tears of joy to flow, she wrote, "I wish the state of enthu- 
 siasm I am in may last, for to-day I have felt that there is a 
 God; I have been devotional, and my mind has been led 
 away from the follies that it is mostly wi'apped up in." 
 Four months thereafter, when watching over and trying to 
 administer the sacrament of Divine love, hope and faith to 
 a poor dying man, the spirit expressed itself as above. 
 Thus the light and warmth of religion very gradually in- 
 creased in her mind and heart through the exercise of the 
 grace which was given. 
 
 " 12th. — This evening I have got myself rather in a scrape ; 
 I have been helping them beg my father to go to the 
 Guild-dinner, and I don't know whether it was quite what I 
 approve of, or think good for myself; but I shall consider, 
 and do not intend to go, if I disapprove of it. How strange 
 and odd ! I really think I shall turn plain Friend. All I say 
 is, search deeply ; do nothing rashly, and then I hope to do 
 right. They all, I think, now see it. Keep up to the du- 
 ties I feel in my heart, let the path be ever so difficult. Err 
 aot at all if I can avoid it Be bumble and constant. I do 
 
56 
 
 ELIZABETH FEY. 
 
 not lilce to appear a character I am not certain of being. 
 For a few days past I have at times felt much relisfion for 
 me; humility and comfort belong to it. I often thiiik very 
 seriously about myself. A few months ago if I had seen any 
 one act as I now do, I should have thought him a fool ; but 
 the strongest proof I can have that I am acting right at the 
 present time is that I am certainly a better and I think a 
 happier character. But I often doubt myself when I con- 
 sider my enthusiastic and changeable feelings. Religion is 
 no common enthusiasm, because it is pure ; it is a constant 
 fifiSiad, protector, supporter and guardian; it is what we 
 cannrff, do well withm'i in this world. What can prove its 
 fexcellence so much as its producing virtue and happiness? 
 HoWs.much more sohd a character I am since I first got hold 
 of religion ! I would not part with what I have for any- 
 thiiig. It is a faith that never will leave my mind, I hope 
 fliogt earnestly. I do not believe it wUl, but I desire always 
 to be a strictly religious character." . 
 
 In the next entry we have an intimation of her future work. 
 
 " 13«A. — I have some thoughts of by degrees increasing 
 my plan for Sunday evening; and of having several poor 
 children at least to read in the Testament and religious 
 books for an hour.' I have begun with Billy, but I hope to 
 CDntinue and increase one by one. I should think it a good 
 plan; but I must not even begin that hastily. It might in- 
 crease morality among the lower classes if the Scriptiu-es 
 Vere oftener and better read to them. I believe I cann«ot 
 exert myself too much : there is nothing gives me such sat- 
 isfaction as instructing the lower classes of people." 
 
 During this summer — 1798 — John Gui-ney and his seven 
 daughters traveled into Wales. They met with various 
 classes of people, Quakers and others. The following ex- 
 
EABLT LIFE. 
 
 37 
 
 tract shows the drawing of Elizabeth's mind toward the more 
 eeiious part of her own religious Society : 
 
 Dawlish, August Srd. — This morning Kitty came in for 
 us to read the Testament together, which I enjoyed; I read 
 my favorite chapter, the 15th of Corinthians, to them. Oh! 
 how earnestly I hope that we may all know what truth is 
 and follow its dictates. I still continue my belief that I 
 shall turn plain Quaker. I used to think, and do now, how 
 how very little di'ess matters, but I find it almost impossi- 
 ble to keep up to the principles of Friends without altering 
 my dress and speech. I felt it the other day at Weymouth. 
 li I had been plain I should not have been tet7ipted to go to 
 the play, which, at all events I would not do. Plainness 
 appears to be a sort of protection to the principles of Chiis- 
 tianity, in the present state of the world. I have just re- 
 ceived a letter from Anna Savery, and have been answering 
 it, and have written rather a religious letter which I mean 
 to show them, though it is to me a cross, as I say in it I 
 think I am a Quaker at heart. I hope it will not hurt them; 
 but it is better to be on clear grounds with my best friend? 
 upon that which so nearly interests me. I know it hurts 
 Eachel and John the most. Rachel has the seeds of Qua- 
 kerism in her heart, that, if cultivated, would grow indeed, 
 I have no doubt. I should never be surprised to see us all 
 Quakers. 
 
 " Plymouth Dock, 8th.—' .... Am I right or not? 
 An officer has come for us to hear a very famous Marine 
 Band ; and I do not go, because I have some idea it is 
 wrong even to give countenance to a thing that inflames 
 men's minds to destroy each other. It is truly giving en- 
 couragement, as far as lies in my power, to what I most 
 highly disapprove ; therefore I think I am right to stay at 
 home. 
 
 '■^ Aberystwith, IZrd. — Is dancing wrong? I have just 
 been dancing; I think there are many dangers attending it; 
 
88 
 
 ELIZABETH Fr.T. 
 
 it may lead to vanity and otlier tilings. The more the 
 pleasm-es of life ai'e given up, the less we love the world, 
 and our lieavts wiU be set ujDon better things ; not but that 
 we are allowed, I beheve, to enjoy the Kessings Heaven has 
 sent us. We have power of mind to distinguish the good 
 fi-om the bad ; for under the cloak of pleasui-e infinite evils 
 are earned on. The danger of dancing, I find is throwing 
 me off my center. At times, when dancing, I know that I 
 have not reason left, but that I do things which in calm 
 moments I must repent of. 
 
 " 28<A"— My mind is in an uncomf oiiable state this morn- 
 ing ; for I am astonished to find that I have felt a scruple 
 at music, at least I could not othervvise account for my feel- 
 ings ; but my mind is rather uneasy after spending time in 
 it. These cannot be sensations of my own making, or a con- 
 trivance of my own forming, for I have such happiness when 
 I overcome my worldly self ; and when I give way to it I 
 am uneasy. Not but what I think feelings are sometimes 
 dangerous to give way to ; but how odd, yet how true, that 
 much human reason must be given up. I don't know what 
 to think of it, but T must act somehow, and in some way, — 
 yet do nothing rashP^-Qf hastily, but try to humiliate myself 
 to true religion, and ettdeavor to looklo God who alone can 
 teach me and lead me aright ; have faith, hope, and if little 
 things are to follow to protect greater ones, I must, yes, I 
 must do it. I feel certainly happier in being a Quaker, but 
 my reason contradicts it. Now my fears are these : lately 
 I have had Quakerism placed before me in a very interest- 
 ing and delightful light : and is it unlikely that inclination 
 may put on the appearance of duty ? Now my inclination 
 may, before long, lead me some other way ; that is a sad foun- 
 dation to buUd the fortress upon which must defend me 
 through life. But I think I am wrong in one thing, though 
 it is right to doubt myself ; yet do I not make myself more 
 uneasy for fear I should be a ridiculous object to the world 
 and some of my dear friends ? I believe I can give myself a 
 
EARLY LIFE. 
 
 89 
 
 little advice — not to promote anytlung leading to unquaker- 
 b m ; but try if it mako xne happy or not, and then take 
 greater steps if I like." 
 
 The above is a very curious passage, showing, with dra» 
 matic cleai'ness the struggle of conflicting ideas, inclinations 
 aud tastes, in a conscientious mind, thoroughly bent on doing 
 its whole duty, and brought, by association, under the in- 
 fluence of opposite cui-rents of opinion and differing modes 
 of practice. Judging at this distance, after the innocent, 
 and may we not say heavenly, charms of music have finally 
 overcome the prejudice against it, even among the sober 
 Quakers, except in a few instances, we can see that the case 
 was not judged on its own intrinsic merits, when it was de- 
 cided to give up a source of pure and refined pleasure , be- 
 cause it was thought by certain serious people to militate 
 against the Christian life. Still, it is not necessary to con- 
 clude that she made a mistake, unless it had been better 
 then and thereto inaugurate a reform, and insist on holding 
 to all that was good in itself, notwithstanding the oppo&\» 
 tion,. This, it is not probable a sensitive gu'l of eighteen 
 was strong enough to do. without a conflict greater than 
 she could bear, or without producing discords in the society 
 with whish it was best for her to remain associated. Whj^ 
 therefore, might not the Spirit of Divine Wisdom truly hav9 
 impressed her mind to yield this and other points, as a 
 practical measure of hai'mony ? But we can only say thai 
 euch may have been the case. When we trace the history 
 of this eventful life further, and see that, to her great sox* 
 row, her own children refused to follow her in the narrow? 
 path which she felt it right for her to choose, we are in* 
 
40 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 clined to question whether a bolder and more steadfast ad- 
 herance to abstract truth and reason might not have pro- 
 duced better results. Of this we are perhaps incompetent 
 to judge : but we can safely assert that, although circum- 
 stances may justify a temporary conformity to existing cus- 
 toms, we should not make our special duties a law for 
 others, or even for ourselves in other relations and circum- 
 stances. The law of expediency, or relative duty, has neces- 
 sarily a large share in the control of human conduct. A 
 very considerable pai't of the religious practices of men are 
 dictated by it. But since God Himself has wisely adapted 
 His laws to the the varying conditions of mankind, we ought 
 not to consider om'selves bound to anything which our 
 fathers found requisite for themselves, unless an vmchang- 
 ing principle also enjoins it upon us. All societies, as now 
 organized, have their pecuharities which it may be well for 
 their members to abide by until some fui'ther development 
 renders these customs inappropriate. When He who "di- 
 videth unto every man severally as He will " put Elizabeth 
 Gumey, beautiful and engaging, with the head of a sage 
 and the heart of an angel, into a plain Quaker dress, and 
 persuaded her to give up music and other social amuse- 
 ments, to say "thee" and "thou," and to preach the gospel, 
 and labor for the salvation of lost souls, it is evident that 
 He considered Quakerism a good harness for her to worh 
 in; and so the results proved it to be. But it would not 
 follow that others — not even her own childien — were bound 
 by all the restrictions which she felt to be necessary. This 
 she herself freely acknowledged at a later period in life, 
 after much sorrow had brought its increase of wisdom. 
 
BARLT LITE. 4l 
 
 The following entry which illustrates both her sincerity and 
 good-sense, throws further light on the subject and may 
 help others to understand the source of many of their con- 
 victions about religion and religious duty. 
 
 "e/an. 29, 1799.— I am in a doubtful state of mind. I 
 think my mind is timid and my affections strong, which may 
 be partly the cause of my being so much incUned to Quaker- 
 ism. In the first place my affections were worked upon in 
 receiving the first doctrines of religion through a Quaker; 
 therefore it is likely they would put on that garb in my 
 miud. In the next place my timidity may make me uncom- 
 fortable in ening from principles that I am so much incUned 
 to adopt. So far I should be on my guard, and I hope not 
 to forget what I have just mentioned. But yet, I think the 
 only true standard I have to direct myself by is that which 
 experience proves to give me the most happiness by ena- 
 bling me to be the most virtuous. I believe there is some- 
 thing in the mind, or in the heai t, that shows its approba- 
 tion when we do right. I give myself this advice : Do not 
 feai" trath, let it be ever so contrary to inclination and feel- 
 ing." 
 
 Her severest trial seems to have been in giving up the so- 
 cial amusements, music, singing and dancing, which appear 
 to have been much, and, we should think, rationally enjoyed, 
 in her laige family of seven sisters and four brothers. The 
 regret was not on her own account, for she would have pre- 
 feiTed to lay these doves and lambs on the altar of con- 
 science before she did, but she felt the grief it would cause 
 in the dear home circle. Here are some of her touching re- 
 flections : 
 
 "27«A. — This evening 1 iiave been doing exercises, and 
 
43 
 
 EXIZABtTH FB7. 
 
 singing- with tliem ; my mind feels very clear to night and 
 my body much bettei*. I have been thinlcing about singing ; 
 I hope in that, as in everything else, to do what is right. 1 
 cannot say I feel it is wrong to sing to my own family ; it is 
 Bweet and right to give them pleasure. I do not approve o\ 
 singing in company, as it leads to vanity and dissipation of 
 mind ; but that I believe I have no occasion to do, as dear 
 Rachel does not request it, for she does not like it herself. 
 I should be sorry quite to give up singing as the gift 
 of nature, and on her account ; as long as it does not lead 
 me from what is right I need not fear. 
 
 " October 5th. — In the evening a fiddler came and we all 
 had a dauce. I had a toothache and so far from its making 
 me morry it made me grave. I do not feel satisfaction in 
 dancing. 
 
 "6«/? — -This morning I awoke not comfortable; the sub' 
 ject of dancing came strongly before my mind. Totally de- 
 clining it as a matter of pleasure I do not mind; only as 1 
 am situated with the others I find it diflScult. The ques- 
 tion is if these may not be scruples of my own formuig that 
 I may one day repent of. The bottom of my heart is in- 
 clined to Quakerism, but I know what imagination can do. 
 £ believe the formation of ray mind is such that it require? 
 the bonds and ties of Quakerism to fit it for immortality. I 
 feel it a very great blessing being so little in the company 
 of superior fascinating Quakers, because it makes me act 
 freely, and look to the only true Judge for what is right for 
 me to do. The next question is, am I sufficiently clear that 
 dancing is wrong to give it up ? because I know much pre- 
 caution is necessary. I believe I may, if I like, make one 
 more trial, and judge again how I feel ; but I must reflect 
 upon it, determining to give it up if I think right. I wish 
 to make it a subject of very serious reflection hoping as 
 usual to do right. It will hurt them much I fear, but time 
 I believe will take off that, if they see me happier and better 
 for it. Let me redouble my kindness to them. Cathei-ine 
 
UFE. 
 
 43 
 
 eeems to wish I would give up correspondence wifn Anna 
 SavPiy, which I think I may do. This day has been very 
 comfortable in most respects, though I have not done much. 
 I have finished my letter to dear cousin Priscilla, and that 
 to Mrs. ; but I cannot feel quite easy to send it with- 
 out first speaking to my father ; for I do believe it is my 
 duty to make him my friend in all things ; though I think 
 it probable he will discoiurage me in writing to my friend 
 Srphy; yet never keep anything from him; but let me be 
 au open, true, kind, and dutiful daughter to him whilst life 
 is in my body. 
 
 "12th. — I Lave many great faults, but I have some dispo- 
 sitions which I should be most thankful for. I beheve I 
 feel much for my fellow-creatures ; though I think I mostly 
 see into the minds of those I associate with, and am apt to 
 satuize their weakness ; yet I don't remember ever being any 
 time with one who was not extremely disgusting but I felt 
 a sort of love for them, and I do hope I would sacrifice my 
 life for the good of mankind. My mind is too much Uke a 
 looking-glass ; — objects of all kinds are easily reflected in it, 
 whilst present, but when they go their reflection is gone 
 also. I have a faint idea of many things, a strong idea of a 
 few ; therefore my mind is cultivated badh'. I have many 
 straggling, but not many connected ideas. I have the mate- 
 rials to form good in my mind, but I am not a sufficiently 
 good artificer to unite them properly together, and make a 
 good consistence ; for in some parts I am too hard, in othe: s 
 too soft. I hope and believe the Great Aitificer is now at 
 work ; that if I join my power to the only one able to con- 
 duct me aright, I may one day be better than I am. 
 
 "11 th. — My journal has not gone on well of late; partly 
 owing to my going out, and having people in the room, now 
 there is a fire. I dislike going out ; what my mind wants ia 
 peace and quiet. The other night as I was alone in a car- 
 riage, a fine starlight night, I thought, — ^\Tiat is it I wanti 
 how I overflow with the blessings of' this world ! I have 
 
u 
 
 ELIZABETH FKY. 
 
 true friends — as many as I wish for — good health, a happy 
 home, with all that riches can give, and yet all these are 
 nothing without a satisfied conscience. At times I feel 
 
 satisfied, but I have not reason to feel so often 
 
 This afternoon I have much to correct, I feel proud, vain 
 and disagreeable ; not touched with the sweet humility of 
 Christianity ; nor is my heart enlightened by its happy doc- 
 trines. I have two things heavily weighing on my mind- 
 dancing and singing. So sweet and so pretty do they seem 5 
 but as surely as I do either, so surely does a dark cloud come 
 over my miud. It is not only my giving up these things, but 
 I am making others miserable, and laying a restraint upon 
 then: pleasmes. In the next plaqe am I sure I am going 
 upon a good foundation ? If I a& doing right God will 
 protect me and them also. If I am doing wrong what 
 foundation do I stand upon? None: then all to me is noth- 
 ing. Let me try to take my thoughts from this world, and 
 look to the only true Judge. I believe singing to be so 
 natural that I may try it a little longer : but I do think 
 dancing may be given up. What particularly led me to this 
 state was our having company, and I thought I must sing. 
 I sang a little but did not stay with them during the play- 
 ing. My mind continued in a state of agitation, and I did 
 noii Sl'egp until some time after I was in bed. 
 
 " IQth.—My mind feels more this morning, if anything than 
 it did l&st night. Can such feelings be' ,my own putting on f 
 They seem to affect my whole frame, mental and bodily. 
 They cannot,.be of myself, for if I were to give worlds I 
 could not;remove them. They truly make me shake. When 
 I loolc forwards I think I can see, if I have strength to do as 
 they direct I shall be another person : sorrow I believe will 
 be removedAto be replaced by joy. Then let me now act i 
 My best method, oi conduct will be to tell Rachel Low I am 
 situated in mind, and then ask her what she would advise : 
 and be very kind and tell her the true state of the case. Is 
 it worth while to continue in so small a pleasure for so much 
 
EARLY LIFB. 
 
 pain? The pleasure is notliiiig to me, but it is a grand step 
 to take in life. — I have been and spoicen to liachel, saying I 
 think I must give up singing. It is astonishing the total 
 change that ha^ taken place. From misery I am now come 
 to joy. I felt ill before ; I now feel well — thankful should 
 I be for being directed, and pray to keep up always to that 
 dii'ection. After having spol^en to my dailing Eachel, where 
 I fear I said too much, I rode to Norwich after some poor 
 people : I went to see many and added my mite to their 
 comfort. Nothing, I think, could exceed the kindness of my 
 dear Rachel. Though I have no one here to encourage me 
 m Quakerism, I believe I must be one before I am content, 
 "7</t. December. — I have had a letter to say my dear 
 friend William Savery is safely arrived in America. Kitty 
 and I have been having a long talk together this evening 
 upon sects ; we both seem to think them a'most necessary. 
 It is long since I have what I may truly call written in my 
 journal. Writing in my journal is to me expressing the feel- 
 ings of my heart during the day. I have partly given it up, 
 from the coldness of the Aveather and not having a snug lire 
 to sit by. I wish now, as I have opportunity, to look a little 
 into the present situation of my heart. That is the advant- 
 age of writing a true journal — it leads the mind to look in- 
 ward. Of late I do not think I have been sufficiently active, 
 but have rather given way to a dilatory spirit. I have been 
 reading Watts' Logic: it tells me how ill-regulated my 
 thoughts are — they truly ramble! Regularity of thought 
 and deed is what I much want ; I appear to myself to have 
 almost a confusion of ideas, which leads to a confusion of 
 actions. I want order. I believe it difficult to obtain, but 
 yet with perseverance attainable. The first way to obtain it 
 appears to me to try to prevent my thoughts from rambling, 
 and to keep them as steadily as possible to the object in view. 
 True religion is what I seldom feel, nor do I sufficiently try 
 after it, by really seeking devotion. I do not warmly seek 
 it, I am sure, nor do I live in the lear of an All-wise Being 
 
AS 
 
 ELIZABETH FBI. 
 
 who watchers over us. I seldom look deep enough, but dwe'l 
 too much on the surface of things and let my ideas float. 
 Such is my state. I can't tell how I feel exactly: — ab times 
 all seems to me mystery ; ' When I look at the heavens, the 
 work of Thy fingers, the moon and stars which Thou hast 
 ordained, what is man that Thou art mindful of him, or the 
 son of man that Thou visitest him T Thou must exist, O 
 Ood ! for the heavens declare Thy glory, and the firmament 
 showeth Thy handiwork. 
 
 " Sth. — Since dinner I have read much logic and enjoyed 
 it; it is interesting to me, and may, I think, with attention, 
 do me good. Reading Watts impresses deeply on my mind 
 how very cai"efui I should be of judging ; how much I should 
 consider before I speak, or form an opinion; how careful I 
 should be not to let my mind be tinged tbroughout with 
 one reigning subject, to try not to associate ideas ; but judge 
 of things according to the evidence they give to my mind 
 of their own worth. My mind is like a pair of scales that 
 are not inclined to balance equally ; at least when I begin 
 to form a judgment, and try to hold the balance equally, as 
 Boon as I perceive that one scale is at all heavier than the 
 other, I am apt at once to let it fall on that side, forgetting 
 what remains in the other scale, which, though lighter, should 
 not be forgotten. For instance, I look at a character; at 
 first I try to judge calmly and truly; but if I see more vir- 
 tues than vices I am apt soon to like that character so much 
 .that 1 Uke its weaknesses also, and forget they are weakness- 
 es. The same if evil may preponderate, I forget the vutues. 
 
 "30i;/i. — I went to meeting in the morning and afternoon , 
 both times rather dark ; but I have been a httle permitted 
 to see my own state, which is the greatest favor I can ask for 
 at present ; to know what I should do and to be assisted in my 
 duties: for it is hard, very hard to act right, at least I find 
 *it so. But there is the comfortable consideration that God 
 is merciful and full of comi^assion ; He is tender over Hi?< 
 children. I had a satisfactory time with my girls and boys. 
 
EABLY LIFE. 
 
 47 
 
 January 4ith, 1799. — Most of this morning I spent in 
 Norwich seeing after the poor ; I do little for them, and I 
 do not like it should appear that I do much. I must be 
 most guarded, and tell those who know I do charity that I 
 am only my father's agent. A plan, at least a duty that I 
 have i'elt for some time, I will now mention. I have been 
 trying to overcome fear. My method has been to stay in the 
 dark, and at night go into those rooms not generally inhab- 
 ited. There is a strange propensity in the human mind to 
 fear in the dark; there is a sort of dread of something su- 
 pernatm-al. I tried to overcome that by considering that as 
 far as I believe in f>bosts, so far I must believe in a state af- 
 ter death, and it must confirm my belief in the Spirit of 
 God ; therefore if I try to act right 1 have no need to fear 
 the directions of Infinite Wisdom. I do not turn away such 
 things as some do : I believe nothing impossible to God, 
 and He may have used spirits as agents for purposes beyond 
 GUI- conceptions. I know they can only come when He 
 pleases, therefore we need not fear them. But my most 
 predominant fear is that of thieves, and I find that still more 
 difficult to overcome ; but faith would cure that also, for 
 God can equally protect us from man as from spirit. 
 
 "8fA, — My father not appearing to like all my present 
 doings, has been rather a cloud over my mind this day : there 
 are few, if any, in the world I love so well ; I am not easy 
 to do what he would not like, for I think I could saciifice 
 almost anything for him, I owe him so much. I love Viim 
 BO well. 
 
 " I have been reading Watts on Judgment this after- 
 noon ; it has led me into thought, and particularly upon the 
 evidence I have to believe in religion. The first thing that 
 strikes me is the perception we all have of being under a 
 power superior to human. I seldom feel this so much as 
 when unwell ; to see how pain can visit me and how it ia 
 taken away. Work forever, we could not create life. There 
 must be a cause to produce an effect. The ne.\c thing that 
 
48 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 strikes me is good and evil, vu tue and vice, happiness and 
 
 unhappiiiess — these are acknowledged to be linked together : 
 virtue produces good, vice evil ; of course the Power that 
 allows this shows approbation of virtue. Thirdly, Christi- 
 anity seems also to have its clear evidences, even to my 
 human reason. My mind has not been convinced by books ; 
 but what little faith I have has been confirmed by reading 
 holy writers themselves. 
 
 " 14:th. — I hope I have from experience gained a little. 
 I am much of a Friend in my principles at this time, but do 
 not outwardly appear much so ; I say ' thee ' to people, and 
 do not di-ess very gay; but yet I say 'Mr,' and 'jMi-s.,' wear 
 a turban, &c., &c. I have one remark to make ; every step 
 I have taken toward Quakerism has given me satisfaction. 
 
 "18iA. — I feel I must not despair: I consider I first 
 brought sceptical opinions upon myself, and it is only what 
 is due to me that they should now hurt me. I hope I do 
 not much murmur at the decrees of the Almighty : and can 
 I expect who am so faulty, to be blessed with entire faith ? 
 Let me once more try and pray, that the evil roots in my 
 own mind may be eradicated. I had altogether, a pretty 
 good day ; rather too much vanity at being mistress at home, 
 and having to entertain many guests. 
 
 "24:th. — "What feeling so cheering to the human mind as 
 religion ! what thankfulness should I feel to God ! I have 
 great reason to believe Almighty God is directing my mind 
 to the haven of peace; at least I feel that I am guided by a 
 Power not my own. How dark was my mind for some 
 days ! How heavy ! I saw duties to be performed that 
 even struck me as foolish. I took courage and tried to fol- 
 low the directions of this voice. I felt enlightened, even 
 happy. Again I erred, again I was in a cloud. I once 
 more tried, and again I felt brightened. 
 
 "25th. — This time last year I was with my dear friend. 
 "Wilham Savery, at Westminster Meeting. I can only thank- 
 fully admire, when I look back to that time, the gentle lead- 
 
E>.RLT LIFE 
 
 49 
 
 ings my soul has had from the state of gi'eat darkness I was 
 in. How suddenly did the light of Christianity burst upon 
 my mind ! I have reason to believe in religion from my own 
 experience ; and what foundation so solid to build my hopes 
 upon? May I gain from the httle experience I have been 
 blessed with. May I encourage the voice of truth : and may 
 I be a steady and virtuous combatant in the service of God. 
 Such I think I may truly say is my most ardent prayer. 
 But God who is omnipresent knows my thoughts, knows my 
 wishes, and my many, many feelings. May I conclude with 
 saying ' cleanse Thou me from secret faults.' 
 
 " 28«A. — We had company most part of the day. I have 
 an odd feeling. Uncle Joseph and many gay ones were 
 here ; I had a sort of sympathy with him. I feel to have 
 been so much off my guard that if tempted I should have 
 done wrong. I now hear them singing. How much my 
 natm-al heart does love to sing. But if I give way to the' 
 ecstacy that singing sometimes produces in my mind, it 
 carries me far beyond the center ; it increases all the wild 
 passions and works on enthusiasm. Many say and think it 
 leads to rehgion ; it may lead to emotions of religion, but 
 true reUgion appears to me to be in a deeper recess of the 
 heart, where no earthly passion can produce it. 
 
 March \st. — There is going to be a danCe — what am 1 
 to do? As far as I can see I believe, if I find it very neces- 
 sary to their pleasure, I may do it, but not for my own grati- 
 fication. Remember don't be vain ; if it be possible dance 
 Uttle. 
 
 " I began to dance in a state next to pain of mind ; when I 
 had danced four dances, I was trying to pluck up courage 
 to tell Rachel I wished to give it up for the evening : it 
 seemed as if she looked into my mind, for she came up t& 
 me that minute, in the most tender manner, and begged ma 
 to leave off, saying she would contrive Avithout me ; I sup- 
 pose she saw in my countenance the state of my mind. I 
 am not half kind enough to her; I often make sharp rc- 
 
60 
 
 XLIZABETB FBY. 
 
 marks to her, and in reality tbere are none of my sisters to 
 whom I owe so much. I must think of her as my nurse; 
 she would suffer much to comfort me ; may she, O God ! be 
 blessed ; wouldst Thou, oh wouldst Thou, let her see her 
 right path, whatever that may be, and wilt Thou enable her 
 to keep up to her duty, in whatever line it may lead. Let 
 this evening be a lesson to me not to be unkind to her any 
 more. I think I should feel more satisfaction iu not dan- 
 cing ; but such things must be left very much to the time. 
 How very much do I wish for their happiness ! That they 
 may he blessed in every way is what I pray for to the Great 
 Director. But all is guided in wisdom, and I believe as a 
 fanuly we have much to be thankful for, both for bodily and 
 miental blessings." 
 
 The conclusion of the struggle is shown in the follow- 
 ing:— 
 
 *^ March Uh, — I hope the day has passed without many 
 faults: John is just come in to ask me to dance in such a 
 kind^Way, — dh dear me ! I am now acting clearly differently 
 from them all. Remember this, as I have this night refused 
 to dance with my dearest brother, I must out of kindness to 
 faim not be tempted by any one else. Have mercy O God ! 
 have mercy upon me! and let me act right, I humbly pray 
 Thee. Wilt Thou love my dearest, most dear, brothers and 
 sisters — wilt Thou protect us! Dear John ! I feel much for 
 him ; such as these are home strokes ; but I had far rather 
 have them, if indeed governed by Supreme Wisdom, for then 
 I need not fear. I know that not dancing will not lead me 
 to do wrong, and I fear dancing does. Though the task is 
 hard on their account I hope I do not mind the pain myselL 
 I feel for them, but if they see in time that I am happier for 
 it, I think they will no longer lament over me. I will go 
 to them as soon as they have done, try to be cheerful, and to 
 show them that I love them, for I do most truly, particularly 
 
EARLY LIFE. 
 
 51 
 
 John. I think I might talk a little with John and tell him 
 
 how I stand, for it is much my wisest plan to keep truly in- 
 timate with them all — make them my fii-st friends. I do not 
 think I ever love them so well as at such times as these. I 
 should fiilly express my love for them, and how nearly it 
 touches my heai-t acting differently to what they like. These 
 ai-e truly great steps for me to take in life, but I may expect 
 support under them." 
 
 How charming is such a spirit ! and she had her reward in 
 the conversion of several of her highly endowed brothers 
 and sisters to earnest fellowship in her own faith ; she being 
 the pioneer in the movement. Her eldest sister, Catherine, 
 and some other members of the family attached themselves 
 to the National Church. They always, however, remained 
 firmly devoted to each other, and presented a lovely example 
 of unity of heart amid diversities of opinion. 
 
 Soon after this Elizabeth adopted the numerical style oi 
 dates. This peculiarity of the Quakers originated from the 
 impression that it was unbecoming in Chiistians to engraft 
 idolatrous names upon their language, or to accept usages 
 originating in the worship of false gods. To this scruple the 
 only answer necessary is that given by Paul to those who re- 
 fused meat which had once been offered to idols, feeling that 
 they thus became partakers of idolatry. " Whatsoever is sold 
 in the shambles eat, asking no questions for conscience 
 sake : for the ealfth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof" 
 1 Cor. X. 25, 26. Words, like meat, cannot be defiled by 
 having been wrongly applied. The sin lies in thTS' rtSilfl 
 which uses a harmless instrument to express a wrong senii* 
 ment. We might just as well refuse to convert the speaj 
 into a pruning-hook, as to reject the word Monday because 
 
62 
 
 ELIZABETH FEY. 
 
 the Moon was worshipped on that day by our ancestors, ot 
 decline to say "you" to a single person now, because the 
 practice originated in a pui'pose to flatter persons of rank. 
 Words derive their meaning altogether from usage, and are 
 merely the coin by which we exchange thought. The sturdi- 
 est patriot would not refuse a gold piece because it bore the 
 image and superscription of Ccesar — at least, after Caesar 
 was dead and his kingdom destroyed. 
 
 However, such devotion, though logically erring, is pleas- 
 ant to witness, and we may admire the faithfulness to con- 
 viction while we accustom ourselves to translate "First 
 day " into Sunday, &c„ and " Fii'st Month " into January, 
 through the remainder of this frank and altogether admira- 
 ble heart-history. 
 
 ^'■Fourth Month Gth. — have not done a gxeat deal to- 
 day, and yet I hope I have not been idle : I try to do right 
 now and then, but by ho means constantly. I could not re- 
 cover the feeling of being hurt at rejecting, I suppose, the 
 voice of my mind last night, when I sang so much. They 
 were not, I believe feelings of my own malung, for it was my 
 wish to enjoy singing without thinking it wrong. ■ 
 
 "7<A. — I have hopes the day may come when Norwich 
 Meeting will prosper and be enlivened again from a state of 
 cloudiness. In the afternoon I went with them to hear a 
 person preach at the Baptist Meeting. I felt afraid of set- 
 ting my own opinions up and being unchai'itable. It did 
 aot seem to suit me like our silent method of worship, and 
 the prayers and sermon did not make their way into the 
 heart as those of our Friends do ; but it is likely I should 
 feel that, as I have much love for my own Society. Uncle 
 Joseph was here in the evening and he seemed rather sur- 
 prised at my going to hear Kinghorn. I had an interesting 
 time with my young flock. I fear I might say rather too 
 
EABLT LIFE. 
 
 53 
 
 much to them ; Mayst Thou, O Father ! preserve them, for 
 without Thy aid my efforts are ineffectual. Mayst Thou 
 make me an instrument in leading them to true virtue, and 
 may the day come when Thou wilt call them to everlasting 
 
 joy- 
 
 "22nd. — I have read a good deal in Lavater's journal, 
 and have felt sympathy with him. I like the book, as it re« 
 minds me of my duty. I hope that I shall have more steady 
 rehance upon God ; more regularity of naind ; less volatility 
 of thought. To have my heart pure in the sight of Thee 
 ivho knowest and seest all my weaknesses, all my defects, 
 God have mercy on me, I pray Thee ! Mayst Thou find in 
 me a faithful servant, abounding in good works. May my 
 whole heart truly say, ' Thy will be done ! ' May I ever, 
 with all my heait say the Lord's prayer. Thou knowest my 
 wishes, O God ! Thou knowest them ! 
 
 " Fifth Month, \st. — Even acting right wUl sometimes 
 bimg dissensions in a family, as it says in the Testament. 
 We must not be discom-aged even when that is ovur lot ; for 
 whatever may be our situation, if we strictly adhere to whal 
 we beUeve to be our duty, we need not fear, but rest steadily 
 upon Him who can and will support us., I often observa 
 how much weakness of body seems to humble the mind. 
 Illness is of great benefit to us as I have found from experi. 
 ence, if we try to make good use of it: it leads us to see our 
 Qwn weakness and debility, and to look to a stronger for 
 support. So I believe it may be with the mind ; dark and 
 gloomy states are allowed to come upon it that we may 
 know our own insuf&ciency, and place our dependence upon 
 a Higher Power." 
 
 Here is a little dip into politics. 
 
 " — I have not done much to day, partly owing to 
 taking a walk to Melton, and company this afternoon. I am 
 sorry to say imperceptibly my mind gets wrapped up in the 
 Election. I must take care or I think I sliail be off my 
 
64 
 
 ELIZABETH FET. 
 
 guaxd, and I do thini, if I become so warm in it, I shall find 
 it better to go off out of the way ; and may perhaps go to 
 London Yearly Meeting. But why not try to command my 
 mind at home ? I intend to try, but in such cases as this it 
 is difficult to act a negative character ; for even such a body 
 as I am might, I believe, get many votes amongst the poor : 
 but yet I feel as if it were giving to the poor with an expec- 
 tation of retui'n from them to ask their votes. Still if the 
 cause be such as may be of use in tending to abohsh the 
 war, (for every member in the House carries some weight) 
 is it not right to be anxious to get any one who opposes 
 war into it. ' Many a little makes a mickle.' 
 
 "21th. — At last the long-wished-for, expected day has ar- 
 rived ; it has been one of real bustle. Before we went to 
 IJforwich I was much affected to hear of the death of poor 
 Betty Pettet^ahd it moved me. Let death come in any way, 
 how very affecting it is ! We went to Norwich and there 
 entered its tumults. I have not been so very, very much 
 interested ; I might have acted pretty well if pride, vanity 
 and shame had not crept in. We lost the Election which ia 
 certainly a very great blank, but we soon get over such mat- 
 ters, and it convinces me the less public matters are entered 
 Ijito the better ; they do not suit us. Keep to our sphere 
 and do not go out of its bbuhds. 
 
 " Seventh Month, 12th. — This day was not idle, but not 
 religious. I was most part of the morning at Norwich ; in 
 the afternoon I settled accounts ; and in the evening cut out 
 clothes for the poor. I don't think I have looked into the 
 Testament, or written my journal to-day. It leads me to 
 remember what Uncle Joseph said to me the other day, after 
 relating or reading to me the history of Mary who anointed 
 our Saviour with the precious ointment, and His disciples 
 said she might have sold it and given to the pOor; but 
 Christ said, ' The poor ye have always with you, but me y& 
 have not always.' Now I thought, as Uncle Joseph re- 
 marked, I might this evening have spent too much time 
 
EARLY LIFE. 
 
 65 
 
 about the poor that should have been spent about better 
 things. 
 
 "Ninth Month, IZth. — ^This moming I awoke with a 
 cloud over my mind, and so I must expect both to wake and 
 sleep, if I do not tiy more completely to do the will of God. 
 I dare not take resolutions, as I know now I cannot keep up 
 to them. 
 
 " VJth. — feel a comfortable state of mind, not so in- 
 clined to be off my guard as sometimes. I know it is not 
 owing to myself, but being so should be a cause of gratitude. 
 
 "This evening I did a thing I felt I had to repent of; but 
 it has at least made me clear upon the subject. As they 
 were singing and playing they begged me to sing, and I di4 
 it ; but I felt far more pain than pleasure from doing it. A 
 reaUy uneasy mind was my portion the rest of the evenings, 
 
 " l%th. — This morning I went to meeting and fully felt my 
 weakness; but I have found myself to-day and yesterday a 
 little under the influence of rehgion which is a blessed 
 thing. I had much palpitation at the Meeting of Discipline, 
 because I saw some things so clearly, but being mentioned 
 by others, I thought I might get off giving an opinion.';, I 
 was proposed to be a representative, and said I had no ob- 
 jection, on my own part, because though I know how weak 
 I am, yet even the weak should not fear to exert the little 
 power they have ; and I do feel interested for the Society, 
 and for the most part approve its principles highly. ' 
 
 " Tenth Month, Ist.—I feel in a state of much mental 
 weakness, real and true discouragement ; I have little faith 
 find Uttle hope, and am almost fallen so as not to be able fp 
 Vise. But if there be a God and a Saviour I need not learj 
 for though I know and find my state of corruption, yet I be- 
 lieve the warmest wish of my heart is to do the wUl of God 
 and act right : I do most truly hunger and thkst after right- 
 eousness. I find one thing very hard to overcome, which i% 
 pride and vanity in outward religious matters. True rehg^i 
 ion I believe wiU not admit of pride and vanity. Another 
 
ELIZABETH FB7. 
 
 temptation is tliat I have too much formed in my own mind 
 
 •what I thiiik I am to be ; which may outwardly encourage 
 me in a path that nothing but the dictates of conscience 
 should lead me into. I am really weak in faith and in works. 
 I believe, at least I have a hope, that if I exert the little 
 power I now have given me, the day will come when I shall 
 feel the power of God within me. 
 
 " 13iA.— Narrow is the path that leadeth unto life eternal, 
 and few there be that find it. There are many called, but 
 few chosen — for though we are blessed with being called, 
 yet if we follow not when we are called, and that strictly, 
 we do not deserve to be called the childi-en of God, for, aa 
 it says in Eevelations, 'He that overcometh shall inherit alj 
 things, and I will be his God and he shall be my son'.' 
 
 "£Jleventh Month, 11th, First day. — ^In the evening, with 
 my childi'en, I had, in some respects, a very comfortable 
 timel"it was at least my wish to act right with them. In 
 part of one of the chapters I seemed carried thi'ough to ex- 
 plain something to them in a way I hardly ever did before. 
 It was striking the difference in my power this evening and 
 this day week. This day week I tried and tried to explain, 
 and the more I tried the more I seemed to blunder ; and this 
 evening I was determined not to attempt it unless I felt ca- 
 pable ; and that I did, suddenly and unexpectedly to myself. 
 I had a flow of ideas come one after another, in a sweet and 
 refreshing way. The rest of the evening was principally 
 spent with Hannah Scarnell talking about my poor mother, 
 ■who died this day seven years. 
 
 " 2Gth. — Towards the latter part of yesteraay evening I 
 had some uncomfortable mental feelings, and this moiidng 
 they really amounted to pain of mind. I believe they 
 were deep and inward temptations of the imagination. Si- 
 lent waiting upon God seemed my only resource, and it waa 
 difficult to do so. It was like a trial in my mind between 
 the two powers. I\Iy imagination I think was partly set at 
 work by being nervous, rather more so than usual ; and it 
 
BABLT LIFB. 
 
 57 
 
 requires spiritual strength to overcome the painful workings 
 of nervous imagination. There are few temptations, I be- 
 lieve, so hard to overcome, as those that try to put on the 
 appearance of duties. They are willing to represent the 
 Spirit of truth in our hearts. At such times, before I acfi 
 try quietly to wait upon God ; look to Him for help : and 
 when things at all appear in the light of duties, the thought 
 of which produces agony to the soul, it requires much de- 
 liberation before we act. 
 
 " Tioelfth Month, 11th. — In the afternoon I was rather 
 industrious. I was uncertain whether to go to the Grove 
 or not, but at last I fixed to do so. In going there I ob- 
 served the sweet states I had experienced for being obedi- 
 ent. My path seemed clear, and my heart acknowledged 'I 
 have sought and have found, I have knocked and it has 
 been opened unto me.' It also appeared to me in how beau- 
 tiful a manner things work together for good. After all 
 this again myself got the victory, and I came home with a 
 degree of remorse for saying more upon some subjects than 
 I should have said. How great a vhtue is silence, properly 
 attended to!" 
 
CHAPTER SECOND. 
 
 HAKBIAOE AND THE IHXISTBT. 
 
 "We have now seen Elizabeth Gurney, at the age of nine- 
 teen, developed into an earnest, pious and sensible Quaker- 
 ess, lovely in person, agreeable in manners, and full of ben- 
 evolent impulses and aspii-ations, already conscious of a caU 
 to the highest work of which man is capable, and steadUj 
 engaged in the preparatory offices of teaching the young, 
 end giving help to the needy. In addition to her Sabbath 
 evening class in the Testament, she had for some time kept 
 a charity day school for poor children, at her father's resi- 
 3ence. This school enlarged until it numbered eighty-si> 
 pupUs, all of which she taught and governed with a tact pe 
 cuHar to'herself. She also visited the sick, reading and con- 
 versing* with them as opportunity offered. All this appears 
 lb have been done, less from sense of duty, than from the 
 kindly impulses of her own heart . 
 
 " At this time, Elizabeth Gurney wore the cap and close 
 handkerchief of Friends, and with the dress had adopted 
 their other peculiarities. This added to her comfort and 
 spared her many difficulties. Of the truth of their princi- 
 ples she had long been convinced, and had dehberately chos- 
 en Quakerism as the future rehgious profession of her life. 
 
 "Her mind, being thus established on matters of the first 
 
UABBIAGE AKS THE MINISTBT 
 
 59 
 
 importance, was better prepared to entertain a subject which 
 now claimed her consideration — proposals of marriage from 
 Mr. Joseph Fry, at that time engaged with his brother, Mr. 
 William Fry, in extensive business ia London. Her timid, 
 Bensitive nature shrank at first from so momentous a ques- 
 tion, and for a time she seemed unable, or unwilling to en- 
 coimter the responsibility. Gradually, with individual pref- 
 erence, her mind opened to the suitability of the connection. 
 Her habits and education had rendered affluence almost es- 
 sential to her comfort ; whilst entering Mr. Fry's family and 
 the prospect of residing among Friends oflfered great and 
 strong inducements to her feelings. Her anxious desire to 
 be rightly guided in her decision is marked by the following 
 letter to her cousin Joseph Gurney Bevan." (Memoir.) 
 
 The following minute of self-examination is given before 
 the letter referred to as it precedes it in date. 
 
 « Twelfth '^onth, llth. (1799)— I believe the true state o! 
 my mind is as follows. I have, almost ever since I have 
 been a little under the influence of rehgion, thought marriage 
 at this time was not a good thing for me ; as it might lead 
 my interests and affections from that source in which they 
 should be centered ; and also if I have any active duties to 
 perform in the church, if I really follow, as far as I f^m able 
 the voice of Truth in my heart, are they not rather incom- 
 patible with the duties of a wife and mother ? And is it not 
 safest to wait and see what is the probable coiu'se I shalj 
 take in this life, before I enter into any engagement that af- 
 fects my future career? So I think, and so I have thought^ 
 But to look on the other side. If Truth appears to tell m^ 
 I may marry, I should leave the rest, and hope, whatsoeveB 
 my duties are, I shall be able to perform them ; but it il 
 now, at this time the prayer of my heai-t that if I ever shouI(| 
 
60 
 
 ELIZABETH FET. 
 
 be a mother I may rest with my children, and really find my 
 duties lead me to them and my hasband ; and if my duty 
 ever leads me from my family, that it may be in single life. 
 I must leave all to the wisdom of a superior Power, and, in 
 humble confidence, pray for assistance, both now and for- 
 evermore, in performiDg the Divine wiU." 
 
 Clapham, Fourth Month, 1800. 
 
 " My dearest Cousin : — 
 
 It is not pleasant to me having a subject that now is of 
 no small importance to me unknown to thee, for I feel thee 
 to be, and love thee as my kind friend. Some time ago 
 Joseph Fry, youngest son of "William Storrs Fry of London, 
 paid us a visit at Earlham and made me an offer of marriage. 
 Since our stay in the neighborhood he has renewed his ad- 
 dresses. I have had many doubts, many risings and fall- 
 ings about the affair. My most anxious wish is that I may 
 not hinder my spiritual welfare, which I have so much feared 
 as to make me often doubt if marriage were a desirable thing 
 for me at this time, or even the thoughts of it. But as I 
 wish (at least I think I wish) in this as in other things to do 
 the wUl of God, I hope I shall be shown the path right for 
 me to walk in. I do not think I could have refused him, 
 with a pToper authority at this time. If I am to marry 
 Before very long it overturns my theories, and may teach me 
 that the ways of the Lord are unsearchable ; and that I am 
 ftot to draw out a path of right for myself ; but to look io 
 the One who only knows what is really good for me. But 
 the idea of leaving my station at home is to me surprising, 
 ^s I had not thought that would have been the case, and 
 perhaps it may not now happen, but it does not seem im- 
 probable. How anxiously do I desire I may, through all, 
 strive after the knowledge of God, and one day, if it be 
 kght, obtain it. Excuse this hasty scrawl and beheve me^ 
 my dear cousin, thy very affectionate 
 
 E. GUENEI." 
 
UABBIAQE AND TH£ MIKISTBT. 
 
 " Earlham, Fifth Month, ZOth. — I have ■written lateiy 
 many melancholy journals, and I seem rather inclined this 
 morning gratefully to mention the calm and sweet state 1 
 feel in. Even if the feelings be only for this time, it is 8 
 blessing to have them. My feeliags towards Joseph are so 
 calm and pleasant, and I can look forward with so much 
 cheerfulness to a connection with him. 
 
 " Sixth Month, Qth. — I felt rather nervous and weak thia 
 morning. I wrote to Eliza Fry, and worked and talked. 
 I might talk too much. I received a letter I liked frorc 
 Joseph, and answered it this afternoon. I felt unwilling to 
 represent my own faults to him, although I told him how 
 faulty I was ; yet it is much more unpleasant to acknowl- 
 edge any real fault committed than the natui-al inclination 
 to faults. 
 
 " Eighth Month IZth. — This morning the Fellows were 
 here ; nothing particular happened until evening when all my 
 poor children came. It was rather a melancholy time to me. 
 After having enjoyed themselves playing about I took them 
 to the summer-house and bade them farewell ; there were 
 about eighty-six of them ; many of them wept ; I felt rathet 
 coldly when with them, but when they went away I shed my 
 tears also ; and then my desires took the turn of anxiously 
 longing for the spiritual welfare of us all, as a family." 
 
 I now quote at- some length from the Memoir, chapter 
 Ififth. 
 
 « The marriage of Joseph Fry and Ehzabeth Gurney took 
 place on the 19th of August, 1800, at the Friends' Meeting 
 house in Norwich ; her own description of the day is : — 
 
 " 'I awoke in a sort of terror at the prospect before me, 
 but sdon gained quietness and something of oh6erfulnesB. 
 After dressing we set off for Meeting ; I was altogethoi' 
 comfortable. The Meeting was crowded : I felt serious and 
 looking in measure to the only sure place for support. It 
 
ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 was to me a truly solemn time ; 1 felt every word; and not 
 
 only felt but in my manner of speaking expressed how I 
 felt ; Joseph also spoke well. Most solemn it truly was. 
 After we sat silent some little time Sarah Chandler knelt 
 down in prayer; my heart prayed with her. I believe words 
 are inadequate to describe the feelings on such an occasion ; 
 I wept good part of the time, and my beloved father seemed 
 as much overcome as I \vas. The day passed off well, and 
 I think I was very comfortably supported under it, although 
 cold hands and a beating heart were often my lot.' 
 
 " Leaving the home of her childhood was a gi'eat effort to 
 her. Driving through Norwich for the last time as a resi- 
 dence ' the very stones of the street seemed dear ' to her. On 
 the 31st of the same month she says : — 
 
 " 'We arrived at Plashet about three o'clock ; it was strange 
 to me. I was much pleased with the place, and admired the 
 kindness of its inhabitants.' 
 
 " Her home, however, was for some years, to be in scenes 
 far less congenial to her early habits than Plashet House, in 
 Essex, then the residence of her husband's parents. It was 
 a much more prevailing custom in that day than it is now, 
 for the junior partner to reside in the house of business, in 
 conformity with which Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Fry prepared 
 to estabhsh themselves in St. Mildred's Court, in the city of 
 London. The house was large, au"y, commodious, and what 
 in the city is a still more rare advantage, quiet ; and con- 
 tinued to be an occasional residence of different members of 
 the family till it was p;jUgd down in consequence of altera- 
 tions in London. _ 
 
 " Elizabeth Fry Waj by Iher marriage, brought into com- 
 pletely new cifcumsfafice's.'; li^i' husband's family had been 
 members of the SoBiefy of Friends since an eurly perio^ 
 after its foundation. In thi's it resembled her own; but^ 
 unlike her own parents, her father and mother-in-law were 
 * plain and consistent Friends ; ' she was surrounded by a 
 lai'ge ciicle of new connections and acquaintance who differed 
 
UABBIAQB AKD THE MINISTB7. 
 
 63 
 
 from her own early associates, in being, almost exclusively, 
 strict Friends. Thus she found herself the 'gay instead of 
 the plain and scrupulous one of the family.' This for a 
 time brought her into occasional difficulty and trial, from 
 the incongruity of the parties assembled at her house, 
 formed of her own family and nearest connections whom 
 she so tenderly loved, and those with whom she was in 
 strict religious communion, but whose habits and sentiments 
 differed fr'om theirs ; and she f eai'ed for herself, lest in the 
 desire to please all she should in any degree swerve from 
 the line of conduct which she believed right for herself- 
 
 " George DUwyn from Philadelphia, a Friend engaged in 
 religious service in London, became their guest on the 7th 
 of November, only a week after the young married pair had 
 ariived at their home ; he remained with them upwards of a 
 month, and his company appears to have been useful and 
 agreeable to them, although his presence brought the bride 
 into difficulty on a point which at the present time seems 
 almost inconceivable — that of reading the Holy Scriptures 
 aloud after breakfast. Family devotion among aU persua- 
 sions was much less common at that pei'iod than it is now j 
 and the habit of assembling the household at a stated hour 
 daily for domestic worship was almost unknown. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Fry's servants were not partakers of this privilege, ex- 
 cept on Sunday evenings, until some years after their mar* 
 riage." 
 
 Eleventh Month, 1th. — George Dilwyn came to-day; I 
 feel almost overcome with my own weakness, when with such 
 people. 
 
 "IlfA. — After breakfast I believed it better to propose 
 reading tho Bible, but I felt it, particularly as my brother 
 William was here ; not liking the appearance of young peo- 
 ple like us, appearing to profess more than they who had 
 lived here before us. However I put ofif, and put off, till 
 both William and Joseph went down ; I then felt uneasy 
 
64 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 under it, and when Joseph came back I told him, as I did 
 before, what I wished. He, at last, sat down, having told 
 George Dilwyn my desire. I began to read the 46 th Psalm, 
 but was so overcome that I could hardly read, and gave it to 
 Joseph to fiuish. 
 
 "12th. — rather felt this morning it would have been 
 right for me to read the Bjble again, and stop George Dil- 
 wyn and Joseph reading somethmg else. Now stopping 
 G. D.jwas a difficult thing; for a person like me to remind 
 him ! however I did not fully do as I thought right, for I 
 did not openly tell G. D., we were going to read, but spoke 
 to my husband so as for him to hear ; then he read, I know- 
 ing I had not done my best. 
 
 *' 14ith. — I again felt some difficulty at reading the Bible ; 
 however I got through well. George Dilwyn encouraged 
 me by saying he thought I portioned the reading well. 
 After a little busthng we set off for Hampstead. I was 
 
 there told by he thought my manners had too much 
 
 of the courtier in them, which I knew to be the case, for my 
 disposition leads me to hurt no one that I can avoid: and 1 
 do sometimes but just keep to truth with people from a 
 natural yielding to them in such things as please them. I 
 think doing so in moderation is pleasant and useful in society. 
 It is amongst those things that produce the harmony of 
 society for the truth must not be spoken out at all times, at 
 least not the whole truth. I will give an instance of what I 
 mean. Suppose any one was to show me the color of a room 
 that I thought pretty, I should say so, although I thought 
 others more so, and omit saying that. Perhaps I am wrong ; 
 I do not know if I be not ; but it wiU not always do to tell 
 our minds. This I have observed (and I am sorry for it) 
 that I feel it hard, when duty dictates, to do what I think 
 may hurt others. I believe this feeling of mine originates 
 in self-love, from the dislike of being myself the cause of 
 pain and uneasiness." 
 
UABBIAGE AND THB UHOSTBT. 
 
 65 
 
 The above is a fine illustration of character. Through her 
 entire want of self-esteem she takes to herself discredit for 
 that disposition which won her almost universal favor an 
 enabled her to accomplish veiy difficult reforms without 
 making an enemy — a disposition wanting which many well- 
 meaning, but not wholly well-feeling, people often do aa 
 much harm as good in ti-ying to do what they conceive to be 
 their duty. I said, without making an enemy. Perhaps 
 she made one, and that through inattention, as she thought, 
 to the principle above noted, not always to speak what is in 
 our mind. In her humane zeal to save a poor weak girl from 
 the gallows for passing counterfeit money at the persuasion 
 of her lover, she offended the Secretary of State, Lord Sid- 
 mouth, by reflecting on the conduct of certain bank officers, 
 concerned in the case, and the inhuman Judge let the un- 
 happy girl die, and closed his ears thereafter to appeals from 
 her intercessor. It may have been an indiscretion, though 
 it seems bom of the Spirit which cried "Woe unto you 
 Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! " and which brought the 
 wrath of those murderers on the head of Him who could not 
 brook wrongs to the poor. 
 
 "I5t/i. — George DUwyn said for our encouragement this 
 mormng, that he had seen, since he had been with us, the effi- 
 cacy of reading in the Bible the first thing, — he thought it a 
 good beginning for the day." 
 
 The next step, so delicately pointed to by the guiding 
 Finger of Light in her mind, she found equally difficult to 
 take, and did not take, until long afterwards, perhaps in con- 
 sequence of her shrinking from the first gentle command. 
 
 '*Qth. (iJecemSer)— Anna Savery drank tea here; we had 
 
66 
 
 BXIZABETH FBZ> 
 
 not sat long after tea before we fell into sflence. During 
 
 the tune 1 first felt a sort of auxiety for the welfare of U3 
 young travelers, and it came strongly across my nund openly 
 to express it . This put me into an agitation not easily to 
 be described; and I continued in this state, which was a 
 truly painful one, nearly feeling it my duty to pray aloud 
 for us ; oh how hard it did seem ! I tried to ran from it, but 
 I found the most safety ia trying to wait upon God; hoping 
 if it were imagination, to overcome it ; if it were a duty that 
 I might be obedient. Towai'ds the latter end I felt moj'e 
 inclined towards obedience. But what an obstacle is my not 
 holding my will in subservience to that of my Maker ; for 
 perhaps, after all, it was only a trial of my obedience that 
 would not have been called for, but to show me how far I 
 was from a resigned state of heart. I felt oppressed the 
 rest of the evening. 
 
 " 10th. — I woke in a bmdened state of mind ; I thought 
 it better to reheve it to my dear husband and found comfort 
 in doing so ; he warned me against imagination. I must try 
 to trust in the Lord, and I hope to find safety. I felt quite 
 in a state of agitation till we went to Meeting ; it made me 
 feel almost ill in body, both last night and this morning. 
 However my mind was sweetly calmed in Meeting, and I 
 felt vastly reheved from my terrors, and a Uttle love and 
 trusting in the Heavenly Master. I was almost ready to do 
 whatever might be right for me. Oh! may I give up to 
 what is called for at my hand ; and may I not be deceive(3, 
 but follow the true Shepherd, for my feet seem much in- 
 inclined to wander ! " 
 
 That fatal almost f" How many have been wrecked 
 upon it ! Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." 
 The Jews were almost ready to go into the Promised Land, 
 but turned back, alarmed by their false spies. So it is with 
 all of us. Even faithful Ehzabeth Fry was no exception. 
 
KABBIAOB AND THE IQNISTBT. 
 
 67 
 
 Had she been able to yield to the simple impnlses of her 
 heart -when she felt longings for the welfare of herself and 
 Anna Savery, and, asked God to bless and guide them, as 
 she would have asked her earthly parent for aid had she 
 needed it, her entrance upon the open work of the ministry 
 would have been easy and natm aU Battles she would have 
 had still to fight, but victory would have been given to faith- 
 ful obedience. She was, however, not ripe for it, as the event 
 proved. She tvumed back because she was still in bonds, 
 spiritually. She was trying to do God's work as a servant, 
 rather than as a child — under compulsion, instead of from 
 love. She still needed the baptism of the Holy Ghost and 
 of fire which would bring the Spirit of Chiist into her very 
 soul, before a true and efficacious gospel ministry could flow 
 from it. After nine years of incessant and often bewildering 
 struggle with life, in a crowded city home, and the birth of 
 six children, and when her beloved father lay dead in the 
 home of her childhood, having breathed out his soul, after 
 a severe struggle with conscience, in a hvely hope of Heav- 
 en — ^then, at last, the subdued flame of piety burst forth in 
 prayer and thanksgiving in the sight of men. 
 
 If we could only be faithful to the first, or even the second 
 call, how much sorrow would be spared. But because wb 
 are then only half converted, because we have Christ before 
 our eyes, instead of in our hearts, because, though the 
 epiiit is willing the flesh is yet weak, we slumber while the 
 crucial hour of fate is passing ; and after twice rousing us, 
 and again silently looking upon our prostration, the Lord 
 says to us, "Sleep on now and take your rest; — he is at hand 
 that doth betray me." The traitor is indeed at hand in all 
 our hearts when either the feai' of man or the iove of gain 
 
68 
 
 ELIZABETH FEY. 
 
 effectually closes our eyes and ears to Chiist's appeal. 
 
 The minute in her Journal succeeding that last given 
 shows that the Spirit was now to some extent withdrawn. 
 
 " 14:th. — I attended both Meetings as usual, and as usual, 
 came from them flat and discouraged. To attend our place 
 of worship, and there spend almost all the time in worldly 
 thoughts is I fear too great a mark of how my time is mostly 
 spent ; indeed my life appears, at this time, to be spent to 
 little more purpose than eating, drinking, sleeping an(3 
 clothing myself. But if we analyze the employment of most, 
 what do they more than, in some way attend to the bodily 
 wants of themselves or others? What is our work, th« 
 good we do for the poor, &c., &c., but for the body ? 
 
 « Third Ilonth, 15th. (1801).— I felt really better this 
 morning (alluding to a previous indisposition) and went to 
 Meeting, but all my small efforts to quiet my thoughts were 
 meffectual ; the same in the afternoon ; it is very serious. 
 Really when I awake in the morning I feel a flatness ; when 
 I find my great object of the day no longer appears to be 
 even to wish to do the will of my Ci eator. But I am as 
 one who has, in some measure, lost bis pilot and is tossed 
 about by the waves of the world. But I trust that there is 
 yet a power that will prevent my di'owning. I draw some 
 consolation from my dreams of old, for how often was I near 
 drowning, and yet at last saved. 
 
 " 25th. — I feel almost overcome with the multiplicity of 
 visitings and goings out. 
 
 "15th. (June J — If I can with truth acknowledge it to be 
 my first wish to do my best, although I may not feel the 
 sensible gratification of doing my duty, I may yet be really 
 doing it. If I do all I can, I have no occasion to fear sooner 
 or later meeting with my reward. I was rather disappointed 
 at our having company : indeed we have now little time 
 alone. It is quite a serious thing, our being so constantly 
 liable to interruptions as we are. I do not think since we 
 
BIABBIAGE AND THE MUaSTBT. 
 
 69 
 
 married we have had one-foiirth of our meals alone. I long 
 for more retirement, but it appears out of our power to pro- 
 cure it ; and therefore it is best to be as patient under inter- 
 ruptions as we can, but I think it a serious disadvantage to 
 young people setting out in life. 
 
 " 15th. (August) — I have had an interesting talk with my 
 dear sister Kachel : She appears to me to have perceived 
 that which will direct her steps. But how hard it is deeply, 
 etrictly, and for a long time together, to have our first ob- 
 ject to serve our Creator — for at first there is a natural glee, 
 as for something new, and then we feel we have to pass 
 through lukewarmness which is a dangerous state ; I believe 
 one where many are lost. May I be carried through it ! 
 
 Her maternal trials and pleasuies, succeeded each other 
 apace, adding what all mothers understand to the anxieties 
 as well as charms of a busy life. 
 
 " Tenth Month, 1st. — My present feelings for the babe, 
 are so acute as to render me at times unhappy from an over 
 anxiety about her, such a one as I never feit before for any 
 one. Now it appears to me this over anxiety arises from 
 extreme love, weak spirits and state of health, and not being 
 under the influence of principle that would lead me to over- 
 come these natural feelings, as far as they tend to my 
 misery. For if I were under the influence of principle, I 
 might trust that my dear infant indeed was under the care 
 and protection of an infinitely wise and just Providence that 
 permits her little sufferings for some good end that I knew 
 not of. How anxiously do I hope this poor dear baby may 
 be held by me in resignation to the Divine will. Oh ! that 
 I might feel dependence on that Almighty arm about her, 
 and about other things. Beyond everything else I wish to 
 do my duty, idle and relaxed as I am in performing it. 
 
 '^'^ Fourth Month, 19«A,(1802) — Oh! may my obedience 
 beep pace with my knowledge, at this time; my knowledge 
 of good appears small ; my longings to be better are only 
 
70 
 
 ELIZABETH FRY. 
 
 known by a Superior Power, wlio I trust will, in time, have 
 mercy on me. I have this day prayed that in this day ol 
 darkness I may not prove an obstruction in the way of 
 others ; truly a South Land is my portion, — only long for 
 the wells of living water." 
 
 The birth of her second child is thus recorded: 
 
 ^'■Fourth Month, Vlth. — My heart abounded with joy and 
 gratitude when my dear little girl was born, perfect and 
 lovely. Words are not equal to express my feelings, for I 
 was most mercifully dealt with, my soul was so quiet, and 
 60 much supported. 
 
 '■'■Plashet, Fifth Month, 21s«. — I have been long prevented 
 from vsTiiting in my journal by a severe attack of indisposi- 
 tion. It is difficult exactly to express what I have gone 
 through, but it has been, now and then, a time of close trial ; 
 my feelings being such, at times, as to bo doubtful whether 
 life or death would be my portion. One night I was, I be- 
 lieve, very seriously ill : I never remember feeling so forcibly 
 how hard a trial it was in prospect, to part with life. Much 
 as my mind, as well as body, was tried in this emergency, 
 etui I felt forcibly an inward support, and it reminded me 
 of that text of Scripture, ' Can a woman forget her sucking 
 child? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.' 
 And then I told those around me that I was so ill I could 
 almost forget my child ; but that I felt the existence of a 
 Power that could never forget. I have gone through much 
 since, in various ways, from real bodily weakness, and also 
 the trials of a nervous imagination. No one knows, but those 
 who have felt them how hard those are to bear, for they lead 
 the mind to look for trouble, and it requu-es much exertion 
 not to be led away by them. Nothing I beheve allays them 
 so much as the quieting influence of religion, and that leads 
 us to endeavor after quietness under them, not looking be- 
 yond the present. But they are a regular bodily disorder 
 
MAHBIAGE AND THE MINISTER. 
 
 71 
 
 that I believe no mental exertion can cure or overcome ; but 
 we must endeavor not to give way to them." 
 
 From this time onward the light gradually grew brighter, 
 and she again ^became engaged in various good works, as 
 opportunity was afforded. She was slowly coming back 
 toward the Land of Promise, which to her was the active 
 work of benevolence, and the Ministryof the Gospel as th 
 highest part of that work. 
 
 " Plashet, Second Month, 5th. (1805) — Since I last vrroto 
 I have been much occupied with many things, rather more 
 than usual about the poor. I have been desirous that at- 
 tending to them as I do may not prove a snare to me : for 
 I think acting charitably leads us often to receive more credit 
 than we deserve, or at least to fancy so. It is one of those 
 things that give my nature pleasure ; therefore I believe I 
 am no further praiseworthy than that I give way to a natu- 
 ral inclination. Attending the afflicted is one of those 
 things that so remarkably bring their reward with them that 
 we may rest in a sort of self-satisfaction which is dangerous ; 
 but I often feel the blessing of being so situated as to be 
 able to assist the afflicted, and sometimes a little to relieve 
 their distresses. 
 
 " 11th. — We ought to make it an object in conversation 
 and in conduct to endeavor to oblige those we are with, and 
 rather to make the pleasure of others our object than our 
 own. I am clear it is great virtue to be able constantly to 
 yield in little things : it begets the same spuit in others and 
 renders life happy. 
 
 '■^ Fifth Islonth, 1th. — Yesterday my sister Eliza Fry was 
 here ; we were saying something about the children's di'ess ; 
 and she remarked that for the sake of others, (she meant 
 the fear of not setting a good example) she would not do 
 so and so. I said it struck me that those who do their dutyi 
 
72 
 
 ELIZABETH FEY. 
 
 mth integrity are sei-ving others as weH as themselves, and 
 do more real good to the cause of religion than in looking 
 mi^.ch outwardly either to what others do or think. I think 
 that con science will sometimes lead us to feel for others and 
 not act so as materially to hurt a weak brother ; but I be- 
 lieve we should seldom find that we hm't those whose opin- 
 ion would be worth caring for, if we kept close to the witness 
 in our own hearts. If I were going to do a thing I should 
 endeavor to find whether it appeared to me in any way 
 wrong, and whether I should feel easy to do it, looking 
 secretly for help where it is to be found, and there I believe 
 I should leave it ; and if it led me to act rather dififerently 
 Erom some I should probably be doing more good to society 
 than in any conformity merely on account of others ; for if I 
 should be preserved in the way of obedience in other things 
 ifc would ia time show from whence such actions sprung : 
 and I think this very spirit of conforming in trifles to the 
 opinion of others leads into forms that may one day prove 
 a stumbling block to the progress of our Society ; whereas 
 if we attend to the principle that brought us together it will 
 lead us out of forms and not into them." 
 
 The above observation has been abundantly verified not 
 only in the Society of Friends but in all others. The true 
 principle, as referred to, is that laid down by Christ when 
 He said " The light of the body is the eye ; if therefore thine 
 eye be single thy whole body shall be full of light." It wa? 
 expressed by George Fox ia words that became a kind of 
 watch-word, "Mind the Light." Had these injunctions been 
 generally heeded sectarianism would have been a thing un- 
 toovm. 
 
 " Seventh Month, 3rd. — ^It appears to me that we who de- 
 sire to be the servants of Chi-ist must expect to do a part 
 of our Master's work, which no doubt is to bear with the 
 
MARBIAQE AND THE MINISTHV. 
 
 73 
 
 wealaiesses and infirmities of human nature, aucl if we be 
 favored to feel them and not sink under them, we may be 
 enabled in time to help others bear their burdens ; and it 
 appears to me that all Christian travelers must expect to 
 pass thi'ough, in then- measure, the temptations and trials 
 their Master did on eai'th. 
 
 " Mildred's Court, l^th. — ^Yesterday and the day before I 
 have been driven from one thing lo another, and from one 
 person to another, as is usual in this place. I have feared 
 my attention being quite diverted from good. But I have 
 also thought that doing our duttj is most effectually serving 
 fhe Lord. May I therefore endeavor to do mine and not 
 be impatient at my numerous interruptions, but strive to 
 center my mind in a humble desire to do the will of my 
 Creator, which will, through ail, create a degree of quiet- 
 ness. 
 
 " 26iA. — I have observed how much better things axe 
 done, and how much more satisfaction they produce, when 
 done in that quiet, seeking state of mind. How greatly I 
 desire that all I do may be done to the glory of God rathei 
 ihan to my own self-satisfaction." 
 
 In the month of May 1808, for the first time since tlie 
 decease of their mother, death entered the large and highly 
 favored family of John Gui'ney and removed the wife of 
 Elizabeth Fry's eldest brother John. This event became 
 the occasion of some important changes. In his afiiiciiou 
 he sought the advice of the Eev. Edward Edwards, whosa 
 influence among the brothers and sisters, all of whom wera 
 awakened to the importance of a religious life, was such aa 
 to lead several of them to a judgment favoring the Church 
 of England. Others chose the hereditary faith of tha 
 Friends, Elizabeth having been the first to assume a de- 
 cided stand. They became nearly ec^ually divided ob theso 
 
74 
 
 ELIZABETH FRY 
 
 extreme right and left wings of Pi otestanism ; and yet they 
 preserved a remarkable unity of spii'it and pui'pose ; thus 
 setting a most beautiful example of Christian charity. Two 
 of the brothers, Samuel and Joseph John, and two of the 
 sisters, Elizabeth and Priscilla, were Friends — three of them 
 bsing ministers. The brothers John and Daniel, with 
 Catharine, the eldest of the family, who remained un- 
 married, Louisa, who married Samuel Hoare, Esq., Bich- 
 enda, wife of Rev. Fi ancis Cunningham, and Hannah who 
 became the wifo < : Sir T. Fowell Buxton, joined the 
 Episcopal Chvurch ; while Eachel the second sister aJso un- 
 manied, remained without decided preference. In referring 
 to this divergence Mrs. Fry's daughters, who were similarly 
 divided, — the eldest, Katharine, remaining a Friend, and 
 the second Eachel, who united with her in editing their 
 mother's Memoir, becoming an Episcopalian — ^remai'k : " It 
 was not without pain that she who had so decidedly 
 chosen the path of Friends, saw others so dear to her as 
 decidedly choosing another way, and uniting themselves with 
 the Chmch of England ; but as each one became established 
 in his own coui-se, some one way and some the other, a won- 
 derful union and communion sprang up among them ; so 
 that their bond in natural things was not sti onger than that 
 which united them as devoted worshipers of the same 
 Lord." 
 
 ^' Eighth Month, 2Qih. (1808).— 1 have been married 
 eight years yesterday. Various trials of faith and patience 
 have been permitted me ; my course '^as been very different 
 to what I had expestfdi and instead of being, as I had 
 hoped, a useful instrument in the Church Militant, here I 
 •am, a cai'e-wom wife and mother, outwardly, nearly devoted 
 
MABEIAGB AOT) THE MINISTRY. 
 
 to the things of this life. Though at times this difference 
 in my destiration has been trying to me, yet I believe those 
 trials (■nhich have certainly been very pinching) that I have 
 bad to go through, have been very useful, and brought me 
 to a feeling sense of what I am ; and at the same time have 
 taught me where power is, and in what we are to glory ; not 
 in ourselves, nor in anything we can be, or do, but we are 
 alone to desire that He may be glorified, either through us, 
 or others, — ^in our being soreething, or nothing, as He may 
 Bee best for us. I have seen, particularly in our spiritual 
 allotments, that it is not in man that walketh to du-ect his 
 eteps. It is om- place only to be as passive clay in His holy 
 bauds, simply desiring that He would make us what He 
 would have us to be. But the way in which this great work 
 Is to be effected we must leave to Him who has been the 
 Author and we may trust will be the Finisher of the work : 
 and we must not be surprised to find it going on differently 
 to what our fraU hearts would desire. 
 
 "I may also acknowledge that, through all my trials, there 
 does appear to have been a particular blessing attending 
 me, botlias to the fatness of the land and the dew of Heav- 
 en ; for, though I have been at times deeply tried, inwardly 
 and outwardly, yet I have always found the dehvering Arm 
 bas been near at hand, and the trials have appeared 
 blessed to me. .The little efforts, or small acts of duty, I 
 have ever performed have ofien seemed remarkably blessed 
 to me ; and where others have been concerned, it has also, 
 I think, been apparent to them that the effort on my part 
 has been blessed to both parties. Also what shall I say 
 when I look at my husband and my five lovely babes ? How 
 have I been favored to recover from illness, and to get 
 through them without material injury in any way. I also 
 observe bow any little care towards my servants appeal's to 
 have been blessed, and what faithful and kind friends to me 
 I have found them. Indeed I cannot enumerate my bless- 
 ings ; but I may truly say, that of all the blessings I bavo 
 
76 
 
 KLIZABETH FBT. 
 
 received, and still receive, there is none to compare with 
 lieving that I am not yet forsaken, but, notwithstanding all 
 my deviations, in mercy cared for. And, if all the rest be 
 taken from me, far above all I desire that, if I should be led 
 through paths which I know not of, which may try my weak 
 faith and nature, I may not lose faith in Thee ; but may in- 
 increasingly love Thee, delight to follow after Thee, and be 
 singly Thine, giving aU things up to Thee who hast hither- 
 to been my oiily mercifvil Protector and Preserver." 
 
 The death of her father-in-law, soon after the date of the 
 above extract, caused the removal of Joseph Fry's family 
 from London to the country home at Plashet, in Essex, 
 which for the next twenty years formed their principal 
 dence ; a portion of the season being passed at Mildred'a 
 Court, London. About a year after their removal to Plashet, 
 Elizabeth's father died ; and it was on this occasion that her 
 spirit was so powerfully wrought upon that she gave brief 
 expression to her feelings, in obedience to an impulse of the 
 Spirit, which was regarded as an entrance upon the work of 
 the Ministry. 
 
 This event is best described in her own words. 
 
 ^^Earlham, ZQth. (1809) — I hardly know how to express 
 myself: I have indeed passed through wonders- On the 
 ^6th, as we were sitting quietly together, (after my dear sis- 
 ter Kichenda had left us, and my soul had bowed on my be- 
 loved father's account, of whom we had daily very poor re- 
 ports,) an express arrived bringing Chenda back, saying o\xt 
 most dear father was so ill that they did not expect his life 
 vvould be spared. Words fall short to describe what I felt| 
 he was so tenderly near and dear to me. We soon believed 
 it best to set off for this place, on some accounts undet 
 great discoucag^ent, principally from my owaJ^odily weaks 
 
HAKJtlAGK AND THE MINISTBY. 
 
 7T 
 
 ness, and also the fever in the house ; but it did not appear 
 as if we could omit it, feeling as we did ; therefore, after a 
 tender parting with my beloved flock, my dearest Joseph, 
 Chenda and I with the baby set off. We arrived at Mil- 
 dred's Court the first night, where our dear sister left us, in 
 hopes of seeing our dear parent ahve. In very great weak- 
 ness I set off next morning, and had at times gi'eat discour- 
 agements ; but many hours were comforting and sweet. 
 Healing on the road, at different stages that my dearest 
 father was living, we proceeded till we arrived at Earlham 
 about twelve o'clock that night. We got out of the carriage 
 and once more saw him who has been so inexpressibly dear 
 to me through life, since I knew what love was ; he was 
 asleep but death was strongly marked on his sweet and to 
 me beautiful face. Whilst in his room all was sweetness, 
 nothing bitter, though how I feel his loss is hard to express : 
 but indeed I have abundant cause to rejoice on his account; 
 after very deep probation his mind was so strikingly visited 
 and consoled at last in passing through the valley of the 
 shadow of death. He frequently expressed that he feared 
 no evil, but believed that through the mercy of God in Christ 
 he should be received in glory. His deep humility, and the 
 tender loving state he was in, were most valuable to those 
 around him. He encouraged us, his children, to hold on our 
 way ; and sweetly expressed his belief that our love of good 
 (in the degree we had it) had been a stimulus and help to 
 him. 
 
 The next morning he died quite easily. I was not with 
 him, but on entering the room, soon after it was ovex-, my 
 soul was bowed within me, in love, not only for the de- 
 ceased, but also for the living, and in humble thankfulness; 
 80 that I could hardly help uttering (which I did) my 
 thanlisgiving and praise, and also what I felt for the living 
 as well as the dead. I cannot understand it, but the powoT 
 given was wonderful to myself and the cross none; my 
 Ueait was so full that I could hardly hinder utterance. 
 
78 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 " Eleventh Month, 3rd. — We attended our beloved 
 father's funeral. Before I went I was so deeply impressed 
 at t mes with love for all, and thanksgiving that I doubted 
 "w, ether it might not possibly be my place to express it 
 •there ; but I did, the evening before, htimbly crave not to 
 be permitted to do so unless rightly ca''led to it. Fear of 
 man appeared greatly taken away. I sat the meeting 
 under a solemn quietness, though there was preaching 
 that neither disturbed nor enlivened me much. The same 
 words still powerfully impressed me that had done ever 
 •Bince I first entered the room where the corpse lay. Upon 
 going to the grave this still continued. Under this solemn, 
 quiet calm, the fear of man appeared so much removed 
 that I believe my sole desire was that the will of God 
 might be done in me. Though it was unpleasant to me 
 what man might say, yet I most feared it was a tempta- 
 tion, owing to my state of sorrow ; but that I fully believe 
 was not the case, as something of the kind had been on my 
 mind so long ; but it had appeared more ripe the last few 
 weeks, and even months ; I had so often had to 'rejoice in 
 the Lord, and glory in the God of my salvation,' that it 
 had made me desire that others might partake, and know 
 ;how good He had been to my soul, and be encouraged to 
 walk in those paths -which I had found to be paths of 
 pleasantness and peace. However, after a solemn waiting, 
 my dear uncle Joseph spoke, greatly to my encdui-agement 
 and comfort, aijd the removal of some of my fears. I re- 
 mained till dearest John began to move to go away: 
 when it appeared as if it could not be omitted, and I fell 
 on my knees and began, not knowing how I should go on, 
 with these words, 'Great and marvelous are Thy works, 
 Lord God Almighty! just and true are Thy ways, Thou King 
 .of Saints ! Be pleased to receive our thanksgiving.' And 
 there I seemed stopped, though I thought that I should 
 have had to express that I gave thanks on my beloved 
 father's account. But not feeling the power continue I 
 
IIASBIAOE AMD THE MINISTRY. 
 
 79 
 
 arose directly. A quiet, calm and invigorated state, mental 
 and bodily, were my portion afterwards, and altogether a 
 sweet day, but a very painful night, discouraged on every 
 side — I could believe bj him who tries to deceive. The dis- 
 couragement appealed to arise principally from what others 
 would think ; and nature flinched and sank ; but I was en- 
 abled this morning to commit myself in prayer." 
 
 It should perhaps here be mentioned that the Friends do 
 not consider it unsuitable for even nearest relatives of the 
 deceased to express their minds, under a proper impulse, at 
 funerals. Rarely, perhaps, are ministers first called forth on 
 such occasions ; and yet the deep and lively emotions might 
 aid in weakening the bond of timidity by which neaiiy all 
 are embarrassed on a first exposure. Probably few have a 
 greater natural dread of such a trial than Elizabeth Fry who 
 possessed a peculiarly sensitive organization ; and yet when 
 the proper time came the promised grace was fovind suf- 
 ficient for her. The river was parted and she went throygb 
 on dry ground. 
 
 Flasket, Eleventh Month, IQth. — ^We arrived here on 
 Third-day evening. Though plunged into feeling before 1 
 arrived, I felt flat on meeting my tenderly beloved Httla 
 flock. I was enabled, coming along to crave help, in the 
 first place to be made willing either to do, or to suffer what- 
 ever was the Divine will concerning me. I also desiied that 
 I might not be so occupied with my present state of mind, 
 as to its religious duties, as in any degree to omit close at- 
 tention to all daily du^^^^es n.y beloved husband, children, 
 servants, poor, &c. ; but if 1 should be permitted to enter 
 the humiliating path that has appeared to be opening before 
 me, to look weilat home andnou discredit the cause I desii'O 
 to advocate. Last Fixst-daj luoining I had a deeply tryiog 
 
80 
 
 ELIZABETH FBY. 
 
 Meeting, on account of the words, ' Be of good courage and 
 He will strengthen your hearts, all ye that hope in the 
 Lord,' which had impressed me toward Norwich Meeting 
 before I went into it ; and after I had sat there a little time 
 they came with double force, and continued resting on my 
 mind, until my fright was extreme, and it appeared almost 
 as if I must, if I did my duty, utter them. I hope I did 
 not wholly revolt, but I did cry in my heart for that time to 
 be excused, that like Samuel, I might apply to some Eli, to 
 know what the voice was that I heard. My beloved Uncle 
 Joseph I thought was the person. On this sort of excuse, 
 or covenant, as I may call it, a calmness was granted the rest 
 of the meeting ; but not the reward of peace. As soon as 
 the Meeting was over I went to my dear Uncle and begged 
 him to come to Earlham to see me. The conflict I had 
 passed through was so great as to shake my body, as well 
 as mind, and I had reason to fear and to believe I should 
 have been happier and much more relieved in mind, if I had 
 given up to this little service. I have felt since like one in 
 debt to that Meeting. My dear Uncle came, and only con- 
 firmed me, by his kind advice, to walk by faith, and not by 
 sight. He strongly advised a simple following of what 
 arose, and expressed his experience of the benefit of giving 
 up to it, and the confusioa of not doing so. How have 1 
 desired, since, not to stand in the fear of man ; but I believe 
 it is the soul's enemy seeking whom he may devour ; for ter- 
 rible as it was, as then presented to me and as it often had 
 been before, yet when some ability was granted to get 
 through, that same enemy would have had me glory on that 
 account. May I not give way either to one feeling or the 
 other, but strive to look to the preserving power of God. 
 
 " Twelfth Month, Uh. — When I have given up, in the 
 morning only to make an indifferent remark to the servants 
 on our reading, sweet peace has been my portion : but when 
 it has been presented to me and I have not followed, far dif- 
 ferent has been the case. In Meeting it is such an awful 
 
MABRIAGE AND THE MIiaSTRY. 
 
 61 
 
 matter, for the sate of others as -well as myself. If it 
 Thy work in me, be p'eased, O Lord, to grant faith andl 
 power sufficient for the needful time. I long- to serve The9 
 and to do Thy commandments, and I believe if I be faithful 
 in the Uttle Thou wilt be pleased to make me ruler over more» 
 
 "■dth. — Soon after sitting down in Meeting on Fourths 
 day, (the Fnends hold a meeting- in the middle of the week} 
 I was enabled to feel encouraged by these words, 'Though 
 the enemy come in like a flood, the Spuit of the Lovd will 
 lift up a standard against him.' This appeared my expftri" 
 ence, lor soon the storm was quieted and a degree even of 
 ease was my portion. About eleven o'clock these same 
 words that had done so in Norwich meeting came feelingly 
 over me — 'Be of good courage and I will strengthen youl 
 hearts, all ye that hope in the Lord.' And that which had 
 hitheito appeared impossible to human nature seemed not 
 only possible, but I believe I was wilhng simply desiring that 
 in the new and awful undertaking I might not lose my faith 
 and that the Divine will might be done in me. Undei- thia 
 sense, and fcpling as if I could nob omit, I uttered them. 
 Though clearness still continued, nature, in a great measure, 
 seemed to sink under the effort afterwards, and ]ow feelinga 
 and imaginations to have much dominion, which, in mercy, 
 were soon lelicvcd, and 1 bave gone on sweetly and easily 
 since, even rejoicing. 
 
 "22n(Z. — Again, on Fourth-day, I have dared to open my 
 mouth in public : I am ready to say What has come to meV 
 — even in supplication, that the work might be carried on 
 in myself and others, and that we might be preserved from 
 evil. My weiglit of deep feeling on the subject I believe 
 exceeded any other time. I was, I may say, brought into a 
 wrestling state, that the work of the ministry in me might, 
 if right, be carried on, if not, stopped short. I feel, of my- 
 self, no power for such a work ; I may say, wholly unable; 
 yet when the feeling and power continue, so that I dare not 
 omit it, then what can I do t 
 
82 ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 " 23rd. — Giving up to make a little remark after reading 
 to the servants, has brought sweet peace : indeed, so far, it 
 has appeared to me that prompt obedience has brought me 
 the most peace. The prospect of the meetings next vyeek, 
 more particularly the Quarterly Meeting, already makes me 
 tremble. I can hardly say why, but it is very awful to be 
 thus publicly exposed, in a work that I feel so little fitted 
 for ; yet I believe it is not my own doing, nor at my own 
 command. 
 
 " Plashet, First Month, \st, 1810. — It is rather awful to 
 me entering a new year, more particularly when I look at 
 the alterations the last has made — most striking the last 
 three months, or a little more. First a child born ; second 
 the loss of nurse ; third my beloved father's death ; fourth 
 my being opened in meetings. My heart says, What can I 
 render for having been so remarkably and mercifully carried 
 through these various dispensations of Providence? I 
 think I never knew the Divine Arm so eminently extended 
 for my comfort, help and deliverance ; and though of late 
 I may have had to pass through the valley of the shadow 
 of death, yet it has not lasted long at a time, and Oh, the 
 incomings of love, joy and peace that have, at other periods, 
 arisen for my confirmation and consideration! But the 
 manna of yesterday I find will not do for to-day. 
 
 " 11th. — It has been strongly impressed upon me how 
 very little it matters, when we look at the short time we 
 remain here, what we appear to others; and how far too 
 much we look at the things of this life. 
 
 " What does it signify what we are thought of here, so 
 long as we are not found wanting towards our Heavenly 
 Father? Why should we so much try to keep back some- 
 thing, and not be willing to offer ourselves up to Him, 
 body, soul and spirit, to do with us what may seem best 
 unto Him, and to make us what He would have us to be? 
 O Lord! enable me to be more and more singly, simply 
 and purely obedient to thy service I 
 
UABBIAOE AND THE MUnSTBT. 
 
 83 
 
 " 19th. — ^Yesterday was an awful, and to me instructive 
 clay at Plaistow Meeting. I had not sat very long before 
 I was brought into much feeling desire that the darkness 
 in some minds might be enlightened. However no clear- 
 ness of expression came with it ; but under a very solemn 
 covering of the spirit of supplication, a few words oflfering, 
 I, after a time, gave way to utter them. But that which 
 appeared greatly in the cross to me was having some 
 words presented to speak in testimony afterwards, which I 
 did, I believe, purely because I desired to serve my Master, 
 and not to look too much to the opinion of my fellow-ser- 
 vants ; and there was to me a remarkable solemnity, and 
 something like an owning, or accepting of this poor httle 
 offering. I have desired, and have been in a Uttle degi-ee 
 enabled to feel on that sure foundation, that although the 
 winds may blow, and the rain may descend, yet whilst I 
 keep on this Kock they will not be able utterly to cast me 
 down. What a mercy amidst the storm to feel, ever so 
 slightly, something of a sure foundation! Thus much I 
 know, that, even if I be mistaken in this awful undertaking, 
 my desire is to serve Him in it whom my soul, I may truly 
 eay, loves and delights to please. O Lord ! I pray Thee 
 preserve Thy poor handmaid in the hour of temptation, and 
 enable me to follow Thee in the way of Thy requirings even 
 if they lead me into suffering and unto death. 
 
 " 31s;. — My little has been very naughty ; his will I 
 
 find is very strong ; oh that my hands may be sti-engthened 
 rightly to subdue it. O Lord! I pray for help in these 
 important duties! I may truly say I had rather my dear 
 lambs should not live than live eventually to dishonor Thy 
 great cause ; rather may they be taken in innocency : but 
 if Thou seest meet, O Lord ! preserve them from great 
 evUs, and be pleased in Thy abundant mercy to be with 
 them, as Thou hast been, 1 believe, with their poor un- 
 worthy parents; visit them and revisit them, until Thou 
 hast made them what Thou wouldst have them to be. Oh 
 
84 
 
 ELIZABETH FKY. 
 
 that I could like HanDaL, bring them to Thee, to be made 
 use of as instruments in thy Holy Temple ! I ask nothing 
 for them in comparison of Thy love ; and above all bless- 
 ings, that they may be vessels in Thy house. This bless- 
 ing I crave for them, that they may be employed in Thy 
 service, for indeed I can bow and say, What honor, what 
 joy £o great as, in ever so small a measure, to serve Thee, 
 O Lord ! 
 
 "Mildred's Court, Sixth Month, Ist. — Yesterday I at- 
 tended the funeral of our be'.oved Anna Eeyno'.ds, whose 
 death has been deeply felt by me. We had, I think I may 
 truly say, a glorious time ; for the power of the Most High 
 appeared to overshadow us. A belief of her being in safety 
 has bowed my soul prostrate, in humble thankfulness, and 
 renewedly led me to desire to prove my gratitude for such 
 unspeakable mercy as has been shown my near and beloved 
 relations by my love and entire dedication. I uttered a few 
 words in supplication, at the ground; my uncle Joseph, my 
 cousin Pricilla, and many others, beautifully ministered. 
 After Meeting, I might truly say, my cup ran over, such 
 sweetness covered my mind. After a solemn time in the 
 fami y, with dear cousin Pricilla and Ann Crowley, I ven- 
 tured on my knees, praying that His Holy Hand would not 
 spaie, nor his eye pity, until He made us what He would 
 have us to be : only I craved that He would not forsake us, 
 but let us be made in some small measure sensible that Ho 
 was with us, and thai it was Eis rod and His staff that Ave 
 depended upon. Tiirough heights and thi-ough depths, 
 thi-oLigh riches and throu^^h poverty may it alone be my will 
 to do the will of the Father! " 
 
 Tha foregoing selections, covering a period of seven 
 montiiE, are sufficient to show the workings of this deeply 
 eaineot mind and heart under the impulse of the Spirit to 
 parciciyate in the e:;ertises of the Church. Slow as it may 
 
MAERIAGE AND THE MINISTSY. 
 
 8J 
 
 Beem the progress of Elizabeth Fry was more rapid than ia 
 usual with this class of ministers, for she was endow ed by 
 nature with fertile conception and ready utterance, and, her 
 heart being fully enlisted, so soon as the embarrassment of 
 her new position wore off, she became a very ready speaker*. 
 Her natm-e being emotional and full of benevolent impulses, 
 her words appealed to the better feelings of those she ad- 
 dressed, while her prayers, being the sincere utterance of 
 her heart, rather than her intellect, carried the hearts of 
 others to the Throne of grace. In little more than a year 
 from its commencement, her ministry was formally "ac- 
 knowledged " by the Society as being acceptable. This sim- 
 ple mode of ordination — or laying on of hands in a figui'a- 
 tive sense — entitles those receiving it to pass freely through 
 the different branches of the Society and to appoint special 
 meetings if they feel it right to do so ; after having obtained 
 the consent of their own Monthly or Quarterly Meetinga 
 thus to labor in the work of the Gospel abroad. 
 
 Referring to this official acknowledgment Elizabeth Fry 
 says : 
 
 " This mark of their unity is sweet, and I think strength- 
 ening, and I believe it will have advantages as well as trials 
 attending it. I feel and find it is not by the approbation, 
 any more than the disapprobation, of man that we stand or 
 fall ; but it once more leads me only to desue that I may 
 simply and singly follow my Master in the way of His re- 
 quirements, whatsoever they may be. I think this will make 
 a way for me in some things which have long been on my 
 
 min rl." 
 
 The following incidents illustrating her care for the needy 
 in her own neighborhood are related by her daughters. 
 
86 
 
 ELIZABETH FBI. 
 
 "In establishing herself at Plashet Mrs. Fry had formed 
 various plans for her poorer neighbors which she gradually 
 brought into action. One of her early endeavors was to estab- 
 lish a girls' school for the Parish of East Ham, of which Pla- 
 shet is a hamlet. Immediately opposite the gate of Plashet 
 House there stood a dilapidated dwelling, picturesque from 
 its gable end and large projecting porch. It was inhabited 
 by an aged man and his still more aged sister. They had 
 seen better days, and eked out a narrow income with the 
 help of a brother's labors in a small garden, and the sale of 
 rabbits of which they kept a vast quantity. Like persons 
 fallen in life they were reserved ; the sister almost inacces- 
 sible : but by degrees Mrs. Fry won her way to the old 
 lady's heart. She might be seen seated in an upper chamber 
 on one side of a fire-place lined with blue Dutch tiles oppo- 
 site the invalid who, propped by cushions, leaned back in aa 
 easy chair, in a short white dressing-gown over a quilted 
 petticoat, her thin wrinkled hands resting on her knees, and 
 her emaciated refined countenance brightening under the 
 gentle cheering influence of her guest, as she endeavored to 
 raise her hopes and stimulate her desires after that country 
 where it shall no more be said 'I am sick.' Annexed to this 
 old building was a spacious and comparatively modern room 
 which appeared suitable for a school-room, and Mrs. Fry's 
 persuasions succeeded in obtaining the consent of the old 
 people to use it as such. 
 
 *' A young woman named Harriet Howell, who was much 
 occupied at that time in organi^ifi^, schools on the Lancas- 
 teriau system, came to Plashet. The excellelit clergyman 
 of East Ham, Mr. Aulezark, with Kis lady united with her 
 in the object. A school of about seventy girls was estab- 
 lished, and although afterwards removed to a more central 
 situation, continues to the present day. 
 
 "The bodily wants of the poprj especially in cases of sick- 
 ness or accident, claimed hei' careful attention. There was 
 a depot of calico and flannels always ready^ besided other 
 
MARRIAGE AND THE MINISTRY. 
 
 87 
 
 garments, and a roomy closet well supplied with di'Ugs. 
 tn very hard winters she had soup boiled in an out-house in 
 euch quantities as to supply hundi-eds of poor people with a 
 nourishing meal. Nor was her interest confined to the En- 
 glish poor in East Ham. About half a mUe from Plashet, 
 on the high road between Stratford and Iliord, the passer- 
 by will find two long rows of houses with one larger one in 
 the center, if possible more dingy than the rest. At that 
 time they were squalid and dirty ; the windows generally 
 stuffed with old rags, or pasted over with brown paper, and 
 the few remaining panes of glass refusing to perform their 
 intended office, from the accumulated dust of years ; puddles 
 of thick black water before the doors ; childi'en without 
 shoes or stockings; mothers whose matted locks escaped 
 from the remnants of caps which looked as though they 
 never could have been white ; pigs on terms of evident fa- 
 miliarity with the family ; poultry sharing the children's 
 potatoes — all bespoke an Irish colony. 
 
 " It was a pleasant thing to observe the influenoe obtained 
 by Mrs. Fry over these wild but warm-hearted people. She 
 had in her nature a touch of poetry, and a quick sense of the 
 di'oll ; the Irish character furnished matter for both. Their 
 powers of deep love and bitter grief excited her sympathy ; 
 almost agrinst her j udgment she would grant the linen shkfc 
 and the boughs of evergreen to aiiay the departed and or- 
 nament tho bed of death. 
 
 "One clear frosty morning Mrs. Fry called her elder chil- 
 dren to accompany her on a visit to one of these cottages. 
 A poor woman, the mother of a young family had died 
 there ; she had been well conducted as a wife and mother, 
 and had long shown a desire for religious instruction ; the 
 priest, a kind-hearted, pains-taking man, liberal in his views 
 and anxious for the good of his flock, thought well of the 
 poor woman, had frequently visited her in her illness, and 
 was in that as in many other cases, very grateful to Mr& 
 
88 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 Pry for the relief and nourisliment she had bestowed, which 
 it was not in his power to give. 
 
 " On the bed of death lay extended the young mother, het 
 features, which were almost beautiful, stiffened into the sem- 
 blance of marble. Her little children were on the floor, hei 
 husband in the corner leaning on a round table, with hia 
 face buried in his hands. A paper cross lay on the breast 
 of the corpse ; the sun shone into the room and mocked the 
 dreary scene. The apartment was close from the fumes of 
 tobacco and the many guests of the wake which had been 
 held during the night, contrasting strangely with the fresh 
 air which blew in through the half-opened doorway. Mrs. 
 Pry spoke soothingly to the husband ; she reminded him of 
 his wife's desires for his good and for that of his children ; 
 she slightly alluded to theuselesfness of the cross as a sym- 
 bol, but urged the attention of those present to the great 
 doctrine of which it was intended to remind them. Again 
 she offered solace to the mourner, promised assistance for 
 his little cnes, and left the room. 
 
 "Some of the scenes in Irish Row Were very different, 
 * Madam Fry,' as she was called by them, being so popular 
 as to cause some inconveniences and many absurdities. 
 She enjoyed giving pleasure; it was an impulse as well as 
 a duty with her to do good. Gathering her garments 
 round her she would thi-ead her way through children and 
 pigs, up broken stair-cases and by narrow passages, to the 
 apartments she sought; there she would listen to their 
 tales of want or woe, or of their difficulties with their chil- 
 dren, or of the evil conduct of their husbands. She per- 
 suaded many 6$ them to adopt more orderly habits, giving 
 some presents of clothing as encourtigament ; she induced 
 some to send their children to school, and with the con- 
 eerxt of the priest, circulated the Bible amongst them. 
 On one occasion, when the weather was extremely cold and 
 great distress prevailed, being at the time too delicate 
 barself to walk, she went alone in tha carriage literally 
 
MAEKIAGE AND THE MINISTRY. 
 
 89 
 
 piled witli flannel petticoats for Irish Row, the rest of the 
 party walking to meet her, to assist in the delightful task 
 of distribution. She made relieving the poor a pleasure 
 to her children by the cheerful spirit in which she did it; 
 she employed them as almoners when very young, but ex- 
 pected a minute account of their giving and their reasons 
 for it. After the establishment of the Tract Society she 
 always kept a large supply of such as she approved for dis- 
 tribution. It was her desire never to relieve the bodily 
 wants of any one without endeavoring in some way, mora 
 or less directly, to benefit their souls. She was a warm 
 advocate for vaccination, and very successful in perform- 
 ing the operation ; she had acquired this art from Dr. Wil- 
 lan,^one of its earliest advocates and most skilful practition- 
 ers. At intervals she made a sort of investigation oi the 
 state of the parish, with a view to vaccinating the children. 
 The result was that small-pox was scarcely known in the 
 villages over which her influence extended. 
 
 " In a green lane near Plashet, it has been the annual 
 custom of the gipsies to pitch their tents for a few days in 
 their way to Fairlop fair. The sickness of a gipsy child 
 inducing the mother to apply for relief, led Mi's. Fry to 
 visit their camp; from that time, from year to year, she 
 cared for them when they came into her neighborhood. 
 Clothing for the children and a little medical advice she 
 invariably bestowed ; but she did far more than that — she 
 sought to influence their minds aright ; she pleaded with 
 them on the bitter fruits of sin, and furnished them with 
 Bibles and books the most likely to ai'ouse their attention. 
 But though thus abounding in labors for the good of all 
 around her, she was liable to deep inward discoui'agements, 
 undoubtedly increased by her sensitive nature and dehcata 
 fi-ame, but ai'ising chiefly from her intense desii-e in nothing 
 to offend Him whom her soul loved, and whom she so en- 
 tirely desked to serve. 
 
 "In September, Mrs. Fry visited Earlham. On the lOth 
 
90 
 
 ELIZABETH FRY. 
 
 of that month, 1811, was held the first meeting of the Nor- 
 wich Bible Society: it was very largely and generally at- 
 tended. Mrs. Fry, who was warmly interested in the Bible 
 society fi*om its commencement to the close cf her life, wa» 
 present, with her brother Joseph John Gurney, and other 
 members of the family. Mr. Gurney, then in the prime of 
 early manhood, on this occasion first took his stand in pub- 
 lic life as an advocate for the general cii'culation of that 
 sacred volume which he had chosen as the guide of his 
 youth and which has proved the stay of his advancing 
 years." 
 
 . The following extracts from the Journal are beautifully 
 illustrative : 
 
 Earlham, Ninth Month, V^th. — I think a more deeply 
 exercised state — which has at times bordered on distress of 
 soul — hardly ever remember than I feel this morning 
 on going to meeting ; in the first place with the Edwardses 
 and my own family in their various states ; in the next 
 place, my prospect of going into the men's Monthly Meet- 
 ing ; and in the last, an idea having passed my mind, 
 whether I may not have, amongst their very large com- 
 panies who are very likely to be here, consisting of 
 many clergyman and others, to say something, either 
 before meals, or at some other tin^. The words that 
 (I believe) have arisen for my encouragement are these: 
 ' The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want ? Yes I 
 will try not fear, for if God be with me who can be against 
 me?' 
 
 "12i/i. — What can I render for all His benefits? In the 
 first place, I went to the Meeting for worship with the Ed- 
 'wardses: I had not long been there before I felt somethina 
 of a power accompanying me, and words arose, but my ex- 
 ercise of mind was so great that it seemed like being ' bap- 
 
UABBIAOE AlO) TEB IHNISTBT. 
 
 91 
 
 tized for the dead ;' though not that I know of from any 
 pai'ticular fear of man. I was helped (I beUeve I may say) 
 as to power, tongue and utterance. That Meeting might 
 be said to end well. 
 
 Yesterday was a day indeed ; one that may be called a 
 mark of the times. We first attended a General Meeting 
 of the Bible Society where it was sweet to observe so many 
 of various sentiments all uniting in the one great object— - 
 from the good Bishop of Norwich (Bathurst), for so I be* 
 lieve he may be called, to the dissenting minister and young 
 Quaker (my brother Joseph). We afterwards, about thii-ty- 
 four of us, dined here ; I think there were six clei'gyman of 
 the Estabhshment, thi-ee dissenting ministers, and Kichard 
 i*hilips, beside numbers of others. A very little before the 
 icloth was removed such a power came over me of love, I 
 believe I may say life, that I thought I must ask for silence' 
 bfter Edward Edwards had said gi-ace, and then supphcate 
 the Father of mercies for Eis blessing, both of the fatness- 
 bf the earth and the dew of Heaven, upon those who thus 
 desired to promote His cause by spreading the knowledge 
 of the Holy Scriptures ; and that He would bless their en- 
 deavors, that the knowledge of God and His glory might 
 cover the earth as the waters cover the sea ; and also foi? 
 the preservation of all present, that through the assistance 
 bf His grace we might so follow Him and our blessed Lord 
 tn time that we might eventually enter into a glorious eter- 
 nity where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary 
 are at rest. The power and solemnity were very great. 
 Eichard Philips asked for silence ; I soon knelt down : it 
 Was like having our High Priest amongst us. Independ* 
 ently of this power His poor instruments are nothing ; and 
 with His power how much is effected. I understood many 
 were in tears ; I believe all were bowed down sphitually* 
 Soon after I took my seat ; the Baptist minister said, 'Thi^ 
 is an act of worship ; ' adding that it reminded him of thafr 
 which the disciples said. ' Did not our heart burn within xi» 
 
92 
 
 ELIZABETH FBI. 
 
 xrhile He talked with us by the way?' A clergyman sai3, 
 •We want no wine for there is that amongst us which does 
 instead.' A Lutheran minister remarked that although he 
 could not always understand the words, being a foreigner, he 
 felt the spirit of prayer, and went on to enlarge in a striking 
 •manner. Another clergyman spoke to this effect : How the 
 Almighty visited us, and neither sex nor anything else 
 stood in the way of His grace. I do not exactly remember 
 the words of any one, but it was a most striking chcum- 
 Btance for so many, of such different opinions, thus all to be 
 united in one spirit ; and for a poor woman to be made the 
 means, amongst so many great, wise, and I believe good 
 men, of showing forth the praise of the great ' I Am.' " 
 
 One of the secretai'ies of the Bible Society, Mi\ Joseph 
 Hughes, thus describes this occasion : — 
 
 "On the Monday after my return, I proceeded with my 
 •excellent colleagues for Norwich where a numerous and re- 
 spectable meeting was held on Wednesday in a very spa- 
 cious and commodious ball. The mayor presided; the 
 Bishop spoke with great decision and equal liberality ; and 
 the result of the whole was the establishment of the Nor- 
 folk and Norwich Bible Society. About seven hundred 
 pounds was subscribed, and one happy, amiable sentiment 
 appeared to pervade the company. My colleagues and 
 myself adjourned to Earlham, two miles from Norwich 
 where we had passed the previous day, and where we wit- 
 nessed emanations of piety, generosity and affection in a 
 degree that does not often meet the eye of mortals. Our 
 hosts and hostesses were the Gurneys, chiefly Quakers, 
 who, together with their guests amounted to thirty-four. 
 A clergj'man, at the instance of one of the family, and I 
 presume with the most cordial concurrence of the rest, read 
 a portion of the Scriptures morning and evening, and 
 twice we had prayers; I should have said thrice, for aftei 
 
MARRIAGE AND THE MINISTBT. 
 
 dinner, on the day of the meeting, the pause encouraged by 
 the Society of Friends, was succeeded by a devout addi'esg 
 to the Deitj'-, by a female minister, Elizabeth Fry, whose 
 manner was impressive, and whose words were so appro* 
 priate that none present can ever forget the incident, or 
 ever advert to it without emotions alike powerful and pleas- 
 ing. The first emotion was surprise; the second awe; the 
 thii-d pious fervor. As soon as we were re-adjusted at the 
 table, I thought it might be serviceable to offer a remark 
 that proved the coincidence of my heart with the devotional 
 exercise in which we had been engaged ; this had the de- 
 BU'ed effect. Mr. Owen and others suggested accordant 
 sentiments, and we seemed generally to feel like the disci- 
 'pies whose hearts burned within them as they walked to 
 Emmaus." 
 
 Elizabeth Fry's engagements in the Gospel ministry thus 
 received the approbation, not only of her own Society, but 
 also of ministers belonging to several other denominations, 
 vrhose testimony is the more valuable because it was both 
 cordial and spontaneous. 
 
CHAPTEII THIKD. 
 
 MOTHER AND MINISTEB. 
 
 Ministers in tlie Society of Friends, both men and W02ien, 
 are usually called to a very active life. In addition to their 
 ordinary avocations, which they ai'e expected to leave only 
 when summoned temporaiily to higher duties, and to the 
 regular semi-weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yeai'ly ga,ther- 
 ings, they frequently make excursions of various lengths to 
 neighboring communities of their own, or other people, fol- 
 lowiDg as nearly as they can the intimations of the good 
 Shepherd, as to where His thii-sty flocks most need atten- 
 tion. Elizabeth Fry soon became engaged in this mission- 
 ary labor, for which she was admii'ably adapted, as well as 
 in services within and about her own home. A few of the 
 most impoftant of these earlier engagements will now be 
 noticed. The &ivt is dated February, 1812, about four and 
 a half months after the events last related. 
 
 " 3i'il — 'The prospect I have had for some months of go« 
 tog into Norfolk to attend the Monthly an^ Quarterly Meet* 
 iDga 19 noVJ' brought home to me, as I must apply to my 
 next Monthly Meeting for permission. It is no doubt a 
 sacrifice of natui-ai feeling to leave the comforts of home and 
 my beloved husband and childi-en ; and to my weak, ner- 
 vous habits, the going about, and alone (for so I feel it in 
 
MOTHER AND MINISTER. 
 
 9a 
 
 one sense, without my husband ) is, I have found from ex- 
 perience, a trial greater than I imagined ; and my health 
 suffers much I think, from my habits being necessarily so 
 different. This consideration of its being a cross to my 
 nature I desu-e not to weigh in the scale ; though no doubt, 
 for the sake of others as well as myself, my health being so 
 shaken is a serious thing. What I desire to consider most 
 deeply is this : — Have I authority for leaving my home and 
 evident duties? What leads me to believe I have? fori 
 need not doubt that when away, and at times gi-eatly tried, 
 this query is likely to arise. Theprospect has come in that 
 quiet, yet I think powerful way, that I have never been able 
 to believe I should get rid of it ; indeed hitherto I have 
 hai'dly felt anything but a calm cheerfulness about it, and 
 very little anxiety. It seems to me as if in this journey I 
 must be stripped of outwaid dependences, and my watch- 
 word appears to be, — 'My soul, wait thou only upon God; 
 for my expectation is from Him.' 
 
 " 20th. — My sister, Elizabeth Fry, means to go with me 
 into Norfolk: my Uncle Joseph is likely to go another way: 
 it appears as if I could not mind much who is to go with 
 me. But I feel disposed to a very single dependence, and 
 if I be rightly put forth to this service, may He who puts 
 me forth be with me ; if I have to minister food to others 
 may it be that which is convenient for them, and which will 
 tend to their lasting nourishment. I have often thought 
 that in this little jirospect I must go like David, when he 
 went to slay the giant. I am ashamed of the comparison ; 
 but I only mean it in this respect, I go not trusting in any 
 pov/er or strength of my own ; I feel I dare look to no helper 
 outwardly. I feel young and a stripling, without armor, yet 
 I trust the Lord will be with me, and make the sling and 
 stone effectual, if He please to make use of His poor child 
 to slay the giant in any one. 
 
 "Earlham, Third 3Iont?i, 14«A. — Have I not renewed 
 reason for faith, hope and confidence in the principle which 
 
96 
 
 ELIZABETH FBY. 
 
 I desire to follow ? In the niglit I had to acknowledge that 
 the work must be Thine, O Lord ! and that it is to me won- 
 derful. My fears and causes of discouragement were many, 
 for some little time before I set off my own poor health, and 
 m,y little ones ; then my lowness and stupidity. In the first 
 place my health and the dear children's improved so much, 
 and I iawardly so brightened, that I left home very comforta- 
 bly. As I went on my way such abtmdant hope arose that 
 light, rather than darkness appeared to surround me. I 
 have now attended the Monthly Meetings and three other 
 Meetings. I have also had frequent opportunities of a reli- 
 gious nature in families ; the most remarkable wei'e one in a 
 clergyman's family, in supplication for him and his house, 
 and another where he had to supplicate for my help. May 
 I ever remember how utterly unfit I am in myself for all 
 these works: unto me alone belongs abasedness. I can take 
 nothing to myself. As Thou hast seen meet, O Lord ! Thou 
 who art strength in weakness, thus to make use of Thy poor 
 handmaid as an instrument in Thy service, be pleased to 
 keep her from the evil, both in reahty and appearance, that 
 she may never, in any way, bring reproach upon Thy cause." 
 
 After her return she thus balances the account :— 
 
 « May I now be enabled to attend to my own vineyards, 
 and after having been made instrumental thus to wain and 
 encoiu'age others may I not become a cast away myself. I 
 hardly understand what Friends mean by reward for such 
 services, for I do not feel the work mine, and no reward is 
 due. As for reward, is it not enough to feel a Power better 
 than ourselves influencing and strengthening us to do the 
 work that we humbly trust is His own? for what honor, 
 favor, or blessing so great as being engaged in the service 
 of Him whom wo love, in whatever way it may be, whether 
 performmg one duty or another, and having a little evidence 
 granted us that we are doing His will, or endeavoring to do 
 
UOTHEB AI^D MIinSTEB. 
 
 97 
 
 it ? I peculiarly feel, in ministerial duties, that I have no 
 part, because the whole appears a gift, — the willing heart, 
 the ijawer, and everything attending it ; the poor creature 
 tas only to remain as passive as possible, willing to be op- 
 erated upon. 
 
 "I'lashet, Third Month, 28iA. — I will first mention how 
 it was with me in the Norwich Quarterly Meeting. I went, 
 looking to Him who has hitherto helped me ; my beloved 
 uncle Joseph said a few words, as a seal to what I had ex- 
 pressed, and it was, I believe, a peculiarly solemn and 
 favored time : much blessed in a few words of supplication 
 iat the Grove before dinner. In the adjourned meeting I 
 felt it safest to go to the Men's Meeting,* where I had to bid 
 them farewell ;in the Lord, after I had been helped with 
 a few .words of tender love and encouragement. Sarah 
 Bowley said a little, and then my dear sister Elizabeth Fry 
 arose and said, ' She hoped what had passed that day would 
 not be attended to as a tale that was told, but as everlasting 
 truths ; ' which appeared to bring great solemnity and sweet- 
 ness with it. In the Women's meeting we also had a very 
 solemn time at parting, in which I bade them farewell, de- 
 siring that we might all ascend, step by step, that ladder 
 which reaches from earth to heaven. Before we set off I 
 had, after reading, in heart-felt and heart-tendering suppli- 
 cation^ to pray for the preservation of the family, and our 
 support in the day of trial, and amidst all the various turn- 
 ings and overturnings of the Holy Hand upon us. Here I 
 once more am, surrounded by outward blessings, and well 
 Sn health ; yet I hardly know how to return thanks, or 
 to rejoice in Him who has helped me; being poor, low, 
 stripped, the tears come into my eyes. Though cast down 
 I loTe the" Lord above all, and desire, through the saving, 
 redeeming power of Him who came to save that which was 
 lost, and has, I beUeve proved a Saviour to me, in part, that 
 
 •Men and women hold their meetings for discipline separately 
 
98 
 
 ELIZABETH FB7. 
 
 I may draw nearer and nearer to the most high God, and 
 
 become in all tliirgs more completely His." 
 
 " Six Month, IGth. — It now appears too late to give much 
 account of the Yearly Meeting. The prospect of going iuto 
 the Men's meeting, naturally was so awful, nay, almost 
 dreadful, that as I sat at breakfast, fears arose lest my un- 
 derstanding should fail. However, though in great meas- 
 ure taken from me on first sitting down in meeting, yet 
 after a time the concern arose with tranquillity, and with a 
 powerful, though small voice — at least with power sufficient 
 to enable me to cast my burden upon the meeting. This 
 brought, I thought, great solemnity ; I appeared to have 
 the full unity of Friends : dear Rebecca Bevan went with 
 me. I felt myself much helped when there : matter, tongue 
 and utterance were all given, in testimony and supphcation. 
 I think the calm frame I enjoyed upon returning to the 
 Women's Meeting must almost be a foretaste of that rest 
 which the soul pants after. 
 
 " /Sixth Month. — My press of engagements has been very 
 great. ... I think my temper requii-es great watchful- 
 ness ; for the exercises of my mind, my very numerous in- 
 terests, and the irritabihty excited by my bodily infirmities, 
 cause me to be in so tender and touchy a state that the ' grass- 
 hopper becomes a bui-den.' In this as in all my infirmities, 
 I have but one hope ; it is in the power of Him who has in 
 mercy answered my prayers, and helped me in many of my 
 difficulties, and I humbly trust yet will arise for my deliv- 
 erance. As to the ministry, I have been raised up and at 
 times cast down, but my heart and attention have been 
 mostly turned to rigidly performing my practical duties in 
 life, which is my object by night and by day. I have felt 
 as if I could rest in nothing short of serving Him whom 
 my soul loves ; but I deshe to Avatch, and am fully aware 
 that with regard to myself I have nothing to trust to but 
 mercy; but, leaving myself, I long, whilst permitted to 
 remain in mortality, not to be a drone, but to do everything 
 
HOTHEB AND MINISTEB. 
 
 99 
 
 to the glory of God. I think I desire to do all things weU 
 more for the cause's sake, than for the sake of my own 
 soul ; as my conviction of the mercy and loving kindness oi 
 Him who loveth us and who is touched with a feeling di 
 our infirmities, is so great that whilst my heart is seeking 
 to serve Him, (full as I am of defects), I am ready to triisf 
 that that mercy which has hitherto compassed me about 
 will be with me to the end of time, and continue with ma 
 through eternity. The fear of punishment hardly ever 
 arises, or has arisen in my mind ; it is more the certain 
 knowledge that I have of the blessedness of serving our 
 Master, and the very strong excitement of love and grati^ 
 tude, and desire for the promotion of the blessed causd 
 upon earth. Through all my tried states I have one un- 
 speakable blessing to acknowledge, and that is an increase 
 of faith." 
 
 Elizabeth Fry was peculiarily fitted to minister at the bed 
 of sickness, and where sickness had done its work, and the 
 hearts of bereaved friends needed the voice of sympathy 
 and wise counsel. She was often engaged in this most 
 sacred service, frequently among her own very large circla 
 of friends and relatives, and also among the poor. The fol- 
 lowing extracts, part taken from the Journal, and part from 
 the biographical notes, illustrate this portion of her work, 
 and show how careful she was to do nothing ceremoniously, 
 or when it was uncalled for by her inward Guide. 
 
 Ninth Month, 2nd. — This morning our poor servant 
 who has for some weeks kept his bed very seriously ill, died, 
 t feel that I have cause for humble gratitude in having been 
 at the awful time strengthened by faith, and I believe I may 
 say, having experienced the Divine presence near. I have 
 often sat and watched by his bed-side, desiring to know 
 
100 
 
 ELIZABETH FKT. 
 
 whether I had anything to do, or say, as to his soul's welfare. 
 I found neither feeling, faith nor ability to say or do much 
 more than endeavor to turn his mind to his Maker ; but I 
 think never more than once, in anything of the anointing 
 power. Yesterday 1 found him much worse, a struggle upon 
 him that appeared breaking the thread of life, and his suf- 
 ferings gi'eat, mentally and bodily. The first thing I found 
 in myself was that a willing mind was granted me, and in sit- 
 ting by him the power and spirit of supplication and interces- 
 sion for him arose, to which I gave way. It immediately 
 appeared to bring a solemn tranquillity ; his pains and rest- 
 lessness were quieted ; his understanding I believe was 
 quite clear : he thanked me and said, ' God bless you ma'am,' 
 as if he felt much comfort in what had passed. Faith, love, 
 and calmness were the covering of my mind. He had I be- 
 lieve only one or two more slight struggles after I left him. 
 After that I was sent for and found that the conflict ap- 
 peared over, and he breathed his last in about a quarter of 
 an hour. There was peculiar sweetness, and great silence 
 and solemnity in the room. I had to acknowledge that I 
 believed the mercy of our Heavenly Father was then ex- 
 tended towards him, and to express "a desire that it might, 
 in the same awful moment, be extended toward us, feeling 
 how greatly we stood in need of mercy. The rest of the day 
 passed off as well as I could expect. I feared lest the ser- 
 vants and others should attribute that praise to me with 
 which I had nothing to do, for I could not have prayed or 
 found an answer to prayer without an anointing from the 
 Most High- It led rne to feel it a blessing to be entrusted 
 with this sacred and precious gift; for though ministera 
 may have much to pass through and many crosses to take 
 up for then* own good and that of others, yet it is a marvel- 
 ous gift when the pui'e life stirs, operates and brings down 
 etfongholds. My nerves were rather shaken, so as to make 
 me naturally fearful at titnes the rest of the day. I have a 
 great desu-e that this event may be blessed to the househol<^ 
 
JUOTHEB AND MINISTER. 
 
 101 
 
 more particularly the servants, that it may humble and bow 
 their spirits ; that they may live more in love, and gi'ow in 
 the knowledge of God and of oui- Lord and Saviour Jesus 
 Christ." 
 
 "The funeral of the servant was fixed for the following 
 Sunday ; as the time approached Mrs. Fry felt an earnest 
 desu'e arise in her heart that the occasion might be one of 
 benefit to others, as several of his friends were to be pres- 
 ent; some from the immediate neighborhood. She pro- 
 posed that in the evening all the assembled guests should 
 be iavited to attend the family reading, with her own house- 
 hold ; but before the hovu' arrived for the performance of a 
 duty which was to her exceedingly weighty she was sum- 
 moned to visit Eliza, the newly married wife of her cousin, 
 James Sheppard, who was rapidly siixking into the grave. 
 The afflicted husband and sister were deeply needing the 
 skillful tenderness with which she could meet such exigen- 
 cies. At Meeting in the morning her heart had been 
 strengthened and apparently prepared for the duties of the 
 day. By the bed of languishing we find her waiting for that 
 unction without which she was sensible that her services 
 could avail nothing ; and on the same evening, in her own 
 dwelling, when suirounded by about forty, besides her own 
 children, she speaks in exhortation and prayer. Her ad- 
 dress was closely suited to the state of some persons pres- 
 ent, and unfliachingly did she impress upon them that ' the 
 way of the transgressor is hard.' The occasion was long re- 
 membered by individuals who were there, and who attribu- 
 ted their permanent improvement to the solemn truths they 
 then heard, and for the first time effectively received into 
 their hearts. Her own Journal of the day, written the fol- 
 lowing morning, portrays the workings of her own mind." 
 
 ■ " J^lashet, Ninth Month, Second-clay. — Yesterday was 
 rather a remarkable day. I rose very low and fearful : my 
 spirit appeared overwhelmed withia me, partly I think from 
 Bome serious outward matters, but principally from such an 
 
102 
 
 ELIZABETH FST. 
 
 extreme fear of my approaching confinement, feeling noth- 
 ing in myself to meet it, and knowing that it must come 
 unless death prevent. I went to Meeting, but was almost 
 too low to know whether I should go or not ; however being 
 helped in testimony to show the blessedness of those who 
 hope in the Lord and not m themselves appeared to do me 
 good, as if I had to minister to myself as well as others. 1 
 had a trust that my help was in the Lord, and that there- 
 fore I should experience my heart to be strengthened. A 
 message came requesting my immediate attendance on poor 
 dear Eliza Sheppard, who appeared near her end. Of 
 course I went. These visits are very awful ; to sit by that 
 which we believe to be a death-bed ; to be looked to by the 
 afflicted and others, as a minister from whom something is 
 expected, and the fear, at such a time of the activity of the 
 creatui'e arising and doing that which it has no business to 
 do. After sitting sometime quiet, part of which she ap- 
 peared to sleep, and pai't to be awake, a solemn silence cov- 
 ered us ; the words of supplication arose in due time, when 
 I believed her to be engaged in the same manner by putting 
 her hands together ; I knelt down and felt greatly helped, 
 but had not so much to pray for her alone as for all of us 
 there present with her. I had a few words also to say in tak- 
 ing leave. The visit appeared sweet to her by her smUes, 
 and her whispering to her sister expressing this. ... I 
 think I found myself strengthened rather than weakened by 
 the day's work, mentally and bodily, though my own great 
 weakness soon returned uj)on me, and it appeared striking 
 that such an one should have been so engaged ; but painful 
 {IS these feelings of depression are to bear, I know ' it is 
 well,' as it keeps me humble ; at least I hope so, — lowly and 
 abased.. Oh, saith my soul, after thus ministering to others, 
 may I not become a cast-away myself, and neither in trou- 
 ble nor rejoicing bring discredit on the cause that I love, or 
 on His name whom I desire to serve." 
 
MOTHER AND MINISTER. 
 
 103 
 
 In 1814, she made a short visit to her native county, 
 which is thus described : 
 
 JSleventh Month, 12th. — I am likely to set off early to- 
 morrow without my husband to go into Norfolk. Tliia 
 prospect I feel pleasant and painful ; pleasant, the idea of 
 being at Earlham ; painful, leaving home and more particu- 
 larly my husband. May 1 be enabled there faithfully to do 
 my duty, in whatever way I may be led, in meeting or out; 
 of meeting ; may the time spent there be to our mutual 
 comfort and edification, and may those left be cared for and 
 preserved, soul and body, by Him who careth for us ; this 
 I humbly trust will be the case. Amen, 
 
 " Plashet, 25th. — I returned safely home to my beloved 
 family on Second-day evening, the 22nd, I trust I may say 
 in thankfulness of heart, finding all well, and going on alto- 
 gether very comfortably. I returned by Ipswich accom- 
 panied by my sister Prisciila and my brother Joseph, and 
 spent all First-day there ; but I was unusually low, almost 
 distressed, on account of httle Betsey, as I heard she was 
 unweU, and knew not the extent of it ; so that my natui'al 
 impatience to get home was great ; but I felt kept there, 
 and as if I could not go away ; and thus deeply tried ia 
 myself was greatly helped from one service to another, dur- 
 ing the day, being variously and often engaged. It was a 
 day of natural tribulations, as far as fears went ; and may 
 I not say almost of spiritual abounding ? So it is ! and so 
 I often have found it, that I have to be brought to the dust 
 of the earth before I am greatly helped. Out of the depths 
 we are raised to the heights." 
 
 The death of her brother John Gurney, which occurred 
 in 1814, and which fii-st broke the cu-cle of eleven affection- 
 ate brothers and sisters, proved a very tender occasion. 
 Ai-riving just before his death, she was warmly greeted 
 
104 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 with the words "My dear sister come and kiss me." As the 
 seven sisters all stood round ids bed, he expressed great 
 satisfaction, saying, it was delightful, how they loved one 
 another. Ehzabeth then knelt and offered thanks for such 
 "unspeakable blessings." He then said "What a sweet 
 prayer!" and afterwards, "I never passed so happy a morn- 
 ing ; how dehghtful being together and loving one anothei 
 as we do ! " One of the sisters sang hymns which he en- 
 joyed, and as the day advanced he remarked, "What a 
 beautiful day this has been?" 
 
 On the day of the funeral Elizabeth writes : — 
 
 " My heart feels very full ; my body I believe has trem- 
 bled ever since I rose, to meet the party now assembled 
 and hkely to assemble here. My own corrupt dispositiona 
 I found showed themselves yesterday, v/hich I believe tended 
 to lay me very low; may I not say the feeling of my heart ia 
 that I am lying prostrate in the dust ? I liave been greatly 
 tendered in spirit with love to those here whom I beheve to 
 love the Lord / united to them in a manner inexpressible, in 
 my inmost heart — all baiTiers being broken down. Yet I 
 {eel it needful to be very watchful, very careful ; to be faithful 
 to the testimony that I apprehend myself called upon to 
 bear, not only for my own sake, but also for the sake of tha 
 younger ones about me. Lord be pleased to help me, to 
 guide me, to counsel me, that from my own will and preju- 
 dice I wound not a beloved brother or sister in Chiist; bufe 
 BO keep me in Thy fear, in Thy love, and under a sense oi 
 Thy presence, that I may act in these most awful and im- 
 portant duties according to Thy most holy and blessed will. 
 , . . . Let Thy good presence be with us that the lee- 
 ble be strengthened, the discouraged animated by hope, the 
 lukewarm stimulated, and the backslider turned Ixom. tha 
 
103 
 
 error of his ways, — even so if consistent with Thy holy will. 
 If Thou seest meet to make use of Thy unworthy childi'en 
 to speak in Thy name, be unto them tongue and utterance, 
 wisdom aud power, that through Thy grace, and the help of 
 Thy Spiiit sinners may be converted unto Thee. Amen, 
 Amen." 
 
 "Plashet, llnd. — ^IVIy beloved brother's funeral was a very 
 solemn and humbling day to me. Whilst we sat at Earl- 
 ham, round the body, my uncle Joseph, my sisters Cath- 
 erine, Eachel, Priscilla, and I each had something to say ; 
 also Edward Edwards. I had to finish the sitting with these 
 words ' There are different gifts but the same Sijhit. And 
 there are differences of administration, but the same Lord. 
 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same 
 God which worketh all iu all. But let us earnestly covet the 
 best gifts.' It certainly was a striking occasion. Were we 
 not aE in a measure leavened into one spu-it ? It was a very 
 solemn time at the ground, and I trust an instructive one, 
 very affecting to our natural feelings thus to leave the body 
 of one so tenderly beloved to moulder with the dust. Upon 
 my return I heard of the sudden death of my long-loved 
 cousin, Joseph Gurney Bevan. My sphit was much over- 
 whelmed within me, but there was a stay imderneath; 
 blessed be the name of the Lord ! I bade them all fare- 
 well at Earlham in near unity. Oh may my children love as 
 we love — this has been the prayer of my heart ! " 
 
 But with all her gifts, her motherly kindess, her humility, 
 her adroitness in dealing with different characters, Eliza- 
 beth Fry found it nowhere so difficult to act in the capacity 
 of a minister with success, as in her own immediate family. 
 This was due to various causes. Perhaps in the fii'st place 
 it was altogether natural, from the necessary familiarity 
 on the one hand, and the necessity of enforcing authority on 
 
106 
 
 ELIZABETH FET. 
 
 the other. The profoiind law which secures diversity in 
 unity is also apt to make some childi'en bi-anch off from the 
 parent stock in spiritual as well as natui'al likings. In adi 
 dition to these things considerable variety of opinion exist- 
 ing in the large family of uncles and aunts, several of whom 
 belonged to the Chuich of England and were persons of es- 
 timable chai-acter, had its effect on the young minds. StiH 
 again, it appears from various passages both in the Journal 
 and the later editor's notes that Elizabeth Fry's husband 
 did not wholly sympathize with her at all times in her reli- 
 gious zeal although a member of the same society. We are 
 even led to suspect, from the care taken to avoid exphcit 
 statements, and the profound grief of the devoted wife and 
 mother, that there was a more serious want than the lack of 
 denominational zeal. Sometliing of this gatheiing cloud 
 which oveshadowed many of the later years of her life, may 
 be seen in the following extracts, one from the Journal, and 
 one from the abridged Life of Elizabeth Fry, edited by Su- 
 sanna Corder. 
 
 " Plashet, Eleventh Month, 2nd, (1814). — My beloved 
 husband and girls returned from France on Second-day; 
 my heart was rather overwhelmed in receiving them again. 
 I also had to feel the spirit in which some persons took my 
 having allowed them to go, making what appeared to be 
 unkind remarks. Oh how I do see rocks on every hand ! 
 thus almost all persons who appear to pride themselves 
 upon their consistency are apt to judge others; whilst 
 some who no doubt yield to temptations greatly suffer and 
 weaken themselves by it. How weak, how frail are we on 
 every hand! My heart was much overwhelmed seeing the 
 infirmities of others and feeling my own ; I sat and wept in 
 
UOTHEB AKD MINISTEB. 
 
 107 
 
 meeting yesterday. I long, for myself, to have a more 
 prompt obedience to the manifestation of light in my soul'. 
 When I have time to pro and con the matter, to try thg 
 fleece wet and dry, I do pretty well, seldom for instanca 
 leaving a Meeting condemned for disobedience so much as 
 for want of maintaining a faithful exercise. But at homq 
 where things quickly arise in my mind, before meals, or in 
 our pause after reading, it appears as if I could not give up 
 to them without trying the thing again and again. I ques- 
 tion whether I should not do better if I more simply, ia^ 
 these things, walked by faith — whether I should not pros^ 
 per better, or make more progress Zionward ; — but to go to 
 the root of the matter, may my will become more subjected 
 to the Divine will. How do I long for the time when I may 
 know the Almighty to be my all in all, my Lord and my 
 God, that He may be continually served by me, both day 
 and night, in small things and in great." 
 
 Bemarks of Mrs. Corder, on the above. 
 
 "Elizabeth Fry exercised a watchful care, never, tmless 
 duty required it, to oppose the wishes of her husband ; and 
 it could not reasonably be expected that she would prevent 
 his taking his two elder girls on this excursion. But her 
 solicitude on account of her family became increasingly 
 great. She found as her children advanced in age, and the 
 corrupt propensities of the natural mind developed them- 
 selves, that she often failed in her attempts to control the 
 unyielding will and to subdue the vain inclination — and 
 from external circumstances she did not receive the co- 
 operation requisite rightly to govern their volatile tempera* 
 ment : but earnest were her efforts to guide them into the 
 way of peace, and fervent her prayers that they might bft 
 gathered to the fold of the good Shepherd." 
 
 It is proper here to add some editorial remarks of he? 
 daughters made in this connection. 
 
108 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 "Mrs. Fry was always very jealous over herself, lest her 
 avocations as the head of the family should be neglected 
 from her time and attention being so greatly occupied by 
 those duties which she believed herself called to perform in 
 the church ; but she was even more alive to the danger of 
 carrying on the business of life in dependence upon her 
 own strength." 
 
 "It would not be true to say that lilrs. Fry naturally 
 cared much for outward appearance, or that she took pleas- 
 ure in domestic concein. She loved a simple liberality aiid 
 unostentatious comfort. Her element was hospitality, an'd, 
 whilst Christian moderation was observed, her taste was 
 gratified by an open, generous mode of living; but she 
 would not have chosen for her own pleasure the oversight 
 of either house or table ; and when in later life circumstan- 
 ces rendered care and economy a duty, it was a great relief 
 to her to be able to depute the charge of household affairs 
 to one of her daughters. She was always most correct in 
 account-keeping ; the distinct heads of house, gai'den, farm, 
 charity, with many others, marked the painstaking care with 
 which she performed her self-imposed task. 
 
 "As mistress of a family, if she erred it was upon the 
 Bide of indulgence; scarcely liking to exert that power 
 over the wills and feelings of others which is so conducive 
 to theu' good, and so infinitely in favor of those governed, 
 as well as those in the more arduous position of governing 
 others ; but she was aware of this herself, and a ' firm hand 
 with a household,' was among the maxims she ijapressed 
 upon her daughters as they advanced in life. 
 
 "During the infancy of her children she was singularly 
 devoted to them by night as well as day. She attended to 
 their minutest ailments, and was distressed by their suffer- 
 ings ; in health and happiness they refi-eshed her by their 
 smiles. She had the gentlest touch with httle children, 
 literally and figui'atively. She would win their hearts if 
 they had never seen her before, almost at the first glance, 
 
 1 
 
MOTHER AND MINISTEB. 
 
 109- 
 
 and by the first sound of her musical voice. As her chil- 
 di"en grew older her love was undiminished, but her facility 
 ^was less than before the sinfulness of the human heart 
 had developed itself in positive evil ; this especially appUes 
 to the elder ones. She had not a talent for education if 
 that -word be used for imparting knowledge ; probably be- 
 cause her own had been interi'upted and unfinished ; nor did 
 she appreciate, tUl the experience of life taught her, the 
 necessity of exerting minute,, continued and personal influ- 
 ence over the minds of children. She had to learn that if 
 the golden harvest of success is to be reaped, the husband- 
 man must exert both industry and sldll. The genial sun 
 to ripen, and the refreshing shower to moisten the ground^ 
 are indeed needful ; but the soil must have been turned up, 
 and the seed sown by the labor of man.'* 
 
 Pretty good results, however, seem to have been finally ob- 
 tained ; and it must always remain a question for individual 
 judgment how much of the work belongs to man, and how 
 much must be left to natui-e and grace. 
 
 ^'Mildred's Court, First Month, 16th, 1815.— We came 
 here for a little change of air on account of our poor babe,, 
 who has been and continues seriously ill. Instead of her 
 sweet smile her countenance mostly marks distress ; the 
 cause appears greatly hidden ; my mind and heart are op- 
 pressed and my body fatigued, partly from losing so much 
 sleep. I have felt my infirmity during this affliction, and 
 also having betrayed it to others, which I have, I appre- 
 hended, to judge by my touchy feelings ; but I trust I re- 
 pent. Oh what am I ? very poor, very unworthy, very 
 weak ; but through all I trust that the Lord will be my 
 stay ; and even when brought thus low I have known a little 
 of being at seasons clothed with that righteousness which 
 cometh from God. I found it was well so feelingly to have 
 
110 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT 
 
 been bronght to a knowledge of what I am in myself, as I 
 could more fully testify from whence the good comes, when 
 brought in measure under its calming, enlivening, and lov-- 
 ing iofluence. Preserve me, O Lord, from hurting the little 
 ones, more particularly those before whom I have to walk ; 
 and permit me yet to encoui'age their progress Zionward. 
 
 25th. — A time of anxiety about things temporal has lately 
 been my portion, but much deliverance has so far been 
 granted; my sweet bab}' is much better : though other mat- 
 ters are stUl pressing, yet it appears, as to things temporal, 
 that prayer has been heard and answered. From one cause 
 or another how much my heart, mind and time have, for 
 more than a year past, been engaged with the cares of this 
 hfe ; alas ! may the pure seed not be choked." 
 
 Two short religious visits were made during the year 
 1815, and before its close she who had ministered consola- 
 tion to others was called to bear a new and severe trial of 
 her own strength in the loss of a child. The event is thus 
 described in her Journal. 
 
 ^^Plashet, Eleventh Month. — It has pleased Almighty 
 and Infinite Wisdom to take from us our most dear and ten- 
 derly beloved child, little Betsey — between four and five 
 years old. She was a very precious child, of much wisdom 
 for her years, and I can hardly help believing much grace ; 
 liable to the frailty of childhood. At times she would differ 
 with the little one and rather loved her own way ; but she 
 was very easy to lead, though not one to be di-iven. She 
 had most tender afflictions, a good understanding, for 
 her years a remarkably staid and solid mind. Her love 
 was very strong and her little attentions great to those 
 fehe loved, and remarkable in her kindness to servants, poor 
 people, and to ail animals, she had much feeling for them* 
 Tjut what \>a3 more, the bent of her mind was remai'kably 
 
MOTHEB AND MINISTER. 
 
 in 
 
 toward serious things. It was a subject she loved to dwel^ 
 upon. She wouJd often talk about 'Almighty,' and almost 
 everything that had connection with Him. On Third-day, 
 after some suffering of body from great sickness she ap- 
 peared wonderfuEy relieved, and I may say raised in spirit. 
 She began by telling me how many hymns and stories she 
 knew, with her countenance greatly animated, a flush on her 
 cheeks, and her eyes very bright, a snule of inexpresdible 
 content, almost joy. I think she first said with a powerful 
 voice, 
 
 'How glorious ia our Heavenly Ring, 
 Who reigns above the skies 
 
 and then expressed how beautiful it was, and how the little 
 children that die stand before Him ; but she did not remem- 
 ber all the words of the hymn, nor could I help her. She 
 then mentioned other hymns, and many sweet things ; she 
 spoke with delight of how she could nurse the little ones 
 and take cai'e of them, etc., her heart appeared inexpressibly 
 to overflow with love. ... In her death there appeared 
 abundant cause for thanksgiving ; prayer appeared indeed 
 to be answered, as very little if any suffering seemed to at- 
 tend her, and no struggle at last; but her breath grew 
 more and more seldom and gentle, till she ceased to breathe. 
 t)uring the day, being from time to time strengthened ia 
 prayer, in heart, and in word, I found myself only led to 
 ask for her that she might be forever with her God, whether 
 fihe remained much longer in time or not, but that, if it 
 pleased Infinite Wisdom, her sufferings might be mitigated, 
 and as far as it was needful for her to suffer, that she mi^ht 
 be sustained. This was marvelously answered, beyond, 
 anything we could expect. I desire never to forget this 
 favor but, if it please Infinite Wisdom, to be preserved frord 
 repining or unduly giving way to lamentation for losing so 
 Bweet, so kind a child. . . My loss has touched me in a 
 
112 
 
 ELIZABETH FBI. 
 
 manner almost inexpressible ; to awake and find my much 
 and so tenderly beloved little girl so totally fled from my 
 view, so many pleasant pictures marred. As far as I am 
 concerned, I view- it as a separation from a sweet source of 
 comfort and enjoyment, but surely not a real evU. Abun- 
 dant comforts are left me, if it please my kind and Heav- 
 enly Father to give me power to enjoy tliem, and continu- 
 ally in heart to return Him thanks on account of His imut- 
 terable loving-kindness to my tenderly beloved little one, 
 who had so sweet and easy a life and so tranquil a death; 
 and that in her young and tender years her heart had been 
 animated with love and desu-es after Himself, and also that 
 for our sakes she should so often have expressed it in her 
 childish, innocent way. 
 
 In reference to this event, Richenda Gurney, writing to 
 her sister Eachel, at Rome, said ; — 
 
 " I never witnessed stronger faith, more submission, more 
 evidences of the power of grace in any one, than in ovu: be- 
 loved sister at this time ; I felt it a mercy to be a hum- 
 ble sharer in the rich portion granted her in that hour of 
 need; never was I more impressed with the blessedness 
 which is experienced by those who have served the Lord 
 Jesus, who have preferred H!im above all things, who have 
 been wUling to take up their daUy cross and follow Him. 
 He is not a hard Master ; He never leaves nor forsakes His 
 own, and will show Himself strong in behalf of those whose 
 hearts are perfect towards Siin. After a few minutes we 
 retired with our dear sister to^'tfie next room. She was de- 
 sirous that children and servants, (especially the nurses,) 
 and all her friends who had been present should come to 
 her. When thus surrounded as she lay upon the sofa, she 
 poured out her heart in thanksgiving and prayer, in a man- 
 ner deeply affecting and edifying. For myself I felt it 
 
UOTHEB AND imaSTEK 
 
 113 
 
 highly valuable, and would not but have been there for a 
 great deal. Whilst memory lasts, I think and hope I never 
 ehall forget the scene or the impression it made." 
 
 The trials of the mother and minister are touchingly por- 
 trayed in the following entry in her Journal within less than 
 a month after the death of her chUd. 
 
 *• Plashet, Twelfth Month, 2nd. — am brought into soni© 
 conflict this morning respecting my attending the Dorset- 
 shiie Quarterly Meeting. I had looked to it before the ill- 
 ness of our dear lamb, and not feeling clear of it, and yet 
 not much light shining upon it, my poor soul is tried within 
 me ; for under my present circumstances I appear much to 
 want the help of faith to leave my other sweet lambs. But 
 ought I not rather to feel renewed stimulus, seeing how short 
 time is, to do what comes to hand, and after all that I have 
 experienced should I not rather trust than be afraid : — for was 
 the hand of Providence ever more marked, even as it related 
 to outward things? I believe I am fully resigned to go if 
 it be the Lord's will : for I do believe, for all my many and 
 great infirmities, my flinching nature, my want of faith an^ 
 patience, yet it remains my first desii'e to do or to suffer 
 according to the Divine will. If consistent with Thy holy 
 will, dearest Lord, if I ought to go, be pleased to throw a 
 little Ught upon the subject ; and if not, somehow make it 
 manifest; and if Thou shouldst think fit to call Thy poor 
 child into Thy service, be pleased to be with her in it, and 
 bless her labors of love where her lot may be cast, that 
 others may be made sensible how good a God Thou art, 
 how great is Thy teuder mercy and loving kindness, and 
 that these may be encouraged yet to serve Thee more vvith 
 the whole heart; also be pleased, dearest Lord, if Thou 
 shouldst order it that I go, to keep my beloved husband, 
 children and household in my absence, that no harm may 
 
ELI2ABETB FB7. 
 
 come to them, spiiitually or bodily. Thou hast in abundanfi 
 mercy regai-ded the weak estate of Thy handmaid, and hither- 
 to answered her cry, and even met her in. her weakness ; that 
 if not asking ui her own wUl she could supplicate Thee that 
 their poor bodies, as well as their souls, may be preserved 
 from (much) hai'm ia her absence ; but, deai-est Lord, let 
 me not go if my right place be at home ; but if Thou callest 
 me out, be pleased to grant a Uttle faith, and a httle 
 strength, that I may go forth in Thy power, trusting in 
 Thee, as it relates to them, as well as to myself. Be 
 pleased also, if I be called from home at such a time, not to 
 let it try or weaken the faith of others ; but rather may it 
 tend to confii'm and strengthen it. 
 
 "JPlashet, 11th. — Truly I went forth weeping; and my 
 sweet Louisa being poorly, much increased my anxiety; and 
 it is difficult to say the fears and doubts that crept in, on my 
 way to Shaftsbuiy, though through mercy the enemy's 
 power appeared limited, and my feai's gained no dominion 
 over me; but they were soon quieted, and I had mostly 
 quiet, comfortable nights, though it was wading through 
 deep waters and in great weakness ; yet help was from sea- 
 son to season administered. 
 
 " JPlashet, It is the opinion of medical men that 
 
 the scarlet fever, in a mild form, is the complaint in the 
 house. It is most probable that it will again appear 
 amongst us, but that I desire to leave. They also think 
 our dear Rachel has a very serious hip complaint, but this 
 I also feel disposed not to be very anxious about. With 
 regard to my tenderly beloved little Betsey, she is in my 
 most near and affectionate remembrance, by night and by 
 day. "When I feel her loss, and view her little (to me) beau- 
 tiful body in Barking burying-ground, my heart is painecf 
 within me ; but when, with the eye of faith, I can view her 
 in an everlasting resting-place in Christ Jesus, where indeed 
 no evil can come nigh her dwelling, then I can rest, even 
 with sweet consolai>ion ; and I do truly desu-e that when 
 
MOTHKB AND MINISTEB. 
 
 116 
 
 her loss is so present with me, as it is at times, tliat I can- 
 not help my natural spirits being much overwhelmed, that 
 I may be preserved from anything like repining, or undue 
 Borrow, or in any degree depreciating the many blessings 
 continued ; particularly so many sweet dear children being 
 left us: for through all I feel receiving them a blessing, 
 having their life preserved a blessing, and in the sweet lamb 
 who is taken, I have felt a blessing in her being taken 
 away ; such an evidence of faith has been granted that it is 
 in mercy, and at the time such a feeling of joy on her ac- 
 count. It is now softened down into a very tender sorrow, 
 the remembrance of her is inexjDressibly sweet, and I trust 
 that the whole event has done me good, as I peculiarly feej 
 it an encouragement to suffer whatever is appointed me; 
 that beuig (if it may ever be my blessed allotment) made 
 perfect through suffering, I may be in-epared to join the 
 purified spii-its of those that have gone before me ; and 
 having felt so very deeply, I am almost ready to think has 
 a little prepared my neck for the yoke of suffering." 
 
 Her tenth child was born on the 18th of May, 1816. In 
 June her childi'en went to Pakefield, for the benefit of sea 
 air, and remained for a time in the family of her brother-in- 
 law, Francis Cunningham, "an active and devoted clergy- 
 man." "She deeply felt their being thrown among those 
 who were not Friends, but the advantages of the wise care 
 and oversight of her sister Eachel Gurney, and the privi- 
 lege of associating with the brother who invited them to be 
 his guests, overcame her objections, and she agreed to an 
 arrangement which appears to have given the complexion 
 to their future lives, and more or less directly to have infla- 
 ©nced every member of the family." * 
 * 
 
 •I have received a letter, bearing date August 22, 1882, from the 80S 
 
116 
 
 ELIZABETH FET. 
 
 Afterwards her two eldest boys went to Earlham to pvir- 
 sue their education under the care of their aunts, and her 
 daughters to North Runcton, in the family of her brother 
 Daniel Gumey. "Whilst conscious of the literary advan- 
 tages enjoyed by her children, she feared the probable effect 
 of their cu'cumstances, and of the influences to which they 
 were subjected."* The following extract exhibits her feel- 
 ings and spirit under these conditions. 
 
 " Seventh Month, Uh. — have been at Pakefield with my 
 beloved brother and sister : my soul has travaUed much in 
 the deeps on many accounts ; more particularly while with 
 them that in keeping to our scruples respecting prayer, 
 &c., &c., the right thing might be hurt in no mind. Words 
 fall very short of expression of how much my spirit is over* 
 whelmed within me for us all. Our situation is very pecu- 
 liar, siuTounded as we are with those of various senti- 
 
 whose birth is last recorded, and who still resides at Plashet, giving 
 the following particulars of Elizabeth Fry's tamily and descendants. 
 Eight of her eleven children are still living. Of these only two are 
 members of the Society of Friends, the ethers belonging to the Church 
 lOf England. "The grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great 
 great do. , amount to 139 souls." He adds: " With respect to the Lifo 
 of iny mother as originally published by my sisters KatherineFry and 
 Kachel E. Cresswell, in 2 vols. — it has long been out of print, and is 
 very difiScult to obtain. I think I know an old Friend who would part 
 With one he has for two pounds, as money would be of more use to 
 him than the book. . . . There is a large engraving after Eich- 
 tuond's picture, about 30 inches high, full length, but it is difficult to 
 obtain a copy, and would cost about three pounds. This was taken 
 when she was about 63 years old. . . , , If I can be of any further 
 eervice to you in the collection of mattfet for your book I shall be very 
 bappy to help you, and reuAam 
 
 "Yours truly, 
 
 **S. Gdeney Fax." 
 
 •S. Colder. 
 
MOTHER AND HINISTEB. 
 
 117 
 
 ments, and yet I humbly trust each seeking the right way. 
 To have a clergyman for a brother is very different to hav- 
 ing one for a friend ; a much closer tie, and a stUl stronger 
 call, for the sake of preserving sweet unity of spirit, to 
 ^g^^t jbim as far as we can, to offend as little as possible by 
 our scruples, and yet for the sake of others, as weU as our- 
 selves, faithfully to maintain our ground, and to keep very 
 close to that which can alone duect aiight." 
 
 The benefit of having families somewhat divided in reli- 
 gious opinion and practice, is well illustrated by the above 
 extract. When oui- own brothers and sisters, equally sin- 
 cere and intelligent with oui'selves, see paths of duty differ- 
 ing from our own, we are induced to hope, that there may 
 be nothing harmful in these diversities. And yet our weak- 
 ness often lies very close to our strength. "^Miat we have 
 found good for ourselves we naturally think must be good 
 for others, and especially our childi-en. Elizabeth Fry 
 afterwards suffered acutely because her children, as they 
 gi"ew up, with these various examples before them, indulged 
 a growing disinclination to the peculiar customs of Friends, 
 and generally chose other associations. But as she herseli 
 paingled more with Christians holding different views, her 
 liberality continued to increase, as it might not have done 
 had her own religious society been more flourishing, and 
 had her wishes been granted in respect to her own family. 
 
 "Mildred's Court, Twelfth Month, loth. (1816)— I re- 
 turned yesterday from attending poor dear Joseph's funeral 
 at Norwich, the son of my uncle Joseph Guiuey. I have 
 gone through a good deal, what with mourning with the 
 mourners, the ministry, &c., &c. I think I was in this re- 
 spect, at the funeral helped by the Spirit and the power that 
 
118 
 
 ELIZABETH TRY. 
 
 we cannot command ; though I left Eailham with a burdened 
 mind, not having any apparently suitable opportunity for 
 relief, hui'rying away, to my feelings prematurely, of wbicb 
 I find even the remembrance painful. My sweet dear girls 
 Qnd boys I much feel again leaving, seeing their critical aga 
 and state. What I feel for the children I cannot describe. 
 Oh ! may they be sheltered under the great Almighty wing 
 BO as not to go greatly astray." 
 
 This chapter may fitly be concluded by her advices to her 
 gills and boys when at school. 
 
 <" Flasket, Mnth Month, 27th, 1816. 
 
 ^Iiy MUCH tOVED GIRLS, 
 
 "Yom' letters received last evening gave us much pleas- 
 ure. _ X anxiously hope that you wUl now do your utmost 
 in whatever respects your education, not only on your own 
 account, but for our sakes. 1 1 look forward to your return 
 with so nduch comfort, as useful and valuable helpers to 
 irie,\which you will be all the more if you get forward your-J 
 selves: ' I see quite a field of useful service and enjoyment 
 for yovu should . we/fee favored to meet under comfortable 
 feircumstahces in the spring. I mean that you should have 
 a certain department to fill in the house, amongst the child- 
 ren and the poor, as well as your own studies and enjoy- 
 ments; I think there has not often been a brighter opening 
 for two girls. Plashet is after all such a home; it now 
 looks sweetly, and your little room is almost a temptation to 
 me to take it for a sitting-room for myself, it is so pretty 
 and so snug ; it is newly furnished and looks very pleasant 
 indeed. The poor and the schools I think will be glad to 
 have you home, for help is wanted in these things. Indeed 
 if your hearts are but turned the right way, you riiay I be- 
 lieve be made insVruments of much good; and I shall be 
 glad to have the day c6me that I may introduce you into 
 prisons and hospitals. ' Therefore gu'd up the loins of your 
 
MOTHER AND MINISTEB. 
 
 119 
 
 mind and be sober.' This appears to me your present busi- 
 ness — to give all diligence to your present duties ; and I 
 cannot help believing, if this be the case, that the day v?ill 
 come when you will be brought into much usefulness." 
 
 To each of her sons at school she gave " Rules for a Boy 
 at Boarding School," from which the following extracts are 
 made : 
 
 "Be regular; strict in attending to religious duties ; and 
 do not allow other boys around thee to prevent thy having 
 some portion of time for reading, at least a text of Scrip* 
 ture, meditation, prayer, and if it appears to be a duty, flinch 
 not from bowing the knee before them as a mark of thyal- 
 iegiance to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. . 
 Strongly as I ad vise thy faithfully maintaining thy princi- 
 ples and doing thy duty, I would have thee very careful of 
 either judging or reproving others ; for it takes a long time 
 to get the beam out of our own eye, before we can sea 
 clearly to take the mote out of our brother's eye. There is 
 for one young in years much greater safety in preaching to 
 others by example than in word. . . . Maintain truth 
 and strict integrity upon all points. Be not double-minded 
 in any degree ; but faithfully maintain, not only the upright 
 principles on religious grounds, but also the brightest honor. 
 I like to see it in small things and in great, for it marks the 
 upright man." 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 NEWGATE. 
 
 "We now approach the work of Christian benevolence, 
 which gave the name of Elizabeth Fry to fame. The first 
 accounts of this enterprise take us back to the year 1813. 
 
 kindred's Court, Second Month, loth. — My fear for my- 
 self the last few days is, lest I should be exaited by the 
 evident unity of my dear friends whom I greatly value ; and 
 also my natural health and spii'its being gfood; and being 
 engaged in some laudable pursuits, more particularly secmg 
 after the prisoners in Newgate. Oh how deeply, now very 
 deeply, I fear the temptation of ever being exalted, or seJf- 
 conceited ! I cannot preserve myself from this temptation 
 any more than being unduly cast down or crushed by 
 others. Be pleased, O Lord ! to preserve me ; for the deep 
 inwai'd prayer of my heart is that I may ever walk humbly 
 before Thee, and also before all mankind. Let me never, 
 in any way, take that glory to myself which alone belongs 
 unto Thee, if in Thy mercy Thou shouldst ever enable one 
 BO unworthy either to do good or to communicate. 
 
 " 16th. — Yesterday we were some hours at Newgate with 
 the poor female felons, attending to their outward necessi- 
 ties. We had been twice previously. Before we went 
 away dear Anna Buxton offered a few words in suppUca- 
 tion, and, very unexpectedly to myself, I did also. I heard 
 weeping and I thought they appeared much tendered: a 
 
NEWGATE. 
 
 121 
 
 very solemn quiet was observed : it was a striking scene, 
 the poor people on their knees around, in their deplorable 
 condition." 
 
 " Thus simply and incidentally," observe her daughters, 
 from whose account I shall now make some extracts, "is 
 recorded Elizabeth Fry's first entrance upon the scene of 
 her future labors, evidently without any idea of the im- 
 portance of its ultimate results. 
 
 ["From early youth her spirit had often been attracted, 
 in painful sympathy, toward those who, by yielding them- 
 selves to the bondage of sin, had become the victims of 
 human justice. Before she was fifteen years of age, the 
 House of Correction at Norwich excited her feelings of 
 deep interest, and by repeated and earnest persuasion she 
 induced her father to allow her to visit it. She referred, 
 many years afterwai'ds, to the impressions which had then 
 been received, and mentioned to a dear and venerable 
 father in the truth amongst us, that it had laid the foun- 
 dation for her engagements in prison." — /S. Corder.~\ 
 
 "In January of this year, four members of the Society of 
 Friends, all well known to Elizabeth Fry, had visited some 
 persons in Newgate who were about to be executed. Al- 
 though no mention is made of the circumstance in the 
 journal, it has always been understood that the representa- 
 tions of these Friends, particularly those of William Fos- 
 ter, one of the number, first induced her personally to in- 
 spect the state of the women, with the view of alleviating 
 their sufferings occasioned by the inclemency of the season. 
 
 "At that time all the female prisoners in Newgate were 
 confined in that part now known as the untried side. The 
 lai'ger portion of the Quadrangle was then used as a state 
 prison. The partition wall was not of sufficient height to 
 prevent the state prisoners from ovei-looking the narrow 
 
122 
 
 ELIZABETH FBY. 
 
 yard and the windows of the two wards and two cells of 
 which the women's division consisted. These four rooms 
 comprised about one hundred and ninety superficial yards, 
 into which, at the time of these visits, nearly three hun- 
 di'ed women, with their numerous childi'en, were crowded : 
 tried and untried, misdemeanants and felons, without clas- 
 sification, without employment, and with no other superin- 
 tendence than that given by a man and his sou who had 
 charge of them by night and by day. In the same rooms, 
 in rags and dirt, destitute of sufiicient clothing, (for which 
 there was no provision,) sleeping without bedding, on the 
 floor, the boards of which were in part raised to supply a 
 sort of pillow, they Uved, cooked and washed. 
 
 "With the proceeds of their clamorous begging, when 
 any stranger appeared amongst them, the prisoners pur- 
 chased liquors from a regular tap in the prison. Spirits 
 were openly di'unk, and the ear was assailed by the most 
 terrible language. Beyond that which was necessary for 
 safe custody, there was little restraint over their communi- 
 cation with the world without. 
 
 " Although military sentinels were posted on the leads of 
 the prison, such was the lawlessness prevailing, that Mr. 
 Newman, the governor, entered this portion of it with 
 reluctancy. Fearful that their watches would be snatched 
 from their sides, he advised the ladies (though without 
 avaU) to leave them in his house. 
 
 " Into this scene Elizabeth Fry entered, accompanied only 
 by Anna Buxton. The sorrowful and neglected condition 
 of these depraved women and their miserable children, dwell- 
 ing in such a vortex of corruption, deeply ' sank into her 
 heart, although at this time nothiog more was done than to 
 supply the most destitute with clothes. She cgj-uied back to 
 her home and into the midst of other avocatio'rPafld interests 
 a lively remembrance of all that she had witnessed at New- 
 gate, which within four years induced that systematic effort 
 for amehorating the condition of these poor outcasts, so 
 
BEWQATB. 
 
 123 
 
 Bignally blessed by Him who said * That joy shall be in 
 Heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over 
 ninety and nine just persons that need no repentance.' 
 
 "Not only did a considerable space of time elapse, after 
 Elizabeth Fry's first visits to Newgate, before she renewed 
 theni, but in the interim many events occurred of deep im- 
 port to herself. He ' who sits as a Refiner and a Purifier of 
 sUver,' saw fit to exercise her in the school of affliction before 
 raising her up for the remarkable work which she had to do. 
 Long and distressing indisposition, the death of her brother 
 John Gurney, that of her paternal friend Joseph Gumey 
 Bevan, the loss of a most tenderly beloved child, considera- 
 ble decrease of property, separation for a time from all her 
 elder children, were among the means used by Him who 
 cannot err to teach her the utter instability of every human 
 possession, to draw her heart more entirely to Himself, and 
 to prepare her for His service." 
 
 I again quote from Mrs. Corder's volume at a later date^ 
 L-page 233. 
 
 "Three years had now elapsed since Elizabeth Fry had 
 first visited Newgate ; but her spirit had from time to time 
 been led into deep and solemn feeling on account of the de- 
 graded inmates of that prison ; and a conviction became 
 gradually impressed on her mind that she was requiied by 
 Him to whose service she had been enabled to dedicate her- 
 
 tlf as an unquenched coal on His sacred altar, to labor, as 
 e might see meet to open the way and to dii-ect her steps, 
 f^jp the moral reformation and above all for the spuitual 
 coliversion and help of the most depraved and miserable of 
 her sex. Nothing but the constraining love of Christ could 
 j|iav6 Induced this tender and delicate woman thus to sur- 
 render domestic comfort and personal ease, and even to risk 
 her own reputation, to follow what she believed to be the 
 call of her Divine Master, leading her into labors most ardu- 
 
SLIZASESB FBT. 
 
 {fas painful, from which her nature recoiled with dread. 
 SjBt.was the unction of holy love so abundantly poured out 
 upon^lEer spuit that" she willingly yielded to the appoint- 
 men&J that compassionate Saviour who, thi-ough her in- 
 etruioentality, was thus graciously extending His hand of 
 mercy, in order to rescue from the pit of destruction those 
 who j?6re sunls vice and wretchedness." 
 
 "Mildti^J's Court, Second Month, 24«A, (1817).— I have 
 lately toeen much occupied in forming a school in Newgate 
 for the children of the poor prisoners, as well as the young 
 crimina^jiwhich.has brought much peace and satisfaction 
 with if ; .but iBjIniind has also, been deeply effected in at- 
 tending a poor woman who was executed this morning. I 
 visited her twice. This event has brought me into much 
 feeling, attended with some distressingly nervous sensations 
 in the night, so that this has been a time of deep humilia- 
 tion to me, thus witnessing the effect and consequences of 
 ein. , This poor creatui-e murdered her baby; and how in- 
 expressibly awful now to have her own life taken away! 
 The whole affair has been truly afflicting to me ; to see what 
 poor mortals' may be driven to through sin and transgres- 
 sion, and how hai'd the heart becomes even to the most ten- 
 der affections. How should we watch and pray that we fall 
 not by little and little, become hardened and commit greater 
 sins. I had to pray for these poor sinners this morning, 
 and also for the preservation of our household from thg 
 evil there is in the world. " 
 
 Extract from a letter to her sister, Bachel Gurney:— 
 
 Mildred's Court, Third Month, lOiA and 11th. — My 
 heart and mind and time are very much engaged in various 
 ways. Newgate is the principal object, and I think until X 
 make some attempt at amendment in the plans for th^ 
 women, I shall not feel easy; but if such efforts shoul(J 
 prove unsuccessful, I think that I should then have tried to 
 
KEWOATE. 
 
 12» 
 
 do my part and be easy. . . . The poor occupy me lit- 
 tle more than at the door, as I cannot go after them, with 
 my other engagements. The hanging at Newgate does not 
 overcome me as it did at first, and I have only attended 
 one woman since the first. I see and feel the necessity of 
 caution in this respect, and mean to be on my guard about 
 it, and run no undue risk with myself." 
 
 Mrs. Fry's method of reform seems to have been original 
 with herself. In commencing her experiment, she re- 
 quested to be left alone with the prisoners. After asking 
 their attention she read the parable of the Lord of the vine- 
 yard, and made some remarks upon the subject which 
 called forth expressions from a few of them. Some asked 
 who Christ was, and others feai'ed that their day of salva- 
 tion was passed. She then "addi-essed herself to the 
 mothers, and pointed out to them the grievous consequen- 
 ces to their children of living in such a scene of depravity, 
 and proposed to establish a school for them, to which they 
 acceded with tears of joy. She desu'ed them to consider 
 the plan, for without their steady co-operation she would 
 not undertake it — leaving it to them to select a governess 
 Erom among themselves." 
 
 " On her next visit they had chosen as school-mistress a 
 young woman named Mary Conner, recently committed for 
 stealing a watch. She proved eminently qualified for the 
 task, and became one of the first fruits of Christian labor in 
 that place ; she was assiduous in her duties, and was never 
 known to infringe one of the rules. A free pardon was 
 granted her about fifteen months afterwards; but this 
 proved an unavailing gift, for a cough which had attacked 
 iier a short time previously, ended in consumption." 
 
126 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 Elizabetli Fry was soon surrounded by a company oi 
 earnest co-workers, and received liberal aid and encourage« 
 ment from the authorities and officers of the prison, although 
 they at first looked upon the experiment as hopeless and 
 even visionary. An unoccupied cell was assigned for the 
 Bchool-room ; and Mrs. Fry accompanied by Mary Sander- 
 son and the teacher elect, opened the school for children 
 and persons under twenty-five years of age. Many older 
 ones earnestly entreated permission to share in the instruc- 
 tions, but the small size of the room forbade. Mai'y San- 
 derson, then visiting the prison for the first time, thus de- 
 scribes her impressions. 
 
 " The railing was crowded witn half -naked women strug- 
 gliag together for the front situations, with the most bois- 
 terous violence, and begging with the utmost vociferation. 
 I felt as if I were going into a den of wild beasts, and well 
 recollect shuddering when the door closed upon me, and I 
 was locked in with such a herd of novel and desperate 
 companions." 
 
 In her evidence, subsequently given before the House of 
 Commons, Mrs. Fry made this statement, " It was in our 
 visits to the school, where some of us attended almost every 
 day, that we were witnesses to the di-eadful proceedings 
 that went forward on the female side of the prison; the 
 begging, swearing, gaming, fighting, singing, dancing, 
 dressing-up in men's clothes, — scenes too bad to be de- 
 scribed, so that we did not think it suitable to admit young 
 persons with us." 
 
 One of the strong characteristics of Elizabeth Fry waa 
 now called into requisition. Her perseverance was equal to 
 
NEWGATE. 
 
 127 
 
 the heavy demand made upon it. She encouraged her 
 friends and continued to enlist others in the enterprise untD 
 in April, 1817, "An Association for the Improvement of the 
 Female Prisoners in Newgate " was formed, consisting of 
 eleven members of the Society of Friends and the wife of a 
 clergyman. Theii* object was stated to be, "To provide for 
 the clothing, the instruction and the employment of the 
 women ; to introduce them to a knowledge of the Holy 
 Scriptures, and to form in them, as much as possible, those 
 habits of order, sobriety and industry which may render 
 them peaceable, whilst in prison, and respectable when they 
 leave it." 
 
 An interview was had with the prisoners, in presence of 
 the sheriff and other officers of the prison. Elizabeth Fry 
 asked them if they were willing " to abide by the rules 
 which it would be indispensable to establish among them 
 for the accomplishment of the object so much desired by 
 them all. The women fully and unanimously assured her 
 of their determination to obey them strictly. The sheriffs 
 also addressed them, giving the plan the countenance of 
 iheir approbation ; and then tvurning to Elizabeth. Fry and 
 her companions, one of them said, *'Well ladies, you see 
 your material.' 
 
 " How they used these ' materials ' and the blessing per- 
 mitted to attend their exertions is demonstrated by a letter 
 received in 1820 from one of the prisoners then present." 
 
 To Mrs. Fry. 
 
 "I'aramatta, New South Wales, July 10th, 1820. 
 **HoNOBED Madam,— 
 « The duty I owe to you, likewise to the benevolent So- 
 
128 
 
 ELIZABETH FR?. 
 
 ciety to wWcli you have the honor to belong, compels me to 
 take up my pen to return to you my most sincere thanks for 
 the heavenly instruction I derived from you and the dear 
 friends dm'ing my confinement in Newgate. 
 
 "In the month of April 1817 how did that blessed prayer 
 of yours sink into my heart ; and as you said so have I 
 found it, that when no eyes see and no ears hear, God both 
 sees and hears ; and then it was that the arrow of convic- 
 tion entered my hard heart ; and in Newgate it was that poor 
 
 Han-iet S , like the prodigal son, came to herself, and 
 
 took with her words, and sought the Lord ; and truly can I 
 say with David, ' Before I was afflicted I went astray, but 
 now have I learned Thy ways OLord ! ' And although afflic- 
 tion Cometh not forth of the dust yet how prone have I been 
 to forget God, my Maker, who can give songs in the night; 
 and happy is that soul that when affliction comes can say 
 with Eli, ' It is the Lord,' or with David, ' I was dumb and 
 opened not my mouth because Thou didsj; it ; ' and Job, 
 when stripped of every comfort, ' Blessed be the Lord who 
 took away as well as gave,' — and may the Lord grant every 
 one that is afflicted such an humble spirit as theirs. Be- 
 lieve me, my dear madam, I bless the day that brought me 
 inside of Newgate walls, for then it was that the rays of 
 Divine truth shone into my dark mind ; and may the Holy 
 Spirit shine more and more upon my dark understanding, 
 that I may be enabled so to walk as one whose heart is set 
 to seek a city whose builder and maker is God. Believe me, 
 my dear madam, although I am a poor captive in a distant 
 land, I would not give up having communion with God one 
 single day for my liberty ; for what is liberty of the body 
 compared with liberty of the soul ! and soon will that time 
 conae when death will release me from all the earthly fet- 
 ters that hold me now, for I trust to be with Christ who 
 bought me with His precious blood. And now my dear 
 madam, these few sincere sentiments of mine I vsish you to 
 make known to the world, that the world may see that your 
 
NBWOATB. 
 
 129 
 
 fabor in Newgate has not been in vain in the Lord. Fleaso 
 give my love to all the dear friends, and Dr. Cotton, Mr. 
 Baker, Simpson and all, the keeper of Newgate, and all the 
 afflicted prisoners ; and although we may never meet on earth 
 again I hope we shall all meet in the realms of bliss never to 
 part again. Please give my love to Mrs. Stornett and 
 Mrs. Guy. " And believe me to remain 
 
 " Your humble servant, 
 
 "Harriets — i-." , 
 
 The next step was to provide employment. This part 
 of the history may best be given in the words of Sir T. F. 
 Buxton, "whose exertions to benefit these 'outcasts of the 
 people ' were only excelled by hers of whom he wrote." 
 
 " It struck one of the ladies that Botany Bay might be 
 supplied with stockings, and indeed all articles of clothing, 
 of the prisoners' manufacture. She therefore called upon 
 Messrs. Eichard Dixon & Co., of Fenchurch Street, and 
 candidly told them that she was desirous of depriving them 
 of this branch of their trade, and stating her views begged 
 Iheir advice. They said at once that they should not ia 
 any way obstruct such laudable designs, and that no further 
 trouble need be taken to provide work, for they would en- 
 engage to do it. Nothing now remained but to prepare 
 the room ; and this difficulty was obviated by the sheriffs 
 sending their carpenters. The former laundry speedily un- 
 derwent the necessary alterations, was cleansed and white- 
 washed, and in a few days the Ladies' Committee assembled 
 in it all the tried female prisoners. One of the ladies, Mrs. 
 Fry, began by describing to them the comforts to be de- 
 rived from industry and sobriety, the pleasure and profit 
 of doing right, and contrasted the happiness and peace of 
 Uiose who are dedicated to a course of virtue and religion 
 with that experienced in their former life, and its present 
 
130 
 
 ELIZABETH FBV. 
 
 consequences ; and describing their awful guilt in the sight 
 of God appealed to themselves, whether its wages, even 
 here, were not utter misery and ruin. She then dwelt upon 
 the motives which had brought the ladies into Newgate: 
 they had left their homes and their families to mingle 
 amongst those from whom all others fled, animated by an 
 ardent and affectionate desire to rescue their fellow- 
 creatui-es from evil, and to impart to them that knowledge 
 which they, from their education and cu'cumstances had 
 been so happy as to receive. 
 
 "She then told them that the ladies did not come with 
 any absolute and authoritative pretensions ; that it was not 
 intended they should command and the prisoners obey; 
 but that it was to be understood all were to act in concert ; 
 that not a rule should be made, or a monitor appointed 
 without their full and unanimous concurrence ; that for this 
 purpose each of the rules should be read and put to the 
 vote ; and she invited those who might feel any disinclina- 
 tion to any particular, freely to state their opinion. The 
 following were then read: 
 
 BITLXS. 
 
 "1. That a matron be appointed for the general superin- 
 tendence of the women. 
 
 2. That the women be engaged in needlework, knitting, 
 or any other suitable employment. 
 
 «' 3. That there be no begging, swearing, gaming, card- 
 playing, or immoral conversation. That all novels, playa 
 end other improper books be excluded; and that all bad 
 words be avoided ; and any default in these particulai-s ba 
 reported to the matron. 
 
 *' 4. That there be a yard-keeper chosen from among the 
 women, to inform them when their friends come, to sea 
 that they leave their work with a monitor when they go to 
 the grating, and that they do not spend any time there, ex< 
 
KEWGATK. 
 
 131 
 
 cept with their friends. If any woman be found disobe- 
 dient in these respects, the yard-keeper is to report the case 
 to the matron. 
 
 "5. That the women be divided into classes of not more 
 than twelve, and that a monitor be appointed to each class. 
 
 "6. That monitors be chosen from among the most 
 orderly of the women that can read, to superintend the 
 work and conduct of tbe others. 
 
 " 7. That the monitors not only overlook the women in 
 their own classes, but if they observe any others disobey- 
 ing the rules, that they inform the monitor of the class to 
 which such persons belong, who is immediately to report to 
 the matron, and the deviations to be set down on a slate. 
 
 "8. That any monitor breaking the rules shall be dis« 
 missed from her office and the most suitable in the class 
 selected to take her place. 
 
 " 9. That the monitors be particularly careful to see that 
 the women come with clean hands and face to their work, 
 and that they are quiet during their employment. 
 
 " 10. That at the ringing of the bell, at nine o'clock in 
 the morning, the women collect in the work-room to hear a 
 portion of Scripture read by one of the visitors, or the ma- 
 tron ; and that the monitors afterwards conduct the classes 
 Erom thence to their respective wards in an orderly manner. 
 
 " 11. That the women be again collected for reading at 
 six o'clock in the evening, when the work shall be given in 
 charge to the matron by the monitors. 
 
 " 12. That the matron keep an exact account of the work 
 done by the women, and of their conduct. 
 
 "As each was proposed every baud was held up in 
 token of their approbation. In the same manner, and 
 with the same formalities, each of the monitors was pro- 
 posed, and all were unanimously approved. When this 
 business was concluded one of the visitors read aloud the 
 twenty-first chapter of St. Matthew, the parable of the bar. 
 ten fig-tree seeming applicable to the state of the audience ; 
 
182 
 
 BLIZABETB FBT. 
 
 after a period of silence, according to the custom of the 
 Society of Friends, the monitors with their classes with- 
 drew to their respective wards in the most orderly manner. 
 
 "During the first month the ladies were anxious that the 
 attempt should be secret, that it might meet with no inter* 
 ruption ; at the end of that time, as the experiment had 
 been tried, and "had exceeded even their expectation, it was 
 deemed expedient to apply to the Corporation of London. 
 It was considered that the school would be more permanent 
 if it were made a part of the prison system of the City, than 
 if it merely depended on individuals. In consequence a 
 short letter descriptive of the progress already made was 
 mitten to the sheriffs.. 
 
 "The next day an answer was received proposing a meet* 
 ing with the ladies at Newgate.. 
 
 " In compliance with this appointment the Lord Mayor, 
 the sheriffs, and several of the Aldermen attended. The 
 prisoners were assembled together; and it being requested 
 that no alteration in their usual practice might take place, 
 one of the ladies read a chapter in the Bible, and then the 
 females proceeded to their various avocations. Their atten- 
 tion during the time of reading, their orderly and sober de- 
 portment, their decent dress, the absence of every thing like 
 tumult, noise or contention, the obedience and respect shown 
 by them, and the cheerfulness visible in their countenance 
 and manners, conspired to excite the astonishment and ad- 
 miration of their visitors. Many of these knew Newgate, 
 had visited it a few months before, and had not forgotten 
 the painful impression made by a scene exhibiting perhaps 
 the very utmost limits of misery and guilt. 
 
 "The magistrates, to evince their sense of the importance 
 pf the alterations which had been effected, immediately 
 adopted the whole plan as a part of the system of Newgate, 
 (^^owered the ladies to punish the refractory by short con- 
 finement, undertook part of the expense of the matron, and 
 (loaded the ladies with thanks and benedictions. 
 
NEWGATE. 
 
 133 
 
 "About six months after the establishment of the school 
 for the children, and the manufactory for the tried side, the 
 committee received a most urgent petition from the un- 
 tried, entreating that the same might be done for them, and 
 promising strict obedience. In consequence the ladies 
 made the same arrangements, proposed the same rules, and 
 admitted in the same manner as on the other side, the pris- 
 oners to participate in their formations. The experiment 
 here has answered, but not to the same extent. They have 
 had difficulty in procming a sufficiency of work ; the pris- 
 oners are not so disposed to work, flattering themselves 
 with the prospect of speedy release ; besides they are neces- 
 sarily engaged in some degree in preparation for their trial. 
 The result of the observations of the ladies has been, that 
 where the prisoners, from whatever cause, did no woi'k, 
 they derived little if any moral advantage ; where they did 
 some work they received some benefit, and where they were 
 fully engaged they were really an J essentially improved." 
 
 The reform prospered steadily and continued to attract 
 public attention, until people came from all parts of the 
 country to witness what soon became one of the greatest 
 curiosities of London. But we must pause to get an inside 
 view of the mind which was the leading instrument in this 
 beneficent enterprise. 
 
 "Mildred's Court, Twelfth Month, 11 th. — remarkable 
 blessing still appears to accompany my prison concerns,— 
 perhaps the greatest apparent blessing on my deeds that 
 ever attended me. How have the spirits both of those ia 
 power and the poor afflicted prisoners appeared to be sub- 
 jected, and how has the work gone on! Most assuredly the 
 power and the glory are alone due to the Author and Fin- 
 isher of every good work. 
 
 "Mildred's Court, 1818.— Lord be pleased to grant the 
 
134 
 
 ELIZABETH FB7. 
 
 blessing of preservation wlncli is above every blessing. It 
 is very striking and wonderful to me to observe how some 
 things have been verified that, in times of great lownesa 
 and unutterable distress, I have been led to believe woal d 
 happen ; in reading the 142nd Psalm these words particu- 
 larly — 'The righteous shall compass me about, for Thou 
 shalt deal bountifully with me.' Has not this been, and is 
 it not now, remarkably verified, by those filUng almost the 
 highest stations to the lowest ; by persons of ahnost all de- 
 nominations have I not been compassed about ? My prison 
 concerns have thus brought me, a poor and very unworthy 
 creature, into public notice, and I may most humbly adopt 
 this language of the 71st Psalm, 'I am as a wonder unto 
 many, but Thou art my strong Refuge. Oh! let my mouth 
 be filled with Thy praise, and with Thy honor all the day : ' 
 but, O Lord ! merciful and gracious, Thou who knowest 
 the heart and its wanderings, and also its pantings after 
 Thyself, be pleased yet to manifest Thyself to be a God 
 hearing and answering prayer. Thou hast, in times of deep 
 adversity and great affliction, when the heart of Thy hand- 
 maid was ready to say Kefuge failed her. Thou hast then 
 been her Stronghold, her Rock and her Fortress ; so that 
 she has not been greatly moved nor overcome by her soul'a 
 enemy. Be pleased, most merciful and gracious Lord God 
 A.lmighty, now to keep her in the day of prosperity, when 
 the righteous compass her about, that she may be for a time 
 even as a wonder to many. Keep her, O Lord, even as in 
 Thine own Almighty hand, that no evil befall her, nor any 
 plague come nigh her dwelling ; and as Thou hast, so far 
 in Thine abundant mercy and loving kindness delivered her 
 soul from death, oh be pleased to keep her feet from falling! 
 hold up her goings in Thy paths, that her footsteps shp 
 not ; and increasingly enable her, at all times, under all cir- 
 cumstances, in heights and in depths, in life and in death, 
 to show forth Thy praise, to walk faithfully and circum- 
 spectly before Thee, obeying Thee in all things, in Thy fear 
 
HEWOATS. 
 
 135 
 
 and in Thy love ; abounding in the truth as it is in Jesus ; 
 ever giving Thee, O Lord God on High, vs^ith Christ Jesus 
 our Lord, and Thy Holy Spirit our Comforter, one God, 
 blessed forever, the glory due unto Thee, now in time, and 
 in an endless eternity. Amen, amen." 
 
 Let us observe, as we go along, how well this prayer 
 was answered ; with what perfect grace she was enabled to 
 keep her heart to its first love, and her feet in the path 
 of Divine appointment, while princes and nobles of the 
 earth were paying her the most flattering honors. 
 
 " During this winter she received many letters of inquiry 
 from different parts of the country in relation to the system 
 pursued in Newgate ; ladies wished to form similar associa- 
 tions ; magistrates wished to improve the state of prisoners 
 under their control, &c., &c., and all these required minute 
 and carefully considered replies. Some of the most distin 
 guished and influential persons in the kingdom were anx- 
 ious to witness for themselves what had been done in the 
 prisons, and a part of almost every day was spent in accom- 
 panying such parties thither. Many were asking for coun- 
 Bel, others for employment which they supposed Elizabeth 
 Fry could obtain for them ; and almost constant applica- 
 tions from the poor who thought her purse as inexhausti- 
 ble as her good will, ' humbly praying ' for assistance. Her 
 benevolent feelings would hardly suffer any of these to 
 pass unheeded; and her daughters, the oldest of whom was 
 in her seventeenth year proved efficient helpers in answer- 
 ing the demands. 
 
 "During the former period it had been the practice for 
 convicts on the night preceding their departure for Botany 
 Bay, (where they were transported for certain crimes,) to 
 pull down and break or burn everything within their reach ; 
 and to go off shouting with the most hardened effrontery. 
 
186 
 
 BUZABBTH FBT. 
 
 But when the last went out they took an affectionate leave 
 of their companions, and expressed the utmost gratitude to 
 their benefactors, and the next day entered their conveyances 
 peaceably ; and their departure, in the tears that were shed 
 and the mournful decorum that was observed, resembled a 
 funeral procession ; and so orderly was their behavior that 
 it was deemed unnecessary to send more than half the usual 
 escort. As a proof that moral and religious instruction 
 had produced some effect upon their minds, when these 
 poor creatures were going, those who remained entreated 
 that their share of the profits (a little fund they were al- 
 lowed to collect for themselves, kept in a box under the 
 care of the Ladies Committee) might all be given to thoso 
 who were about to leave them. 
 
 "In ten months after the working system had been in- 
 troduced the women had made nearly twenty thousand ar- 
 ticles of clothing, and their knitting produced from sixty to 
 a hundred pairs of socks and stockings every month. 
 Their earnings averaged about eighteen pence per week for 
 each one." 
 
 "Elizabeth Fry was informed that some were still gam> 
 lug in the prison. She went alone, assembled the prisonera 
 and told them what she had heard, — that she feared it was 
 true, dwelt upon the sin of gaming, its evil effects upon their 
 minds, the interruption it caused, and the distaste it excited 
 for labor, told them how much the report had grieved her 
 and said ' She would consider it a proof of their regard il 
 they would have the candor and kindness to bring the cards 
 to her.' She did not expect that they would do it, as it 
 would be betraying themselves. But soon after she had re- 
 tired to the ladies' room there was a gentle tap at the door, 
 and in came a trembling girl who, in a maimer that indicate4 
 tjeal feeling, expressed her sorrow for having broken th^ 
 fules of so kind a friend, and presented her pack of cardSji 
 She was soon followed by another and another, until Eliza- 
 beth Fry had/received five packs which she btii'tit in their 
 
 1 
 
HBWOATB. 
 
 137 
 
 presence ; assuring them that so far from its being remem- 
 
 beied against them she should 'remember it in another way.' 
 A few days after this she took with her some presents ot 
 clothes, and calling the first one gave her a neat muslin 
 handkerchief. To her surprise the girl said she hoped Eli- 
 zabeth Fry would excuse her being so forward, but if she 
 might say it she felt exceedingly disappointed- She had 
 hoped that Elizabeth Fry would have given her a Bible 
 with her own name written in it, which she would value be- 
 yond anything else and would always keep it and read ii 
 This was irresistible. The treasure so much desired was 
 brought, and Elizabeth Fry assured a friend that she never 
 gave a Bible which was received with so much interest and 
 satisfaction, nor one that she thought more likely to do 
 good. This had been one of the worst of guls, and had 
 behaved very badly upon her trial; but she conducted her- 
 self afterwards in so amiable a manner that she appeared 
 * almost without a flaw,' and it was hoped * would become a 
 valuable member of society.' " * 
 
 On the 27th of Feb. 1818, Mrs. Fry was called upon to 
 give evidence before a Committee of the House of Com- 
 mons, in the course of which she said, " Our habit is con- 
 stantly to read the Scriptures to them twice a day — ^many 
 of them are taught, some can read a little themselves. It 
 has an astonishing effect; I never saw the Scriptures re- 
 ceived in the same way. When I have sometimes gone and 
 said it was my intention to read, they would flock up staira 
 after me, as if it were a great pleasure I had to oflfer them." 
 
 When asked by the Committee if the ladies confined 
 themselves to the reading of the Scriptures without incul - 
 eating any peculiar doctrines Mrs. Fry replied, — "We con- 
 
 • Life by S. Corder. 
 
138 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 sider from the situation we fill, as it respects the public, aa 
 well as the poor creatures themselves, that it would be 
 highly indecorous to press any peculiar doctrine of any 
 kind, — anything beyond the fundamental doctrines of Scrip- 
 tui-e." 
 
 It was mentioned to her that one of tLo prisoners had 
 said it was " more terrible to be brought up before ISlrs. 
 Fry, than before the judge ; " on which she remarked : — " I 
 think I may say we have full power among them, though 
 we use nothing but kindness. I have never proposed a 
 punishment, and yet I think it is impossible, in a well regu- 
 lated house, to have rules more strictly attended to thaa 
 they are." 
 
 "When askcxl if she thought any reformation could be 
 effected without employment, she replied, "I should believe 
 it impossible. We may instruct as we will, but if we allow 
 them their time, and they have nothing to do, they natu- 
 rally must return to their evil passions." 
 
 The report of the Parliamentary Committee contains the 
 following sentence : — " The benevolent exertions of Mrs. 
 Fry and her friends, in the female department of the prison, 
 have indeed, by the establishment of a school, by providing 
 work and encouraging industrious habits, produced a most 
 gratifying change. But much must be ascribed to urn-emit- 
 ting perSbual attention and influence."' 
 
 The duties of this poSiliMj!^ however, were by no means all 
 of an agreeable kind. The severity of English law at this 
 time, which made every degree of forgery, as well as many 
 other secondary offenses punishable with death, rendered 
 executions terribly frequent. It is estimated that had the 
 
REWOATB. 
 
 139 
 
 laws been carried fully into effect, they would have required 
 an average of more than four executions per day in Great 
 Britain and Ireland. Almost every device was resorted to 
 by the humane among the oflScers and courts to evade these 
 sanguinary enactments. 
 
 Elizabeth Fry was among the earliest to express effectively 
 her disapproval of these unchristian statutes. She felt the 
 wrong with great keenness when unfortunate women, often 
 misled by worse companions were compelled to answer for 
 some not unpardonable act of dishonesty with their lives i 
 and the more especially after her labors with them had 
 brought repentance. A sad case of this kind occurred 
 about the time we are speaking of, February, 1818, when 
 two women were executed for forgery. At six o'clock in 
 the morning, one of them addressed the following letter to 
 Ehzabeth Fry: 
 
 "Honored Madam: — 
 
 ^ As the only way of expressing my gratitude to you foi 
 your very great attention to the care of my poor soul, — I 
 feel I may have appeared more silent than perhaps some 
 would have been on so melancholy an event ; but believe 
 me, my dear madam, I have felt most acutely the awful 
 situation I have been in. The mercies of God are bound- 
 less, and I trust, through His grace this affliction is sancti- 
 fied to me, and through the Saviour's blood my sins will be 
 washed away. I have much to be thankful for ; I feel such 
 serenity of mind and fortitude. God of His infinite mercy 
 grant I may feel as I do now in the last moments! Pray, 
 madam, present my most grateful thanks to the worthy Dr. 
 Cotton and Mr. Baker, and all our kind friends, the ladies, 
 and Mrs. Guy. It was a feeling I had of my own unworthi- 
 ness made me more diffident of speaking as was perhaps 
 
140 
 
 XIIZABETE VBT. 
 
 looked for. I once more return yoa my most grateful 
 thanks. It is now past six o'clock. I have not one moment 
 to spare. I must devote the remainder to the service of 
 my offended God. 
 
 With respect your humble servant, 
 
 Chaelottb Newman." 
 
 On the same day she received the following letter from 
 Wniiam Wilberforce : 
 
 " Kensington Gore, llth. Feb.^ 1818. 
 «Mv DEAB Madam: — 
 
 I think I need not assure you that I have not forgotten 
 you this morning. In truth, having been awake very early, 
 and, lying in peace and comfort and safety, the dififerent 
 situation of the poor women impressed itself strongly oo 
 my mind. 
 
 "I shall be glad, and Mrs. Wilberforce also, I assure you, 
 to hear that your bodily health has not suffered from your 
 mental anxiety, and I will try to get a sight of you when I 
 can, to hear your account and remarks on the effects of the 
 last few days, both on the poor objects themselves and the 
 prison companions. 
 
 "With real esteem and regard, I am, my dear Madam 
 
 " Yours very sincerely, 
 
 "W. WiLBEBi'OBOB.'* 
 
 A still sadder case than the above is thus recorded on 
 page 275 of Mrs. Corder's biography, abbreviated from the 
 original account.. 
 
 "During the spring of this year executions had become 
 BO frequent that they were made subjects for investigation 
 and for public as well as private discussion. The sanguin- 
 ary provisions of the penal code were beheld with a senti> 
 
KEWOATE. 
 
 ment of disapprobation, and even abhorrence, before unfelt. 
 
 The wretched tenants of the 'condemned cells,' after having 
 received the sentence of death at the Old Bailey, awaited, 
 with mingled hope and fear, the decision of the Council, by 
 whom some were selected for mercy, leaving the others to 
 suffer the extreme penalty of the law. No reasons were as- 
 signed by the CouncU for this distinction ; each one there- 
 fore hoped to escape the dreadful doom. 
 
 "Among those who were waiting in this state ot terrible 
 suspense was a young woman named Harriet Skeltou. 
 There was something peculiarly touching in the case of this 
 poor creature. *A child might have read her character in 
 her countenance — open, confiding, affectionate, possessing 
 strong feelings, but neither hardened in depravity nor capa« 
 ble of cunning.' Under the influence of the man whom she 
 loved she had been induced to pass some forged notes: 
 * thus adding another to the dismal list of those who, with 
 the finest impulses of our nature, uncontrolled by religion, 
 Lave been lured to their own destruction.' Skelton was or- 
 dered for execution. The sentence was unlocked for: *het 
 deportment in prison had been good, amenable to regula* 
 lions, quiet and orderly. Some of her companions in guilb 
 were heard to say that they supposed she was chosen for 
 death because she was better prepared than the rest o| 
 them.' Elizabeth Fry was vehemently urged to exert her- 
 self on behalf of this unhappy woman. She made various 
 attempts, one through the Duke of Gloucester who with 
 other dwellers in palaces and lordly halls, visited the poor 
 convict in Newgate ; and ' his former companion in the 
 dance ' led the Duke through the gloom and darkness of 
 that most gloomy of prisons — a new scene indeed to him 
 and to many others who through life had been ' nursed on 
 Ihe downy lap of ease,' in luxurious abodes that strangely 
 contrasted with the ' dark vaulted passages, the clanking 
 fetters, the offensive smell, the grating sound as the heavy 
 key was turned, the massive bolt drawn back, and the irou- 
 
142 
 
 EUZABETH FBT. 
 
 sheathed door forced reluctantly open ' — ^unaccustomed, and 
 
 as if unwilling to admit such guests. 
 
 ''The Duke of Gloucester made a noble effort to save 
 Skelton by an application to Lord Sidmouth. He also ac- 
 companied Elizabeth Fry to the Bank Directors. But all 
 entreaties were in vain. Lord Sidmouth was annoyed by 
 Elizabeth Fry's earnest solicitations, and highly offended at 
 some disclosures which involved a degree of censure on the 
 Bank Directors. There were, in the case, circumstances of 
 collusion, on the part of some who were concerned in bring- 
 ing this unfortunate creature to the gallows, of which Eliza* 
 beth Fry might perhaps have spoken Avith a degree of free- 
 dom that exceeded tlie limits of strict prudence: but who 
 can read the tale without a strong and sympathetic mterest 
 in her humane appeal for mercy? or without deep regret and 
 surprise that this appeal could have been regarded in the 
 light of an offence? And how does the emotion acquire in- 
 tensity when we contemplate the dreadful severity of tha 
 enactment which, within a few years afterwards, was, 
 through the aroused and resistless force of pu'blic opinion, 
 expunged from the statute book ! 
 
 " The claims of mercy had rendered it very important to 
 Elizabeth Fry that she should have access to the Secretai'y 
 of State. She had been wont to intercede with Lord Sid- 
 mouth on behalf of those whom his decision might either 
 consign to an untimely and ignominious death, or award a 
 further term of ear Lilly probation. But now her influence 
 with him was lost. She endeavored, by a persona^, inter- 
 view, to remove the unfavorable impreosiou which he had 
 unbibed, and to convincehimthat, although she might have 
 erred in judgment, her intentions had been upright, and 
 her deshe sincere not to oppose his wishes. But all was in 
 vain: bis heart was steeled against remonstrances and 
 nothing but pain resulted from the interview. 
 
 •'Elizabeth Fry had been accompauied in this unsatisfac- 
 
MEWOATB. 
 
 143 
 
 tory visit by the excellent Countess Harcourt, one of the 
 ladies of the court, and, under her special care and protec« 
 tion, had, on the same day, reluctantly, and with a heavy 
 heart, to mingle in a very different scene, and to encounter 
 objects of a remarkably opposite character. The aged 
 Queen Charlotte, who, through a lengthened life, had ap- 
 peared little moved by questions of a phUanlhropic charac- 
 ter, her interest being much confined within the sphere of 
 her coui"t and its cold formalities and etiquette, had 
 heard of the wonderful changes in Newgate and elsewhere, 
 wrought through the instrumentality of Elizabeth Fry, and 
 had become impressed by the evidences of an awakened 
 and powerfully religious feeling, which had begun to ope- 
 rate on the minds of some persons of rank and influence 
 who had witnessed the labors of this devoted woman ; and 
 on the occasion of a public examination of the children of 
 some large metropolitan schools in the Egyptian Hall of 
 the Mansion House, the Queen intimated her deske to be 
 present, and requested that Elizabeth Fry would also at- 
 tend on the occasion. This was an injunction that could 
 not, with any degree of propriety, be disregarded; and 
 accordingly, though as she says against her will, ElizabetU 
 Fry, in company with the Countess Harcourt, repaued 
 thither. It had been intended that she should be pre-? 
 Bented to the Queen in the drawing-room. This would 
 have been much more select and agreeable. But, thi-ougb 
 Bome misunderstanding. Lady Harcourt and Elizabeth Fry 
 were conducted to the Hall and placed on the side of th^ 
 platform which was crowded with waving feathers, jewels,, 
 and orders ; several of the bishops standing near her, the 
 great Hail lined with spectators, and in its center hundreds 
 of poor children from the different schools. Elizabeth Fry 
 was an object of general attraction. After a time the 
 Queen perceived her, and advanced to address her. It wag 
 a striking scene, and painted by an artist — the diminutive 
 Btatuie of the Queen, covered with, diamonds, but her coau- 
 
144 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 tenance lighted with an expression of pleasure and of the 
 kindest benevolence — Elizabeth Fry's tall figure clad in her 
 simple Quaker dress, her countenance a little flushed, but 
 preserving her wonted calmness of look and serious dignity 
 of manner. The spectators of this remarkable interview^ 
 with a murmur of applause, hailed the scene before them, 
 as the mead of approval ojBfered by royalty at the shrine of 
 mercy and good works." 
 
CHAPTER FIFTH. 
 
 NEWGATE — CONTINUED. 
 
 In the spring of 1818, Elizabeth Fry and her family re- 
 turned to their country residence at Plashet, where she 
 again found time to note her experiences and reflections, 
 occasionally, in her journal — not the least useful of her 
 many employments. Wliat a privilege it is to be introduced 
 into the very *' sanctum sanctorum " of the world's true 
 nobility, and permitted to see the inmost workings and 
 complexion of their minds in these confidential revelations 
 of themselves to themselves, with us of the unknown and 
 unborn future, and the friends who may remain after their 
 death, for a possible audience. 
 
 Plashet, Fourth Month, 29 ^A, — May we more evidently 
 live, in the best sense, even unto God. Since I last wrote 
 I have led rather a remarkable life ; so surprisingly followed 
 after by the great, and others, in my Newgate concerns ; in 
 short the prison and myself are become quite a show, which 
 is a very serious thing in many points. I believe that it 
 certainly does much good to the cause, in spreading amongst 
 all ranks of society a considerable interest in the subject; 
 also a knowledge of Friends and their principles ; but my 
 6wn standing appears critical in many ways. In the first 
 place the extreme importance of my walking strictly, and 
 circumspectly amongst all men in all things, and not bring- 
 
146 
 
 ELIZABETH FBZ. 
 
 ing discredit upon the cause of tnith and righteousness. 
 In the next place, after our readings there, the ministry is a 
 most awful calling, thus publicly amongst men to be in sea- 
 eon and out of season. I desire to live, (more particularly 
 in these things,) in the fear of God rather than of man, and 
 that neither good report nor evil report, the approbation 
 nor the disapprobation of men, should move me the least, 
 but my eye should be kept quite single to the great and 
 good Shepherd and bishop of souls — this is my continual 
 prayer for myself." 
 
 Though at a somewhat greater distance, her interest in 
 Newgate and its concerns still continued unabated, and 
 Boon became extended from the prison itself to those, still 
 more unfortunate, who were condemned to transportation 
 to Australia. When the next ship load was being prepared, 
 Mrs. Fry interested herself to have the removals to tha 
 ship made as privately as possible, and then set to work to 
 arrange the convicts into classes, each having a monitor, 
 •with a Bible and school books at hand, to take the charge 
 and keep the classes separate from each other. Then after 
 much deliberation how to find them employment, the com- 
 mittee were told that patchwork and fancy work found a 
 ready sale at New South Wales. A call was at once issued 
 for little pieces of colored cotton cloth, and in a few days 
 enough were sent from the different Manchester houses ia 
 London to supply the want. When the preparations were 
 as complete as opportunity and means permitted, the Com- 
 mittee took a solemn leave of the one hundred and twenty, 
 eight unhappy exiles whom they had so generously be- 
 friended. The scene is thus described : 
 
 <' There was great uncertainty whether the poor convict3 
 would see their- benefactress again. She stood at the cabin 
 
KEWGATE — CONIimrSD. 
 
 147 
 
 door, attended by her friends and the captain ; the women 
 on the quarter deck facing them. The sailors, anxious to 
 see what was going on, climbed into the rigging, upon the 
 capstan, or mingled in the outskirts of the group. The 
 Bilence was profound, when Mrs. Fry opened her Bible, and 
 in a clear, audible voice, read a portion from it. The crews 
 of the other vessels in the tier, attracted by the novelty of 
 the scene, leaned over the ships on each side, and listened 
 apparently with great attention. She closed the Bible, and, 
 after a short pause, knelt down on the deck and implored a 
 blessing on this work of Christian charity from that God 
 who, though one may plant and another water, can alone 
 give the increase. Many of the women wept bitterly ; all 
 eeemed touched. When she left the ship they followed her 
 with their eyes and their blessings, until, her boat having 
 passed within another tier of vessels, they could see her no 
 more." 
 
 The following entry in July of this year shows that all 
 was not sunshine, even when conscience approved and the 
 world applauded. 
 
 " Flasket, Seventh Month, 1st. — Since I last wrote much 
 has happened to me ; some things have occurred of an im- 
 portant nature. My prison engagements have gone on well, 
 and many have flocked after me, may I not say of almost all 
 descriptions, from the greatest to the least; and we have 
 had some remarkably favored times together in tiAe prison. 
 The Yearly Meeting was a very interesting one to me, and 
 also encouraging. I felt the unity of Friends a comfort and 
 support. I had to go into the Men's Meeting, which was a 
 deep trial of faith ; but it appeared called for at my hand, 
 and peace attended giving up to it. The unity which the 
 women exxiressed at my going, and the good reception I 
 found amongst the men, were comforting to me ; but it was 
 a close, very close, exercise. Although I have had much sup- 
 port from many of my fellow mortals, and so much unity 
 
148 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 expressed with me, both in and out of om Society, yet I 
 believe many Friends have great fears for me and mine; 
 and some not Friends do not scruple to spread evil re- 
 ports, as if vanity, or political motives, led me to neglect a 
 large family. I desire patiently to beai' it all, but the very 
 critical view that is taken of my beloved children grieves me 
 much." 
 
 " 8th. — My heart is too full to express much ; yesterday 
 I had a very interesting day at Newgate with the Chancellor 
 of the Exchequer, and many other persons of consequence : 
 Much in the cross to myself I had to express a few words 
 in supplication before them ; but the effect was solemn and 
 satisfactory. After this I felt peaceful and comforted. 
 Sometimes I think, after such times, I am disposed to feel 
 as if that day's work was dotie, and give way to cheerful 
 conversation, without sufficiently waiting for the fresh mani- 
 festations of the Spuit, and abiding imder the humiliationa 
 of the Cross." 
 
 The impression made upon the witnesses on some of these 
 occasions is shown by an extract from a letter of Sir. James 
 Mackintosh, then a member of Parliament, to his wife. He 
 says — 
 
 "I dined on Saturday, June 3d, at Devonshire House. 
 The company consisted of the Duke of Norfolk, Lords Lans- 
 down, Lauderdale, Albemarle, Cowper, Hardwicke, Car- 
 narvon, Sefton, Ossulston, Milton, Duncannon, &c. The 
 subject was Mrs. Fry's exhortation to forty-five female con- 
 victs, at which Lord had been present on Friday. 
 
 He could hardly refrain from tears in speaking of it. He 
 palled it the deepest tragedy he had ever witnessed. What 
 she read aud expounded to the convicts, with almost mir- 
 aculous effect was the fourth chapter to the Ephesians. 
 Coke (of Norfolk) begged mo to go with him next Friday. 
 
NEWGATE— CONTINUED. 
 
 149 
 
 I doubt whetlier, as that is the day of my motion, (For the 
 revision of the Peual Laws,) I shall be able to go, and 
 whether it be prudent to expose myself to the danger oi 
 being too much warmed by the scene, just before a speecb 
 in which I shall need all my discretion." 
 
 The year when this letter was written is not given, but a 
 comparison of the month and day, June 3, when the cir- 
 cumstance was related, with that of an account written by 
 the Hon. IMrs. Waldegrave for her mother, June 2nd, 1820, 
 together with the identity of the subject — iih Ephesians— 
 and the fact that Lord Albemarle is named in both in- 
 Btances makes it probable that we have a pretty full report 
 of this remarkable meeting in the account which is here 
 Bubjoined. It was sent the compiler of the " Life of Eliza* 
 beth Fry," with the accompanying note. If not the same 
 event the coincidence is remarkable. 
 
 " Account of a visit to Newgate, June 2nd, 1820, written 
 by the late Hon. Mrs. Waldegrave, for her mother, lady 
 Elizabeth Whitbread, on whose death in 1816, it was sent 
 to me. 
 
 "Elizabeth Waldegrave, Jun. 
 *«4 Harley Street, London, March 2nd, 1852." 
 
 "June, 2nd, 1820. — We reached Newgate at half -past ten, 
 and waited with the rest of the company in a small room up 
 stairs ; in the way to it we passed through several wards in 
 which the most perfect stillness prevailed ; these were the 
 former scenes of all the riot and confusion of which we had 
 heard so much. 
 
 "After waiting a short time Mrs. Fry entered, saluting 
 everybody in the most dignified manner. The female con- 
 viots, forty in number, came in upon a bell being rung, and 
 
15U 
 
 ELIZABETH VSt. 
 
 took their seats at one end of the room with perfect order— 
 the monitors sitting on the first bench and the others in 
 classes behind ; each had her work, at which she employee^ 
 herself till Mrs. Fry began reading. They had ivorytickets 
 round their necks Avith numbers on them. 
 
 " Mrs. Fry arranged a large old Bible on her desk and 
 sat down — her voice was so gentle that we wondered wa 
 could hear what she said, but remarkably mUd and sweet. 
 She began by requesting their attention. — ' I am desu'oua 
 that your attention should be, as much as possible, undi- 
 vided — notwithstanding our being subject to-day to the in- 
 terruptions of company, it is equally important that your 
 attention should be fixed on what I say — praying that the 
 Holy Spnit may enlighten your understanding. I am going 
 to read the 4th chapter of Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians." 
 They all laid aside their work, most of them fixing their 
 eyes on the ground, and we could not observe that more 
 than two or three looked about afterwards till she had dona 
 reading. She read the chapter slowly and impressively — 
 the 6th, 28th and 32nd verses appeared to affect them 
 deeply — evei'y word that she uttered seemed to be writter 
 in her own heart. She then turned to the book of Psalms. 
 After a moment's pause she turned back to the chapter she 
 had been reading, and said, ' I was going to read a Psalm, 
 but I thought I should be best satisfied to say a word ou 
 the chapter I have been reading. The greater part of it i3 
 so simple and clear that a very little endeavor on your part 
 will enable you to understand it ; but there is one expres- 
 sion which perhaps may be obscure. ' One Lord, one Faith, 
 one Baptism.' If you look only at the external you might 
 say, so many diCferent opinions prevail, people are so 
 divided as to what they think ought to be believed, how 
 can they be said to have one faith? I have always viewed 
 it very differently ; ' One Lord,' — yea, and have not all 
 Christians the same Lord, which is Christ ? and while wa 
 acknowledge Him our Master, look to Him for our justifi- 
 
NEWGATE — COMTIiniSD* 
 
 ISl 
 
 cation, follow his precepts, obey his commandments, love 
 him, serve him, he is our Lord, he is the ' one Lord ' of all 
 who thus acknowledge him their JETeac?. — Again, 'one Faith* 
 — there is a diversity of opinions, but only one true and sav- 
 ing Faith, the Faith which lives in the heart, and becomes 
 evident by its fruits; which lays hold of the promises; 
 which actuates to all godliness, and produces the blessed 
 effects of a holy life. This one true, saving faith is common 
 to all Christians, how exceedingly soever they may seem 
 to differ. So also ' one Baptism : ' Christians may differ as 
 to the manner of administering the Baptism of water ; nay 
 though some even dispense with that altogether, yet there 
 is one spiritual baptism of the heart, — the Spirit of God 
 sanctifying and renewing the heart, and creating it after 
 God in righteousness and true holiness. In this manner 
 we have all ' one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism ; one God 
 and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in 
 you all. What a sweet bond of unity is this, where we are 
 not only brethren in this world, but may hope to meet in 
 Heaven, there to give glory to Him with one accord for 
 ever and for evermore.' 
 
 "Mrs. Fry then read the 86th Psalm, at the end of which 
 a brother Quaker said a few words of exhortation to all 
 present to join in prayer on behalf of the poor sufferers 
 contained in these walls, and not to be unmindful that all 
 were sinners, all under one condemnation. 
 
 " She then knelt down and prayed so beautiful a prayer, 
 —with such fervency, so rich a flow of ideas, such perfect 
 command of Scripture language to clothe them in, that it 
 is impossible to convey an idea of its beauty. The chauntf 
 in which the Quakers recite their prayers, gave it a very sin- 
 gular, but very impressive effect ; for her voice is good, and 
 when exerted, very strong and clear. This, after a few 
 words from one of the company, concluded the service — the 
 women retired in perfect order, each class separately, witW 
 its monitor from the front row ; all making courtesies as' 
 
152 
 
 ELIZABETH TRY. 
 
 they left tlie room. Mrs. Fry, in the course of some con- 
 versation v:\ih. Lord Albemai'le, said that she believed the 
 coolness she had experienced from Lord Sidmouth, to have 
 originated in too anxious a desire on her part to save the 
 life of a condemned woman ; which had induced her to speak 
 to the Duke of Gloucester on the subject after Lord Sid- 
 mouth had refused to interfere ; by which she believed she 
 had given offence ; that she thought they had been wrong 
 and urged too far ; that at first they had free communica- 
 tion with the Secretary of State's office, but that it had 
 Jaeen closed for some time. 
 
 " She said that her success had surprised herself as much 
 as it did others — That a very remarkable Providence had 
 attended all her efforts — she had never seen the Bible re- 
 ceived as it had been there. 'Ten years ago,' she said, 
 ' when it occurred to me to make trial, I went with a young 
 Friend into one of the wards in which the greatest riot and 
 confusion prevailed. I went in with my Bible in my hand, 
 and told them I was come to read the Scriptures. They all 
 flocked round me, and I am convinced many had never heard 
 them before. It seemed to be glad tidings to them. All 
 were attentive. I had been warned to take off such things 
 as could possibly be stolen but no attempt of the kind was 
 made. If I dropped anything it was picked up and brought 
 to me. I felt rather alarmed at first at the idea of being 
 shut up with these poor creatures, but I was p reserved! 
 through it. 
 
 "She said that some remarkable things had happened for 
 her encouragement : one which occurred lately she related. 
 *A woman who was one of the lowest of .the low — a thief, 
 a drunkard, and in every way as bad as possible, was com- 
 mitted to Newgate. On the first day that she attended 
 (the reading) I happened to read the parable of the prodi- 
 gal son. She was much affected by it, and the next day I' 
 received a letter, in which she expressed her thankfulness, 
 to God that, through our instrumentality, a new way had 
 
KSWOATB — OONTIinJED. 
 
 153 
 
 been opened before her — that she was like the prodigal 
 son, and it seemed as if God had seen her afar off — that she 
 prayed to be enabled to hold fast the hope she felt — all in 
 this strain. We made her our school mistress, and during 
 the whole term of her imprisonment I never knew her to 
 break one rule, or be guilty of the smallest impropriety of 
 speech or behavior. When they quit Newgate we support 
 them from our fund till they are otherwise provided for. 
 In consequence of illness she remained for some time de- 
 pendent on us. We received a message from her, request- 
 ing that we would if possible, obtain her admittance into 
 some workhouse where, if we could furnish her with a httle 
 tea and sugar, she should be much happier than now, for 
 she was miserable at the idea of diminishing that fund 
 which might be the means of rescviing other poor creatures 
 from the state she had herself been in. We got her into a 
 workhouse where she lately died, one of the most peaceful, 
 happy deaths ; the only pain she experienced was from none 
 of us being present that she might have expressed to us her 
 gratitude for the benefit she had derived through our means, 
 Another young woman too, of the same character, is lately 
 dead ; she lived well, and died wel!, 
 
 "We went afterwards through part of the prison, but in 
 a very unsatisfactory manner, owing to the number of per- 
 sons present. She said that one proof of essential good 
 being done was that, whereas the returns used to be 30 per 
 cent., they are now less than 4." 
 
 On June 3rd, 1818, the Marquis of Lansdowne moved an 
 address to the Prince Eegont on the state of the prisons of 
 the United Kingdom. In his speech he made this observa- 
 tion in reference to Newgata 
 
 "It was impossible, from the manner in which it wa^ 
 constantly crowded, to apply any general system of regula* 
 tions. There it was necessary to place several felons in thQ 
 
154 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT.' 
 
 same cell, and persons guilty of very different descriptions 
 of offences were mixed together. The consequences wera 
 Buch as might be expected, notwithstanding all the efforts 
 of that very meritorious individual (Mrs. Fry), who had 
 come like a genius of good into this scene of misery and 
 vice, and had, by her wonderful influence and exertions, 
 produced in a short time a most extraordinary reform among 
 the most abandoned class of prisoners. After this great 
 example of humanity and benevolo jce, he would leave it to 
 then- lordships how much good persons similarly disposed, 
 might effect in other prisons, were the mechanism, if he 
 might use the expression, of therJe places of confinement 
 better adapted to the purposes of reformation. The insti- 
 tution of the great Penitentiary-house was likely to ba 
 4ittended with great advantages, though he did not approva 
 t)f all the regulations. That esiiablishment was a great 
 step taken in the important work of reformation. He was 
 aware there were persons who considered all expense of 
 this kind as useless ; who thought that all that could ba 
 done was to provide for the sate custody of prisoners, and 
 that attempts to reform them were hopeless. Let those 
 Who entertain this notion go and see what had been effected 
 by Mrs. Fry and other benevolent persons in Newgate. 
 The scenes which passed there would induce them to alter 
 their opinion. There were moments when the hardest 
 hearts could be softened and disposed to reform." 
 
 After such an expression made in t£e"S6use of Lords 
 ia.nd published in the journals of the day, it is not surpris- 
 ing that Newgate became an. object of interest to people of 
 oil classes. 
 
 In addition to English visitors 61 all ranks, numerous 
 foreigners were attracted to Newgate ; — among others John 
 Kandolph, at that time American Envoy to Great Britain, 
 
NEWGATE — CONTINUED. 
 
 155 
 
 who gave a cBaiacteristic description of the Ecene to a 
 friend who thus relates the particulars : 
 
 " Suddenly Eandolph rose from his chair and in his most 
 imposing manner thus addiessed me : ' Mr. Harvey, two 
 days ago I saw the greatest curiosity in London — aye, and 
 in England' too, sir — compared to which Westminster 
 Abbey, the Tower, Somerset House, the British Museum, 
 nay ParUament itself, sink into utter insignificance! I have 
 seen, sir, Elizabeth Fry in Newgate, and have witnessed 
 there miraculous effects of true Christianity upon the mosfc 
 depraved of human beings! And yet the wretched outcasts 
 have been tamed and subdued by the Christian eloquence 
 of IMi's. Fry! I have seen them weep repentant tears while 
 she addressed them. I have heard theii- groans of despair, 
 sir ! Nothing but religion can effect this miracle ; for what 
 can be a greater miracle than the conversion of a degraded, 
 sinful woman taken from the very dregs of society? Oh, 
 sir, it was a sight worthy the attention of angels I You 
 must also see this wonder.' " 
 
 Persons of distinction from the Continent were introduced 
 to Newgate and its noted reformer, and carried back reports 
 to their different countries which were like seeds of a new 
 interest in humanity. Some of the first fruits were seen in 
 Russia, where the Princess Sophia Mestchersky and other? 
 ladies formed themselves into an association, with highly 
 Batisfactory results, to visit the women confined in the five} 
 prisons of the capital. A gentleman named "Walter Ven- 
 ting also devoted himself to visiting the prisoners there. 
 Hearing of this Mrs. Fry opened a correspondence on tho' 
 eubject to encourage the good work. In a letter, writt 
 by the Kussian Princess to Mr. Venning, on the second oc 
 August, 1820, is the following passage:—- 
 
156 
 
 ELIZABETH FET. 
 
 "Though I acknowledge myself completely unable to 
 write in English, as you wish me to do, for to show your 
 friends in England the state of our prisons, such as the 
 Ladies Committee found it to be, and such as it is now, 
 eight months after the establishment of the society; yet 
 when you told me it would prove a token of our regard and 
 high esteem for Mrs. Fry and her fellow laborers, I readily 
 comply with your request, and shall try to OYercome all the 
 difficulties which ignorance of yovur language and the nov- 
 elty of the subject present to me. Not I alone, sir, but al] 
 the ladies of our committee expressed a hearty wish that 
 something of our public exertions, and of our efforts to fol- 
 low the example which that lady gives us, might be com« 
 municated to her, as a proof that her labors are blessed 
 from above, and that a spark of that love which animates 
 her generous heart has also reached our distant country, 
 and influenced many hearts with the same Christian feeling 
 ior suffering humanity. May this prove a comfort to her 
 soul, and a new encouragement for her to continue hei 
 labors in that large and important field of usefulness in 
 which she is called to serve our Lord. We will all en- 
 deavor to follow her according to the strength and abilities 
 granted us, looking for help and hoping for success to and 
 from Him from whom we receive every blessing, and whosfi 
 ' strength is made perfect in weakness.' " 
 
 Extract of a letter from Elizabeth Fry to Walter Venning. 
 
 "Kespected Fbiend: 
 
 Though personally unknown to thee I am confidentj 
 from the interest we both feel in one cause, thou wilt ex« 
 cuse the liberty I take in writing to thee to express my 
 heart-felt satisfaction at the interesting and important ac- 
 counts thou hast given my brother Hoare of the proceeds 
 ings of the Gentlemen and Ladies' Prison Associations of 
 Petersburg. Most warmly do I desire their encouragement 
 
NEWGATE — CONTINDKD. 
 
 15T 
 
 £n this work of charity and utility ; for the more 1 am ac- 
 quainted with the subject, and the more extensive my ob- 
 servation of the effects of prison discipline is, the more con- 
 fident I feel of its importance ; and that, although the work 
 will be gradual, yet through the Divine blessing its results 
 will be sure. Not only that many will be stopped in their 
 career of vice, but some truly turned from their evil ways, 
 and the security and comfort of the community at large in- 
 increased by our prisons which have been too generally the 
 nurseries of vice, and scenes of idleness, filth and debauch- 
 ery, being so arranged and attended to that they may be- 
 come schools where the most reprobate may be instructed i^ 
 their duty towards their Creator and their fellow mortals> 
 and where the very habits of their lives may be changed.' 
 
 " It will be found in this, as in every other good work, 
 that some trials and discouragements will attend it ; bul} 
 the great end in view must induce those engaged in it tci 
 persevere and use increased diligence to overcome them, 
 doing what we do to the Lord and not unto man, and thei> 
 we shall do it well. 
 
 " We continue to have much satisfaction with the resultai 
 of our efforts in Newgate — good order appears increasingly 
 established, there is much cleanliness amongst our poor 
 women, and some very encouraging proofs of reformation 
 In habit, and what is much more, in heart. This, in a prison 
 so ill-arranged, with no classification, except tried from un- 
 tried, no good inspection and many other great disadvan- 
 tages, is more than the most zealous advocates of prison 
 discipline could look for. 
 
 " I lately had the pleasiire of seeing the Duchess of GIou> 
 cester, who is our Patroness ; she desired me to express 
 how much gratified she was with thy account of what yoq 
 are doing in Petersburg, and her wish that the ladies may 
 be encom-aged in their good work. 
 
 How delightful it is to hear of the interest that the Em^ 
 peror Alexander, Prince Galitzin, and ladies of high ranlf. 
 
158 
 
 ELIZABETH FB7. 
 
 take in the cause of the poor prisoners. May the hest o£ 
 blessings rest upon them for thus manifesting their carej 
 
 over the destitute of the earth. 
 
 " "We also feel gratefully sensible of the kindness to ou^ 
 friends William Allen and Stephen Grellet, I hope thoii 
 \vi!t let us know before long how you go on. I am much 
 obliged for the book thou kindly sent me ; and believe me, 
 uith much regard and esteem, Thy friend 
 
 "Elizabeth Fby."" 
 
 After the death of "Walter Venning the correspondence 
 And the work in Russia were continued by his brother Johu 
 Venning, who states that the letters which he received from 
 Elizabeth Fry were " invaluable, as regarded the treatmeufc 
 and management of both prisoners and insane persons. It 
 was the fruit of her own rich practical experience, communi* 
 cated with touching simplicity, and it produced lasting 
 benefit to thosa institutions in Russia." 
 
 "A-fter he had presented to the Emperor Nicholas a state- 
 ment of the defects of the Government lunatic asylum, tho 
 Dowager Empress and her son visited the asylum together, 
 and, being convinced of the necessity of a complete refornj 
 in the management ox the insane, tho Empex-or requested 
 his mother to take it under her own care and to appoint 
 Tohn Venning the governor of it. An order was soon 
 given to purchase, of one of the princes, a palace-like house, 
 having above two miles of garden, and a fine straam of 
 water running through the grounds. A plan of this gL'eat 
 building was sent to Elizabeth Fry for her inspectioa and 
 bints for improvements. Two extensive wings were recom- 
 mended for dormitories. The wings cost 15,000 pounds. 
 In addition to this sum from the Government, the Emperor 
 gave 3090 poands for cast-iron window f . ames recommended 
 by Ehzabeth Fry; as the clumsy iion ba.siu the old inst^ta- 
 
»i£WeATE — CONTINUES. 
 
 169 
 
 tion had drawn from many a poor inmate a sigli, witli 'Sir, 
 
 prison ! prison ! ' 
 
 " Elizabeth Fry recommended that all, except the violent 
 jfunatics, should dine together at a table covered with ^ 
 cloth and furnished with plates and spoons. The Empress 
 was delighted with this plan, and when the arrangements 
 were completed requested John Venning to invite them to 
 dinner. Sixteen came and took their seats. The Empress 
 approached the table, ordering one of the upper servants 
 to sit at the head of it and ask a blessing. AVhen he arosa 
 to do this they all stood up. The soup, with small pieces 
 of meat was then served, and as soon as they had dined 
 they all rose up spontaneously, and thanked her for her 
 motherly kindness. She was deeply moved, and turning to 
 John Venning, said, 'My friend this is one of the happiest 
 days of my life.' The nest day the number at table was 
 increased, and the day following was still greater. 
 
 " A letter from Elizabeth Fry on ' the great importance 
 of supplying the lunatics with the Scriptures,' which John 
 Venning said 'deserved to be written in letters of gold,* 
 and which he sent to the imperial family, Avas received with 
 marked approbation. The court-physician, Dr. Richl, a de- 
 voted philanthropist requested a copy of it. This lettet 
 I'emoved all difficulties on the subject and John Venning 
 was requested to furnish them in their various languages, 
 (t was considered by some ' a wUd and dangerous proceed- 
 ing;' but he soon found them collected in gi'oups and 
 quietly listening, while one of their number was reading 
 the New Testament ; and instead of disturbing their minds 
 It produced a soothing influence. A Russian priest, a luna- 
 tic, collected a number together and read to them. And 
 John Venning found a poor Frenchman in his bed-room, 
 dui-iug a lucid interval reading the New Testament, with 
 tears rolling down his cheeks. 
 
 " Whenever John Venning received a letter from Eliza* 
 beth Fry he would write it out in French for the Empress, 
 
160 
 
 ELIZAIETH FRY. 
 
 ^and -vvas pl6ai5ed to see^ as souu as she had read it, with 
 "wliat alacrity she ordered one of her secretaries to translate 
 it into Russian, to be entered into the journal of the asylum 
 for immediate adoption. One contained a list of fourteen 
 rules which^were all confirmed by the Empress the same 
 day. And they introduced very important arrangements, 
 viz. : ' treating the inmates, as fa. as possible, as the sane 
 persons, both in conversation and manners towards them ; to 
 allow them as much liberty as possible ; to engage them 
 daily to take exercise in the open au-; to allow them to wear 
 their own clothes, and no uniform prison dress ; mosi 
 strictly to fulfil whatever was promised them ; to exercis6 
 patience, (gentleness, kindness, and love towards them ; and 
 to' Be~ exceedingly careful as to the characters of the keepers 
 appointed to watch over them. 
 
 ■ " Petersl3urg was not the only continental city with whiclj 
 C!5»minunication on the subject of ladies visiting prisoners 
 iiad now been opened. 
 
 "At Tuiin, La Marquise de Barol nee Colbert was assidu- 
 Cusly occupied in this important work. This lady was a 
 Eoman Catholic and had entered upon it from a sense of 
 duty. Francis Cunningham, when traveling thi-ough that 
 ^lace had obtained permission to see the prison, had there 
 become acquainted with her, and opened a correspondence 
 {or her with his sister-in-law, Elizabeth Fry, which was 
 maintained for many years. Letters were also received from 
 Amsterdam, where those interested in the cause were en- 
 deavoring to form a Prison Discipline Society and Commit- 
 tpe to npit tt^e prisoners."* 
 
 in 1822 the Prince and Princess Koyal of Denmark vis- 
 {ted Englan'd, on which occasion the Princess called and 
 took &eakfast with Mrs. Fry. This was the commence* 
 ment of a life-long association and friendship between thesf 
 
 • Life by S. Corder, 
 
NEWGATE — CONTimiED. 
 
 161 
 
 excellent ladies. In November of tliis year, tlie following 
 letter was addressed to the Princess. 
 
 "Dear and eespected Fkiend, 
 
 Allow me to call thee so, for such I feel thee, as thou art 
 truly both loved and respected by me. According to thy 
 kind and condescending wish, expressed when here, I take 
 up my pen to inform thee that upon the first of this month 
 through the tender mercy of my God, I was safely delivered 
 of a sweet boy, and to add to our cause of joy and thankS' 
 giving, my dear daughter had also one born on the samo 
 day, so that twenty-four hours added a son and a grandson 
 to our already numerous family. (This was her eleventh 
 and last child.) "VVe have both of us with our infants been 
 going on well, and with the exception of some illness that 
 I passed through in the early part of my confinement, and 
 my habitual delicacy at such times, I am as well now as ^ 
 can expect to be. 
 
 "I have often thought of thy kind visit with deep inter- 
 est, and strong desires are raised in my heart for thy wel- 
 fare and preservation every way, that the God of Peace may 
 be with thee continually, guiding thee by His counsel, help- 
 ing thee by His Spu'it, comforting thee by His love, during 
 thy continuance here ; and afterwards, when He may be 
 pleased to take thee hence, to be seen of men no more, 
 through His mercy in Christ Jesus, receiving thee into 
 glory. I also feel real interest and best desu'es for the 
 Prince Koyal, — may you both be encouraged in every good 
 ivord and work. I remember the words of Paul in the 15th 
 chapter of the 1st of Corinthians, 58th verse: 'Be ye stead- 
 fast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, 
 for as much as ye know that your labor is not in vain in 
 the Lord.". 
 
 " It would give me great pleasure and satisfaction to hea* 
 from thee, or if that be asking too much, perhaps the lady 
 whom we had the. pleasure of seeing here, will let us know 
 
16S 
 
 ELIZABETH FB% 
 
 many particulars respecting your welfarej^ afid Ij6w you go 
 on in Denmark, as it respects the prisons, schools, and other 
 works of charity and love. I should also be pleased to 
 know whether the books and the other things which we 
 sent to Count Moltke, and also some of the wbi-k of the 
 prisoners, ever came safely to thy hand, as we were preven- 
 ted sending them quite so soon as we hoped to have done. 
 I should be glad to be very respectfully and affectionately 
 remembered to the Queen, and also to the Prince Koyal, thy 
 consort : and believe me, with much respect and regard 
 "Thy attached and obliged friend, 
 
 "Eli^eth Fey." 
 
 The nobility of her nature, so thoroughly redeemed and 
 irradiated by heavenly grace, brought Mrs. Fry naturally 
 into association with the finest spirits of the^a&e in which 
 she hved. She was acquainted with Dr. Chalmers, and to 
 some extent a co-laborer with him ; but no particulars are 
 vecorded. "They mutually helped each other in their plans 
 of benevolence.'V 
 
 When in Bristol ~atten ding religious meetings and visit- 
 ing the prisons, she called on Hannah More, from whom she 
 had previously received a copy of her "Practical^Piety " 
 containing this_iascriBtion : 
 
 TO MRS. FEY. 
 
 Presented by Hannah More» 
 As a token of venerationL 
 Of her hei'oic zeal, 
 Christian charity, 
 JLnd persevering kindneaa* 
 To the most forlorn 
 Of human beings. 
 They were naked and she 
 
KEWGATE — CONTIKUB*. 
 
 163 
 
 Clotlied them ; 
 tn prison and she visited them ; 
 Ignorant and she taught them} 
 For His sake, 
 In His name, and by His word, 
 "Who went about doing good. 
 Barley Wood, June 17th, 1818. 
 
 It will be seen by the date that this beautiful tribute was 
 given soon after the commencement of the Newgate reform. 
 In 1825 in reply to a slight request from Elizabeth 
 Hannah More wrote her the following letter. 
 
 "Mt deab Friend, 
 
 Any request of yours, if within my very limited poweif;, 
 cannot fail to be immediately complied with. In your kind 
 note I wish you had mentioned something of ^your OWD 
 health, and that of your family. 
 
 "I look back with no small pleasure to the too short 
 visit vrith which you once indulged me ; a repetition of it 
 would be no little gratification to me. Whether Divine 
 Providence may grant it or not, I trust, through Him whc 
 ^oved us and gave Himself for us, that we may hereafter 
 meet in that blessed country where there is neither sin, Bor-' 
 row, nor separation. 
 
 " Believe me, my dear friend, with true esteem and wansil 
 affection to remain yours, sincerely,, 
 
 «H. MOBB., 
 
 "Barley Wood, 15th, April. 
 
 The affection and esteem expressed with such Christian 
 grace was fuU^' reciprocated by Mrs. Fry who " entertained 
 a high appreciation of the character of Hannah More and oi 
 the benefits which she had conferred upon her contemporai> 
 ries, especially upon her country-women. She always re* 
 
164 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 ferred with great pleasure to her visit to Barley Wood, and 
 the impression made upon her by the mingied sweetness 
 and dignity of Hannah More's countenance and manner." 
 
 Could anything be more charming than the meeting of 
 two such women, and the sisterly love and admiration they 
 felt for each other. Only the great can fully appreciate the 
 greatness of others, and none can be truly great who are 
 not truly good. 
 
 With WUberforce Mrs. Fry was not unfrequently associa- 
 ted in benevolent labors. One of these occasions is thus 
 described : 
 
 "The return of the season had brought with it the inter- 
 est of the annual transportation of convicts. During this 
 year, five ships had been employed for that purpose. A 
 young lady — the daughter of an Admu'al — has often re- 
 curred to a farewell visit to a convict-ship, on the point of 
 sailing, in which she accompanied Elizabeth Fry. In allu- 
 sion to this visit she says : — 
 
 *'I could scarcely look upon her as any other than an 
 angel of mercy, calmly passing from one to another of the 
 poor wretched beings around her with the word of counsel, 
 comfort, or reproof that seemed suited to each individual 
 case, as it presented itself to her notice. With several kind 
 assistants she was arranging work for them during the voy- 
 age ; in it^llf no ttifling matter. But many a point of deep- 
 est interest' sfftd anxiety brought to her ready ear, met with 
 Btich re$p6fi&e as could only be looked for from a devoted 
 follower of Him who went about doing good." 
 
 " On the mind of thi^ young person the circumstance 
 was strongly impressed of accompanying her father, on an- 
 other occasion, to the female convict-ships lying oflf Wool- 
 (ncTi, to meet WiUiam Wilberforce andElizabeth Fry. 
 
 " On board one of them between two and three hundred 
 
NEWGATE — CONTINUEI>. 
 
 165 
 
 women were assembled in order to listen to the exhortation 
 
 and prayers of perhaps the two brightest personifications o£ 
 jChristian philanthropy that the age could boast. Scarcely 
 ^could two voices, so distinguished for beauty and power, 
 be imagined united in a more touching engagement — as in* 
 deed was testified by the breathless attention, the tears, an(^ 
 the suppressed sobs, of the gathered listeners. All of 
 man's word, however, there heard, heart-stirriag as it was 
 at that time, has faded from memory ; but no lapse of time 
 can ever efi'ace the impression of the 107th Psalm, as read 
 by Mrs. Fry, with such extraordinary emphasis and intona- 
 tion that it seemed to make the simple reading a commen- 
 tary; and, as she passed on from passage to passage, it 
 struck my youthful mind as if the whole series of allusiona 
 might have been written by the pen of inspiration, in view of 
 Buch a scene as was then before us. At an interval of twenty 
 years it is recalled to me as often as that Psalm is brought 
 to my notice. — Never in this world can it be known to how 
 many hearts its solemn appeals were that day carried home 
 by that potent voice.' " 
 
 An interesting incident, in connection with these visita 
 to the convict ships, is related by a boat-captain, afterwards 
 Harbor Master at Eamsgate. 
 
 •*It was on a fine sultry day in the summer of 1821 that 
 I was racing up the Thames, in command of the Kamsgat^ 
 Steam Packet, Eagle, hoping to overtake our Margate com- 
 petitors, the Victory and Favorite steamers, and bring them 
 nearer to view as we rounded the points of the Reach of th^ 
 river. It -was in the midst of this excitement that we en-t 
 countered one of those siidden thunder squalls so commoq 
 |n this country, and which, passing off with heavy rainj 
 ^eave behind them a strong and increasing northerly gale. 
 I was looking out ahead, pleasing myself with the reflection 
 that we were the fastest vessel against a head wind, and 
 
tea 
 
 ELIZABETH FET. 
 
 Bhould certainly overtake our Margate friends ; when upon 
 entering Long Keach about two miles below Purfleet, I saw 
 a boat laboring with very little effect against the gale, and 
 with a whole ebb tide just making, to add to their difficul- 
 ties. In this boat were two ladies in the close habit of the 
 Society of Friends, evidently drenched with the heavy 
 shower that had overtaken them. I was then a dashing, 
 high-spirited sailor ; but I had always a secret admiration 
 of the quiet demeanor of that Society, and occasionally had 
 some of them passengers with me, always intelligent and 
 inquiring, and always pleased with any information a sailor 
 could extend to them. Well, here was a dilemma! To 
 stop would spoil my chase, in which most of my passengers 
 jwere as eager as myself ; but to go on and pass two ladies 
 in such a situation ! I passed the word softly to the engi- 
 neer, desired the mate to sheer alongside the boat care- 
 fully, threw the delighted rowers a rope, and, before the 
 passengers were fully aware that we had stopped the en- 
 gines, the ladies were on board, the boat made fast astern, 
 and the JEagle again flying up the Thames. I have those 
 two persons strongly, nay, indelibly, stamped upon my 
 mind's eye. The one I had last assisted on board still held 
 my hand as she thanked me, with dignified, but beautiful 
 expression: 'It is kind of thee captain, and we thank thee. 
 We made no sign to thee ; having held up our handker- 
 chiefs to the other packets, we did not thipk we should suc- 
 ceed with thee.' ' I' assiired them that I could not have 
 passed them under sdch cif6umstances, and called the stew- 
 ardess to take them below into the ladies' cabin and see tc 
 their comfort. They had been well cloaked, and had not 
 suffered so much as I had anticipated. 
 
 " The gale had cleared away the rain, and in a very shott 
 time they came upon deck again. One of them was Mrs. 
 Fry, and she never lost an opportunity of doing good. X 
 saw her speaking to some of my crew, who were looking 
 very serious as she offered them tracts, and some of them 
 
NEWGATE — CONTINUED. 
 
 16T 
 
 cast a side glance at me, for my approval or otlierwise. I 
 
 had some little dislike to sects then, wtdch I thank GoJ 
 left me in riper years, — but who could resist this beautiful, 
 persuasive, and heavenly-minded woman ? To see her waa 
 to love her ; to hear her was to feel as if a guardian angel 
 had bid you follow that teaching which could alone subdue 
 the temptations , and evils of this life, and secure a Re- 
 deemer's love in eternity. In her you saw all that was 
 attractive in woman lit up by the bright ^beams of philan- 
 thi'opy, devoting the prime of life and health and personal 
 grace to her Divine Master's service; and I feel assured 
 that much of the success which attended her missions of 
 mercy, was based upon that awe which such a presence in- 
 spired. It was something to possess a countenance which 
 portrayed in every look the overflowing of such a heart j 
 and thus, as a humble instrument in the hands of Divinq 
 Providence, she was indeed highly favored among women. 
 
 " She told me that her companion, Mrs. Prior, and herself 
 had been down to Gravesend to take leave of the unfortu- 
 nate women (convicts) on board a ship bound to the settle- 
 ments, and gave me so touching a description of their be- 
 haviour, that I volunteered to take charge of anything for 
 her at any time, or render her any service in my power, iQ 
 my voyages. When about to land her anxiety to make 
 some pecuniary recompense was very great, but I woulc! 
 not allow her to do so. Mrs. Fry never forgot me when she 
 came near our locality. I saw her from time to time, the 
 eai-thly tabernacle failing, but the same spii'it lighting up 
 with animation her untiring energies. It was an honor tc 
 |mow her in this world ; may we follow her to the society 
 of the accepted and blessed in that which is to come. 
 
 K B. Martin." 
 
 "Eamsgate, February, 1847." 
 
CHAPTER SIXTH. 
 
 EXCtmSIONS IN GBEAT BRITAIN. 
 
 Elizabetli Fry's first considerable joiiriiey was made in 
 the autumn of 1818, shortly after the commencement of her 
 prison-reform labors. It was directed to the northern part 
 of England and to Scotland, with a view both to religious 
 visits among the Friends, and to an examination of the 
 prisons in those parts of the Kingdom. She was accom- 
 panied by her brother John Joseph Gurney, his wife, and 
 one of her own daughters. The commencement of the trip 
 is thus described in her Journal. 
 
 Bedford, ITorthumherland, Eighth Month, 25.'^. — For 
 some months I have looked to attending the General Meet- 
 ing in Scotland, but it appeared almost impossible, my home 
 claims being so very strong. Indeed the Monthly Meeting 
 before the last it came with great weight, so as to frighten 
 me ; but I neither saw outward way for it, nor did I feel the 
 heart made willing ; but as I have so often found when there 
 is a real * putting forth,' way is made withia and without ; 
 60 it has been now, all my sweet flock are, I trust, carefully 
 provided for ; not only outward way has been made, but the 
 williilg heart also granted, and I had remarkably sweet 
 peace and relief in being willing to give up to it ; such an 
 evidence that I think it remains undoubted in my mind. 
 J'riends appeared to feel much unity with ma which was a 
 
EXCUESIONS IN GREAT BRITAIN. 
 
 169 
 
 help. My beloved brother Joseph, and sister Jane joining 
 me has been much cause for humble thankfulness ; it has 
 made what would have been very hard to flesh and blood 
 comparatively sweet and easy; we are a united band in 
 spirit and in nature ; Joseph a very great help in the min- 
 istry. I think he is, and will yet be more abundantly, au 
 mstrument of honor in his Master's hand. We have sat 
 four Meetings, visited several families of Friends, and in- 
 spected many prisons, which is one of our objects. In our 
 religious services our graciouti Helper has appeared ver^ 
 near ; we have <^one on in them With much nearness and 
 unity; we know the blessed truth that, as we abide 13 
 Clu ist, we are one in Him. I have felt at seasons as leav- 
 ing all for my Master's sake, and setting out without much 
 oj purse or scrip ; but how bountifully I am provided for,' 
 both internally and externally. The great Shepherd of the 
 sberip has been ncir to me in spirit, as strength in my weak^ 
 ness, riches in my poverty and a present helper in the needful 
 time. I may say, 
 
 'Are these Thy favors day by day, 
 
 To me above the rest ? 
 Then let me love Thee more than they, 
 
 And try to serve Thee best. ' 
 
 Conflicts have attended, and no doubt will attend me ; but 
 I look upon it as an honor, a favor and a blessing, even to 
 Bufifer in the Lamb's army, if we may but be of the number 
 of the soldiers who fight the good fight of faith, and are in 
 any degree permitted to promote the cause of truth and 
 righteousness upon earth. 
 
 "Aberdeen, 2dth. — I have felt low upon arriving here, 
 five hundred miles from my beloved husband and children ; 
 but a good account of them is cause for thankfulness : still 
 it is a deeply weighty thing, and I have to try my ground 
 again and again. In almost every new place the language 
 of my spirit is, Why am I here ? At this place we find sev- 
 
170 
 
 ELIZABETH FEV. 
 
 eral other Friends also traveling in tte ministiy, which 
 makes me feel it the more ; but as my coming is not of my 
 own choice, or my own ordering, I desire to leave it, and to 
 commit myself, my spiiit and body, and all that is dear to 
 me, absent and present, to Christ my Eedeemer. We visited 
 the old Barclay eeat at Ury where our mother's forefathers 
 once lived. How great the change from what it once was ! 
 
 " Stonehaven, Ninth Ilonth, 2ncl. — We left Aberdeen 
 this afternoon, having finished our services there, and at 
 Kinmuck where several Friends reside. Other Friends be- 
 sides ourselves being at Aberdeen certainly tended to in- 
 crease my exercise, for fear of the ministry not going on 
 well, or by not keeping in our ranks ; but I think we were 
 enabled to do so, and although much passed yet we had 
 cause for thankfulness, inasmuch as there appeared to br 
 harmonious labor for the advancement of ttuth and the 
 spreading thereof. Our General Meeting at Aberdeen was 
 ended under a feeling of quiet peace ; but fears crept in for 
 myself that I had fallen away a little as to life in the truth, 
 and power in the ministry, for I did not experience that 
 overflowing power which I have sometimes done at such 
 seasons. Still gracious help was granted me from season 
 to season. The day after the General Meeting we went tc 
 Kinmuck, about fifteen miles north of Aberdeen. A short 
 time after our arrival there, before I went to meeting, such 
 a feeling of suffering came over me as I can hardly express. 
 It appeared only nervous, as I was so well ia body that I 
 could not attribute it to that. It continued exceedingly 
 upon sitting down in Meetiiig, and led me into deep strong 
 supphcation that tha enemy might by no moans deceive us, 
 or cause our ministry to be aifected by anything but tho 
 holy anointing. I feai'edi :^ this awful state had to do with 
 those present, that I shoiild have something very close to 
 express ; if only with myself I considered that it might be a 
 refining trial. However Joseph knelt down ia the begin- 
 ning of the meeting, as well as myself, and afterwards he 
 
EXOUBSIONS IN amsAT SBITAIK. 
 
 171 
 
 epoke as if he felt it necessary to warn some to flee from 
 their evU ways and from the bondage of Satan. This tended 
 to my relief; but it appeared as if I must follow him and 
 tise with these words, 'The sorrows of death compassed me 
 ©bout, the pains of hell gat hold upon me ; ' then enlarging 
 upon the feeling I had of the power of the enemy, and 
 the absolute need there is to watch, to pray, and to flee 
 unto Christ as our only sure refuge and deliverer. I had 
 to show that we might be tried and buffeted by Satan aa 
 a fuither trial of faith and of patience, but that if we did 
 not yield to him, it would only tend to refinement. 
 After a time I felt greatly relieved, but what seeme d re- 
 mai-kable was that neither Joseph nor I dared to leave the 
 Meeting without once more bowing the knee for these dear 
 friends. But after all this very deep and remarkable exer- 
 cise a solemn silence prevailed, really as if truth had riseo 
 into dominion ; and after my making some such acknowledg- 
 ment in testimony, that our low estate had been regai'ded, 
 that our souls could then magnify the Lord, and our spnits 
 rejoice in God oui" Saviour, that light had risen in obscurity, 
 and darkness had, in measui-e, become as the noon-day, and 
 the encouragement it was for us to run with patience the 
 race that was set before us, &c., the Meeting concluded, 
 and I think upon shaking hands with the Friends there 
 hardly appeai'ed an eye that had not been weeping, amongst 
 those that were grown up. Tliis whole exercise was very 
 remarkable in a nice httle country meeting, and the external 
 BO fair; but afterwards we heard of one or two painful 
 things, one in particular. We visited nearly all the families, 
 were pleased with some of them : their mode of living truly 
 humble like our cottagers. The next day we had a Meeting 
 «vith a few Friends at Aberdeen where the exercise was not 
 very great and the flow in the ministry sweet, and I trust 
 powerful. We parted from our beloved friends, John and 
 Elizabeth Wigham, their children, and children's children, 
 ^and are now on our way to Edinbuigh. 
 
172 
 
 IXIZABETH FBY. 
 
 "ffamc^, 15th.-— -I may thankfully acknowledge being so 
 far on our way, but our joarney thi'ough life is a little like 
 a common jom-ney ; we may, after a day's traveling, Lie down 
 and rest, but we have on the morrow to set oflf again upon 
 our travels: so I find my joui'ney in life. I am not unfre^ 
 quently permitted to come for a short time to a sweet, quiet 
 resting-place ; but I find that I soon have to set forth again. 
 1 was glad and relieved in leaving Aberdeen, and then a 
 fresh work began in Edinburgh. On Seventh day we 
 visited the prisons, accompanied by some gentlemen, the 
 Ijord Provost and others., ^ Here we were much interested. 
 On Fii'st-day we went in the morning to Meeting, and werei 
 favored to do well ; many were not Friends ; and what were 
 my, feelings in the evening to find a considerable number of 
 people, quite a Public Meeting. It gave me a great deal of 
 alai'm, but we had a good Meeting and I trust the cause was 
 exsdted.":, The morning before we came away about eighteeni 
 gentlemefi" and ladies came to breakfast with us, amongst 
 them Sir George and Lady Grey, good people whom I have 
 long wished to know: we had, after breakfast, a solemn 
 time; ' Alexander Cruickshank read, and afterwards I knelt 
 down, and I think we were di'a\vn together in love and unity 
 of spirit. We ai"rived at Glasgow that evening and the next 
 jday visited the prisons, and formed a Ladies Committee. 
 We visited some families the next day, and, accompanied b^ 
 several gentlemen, magistrates and others, we again went 
 to the Bridewell and Prison, where I had to start the Com- 
 itiittee in their proceedings ; it was awful to me, having to, 
 bow the knee for a blessing, before so many who were 
 ^ti-angers to our ways, but blessed be the Lord, the power 
 of truth appeared to be over all, so that I remembered these 
 svords, 'Piejoice not that the spii'its are made subject unto 
 !you, but rather rejoice that your names are written in 
 ]^eaven.' We had two meetings, one in the morning for 
 f'riends, but many others came, and one to my deep humili- 
 ation in the evening for the pubUc. Awful work it was : we 
 
EXOUBSrONS TS QEKAT BBITAIIT. 
 
 i7a 
 
 «7ore favored to get througli well, and to leave Glasgow 
 with clear minds. We have since traveled through great 
 part of Cumberland, attended many meetings there, som^ 
 
 ence and Power of the Most High ; — thence to KendaL 
 
 " At Liverpool was the next meeting we attended ; it was 
 a large public one, and so it has been in many places. I 
 deeply felt it, I hardly dared to raise my eyes because of 
 the feathers and ribbons before me. However best help was 
 afforded, to my very great relief and consolation ; truth ap- 
 peared to be in great dominion. After a sweet uniting timfi 
 •with the Benson family, we left Liverpool for Eiiowsley^ 
 the seat of the Earl of Derby, as we had a pressing invitiar 
 lion from Lady Derby. We were received with the utmost 
 kindness and openness by all this very large household. A 
 palace was now our allotment ; a cottage has been so during 
 oiu- journey. My internal feeling was humiliation and self-- 
 abasement: 
 
 '• Knoiosley, 2ith. — Here we are, all the family about tO 
 be collected for a religious opportunity. Lord, be pleased 
 to be with us, to own us by Thy life-giving presence, and 
 help us by Thy Spirit, for it is a very awful time. Make 
 ns. Thy unworthy children, fit for Thy service, and touch 
 our lips as with a live coal from Thy altar, for we are un- 
 worthy to take Thy great and ever-excellent name into our 
 mouths. Thou, Lord, only knowest the state of Thy un* 
 worthy servant ; help her infirmities, blot out her transgres- 
 sions, and enable her to show forth Thy praise, if consistent 
 with Thy ho^y will, that all may be more abundantly com 
 
 beloved Son, Christ Jesus our Lord. 
 
 '■^Sheffield, ^%th. — After writing the above I was sum- 
 moned into the dining-room, where the family were assem- 
 bled — I should think in all nearly a hundred. My beloved 
 brother read the tliird chapt er of John ; there was then a - 
 solemn pause, and I found it my place to kneel down, pray- 
 
 very important ones, and some 
 
 verted unto Thee, and brougl 
 
 ;ht into the knowledge of Thy 
 
174 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 ing for a blessing upon the house and family, and giving 
 
 thanks for the mercies bestowed upon them; particularly 
 In the time of their affliction, in having been supported by 
 the everlasting Arm ; and prayer arose for its being sancti- 
 fied unto them. The large party appeared humbled and 
 tendered. Then dearest Joseph arose and was greatly 
 helped by the power of the Spirit. I followed him mth a 
 Cew words. Many of the party were in tears ; some exceed- 
 ingly affected. Joseph then knelt down, greatly helped ; 
 the service principally fell upon him. After he rose I re- 
 ■ninded them of the words of our blessed Kedeemer, that 
 'whosoever giveth a disciple a cup of cold water in the name 
 of a disciple, shall receive a disciple's reward.' This, I said, 
 [ humbly trusted would be their case. I also alluded to 
 their servant's kindness in the same way. Thus ended this 
 memorable occasion. It was hke what we read of in, 
 Friends' journals formerly, when the power appeai'ed to be 
 over all in a very extraordinary manner. I remember in 
 John Richardson's jommal some such account. So it is, — 
 and this is not, and cannot be, our own work ; surely it is 
 the Lord's doing, and marvelous in our eyes. 
 
 Earlham, Tenth Month, 6iA.-r-0nce more arrived at 
 this interesting place that has so long been a home to me. 
 I will go back to where I left off. Our visit tp Sheffield 
 was an important one ; I had so deeply to feel for a beloved 
 Friend who has long been a mother in Israel, under heavy 
 family affliction. Oh! what I felt for her in meeting and 
 but of meeting I cannot describe ; my spirit was in strong 
 mtercession for her preservation and support imder these 
 deep tribulations. We had a favored meeting in the morn- 
 ing, though I had indeed to go through the depths before 
 I ascended the heights. By the desire of my dear brother 
 we had a Public Meeting in the evening, which was well 
 got through, but not without suffering. We then proceeded 
 to York ; I can hardly express how deeply I felt entering 
 that Quarterly Meeting; 'fears got hold upon mej'stil] 
 
EXOUBSIONS IS OBEAT BBITAHT. 
 
 175 
 
 hope arose underneath that this one of our services, as to 
 our northern journey, would crown all, and so I think ii 
 proved. Not only, from service to service, and from meet" 
 ing to meeting, did the holy, blessed, anointing Power ap» 
 pear to be abundantly poured forth upon the speakers, but 
 upon the hearers also. Where I feared most, I found least 
 to fear ; such unity of spuit, such a flow of love and life, aa 
 quite refreshed, encouraged and comforted my soul. I wai» 
 much rejoiced to find so many fathers and mothers amongst 
 them. ' Bless the Lord, O my soul ! and all that is within 
 me bless His holy name ! — Praise and exalt Him above all 
 forever!' might then have been the language of my soul. 
 
 "We traveled on to Lynn, and there my brother with his 
 dear Jane left me. At the meetings there I felt as if I had 
 to minister almost without the power, and yet that I must 
 yield to the service ; but I was so fearful and weak at both 
 meetings that truth did not appear in dominion. Perhaps 
 I found the change after York, and missed my dear brother 
 Joseph. I often minister as if in bonds ; this is very hum- 
 bling — so many fears, so many doubts arising; this was 
 the case in nearly aU my services during the day." 
 
 ."La the course of this northern journey, J. J. Gurney 
 and his sister had visited the prisons of the several towns 
 through which they passed. They found them to be gener- 
 ally in a condition of the most disgraceful neglect — and the 
 hardships, and even cruelty endured by the inmates were 
 harrowing in the extreme to the tender nature of Elizabeth 
 Fry. 
 
 "But the cases of the poor limatics confined in some ol 
 those abodes of misery, made, above all, a most powerfuj 
 impression on her heart, and induced a sympathy with such 
 as were afflicted with this heaviest of physical maladies, tha^ 
 continued deeply to influence her feelings through life.' 
 
 " The results of their observations were pubhshed in a 
 pamphlet — ' Notes on a Visit to Prisons, &c., by J. J. Gur- 
 ney and Elizabeth Fry.' 
 
t7C 
 
 ELIZABETH FEY. 
 
 "To such' persons as were interested in Prison Eeform, 
 this book afforded much matter for reflection. Whilst they 
 deplored the evils described, they rejoiced that they should 
 be brought to_ light^as the first step towards their being 
 remedied. 
 
 "The voice of Elizabeth Fry was heard and her appeals 
 were promptly responded to. Her brother, in writing of 
 this northern journey says: 'she exhibited a perfect tact 
 and propriety in her transactions, and well knew, when in 
 f)ursuit of such objects how to soothe all asperities, influ- 
 ence all parties, and overcome the greatest difficulties.' In 
 confirmation of which some passages may be quoted from a 
 letter written by a Scotch lady who accompanied her when 
 she visited the prisons at Glasgow. 
 
 " ' She found our prisons very badly managed,' &c., and 
 *has left a letter for the magistrates.' She had an interview 
 with them, and this evening a number of ladies met at the 
 Bridewell.'".. She told them with much simplicity what had 
 been done at Newgate. She entered into pleasant conver- 
 sation with' every one and all were delighted when she 
 offered to speak a little to the poor women. But the keeper 
 of the Bridewell said he feared it was a dangerous experi- 
 ment ; that they never, but by compulsion listened to read- 
 ing, and were generally disposed to turn anything of the 
 kind into ridicule. She said that she was not \vithout fears 
 of this happening, but she thought it right to attempt it. 
 The women, about a hundred, were then assembled in a 
 large room, and we went in, misdoubting and anxious. Sh& 
 took off her bonnet and sat down on a low seat, fronting 
 the women ; then looking at them with a kind, conciliating 
 ^ye, yet an eye sthat met every eye there, she said, 'I had 
 bstter just tell you what we are come about.' She told 
 them she had to deal with a great number of poor women^ 
 sadly wicked, and in what manner they were recovered from 
 evil. Her language was scriptural, always referring to our 
 Saviour's promises, and cheering with holy hop; these dis- 
 
EXCURSIOKS IN GREAT BBITAIK. 
 
 177 
 
 isolute beings. 'Would not you like to turn from that 
 which is wrong? Would not you like for ladies to visit 
 you, and speak comfort to you, and help you to become 
 better? Sm-ely you would tell them your griefs ; they who 
 have done evil have many sorrows.' As she read to them 
 the Rules,^ asking them, if approved to hold up their 
 hands, all hands were upraised, and as soon as she spoke 
 tears began to flow. One very beautiful girl near me had 
 her eyes swimming with tears, and her lips moved as if fol- 
 lowing Mrs. Fry. One old woman who held her Bible we 
 saw clasping it with emotion as she became more and more 
 impressed. The hands were ready to rise at every pause, 
 and these callous and obdurate offenders were with one 
 consent bowed before her. Then she took the Bible and 
 vead the parables of the lost sheep, the piece of silver, and 
 the prodigal son. 
 
 *It is impossible for me to express to you the effect oi 
 her saintly voice, while speaking such blessed words. She 
 often paused and looked at the poor women with a sweet- 
 aess that won their confidence, applying, with beauty and 
 taste all the parts of the story to them, and ia a manner I 
 never before heard, — and particularly the words, ' His father 
 Baw him when he was yet afar off.' A solemn pautre suc- 
 ceeded the reading. Then resting the large Bible on the 
 ground we saw her on her knees before them. Her prayer 
 was devout and soothing, and her musical voice, iu the pecu. 
 Jiar, sweet tones of the Quakers, seemed like the voice of a 
 toother to her suffering child. 
 
 *In the prison of Glasgow, the emotions were much 
 jmore varied than at Bridewell — astonishing repugnance, 
 and in some instances obstinate resistance to listen; in 
 others anxious desire to accept her aid. She read and con- 
 versed with them, and the proposal of work was iu general'^ 
 greedily received. How different were the impressions in 
 the various figures before her ! One old woman, with the 
 p^ppearance of a menial servant, and hardened features, said 
 
178 
 
 ELIZABETH FB.1. 
 
 *No! no use work!' But these rugged lines were at 
 iengtli relaxed, and I saw a tear fall over the brown visage. 
 But it was not the prisoners alone; for there was not a man 
 in the room unmoved.' ". 
 
 Many letters were received after the publication of tha 
 "Notes;" among them the following from the Countess 
 Hai'coui't. 
 
 My Deak and Most Eespected Feiexd : • 
 It is impossible to have read the excellent publication 
 giving an account of your tour with Mr. Giu'ney, without 
 being most anxious to express the satisfaction Lord Har- 
 court and I received from the work. He read it to me, and 
 there was scarcely a page at which wo did not stop to ex- 
 claim our admiration of the justness of the remarks, and 
 our earnest wishes that they might prove the means of 
 ameliorating the system of our prisons. We felt that 
 each word gave conviction to our minds, and the beauty of 
 the style certainly added to the gratification of reading it. 
 Oh ! my good friend, what a blessed tour you have made, 
 and may Heaven reward your wonderful exertions, by 
 making them effectual to the purpose intended. 
 
 "I ought not to use the word envy, but I cannot help 
 feeling the great difference between the manner ia whicii 
 your life is spent and my own. You ought indeed to ba 
 thankful that it has pleased God 'to put into your mind 
 good desu-es,' and to have given you heaitli to go through 
 such arduous undertakings."/ 
 
 Eai-ly in the following year,'howeTer, the reaction cam& 
 from her " great and varied exertions," and she was obliged 
 to spend several Aveeks in recruiting her health at Brighton. 
 
 Also the secret troubles of her heart were becoming en- 
 larged from the gTowing cloud of differences in her hornet 
 
EZCUBSIONS IN OBEAT BBlTAIS. 
 
 179 
 
 of which she is compelled very rarely to speak in her Jotus 
 nal. After visiting her sister Priscilla in a dangerous ill- 
 ness, she ■writes : 
 
 " Since I have left her sick room sorrow and deep dis- 
 couragement have been my portion from the extreme diffi- 
 culty of doing right toward those most near ; it does ap- 
 pear at times impossible for me, but most likely this arises 
 from want of more watchfulness, and more close abiding in 
 the Light and Life of our Lord. When I exercise a watch- 
 ful care from seeing the dangers that attend some, it seems 
 to give the greatest pain, and so causes me the deepest dis- 
 couragement. Still, yesterday, in the great and bitter sor- 
 row of my heart, I found in a remarkable manner the power 
 of my Redeemer near, even helping by His own good Spirit 
 and presence. When I felt almost ready to sink, and my 
 footsteps indeed ready to slip — then the Lord held me up. 
 In the first place, after a very little while from having beer 
 deeply wounded, my heart overflowed with love and for- 
 giveness towards the one who had pained me, and I felt, 
 what would I not do for the individual? and a most anxious 
 deshe if I had missed it to make it up by every means in my 
 power. Thus when I had feared discouragements would 
 have almost overwhelmed my spirit, there was such a calm- 
 ing, blessed and cheering influence came over my heart that 
 it was like the sick coming to the Saviour formerly, and 
 being immediately healed ; so that I was not even able to 
 mourn over my calamity. It appeared as if ' the Holy One 
 tvho inhabiteth Eternity,' would not give me over to the 
 wUl of my enemies." 
 
 We are nowhere informed as to the particular nature of 
 this skeleton in the house of Elizabeth Fry. It is but just, 
 however, that we should know that her path was not all sun- 
 shine, that she often carried a heavy heart on missions ol 
 love to the sorrowing, and that in ministering consolation to 
 
180 
 
 ELIZABETH FBY. 
 
 others she referred them to a Fountain of which she was ia 
 the habit of herself drinking largely. Perhaps something of 
 this kind was needful to her, like the thorn in the flesh 
 which kept Paul weighted down for his work. After the 
 passage ^iven above, Mrs. Corder remarks; 
 
 ''fiPsrh'aps few will read the preceding extract without 
 perceiving something of the deep and hidden sorrow which 
 often weighed down the spirit, and preyed also on the bodily 
 frame of this precious follower of the Lamb. It is not 
 needful to attempt to penetrate the veil that conceals from 
 the eye of the stranger the circumstances that rendered her 
 path of life a tribulated one : it is enough to know that her 
 perplexities and distresses were endured with meek submis- 
 sion, and a degree of forbearance that could only be the 
 effect of that state of watching unto prayer with all perse- 
 verance in which she was so remarkably preserved ; and by 
 which she was kept, through all her mental vicissitudes ap 
 in a region of iQve." 
 
 In deference to this judgment we may well repress our 
 curiosity while giving increased love and admiraition to one 
 who could thus, out of her ovra heart's experience, comfort 
 the poor and the afflicted. 
 
 I again quote from Mrs. Corder's notes, which sometimes 
 supplement the information contained in the original 
 memoir. 
 
 "The weighty responsibilities of Newgate did not pre- 
 clude other objects of public interest, to some of which 
 Elizabeth Fry devoted much attention. Among these was 
 ^ 'nightly shelter for the houseless.' During the rigorous 
 Winter of 1819-20, the sufferings of houseless wanderers 
 called for prompt relief. The heart of this Christian phil- 
 
EX0UKSION3 IN GREAT BRITAIN. 
 
 181 
 
 anthropist was deeply touclied by some affecting cases. In 
 one instance a little boy who had in vain begged at many 
 houses for the few half-pence required to procure admit- 
 tance to some passage or cellar, was found frozen to death 
 on the step of a door ! An asylum was immediately pro- 
 vided. It was well warmed, nutritious soup was prepared 
 night and morning, with a ration of bread for each of the 
 Inmates, who were also furnished with beds. Employment 
 in various ways was procured ; and the bounty of the pub- 
 lic flowed in to encourage the hearts and strengthen the 
 efforts of the benevolent persons who united in laboring for 
 the management and success of the establishment. Many 
 hundreds were, night after night, admitted — great numbers 
 who could not be accommodated at the 'Shelter,' were sup- 
 plied with food, clothing and the means of procuring lodg« 
 ings elsewhere. The females were placed under the care of 
 a 'Ladies' Committee,' with Elizabeth Fry at their head." 
 
 The following brief review, bears date August 1820. 
 
 " 19th. — I have this day been married twenty years ; my 
 heart feels much overwhelmed at the remembrance of it — it 
 has been an eventful time. I trust that I have not gone 
 really backwards spiritually, as I think I have, in mercy, 
 certainly increased in the knowledge of God and Christ 
 Jesus our Lord ; but this has been through much suffering. 
 I doubt my being in so lively a state as ten years ago, when 
 first coming forth in the ministry ; but I believe I may say 
 that I love my Lord above all — as far as I know — far above 
 every natural tie; although in His infinite wisdom and 
 mercy He has been pleased, at times, to look upon me with 
 A frowning Providence. If I have lately grown at all, it 
 has been in the root, not in the branch, as there is but little 
 appearance of good, or fruit, as far as I can see. In the 
 course of these twenty years my abode has often been in 
 the valley of deep humiliation ; still the Loid has beer, my 
 
182 
 
 ELIZABETH TRY. 
 
 stay, and I may say througli all iias deali bountifully witb 
 me. Ass jredly He has raised me up from season to season, 
 enabled me to speak -well of His name and led me to plead 
 the caase of the poor and those that are in bonds, naturally 
 and spiritually." 
 
 After a visit to the Monthly Meeting of Essex in the fall 
 of 1820, she writes: 
 
 " 4i/i. — I returned yesterday from finishing visiting the 
 Monthly and Quarterly Meetings in Esses. I was carried 
 through the service to my own sui-prise ; I felt so remarkably 
 low, so unworthy, so unfit, and as if I had little or nothing 
 to communicate to them ; but I was marvelously helped 
 from meeting to meeting ; strength so ai'ose with the occa- 
 sion that the fear of man was taken from me, and I was en- 
 abled to declare gospel truths boldly. This is to me won- 
 derful ; and unbelievers may say what they will, it must ba 
 the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes — how He 
 Btrengtheneth them that have no might, and helpsth them 
 that have no power. The peace I felt after these services 
 seemed to flow like a river, for a time covering all my carea 
 and sorrows, so that I might truly say, ' There is even here 
 a rest for the people of God.' I am sure, from my own ex- 
 perience, there is nothing brings the same satisfying, heart- 
 consoling feeling. -^It is to me a powerful internal evidence 
 of the truth of revealed religion, that it is indeed a substan- 
 tial truth, not a cunningly devised fable. My skeptical 
 doubting mind has been convinced of the truth of religion, 
 not by the hearing of the ear, but by what I have actually 
 handled and tasted and known for myself, of the word of 
 life, may I not say of the power of God unto salvation." 
 
 Another _ milestone on ..this eventful journey reads as fol» 
 lows: 
 
EXC0ESIONS IN GEEAT BEITAIN. 
 
 183 
 
 *^ Eighth Month, IQth, 1822. — ^Yesterday was our wed- 
 ding-day ; we have been married twenty-two years. How 
 many dispensations have I passed through since that time ! 
 how have I been raised up and cast down ! How has a way 
 been made in the depths and a path in the mighty waters ! 
 I have known much of good health and real sickness; gi'eat 
 bodily suffering, and deep depression of spirits. 
 
 " I have known the ease of abundance of riches and the 
 sorrow and perplexity of comparative deprivation. I have 
 known to the full I think the enjoyment of domestic life — 
 even what might be called the fullness of blessing, and also 
 some of its most sorrowful and most painful reverses. I 
 have known the abounding of the unspeakable and soul- 
 satisfying joy of the Lord ; and I have been brought into 
 states when the depths had well-nigh swallowed me up. I 
 have known great exaltation amongst my fellow mortals, 
 and also deep humiliation. I have known the sorrow of 
 some most tenderly beloved being taken from me by death, 
 and others given me — hitherto more given than taken. 
 
 "What is the result of all this experience ? It is even 
 that the Lord is gracious and very merciful ; that His com- 
 passions fail not, but are renewed every morning. And 
 may I not say that His goodness and mercy have followed 
 me all the days of my life ? Though He has at times per- 
 mitted me, amidst many unspeakable blessings, to pass 
 through imutterable sorrows, known only to the full extent 
 by Him and my own soul, yet hath He been an all-sufficient 
 Helper. His right hand hath sustained me and held me up, 
 blessed be His name forever. He hath never forgotten to 
 be gracious, nor hath He shut up His tender mercies from 
 me. May I not indeed raise up my Ebenezer and acknowl- 
 edge that there is 'no God like our God,' and that it is a 
 most blessed thing to serve Him, even if it be by Avay of the 
 cross ; for He is indeed worthy to be served, worshipped 
 and obeyed now and forever. Above all I pray for myself^ 
 that whatever dispensations I may yet pass nothing may 
 
181 
 
 ELIZABETH FEY. 
 
 separate me from His love or hinder me from His service; 
 
 but that I may be increasingly and entirely devoted to 
 Him in heart, mind and spirit, through the help of my 
 r^ost dear and blessed Redeemer. 
 
 "Twelfth Month, 2nd (1822).— Yesterday, at Meeting, 
 the truth rose into, ihuch dominion, blessed be the name of| 
 the Lord. I was enabled to supplicate and minister, to my 
 own relief, and I trust to the refreshment of others ; also 
 my deai"est brother Joseph, Rebecca Chi-isty, and my sister, 
 Elizabeth Fry, in prayer. It appeared a solemn time ; the 
 day, generally speaking, a favored one ; but in the night I 
 was deeply brought to a sense of my own weakness. If 
 the beautiful garments spiritually were put on in the morn- 
 ing, surely they were taken off at night. What are we, but 
 instruments, however, for a season decorated with the 
 Lord's ornaments? Self cannot boast when left to our- 
 selves, and our ornaments taken off. How wonderful is the 
 work of the Spirit ! — how it heals and raises up body and 
 soul when they are brought into service! None can tell, 
 but those who have experienced something of it, how the 
 anoiuting is poured forth from on high. It is an honor I am 
 unworthy of, to be thus helped spuitually, particularly in 
 the ministry. But how deeply doth my spirit crave that I 
 may also be aided in all the practical duties of Ufe." 
 
 During this period Elizabeth Fry was earnestly engaged 
 with her Newgate readings, and it is remarkable how rap- 
 idly her intellectual powers developed imder the influence 
 of 'this powerful stimulus. She was about thirty-seven 
 yeais of age when this work began which brought her at 
 once into a notoriety that placed an immense strain on her 
 whole being. Had she not been well endowed with naturaJ 
 force of mind she would soon have shrunk, with her acci- 
 dental fame, into retu-ement. And, beyond this, had she 
 not had strong religious faith, which brought her inwaard 
 
KX0TTESI0N3 IN GEKAT BRITAIN. 
 
 185 
 
 support, and a stimulus equally powerful, the same result 
 must have followed. But between the inward and the out- 
 ward fires her mental and moral being blossomed out with 
 a tropical luxuriance most admirable to witness, and worthy 
 of the reverent applause so freely bestowed upon it. So 
 ■ far from exciting vanity, this only increased her modesty 
 /and her humble dependence on what she well knew to be 
 the real Source of her strength. There was not the slight- 
 est cant in her humility or her ascriptions of praise. God 
 was known in her heart for a refuge and a very present 
 help ; and pure love and gratitude, no less than her sense 
 of justice, made it the crown of her joy to glorify her Lord 
 for the grace and wisdom so evidently bestowed. She 
 says: 
 
 *' In nothing has the work of grace been so marvelous to 
 me as in the ministry. It surely is not my work ; — I know 
 enough of myself to believe it to be quite impossible. Oh, 
 what an unction I now and then feel! It is as much to be 
 felt strengthening the soul, as the body is felt to be re« 
 freshed after wholesome good food. The work of the Spirit 
 is a wonderful work; and to my naturally doubting and 
 skeptical mind astonishing." 
 
 "jPlashet, /Second Month, 13th. — I attended Tottenham 
 Meeting on the 2nd. I went low, and under deep exercise 
 of mind ; I returned iu measure relieved, though naturally 
 upset with many fears. I hardly ever remember being en- 
 gaged in a service where doubts and fears beset me to an 
 equal extent. On First-day, the 9th, we were at Devonshire 
 House ; it was an extraordinary meeting. I desire in more 
 simplicity of faith to attend the other meetings. I think I 
 have been too anxious, too fearful. If the work be not ours 
 why worry and perplex myself about it ? 
 
 " 19iA.— Since writing the above T attended the Peel 
 
186 
 
 ELIZABETH FBY. 
 
 Meeting on First-clay, wliicii •wa<? to the great relief of 
 my mind. Since that time my bonds have appeared won- 
 derfully broken, my spirit has had to rejoice and be glad, 
 and my fears have been removed, so that I can indeed say, 
 how mai'velous is the work of the Spirit! 
 
 " On Second-day I dined at the Mansion House, with my 
 husband ; a change of atmosphere, spiritually, but if we are 
 enabled to abide in Christ, and stand our ground, we may, 
 by oui' lives and conversation, glorify God, even at a dinner 
 visit, as well as in more important callings. Generally 
 speaking, I believe it best to avoid such occasions, for they 
 take up time and are apt to dissipate the mind ; although it 
 may occasionally be the right and proper calling for Chris- 
 tians thus to enter life ; but they must then keep the eye 
 very single to Him who, having p'aced them in the world 
 can alone keep them from the evil. 
 
 " Third Month, Hth. — I have lately been remarkably fall 
 of occupations, and yet they have appeared right and almost 
 unavoidable. On First-day I attended Southwai-k Meet- 
 ing ; mercy and peace eventually accompanied it. On Fifth- 
 day I went to town to meet the Secretary of State, (Sir Rob- 
 ert Peel,) and the Speaker of the House of Commons, at 
 Newgate, with my brother, Fowell Buxton, and my hus- 
 band; I trust the time was blessed to the good of the 
 cause. 
 
 " Sixth-day in town again to Newgate ; one of the bish- 
 ops, and many others there. It was a solemn time — a 
 power better than ourselves seemed remarkably over us. I 
 visited another prison and then returned home. Besides 
 these out of door objects I am much engaged in nursing 
 my babe which is a sweet employment but takes time; the 
 rest of the childern, are comfortably settled in with dear 
 Mary Ann Davis who is now ouce more with us. Upon 
 sitting down to write, and lockir-g round me, surrounded 
 as I am with my family, supplied with so many temporal 
 comforts, spiritual blessings not withheld — for I trust there 
 
EXCUESIONS IN GEEAT BKITAIK. 
 
 187 
 
 is rather an increase than decrease of the best thingg 
 amongst us — I thought, as the query arose in my heart, 
 'Lackest thou anything?' I might indeed say, 'Nothing, 
 Lord,' except a further establishment for us all in the ever 
 blessed truth as it is in Jesus : What can I render to Thea 
 for all Thy benefits ? Grant, dearest Lord ! in Thy child 
 and servant, a heart fully and entii'ely devoted unto Thea 
 and Thy service. Amen. 
 
 " 29c/i. — Since I last wrote I have attended Winchmore 
 Hill Meeting to satisfaction, together with my dear sister 
 Elizabeth, William Allen, and my brother Samuel, whose 
 company I enjoyed. My husband has engaged Leslie, the 
 painter to come and take likenesses of him and me, to which, 
 from peculiar cuxum stances, I have appeared obliged to 
 yield ; but the thing and its effect on my mind are unsatis- 
 factory to me ; it is not altogether what I like, or approve ; 
 it is making too much of this poor tabernacle, and rather ex- 
 alting that part in us which should be laid low and kept 
 low. I believe I could not have yielded the point had not 
 so many likenesses of me already appeared, and it would ba 
 a trial to my family only to have these disagreeable ones to 
 remain. However, from one cause or another, this has nofc 
 been a satisfactory week — too much in the eaith and tha 
 things of it, too little in the spuit; though not without 
 seeking to take up my cross, deny myself, and follow my 
 Lord and Master. I feel particularly unfit and unworthy 
 to enter again upon my religious engagement : we proposa 
 going to Uxbridge this evening. My only hope is in Him 
 who can alone cleanse, fit, strengthen and prepare for His 
 own work. Under a deep feeling of my short-comings 
 may I not say, dearest Lord, undertake for me. 
 
 '■'■Fourth Month 1th. — We went to Uxbridge, though 
 naturally rather a low time, yet it ended to my real comfort. 
 The Morning Meeting was a very solemn one, a deep feel- 
 ing of good, and the anointing of the Spirit appeared freely 
 poured forth. The Evening Meeting was satisfactory; and 
 
188 
 
 ELIZABETH FBY 
 
 in several religious opportunities in the families my heart 
 was enlarged in much love to the dear Friends there, whoio, 
 I think I may say, I love in the Lord." 
 
 fier next religious visit is thus briefly recorded. It was 
 iix the autumn of 1823. 
 
 ^^JEJarlham, Tenth Month, \st. — My beloved husband left 
 me this morning for London, and I am here, with nine 
 children and my little grandson. Since I last wrote the 
 face of things has brightened. I went to Bristol to attend 
 the Quarterly Meeting there, accompanied by my brother 
 iToseph John Gurney, and my sister E. F. ; we left home on 
 Sixth-day, the 11th of last month, and returned on Fifth- 
 the 17th. In this short time we traveled about 280 
 Koiles, visited the meeting at Bath and the Bristol Quarterly 
 Bteeting, held two Pubhc Meetings, visited the prison, at- 
 tended to the magistrates and the committee ; visited Hau« 
 nah More, my cousin PriscUla H. Gurney, and several others. 
 The last few days my husband and I have been at Cromer 
 and paid an interesting visit to my much loved brothers 
 a,nd sisters there. I was at different times engaged reli- 
 giously amongst them, and help was granted me in these 
 services. I feel unworthy and imfit, and find that there is 
 need of close, cleansing baptisms of the Spirit to make me 
 in any degree ready thus to espouse the best of causes. 1 
 am much struck in having all my children but one now 
 here, several of them grown up. What marvelous changes 
 have I witnessed since I first knew this place ! Wonders 
 indeed have been done for me, spiritually and natui'ally. 
 How have I been raised up as out of the dust ! I am sur- 
 couuded by a numerous fine and healthy offspring; one 
 only taken from me, and that one with a peculiar evidence 
 of going to an. everlasting and blessed inheritance. Spirit- 
 ually also how has mercy been shown me ! Has not the 
 ^3eloved of my soul said 'live? ' — and how has He been witk 
 
EX0TJBSION3 IN GREAT BRITAIN. 
 
 189 
 
 me in many tribulations and sanctified many blessings. 
 Indeed I have found that my Lord is a wonder- v, orking 
 God, and has manifested Himself to be to my soul ' Won- 
 derful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father 
 and the Prince of Peace.' What can I render for His un- 
 speakable benefits ? " 
 
 Early in 1824, she visited the Midland Counties accom- 
 panied by her brother Samuel Gumey; but returned in 
 feeble health. 
 
 " Plashet, Third Month, 2^th. — ^We reached home last 
 Fifth-day, having accomplished the duty we had in prospect 
 to our own peace, and I trust to the edification of those 
 amongst whom our lot has been cast. I continued very im- 
 well during the whole journey, and what with exercise of 
 mind, and real illness of body I think I have seldom known 
 such a time ; nor do I ever remember being so helped 
 through the different services that I was brought into.. 
 Visiting gaols, attending two Quarterly Meetings and many 
 not Friends there ; one a in Worcester gaol, one large 
 Public Meeting, the first I ever appointed of that descrip- 
 tion; and many other meetings. But the way I was raised 
 up, as from the dust, was wonderful to myself ; enabled to 
 speak with power ; and in the Quartei-ly Meetings to go from 
 service to service. It was indeed a remarkable evidence 
 that there is in man something beyond the natural part 
 which, when that is in its lowest, weakest state, helps and 
 strengthens. None can tell what its power is but those 
 who submit to it. I now feel fully called to rest. I grate, 
 fully remember the abundant kindness shown me upon my 
 journey. Greater enlargement of my heart in love do 1 
 never remember, or to have met more from others. I hava 
 been permitted to feel, throughout this illness, at times, 
 very sweet consolation, — a state of rest as if the sense o| 
 pain and sorrow was taken away from body and mind, and 
 
190 
 
 ELIZABETH FBY. 
 
 now and then almost like a peep into the joys of the 
 Kingdom." 
 
 During this period in addition to her labors at Newgate 
 the need of asylums for the reception of discharged female 
 prisoners claimed the attention of Elizabeth Fry and her 
 fellow-laborers. 
 
 "In 1822 a small house for receiving some of the most 
 hopeful of the discharged prisoners was opened at West- 
 minster under the name of Tothill Fields Asylum. It owed 
 its existence to the Christian benevolence of one lady — Miss 
 Neave. She has consecrated her time and purse to this 
 important object which was fii-st suggested to her mind 
 during a drive with Mrs. Fry, thus related by herself: — 
 ' A morning's expedition with dear Mrs. Fry made me at 
 once resolve to add my help, if ever so feebly to the good 
 cause. I distinctly re.member the one observation mada. 
 I can call to mind at this moment the look and tone, so 
 peculiar, so exclusively her's who spoke — 'Often have I 
 known the career of a promising young woman, charged 
 with the first offence, to end in a condemned cell! Was 
 there but a Eefuge for the young offender my work vv-ould 
 be less painful.' That one day's conversation upon these 
 subjects, and in this stiaia laid the iounuation of our pris- 
 oners' home.' 
 
 "The inmates at first were only four in number; in 1824 
 they had increased to nine; after a few years under the 
 name of toe ' The Royal Manor Kali Asylum,' it contained 
 ally young women. Since its first establishment 667 have 
 been received within its walls.* 
 
 "There was another class of persons who claimed the 
 ftutentiou of the ladiea of the British Society at this masting 
 — the vicious and neglected little girls, so numerous iu 
 
 ♦•'In addition to this oxcellc^ut Institution whicli continues very 
 
EXCURSIONS IN GKEAT BRITAIN. 
 
 191 
 
 London, early hardened in crime, who, whether they liad^ 
 or had not been imprisoned had no chance of reformation 
 at home; yet were too young- to be placed with advantage 
 in any existing asylum. Before the next anniversary p 
 School of Discipline for the reception of such children wai 
 opened at Chelsea, where, withdrawn from theu- former 
 associates, they might be trained to orderly and vu-tuous 
 habits. The idea first occurred to Mrs. Fry when convers- 
 ing, in the yard at Newgate, with her friend, Mrs. Benja* 
 min Shaw, on the extreme difficulty of disposing of somv 
 very juvenile prisoners about to be discharged. She then 
 begged IVIis. Shaw to consider the subject and di'aw up 
 some plan for the pm-pose. This lady immediately applied 
 herself to the important work ; nor did she relax her exer- 
 tions until she had seen the school of discipline firmly es- 
 tablished, and its value tested by the experience of yeai'S. 
 
 "Mrs. Fry was anxious that the Government should adopt 
 this Institution for receiving abandoned female childi'en, 
 and addi'essed Sir Kobert Peel, then Secretai-y of State, on 
 the subject. He warmly encouraged the design as ono 
 'capable of effecting much good.' He recommended itt 
 being supported by the subscriptions of individuals, uncon- 
 nected with public establishments, and enclosed a liberal 
 donation from himself. 
 
 " Both these Institutions continue to be very important 
 auxiliai'ies of the British Ladies Society, receiving consider' 
 able pecuniary assistance from its funds, in consideration ol 
 the many individuals placed in them, by its sub-committee, 
 for the Patronage of Discharged Female Prisoners. . 
 
 prosperous, a similar one tor the reception of discbavgcd female pris- 
 oners wlio appear likely to prove IheioselTes to be reformed charac* 
 ters i"! now eslablisbed at Hackney, >.nd, under the dL'sigualiou of the 
 'E1.IZAEETU Fnv Refuok,' is ctlecting luuch good. Both these Asy. 
 Ijius are hbcr.illy palrouized by our beloved Qiieeu, and tbey have a 
 veiy strong claim cn the beuevolonco of the public. — b. Cobuek." 
 
192 
 
 ELIZ&.BETH FBY. 
 
 " But neither these nor any existing establishments 
 adequately meet the needs of many applicants discharged 
 from the London prisons ; and untU some further refuge 
 for such is established the labor bestowed upon them dur- 
 ing imprisonment must remain, in too many instances, an 
 incomplete work ; whether begun by the chaplain, the officers 
 of the gaol, or the ladies of the Visiting Association. Ear- 
 nestly and unflinchingly did Mrs. Fry urge this topic. She 
 grieved to know that persons not utterly hardened, not 
 wholly given over to depravity, who desired to retrace the 
 downward road along which they had travelled, continually 
 found themselves without resource, without encouragement, 
 exposed to the condemnation of the world, or renewed 
 temptations to vice. She felt that untU every unhappy fal- 
 len one, without exception had the opportunity afforded her • 
 of repentance and amendment of life, England as a Chris- 
 tian country had not fulfilled the injunction of our blessed 
 Lord — 'As I have loved you that ye also love one an- 
 other.'"* 
 
 The British Ladies' Society Meeting referred to above is 
 thus spoken of in the Journal : 
 
 '■^First-day, 15th. — Yesterday, after a very weak and 
 faint morning, I attended our 'Ladies' British Society' 
 Meeting. It was surprising, even to myself to find what 
 had been accomplished. How many prisons are now visited 
 by ladies, and how much is done for the inhabitants of the 
 f)rison-house, and what a way is made for their return from 
 evil. It is marvelous in my eyes that a poor instrument 
 should have been the apparent cause of settling forward 
 such a work." 
 
 Mrs. Fry's health continuing delicate she was induced to- 
 
 •Meoioir— Vol I, p. 494. 
 
EXCUESI0N8 IN GREAT BEITAIB. 
 
 193 
 
 visit Brighton, in May, 1824, where she remained a little 
 over two months. While here, being much distressed hj 
 the multitude of applicants for relief, and the impossibility 
 of determining who among them were deserving, she orga- 
 nized, after much labor and discouragement, a District Vis- 
 iting Society, composed of persons belonging to different 
 religious denominations, with the Earl of Chichester as ita 
 President. Its objects were, " the encouragement of indus- 
 try and frugality among the poor, by visits at their own 
 habitations ; the relief of real distress whether arising from 
 sickness or other causes; and the prevention of mendicity 
 and imposture, together with a system of small deposits, 
 upon the plan of a Savings' Bank." This proved a very 
 useful institution. 
 
 Being subject during her illness to attacks of faintness 
 which required her often to be taken to an open window 
 looking toward the sea ; her eyes invariably rested, in the 
 grey dawn, or through the gathering storm, on the one Hv- 
 ing object, "the solitary Blockade-man, pacing the shingly 
 beach." Her sympathy was soon excited by his desolate 
 condition, and she applied to the Bible Society for a grant 
 of Bibles to distribute among this Ul-provided class of men. 
 Fifty Bibles, and twenty-five New Testaments were imme- 
 diately placed at her disposal. She thus reviews this period 
 of recreation at Brighton : 
 
 " Dagenham, /Seventh Month, BOth. — We left Brighton 
 last Sixth-day, the 23rd, and after what I passed through in 
 Buffering, and afterwards in doing, in various ways, I may 
 acknowledge that I have no adequate expression to convey 
 the gratitude due to my merciful and gracious Lord. I 
 left it after a stay of neai'ly ten weeks, with a comparatively 
 
194 
 
 ELIZABETH FBY. 
 
 tealthy body, and above all a remarkably clear and easy 
 mind : mth a portion of that overflcwing peace that made 
 all things, natural and spiritual appear sweet, and in near 
 love and unity, not only with Friends there, but many^ 
 many others. > I felt as if, although an unworthy instru- 
 ment, my labors there had not been in vain in the Lord, 
 whether in suffering or doing. It has not been without a 
 good deal of anxiety, fatigue and discouragement that this 
 state of sweet peace has been obtained, as I am apt to 
 suffer so much from many fears and doubts, particularly 
 when -in a weak state of health. ' The District Society in 
 Which I was interested, I left, I trust, in a way for estabhsh^ 
 m'eiLt, and likely to be very useful to the poor and to the 
 ricfr. Also an arrangement to supply the Blockade-men on 
 the coast (afterwards called Coast Guard) with Bibles and 
 other books: and I hope they will be put in the way of 
 reading them instead of losing their time. Some of the 
 Blockade-men seemed much affected by the attention paid 
 them, as also did their oflScers ; and I am ready to hope that 
 a little seed is scattered there. In Meetings I passed 
 through much, at times going when I feared I should faint 
 from weakness; but I found that help was laid on One 
 who is Mighty, and I may indeed say, in my ministerial 
 services, that out of weakness I was made strong. The 
 Meetings were generally largely attended by those not 
 Friends, of course without invitation, but I trust that they 
 were good ones, and that we were edified together. This 
 was through deep humiliation and many, many fears. It 
 certainly calls for great care and watchfulness in all things 
 that we enter, to find that they be not of ourselves, but of 
 our Master whose servants we are ; for He alone should 
 point out the work. The end, in an uncommon manner, 
 appeared to crown all. 
 
 " 2&th. — I returned from a short expedition to Brighton 
 last evening — a very interesting and I trust, not unimpor- 
 taidr one. My object was the District Society that I was 
 
tfltOUKSIONS IN QBEAT BRITAIN. 
 
 195 
 
 enabled to form there, when I was so ill, or recovering from 
 that state. Much good appears done, much more likely to 
 be done ; a fine arrangement made if it be but followed up ; 
 and I humbly trust that a blessing will attend the work, and 
 has already attended it. I feel that I have not time to re« 
 late our interesting history; but I should say that the short 
 time we spent there was a mark of the features of. the pres- 
 ent day. A poor unworthy woman, nothing extraordinary 
 in point of power, simply seeking to follow a crucifiea 
 Lord, and to co-operate with Ilis grace in the heai'u, yei 
 tollowed after by almost every rank in society, with the 
 greatest openness for any communications of a rehgious 
 nature ; numbers at Meeting of different denominations, 
 also at our own house — noblemen, ladies in numbers, clergy, 
 dissenters, and Friends. We had most satisfactory religious 
 Opportunities together, where the power of an endless life 
 appeared to be in great dominion — our dear Lord and Mas- 
 ter Himself appearing remarkably to own us together. 
 
 "J'lashet, Fourth Month, 21s<. — My occupations are 
 are just now multitudinous. The British Society and all 
 that is attached to it; Newgate as usual. Forming with 
 much fear and some misgivings, a Servants' Society, yet 
 with a hope, and something of a trust, that it will be for 
 the good of this class of persons for generations to come. 
 I have felt so much for such, for so many years, that I am 
 wUhng to sacrifice some time and strength for their sakes. 
 It is, however, with real fear that I do it, because I am sen- 
 sible of being, at times, pressed beyond my strength of 
 body and mind. But the day is short, and I know not how 
 to reject the work that comes to hand to do. 
 
 "■^JPlashet, 25th. — I have had some true encouragement 
 in my objects since I last wrote. The British Society 
 Meeting was got through to much satisfaction. To myself 
 (the poor humble instrument among women in this couiitry) 
 iifvis really wonderful what has has been accomplished in 
 the prisons during the last few years. How the cause has 
 
ELIZABETH FEY 
 
 spread, and wTiat good has been done, how mucli e\Tl pre- 
 vented, how much sorrow alleviated, how many plucked like 
 brands from the burning ! What a cause for deep thanks- 
 giving, and still deeper humiliation to have been, in any de- 
 gree, one of the instruments made use of to bring about 
 these results. I have also received a delightful account of 
 the effects of my labors for the poor at Brighton ; it appears 
 that theai'rangements made have greatly prospered amongst 
 both rich and poor ; also for the Blockade-men on the coast. 
 This is cause for fresh thankfulness of heai't. I may say 
 that I there sowed in tears, and I now reap in joy. 
 
 " The Servants' Society appears gradually opening, as if 
 it would be established according to my desires. No one 
 knows what I go thi'ough in forming these Institutions, — ^it 
 is always in fear. 
 
 Fifth Month, IZrd. — I think that I am under the deep- 
 est exercise of mind that I ever experienced, in the prospect 
 of a meeting to be held this evening for all the young peo- 
 ple assembled at the Yearly Meeting. It is held at my 
 request, my brother Joseph uniting in it. In a remarkable 
 degree it has plunged me into the depths, into real dis- 
 tress; I feel so unfit, so unworthy, so psrplexed, so fearful, 
 even so sorrowful, so tempted to mistrustful thoughts, 
 ready to say, ' Can such an one be called to such a service?' 
 I do believe that ' this is my infirmity ; ' and I have a hum- 
 ble hope and confidence that out of this great weakness I 
 shall be made strong. As far as I know, it has been in 
 simple obedience to manifested duty, that I gave up to this 
 service and went through the ordeal of the Yearly Meeting. 
 If I know my own deceitful heart it has been done in love 
 to my Master and to His cause. Lord, preserve me through 
 this depth; through this stripping season! If it should 
 please Thee to grant me the garments of Thy salvation, and 
 the help of Thy Spirit, further enable me wholly to give 
 unto Thee the glory which is due unto Thy name. If Thou 
 makest use of Thy handmaid to speak in Thy name, be 
 
 * 
 
ESOTTESIONS IN 6BEAT BEITAIN. 
 
 197 
 
 Thou Thyself her help and her strength, her glory and the 
 iifter up of her head. Enable her to rely on Thee, on Thy 
 might and Thy mercy; to commit her whole case unto 
 Thee, and keep in the remembrance of Thy handmaid that 
 the blessed cause of truth and righteousness is not hers but 
 Thine. 
 
 "Flasket, Sixth 3Ionth, 2nd. — The awful and buffeted 
 state of my mind was, in degree, calmed as the day ad« 
 vanced. I went to town with my beloved brother Joseph, 
 who appeared to have been in something of a similar depth 
 of imusual suffering. We went into the meeting together. 
 The large Meeting-house was soon so crowded that no more 
 could get in ; I suppose from eighteen hundred to two thou- 
 Band persons, principally youth. All my children were there 
 except little Harry. I heard hundreds went away who 
 could not get in. After going in and taking my seat my 
 mind was soon calmed, and the fear of man greatly, if not 
 quite, taken away. My beloved brother Joseph bowed the 
 knee and poured forth prayer for us. I soon after rose 
 and expressed what was on my mind towards the assembly : 
 Fust, that all were acceptable who worked righteousness 
 and served the Lord. Secondly, that the mercies of our 
 God should induce this service as a debt due to Him. 
 Thii-dly, that it must be done by following a crucified Lord 
 and faithfully taking up the cross. Fourthly, how impor- 
 tant therefore to the church generally, and to our religious 
 Bociety, for us so to do, individually and collectively; so 
 that if this were done there would be, from amongst that 
 company, those who would be as lights in the world, or as a 
 city set on a hill that cannot be hid. I had to conclude with 
 a desire that an entrance might bo abundantly ministered 
 unto them into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Sa- 
 viour Jesus Christ. I then sat down but did not feel to have 
 fully relieved my mind. Joseph rose and stood more than an 
 hour. He preached a very instructive and striking sermou 
 on faith and doctrine. Then ray dear sister EliEabeth i'ry, 
 
198 
 
 ELIZAEETB FR7. 
 
 and my uncle Joseph said sometliing. Afterwards I kneli 
 down in prayer and thought I found no common access tc 
 the Fountain of all our sm-e mercies. I was enabled to cast 
 my burden for the youth and my own beloved offspring 
 with tlie rest, upon Him who is mighty to save and to de- 
 liver. I had to ask for a blessing upon our labors of lovo 
 towards them, and tLiat our deficiencies might be made up ; 
 »hat the blessing of the Most High might rest on them, 
 from generation to generation, and that cross-bearers and 
 standard-bearers might not be wanting from amongst them 
 I felt helped in every way ; the very spirit and power ap- 
 peared near, and when I rose from my knees I could 'n 
 faith leave it all to Him who can alone prosper His own 
 work. A few hints that impressed me, I afterwards ex- 
 pressed, which were to encourage the youth in the good 
 works of the present day ; but to entreat them when en- 
 gaged in them, to maintain the watch, lest they should 
 build up with one hand and pull down with the otner. 
 Secondly, that it was never too soon to begin to serve the 
 Lord, and that there was nothing too small to please Him 
 bu Then, commending them to His grace and bidding 
 them farewell, the Meeting concluded in a very solemn 
 manner. It lasted about two hours and a half, and genera) 
 satisfaction appears to have been felt. When it was over, 
 I may say we rejoiced together, I hope, in the Lord ; so 
 that my soul did magnify the Lord, and my spirit rejoiced 
 in God my Saviour." 
 
 In 1827 she visited Ireland, accompanied by her brothei 
 Joseph John Gurney and her sister-in-law Elizabeth Fry 
 Arrived at Dublin "a great variety of weighty engage' 
 ments occupied them closely. They inspected several asy^ 
 lums, four jails, the Bridewell, House of Industry; also a 
 Kunnery ; formed Prison Committees, had important inter- 
 views with persons in authority, visited many members of 
 
EXCURSIONS IN GREAT BRITAIN. 
 
 199 
 
 their own religious Society, and attended several large 
 meetings for worship, some of them peculiarly favored 
 ones." 
 
 They then pursued their journey from place to place 
 visiting aU the principal towns in the island and numerous 
 Bmaller ones, — went to see the Giant's Causeway, calling at 
 a Moravian settlement on the route, and ended with the 
 Yeai-ly Meeting at Dublin. They were detained a week at 
 Waterford, by the serious illness of Mrs. Fry. The sick- 
 ness was caused by exhaustion and malaria. After arriving 
 home she wrote : — 
 
 The great numbers that followed us, almost everywhere 
 we went, was one of those things I believe was too much for 
 me. No one can tell, but those who have been brought into 
 similiar circumstances, what it is to feel as I did at such 
 times ; often weak and fagged in body, exhausted in mind, 
 having things of importance to direct my attention to, and 
 not less than a multitude aiound me, each expecting a wordt 
 or some mark of attention. For instance, or one occasion 
 a General on one side, a Bishop on the other, and pei'haps 
 sixty other persons all expecting something from me. Visit- 
 ing Prisons, Lunatic Asylums, and Infirmaries ; eath insti- 
 tution exciting feeling and requiring judgment. I en- 
 deavored to seek for help from above, and for a quiet mind, 
 and my desire was that such times should not be lost upon 
 those persons. They ended frequently in religious oppor- 
 tunities, and many came in consequence to our Public 
 Meetings. However these things proved too much for me, 
 and tired me more than any part of our service. 
 
 "Th ere were some I believe who feared niy exaltation, 
 and if tbey judged from outward appearance I do not won- 
 der at it ; but a deep conviction of my unwortbinoas and 
 infirmity was so living with me that tb«8e things appeared 
 
200 
 
 ELIZABETH FBY. 
 
 more likely to cast me into the dust than to raise me up on 
 high. We went on thus, from place to place, until wa 
 reached Waterford. We had visited Limerick, Cork and 
 other places. I felt completely sinking — hardly able to hold 
 up my head, and by degrees became seriously ill. Fever 
 came on and ran very high, and I found myself in one oi 
 my distressing faint states ; indeed a few hours were most 
 conflicting. I never remember to have known a more pain- 
 ful time ; tried without, distressed within, feeling such fears 
 lest my being thus stopped by illness should try the faith 
 of others and lest my own faith should fail. My pain too, 
 in being from home was great. We were obUged to stop 
 all the Meetings, that we had appointed for days to come. 
 However, much as I suffered for a short time, I had most 
 sweet peace afterwards. My blessed Saviour arose with 
 'healing in His wings,' delivered me from my fears, pouied 
 balm into my wounds, and granted me such a sense of having 
 obtained full reconciliation with my God as I can hardly de- 
 scribe. All was peace. I no longer hankered after home, 
 but was able to commit myself, and those nearest, to this 
 unslumbering, all-merciful, and all-powerful Shepherd. By 
 degrees I was sufficiently raised up to attend Meetings, visit 
 some prisons, and see many persons ; and we concluded our 
 general visit to Ireland to my relief, peace and satisfaction. 
 The Yearly Meeting crowned all, as to our ministerial ser- 
 vices in our own Society. We left Waterford on the 11th of 
 Fifth Month, after visiting Wicklow and Wexford, at that 
 time remaining in Waterford a few hours only. We entered 
 the steam-packet, slept on board, and left the hai'bor about 
 three o'clock in the morning." 
 
CHAPTER SEVENTH. 
 
 PASSING THBOUGH THE VALLEY. 
 
 It has ali'eady appeared that the home hfe of Elizabeth 
 Fry, though favored with perhaps its full share of blessings, 
 was not without its peculiar and deep trials. Without striv- 
 ing to unveil the source of the secret sorrow which caused 
 the severest pain, and which apparently lay between herself 
 and her husband, there is no occasion to conceal the fact 
 that as theii" children grew up they generally inclined away 
 from the peculiar views and customs of the rehgious Society 
 to which they belonged by right of birth, and to which 
 their mother was devotedly attached from sincere convic- 
 tion of its worth. It is easy to see what ever. recurring 
 pain this fact must have caused, in the maternal heart, as 
 well as constant practical difficulties in the nousehold. 
 Every deviation, every inclination toward the customs of 
 the world, and even toward those of other good people 
 seemed a turning away from herself, and alsa from Him 
 who had called her into a path of self-denial, and so 
 signally blessed her faithfulness in bearing her allotted 
 cross. How could she believe that the same c/oss was not 
 equally adapted to her dear offspring, or that in declining 
 it they wei'e not giving evidence of an unconcerted state. 
 However correct or erroneous her judgmenc may have 
 
2D2 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 been, the motherly solicitude she felt was most touching 
 and commendable. Her position was indeed a most trying 
 one. 
 
 "22nc? (August 1827). — It is hard, very hard, a most diffi- 
 cult matter, to help those whose welfare and salvation are 
 past expression near to us. We can only go to Him who is 
 willing and able, not only to hear our praj'ers on our own 
 account, but on account of those most tenderly beloved, 
 and who does, in His tender mercy, so bear our griefs and 
 carry our sorrows that our souls can rest on Him. Oh! 
 may I ever have the encouragement of seeing those nearest 
 to me walking closely with God; not doing their own pleas- 
 ure, nor walking in their own ways, but doing His pleasure, 
 and walking in His ways. I believe it would bring unspeak- 
 able joy, refreshment and consolation to my soul; and may 
 I never cease to commend tbem to Him who can work with 
 or without human instrumentality." 
 
 The discretion and care which she exercised to avoid un- 
 pleasant differences, and to show forth moderation, in the 
 midst of difficulties, are finely iiiustrated in the following 
 note and comment. 
 
 « lliird Ifonth, 3rd, 1825. — I hope I am thankful for 
 being really better though delicate in health. I wish I did 
 not dread illness so much ; it is a real infirmity in me ; 
 may grace be granted to overcome it. I think, strange to 
 say, I felt, and I fear appeared to those about me, to be 
 irritable. Certainly I had some cause to be so ; but after 
 what I have known of the power that is able indeed to help 
 U3, I never ought to give way to anything of the kind ; all 
 should be meekness, gentleness and love. Perhaps I said 
 too much about some pictures and various ornaments that 
 have been brought from France for us. Much as I love 
 
PASSINO THBOUOH THE VALLEY. 
 
 203 
 
 true Cliristian simplicity, yet if I show a wrong spirit in my 
 desiie to maintain it in our house and furniture, I do wrong 
 and harm the best of causes. I far prefer moderation, both 
 from principle and taste, although my experience in life 
 proves two things : first, that it is greatly for the good of 
 the community to live accoiding to the situation in which 
 we have been placed by a kind Providence if it be dona 
 unto the Lord, and therefore done properly ; then I believe 
 that by so doing we should help others and not injui^e our- 
 selves. Second, I have so much seen the extreme impor- 
 tance of occupation to the well-being of mankind, as to be 
 convinced that many works of art which tend to om- accom- 
 modation, and even the gratification of our taste, may be 
 innocently partaken of, may be used and not abused, and 
 kept in their proper places ; as by so doing we encourage 
 that sort of employment which prevents the active powers 
 of man from being spent in things that are evil." 
 
 In reference to the above, and other occasional confea^ 
 sions of irritability by Mrs. Fry, her daughters bear the fol- 
 lowing testimony: — 
 
 " The contrition so frequently expressed in the course of 
 Mrs. Fry's journal for irritability of temper is calculated to 
 mislead a stranger who would naturally suppose that it 
 must occasionally have betrayed itself in conduct. To 
 those who intimately knew the never-failing gentleness, for- 
 bearance and Christian meekness of her deportment, that 
 such feelings ever ruffled her mind is almost inexplicable. 
 Those most closely connected with her, in the nearest and 
 most familiar relations of life, can unhesitatingly bear 
 their testimony to the fact that they never saw her in what 
 is called a pet, or heard an angry, or passionate expression 
 of displeasure pass from her lips. Her tender conscience, 
 and fear of offence towards God and man can alone account 
 
^04 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 for these outpourings of the hidden evils of her heart." 
 
 Even this last clause, is considered by her friend and 
 biographer, Mrs. Corder, as too great an admission. 
 "Surely," she says, "they can scarcely be termed eviis. 
 Sin does not consist in being tempted. The Apostle says, 
 •Blessed is the man who endureth temptation, for -when he 
 is tried he shall receive a crown of life.' There is abundant 
 evidence that if a temptation to any feeling of irritability of 
 temper ever presented itself to the mind of this meek ser- 
 vant of Chiist, it was resisted and overcome thi'ough His 
 grace. Her husband has recently given the Compiler a full 
 assurance of this in the following words : — ' I never knew 
 her do an act, and never heai*d her utter a word that, in her 
 most solemn moments, she could have wished to recall.' " 
 
 I am not sure that Mrs. Fry can be so fully vindicated on 
 another point ; unless it be lawful to throw the responsibil- 
 ity for our conduct upon those who have made us rules and 
 exacted obedience by penalties too hard to be borne. That 
 point is where she declined, in obedience to the rules of her 
 religious Society, to witness the marriage of such of her 
 children as chose companions of another persuasion, and ac- 
 cepted the aid of a " hireling priest " at the marriage cere- 
 mony. If these children manifested no irritability on these 
 occasions, or afterwards, I think it is proof that they in- 
 herited some of their mother's virtue. 
 
 There is no evidence that she dissented from the nan-ow 
 rule of her over-scrupulous sect in this matter, and she 
 must therefore bear the reproach of what looks very much 
 like bigotry in her thus sitting apart in sackcloth and ashes 
 while her childi-en were joining hands for life with partners 
 of their own choice and in the manner that best pleased 
 
PASSING THKOUQH THE VALLEY. 
 
 205 
 
 their companions or themselves. Still we shall find our- 
 selves unable to judge her severely when we read her care* 
 ful records of these sore trials. 
 
 "Flasket, Eighth Month, l^th. — My beloved daughter 
 Kachel was married last Fifth-day, the 23rd, at Runcton, 
 by my brother-in-law Francis Cunningham. 
 
 Plashet, Ninth Month, drd. — I doubt not but that my 
 late tendency to depression of spirits is caused not only by 
 the sorrow which I certainly feel, and great disappointment 
 from a child not keeping to principles that I have brought 
 her up in, and also from the deep sense I have of then- in- 
 trinsic value ; but, moreover, that I have to bear my con- 
 duct in the affair being misconstrued by others. Yet I 
 have certainly met with much kindness, great love and sym- 
 pathy, and from quarters where I should least have expected 
 it, also particularly from the Friends of my own Monthly 
 Meeting. 
 
 "I am very much absorbed at home where many things 
 deeply occupy my heart and head. To do right in my many 
 relative duties is very difficult. How deeply I feel my 
 Bhortcomings in them! and yet I fervently desii'e to do my 
 best." 
 
 " Dagenham, Tenth Month, 3rd, 1833. — Here I am, sit- 
 ting in solitude, keeping silence before the Lord; on the 
 wedding-day of my beloved son William. As I could not 
 conscientiously attend the marriage I believe it right to 
 withdraw for the day. "Words appear very inadequate to 
 express the earnestness, the depth of my supplication for 
 him and his — that the blessing of the Most High may rest 
 upon them. As for myself, I sit solitary, in many things, 
 but I thought to day (from this wedding bringing these 
 things home to me). — Have I not my Lord as my friend and 
 my comforter? and is He not a husband to all the members, 
 of His church? and am I not often satisfied and refreshed, 
 by His love ? " 
 
206 
 
 ELIZABETH FE7. 
 
 How different is the picture, and certainly a very pleas- 
 ing one, when her da ughter Richenda, like a good gu'l, mar- 
 ries in the Society and agreeably to its truly beautiful order, 
 
 " 21st, (May, 1828).— The day before yesterday the wed- 
 ding was accomplished. The Meeting was solemn and sat- 
 isfactory. Our bride and bridegroom spoke well and with 
 feeling.* My dearest brother Joseph prayed for them, and 
 ministered to them ; as did others. I prayed at the close of 
 the Meeting most earnestly for them, for the other yoang 
 people, and ourselves further advanced in life. After a 
 short, solemn silence the certificate was read and signed. 
 In the morning we had a satisfactory reading with our 
 childi-en. 
 
 " Thanks be to our Heavenly Father there was, I think, 
 throughout the day, a great mixture of real solemnity with 
 true cheerfulness. It was certainly no common day. 
 Through everything, order, quietness, and cheerfulness 
 were remarkably maintained. After dinner I returned 
 thanks for our many blessings, and could, with a few pres- 
 ent, feel how many outward deliverances we had experi- 
 enced ; that we had had our heads kept above the waters, 
 Bpu'itually and temporally, and were able to have such a day 
 of rejoicing. Our dear bride and bridegoom left us in the 
 afternoon. The evening was fine and our lawn looked 
 really beautiful, covered with the large and interesting 
 party. la the evening we assembled together and had a 
 solemn religious time, giving, I trust, the praise that was 
 due alone to Him from whom all good and blessings flow." 
 
 The closing scene above referred to is thus described in 
 
 •QuaVers marry witbout the aid of a minister, mutually taking eaoli 
 other a3 wife and husband, and pledging love and fidelity nntildea^ 
 A certificate is lliea signed by the parties, and otiiers present. 
 
PASSING THEOUGH THE VALLEY. 
 
 207 
 
 the Memoir — perhaps by the hand of the daughter whose 
 
 mairiage had caused a very different feeling : 
 
 " This marriage -was hailed by Elizabeth Fry with sincere 
 pleasure: not only was the connexion highly acceptable to 
 her, and one that she believed likely to promote the happi- 
 ness of her child, but it also possessed wliat was, in her 
 estimation, the peculiar advantage of being with a member 
 of the Society of Friends. Whilst her hospitable and afe'ec- 
 tionate nature was gratified with the prospect of receiving 
 the bridal party at Plashet, she craved spiritual blessings 
 for the two most interested, and that the occasion, like the 
 marriage at Cana in Gallilee, might be owned by the pres- 
 ence of the Lord. It was a beautiful summer day; the sun 
 shone brilliantly ; Plashet was arrayed in all its verduie, 
 gay with bright flowers, and sprinkled with groups of happy 
 young people. After the bride was gone, one of the sisters 
 crossed the lawn to speak to her mother. She said some- 
 thing of the scene before them and the outward prosperity 
 which seemed to surround that beloved parent. The reply 
 was remarkable ; for after expressing a strong feeling of 
 gratification and enjoyment she added in words which have 
 riveted themselves on the memory of her to whom they 
 were addressed — 'But I have remarked that when great 
 outward prosperity is granted, it is often permitted to pre- 
 cede great trials.' There is an an old rhyme which says, 
 
 * When joy seemeth highest 
 Then sorrow is nighest ! ' 
 
 Surely this was verified in the contrast between that day 
 and the events which so shortly followed." 
 
 ''Flasket, Eleventh Month, ith, 1828.— I have been 
 favored to partake of very sweet feelings of peace and re- 
 freshment of soul— that which I am ready to believe, in the 
 most unmerited mercy, is something of the ' Well of water 
 
208 
 
 ELIZABETH FRY. 
 
 BpriDgrng up unto eternal life.' But I find outwardly, and 
 about me tliere are storms ; not, at present, so much in my 
 very own borders as close to them. 
 
 " 15th. — The storm has now entered my own borders — 
 once more we are brought into perplexity and trial — but I 
 have this consolation, 'He will regard the prayer of the 
 destitute, and not despise their prayer.' To whom can I 
 go in this time of emergency but to Him who hitherto has 
 helped me, and provided for me and mine in a marvelous 
 mannei- — made darkness light before me, and crooked 
 things straight? Lord! Thou who remainest to be the 
 God of my life, above all things in this, our sorrow and 
 perplexity, cast us not out of Thy presence, and take not 
 Thy Holy Spirit from us; keep us from evil and from the 
 appearance of it, that through the help of Thy spuit our 
 conduct may be kept upright, circumspect, and clean in 
 Thy sight, and amongst men! that in all things, at all 
 times, and under all circumstances, we may show forth Thy 
 praise. Keep us ia love and unity with those with whom 
 we have to act even if they do contrary to our wishes and 
 judgment. But oh, dearest Lord, if it be Thy holy will, 
 make a way of escape for us from the calamity we so much 
 diead, and continue, in Thy unmerited mercy, to provide 
 for Thy unworthy servant, her family, and all concerned 
 in this trial, that we may not want what is good and need- 
 ful for us, and that others may be kept from suffering 
 tlu'ough us. If it be possible remove this bitter cup from 
 us ; yet if it be Thy will that we drink it, enable us through 
 the grace and spirit of Him who suffered for us to di'ink it 
 without repining, — yet trusting in Thy love, Thy mercy, 
 and Thy judgment." 
 
 This time the cup was not removed, though the prayer 
 was granted. During a severe financial crisis which occurred 
 at this time, 1828, in England, one of the business houses 
 in which Joseph Fry was a partner, though not that which 
 
PASSING THBOVOB THE VALLET. 
 
 209 
 
 be personally conducted, failed in a manner that " involved 
 Elizabeth Fry and her family in a train of sorrows and per- 
 plexities which tinged the remaining years of her life. 
 Nature staggered beneath the blow — but the staff on which 
 Bhe leaned could not fail her and she fell not." 
 
 " Eleventh Months l^th. — I have been brought at times 
 into little less than anguish of spirit; not I think so much 
 for what we must suffer ourselves, as for what others may 
 suffer. The whole thing appears fraught with distress. 
 When I look at this mysterious dispensation, permitted by 
 Almighty Wisdom, I am ready to say, How is it Lord, Thou 
 dealest thus with Thy servant who loves Thee, trusts Thee, 
 and fears Thy name? — and then I say, this is my infirmity 
 thus to query. Need I not chastisement? Do I not de- 
 serve it ? May it not be a mysterious dispensation of deep 
 and sore affliction laid not only upon us, but upon others, 
 to draw us all more from the things of time, and to set us 
 more on the enduring riches of Eternity? I cannot reason 
 upon it ; I must bow, and only bow, and say in my heart, 
 which I believe I do, 'Not as I will, but as Thou wilt.' 
 Well, if it be of the Lord, let Him do as seemeth Him 
 good. Lord, let Thy grace be found sufficient for us in this 
 most awful time; and grant that we faint not when Thou 
 rebukest us." 
 
 The circumstances which caused this misfortune to be so 
 peculiarly distressing are not stated. We are left to con- 
 jecture the meaning of that "if it be of the Lord," and 
 why, "on the following Sunday the question was much do- 
 bated as to whether she, and her family generally, should 
 attend their meeting for worship, or not." But "sAe felt it 
 right to go, and of course she was accompanied by her hus- 
 band and children. She took her usual seat, bowed down 
 and overwhelmed, with the bitter tears rolling down her 
 
210 
 
 ELIZAijETH FRY. 
 
 cteeks — no common thing with her. After a very solemn 
 pause, she rose -with these words, her voice trembling with 
 emotion; 'Though He slay me yet will I trust in Him;* 
 and testified, in a short and beautiful discom'se, that her 
 faith and love were as strong in the hour of adversity as 
 they had been in the time of prosperity. Her friends were 
 deeply affected, marking by their manner, their sympathy 
 and love." 
 
 To her only absent child she wrote : 
 
 "jPlashet, Eleventh Month, 27th. 1828, 
 
 **Mt Deakest B. : 
 
 I have at last taken up my pen to write to thee ; but to 
 one so near, and so much one with myself, it is difScult. I 
 do not like to pour out my sorrows too heavily upon thee, 
 nor do I like to keep thee in the dark as to our real state. 
 This is, I consider, one of the deepest trials to which we are 
 liable ; its perplexities are so great and numerous, its mor- 
 tifications and humiliation so abounding, and its sorrows so 
 deep. None can tell, but those who have passed thiough 
 it, the anguish of heart at times felt ; but thanks be to our 
 God this extreme state of distress has not been very fre- 
 quent, nor its continuance very long. I frequently find my 
 mind, in degree, sheathed to the deep sorrows, and am en- 
 abled not to look so much at them — but there are also times 
 when secondary things arise — parting with servants, the 
 poor around us, schools, and our dear Place. These things 
 overwhelm me ; indeed I think naturally I have a very acute 
 sense of sorrow. Then the bright side of the picture rises. 
 I have found such help and strength in prayer to God ; and, 
 highly mysterious as, in some points of view, this dispensa- 
 tion may be, yet I think I have frequently, if not generally, 
 come to be able to say, 'Not as I will, but as Thou wilt,' 
 and to bow imder it. All our children, and children-in-law, 
 my brothers and sisters, oui- many friends and servants, 
 
PASSING THBOUGH THE VALLEY. 
 
 211 
 
 have been a strong consolation to me ; and above all a little 
 refreshment to my tribukted spirit has been granted me 
 at times from what I trust are the -well-springs from on 
 High." 
 
 " The tide of sympathy flowed marvelously in from all 
 quarters. The mass of letters that exist attest by how 
 many, and how well she was loved, how highly she was 
 valued, and upon how many hearts she and her sorrows 
 were borne." 
 
 Feom William Wilbebforce. 
 
 ^'Farnham Castle, 2%th. Nov. 182a 
 
 **My deab Friend : 
 
 Though my eyes are just now weaker than usual, I must 
 claim a short exercise of their powers for the purpose of ex« 
 pressing to you the warm sympathy which Mrs. Wilber- 
 force, and indeed all of my family that have the pleasure of 
 knowing you, as well as myself, are feeling on your account. 
 Yet you, I doubt not will be enabled to feel as well as to 
 know, that even this event will be one of those which in 
 your instance are working for good. You have been en- 
 abled to exhibit a bright specimen of Christian excellence 
 in doing the will of God, and I doubt not you will manifest 
 a similar specimen in the harder and more difficult exercise 
 of suffering it. I have often thought that we are some- 
 times apt to forget that key for unlocking what we deem a 
 very mysterious dispensation of Providence, in the misfor- 
 tunes and afflictions of eminent servants of God that is af- 
 forded by a passage in St. Paul's Epistle to his beloved 
 Philippians. ' Unto you it is given not only to believe on 
 Him, but also to suffer for His sake.' It is the strong only 
 that will be selected for exhibiting those gvacee which xq. 
 quii-e peculiar strength. May you, my dear friend (mdeed 
 I doubt not you will) be enabled Lo bear the whole will of 
 God, with cheerful confidence in His unerring wisdom and 
 unfailing goodness. May every loss of this world's wealth 
 
^12 
 
 ELIZABETH FRT. 
 
 be more than compensated by a larger measure of tlie un* 
 searchable liches of Christ. You will not forget that the 
 time is short ; but there will be no end to that eternity of 
 happiness and glory which I doubt not will in your instance 
 follow it. Meanwhile you aie richly provided with relatives 
 and friends whom you love so well as to relish receiving 
 kindnesses from them, as well as the far easier office of doing 
 them. That you may be blessed with a long continuance 
 of usefulness and comfort in this world, to be followed by 
 a still better portion in a better, is the cordial wish and shall 
 J3e the prayer also of (begging from you a frequent per- 
 formance of the last named office of friendship for myself 
 and mine), 
 
 My dear Mrs. Fry, 
 
 Your sincere and affectionate Friend, 
 
 W. WlLBEEFOECE.'* 
 
 Fbom the Eev. John W. Cunningham. 
 
 " Uarroio, November, 26i/t, 1828. 
 
 "My TEBY DEAR FeIEND : — 
 
 I need not tell you with what sorrow I have received 
 the most unexpected intelligence which reached me yester- 
 day. It is but a short time since I was called to sympa- 
 thize with a near relative in similar circumstances, and now 
 again I am called to mourn as for a brother and a friend. 
 My experience in the former case has enabled me to take a 
 Inore hopeful and cheerful view of your heavy trial. Per- 
 haps, dear friend, this event may be made a blessing to 
 every member of your family; and we must not complain of 
 a little rough handling when the jewels are to be polished 
 for the treasury of God. All that diives us home to Him 
 and to the power of His Spirit for grace and strength and 
 joy is beyond all nrice to tne soul. Is it not a comfort ta 
 you, dear friend at this moment, that you Have spent so 
 much of your time and property for God and His creatui'es? 
 
PASSING THROUGH THE VALLEY. 
 
 213 
 
 is not money given to the poor lent to the Lord, and to be re- 
 turned again, in some form or other ' with usui-y ? ' I beg 
 my very kind remembrances to Mr. Fry and your dear chU- 
 di-en. I have ah-eady been led to pray for them more than 
 once that this affliction may be sanctified to them, and that 
 thoy may more and more seek the durable riches of the 
 kingdom of Christ. 
 
 " My wife unites with me ia very kind regards, and I am 
 very affectionately youi'S. 
 
 j. w. cukningham." 
 
 Fbom T. Fowell Bcxton. 
 
 " Northrepps, Deccmhery 1st, 1828. 
 « My deabest Sister : — 
 
 I have hitherto, I confess, shrunk fiom writing to you. 
 Not surely, however, from any want of feeling for you, and 
 with you; but from so deep a sense of your calamity as to 
 make all attemps at comfort appear almost idle. A very 
 quiet day yesterday, and a long t'rae tpent over the 69tli 
 Psalm from the 13th to the 17th verst, with pecuUar ref- 
 erence to you, have given me more encouragement. I am 
 more able to feel that we may confidently commit you and 
 yours to that most merciful Lord from whom the dispen- 
 sation has come ; and I have been comforted by the reflec- 
 tion, strange comfort as it may seem, that you and all of 
 us have not long to live ; that in truth it signifies little 
 how we fare here for a few years, provided we are safe in 
 that long and endless journey upon which we shall soon 
 enter. I think, however, I have in some degree followed 
 you in the little mortifications, as well as the great ones, of 
 this trial. I am not sure ikat the great and lasting disaS: 
 ter is so galling to my mind at the moment, as some of 
 the little provoking and humbling attendauts on it. But 
 since the time I spent in heart with you yesterday I have 
 been able in some measui'p to get rid of these intruders, anj 
 to took upon you under the aspect of one beloved of Go.i, 
 
214 
 
 ELIZABETH FRY, 
 
 honored of men, and more than ever loved, cherished anij 
 delighted in bj a large brotherhood. I never felt so keenly 
 as now the privilege of belonging to you, or so conscious of 
 the honor and benefit of such a sister ; and I feel no dis- 
 trust about your future lot. I cannot doubt that years of 
 contentment and happiness await you. I expect that your 
 light win shine forth more brightly than ever. You have 
 ever been a teacher to the whole family, and now I am 
 confidently persuaded you will instruct us with what humili- 
 ty, with what submission, and with what faith,'we ought to 
 bear our deepest trials. What comes from above cannot be 
 bad for us ; and under the sense of this I adopt David's 
 •words, ' "^Tiy art thou cast down, oh my soul ! and why art 
 thou disquieted within me 1 Hope thou in God, for I shall 
 yet praise Him.' Ever, my dearest Betsey, 
 
 Your most affectionate brother 
 
 T. F. Buxton." 
 
 Fbom Mbs. Opib. 
 
 " Twelfth Month, 11th. {First-day Morning) 1828. 
 
 " Though I have not hitherto felt free in mind to write to 
 thee, my very dear fiiend, under thy present most severe 
 trial, thou hast been continually, I may say, in my thoughts, 
 brought feehngly and solemnly before me, both day and 
 night. But I am now desired by thy sister Catherine to 
 tell thee that she wil! be with thee to-morrow evening. I 
 must also teU thee, to please myself, that two nights ago I 
 had a pleasing, cheering di'eam of thee ! 
 
 "I saw thee looking thy best, diest with peculiar care 
 and neatness, and smiling so brightly that I could not help 
 stroking thy cheek and saying, ' Dear friend ! it is quite de- 
 lightful to me to see thee looking thus again, so like the 
 Betsey Fry of former days ; ' and then I awoke. But this 
 Bweet image of thee lives with me still, and I trust that 
 when this dark cloud has passed away from you (as it has 
 
PASSING THEOTJGH THE VALLEY. 
 
 215 
 
 passed away from so many, many others) I shall not only 
 Bee thee in a dream, but in reality, as those who love thee 
 desii'e to see thee always. 
 
 " Since your trials were known I have rarely, if ever, 
 opened a page of Scripture without finding some promise 
 applicable to thee and thine. I do not believe that I was 
 looking for them, but they presented themselves unsought, 
 and gave me comfort and confidence. Do not suppose, 
 dear friend, that I am not fully aware of the peculiar bitter- 
 ness and suffering which attends this trial, in tLy situation, 
 to thy own individual feelings ; but then, how precious and 
 how cheering to thee must be the evidence it has called 
 forth of the love and respect of those who are near and dear 
 to thee, and of the public at large ! Adversity is indeed 
 the time to try the hearts of our friends, and it must bo 
 now, or wiU be in futm-e, a cordial to thee to remember 
 that thou hast proved how truly and generally thou art be- 
 loved and reverenced." 
 
 We may add the testimony of Mrs. Corder to the spirit 
 manifested by Elizabeth Fry during this period. 
 
 " Whilst this precious servant of God was thus passing 
 through the furnace of adversity, the Compiler of this vol- 
 ume was privileged to belong to the meeting (that of Grace- 
 church-street) which, when her state of health permitted, 
 Elizabeth Fry constantly attended. The opportunities of 
 public worship, as well as many of a more private character, 
 at which this afflicted handmaid of tb Lord was united in 
 worship with her endeared friends, were often favored with 
 a solemnity of which perhaps no adequate idea could be 
 conveyed in words ; and the offerings of prayer as well as, 
 at seasons, of devout thanksgiving which she was enabled 
 to dedicate to her Almighty Sustainer, were accompanied 
 by a heavenly power and unction that cannot even now be 
 remembered without a reverent and affecting sense of that 
 
216 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 mercy and Fatherly loving-kindness which thus strength- 
 ened her to glorify God in this furnace of affliction. The 
 sweetness of her disposition and the remarkable wisdom, 
 with which she was endowed shone, in this time of trial, 
 with increased brightness." 
 
 Her daughters observe: 
 
 "She had a quality difficult to describe, but marked to 
 those who knew her well, the power of rapidly, and by a 
 process of thought which she could herself hardly have ex- 
 plained, arriving at the truth, striking the balance, and find- 
 ing the just weight of a question ; no natural gift could be 
 of more value under such circumstances. 
 
 "Mr. and Mrs. Fry resolved upon at once leaving Plashet 
 and seeking a temporary home in Mildred's Court, then 
 the residence of their eldest son. One great mitigation at- 
 tended this calamit}', that the mercantile business, formerly 
 their grandfather's, and conducted by their father, remained 
 to the young men of the family who were thus enabled with 
 the important assistance of their mother's brothers, to re- 
 establish their parents in comfort. With leaving Plashet 
 came much that was sad uprooting habits, long-formed 
 tastes and local s,ssociaiions, parting with servants, and 
 leaving many old pensioners and dependents. 
 
 " Mrs. Fry had, for many years, displayed singular wis- 
 dom and economy in her household arrangements, as well 
 as in her charities and benevolent objects, varying according 
 to the chcumstances in wnich she had been placed. To 'be 
 just before generous,' was a maxim often expressed to 
 those around her. On this occasion these powers were 
 called into full action. 
 
 " As ^vinter advanced her health greatly failed. Circum- 
 stances occurred to weaken her husband's and children's 
 attachment to the Society of Friends. Truly the sorrows 
 
PASSING THBOTJGH THE VALLEY. 
 
 217 
 
 of her heart were enlarged. She exclaims in her journal, 
 (which was very irregularly kept) that her ' soul was bowed 
 down within her, aud her eyes were red with weeping.' 
 Yet she was enabled to adopt the language 'I will hopa 
 continually and yet praise Thee more and more;' and a.so 
 to acknowledge that she was much sustained inwardly, 
 and that at times her heart was kept in almost perfect 
 peace. In addition to domestic trials, her tender feelings 
 were at times grievously and unnecessarily wounded ; from 
 without, there was much of bitterness infused into ■ her 
 daily cup, which can only be appreciated by those who 
 have had to bear the brunt of a sinular calamity." * 
 
 " Flasket, Twelfth Month, IQth. — I have had some quiet, 
 peaceful hours, but I continue in the low valley, and natu- 
 rally feel too much leaving this sweet home, but not being 
 well makes my spirits more weak than usual. I desire not 
 only to be resigned, but cheerfully, willing to give up what- 
 ever is requu'ed of me, and in all things patiently to submit 
 to the will of God, and to estimate my many remaining 
 blessings. I am sorry to find how much I cleave to some 
 earthly things — health, ease, places, possessions. Lord, 
 Thou alone canst enable me to estimate them justly, and to 
 keep them in their right places. In Thine own waj', dear- 
 est Lord, accomplish Thine own work in me, to Thine own 
 praise! grant that out of weakness I may yet be made 
 strong, and through Thy power wax valiant in fight, and 
 may yet, if consistent with Thy holy will, see of the travail 
 of my soul and be satisfied, as it respects myself and my 
 most tenderly beloved family. Amen ! 
 
 "■Mildred's Court, First Month, 19th, 1829.— My first 
 jom-nal in this year! What an eventful one was the last! 
 prosperity and adversity were peculiarly our portion. It 
 lias been in no common degree a picture of life comprised 
 in a small compass. However, through all, in prosperity 
 
 * Memoir Vol. 2, page 95. < 
 
218 
 
 ELIZABETH rut. 
 
 and in adversity, however bright, or cloudy my present 
 position or prospects may be, my desire for myself and all 
 whom I love is this, so strongly expressed by the Psalmist, 
 * I will hope continually and will yet praise Thee more and 
 more ! ' So be it, saith my soul, and if it be the Lord's 
 will, may light rise in our present obscurity, and our dark- 
 ness become as the noonday, both as to temporal and spir- 
 itual prospects ! " 
 
 That she suffered an undue sense of humiliation, from 
 the failure of her husband and the mortifying incidents at 
 tending it, of the nature of which we are not informed, 
 shown by a letter from her faithful friend and co-laborer 
 Mr. Wilberforce, dated one day after the above entry. 
 
 " Highwood Hill, Middlesex, SOth January, 1829. 
 •'My dear Friend: 
 
 Though my eyes are just now so indifferent that I muSfc 
 be extremely sparing in the use of my pen, yet I cannot for- 
 bear or delay assuring you, that I do not see how it is pos- 
 sible for any reasonable being to doubt the propriety, (tha^ 
 is a very inadequate way of speaking — let me rather say 
 absolute duty,) of your renewing your prison visitations. 
 A gracious Providence has blessed you with success in youi 
 endeavors to impress a set of miserables whose character 
 and circumstances might almost have extinguished hope; 
 and you will return to them, if with diminished pecuniary 
 powers, yet we may trust, through the mercy and goodness 
 of our Heavenly Father, with powers of a far higher order 
 unimpaired, and with the augmented respect and regard of 
 every sound judgment, not merely of every Christian mind, 
 for having borne, with becoming dispositions, a far harder 
 trial, (for such it is,) certainly than any stroke which pro- 
 ceeds immediately from the hand of God. May you con- 
 tinue, my dear madam, to be the honored instrument of 
 great and rare benefits to almost the most pitiable of your 
 fellow-creatures. 
 
PASSING THEOtJaH THE VAIXEY. 
 
 219 
 
 "llrs. Wilberforce desires to join with me in saying that 
 we hope Ave shall again have the pleasure of seeing you, by 
 and hy, at this place. Meanwhile, with every kind regard, 
 and friendly remembrances to Mr. Fry, and your family 
 circle, I remain, with cordial esteem and regard. 
 
 My dear friend, very sincerely yours, 
 
 W. WlLBEKFORCE." 
 
 For our instruction it is well to note that the dark shadow 
 of misfortune was not suddenly or miraculously, lifted from 
 the heart and home of this devoted Christian. When relief 
 came, it came, as we should say naturally — that is by God's 
 regular appointment — through her again entering, after 
 months of painful waiting, upon the active duties of her 
 various callings. 
 
 "During that mournful winter in London," write her 
 daughters, "there were periods of peculiar suffering and 
 anxiety. Mrs. Fry's own health being so shaken by her 
 severe mental distresses, as nearly to confine her to her 
 room, with a bad cough. Her beloved son William was on 
 the bed of sickness from oppression of the brain, the result 
 of an overstrained and exhausted mind. Shortly afterwards 
 her daughter-in-law was, in the same house, in an alarming 
 state of illness, and a friend who came to assist in nursing, 
 was taken ill with the measles. The measles in a grown up 
 family becomes a serious disease. They were driven from 
 London in consequence, though too late to escape infec- 
 tion, and took shelter in the vacant house at Plashet, 
 which for many weeks became a scene of anxious nursing. 
 Thence they removed, early in June, to a small but commo- 
 dious dwelling in Upton Lane, immediately adjoining the 
 
220 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 Ham House grounds, the residence of her beloved brother 
 Samuel Gm-ney, Esq." 
 
 "Mildred's Court, Third Month. — ^It appears late to be- 
 gin the joui-nal of a year ; but the constant press of engage- 
 ments to which I am liable in this place prevent my having 
 time for much writing. We are remaining here with our 
 eon and daughter and their childi'en until there is some 
 opening for having a settled home. However my desu'e is 
 that we may in faith and humility entu'ely bow. I have of 
 late not visited the prisons and been much occupied at 
 home; but I trust that I may be permitted to enter this 
 interesting work again, clothed as with fresh armor, both 
 to defend me and qualify me for fresh service; that my 
 bands may be taught to war, and my fingers to fight ; and 
 that, if consistent with the will of my God, I may, through 
 the help of the Captain of my salvation, yet do valiantly. 
 
 " Upton, 10th. — We are now nearly settled in this our 
 oew abode ; and I may say, although the house and garden 
 are small, it is pleasant and convenient, and I am fully sat- 
 isfied, and I am thankful for such a home. I have at times 
 been favored to feel great peace, and I may say joy, in the 
 Jliord — a sort of seal to the important step taken ; though 
 at others the extreme disorder into which things have been 
 brought by all these changes, and the difficulty of making 
 new arrangements has harassed and tried me. But I trust 
 ifc will please a kind Providence to bless my endeavor to 
 have and keep my house in order. Place is a matter of 
 small importance if that peace which the world cannot give 
 be our portion — even at limes — as a brook by the way — to 
 the refreshment of our weary and heavy laden souls. Al- 
 though a large garden is not now my allotment, I feel 
 pleasure in having even a small one, and my acute relish 
 for the beautiful in nature and art is, on a clear day, almost 
 constantly gratified by a delightful view of Greenwich Hos- 
 pital and Park, and other parts of Kent, the shipping oH 
 the river as well as the cattle in the meadows. So that io 
 
PASSING THEOTTGH THE VALLEY. 
 
 221 
 
 small things and great, spiritual and temporal, I have yel 
 reason to raise up my Ebenezer, and praise, bless and mag. 
 nify the name of my Lord. 
 
 "Sixth Month, 23rc?. — I little expected to attend the 
 Yearly Meeting, having of late appeared to be <'<^ much 
 taken out of such things and such services ; but, contrary 
 to my expectation, way opened for me to attend every sit- 
 ting, and to take rather an active part in it, to my real con- 
 solation, refreshment and help. The unity of Friends was 
 remarkable. I certainly felt very low at the commencement. 
 After having, for so many years, received dear friends at 
 my house, and that with heartfelt pleasm-e, it tried — not to 
 say puzzled me, why such a change was permitted me. 
 But I rest in the weighty import of the words, ' That which 
 I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know here- 
 after.'" 
 
 Can anything exceed the admirable temper and disposi- 
 tion thus exhibited during a great trial. IVIitigated indeed 
 the trial was, in many respects by the ability and generosity 
 of her friends ; and a beautiful picture the whole presents 
 of a Christian family and society closing round the falling 
 member, with quick and tender care, and not only breaking 
 the fall as much as love could do it, but as soon as might 
 be, again establishing the broken home in peace and com- 
 fort, and continuing such aid so long as necessary. The 
 graceful manner in which this was done may be seen from 
 the follov/ing extracts of letters to Elizabeth Fry from her 
 brother Joseph John Gurney, both before and after these 
 events, during which all needful aid was given by her 
 brothers and some other friends in the most delicate and 
 hearty manner. 
 
 " Earlham, First Month, VJth, 1819. 
 *'My dearest Betsey: 
 
 ♦ He that ftiveth let him do it with simplicity.' In tha 
 
222 
 
 ELIZABETH FBY. 
 
 desire to fulfil this precept, I may state tliat I have on the 
 Bettlement of my accounts, five hundred pounds to spare; 
 and after some consideration, believe it my duty to apply it 
 to the oiling of thy wheels. I therefore put it into Sam« 
 uel's hands to whom thou mayst apply for the money, as 
 wanted. My intention is that it should be a little stock in 
 band, to meet thy private and personal exigencies. My 
 condition is that thou wilt not say a vrord about it to any 
 one. Of course I take no refusal and can admit but very 
 little gratitude." 
 
 «« Konoich, First Ifonth, lOiA, 1836. 
 "I have a sua-plus fund which I think I ought to dispose 
 of at the winding up of the yeai* 1835, and I had been 
 thinking of sending thee a portion of it, to which thou art 
 perfectly welcome. I order Barc'ey and Co., to pay the 
 diaft for the amount. Pray do not allow thyself any com* 
 puuction or hesitation on this point. I shall always de- 
 pend on thy being perfectly free ia mentioning thy needs 
 to me. In fact it is a kindness, as I do not consider that 
 jny cii'cumstances justify much, if any, accumulation. 
 
 " In haste thy very affectionate brother 
 
 J. J. GURNEY." 
 
 "P. S. — I shall consider myself very ill-used if thou art 
 ever detected in walking when it is better for thy health 
 thoushouldst ride, or if thou art ever denying thyself any 
 of the comforts of life which are needful for thee." 
 
 It is pleasant to add a tribute from this excellent and ao 
 complished man, to his sister's worth, and her rare psrsonal 
 qua ities, found in his journal, bearing date about the time 
 we have now reached in her history. 
 
 "Kinth Month, 17th. (1S2S).— Tho time which has 
 passed since I lust wrote has been fraught v.itli lively in- 
 terests. My dear sister Iry's satisfactory and comforting 
 
PASSING THBOUGH THE VALLE7. 
 
 223 
 
 visit, from fourth to seventh day last, was perhaps the prin- 
 cipal. I never saw her, that I remember, in a more favored 
 condition, and she was the means of raising me considerably 
 in the scale of spu-itual feeling, Avherein I am so very apt to 
 find a low place. Greatly gifted she assui'edly is, both by 
 nature and grace, and is enabled to exercise a gentle and un- 
 seen, yet powerful influence over all about her. She waa 
 present at our large and highly favored Monthly Meeting, 
 last fifth-day, and was memorably engaged amongst us as a 
 caughter of cousolatiou." 
 
CHAPTER EIGHTH. 
 
 BISINO UP THE MOTOTAINS. 
 
 " Eighth Month, l^th, 1829.— Our wedding-day ! twenty, 
 nine years since we were married ! My texts for the morn- 
 ing are applicable : — ' Our light affliction, which is but for 
 a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal 
 weight of glory.' — 'We walk by faith, not by sight.' As fai 
 as we can judge from external appearances, mine has not 
 been a common life. He who seeth in secret only knows 
 the unutterable depths and sorrows I have had to pass 
 through, as well as, at other times, I may almost say, joys 
 'inexpressible and full of glory.' I have now had so many 
 disappointments in life that my hopes, which have so long 
 lived strong that I should see much brighter days in it, be- 
 gin a little to subside, and my desu-e is more entirely to 
 look beyond the world for that which can alone satisfy me ; 
 and not to have my heart so much set upon the things of 
 this Ufa ; or even on those persons nearest me ; but more 
 set upon the life to come, and upon Him who is faithful and 
 will be all in all to His dependent ones. At the same time 
 I desire faithfully to perform all my relative duties ; and 
 may my heart be kept in tender love to all near me. 
 
 " Upton, Tenth Month, 1\st. — Something has occurred 
 which has brought me into conflict of mind; how far to 
 restrain young persons in tLeir pleasures, and how far to 
 leave them at libei Ly. The longer I live the more difficult 
 do I see education to be ; more particularly as it respects 
 
BISINQ UP THE MOUNTAINS. 
 
 225 
 
 the religious resti-aints that we put upon our children. To 
 do enough and not too much is a most delicate and impor- 
 tant point. I begin seriously to doubt whether as it re- 
 spects the peculiar scruples of Friends, it is not better quite 
 to leave sober-minded young persons to judge for them- 
 selves. Then the question aiises, "When does this age 
 aiTive ? I have such a fear that in so much mixing religion 
 with those things which are not delectable we may turn 
 them from the thing itself. I see, feel, and know that 
 where these scruples are adopted from principle they bring 
 a blessing with them ; but where they ai'e only adopted out 
 of conformity to the views of others I have very serious 
 doubts whether they are not a stumbling-block. 
 
 "On First-day we were rather suddenly summoned to 
 Plashet House to attend Anna Golder (aunt to my faithful 
 Chrissy) who had charge of the house. She was one of the 
 lowly, retired, humble walkers before the Lord; she was 
 suddenly taken very ill, and died in half an hour after her 
 niece got there. It was appai'ently a departui-e without 
 sting to mind or body ; as far, therefore, as it respected her, 
 all was peace. But to myself it was different. I arrived 
 there after dark, drove once more to the dear old place,— 
 no one to meet me but the poor man who lived in the house, 
 no dog to bark, nor any life, nor sound, as used to bo. 
 Death seemed over the place, such was the silence — until I 
 found myself upstahs in the large and once cheerful and 
 full house. When I entered the bed-room there lay the 
 corpse. Circumstances combined to touch some very ten- 
 der feelings, and the inclination of my heart was to bow 
 down upon my knees before the Lord, thankful, surely, for 
 the release of the valued departed — but deeply and affect- 
 ingly impressed with such a change! — that once hvely, 
 cheerful home left desolate — the abode of death — and two 
 or three watchers. It brought, as my visits to Plashet 
 often have done, the hymn to my mind, — 
 
 ' Lord, wliy is this ? I trembling cried J ' 
 
226 
 
 ELIZABETH PR7 
 
 Tnen again I find I can do nothing but bow, trust, and de- 
 pend upon that Power that has, I believe, thus seen meet 
 to visit us in judgment, as well as in mercy. 
 
 "31st. — Since I last wrote I have been called to another 
 death-bed scene; our old and valued Koman Catholic 
 friends, the Pitchfords, have lost their eldest son, a sweet, 
 good boy. I felt di-awn in love, I trust I may say Christian 
 love, to be much with them during their trial ; I felt it 
 right to leave my family and spend Fu-st-day evening with 
 them, when all hope of the child's life was given up. I had 
 not only to sympathize with them in their deep sorrow, but 
 to pour forth my prayer in then* behalf. The next day I 
 was with the poor child when he died, and was nearly tho 
 whole day devoted to them. We had a deeply interesting 
 time after his death — my dear friends themselves, all their 
 children, then* mother, sister and old nurse. My mouth 
 was remai'kably opened in prayer and praises, indeed all 
 day at their house something of a holy influence appeai-ed 
 to be over us : a fresh, hving proof that what Gou has 
 cleansed we are not to call or feel common or unclean, lb 
 sm-ely matters not by what name we call ourselves, or what 
 outward means we may think right to use, if our hearts are 
 but influenced by the love of Christ, and cleansed by His 
 baptism, and strengthened by His sphit to prove our faith 
 by love and good works. "With ceremonies, or without 
 ceremonies, if there be but an establishment upon the Kock 
 of Ages, all will be well. Although I am of opinion the 
 more oiur religion is pui'e, simple, and devoid of these out- 
 ward forms, the better and safer for us, at the same time I 
 do earnestly desire a more full union amongst all Chi-is- 
 tians, less judging one another, and a general acknowledge- 
 ment in heait, judgment, and word of the universaUty of 
 the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." 
 
 " Amidst Elizabeth Fry's numerous avocations, she found 
 time to select a passage of Scripture for every day in the 
 year. She endeavored to combine in it that which is 'proiit- 
 
BISINO CP THE MOUKTAma. 
 
 227 
 
 able for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction 
 in righteousness ; ' and in a little preface she urged the im- 
 portance of so seeking to appropriate the truths contained 
 in it, with a heart uplifted, that the blessed Spuit might ap- 
 ply the word ; and concludes, ' The rapid and ceaseless pass- 
 ing away of the days and weeks, as well as the months of 
 the year, as numbered at the head of each day's text, it is 
 hoped may prove a memento of the speed with which time 
 is hastening on, and remind the reader of the importance of 
 passing it as a preparation for eternity, in the service of 
 God and for the benefit of mankind.' As soon as her little 
 work was finished and printed she began its distribution; 
 many thousands of copies did she give away, being amply 
 supplied from the stores of afiluence, with the right means 
 of dispersing them. Great numbers were otherwise circu- 
 lated. Where have not these little Text-books penetrated, 
 from the monarch's gilded hall to the felon's dungeon?" 
 
 Among the numerous instances of their usefulness which 
 came to hght the following is related. 
 
 "Two or three years after their publication a text-book 
 bound in red leather, which she had given (c a little grand- 
 son, fell out of his pocket at the Lynn Mart, where he had 
 gone to visit the lions. He was a very little boy, and much 
 disconcerted at the loss of his book for his name was in it, 
 and it was 'the gift of his grandmother' written by herself. 
 The transaction was almost forgotten, when, nearxy a year 
 afterwards, Richard Coxe, the clergyman of Watiingtou, a 
 parish about eight miles from Lynn, gave the following his- 
 tory of the lost book. He had been sent for to the wile of a 
 man living on a wild common, on the outskirts of his parish, 
 a notorious character, between poacher and rat-catcher. The 
 message was brought to the clergyinan by the medical maa 
 who attended her, and who, after describing her as being 
 most strangely altered, added ' you will find the lion become 
 
228 
 
 ELIZABETH TRY. 
 
 a lamb,' — and so it proved. She who had been wild and 
 rough, where language had been violent and her conduct 
 untamed, lay on a bed of exceeding suffering, humble, pa- 
 tient, and resigned.. 
 
 " Her child had picked up the text-book and carried it 
 home as lawful spoil. Cmiositj', or some feeling put into 
 her heart by Him without whom a sparrow falleth not to 
 the ground, had induced her to read it ; the word had been 
 blessed to her and her understanding opened to receive the 
 gospel of truth. She could not describe the process, but 
 the results were there. Sin had in her sight become hate- 
 ful ; blasphemy was no longer heard from her lips. She 
 drew from under her pillow her ' precious book,' her ' dear 
 little book,' which had been the means of leading her soul 
 to Him who ' taketh away sin. ' She soon afterwards died 
 in peace and joyful hope." 
 
 In 1830 Mrs. Fry paid a religious visit to parts of Suffolk 
 and Norfolk and attended the Quarterly Meeting at Ipswich. 
 In the fall of the same year she went to Sussex to attend 
 the Quarterly Meeting there, and some of its particular 
 Meetings. The Yearly Meeting is thus described *• 
 
 "Sixth Ifonth, 1th. — I had a difficult path to tread 
 during the Yearly Meeting. I did not of course receive 
 Friends, but went, as I was kindly asked to various houses. 
 I could not but at times naturally feel it, after having for so 
 many years, delighted to entertain my friends and those 
 whom I believe to be disciples of Christ ; and now, in con- 
 siderable degree, to be deprived of it. But after relating 
 my sorrows I must say that through the tender mercy of 
 my God I have many blessings, and what is more, at times 
 such a sweet feeling of peace that I am enabled to hope and 
 trust that through the unbounded and unmerited mercy of 
 God in Christ Jesus, my husband, my children, and myself 
 
ElSma UP THE MOUNTAINS. ^ 229 
 
 will eventually be made partakers of that salvation which 
 comes by Christ. The state of oiir Society as it appeared 
 in the Yearly Meeting, was satisfactory, and really very com- 
 forting to me ; go much less stress laid upon little things, more 
 upon matters of great importance ; so much unity, good- will, 
 and what I felt, Christian liberty amongst us — ^love appeared 
 truly to abound, to my real refreshment. I am certainly a 
 thorough Friend, and have inexpressible unity with the prin- 
 ciple, but I also see room for real improvement amongst us ; 
 may it take place ; I want to see less love of money, less 
 judging others, less tattling, less dependence upon external 
 appearance. I want to see more fruit of the Spuit in all 
 things, more devotion of heart, more spirit of prayer, more 
 real cultivation of mind, more enlargement of heai't towards 
 all ; more tenderness towards delinquents, and above all, 
 more of the rest, peace and liberty of the children of God I 
 
 Among the frequent testimonials received during this 
 period was a letter accompanied by an elaborately embroid- 
 ered counterpane. 
 
 "Liverpool, Sixth Month, 23rd, 1830. 
 "The Ladies Committee who visit the House of Correc- 
 tion at Torkdale, near Liverpool.beg Elizabeth Fry's accep- 
 tance of a counterpane worked by the female prisoners, and 
 trimmed with a fringe of their own making. This memorial 
 of a class of her unhappy fellow-creatures so eminently 
 benefited and tenderly felt for by Elizabeth Fry, will, the 
 Committee believe, be peculiarly grateful to her, as well aa 
 being a proof of their own affectionate regard. 
 
 "Signed on behalf of the Committee by^ 
 Kebecca Charley. Secretary^* 
 
 From Hamburg she received an application that "a fe5pj 
 of her likeness might be engraved for an Almanac publiahecj 
 by Beyerink, entitled, "For that which is Beautiful and 
 
230 
 
 ELIZABETH FRY. 
 
 Grood." The Almanac, wlien published contained this pas- 
 sage : 
 
 " 1830. — Though faithful to her duty as a wife and 
 mother, into the night of the prison Elizabeth Fry brings 
 the radiance of love — brings comfort to the sufferers, dries 
 the tear of repentance, and causes a ray of hope to descend 
 into the heai't of the sinner. She teaches her that has 
 strayed again to find the path of vu-tue, comes as an angel 
 of God unto the abode of crime, and preserves for Jesus' 
 kingdom that ■^ hich appeared to be lost. Is not this in- 
 deed what may be called loving our neighbor more than 
 one's self?" 
 
 In Sejptember of this year she made a brie! religious 
 visit in Sussex county. 
 
 From Brighton she addressed a letter to Queen Adelaide 
 expressing her " desire that, for the good of the community* 
 she might promote the education of the poor, the genefal 
 distribution of the Scriptures, and the keeping of the Sab- 
 bath seriously, by discoui-aging parties &c., &c., on that 
 day amongst the higher ranks, as the tendency of them was 
 very injurious to the lower classes, and to the community 
 at lai-ge." 
 
 At this fashionable resort several of the higher classes 
 were invited to attend the mid-week meeting, which is thus 
 described : 
 
 " To my own feelings, a remarkable time we surely had. 
 It appeared as if we were overshadowed by the love and 
 mercy of God our Saviour. The ministry flowed in beauti- 
 ful hai-mony. I deeply felt the want of vocal prayer being 
 offered, but I did not see it my place upon our Meeting as- 
 eembling together, when, to my inexpressible relief, a friend 
 
BISING UP TBS HOmHTAVXa. 
 
 231 
 
 powerfully and beautifully offered up thanksgiving and 
 prayer, •which appeai'ed to rise as incense and as an accepta- 
 ble sacrifice. After a time of silence I rose with this text : 
 * There are diversities of gifts, but the same spirit ; differ- 
 ences of administration, but the same Lord; diversities ol 
 operations, but it is the same God who worketh all in all.' 
 In a way that it never did before the subject opened to my 
 view whilst speaking. How did I see and endeavor to ex- 
 press the lively bond of union existing in the Christian 
 church, and that the humbling, tendering influence of tht' 
 love and power of Christ must lead us not to condemn our 
 neighbors but to love all. I had to end the Meeting by 
 praying for the King, Queen and all their subjects every- 
 where ; for the advancement of that day when the knowl- 
 edge of God and His glory would cover the earth, as the 
 waters cover the sea ; for those countries in Europe that are 
 in a disturbed state, and that these shakings might event- 
 ually be for good. After a most solemn feeling of imion 
 the Meeting broke up." 
 
 In the spring of 1831 this most industrious and faithful 
 messenger of love made a visit to the Quai-terly Meeting of 
 Kent. She writes— 
 
 "I was much engaged, from Meeting to Meeting; labored 
 to encourage the low, the poor and the sorrowful , to lead 
 to practical religion, and to shake from all outward depend- 
 encies, and to show that our principles and testimonies of 
 a peculiar nature should not be maintained simply as a 
 regulation amongst us, but unto the Lord, and in deep 
 humility, in the true Christian spuit; particularly as to 
 tithes, war, &c. I felt much peace afterwards, and in 
 going from house to house, breaking, I trust, a little bread, 
 spiritually, and giving thanks. It appeared very seasona- 
 ble, though long delayed, as I have had it on my mind 
 many months, but hitherto have been prevented by various 
 
232 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 things ; ypt this appeared to be the right time ; and I take 
 the lesson home, quietly to wait for the openings of Provi- 
 dence, particularly in all religious services, and not to at 
 tempt to plan them too much mj^self. 
 
 "The kindi:ess of Friends was great, and I received much 
 real encouragement from them ; some from the humble 
 ones that did my heart good. Indeed I cannot but acknowl- 
 edge, in humiliation of spirit, however any may reason on 
 these things, and however strange that women should be 
 eeut cut to preach the gosjjel, yet I have, in these services, 
 partaken of joy aud peace that I think I never felt, in the 
 same degree, in any other." 
 
 ''Fifth Month, litJi, (1831).— About three weeks ago I 
 paid a very satisfactory visit to the Duchess of Kent and 
 her very pleasing daughter, the Princess Victoria. William 
 Allen went with me. We took some books on the subject 
 of slavery, with the hope of influencing the young Princess 
 in that important cause. We were received with much 
 kindness and cordiality, and I felt my way open to express 
 not only my desire that the best blessing might rest upon 
 them, but that the young Princess might follow the exam- 
 ple of our blessed Lord, that as she 'grew in stature she 
 might grow in favor with God and man.' I also ventured 
 to remind her of King Josiah who began to reign at eight 
 years old, and did that which was right in the sight of the 
 Lord, tui'ning neither to the right hand nor to the left — 
 which seemed to be well received. Since that I thought it 
 right to send the Duke of Gloucester my brother Joseph's 
 work on the Sabbath, and a ratber serious letter, and had a 
 very valuable answer from him, fall of feeling. I have an 
 invitation to visit the Duchess of Gloucester next Eourth- 
 day ; may good result to them, and no harm to myself ; but 
 I feel these openings rather a weighty responsibility, and 
 desii-e to be faithful, not forward. I had long felt an incli- 
 nation to see the young Princess and to endeavor to throw 
 a little weight in the right scale, seeing the very importaxit 
 
RISING UP THE MOUNTAINS. 
 
 233 
 
 place that she is likely to fill. I was much pleased with her, 
 and think her a sweet, lovely and hr peful child," (ihen 12 
 years of age.) 
 
 " Sixth Month, Zrd. — The Yearly Meeting has concluded 
 this week. I was highly comforted by the good spii-it mani- 
 fested in it by numbers. I think I never was so much satis- 
 fied with the ground taken by Friends, leading us to main- 
 tain what we consider our testimonies upon a Scriptural 
 and Christian ground, rather than because our forefathers 
 maintained them. My opinion is that nothing is so likely 
 to cause our Society to remain a living and spiritual body 
 as its being willing to stand open to improvement; because 
 it is to be supposed that as the Church generally emerges 
 out of the dark state it was brought into, its light will shiaa 
 brighter and brighter, and we, as a part of it, shall partake 
 of this dispensation. My belief is that neither individuals, 
 nor collective bodies should stand still in grace, but their 
 light should shine brighter unto perfect day." 
 
 During this season she held some meetings among the 
 lower classes around Barking and Dagenham, some ten 
 miles east of London — where she spent the summer. 
 
 '■^Eighth 3Ionth, 1st. — Last evening we finished our 
 Public Meetings in barns. I passed a humbling night. 
 Even in our acts of obedience and devotion how evident is 
 the mixture of infirmity, (at least so it appears to me,) and 
 we need to look to the great offering for sin and iniquity to 
 bear even these transactions for us. I apprehend that all 
 would not understand me, but many who are much engaged 
 in what we call works of righteousness will understand the 
 reason that in the Jewish dispensation there was an offering 
 made ' for the iniquity of then- holy things.' Humiliation 
 is my portion, though I may also say peace, in thus having 
 given up to a service much against my inclination ; and I 
 hope thankfulness for the measure of power at timea 
 gvcinto i in them. 
 
234 
 
 ELIZABETH FRY. 
 
 " DagenJiam, Eighth Month, 2Ath. — Upon my return 
 home to Dagenliam this day week, in the pony chair, with 
 little Edmund Gurney, there was a severe thunder-storm 
 the greater part of the way, but I felt quite easy to perse- 
 vere through it. But when I arrived at the Chequers Inn 
 I thought another storm was coming and went in. We had 
 been there but a few minutes when we saw a bright flash of 
 lightning, followed instantaneously by a tremendous clap 
 of thunder. Upon being asked if I was alarmed I said that 
 I certainly was, and did not doubt that an accident had 
 happened near to us. My dear husband who was out in 
 the tempest arrived safely, but in a few minutes a young 
 man was carried in dead, struck by the lightning in a 
 field close at hand. I felt oui- escape — yet still more the 
 awful situation of the young man, who was a sad charac- 
 ter ; he had been at our meeting at Beacontree Heath. 
 This awful event produced a very serious efifect in the 
 neighborhood ; so much so that we believed it right to in- 
 vite all the relations of the young man, (a bad set,) and the 
 other young men of the neighborhood to meet us in the lit- 
 tle Methodist Meeting House which ended in one more 
 rather large Public Meeting. The event and cu'cumstancea 
 altogether made it very solemn : it appeared to set a seal to 
 what had passed before, in our other meetings. My belief 
 is they have had a stirring effect in this neighborhood, but 
 they have been very humbling to me ; the whole event of 
 this young man's awful death has much confirmed me in 
 the belief that our concern was a right one, and tended to 
 prepare the minds of the people to profit by such a lesson. 
 My dear brother and sister Buxton and their Pricilla wera 
 with us at many of our Meetings. 
 
 "21th. — We are just about leavmg this place. I have 
 endeavored to promote the moral and religious good of the 
 people since the Meetings by establishing libraries of tracts 
 and books at different places, and ray belief is that my hum- 
 ble labors have not been in vain, nor I trust will they be. 
 
RISING UP THE MOUNTAINS. 
 
 239 
 
 I have felt so strikingly tlie manner in which the kindness 
 and love of the neighborhood has been shown to me, after 
 thus publicly preaching amongst them ; and as a poor frail 
 woman, advocating boldly the cause of Christ, I expected 
 rather to be despised; whereas, it is apparently just the 
 reverse, — the clergyman and his wife almost loading us with 
 kindness, the farmers and their wives very kind and atten- 
 tive, the poor the same. I felt how sweet it is to be on 
 good terms with them all — one day drinking tea at the par- 
 sonage, abounding with plate, elegancies and luxuries, the 
 next day at a humble Methodist shoemaker's, they having 
 procui'ed a little fresh butter, that I might take tea under 
 their roof. The contrast was great, but I can indeed se» 
 the same kind Lord over all, rich to all, and filling the 
 hearts of His servants of very different descriptions with 
 love to each other," 
 
 Elizabeth Fry's character, and the effects of her ministry 
 are beautifully illustrated in the following extract from her 
 journal while at home in Upton Lane. 
 
 " Twelfth Month, 20iA. — I am once more favored, after 
 being far from weU, with a renewal of health and power ta 
 enter my usual engagements, public and private. Tester- 
 day I went to town, — first attended the Newgate Commit- 
 tee, then the British Society, which was encouraging to me. 
 There were many present of different denominations of 
 Christians, and a sweet feeling of love and unity pervaded 
 the whole. Elizabeth Dudley spoke in a lively manner, and 
 I had to pray. There is still much ground for encourage- 
 ment in the prison cause ; I believe a seed is sown in it that 
 will grow and flourish, I trust when some of us are laid 
 low. It is a work that brings with it a peculiar feeling of 
 blessing and peace ; may the Most High continue to prosper 
 it ! Aftenvai'ds I went to Clapham to visit a poor, dying, 
 converted Jew who had sent a letter to beg me to go and 
 
•236 
 
 ELIZABETB FBT. 
 
 Bee him. My visit was highly interesting. I often wish 
 for the pen of a ready writer and the pencil of an artist to 
 pictuie some of the scenes that I am brought into. A man 
 of pleasing countenance, greatly emaciated, lying on a little 
 white bed, all clean and in order, his Bible by his side, and 
 animated, almost beyond description, at seeing me. He 
 kissed my hand, the tears came into his eyes, his poor face 
 flushed, and he was ready almost to raise himself out of his 
 bed. I sat down and tried to quiet him, and by degrees 
 succeeded. We had a very interesting conversation. He 
 had been in the practice of frequently attending my read- 
 icgs at Newgate, apparently with great attention. Latterly 
 I had not seen him, and was ready to suppose that, like 
 many others, his zeal was of short dui-ation; but I had 
 lately heard that he had been ill. He is one of those Jews 
 who have felt perfectly liberated from keeping any part of 
 the Law of Moses, which some other converted Jews yet 
 consider themselves bound to observe. I found, when he 
 used to come so often to Newgate that he was a man of 
 good moral character, seeking the truth. But to go on 
 with my story. In our conversation he said that he felt 
 great peace, no fear of death, and a full reliance upon his 
 Savioui- for salvation. He said that his visits to Newgate 
 had been to him beyond going to any church — indeed I 
 little knew how much was going on in his heai't. He re- 
 quested me to read a Psalm that I had read one day ia 
 Newgate, the 107th. This I did and he appeared deeply 
 .to feel it, particularly as my dear friends and I made our 
 little remarks in Christian freedom as we went along, truly, 
 I believe, in the life. The poor Jew prayed very strikingly ; 
 I followed him and returned thanks. TVTiat a solemn, unit- 
 ing time it was. The poor Jew said ' God is a Spirit and 
 they that worship Him, must worship in spuit and ia 
 truth,' as if he felt the spirituality of the Christian adminis- 
 tration. His countenance lightened with apparent joy whea 
 he expressed his undoubted belief that he should soon enter 
 
BISING UP THE M0UNTAIN3. 
 
 237 
 
 the Kingdom, and that I should, before long, follow him. 
 Then he gave me his blessing and took leave in much ten. 
 derness, showing every mark he could of gratitude and 
 love. He did not accept any gift of money, saying that he 
 wanted no good thing, as he was most kindly provided for 
 by serious persons in the neighborhood. After about two 
 weeks I received au account of the peaceful end of this 
 poor Jew. 
 
 " First Month, Incl, 1S32. — I think I have seldom entered 
 a year with more feeling of weight than this. As the clock 
 was striking twelve, the last year closing and this begin- 
 ning, I found myself on my knees by my bedside, looking 
 up to Him who had caiiied me and mine through the last 
 year, and could only really be our Helper in this. We have- 
 had the subject of marriage much before us this last year; 
 it has brought us to some test of oar feelings and princi- 
 ples respecting it. That it is highly desu'able and impor- 
 tant to have young persons settle in mamage, particularly 
 young men, I cannot doubt ; and that it is ous of the most- 
 likely means of theu* preservation, religiously, morally and 
 temporally. Moreover it is highly desirable to settle witli 
 one of the same religious views, habits and education aj 
 themselves; more particularly for those who have beeu 
 brought up as Friends, bscause theu- mode of eaucation is 
 peculiar. But if any young persons, upon arriving at an 
 age of discretion, do not feel themselves really altached to 
 our peculiar views and habits, then I think their parents 
 have no right to use undue influence with them, as to ths 
 connexions they may incline to form ; provided they b9 witl^ 
 persons of religious lives and conversation. I am ol' opiu- 
 iou that parents ai-e apt to exercise too much authority upon 
 the subject of marriage, and that there would be more really 
 bappy unions, if young persons were left more to their own 
 fee.iugs and discretion. Marriage is too much treated like 
 a business concern, and love, that essonliai ingrtjdieut, toO' 
 little respected in it. I disapprove the ru.e of our fciooisty 
 
238 
 
 ELIZABETH FRY. 
 
 that disowns persons for allowing a child to marry one not 
 a Friend — it is a most undue and unchristian restraint, aa 
 far as I can judge of it." 
 
 The regulations of the Society in respect to marriages 
 have been greatly modified since that time. 
 
 In 1832 Mrs. Fry together with her sister-in-law of the 
 Bame name visited the Half- Year's Meeting in Wales, and 
 Bome places in Ireland, with the usual happy reuslts. 
 
 In the autumn of this year a son and also a daughter 
 were married — both out of the Society — which left the Httla 
 band at Upton Lane much i-educed. Soon afterward with 
 her husband and two remaining daughters she visited her 
 eister Mi*s. Cunningham at Lowestoft. The latter lady, 
 wife of an able and pious clergyman, gave a long account of 
 this visit, from which I cannot forbear making u few ex- 
 tracts showing the wonderful charm and power of Eliza- 
 beth Fry's personality on all who could appreciate spiritual 
 beauty., 
 
 " November, 22nd. — ^We had the treat and great advan- 
 tage of a visit from oui- dearest sister. She was encovu-aged 
 to come and assist us in the formation of our District Soci- 
 ety which in this large place we find to be essential for the 
 right working of the parish. "NVe are most thankful for the 
 assistance of our dear sister, (our brother and two of our 
 nieces accompauied her) it is almost like having an angel 
 visitor, so full of loveliness and grace is she. On Sunday 
 my dearest sister being at Pakefield with the Friends in- 
 duced my remaining all day there. She drank tea with me 
 at the Hawtreys. Mr. Hawtrey and she had some animated 
 and delightful conversation before we went down to the 
 lecture in the scliool-room ; dearest Betsey accompanied us, 
 end some of the other friends joined us. After the usual 
 singing and prayer ilr. Hawtrey read very impressively 
 
BISINQ TO THE MOUNTAINS. 
 
 239 
 
 the latter part of the third of Ephesians ; we then had si- 
 lence, after -which she arose and beautifully addressed the 
 meeting on the necessity of domestic and private religion, 
 and enlarged a good deal on the duty, spirit and manner in 
 which scripture should be read and studied ; it would not 
 do to hear it only in public service. After the powerful 
 outward means which had been granted to the people of 
 Pakefield how were they called upon to examine and digest 
 for themselves the written word of God. Then in a full and 
 beautiful prayer she seemed to bring the blessing of Heaven 
 upon us. I hai'dly know any scriptural treat so great as 
 uniting with her in prai/erf it is such a heavenly song — so 
 spiritual, so elevating, enjoying glimpses, as it were, of the 
 eternal world. Oh ! may we long retain the power and the 
 blessing of it ! 
 
 " On Monday we were all in movement, in preparation for 
 our District Society Meeting ; this was held at our house 
 and well attended. Our dear sister displayed much of her 
 tact and power, and gave iis the greatest assistance. How 
 max'velously gifted she is ! Through her influence all par- 
 ties were brought together, and the District Society begun 
 under the most favorable auspices ; the town was divided 
 and every arrangement made according to her advice. Our 
 meeting was highly satisfactory and promised the most 
 favorable results ; every one seemed Avilling to yield to her 
 wisdom and eloquence. What a power of communicating 
 good she possesses ! what a faithful steward in that which 
 is committed to her ! 
 
 " Surely these times do leave a peculiar savor which is 
 not to be forgotten ; it adds to the precious seasons which 
 ore foretastes of Heaveu. Her mind appears to me in more 
 lively exercise and more gifted than ever ; rich both in grace 
 and gifts. She is indeed beloved of the Lord, and dwells 
 in safety by Him. . . Nothing can be more benevolent 
 find beautiful tban lier spirit, overflowing with love and teu- 
 Oei neis." 
 
240 
 
 ELIZABETH FRT. 
 
 Leaving this sister, they visited the old home at Earlham, 
 and went thence to North Kepps Hall, the home of hei 
 brother-in-law, Thomas Fowell Buxton, who was now in 
 the midst of his great struggle for the emancipation of 
 slaves in the British Colonies. Her warm interest and sym- 
 pathy in his heroic eflforts were a titncly encouragement as 
 he was confronting the influence of a selfish Government in 
 the House of Con.mons, supported witho.it by the stirring 
 eloquence of Wilberforce, to efifect what has honored Eng- 
 land more than any other national act. 
 
 In 1833 Mrs. Fry spent several months at a quiet retreat 
 in the island of Jersey, with her family, in order to rest and 
 recruit her health. She enjoyed the retirement as only 
 those can do who have accomplished their appointed tasks. 
 But idleness was not rest to a spirit like hers. The hand 
 and heart did not forget their congenial employment. It 
 was her meat and drink to do the will of Him that sent her. 
 When the happy party went out for a picnic, or to spend 
 the day amongst the secluded and romantic bays of the is- 
 land, " the tract bag was not forgotten — whilst the rest of 
 the party were sketching or walking, she would visit the 
 cottagers, and, making herself as well understood as their 
 antique Norman dialect permitted, would give her little 
 French books and offer the kind word of sympathy or ex- 
 hortation." At first she held meetings in private houses 
 with poor accommodations, but at length a room was fitted 
 up in the town and large congregations assembled, includ- 
 ing many of the gentry and principal inhabitants. " Phil^ 
 anthropic objects also presented themselves to her notice,, 
 especially the state of the Hospital, including the Work- 
 house and Lunatic Asylum, and the Prison." 
 
RISING Vt THE MOUNTAINS. 
 
 241 
 
 " Eighth Month, 12th. — We feel much at home in this 
 lovely island, and in rather a remarkable manner our way 
 opens in the hearts of those amongst whom we are residing. 
 A very extensive field of service appears before us, in many 
 ways. To try thoroughly to attend to the prisoners, to 
 strive to correct the evils in the Hospital, to assist in various 
 ways the Friends and those who attend Meeting, to visit 
 several in Christian love and try to draw them nearer to- 
 gether — oh ! gracious Lord, grant Thy poor unworthy ser- 
 vant the help of Thy Spuit, to do Thy will, and let not her 
 labor be iu vain in Thee, her Lord and her God! but 
 thi-ough Thy unmerited mercy in Christ Jesus grant that 
 her way may be made very clear before her, and ability 
 given her to walk in it to Thy praise, her own peace, and 
 the real edification of those among whom her lot may be 
 cast. Amen ! 
 
 Jersey, Ninth Month, IQth. — I have much enjoyed and 
 valued the pleasant retreat we have here. I desire, in deep 
 gratitude, to acknowledge the renewed capacity to delight 
 in the wonderful works of God. The scenery, and feeling 
 fully at liberty to spend part of many days in the enjoy- 
 ment of this beautiful country and weather, and my beloved 
 husband and children, has been very sweet to me ! "What 
 has not religion been to me? How wonderful in its opsrar 
 tion? None but Him who knows the heart can tall. 
 Surely it has brought me into some deep humiliations; bul 
 how has it raised me up, healed my at time.'j wounded spirit, 
 given me power to enjoy my blessings, in vvhat I believe au 
 unusual degree, and wonderfully sustained me under deep 
 tribulations! To me it is anything but bonJage, since it 
 has brought me into a delightful freedom ; although I had 
 narrow places to pass through before my boLiutlaries were 
 thus enlarged ; so that from experience I wish to ba very 
 tender over those still in bonds." 
 
 In the spring of 1834 she made a brief religious visii in 
 
242 
 
 ELIZABETH FRY. 
 
 Dorset and Hants, accompanied by two of her nieces, one 
 of whom, the daughter of Sir Fowell Buxton, made the fol« 
 lowing statements, illustrative of Elizabeth Fry's charactei 
 and methods of doing good. 
 
 "There was no weakness or trouble of mind or body 
 which might not safe-y be unveiled to her. Wliatever 
 vai'icus or opposite views, feeL'ngs or wishes might be con- 
 fided to her, all came out again, tinged with her own loving, 
 hopeful spiiit. Bitterness of every kind died when en- 
 trusted to her ; it never re-appeai"ed. The most favorable 
 construction possible was always put upon every transac- 
 tion. No doubt her failing lay this way ; but did it not 
 give her and her example a wonderful influence ? Was it 
 not the very secret of her power with the wretched and de- 
 graded prisoners? She always could see hope for every 
 one; she invariably found, or made, some point of light. 
 The most abandoned must have felt that she did not despair 
 for them, either for this world, or another, and this it was 
 that made her irresistible. 
 
 " At Southampton time and opportunity were rather un- 
 expectedly afforded for an excursion to the Isle of Wight. 
 I think she undertook it chiefly for the sake of pleasing 
 Priscilla Gurney and myself ; but it had important conse- 
 quences. We traveled round by Shankiin, Bonchurch and 
 Undercliff. She was zealous in the enjoyment of the scen- 
 ery and the wild flowers ; but the next day, on reaching 
 Freshwater, she was fatigued and remained to rest, whilst 
 we went to see Alum Bay. On our return we were told she 
 had walked out, and we soon received a message desiiing us 
 to join her at the Coast Guard Station. We found her in 
 her element, pleased and giving pleasure to a large group 
 who were assembled around her. She entered with tha 
 greatest sympathy into their somewhat dreary position, in- 
 quired into then- resources for education for their children, 
 and religious improvement for themselves — found them 
 
EISING UP THE M0UNTAIK3. 
 
 243 
 
 much in want of books ; and from this visit originated that 
 gieat undertaking- of providing libraries for all the Coast 
 Guai'd Stations in Great Britain — an undertaking full of 
 difflculties, but in which her perseverance never relaxed till 
 it was accomplished.'' 
 
 This is perhaps a suitable place to mention the work of 
 Christian iphilanthropy above referred to, which consisted 
 in furnishing the five hundred Coast Guard Stations of 
 Great Britain with libraries of suitable reading for the men 
 and their families. That such a task required, not only 
 great labor and perseverance, but a large outlay of personal 
 influence for its successful accomplishment, is obvious. 
 The results are concisely stated in the Report of the Com- 
 mittee acting under the sanction of the Government for 
 carrying out the object- It is as follows : — 
 
 "The Committee acting under the sanction of His Ma- 
 jesty's Government for furnishing the Coast Guard of the 
 United Kingdom with libraries of religious and instructive 
 books and also with school books for the families of the 
 men employed in that service, having, by the blessing of 
 Divine Providence completed that object, it becomes their 
 pleasing duty to lay before the subscribers a Eeport of their 
 proceedings. 
 
 " In the commencement of this duty it is proper grate- 
 fully to acknowledge that the idea of furnishing these libra- 
 ries first suggested itself to the benevolent mind of Mrs. 
 Fry, whose active and charitable exertions, on all occasions 
 affecting the benefit of mankind, are too well known and too 
 highly estimated to need further remark on the present oc- 
 casion, and who, having previously succeeded in inducing 
 His Majesty's Government lo establish libraries for the use 
 of the patients in the naval hospitals, was induced by the 
 obseivations she had made on the subject, to endeavor to 
 
244 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 extend the same beneficial measure to the Coast Guard Ser- 
 vice, and after several unsuccessful efforts arising from the 
 expense which it would occasion, a sum of 500 pounds was 
 obtained in 1835, from the First Lord of the Treasui-y (Sii 
 Robert Peel) for this purpose, which munificent donation 
 has since been followed by subsciptions from charitable in- 
 dividuals, and grants from several book societies, but as the 
 whole of these funds were not sufficient to meet the object in 
 view, the present Chancellor of the Exchequer (j\Ir. Spring 
 Kice) kindly granted two further sums amounting together 
 to 460 pounds to effect its completion. 
 
 "The means thus so liberally afforded have enabled the 
 committee to provide and forward to the coast, — 
 
 498 libraries for Stations on shore, containing 25,896 vol 3 
 74 Ditto Districts 12,880 " 
 
 48 Ditto Cruisers 1,867 " 
 
 School books for the children of crews of Stations 6,464 " 
 Pamphlets, Tracts, &c., 6,357 Id uoa 
 
 Making a total of 52,464 vols. 
 
 and thereby to fm'nish a body of deserving and useful men 
 and their wives and families, (amounting to upwards of 
 21,000 persons,) with the means of moral and religious in- 
 struction, as well as profitable amusement, most of whom, 
 from theu' situation in life, have not the means of procuring 
 such benefits from theu" own resources, and who in many 
 instances, are so far removed from places of public worship 
 and schools as to prevent the possibility of themselves or 
 their families deriving advantage from either." 
 
 Mrs. Fry's only note on the journey last referred to is as 
 follows : — 
 
 " Upton, Fourth 3Ionth. — At Portsmouth we paid an in- 
 teresting visit to Easier Hospital, the Hulks Hospital Ship, 
 
EISING UP THE MOUNTAINS. 
 
 245 
 
 and some prisons ; we also paid a delightful little visit to 
 the Isle of Wight. I felt more able to enjoy the great 
 beauties of nature, from having been owned by my Lord 
 and Master in my religious services. What a relish does 
 true religion give for our temporal as well as spiritual bless- 
 ings ! I have still much to feel respecting the offer of mar- 
 riage made to my dear L . It is a very serious thing, 
 
 my childi-en thus leaving Friends ; and I have my great fears 
 that in so doing they are leaving that which v/ould ba a 
 blessing and preservation to them. At the same time I see 
 there is no respect of persons with God ; nor in reality is 
 there the difference some would make out of the different 
 administrations of religion, if there be but a true, sincere 
 love of our Lord, and endeavor to serve Him. What i3 
 above all to me I have felt peace in it rather peculiarly : 
 still we at present are exceedingly feeling the weight of the 
 affairs. It is also a considerable pain to me to go through 
 the discij^line of the Society respecting it — but in bearing 
 it patiently and humbly I may in that way be enabled to 
 preach Christ. Lord, be it so — Help me Thyself through 
 all these rather intricate paths, and make a way for Thy 
 servant in all these things; that she may do right in Thy 
 sight, and not offend even the weakest of her brethren and 
 sisters in religious connection with herself — help, Lord, or 
 we perish ! 
 
 " 21st. — Yesterday (First-day) I attended Meeting rather 
 oppressed in body and mind. Ministered to by dear Eliza- 
 beth Dudley, but had such heaviness of body as to hinder 
 spiritual revival. In the afternoon I went, accompanied 
 by Elizabeth Dudley, Rebecca Sturges, and some others, to 
 visit the female convict ship ; the sun shone brightly, the 
 day delightful, the poor women rejoiced to s^e us, but my 
 spirit was in heaviness from the difSculty of leaving my 
 family, even for a few hours on that day. It was a fine sight 
 to see about one hundred and fifty poor female convicts, and 
 some sailors, standing, sitting and leaning round us, whilst 
 
246 
 
 ELIZABETH FRY. 
 
 we read the Scriptures to them. I spoke to them and Eliziv- 
 beth Dudley prayed. Surely to witness the solemn effect, 
 the tears rolling down many cheeks, we must acknowledge 
 it to be the Lord's doing. Still I fell flat, though the others 
 thought it a very satisfactory time ; but in the evening I 
 became more revived, and comforted, and thankful that it 
 has pleased the Lord to send me to the poor outcasts, al- 
 though at times feeling as if I went more as a machine 
 moved by springs, than in the lively state I desu-e ; but at 
 other times it is different, and there is much sense of li"e, 
 light, love and power. To-day I expect to go to the Duch- 
 ess of Gloucester, and amongst some of the high in this lilie. 
 May the Lord be with me that my intercourse with these 
 may not be in vain in Him. I feel it no light responsibility 
 having the door so open with the Government of our coun- 
 try, and those filling high p]aces ; I am often surprised to 
 find how much so ; and yet the Lord only knows the depth 
 of my humiliations, and how it has been out of the depths 
 that I have been raised up for these services. At the Ad- 
 miralty I have lately had important requests granted; at 
 the Home Office they are always ready to attend to what I 
 ask; and at the Colonial Office I expect that they will soon 
 make some alterations in the ai-rangements for the female 
 convicts hx New South Wales. 
 
 "\Yho has thus tm-ned the hearts of those in authority? 
 Siu'ely it is the Lord. May He grant me wisdom and sound 
 discretion rightly to use the influence He has given me. 
 Be near to Thy servant, this day, gracious Lord, in every 
 place ; and so help her by Thy Spirit that she may do Thy 
 will, and not bow to man, but alo7ie to Thee, her God; doing 
 all to Thy glory. We made several other calls and dined at 
 my Brother Buxton's where we met some gentlemen. I 
 felt, as I mostly do after such days, fearful and anxious, 
 lest I had done any discredit to the vocation wherewith I 
 am called ; or in any degree, in my own heart or conduct to- 
 wards God, done amiss. It cause A me rather a watchful 
 
EISING UP THE MOUNTAINS. 
 
 241 
 
 fearful niglit. I see it much easier, and in many respects 
 Eafer, in the religious life to be quiet, and much at home ; 
 yet I a'so feel that in a more general association there are 
 great advantages — enlarging our spiritual borders and re- 
 moving cur prejudices ; and if we are really enabled to 
 stand our ground as Christians, in the meekness of wisdom, 
 and so adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour it may be the 
 means of promoting the good of others. 
 
 "24i/;. — "We dined at Lord Bexley's and met Captain 
 Mangles the great traveler, several clerg-yman, and others. 
 I desired to maintain the watch, but the company of serious, 
 intellectual and refined persons is apt to draw me a good 
 deal forth in conversation and mind, and often leads me to 
 many fears afterwards, lest there should imperceptibly be 
 anything of showing off, and being exalted by man ; but I 
 may tru'.y say, inwardly I mostly feel reduced and humbled 
 after such times, and fearful lest I should have a cloud over 
 me so as to hinder my near communion with my Lord. 
 
 "A few words in the Proverbs rather encoiu'aged me: 
 • Reproofs of instruction are the way of life.' I see it well to 
 be reproved; may I proiit by it. I often fear for myself 
 lest I am forsaking my first love, or becoming lax, becausa 
 I certainly feel far more hberty than I used to do in uniting 
 with others in their prayers, grace, &c., &c., and less in 
 bonds generally : in short my borders are greatly enlarged. 
 May this arise not from my love becoming cold, bat from 
 experiencing the service of my Lord to be akeady to me 
 perfect freedom. Oh dearest Lord ! make manifest in Thy 
 own light, if this be in me laxity, that I may be reproved, 
 and amend my ways ; if, on the contrary, it be the liberty 
 wherewith Thou hast made me free, cause me in Thine own 
 power firmly and fixedly to stand in it, even if some of my 
 fellow-mortals v/hom I love and esteem appear to remain 
 under a different dispensation. 
 
 "A few days ago I visited Plashet: it was almost too 
 much for my natural sphits. When I saw our weedy walks 
 
24S 
 
 ELIZABETH FB7. 
 
 that once were made and kept so neatly — our summer- 
 houses falling down — our beautiful wild flowers that I had 
 cultivated with so much care, and no one to admire them — 
 the place that had cost us so much, and been at times so 
 enjoyed by us, the birth-place of so many of my children, 
 the scene of so many deep and near interests — the tears 
 trickled down my face, and I felt ready to enumerate my 
 sorrows and say, 'Why is this?' But I felt the check 
 within and desired and endeavored to look on the bright 
 side Oi the picture, and acknowledge the tender and unmer- 
 ited mercy of my God in Christ Jesus. Mine has been, I 
 fully believe, a very unusual course in many pai'ticulars ; in 
 some things known, in some hid Ten from the eye of man. 
 Oh ! may all end in good and blessing.* 
 
 " Fifth Month, bth. — Yesterday was the Sabbath. I can 
 hardly say how deeply I feel these days as they come : first 
 as it respects the ministry of the Word. Its wholly resting 
 on two or three women in our rather large assembly is an 
 exercise of my faith, and a real ti'ial to my natural feelings. 
 Then to believe, as I do, that some of our congregations 
 are in an unregenerate state ; how must thek silent meet- 
 ings be passed? — and for the babes in Christ I have great 
 fears, inasmuch as true, solemn, silent worship is a very 
 high administration of spiritual worship. I frequently fear 
 for such that more external aid is wanted, though I see not 
 how it is to be given. I also feel the want of each 
 one openly uniting in some external act of worship ; for 
 there is much in taking an absolute part in what is doing, 
 
 * I might here state that I have recently been informed hy one well 
 acquainted with all the circumstances, that the loss of their property 
 is believed to have been blessed to Joseph Fry, who after several 
 years of separation from the Society of Fi'iends was again united ia 
 fellowship with them, to the great satisfaction of his most patient and 
 loving wife, who could thus finally see the hand of her Lord in subdu* 
 Ing the natural growth of vine, that the better frnif of the spirit 
 night be brought foitl). 
 
BISIKO UP THE MOUNTAINS. 
 
 to feel a full interest in it ; but I see not with our views (in 
 which I unite) how this can be remedied. Then for myself 
 as a minister of the Gospel I desire to be very faithfu], and 
 give the portion of meat in due season to the household; 
 but even here deep humiliation is my portion, in its appear- 
 ing that though I preach to others I cannot manage my 
 own ; my children, one after another, leaving a Society and 
 principles that I love, value, and try to build up. My Loid 
 only knows the exercise of my spirit on those days. Then 
 for my home houi-s : not having space as we had at Plashet, 
 in which my boys can recreate in the way I consider advisa- 
 ble during a part of this day, now I hare anxiously to watch 
 where they go, and what they are about, so that I am not 
 often favored to know the Sabbath a delight, or day of rest. 
 Yet through all these things, and my too anxious nature 
 help is wonderf ally granted to me : I find the spring within 
 that helps, keeps, revives, sustains, and heals ; but I feel 
 that I am bound to seek and to pray not to be so exquisitely 
 anxious." 
 
 The above is a very suggestive passage, showing the 
 gradual expansion of a broad and liberal mind, under the 
 influence of free association with other enlightened minds, 
 toward the perfect freedom which we have in Christ to 
 adapt oiu" principles and practices to the existing wants of 
 society. It is a very great pity that the Society of Friends 
 so utterly failed to recognize this practical law of expe- 
 diency, though it is abundantly illustrated in the Bible and 
 elsewhere as God's method of education and government 
 for a progressive state. The effects of this narrowness of 
 conception in matters of doctrine, and its contrast with a 
 spirit which was becoming more and more catholic through 
 enlarged sympathy and acquaintance with humanity, are 
 fui'ther exhibited in the next entry of this richly instructive 
 
250 
 
 ELIZABETH FBV. 
 
 Journal; and yet it will be seen fromits> last sentence that 
 she was herself but just emerging from the entangling tradi- 
 tions of a puritanical age. To an enlightened mind at the 
 present time it seems an absurdity that a Christian should 
 be excommunicated for marrying a person of a somewhat 
 different persuasion. 
 
 " Sixth Month, IQth. — Since I last wrote I have got 
 through the Yearly Meeting, which I attended nearly 
 throughout. There appeared to be much more love and 
 unity than last year ; stUl it is a shaking time, and some of 
 the Leaders of our Tribes think they differ in some points 
 of doctrine * ; but I believe it is more in word than in 
 reality; and as they love the Lord Jesus, if they have wan 
 dared a little they will be brought back. I was a good deal 
 engaged, having to take a quiet view, neither on one side 
 nor the other, but seeing the good of both. But I have a 
 very great fear of ever being too forward, a thing I very 
 much dislike and disapprove. May my Lord preserve me 
 from it. 
 
 " I was favored to get well through the British Society 
 Meeting, and could but return thanks that our Holy Head 
 
 had so blessed this work. — With respect to my dear L ''s 
 
 engagement of mariiage I have apprehended that the hand 
 of the Lord is in it ; and oh ! saith my soul, may it prove 
 so. The pain of her leaving our Society, and the steps at- 
 tending it have begun, to the wounding of my spirit ; for 
 though I do not set much value on outward membership in 
 any visible church, yet it has its pains, at times great pains, 
 to me, and I am ready to say in my heart, ilow is it? 
 When I have one tii'ter another of my iamiiy thus brought 
 before our Meeting, it has its trials and humiliations. It 
 would be to me a pleasanter, and I think & more satisfac- 
 
 * This was a wave from tho conllict which caused the division of 
 f rieuii.s iu America, iu 1827-3. 
 
RISING UP THE MOUNTAINS. 
 
 tory thing, if the discipline of our Society had not so much 
 of the inquisitorial in it, and did not interfere in some 
 things that I believe no religious body has aright to ta^ie a 
 part in ; it leads I think to undesirable results. Thougli I 
 approve persons being disowned f r mairyuig out of our 
 Society, I had rather the act of maiTiage in itself forfeited 
 membership." 
 
 " Upton, Seventh Month 25th. — To-morrow I expect ta 
 Bet oft' on a journey to Scotland. I have taken an affecting 
 leave of my family, praying that we might again (if the will 
 of God) be refreshed together; and my way was satisfac- 
 torily opened to go. 
 
 "^y Loch Fay, Eighth Month, 9th, First-day. — ^Not 
 having a Meeting to go to, and not believing it right for 
 me to attend any other place of worship, I desire to spend 
 a time in solemn searching of heart before the Lord ; and 
 may I be enabled to hold communion with Him in spuit» 
 On the morning of the 1st, the day appointed for the libera- 
 tion of all the slaves in the British domin'ons, (August ist. 
 1834) and on which my deai* niece, Priscilla Buxton was to 
 be married, I poured forth my soul in deep supplication 
 before my Heavenly Father, on behalf of the poor slaves, 
 that a quiet spirit might be granted them — that their spiV' 
 itual bonds might also be broken — that the liberty prepared 
 for the children of God might be their portion. I also 
 prayed for my beloved niece and her companion in life, that 
 the Lord would be with them, keep them, and bless them. 
 
 Edinburgh, Eighth Month, 2Sth. — I left my dearest 
 husband and two daughters in the Highlands, as I wished 
 to accompany my boy on his way to England, and above all 
 to attend the Meetings, see the Friends and visit the prisoij 
 here." . . . 
 
 Of her engagements at Edinbui-gh she writes : 
 
 "I had much to be thankful for iu the help granted to- 
 
252 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 me in such religious services as I believe I was called into, 
 in Meetings, families, and Institutions. I had very solemn 
 religious times in the Gaol and large Eefuge, also shorter 
 ones in the Bridewell and another Eefuge. The hearts of 
 many appeared to be peculiarly opened to me, and entire 
 strangers wonderfully ministered to my wants and upheld 
 my hands, particularly the Mackenzie family. Our dear 
 friends who knew me before were abundantly kind to me. 
 May the Lord in His love and mercy, reward them for their 
 great kindness to me, His very unworthy servant, and may 
 He still soften and enlarge their hearts towards me until the 
 ^ork that He gives me to do amongst them be accomplished. 
 I find a field for much important service for the poor, and 
 to make more arrangements, for the ladies who visit the 
 prisons. I desire and earnestly pray to be preserved fi'om 
 an over-active spirit in these things ; and on the other hand 
 faithfully, diligently, humbly and watchfully, to do what- 
 ever my Lord gives me to do that may be to His glory, or 
 the good of my fellow-creatures. 
 
 "We have passed through a very lovely counti'y; but the 
 Bun has not shone much upon us, and the atmosphere of 
 my mind has partaken of the same hue, which is not so 
 pleasant as more lively coloring of the mind, but I am ready 
 to think more profitable, and perhaps more likely to qualify 
 ine for the weighty duties before me." 
 
 "From Loch Katrine the party passed to Balloch, and 
 Luss, and thence to Inverary and Loch Awe, from whence 
 Mrs. Fry returned to Edinburgh, her time and energies 
 being devoted to the completion of those objects begun on 
 a former visit. 
 
 " But whilst many institutions of great importance, owe 
 their existence, either directly, or indirectly, to her skill and 
 exertions — and she sowed the seed of many a noble tree — 
 Bhe did not omiL the smallest opportunities of benefiting 
 others that are presented in the occurrences of each passing 
 hour. It was her unvarying practice, both at private dwell* 
 
RISING UP THE MOUNTAINa. 
 
 25» 
 
 ings and at the inns where they passed their First-days, to 
 invite the servants to attend the evening Scripture i-eadings ; 
 many of the visitors who like themselves were only sojourn- 
 ers for a short time, also joined them on these S3]emn and 
 interesting occasions. Hers was a constant endeavor to 
 leave some savor of good on all with whom she had any com- 
 munication. The chambermaid and the waiter received the 
 word of kindness and counsel, and a little tract, or text-book 
 to impress it upon their memories. The postillion at the 
 carriage window, and the cotter at the roadside, met with 
 appropriate notice, and this mingled with the most unaffected 
 enjoyment of the counti-y and spiiit in all the incidents of 
 traveling. 
 
 "The results of her observations ou the state of the 
 Scotch prisons she forwai'ded to the proper authorities after 
 her return."* 
 
 During the year 1833 she accompanied her husband to 
 the South of England, calling at the Coast Guard Stations, 
 Hospitals, etc., made a brief visit to the Isle of Wight, and 
 to Guernsey, thence to Weymouth, Plymouth and Falmouth, 
 where she arranged to have the packets continually sailing 
 from the latter port supplied with Bibles, Testaments, 
 tracts, &c. She returned by way of North Devon, and 
 Amesbury where she paused long enough to arrange for 
 the establishment of a library for the use of the Shepherds 
 of Salisbury Plain. All these movements were successful 
 in the objects aimed at, and resulted in no small amount of 
 good to the poor who were thus provided with means of 
 improvement. 
 
 • Memoir Vol, 2, page 210. 
 
254 
 
 ELIZABETH FBY. 
 
 During a visit to Sussex and Kent, in March 183G, oo 
 curred the following incident. 
 
 "At Hastings several of the Coast Gnai'd men and officers 
 were at the Meeting. I had many proofs of the use and 
 va"lue of the libraries sent them to my comfort and satisfac- 
 tion, proving it not to have been labor 'in vain in the Lord.' 
 Keal kindness, a'.most affection, as well as gratitude was 
 shown to me by several of the men and officers and their 
 families. AVo hope a Bible Society will be formed at Rye 
 in consequence of our visit, and a Prison Society at Dover. 
 But to come to one of the most interesting parts of our ex- 
 pediiiou, we went to Sheerness to visit the women and chil- 
 Qi-en in the ship in ordinary. Captain Kennedy had them 
 collected at my request ; it was a line sight, in a large man- 
 of-wav, instead of bloodshed and fightings to see many 
 naval officers, two chaplains, sailors, soldiers, ladies, num- 
 bers of women and children, all met to hear what two Qua- 
 kers had to say, more particularly a woman, and to listen to 
 any advice given by them. We examined the children as to 
 their knowiedge, then gave them advice, after-wards we ad- 
 di'essed their parents, and lastly those present generallj'— 
 we were received with great cordiality by Captaiu Kennedy, 
 end his wife." 
 
 In April and May of the same year she spent a month in 
 Ir eland. The description of the setting out and the return 
 has a touching personal interest, and perhaps illustrates 
 the power of prayer. 
 
 "Fourth Month, lith. — Just about leaving heme for 
 Ireland — oh deaiest Lord! Vieaa, I entreat Thee, this act of 
 faith, to my faniiiy, myself, and tho.se amongst whom I go, 
 and be, I most humbly pray Tiiee, my Keeper, and their 
 Keeper ; my Helper, and tht-ir Helper ; my Strengtli, and 
 the^- Strength; my Joy audPeact;, and their- Joy and i'eaje. 
 
BISING DP THE MOtTNTAINS. 
 
 255 
 
 Amen ! Grant this for Thine own name's sake, O most 
 gracious Lord Gocl ! cause also that we may again meet in 
 love, joy, peace and safety. 
 
 " Upton Lane, Fifth Month, \2>th. — I returned home 
 safely, yesterday afternoon. I think I never had so happy 
 and so prosperous an arrival. I wept with joy: the stream 
 appears to be turned for awhile : my tears have often flowed 
 for sorrow, and now my beloved husband and children have 
 caused them to flow for joy. I found not only all going on 
 well, and having done so in my absence, but, to please, com- 
 fort and surprise me, my dearest husband had had my 
 rooms altered and made most comfortable, and my childi'en 
 had sent me nice presents to make them more complete. 
 Theii" offerings of love quite gladdened my. heart, though 
 far too good for me ; I felt utterly unworthy of them ; I 
 may say peculiarly so. I have seldom returned home moro 
 sensible of the hidden evils of my heart. Circumstances have 
 unusually made me feel this. I fully believe in this goin^f 
 out luuch help has been gi anted me in various ways. My 
 understanding has appeared to be enlightened more fully to 
 see and comprehend gospel truth, and power has been given 
 me to utter it boldly, beyond what I could have su^^posed.'" 
 
 Referring to the above, Mrs. Corder remarks: "The pre- 
 ceding extract depicts what was, under all circumstances, the 
 striking characteristic of this remarkable woman — her deep 
 humility and low estimate of herself. She who was contin- 
 ually devoting every energy of mind and body to promote 
 the happiness of the human family, and whose self-sacriticing; 
 love assumed a concentrated form of tenderest attachment 
 towards each member of her own immediate circle, callinsr 
 forth, in every hour of need, the juost assiduous exertions 
 in their service, is yet found to be so acutely affected b/ 
 tokens of kind attention from her husband and children— 
 
256 
 
 ELrZAEETH FEY. 
 
 tokens which might naturally be expected by every aflfec- 
 tionate wife and mother — that the tears of grateful joy are 
 shed, and her heart is ffladdened by offerings of love which 
 she feels herself utterly unworthy'' to receive. This inci- 
 dent portrays her mind in lines more vividly defined than 
 pen can describe." 
 
 "Sixth Month, 18th. — I have felt a good deal pressed in 
 spiiit during these last few days. The day before yester- 
 day I counted twenty-nine persons who came here on 
 various accounts, principally to see me. There are times 
 when the tide of life is almost overpowering. It makes me 
 doubtful as to our remaining much longer in this place 
 which from its situation brings so many here. I have sev- 
 eral things which rather weightily press me just now. I 
 desire to lay my case before the Lord, trusting in Him, and 
 casting myself and my whole care upon Him. Dearest 
 Lord, help : supply all our needs through Thy riches of 
 grace in Christ Jesus! Amen." 
 
 July 27th she set out for another visit to the islands of 
 Jersey and Guernsey, to further the work previously inaugu- 
 rated and minister the Gospel to such as were in need. 
 She felt constrained to remain until her task was completed, 
 notwithstanding that one of her sisters, the wife of Samuel 
 Hoare, was at the time rapidly approaching her end. She 
 finished her public woik iu time to attend at the bedside of 
 her dying sister. She had gone on this mission under a 
 sense of duty notwithstanding her sister's low state. Siio 
 writes : 
 
 "I had the inexpressible comfort of being permitted a 
 fe.v days with her, and she evidently liked my company. I 
 paiiicL'.]ai'ly ob2c:"%e.l ho.v gently I was dealt with, by her 
 
filSIKQ W THE MOUNTAINS. 
 
 257 
 
 reviving after I arrived, so that I had not the bitterness oi 
 seeing her at once sinking. The affliction was thus mitiga- 
 ted to me ; I was enabled to show her some marks of my 
 deep and true love, and to be with and earnestly pray for 
 her in the hour of death. I was helped to be some comfort 
 to many of her family, and (utterly unworthy as I know I 
 am of it) I believe in my various ministrations I was enabled 
 to prove the power of the Spiiit to qualify for his own work ; 
 and amongst them all, particularly with my dear nephew 
 who has just entered the ' Church,' deeply to impress the 
 necessity of the work of the Spirit being carried on ia the 
 heart, and of having Christian charity towards others of 
 every denomination. My beloved sister Hoare's death has 
 made a deep impression on me. I do not like to enter life 
 or its cares, or to see many, or to be seen. I like to with- 
 draw from the world and to be very quiet." 
 
 Soon after this her husband and one of their daughters 
 met with serious injuries ia France, by the falling of their 
 caniage over a precipice twelve feet in perpendicular height. 
 The father was severely shocked and the daughter barely 
 escaped with her life. While watching this daughter, ac- 
 counts came from another daughter who, with her little boy 
 and his nurse, was sick with scarlet fever. All these re- 
 covered ; but about three months later, a beloved and amia- 
 ble sister-in-law, Lady Harriet Gurney, wife of her brother 
 Daniel, died very suddenly, leaving a family of eight young 
 children. On the day of the funeral she writes : 
 
 "What a scene of unutterable sorrow at Runcton, where 
 a few days ago all was, in no common degree, joy, peace 
 and great prosperity. Oh ! what occadions are these whei'e 
 families meet together for the affecting and solemn purpose 
 
258 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 of committing the remains of a beloved one to tlie silenl 
 grave. May the Lord Himself lift up the light of His coun- 
 tenance upon them and bless them, and keep them in a 
 soimd mind and sound faith. Be pleased, O gracious 
 Lord! to help, pity, and comfort these afflicted ones thia 
 day." 
 
 ''Sixth Month, (1837)— The King died last Third-day, 
 the 20th. Our young Queen was proclaimed yesterday. 
 My prayers have arisen for her that our Heavenly Father 
 would pour forth His Spirit upon her, guide her by His 
 covmsel, and grant her that wisdom which is from above. I 
 
 have received a long letter from the Duchess of giving 
 
 a very interesting account of her, and the death of the late 
 King. 
 
 " Seventh Month, 2Qth. — I returned home yesterday even- 
 ing from Lowestoft, after having accompanied my brother 
 Joseph to Liverpool on his way to America. Our time at 
 Earlham was very interesting ; I believe I was helpful to my 
 brother in a large Meeting that he held to take leave of the 
 citizens of Norwich. It was a highly interesting occasion 
 and I trust edifying to many. I am very sorry to say that 
 my mind has too much the habit of anxiety and fearfulness. 
 I believe this little joui-ney would have been much more use- 
 ful to me, but from an almost constant cloud over me, from 
 the fear of being wanted by some of my family. I thiak it 
 would be better for myself and for them, if they did not 
 always cling so closely round my heart so as to become too 
 much a weight upon me. 
 
 "My beloved brother's taking leave of Earlham and the 
 famUy there, [his wife was deceased] was very aflfectiag; 
 still there was peace in it, and joy in the Lord, inasmuch as 
 there is delight in doing what we believe to be His will. 
 We went from Earlham to Runcton ; there we dined. Shall 
 I ever dine with my three brothers again ? The Lord only 
 knows — my heart was tendered in being with them." 
 
RISING UP THE MOUNTAINS. 
 
 259 
 
 This parting visit to her brother was concluded at Liver- 
 pool, and is thus graphically described: 
 
 " "We made all things comfortable for him ; I attended to 
 the books, and that a proper library should go out for the 
 crew, passengers and steerage passengers. However occu- 
 pied or interested, I desire never to forget anything that 
 may be of service to others. We had a delightful morning 
 with Joseph, but the tears often rose to my eyes ; still I 
 desire to be thankful more than sorrowful, that I have a 
 brother so fitted for his Lord's service, and willing to give 
 up all for His name's sake. 
 
 "That evening again we had an interesting religious time 
 in prayer. The next morning there was a solemn calm over 
 us — the day of parting was come. After breakfast we all 
 assembled, with some of our friends. We read the 4th of 
 PhiUppians, our spirits were much bowed and broken, but 
 the chapter encouraged us to stand fast in the Lord, to help 
 one another in Christ — even the women who labored in the 
 gospel — and to be careful for nothing, for that the Lord 
 would supply all our need. 
 
 " Soon afterwards we went to the ship. I saw the hbrary 
 arranged, with some others to help me; then devoted my- 
 self to my beloved brother, put sweet flowers in his cabin 
 which was made most comfortable for him. It was an- 
 nounced that the ship was going — we assembled in the 
 ladies cabin — I believe all wept. William Forster said the 
 language had powerfully impressed him — 'I will be with 
 you always, even to the end of the world ; ' therefore we 
 might trust our beloved ones to Him who had promised. I 
 then knelt down with these words — ' Now, Lord, what wait 
 we foi", our hope is in Thee,' and entirely committed him 
 and his companions in the ship to the most holy and pow- 
 erful keeping of Israel's Shepherd ; that even the voyage 
 might be blessed to him and to others. In short our souls 
 
S6U 
 
 ELIZABETH FEY. 
 
 were poured forth before and unto the Lord in deep prayer 
 and supplication. Joseph almost sobbed; still a solemn 
 quiet and peace reigned over us. I believe the Lord waa 
 with us and owned us at this solemn time. We left the 
 ship and walked by the side of the Pier, until they were 
 towed out ; then we went away and wept bitterlj^ — but not 
 the tears of deep sorrow ; far from it ; how different fronc 
 the grief for sin, or even disease, or the perplexities of life.' 
 
 Soon after this Mrs. Fry proposed a plan for securing 
 more intercourse on religious subjects with her children, 
 who had, in different ways, and by various means, been 
 brought to acknowledge their Saviour's claims — thus afford- 
 ing an answer to her motherly travail and prayers, though 
 not in the manner of her own choosing. She thus speaks 
 of it immediately before the experiment was tried. 
 
 "Ninth Month, 2nd, 1837. — I have for many months 
 past deeply felt the wish for more religious intercourse with 
 my children, and more uniting with them upon important 
 and interesting subjects. I have turned it in my mind 
 again and again, and at last have proposed making the ex- 
 periment, and meeting this evening, first to consider differ- 
 ent subjects of usefulness in charities, and then to close 
 with serious reading, and such religious communication as 
 way may open for. 
 
 "Thou, Lord, only knowest the depth of my desire for 
 the everlasting welfare of my children. If it be Thy holy 
 and blessed will, grant that we may be truly united to 
 Thee, as members of thy Militant Church on earth, and 
 epu'itually united amongst ourselves, as members of one 
 body, eadb filling his different office faithfully unto Thee. 
 Grant that this little effort may be blessed to promote this 
 end, and cause that in making it we may experience the 
 
BISING UP THE MOUNTAINS. 
 
 261 
 
 sweet influence of Thy love shed abroad in each of our 
 heai'ts, to our real help, comfort, edification and unity." 
 
 The proposal was made as follows : 
 
 " Upton Lane, Eighth Month, 15th, 1837. 
 "My deaeest Children, 
 
 Many of you know that for some time I have felt and 
 expressed the want of our social intercourse at times lead- 
 ing to religious union and communion amongst us. It has 
 pleased the Almighty to permit that by far the larger num- 
 ber of you no longer walk with me in my religious course. 
 Except very occasionally, we do not meet together for the 
 solemn purpose of worship, and upon some other points we 
 do not see eye to eye ; and whilst I feel deeply sensible 
 that notwithstanding this diversity we are truly united in 
 oui- Holy Head, there are times when, in my decliuiog years 
 I seriously feel the loss of not having more of the spiritual 
 help and encouragement of those I have brought up, and 
 truly sought to nurture in the Lord. This has led me to 
 many serious considerations how the case may, under pres- 
 ent cuxumstances, be in any way met. 
 
 " My conclusion is that believing as we do in one Lord 
 as our Saviour, one Holy Spiiit as our Sanctifier, and one 
 God and Father of us all, our points of union are surely 
 strong ; and if we are members of one living Church, and 
 expect to be such forever, we may prontabiy unite in some 
 religious engagements here below. 
 
 " The world au i the things of it occupy us too much and 
 tht7 are rapidly p .ssing away; it would be well if we occa- 
 sionally set aparc a time for unitedly attending to the 
 things of Eternity. I therefore propose that we try the 
 following plan; if it answer, continue it; if not, by no 
 means feel bound to it. — That our pai'ty, in the fii-st in- 
 stance, should consist of no others than our childi'en, and 
 such grandchildren as may be old enough to attend. That 
 
262 
 
 ELIZABETH PBT. 
 
 our object in meeting be for the strengthening of our faith, 
 for our advancement in a devoted, religious, and holy life, 
 and for the promotion of Christian love and fellovFship. 
 
 "That we read the Scriptures unitedly, in an easy, 
 familiar manner, each being at perfect liberty to make any 
 remark or ask any question ; that it should be a time of 
 religious instruction by seeking to understand the mind of 
 the Lord, for doctrine and practice in searching the Scrip- 
 tures, and bringing oui'selves and our deeds to the light, 
 that it may be made manifest if they are wrought in God. 
 That either before or after the Scriptures are read, we 
 should consider how far we are really engaged for the good 
 of our fellow-men, and what, as far as we can judge, most 
 conduces to this object. AU the members of this little 
 community are advised to communicate anything they may 
 have found useful or interesting in religious books, and to 
 bring forward anything that is doing for the good of man- 
 kind in the world generally. 
 
 " I hope that thus meeting together may stimulate the 
 family to more devotion or heart to the service of their God, 
 at home and abioad, to mind their different callings, how- 
 ever varied, and to be active in helping others. It is pro- 
 posed that this meeting should take place once a month, at 
 each house in rotation. 
 
 " I have now drawn some little outline of what I desire, 
 and if any of you like to unite with me in making the exper- 
 iment it would be very gratifying to me ; still I hope that 
 all will feel at liberty to do as they think best themselves. 
 I am indeed your neaily attached mother, 
 
 Elizabeth Fay." 
 
 In refe nee to this proposal and its results the daugh- 
 ters state, in her Memoir, that "The plan was tried and 
 found to anbwer exceedingly well, toome of the collateral 
 branches of the family afterwards joined these little re- 
 unions: they proved occasions of stimuias in 'every good 
 
ElSme TO THE MOUNTADIft 
 
 263 
 
 vrovd and work.' Some important good has resulted from 
 the combined exertions consequent upon them, and they 
 continue to this day under the name of 'philanthropic 
 evenings ; ' and they are always concluded by a Scripture 
 reading, and occasionally by prayer." Thus do her works 
 follow bar. 
 
CHAPTER NINTH. 
 
 FIKST AND SECOND VISITS TO THE OOKTINENT. 
 
 In 1838 Elizabeth Fry began the remarkable series of 
 visits to the Continent of Europe which rendered her name 
 almost as familiar there as it was in England. The subject 
 is thus briefly opened in her Journal: 
 
 " Twelfth Month, 20fA.— I have laid before my Monthly 
 Meeting my prospect of visiting France, and obtained the 
 concurrence of Friends. Oh ! for help, daily, hourly, — and 
 may a sound mind, love and power be granted to me and 
 to others, to our own peace and the glory of God. 
 
 " Upton Lane, First Month, Qth, 1838. — I yesterday re- 
 turned from a visit to Norfolk. Before going there I laid 
 my concern to go to France before our large Quarterly 
 Meeting, and had the very great encouragement of such a 
 flow of unity as I have seldom heard expressed on any oc- 
 casion. 
 
 " 24«A. — I expect to leave home to-morrow for France. 
 My spirit has been very much brought down before the 
 Lord; some causes of anxiety have arisen ; still in this my 
 going out love abounds in no common degree, and a portion 
 of soul-sustaining peace underneath. These words com- 
 forted me this morning, 2 Timothy, i. 12 : 'I know whom I 
 have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep 
 that which I have committed unto Him against that day.' 
 I therefore, in this my going out commit myself and my all 
 to my most blessed and holy Keeper, even to the Lord God 
 
FIRST AND SECOND VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 265 
 
 of my salvation, my only hope of real help and defence, and 
 of eternal glory." 
 
 She was accompanied in this journey by her husband, 
 their friend Josiah Forster, and Lydia Irving. In keeping 
 with the plan I have in view I shall give only the most im- 
 portant incidents of these journeys, leaving those who wish 
 a more detailed account to find it in the fuller memorials 
 from which these selections are made. 
 
 The travelers found but little to do in Bologne, but visited 
 the prison, convent and hospital and then went directly 
 to Paris where " comfortable and commodious apartments 
 were prepared for them at the Hotel de Castile by the kind 
 attentions of M. Francois Delessert. They arrived there 
 very tued and very cold on the 30th of January. The 
 morning of the 31st was opened with solemn united prayer, 
 offered for wisdom from on High to direct, and strength to 
 perform, whatever might be called for at their hands. Then 
 came a visit from Madame Delessert, two notes from Lord 
 Granville, the English Ambassador at Paris, a call at the 
 Embassy, and in the evening the company of M. de Pres- 
 sense, the Secretary of the Bible Society, with his wife. 
 
 Feb. 1st, they attended a small Friends' Meeting held 
 in the Faubourg du Roule, and afterwards called on La 
 Baronne Pelet de la Lozere. In her Elizabeth Fry found a 
 friend and sister in Christ. They then paid a visit to Count 
 Montalivet, Minister of the Interior, by whom they were 
 most kindly received and promised all needful admissions 
 to the different prisons." 
 
 A summary of her engagements in Paris is given in a lelr 
 ter. to her children written from St. Germains. 
 
263 
 
 EtlZABETH TRY. 
 
 " Third Month, 5th, 1838. 
 
 "We arrived here last evening after quitting the most 
 deeply interesting field of service I think I was ever en- 
 gaged in. My first feeling is peace and true thankfulness 
 for the extraordinary help granted to us ; my next feeling 
 an earnest desire to communicate to you, my most tenderly 
 beloved children, and others nearest to me, the sense I have 
 of the kindness, and goodness, and mercy, of my Heavenly 
 Father who has dealt so bountifully with me, that it may 
 lead all to serve Him fully, love Him more, and follow more 
 simply the guidance of the Spirit. 
 
 "I mean now to tell you a Uttle of my reflections upon 
 this important period, the last month in Paris. I was at 
 first very poorly, very low, and saw little opening for re- 
 ligious usefulness, though some for charity and benevolent 
 objects. Soon my health revived and we had full occupa- 
 tion in visiting prisons and other institutions, and saw many 
 influential persons. This opened a door in various ways for 
 close communication with a deeply interesting variety ol 
 both philanthropic and religious people, and thus intro- 
 duced into a more intimate acquaintance with the state of 
 general society. Religiously, we find some, indeed we may 
 say a great many, who appear much broken off from the 
 bonds of Eoman Catholic superstition; but with it, I fear 
 have been ready to give up religion itself, though feeling 
 the need of it for themselves and others. To these I think 
 we have been helpful by upholding religion in its simplicity 
 and most strongly expressing our sense of the necessity of 
 it, and that nothing can alter or improve the moral charac- 
 ter, or bring real peace, but true Christian principles. To 
 this we have very faithfully borne testimony, and most 
 strongly encouraged all to promote a more free cu'culation 
 of the Scriptui'es, particularly the New Testament, and a 
 more diligent reading of the Bibie in institutions and fam- 
 ihes. I have in private circles introduced (frequently by de- 
 scribing what poor crimin 'l wanted in prisons) the simp'e 
 
P3ST AND SECOND VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 267 
 
 truths of the Gospel, illustrated sometimes by interesting 
 facts respecting the conversion of these poor woman prison- 
 ers ; and have been thus enabled in numerous parties to 
 show the broad, clear, and simple way of salvation, through 
 our Lord and Saviour for all. It has been striking to me 
 in our dinner visits, some of them splendid occasions, how 
 curiously way has opened, without the least formahty, or 
 even difficulty, in conversation, to ' speak the truth in love' 
 — especially one day as to how far balls and theatres were 
 Christian and right; the way in which Eoman CathoUo 
 priests appeared to hinder the spread of the Gospel ; the 
 importance of circulating good books (this has been a very 
 common subject) and above all the New Testament. At 
 our Ambassador's, Lord Granville's several were in tears 
 during the conversation. I think our dinner visits have 
 been an important part of our service, so much has been 
 done by these communications after and at them. In many 
 instances numbers have joined us in the evening, particu* 
 larly the youth. With these it has pleased my Heavenly 
 Father to give me some influence. Last First-day evening 
 I had a very large party of them to a reading, which appears 
 to have given much satisfaction. It has been a most curious 
 opiening w'ith persons of many nations. Many have lately 
 flocked to our little meetings. I wonder how I could feel 
 easy to go away from such a field of service, but I did, and 
 therefore went. On Third-day went to the King and Queen, 
 and therefore could not attend our little week day Meeting: 
 they said eighty persons came to it who went away. I have 
 found unusual help at these times to speak the truth with 
 power ; my belief is that there are many unsettled and seek- 
 ing minds in this country. 
 
 " We have had much intercourse with the Minister of In- 
 struction, and he gives me leave to send him a large number 
 of books from England to be translated into French. My 
 full belief is that many Testaments and valuable books will 
 circulate in consequence of our visit. 
 
%68 
 
 ELIZABETH FRT. 
 
 " The efforts made to form a Ladies Society to visit the 
 prisons of France, and particularly Paris, (whether they 
 succeed or not) have been important. First, by my taking 
 many ladies to visit the great Female Prison of St. Lazare 
 and there reading, or having read, small portions of Scrip- 
 ture, and my few words through an interpreter producing 
 (far beyond what I could have expected) such a wonderful 
 effect upon these poor sinners. The glad tidings of the 
 Gospel appeared to touch their hearts; many wept exceed- 
 ingly, and it was a fresh and striking proof of the power 
 of truth, when simply told. In the next place the large 
 number of ladies that have met at our house upon the sub- 
 ject has afforded so remarkable an opportunity to express 
 to them my views of salvation by Christ alone, of the unity 
 that should exist among Christians, and must do so, if sanc- 
 tified by the Spirit ; and deeply to impress the simplicity 
 and spirituality of true religion. I think something impor- 
 tant in the prison cause will eventually come of it, but it 
 will take time. 
 
 " We have had very large parties of English and Americans* 
 and some French, at the houses of the Methodist minister, 
 the American minister, and at another serious person's. 
 Also we joined the French Wesleyan Methodists in their 
 chapel, and had a precious meeting with them. Of the 
 highly evangOiical Episcopalians and Independents, we had 
 large parties at different houses. In all these we have had 
 fcolemn religious service. The Episcopalians have been 
 brought into very close union with us. In our own house 
 we have had two large parties of a philanthropic and rehg- 
 ious nature, attended by many. Lady Olivia Sparrow has 
 often been quite a comfort to me; and many others I may 
 say have proved true helpers — French and Americans, and 
 more than these — the Charge d' Affaires of the Ha use Towns 
 and his wife, also Prussians and Swiss. The Greek Ambas- 
 sador Coletti came to me for advice on some points in the 
 state of Greece, in which I believe I shall be enabled to 
 
FIKST AND SECOND VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 
 
 26» 
 
 assist him. A Captain B thinks of having my sister 
 
 Hoare's 'Hints for the Laboring Classes' translated for 
 the parents of the children who attend the schools upon 
 the mountains in India. We have also seen many of the 
 medical students, English and American, and are anxious 
 to have some efforts made for their moral and religioua 
 good, in Paris where so many come. 
 
 "Our visit to the King arid Queen was interesting ; but 
 alas ! what, in reality is rank ? The King I thiak in person 
 like the late Lord Torriugton, the Queen a very agreeable 
 and even interesting woman. I expressed my reUgiou3 
 interest and concern for them, which was well received, and 
 we had much conversation with the Queen and the Princess 
 Adelaide before the King came into the room. We strongly 
 expressed to the Queen our desire to have the Sabbath bet- 
 ter kept, and the Scriptures more read. She is a sweet- 
 minded, merciful woman. There were present Madame 
 Adelaide, the King's sister, one of the young Princesses, 
 
 the Maichioness of D , principal Lady of Honor to the 
 
 Queen. 
 
 " We then proceeded to the Duchess of Orleans ; there 
 we had a delightful visit, and the sweetest religious com- 
 munication with her, and other interesting conversation. 
 We found her an uncommon person ; my belief is that she 
 is a very valuable young woman. 
 
 " The Queen appeared much pleased with my Text-book j 
 and the Princess Adelaide said she should keep it in her 
 pocket and read it daily. Lideed no books have given the 
 same pleasure as the Text-books, both in French and Eng- 
 lish. I think we have given many hundreds of them, and 
 next in number my sister Louisa's books on Education ; 
 they delight the people ; also a great many of Joseph's let- 
 ters to Dr. A of which we have a beautiful edition in 
 
 French, and his Sabbath ; of these we expect to give many 
 hundreds; and one or two other tracts on Christian Duties, 
 and the offices of the Holy Spirit. Our vaiious books and 
 
270 
 
 ELIZABETH FBI. 
 
 tracts have had a very open reception, but we have been 
 very caref al when, where, and what to give ; although in 
 Bome of the newspapers it was stated that I distributed 
 controversial tracts, which is not true. 
 
 " I began in my letter to say what a variety we have seen, 
 but I did not say what interesting and delightful persons 
 we have met with ; amongst the ProLestants particulai'ly 
 some first rate ladies who have been as sisters to me, so 
 abundant in kindness and love. One has truly reminded 
 me of my sister Eachel in her person, her mind, and her 
 excessive care over me ; she has felt me I believe like her 
 own. We have indeed increased our dear and near friends 
 by this visit, much as it was in Jersey and Guernsey, only 
 in far greater numbers. I think nothing could be more 
 seasonable than our visit, as it respected the prisons ; and 
 I believe the influence of our advice has been very decided, 
 with many persons of consideration. The schools we have 
 also attended to, and I have encouraged a more Scriptural 
 education ; some schools of great consequence, kept by 
 serious Protestants in a district of Paris, want much help. 
 There are seven hundi'ed children, and we hear that tiie 
 Head of the Police in that neighborhood says the people 
 generally are improved in consequence. 
 
 "The want of the language I have now and then mucb 
 felt, but not very often, so many speak English well, and 
 many understand it who cannot speak it. Also I blunder 
 out a little French. 
 
 " The entreaties for us to stop longer in Paris have been 
 very great, but my inclination draws homeward; I am a 
 very great friend to not stopping too long in a place. And 
 as I believed I saw a little hght on our departure, we 
 thought it best to leave all for the present, if we even have, 
 before many months more, to retvu'u for a short time. We 
 have been a united and often a cheerful httle party. At 
 times I have carried a great weight, never hai'dly having 
 my home party out of mind for long together, however 
 
FIEST AND SECOND VISITS TO THE CONTINBNT. 271 
 
 full and occupied. At other times our business has been so 
 great as almost to overwhelm us — callers almost innumera- 
 ble, and most of them on important business, and out and 
 in almost constantly ourselves, so that I have sometimes 
 felt as if I could not long bear it, particularly when I could 
 not obtain some rest in the afternoon. Through all I must 
 say He who I believe put me forth has, from season to sea- 
 son, restored my soul and body and helped me from hour 
 to horn-. This day week I sat down upon my chair and 
 wept ; but I was soon helped and revived. I long for every 
 child, brother, sister, and all near to me, to be sensible how 
 very near my Holy Helper has been to me; and yet I have 
 exceedingly and deeply felt my utter unworthiness and 
 short coming, and that all is from the fulness and freenesa 
 of unmerited mercy and love in Christ Jesus. I can hardly 
 express the very near love I have felt for you all. My 
 prayers very often have arisen for you ; and i£ any labor I 
 have been engaged in has been accepted through the Be- 
 loved, may you, my most tenderly beloved ones partake of 
 the blessing attendant upon it. My dearest husband has 
 been a true helper; and Josiah Foster and Lydia Irving^ 
 very kind and useful companions. 
 
 "I forgot to say, I think the few friends in Paris have 
 been greatly comforted and stimulated by our visit. 
 
 "I end my account by saying what I trust is true, 'The 
 Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.' We are now 
 quietly at St. Germains. We hear most interesting accounts 
 of the state of Normandy, and have many letters of intro- 
 duction to the places where we propose to go: if not 
 wanted home I shall be glad to go there. We propose 
 going to Bouen to-morrow. 
 
 I am your most devotedly attached 
 
 Elizabeth Fey." 
 
 The remainder of the account is from the pen of her 
 daughters. 
 
272 
 
 ELIZABETH FB7 
 
 "At Eouen they were mucli interested by meeting with 
 a respectable woman in humble life who had lived nurse 
 fifteen years in a gentleman's family, a Roman Catholic, but 
 his wife a Protestant. There she had been so much im- 
 pressed by religious truth, (though still a Roman Catholic 
 herself) that she felt it her duty where she resided to circu- 
 L;te the Scriptures and religious tracts. Her master told 
 them it was surprising the great influence she had obtained 
 in the neighborhood. Mrs. Fry supplied her with six Tes- 
 taments and a Bible, from the Bible Society Depot. From 
 the same society she obtained a number of copies for the 
 school in the prison, where the Testament was habitually 
 read but the supply was very inadequate. This school was 
 under the care of the Abbe Gossier, M. Du Harnel, and 
 other religious gentlemen who themselves daily instructed 
 the young prisoners. 
 
 " At Caen they found some excellent and devoted Metho- 
 dists amongst the French, and learned that through the 
 efforts of one young English lady, (an orphan residing in a 
 gentleman's family as governess,) many coiDies of the Scrip- 
 tures had been purchased; and at the shop of a Roman 
 Catholic more than a hundred of de Lacy's Testaments sold 
 since the beginning of the year. 
 
 "The prison of Beanlieu, near Caen, was Adsited by them 
 with much satisfaction; nearly a thousand prisoners were 
 confined there. They found it admirably regulated and a 
 serious Roman Catholic clergyman devoted to the good of 
 those under his care. He gladly welcomed the gift of fifty 
 Testaments. 
 
 " At Havre the Ladies' Bible Society had sold during the 
 former year, four hundred and twenty-six Testaments, and 
 thhty-three Bibles, and had given fifty Testaments to sol- 
 diers who were in the habit of reading them every evening 
 to their comrades in the barracks. 
 
 " At Bologne they made arrangements for the sale of the 
 Holy Scriptures, and took a lively interest in the District 
 
FIBST AND SECOlfD VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 
 
 273 
 
 Socieiy, biience crossed to Dover, and on the following day 
 Mrs. i j.y had the comfort of finding herself again with her 
 family at home. 
 
 " The effect on her mind of this, her first introduction ta 
 France, was very powerful. She was greatly attracted by 
 the life and facility of the French character. In a letter 
 she speaks of them as 'such a nation — such a numerous 
 people — filjicg such a place in the world — and Satan appear* 
 ing in no common degree to be seeking to destroy them; 
 firs!, by infidelity and so-called philosophy ; secondly, by su- 
 peibiition, and the priesthood rising with fresh power ;, 
 thirdly, by an extreme love of the world and its pleasiures ; 
 fourthly by an unsettled, restless and warlike spirit : yet 
 under all this a hidden power of good at work amongst 
 them, mapy very extraordinary Cliiiodan chanicters, bright, 
 sober, zealous Catholics and Protsstants ; education increas- 
 ing ; the Holy Scriptures mc.'3 read and valued ; a general 
 stirring to improve the prisons of France — tlie Government 
 making fresh regulations for that purpose — but great fear 
 of the priests prevailing, from the pa.ace downwards; and 
 they, alas ! resisting all good wherever or howevei* it may 
 arise." 
 
 The Journal continues : 
 
 " Upton Lane, Fourth Mont/i, 27^/i.— Yesterday was tho 
 largest British Society meeting I avc.; remember, partly col- 
 lected to hear my account of our French journey; there 
 must have been some hundreds of ladies present, many of 
 them of rank. In the desire not to say too rnush perhaps 1 
 said too little upon some points. Although 1 d.o not feel 
 condemned, yet I am ready to think if I hz.l -.. aLuhed and 
 prayed more I should have done better. My prayers havo 
 arisen that, however imperfectly or unworthily sown the seed 
 scattered yesterday may be so prospered by His own frea 
 pcwsr, life and grace that it may bear a full crop to His 
 praise ! ' ' 
 
274 
 
 ELIZABETH FBY. 
 
 "20 «A. — To-morrow I am fifty-eiglit, an advanced period 
 of what I apprehend to be not a very common pilgrimage. 
 I now very earnestly desire and pray that my Lord may guide 
 me continually, cause me to know more of the day of His 
 power, that I may have my will wholly subjected to His 
 will. What He would have me to do that may I do, where 
 He would have me to go, there may I go — what He may 
 call me to suffer for His name's sake may I be willing to 
 •suffer. Fui'ther may He keep me from all false fears and 
 imaginations, and ever preserve me from putting my hand to 
 any work not called for by Him, even if my fellow-creatures 
 press me into it ; as I think some ai'e disposed to do about 
 America. Be pleased to gi'ant these my desires and pray- 
 ers for Thine own Holy and Blessed name's sake." 
 
 In reference to what called forth the above prayer her 
 daughters remark : "There was a subject at this time weigh- 
 ing heavily upon the mind of Elizabeth Fry which she 
 turned again and again before she dare dismiss it ; and 
 then it was more that other calls of duty appeared immedi- 
 ately required of her, than that she deliberately abandoned 
 the idea. Her brother Joseph John Gm-ney was pursuing 
 /lis labors in America as a minister of the Gospel ; and she 
 doubted whether it might not be her duty to cross the At- 
 lantic, in order to join him for a time in his visits in the 
 United States, and to accompany him to the West Indies. 
 There were those who thought she ought to go ; * but on 
 
 • This was urged from the belief that her remarkable power as a 
 peace maker might aid ia closing the breach -which had recently oo- 
 curred in the Society of Friends in America. But some wlio were ac- 
 quainted with the case were convinced tnat the effort would have been 
 unavailing, partly from tlie extent and intensity of the discord, ancj 
 partly £rom the failure of British Friends fully to understand all the 
 
FIBST AND SECOND VISITS TO THE OONXINEIIT. 275 
 
 the other hand she knew how entirely it would be against, 
 not only the wishes, but the judgment of her own family. 
 She had learned to trust very little to the opinions of 
 any of her fellow-mortals, and these conflicting views only 
 served to bring her in deeper dependence and more entire 
 self-resignation, to the footstool of her great Master to 
 learn His vsdll, that she might fulfil it. Whilst she pon- 
 dered these things a strong conviction arose in her heart 
 that there was a present duty for her to fulfil — once more 
 to visit Friends and then* Meetings in North Britain, again 
 to inspect the prisons there, and to communicate with the 
 magistrates and men in authority, whilst the Bill was stUl 
 pending which had been brought before the House the pre- 
 ceding Session of Paiiiament, to improve prisons and prison 
 discipline in Scotland." 
 
 This expedition occupied something more than a month 
 and resulted in much benefit to the cause of Prison Reform, 
 her recommendations being received with great considera- 
 tion by the authorities, and often speedily put into practice. 
 The following passage exhibits her method of dealing with 
 difficult points, and shows the discriminating character of 
 her mind. 
 
 " Mrs. Fry was at this time extremely anxious as to the • 
 extent to which Prison Discipline was carried in Scotland- 
 She greatly feared the enforcement of sohtary confinement, 
 and felt it her duty to make a sort of appeal against its pos- 
 sible abuses. 
 
 causes of the division, which embraced not merely points of doctrine 
 but the principles of liberty in religious association. One party stood 
 for Orthodoxy in doctrine, the other for the right of Christians to differ 
 in opinion, and each was on too strong ground to be easily couviucod. 
 
m 
 
 ELIZABETH FRY. 
 
 " She had therefore invited this large number of influen- 
 tial gentlemen whose attention had been given to the sub- 
 ject — magistrates, lawyers, members of the Prison Discipline 
 Society, and others, to meet her on this occasion (at the 
 Royal Hotel Edinburgh,) — an appalling audience, as they 
 sat all round, to the number of fifty. She gently engaged 
 in conversation with some who were seated at the most dis- 
 tant part of the room, and by degrees fell into an account 
 of her experience, and a full exposition of her mind on the 
 subject. 
 
 "As an abstract principle she doubted the right of man 
 to place a fellow-creature under cix'cumstances of such mis- 
 ery, if his offences were not of a very heinous or aggravated 
 nature. She could not believe that it was accordant with 
 reason or religion thus to isolate a being intended by his 
 Creator for social life, unless necessary for the safety of the 
 community, at large ; nor did she consider continued soli- 
 cude as the best method of reforming the offender. Very 
 many hours, she thought, might be passed alone with ad- 
 vantage, and the night always ; but she recognized a vast 
 difference between useful and improving reflection, and the 
 imagination dwelling upon past guilt or prospective evil. 
 Her conviction was that with the greater number of crimi- 
 nals left to feed upon their own mental resources, the latter 
 state of mind was highly probable, the former very unlikely. 
 Confinement that secluded from the vicious but allowed of 
 , frequent intercourse with sober, well-conducted persons 
 would have been in her view perfect. But where could 
 funds be obtained to raise the prison, or maintain its disci- 
 pline on such a system ? Some intercourse for a few hours 
 daily among prisoners carefully classed, diligently employed, 
 judiciously instructed, and under most vigilant and unceas- 
 ing superintendence, with the remaining hours of the twenty- 
 four passed in separate, but not gloomy seclusion, was, in 
 her oi^inion, the best and most likely method of benefiting 
 the criminal and thus eventually diminishing crime. She 
 
PIBST AND SECOND VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 277 
 
 shrank from the abuses to which the solitary system is liable. 
 How soon might the cell become an oubliette ; how short 
 the transition from kind and constant attention to cruelty 
 and neglect ; how entirely the comfort, nay, the existence of 
 a prisoner, must depend upon his keeper's will ; and what 
 was human nature to be trusted with such responsibility ? 
 With an active magistracy, a zealous clergyman, and carerul 
 medical attendant, all might be well ; but who could ensure 
 the continuance of these advantages? and were the activity 
 and benevolence of the present day to pass away why might 
 not the slumber of indifference again cover the land? " 
 
 A few intereresting extracts from the Journal of Mi-s. 
 Fry after her return from Scotland, will give an idea of * 
 how her time was employed between her visits abroad. 
 
 Upton, Ninth Month, 2^th. — We arrived at home last 
 Seventh-day, and to my great comfort I found all my family 
 going on well and comfortably. I ventured to ask, or at 
 least to desire, if my goings out were acceptable to the 
 Lord, and if I were to be called to further, and perhaps to 
 still more weighty service, that I might find the blessing of 
 preservation extended to those most dear to me at home, as 
 well as to myself in going. Through mercy this sign has 
 been rather unusually granted me. What can I render 
 unto my Lord for His tender and unmerited mercies? 
 
 " Tenth Month, IWi. — I have been on a satisfactory visit 
 with my husband, aud partly accompanied by Peter Bed- 
 ford and John Hodgskin, to (-i-o^c.cn aoj IfielJ. Our 
 Meeting in bi-ssex was a •'•fry satisfactory one, and a 
 reading we had next morning at a cottage on the common, 
 belonging to a dear Friend where we hait oeen before. The 
 libraries we estabished aj)pear to have been much read and 
 valued. It is cause for much thankfulness to find that our 
 labor has not been m vain in the Lord. How sweet are 
 His mercies! May all become His servants saith my soul I 
 
278 
 
 ELIZABETH FB7. 
 
 "I have also left home, accompanied by my beloved hus» 
 band, and my sister Elizabeth to visit a few meetings in 
 Essex. 
 
 " Twelfth Month, %th. — This morning I deeply feel the 
 seriousness of laying before my Monthly Meeting my belief 
 that it may be my duty again to visit France and some other 
 pai'ts of the Continent of Eui'ope. It is after much v?eighty 
 consideration that I have come to the conclusion that it is 
 right to do this. I have long thought that this summer my 
 course mighc be either to my dearest brother Joseph in 
 America, or to the Continent of Europe ; after much weigh- 
 ing it I have believed the latter to be the right opening 
 for me. 
 
 " l^th. — Yesterday, excepting our dear F and R 
 
 C , all our beloved children dined with us. It really 
 
 was to me a beautiful sight. Sixteen round our table, happy 
 in each other, a strong tie of love amidst the brothers and 
 sisters, and much united to us, their father and mother. 1 
 felt the occasion serious as well as sweet, and very earnestly 
 prayed to the Lord, that I might be vei-y faithful if He 
 called me to any religious service amongst them, whether it 
 were to pray for them or speak to them of EQs goodness. 
 When the cloth was removed after dinner, I believed it my 
 duty to kneel down and very fervently to pray and to return 
 thanks to my God for all these most tenderly beloved ones. 
 Great help and deliverance has been granted to some of 
 our cii'cle ; the Lord has been very gTacious ; He has added 
 to our number and not diminished them. . . . 
 
 " After this solemn time thkteen of our sweet dear gi'and- 
 childi'en came in. We passed an evening of uncommon en- 
 joyment, cheerful, yet sober, lively yet sensible of the bless- 
 ing and peace of our Lord being with us. I seldom if ever 
 remember so bright a family meeting ; it reminded me oi 
 our Earlham days ; but I could not but feel it a blessing 
 when a mother as well as a father is spaied to watch their 
 
FIBST AND SECOND VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 279 
 
 family grow up and prosper, and to see and enjoy their chil- 
 di-en's childi-en. 
 
 "When I remember all that I have passed through on 
 their account; above all the exquisite anxiety about their 
 spiritual vrelfare, and now so far to see what the Lord has 
 done for me and for them, what can I say ? What can I 
 do ? Ought I not to leave them all to His most holy keep- 
 ing, and no longer 'toil and spin' so much for them? 
 
 '■^ First Month, 12iA. — I returned from Lynn last eveniag. 
 I was a good deal with my beloved sister Catherine who 
 was there. Before parting we had a deeply interesting 
 time together, when the spirit of prayer was remarkably 
 poured forth upon us. I prayed for them each separately, 
 and I believe that access was in mercy granted to the 
 Throne of Grace. My dearest sister offered a solemn prayer 
 for us before we rose from om* knees. I felt as I have often 
 done, an earnest desire that we may none be in spuitual 
 bonds. I think Satan in hardly any way mars the Lord's 
 work more than in putting persons in the stiff bonds of 
 high-chui'chism. He attacks all professors in this way, and 
 leads them to rest in their sectarianism rather than their 
 Chiistianity. I do not mean that this was the case with 
 those I was amongst, but I see in it a frightful bait thrown 
 out to all professors of all denominations. Few things I 
 more earnestly desire than unity in the Church of Christ, 
 and that all partition walls may be broken down. Lord, 
 liasten the coming of that day, for Thine own name's sake!" 
 
 In order to raise money for the numerous demands on 
 the British Society, Mis. Fry resolved, with the consent of 
 her friends, upon having a public sale — or what we call a 
 Fair. It is thus spoken of. 
 
 "Paris, Third Month, 11th. — Before leaving home we 
 were much occupied by a very large sale for the British 
 
2S0 
 
 ELIZABETH FSy. 
 
 Society held in Crosby Hall. I felt it an exercising time 
 lest any should be exposed to temptation by it, and I see 
 tLat there are two sides to the question respecting these 
 sales, as there is an exposure in it that may prove injurious 
 to some. However, I think I saw in this instance many 
 favorable results, and particularly in the kind and capital 
 help my children gave me in it, and the way in which it oc- 
 cupied them. One day I had fifteen children and several 
 grandchildren helping me to sell. A sweet and Christian 
 spu-it appeared to reign in the room. There were more 
 than a thousand pounds obtained by it, clear of all expenses, 
 which will be a great help to the British Society. The 
 marks of kindness shown me by numbers, in the things sent 
 to the sale, were very encouraging to me. My brothers 
 and sisters, my nephews and nieces were also very kind 
 in aiding me in many ways." 
 
 The second journey to the Continent was commenced on 
 the 11th of Mai-ch, 1839. She was accompanied by Josiah 
 Forster, as on the previous visit, and also by her husband 
 and one of her daughters; the youngest son was to join 
 them in Paris. 
 
 The former visit had been a kind of seed-sowing. This time 
 on her arrival at Boulogne, many came to seek her and to 
 welcome her to their shores, and she was soon besieged by 
 persons in the humbler ranks of society asking to be sup- 
 pUed with Testaments, tracts, &c. Some had lent what 
 they had received before to friends going into the country 
 and could not get them again. At the Hotel at Abbeville 
 "those to whom she had given them on her previous visit, 
 begged for more, and came creeping up to her apartments 
 to prefer their request. Her Text-books were the favorites. 
 In the morning the people of the Hotel gathered round 
 
FIEST AND SECOND VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 281 
 
 her. The First-day that she had spent there on her former 
 visit to Paris — the reading they had in the evening — the 
 prayer she had offered for them, had made a deep impres- 
 sion. They beguiled her into the kitchen where she told 
 them, in broken French — which, however, they contrived to 
 understand — a little of her wishes for them as to faith and 
 practice. Then all would shake hands with her." 
 
 Another month was spent in Paris revisiting the places 
 previously inspected and holding philanthrophic and relig- 
 ious meetings. The former of these appear to have been 
 held as a ki nd of weekly Keception. 
 
 "Last evening about a hundred persons spent the even- 
 ing with us. The subject of prisons was brought forward — 
 Newgate, &c. I endeavored to show the state of prisons 
 formerly, and many of their impx'ovements. But above all 
 to inculcate Christian principle as the only sure means of 
 improving practice. I sought in every way, in the cases 
 brought forward, to uphold the value of the Scriptures, and 
 to show the blessed results of faith and repentance. We 
 finished by reading in a solemn manner the 15th of Luke 
 as the chapter so gi-eatly blessed to poor prisoners. I made 
 little comment, there was very great solemnity over us. 
 There were Catholics and Protestants and I believe some of 
 the Greek Church. There were Greeks, lonians, Spaniards, 
 a Pole, Italians, Germans, English, Americans and French 
 — several of the English and French, persons of rank; the 
 Marquis de Brignolles, Sardinian IVIinister, and Prince 
 Czartorinsky. Thus the week has run away ! may it have 
 been for the real good of others, and the glory of God." 
 
 " Paris, list. — I feel that under a lively sense of peace and 
 rest of soul, I may record the mercies of the Lord this week. 
 
 " Our First-day was very satisfactory, a large Meeting; 
 five of om- childi-en with us. (Several of her family spent a 
 few days in Paris at this time.) 
 
282 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 " I had a very serious, interesting, and intimate eonTersa> 
 tion with the Duchess of Orleans. 
 
 " I visited and attended to some prisons, formed a Ladies' 
 Society to visit Protestants in prisons and hospitals, met a 
 very influential company at dinner at Lord Granville's, much 
 interesting conversation in the evening ; the same twice at 
 Baron Pelet's, and we had an agreeable dinner at Lord Wil- 
 ham Bentincks. I have paid some very interesting private 
 calls, spent one morning with my children ; om- great phil- 
 anthropic evening lai'gely attended — about about a hundi-ed 
 and forty present. Josiah Forster gave a concentrated ac- 
 count of our former evenings, and added other things very 
 agreeably. I strongly impressed upon them the extreme 
 importance of the influence of the higher upon the lower 
 classes of society, by their example and precept ; mentioned 
 late hours, theatres, and other evils. Then advised — giving 
 the poor, Christian education ; reading the Holy Scriptures 
 in then* families ; lending Libraries ; District Societies, and 
 other objects. We finished with a very solemn Scripture 
 reading, the greater part of the third chapter of Colossians 
 and the 20th and 21st verses of the last chapter of the Epis- 
 tle to the Hebrews, 'Now the God of peace that brought 
 again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd 
 of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 
 make you perfect in every good work to do His wi", work- 
 ing in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through 
 Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." 
 
 " Previous to reading this I had expres'-- I some solemn 
 parting truths and oui* party broke up iu aiuch love and 
 peace. 
 
 "On Fifth day we dined with some sweet, spuitual and 
 delightful people, the de Presenses and de Valcours-; in the 
 evening to Mark Wilke's to meet a very large par ty of min- 
 isters from different parts of France come to attend the 
 Meetings of the various Societies. 
 
 Fontainbleau, 28iA. The day before oui- departure 
 
FIBST AND SECOND VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 283 
 
 from Paris we visited the Piefet de Police, took in our re- 
 port of the state of the prisons, and obtained leave for the 
 Protestant ladies to visit the Protestant prisoners ; we had 
 much interesting conversation. We have the great satisfac- 
 tion of heai'ing that a law is likely to pass for women prison- 
 ers throughout France to be under the care of women. 
 
 "In the evening, and during the day, numbers came to 
 take leave of us ; a good many Greeks who appeared to feel 
 much interest in and for us, as if oiu' labors with them had 
 not been in vain." 
 
 Before leaving Paris Mrs. Fry was furnished with a letter 
 from the Minister of the Interior, granting her, Josiah Fors- 
 ter and her husband, permission to visit all the prisons in 
 France. This insui'ed them every respect and attention 
 on their further journey. They proceeded, with a few stops 
 to Lyons where "there was a great press of engagements 
 — prisons and refuges to inspect, besides many schools of 
 which I had time to visit only one, a woman's adult school." 
 
 In a letter to her children written from Nismes, May 12th, 
 she says : — 
 
 "We paid a very interesting visit to Lyons and found a 
 good deal new in the prisons and Refuges. An order oi 
 Catholics, called the 'Brethren and Sisters of St. Joseph,' 
 believe it their duty to take care of prisoners and criminals 
 generally. They do not visit as we do, but take the entile 
 part of turnkeys and prison-officers, and live with the pris- 
 oners night and day, constantly caring for them. I thought 
 the effect on the female prisoners surprisingly good, as far 
 as their influence extended. But the mixture of gross su- 
 perstition is curious, the image of the Virgin di'essed up ia 
 the finest manner in their different wards. I feared that their 
 religion lay so much in form and ceremonies that it led from 
 heart work and from that great change which would proba* 
 
ELIZABETH FRT. 
 
 bly be produced did these sisters simply teach them Chiis- 
 tianity. Their books appeal ed to be mostly about the Vir- 
 gin ; not a sign of Scripture to be found in either prison or 
 refuge. I felt it laid upon me as a weighty, yet humbling 
 duty, before I left Lyons, to invite Eonian Catholics and 
 Protestants who had influence in the prisons, to come to our 
 Hotel, and there, in Christian love, to tell them the truth, to 
 the best of my belief, as the only real ground of reformation 
 of heart, and the means likely to conduce to this end. It 
 was the more fearful, as I had to be entirely interpreted for. 
 My heart almost sank within me as the time approached. 
 It was about three o'clock in the day; about sixty people 
 came of the very influential Catholics and Protestants and I 
 was enabled, through a most excellent interpreter, to show 
 them that nothing but the pure simple truth, as revealed in 
 Scriptm'e, through the power of the lioly Spirit, could 
 really enlighten the understanding, or change the heart. 
 My husband and Josiah Forster als ) took a very useful and 
 valuable part. Much satisfaction was expressed. We after- 
 wards diued at a gentleman's who lived in a lovely situation 
 on the top of a hill near Lyons. Our invitations began to 
 flow in, and we should, I doubt not, had we staid longer, 
 soon have been in as great a current as at Paris, or greater. 
 We met with some very interesting, devoted Christian 
 characters — a cousin of the Baroness Pelet's, almost like 
 herself; her notes and flowers coming in every morning. 
 The last day was most fatiguing ; we had to rise soon after 
 three in the morning for Avignon, to go a hundied and 
 fifty miles down the Rhone. 
 
 " We have passed through the most delightful country I 
 ever saw. Lyons, with the Rhone and Saone, is, in its en- 
 vu'ons, beautiful, and the passage from Lyons to Avignon 
 really lovely ; mountains in the distance, (parts of the Alps,) 
 their tops covered with snow ; vegetation in perfection, the 
 flowers of spring and summer in bloom at once, grass just 
 ready to be cut, barley in the eai, lilacs, laburnums, syr- 
 
PIBST AND SECOND VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 
 
 285 
 
 ingas, roses, pinks, carnations, acacias in full bloom, yellow 
 jessamine wild in the hedges. It is a sudden burst of the 
 finest summer combined with the freshness of spring. The 
 olive groves intermixed with abundant vineyards and mul- 
 berry groves, all beautiful from their freshness. The an- 
 cient buildings of Avignon, the ruins on the banks of the 
 Ehone, the very fine and wonderful remains or the Eoman 
 aqueduct, called the Pont du Gard, really exceed descrip- 
 tion." 
 
 The travelers found at Nismes, and in the neighboring 
 villages a scattered body of people professing the principles 
 of the Society of Friends. " This simple, but interesting 
 body of people are the descendants of the Camisards, -who 
 took refuge in the mountains of the Cevennes during the 
 persecutions subsequent to the revocation of the Edict of 
 Nantes." At Congenies the inhabitants were almost all 
 Friends — a kind and religious people. They regularly at- 
 tended meetings with them, and the last meeting waa 
 crowded, the people clustering "to the top of the doors, ia 
 all the open windows, and on the walls outside, yet in per- 
 fect quietude and order." 
 
 After visiting Marseilles, Toulon, and Aix, where many 
 important objects called for attention, including the galley- 
 slaves, the travelers returned in June to Nismes. 
 
 Sixth Month. — Our First-day at Nismes was deeply 
 weighty in prospect, so that I rested little that night, as I 
 bad ventured to propose our holding one Meeting in the 
 morning in the Methodist chapel, that whosoever liked might 
 attend it ; and in the evening to do the same in a very large 
 school room, that all classes might attend, as I believed 
 that all would not come to a Methodist Meeting-house. I 
 
ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 went prostrated before the Lord to this Meeting in the 
 morning, hardly knowing how to hold up my head. I could 
 only apply for help to the inexhaustible Som-ce of our sure 
 mercies, feeling that I could not do it either on account 
 of myself, or because it was the work in which I was en- 
 gaged; but I could do it for the sake of my Lord, and that 
 His kingdom might spread. Utterly unworthy did I feel 
 myself ; but my Lord was gracious. My dear interpreter, 
 Christine Majolier, was there to help me in a very large 
 Meeting, and I felt power wonderfully given me to proclaim 
 the truths of the Gospel, and to press the point of the Lord 
 Himself being our teacher, immediately by His Spirit, and 
 through the Holy Scriptures, and by His providences and 
 works, and to show that no teaching so much conduced to 
 growth in grace as the Lord's teaching. There was much 
 attention ; at the close I felt the spiiit of prayer much over 
 us, longed for its vocal expression, and felt a desu-e that 
 some one might pray, when a Methodist minister, in a feel- 
 ing manner expressed a wish to offer something in prayer, 
 to which we, of course, assented. It proved solemn and 
 Batisfactory. 
 
 "We dined at our dear friend, the Pasteur Emilien 
 Frossard's ; he and his wife have been like a brother and 
 Bister to us. We were also joined by a Roman Catholic 
 gentleman who has, I think, been seriously impressed by 
 our visit, and it has led him to have the Scriptures read to 
 his workmen. Thei-e were also Louis Majolier, his daugh- 
 ter, and a young English friend. I think I have very sel- 
 dom in my life felt a more lively sense of the love of God 
 than at this table. I may say our souls were animated 
 under its sweetness ; I think we rejoiced together, and mag- 
 nified the name of om' God. 
 
 "In the evening we met in a large school-room that would 
 contain some hundieds, where numbers assembled, princi- 
 pally the French protestants and some of theii- pastors. 
 There again I was greatly helped, I really believe, by the 
 
FIKST AND SECOND VISITS TO THB CONTINENT. 287 
 
 Holy Spirit to speak to them upon their important situa- 
 tions in the Church of Christ, and the extreme consequence 
 of their being sound both in faith and practice. I also felt 
 it my duty to show them, as Protestants, the infinite impor- 
 tance, not only in France, but in the surrounding nations, 
 of their being 'as a city set upon a hill that cannot be hid.' 
 I showed them how the truth is spreading and how impor- 
 tant to promote it, being preachers of righteousness in life 
 and conversation, as well as in word and doctrine. There 
 was here also much attention ; and our dear and valued 
 friend and brother in Christ, Emilien Frossard, prayed 
 beautifully that the word spoken might profit the people, 
 and particularly that the blessing of the Lord might rest 
 upon me. It was no common prayer on my behalf. 
 Thanks to my Heavenly Father, the Meeting broke up in 
 much love, life and peace." 
 
 Another meeting was held the next morning at the village 
 of Codognan. Her account then continues: 
 
 " After this we proceeded to ilontpelier where important 
 service opened for us. A Protestant Ladies Committee 
 was formed to visit the great Female Prison there ; much 
 important advice offered to the Governor, upon the charges 
 now being made in the prison, and female officei-s being ap- 
 pointed. We appeared to go in the vei-y time wanted, and 
 obtained the liberation of several poor women from their 
 very sad cells. The Prefet was most kind to us, and thus 
 oar way was easily made: the Mayor and all with us. Help 
 was given me to speak rehgiously to the poor women before 
 all these gentlemen." 
 
 '•We proceeded from place to place until we arrived at 
 Toulouse, on Seventh-day evening, the 16th of the Sixth 
 Month. On First-day evening we met a large number ot 
 Protestants at one of theii- Scripture readings. We took 
 part in the service. At the close a solemn prayer was 
 
288 
 
 ELIZABETH FRY. 
 
 offered for us by Francis Courtois, one of a very remavkablo 
 trio of brothers, (bankers there,) all three of whom are 
 given up to the service of their Lord, and appear to have 
 been instruments greatly blessed. Their kindness to us 
 was very great. Jii Toulouse we visited two prisons, had 
 one important prison Meeting and one exceedingly solemn 
 and satisfactory Scripture reading and time of prayer with 
 the Coui-tois family, one or two pasteurs, and other relig- 
 ious persons." 
 
 She next went to Montauban, the place where the minis- 
 ters of the Protestant Church of France were educated. 
 Here "without expressing any other wish than to have an 
 evening party at one of their houses, to meet some of the 
 professors and students of the College, (ths oaly one in 
 France for educating pasteurs of the Keformecl Church,) we 
 found, to our dismay, all arranged to receive us in the Col- 
 lege ; and on arriving there imagine how I felt when the 
 Dean of the College ofeiod me his arm to take me into the 
 chapel. There I beiiev-e the whole of the collegians were 
 assembled, in all at levrui a hundi'ed. It was fearful work. 
 There were also numbers of the people of the town, we 
 thought about three hundied. Josiah Forster spoke first, 
 explaining our views at some length. Then I rose with an 
 excellent interpreter, one of their pasiears. I first told them 
 something of my prison experience, arid '.iie povrer of Chris- 
 tian principle and kindness; then I rel:..ed a little of the 
 state of their prisons in France ; then my ideas as to the 
 general state of France ; and afterwards endeavored to bring 
 home to them the extreme importance of their calling as 
 pasteurs in their Chmxh. I reminded them of that passage 
 of Scripture ' the leaders of the people caused them to err. 
 
FIBST AND SECOND VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 
 
 289 
 
 I endeavored to show them how awful such a state of things 
 must be, and the extreme importance of their being sound 
 in doctrine and practice." 
 
 "Simple duty led me to Montauban. We were united in 
 much Christian love to many there. I forgot to say that at 
 the close of the occasion the pasteur who interpreted for 
 me prayed beautifully and spiritually that the words spoken 
 might profit the people ; he also prayed for us. This has- 
 frequently occurred at the close of some of our interesting; 
 Meetings ; a pouiing forth of the spirit of prayer has beea 
 granted. My not knowing the language has obstructed my 
 offering it, and it has appeared laid upon others instead. I 
 have seldom felt sweeter peace in leaving a place than Mon- 
 tauban." 
 
 Constant exertion, together with the heat of the climate, 
 had now affected Mrs. Fry's health so that her husband 
 strongly urged their turning aside for a brief rest in the 
 cooler atmosphere of the Pyrenees. But wherever she 
 went she scattered the seeds of the Kingdom, in words of 
 kindness, and in Bibles, text-books and tracts. Having 
 some Scripture extracts in Spanish, when they went over 
 the line, she gave them to the peasants, or left them at the 
 cottages, and even in the manger of a cow-house — having 
 heard that the Spaniards, including the priests, were eager 
 for books, and carefully preserved them. 
 
 She also employed her rest in preparing a " memorial of 
 considerable length, with the aid of her companions, for 
 the Minister of the Interior, and a shorter one for the Pre- 
 fect of Police, eipbodying her observations on the state of 
 the prisons which she had inspected and her recommenda- 
 tions for their improvement." 
 
290 
 
 ELIZABETH FBV. 
 
 Thus refreshed the little party hastened backward 
 through the south of France and turned their steps to- 
 ward Switzerland. At Bonigen, near Interlachen, she 
 wi'ites, August, 11th. 
 
 " I believe that my gracious Lord has guided our steps 
 to this place ; blessed be His name. At Grenoble, where I 
 felt rather pressed in spirit to spend a First-day, I had a 
 curious opening for religious service, and I believe an im- 
 portant one, with several enlightened Eoman Catholics, sev- 
 «ial Protestants, and a school of girls. It was a time of 
 spuitual refreshment by which many appeared helped and 
 comforted. The next day was occupied in important prison 
 visits, and in the eveniug a Meeting with influential Boman 
 Catholics. 
 
 " Josiah Forster having left us to go by diligence to Gen- 
 eva, we traveled alone through Savoy, and had a pleasant 
 journey through a lovely country ; but the darkness of the 
 Ivoman Catholic religion, and the arbitrary laws, not allow- 
 ing even a tract to be given away, were painful; we found 
 that a Swiss gentlemen had lately been imprisoned for doing 
 it, and confined with a thief. We aiTived at Geneva the 
 2oth of the seventh month in the evening. Here we passed 
 a vei'y interesting time, from various and important open- 
 ings for religious service in large parties, in prisons, &c. My 
 be-ief is that we were sent to that place, and amidst some 
 trials from different causes, there was a pouring forth of 
 spiritual help and spuitual peace. Many of the pasteurs 
 came to us and not a few expressed their refreshment and 
 satisfaction with our visit. Before we left, several of the 
 most spiritual in a very striking and beautiful manner 
 preached to us, particularly to myself, and prayed for us 
 all ; a time I think never to be forgotten by us. We had 
 one of the most beautiful entertainments I ever saw, given 
 by Colonel Tronchin at a lovely place a few miles from Gen- 
 eva, the fine snowy mountains about us, the lake within 
 
FIRST AND SECOND VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 291 
 
 sight. In an avenue in the midst of a fine wood we had a 
 handsome repast to which about a hundi'ed persons sat 
 down. The gentleman who gave it is a devoted Christian, 
 a man of large property and this blessing sanctified by 
 grace. I visited a delightful institution for the sick of his 
 establishment on his grounds. To return to our entertain- 
 ment, grace was very solemnly said before our meal, and 
 very beautiful hymn- singing afterwards. Then withdrew 
 into the house where I believe the anointing was poured 
 forth upon me to speak the truth in love and power. I had 
 an excellent, spiritually-minded interpreter, (Professor La 
 Harpe): many apparently felt this occasion. A young Eng- 
 lish gentleman came up to me afterwards and expressed his 
 belief that it would influence him for life ; and a lady came 
 to me and said how remarkably her state had been spoken 
 to. Much love was also shown to us, and unity. Indesd 1 
 felt how our Lord permits his servants to rejoice together 
 in love ; and even to partake of the good things of this life 
 in His love and fear, with a subjected spirit rejoicing in His 
 mercies, temporal and spiritual. We had very great kind- 
 ness also shown to us by many, amongst others by our dear 
 friend Mary Ann Vernet and her family, including her 
 daughter, the Baroness de Stael, with whom we dined at 
 Cappet. The Duke de Broglie and his family were with 
 her ; we had a very interesting visit. We went from Gen- 
 eva to our dear friend Sophia Delesserts ; her husband was 
 out ; they have a beautiful place on the banks of the Lake 
 of Geneva, near Kolle ; here we had the warmest reception, 
 and were refreshed and comforted togethei ; she is truly 
 loved by ma." 
 
 The following description of an evening at the beautiful 
 residence of Colonel Tronchin, at Besemge, where more than 
 a hundred persons were gathered, is from the pen of a young 
 student, afterwards Secretary of the "Belgian Societe 
 Evangelique." 
 
292 
 
 EtIZABETH FRT. 
 
 "We had half expected a philosophical discourse upon 
 subjects of philanthropic and general interest, but every- 
 thing that fell from her lips was characterized by delicacy, 
 extreme simplicity, and an ardent desire to draw our atten- 
 tion to our own happiness, in being permitted the oppor- 
 tunity for meditation on the one subject which seemed 
 always present in her thoughts, Christ Jesus, crucified for 
 the expiation of our sins. At this distance of time I have 
 an actual realization of the opening of her exhortation. 'I 
 think,' said she, 'it is impossible for us to be more profita- 
 bly employed than by occupying the next few moments 
 with the contemplation of the love which the Lord Jesus 
 has for us.' The rooms were full to overflowing; my fellow- 
 students and I took up our places in the passage, on the 
 stair-case, crowded round the open door, eagerly hanging 
 on such parts of the beautiful exhortation as we could catch 
 by the most breathless attention ; after she had concluded 
 she kindly came out amongst us and expressed her regret 
 that we should have been so inconvenienced. I can see her 
 now, her tall figure leaning on Colonel Tronchin's arm, 
 M. La Harpe at her side, her dignified, animated, yet soft- 
 ened countenance bending towards us. I can never forget 
 it. Such occasions are rare in life, they are very green spots 
 in the garden of memory — more, they are opportunities 
 given for improvement, solemnly increasing the responsi- 
 bility of each who participate in them. May I never lose 
 the impression of that day at Beseinge, nor the holy lessons 
 I there heard and learnt." 
 
 After leaving Geneva the travelers went to Lausanne, 
 Berne, Thun, Grindel, Brienz, Bonigen, and Zurich, in 
 Switzerland, scattering everywhere the seeds of peace, 
 kindness and reform. The following incident, is illustrative 
 of Mrs. Fry's peculiar gifts as a peacemaker. 
 
 "Whilst at Bonigen, Herr IVIitchell, the landlord of the 
 
FIBST AND SECOND VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 293 
 
 little inn, and his family, attended their First-day evening 
 readings. On one of these occasions a peasant girl was 
 with them who appeared pious and afflicted ; her name was 
 Madelina Kauss. She came from a neighboring village to 
 seek counsel of Elizabeth Fry. Madelina and her mother 
 bad joined themselves to a little body of serious people, 
 Pietists, somewhat resembling Methodists, seceders from 
 the National Church. The father, a coarse, ignorant man, 
 vehemently thi'eatened his wife, and tm-ned his daughter 
 out of doors to earn her own livelihood, which she did by 
 weaving for nine French sous a day. Pious people from 
 Berne had interfered on theii* behalf, but had only made 
 matters worse. It so fell out that about this time a certain 
 email old-fashioned black-letter German newspaper reached 
 the little inn at Bonigen ; the host and his household were 
 startled on finding in it a long account of his guests, — ' a 
 history of IVIrs. Fry, her work and labors of love ; ' conclud- 
 ing with her visit to the Oberland of Berne and residence 
 at Herr Mitchell's country inn. After careful perusal it 
 occurred to the worthy host that in his inmates he had 
 found the very people to rectify the wrongs of poor Made- 
 Una and restore peace in her parents' dwelling; persons in 
 his opinion not to be resisted by Heurich Kauss, the peas* 
 ant of Wildersewyl, to whom he advised that a visit should 
 forthwith be made. When the carriage came to convey th© 
 party he insisted on diiving it himself arrayed in his holiday 
 costume. The interview with the family Avas quite pathetic. 
 The father laid the fault of his violence and se- erity on the 
 grandfather, and he on the scho'ilmaster ; but a little kind 
 and wise conciliation sufficed to biiug them all to tears ; they 
 wept and kissed, and Herr Mitchell wept for sympathy. 
 After which Elizabeth Fry had a religious time with Made- 
 lina, her mother, and a few of then* neighbors ; leaving them 
 with the thankful belief that they had been permitted to 
 act the part of peacemakers." * 
 
 • Life by S. Corder. page 540. 
 
2»4 
 
 ELIZABETH FRY. 
 
 "Zurich, Eighth Ifonth, loth. — "\\'e left our sweet littl© 
 home at Bouigen, on the banks of Lake Biienz, last Fourth- 
 day. I felt refreshed by our visit to this country. I think 
 my prayers have been heai'd and answered in its being a 
 very uniting time with those most tenderly beloved by me. 
 We have had some interesting communications with serious 
 peisons in the humble walks of life who reside in that 
 neighborhood. We have desired to aid them spiiitually 
 and temporally, but the difficulty of communication has 
 been very great, from want of suitable interpreters ; still I 
 trust that some were edified and comforted. I also hop© 
 our chculation of books and ti'acts has been useful, and 
 the establishment of at least one hbrary at Brienz for the 
 laboriug classes. We have traveled along gently and 
 agreeably by Lucerne, and through a delightful country." 
 
 "On the morning of their departure from Zurich th© 
 venerable pastor Gesner, and many others, called to take 
 leave. This apostolic old man pronounced a striking bless- 
 ing on Elizabeth Fry to which she replied in terms that 
 caused the bystanders to weep aloud." 
 
 " Luciwigsburg, (« few miles from Stuttgard,) Ninth 
 Month, \st. — On tbt, evening of the day that I wrote at 
 Zui-ich, we went witli our dear friend the Baroness Pelet, 
 afterwards joined by the Baron, to the house of an ancient 
 devoted pasteur, Gesner. His wife was the daughter of 
 that excellent servant of the Lord, Lavater. We met a 
 large number of persons, I believe generally serious. I had 
 proposed to myself speaking on the prison subject; but my 
 way opened differently — to enlarge upon the state of the 
 Protestant Church in France, to encourage all its members 
 to devotedness ; and particularly in that place where deep 
 trials have been theii- portion from theii- Government up- 
 holding infidehty and iniidei men. At the close of the- 
 Meeting our venerable friend Gesner spoke in a hvely, pow- 
 erful manner, and avowed his belief that the Lord Himself 
 
FIRST AND SECOND VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 
 
 295 
 
 had enabled me to express what I had done, it was so 
 remarkably ' the word in season.' I paid also a satisfactory 
 religious visit to the female prisoners in. the afternoon 
 The next morning I visited the head magistrate, represented 
 the evils I had observed, and saw some ladies about visiting 
 prisons. We afterwards went a sweet expedition on the 
 Lake with our beloved friends, the Baron and Baroness 
 Pelet. Early in the evening I set off with a dear girl — 
 great grand-daughter to Lavater and grand-daughter to 
 Pasteur Gesner — Barbara Usteri, in a curious little carriage 
 to pay some visits, and to spend an evening at the hou^e of 
 the aunt of Matilda Escher, another interesting young 
 woman Avith whom I had become acquainted, I believe 
 providentially, at an inn near Interlachen. I had no one 
 with me but strangers as my dear family stayed with the 
 Baron and Baroness Pelet at my desu'e; but I feel not 
 among strangers ; because those who love the Lord Jesus 
 are dear to me, and in our holy Head we are one. I can 
 hardly express how much I have found this to be the case 
 on this journey — the love, the unity and the home feeling I 
 Lave had with those I never saw before! and I have a^so 
 found how httle it matters where we are, for 'where the 
 God of peace is there is home.' " 
 
 After visiting the Prison and Orphan Asylum at Ludvvigs- 
 burg the travelers proceeded to Frankfort whara they had a 
 stall opened for the sale of Bibles and tracts, and then has- 
 tened home by way of Ostend and Dover, ari-iving in peace 
 and health September 13th, 1839. The journey through 
 France and Switzerland occupied about six months. 
 
 The following shows some of the results of Elizabeth 
 Fry's extensive observation and deep experience, regarding 
 different religious persuasions. 
 
296 
 
 BLIZABETH FB7. 
 
 " Upton, First-day Twelfth Month, Sth. — yesterday 
 
 had some intimate conversation with Captain •, who has 
 
 just joined, or is about to join, the Plymouth Brethren ; 
 with a young lady, a follower of Edward Irving ; with an- 
 other lady, a high Church woman ; and with Josiah Forster, 
 an elder in our portion of the church. I cannot say but 
 that it is at times an exercise of my religious faith to find the 
 diversities of opinions existing amongst the professors of 
 Christianity, and not only the professors, but those who I 
 believe really love then- Lord; but my better judgment tella 
 xne that there must be a wise pui-pose in its being so. These 
 divisions into families and tribes may tend to the life and 
 growth of religion, which, if we were all of one mind, might 
 not be the case. But whilst I perceive these differences, I 
 perceive that there is but one Christianity, one Body, one 
 Spirit, one hope of our calling ; one Lord, one faith, and one 
 baptism ; one God and Father of al]/"^ All true members of 
 the Church of Christ are, and must be, one in Him, and the 
 results we see the same everywhere. Love to God and love 
 to man manifested in life and conduct; and how strikingly 
 proved in death, as well as life, that victory is obtained 
 through the same Saviour; that in the dying hour death 
 loses its sting and the grave its victory. Therefore if we 
 believe and know our hearts to be cleansed by the blood of 
 Christ, and through the power of the Holy Sphit hve to His 
 glory, bearing the fruits of faith, it matters Uttle, in my es- 
 timation, to what rehgiaus denomination we belong, so that 
 we mind our calling and fill the place our Lord would have 
 us to fill in His Militant Church on earth." 
 
CHAPTEB TENTH. 
 
 THIBD, FOTJETH AND FIFTH VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 
 
 Previous to her first tour in Belgium, Holland, and Ger- 
 many Elizabeth Fry paid her respects to her own Sovereign 
 whose marriage is thus referred to : 
 
 First Month, 1840. — An eventful time in public and 
 private life. Our young Queen is to be married to Prince 
 Albert. She has sent me a present of fifty pounds for our 
 Kefuge at Chelsea by Lord Normauby. Political commo- 
 tions about the country — riots in Wales — much religious stii 
 in the 'Church of England,' numbers of persons becoming 
 much the same as Eoman Catholics — Popish doctrines 
 preached openly in many of the churches — infidel princi- 
 ples in the form of Sociahsm gaining ground." 
 
 " Upton, Second Month, 1st. — I am called to visit our 
 young Queen to-day, in company with Wilham Allen, and I 
 hope my brother Samuel also. 
 
 "Went to Buckingham Palace and saw the Queen. Our 
 interview was short. ' Lord Normanby, the Home Secretaiy, 
 presented us. The Queen asked us where we were gomg on 
 the Continent. She said it was some years since she saw 
 me. She asked about Caroline Neave's Eefuge for which 
 she had lately sent the fifty pounds. This gave me an op- 
 portunity of thanking her. I ventured to express my satis- 
 faction that she encourged various works of charity ; and I 
 said it reminded me of the words of Scripture, ' with the 
 
ELIZABETH FBV. 
 
 BQerciful Thou v,ilt show Thyself merciful.' Before we 
 withdrew I stopped and said I hoped the Queeu would al- 
 low me to assure her that it was our prayer that the bless- 
 ing of God night rest upon the Queen and her Consort. 
 
 " I have for some time believed that duty would call me 
 to have a meeting in London or the neighborhood previous 
 to leaving. I see many difficulties attached to it, and per- 
 haps none so much as my great fear of women becoming 
 too forward in these things, beyond what the Scripture dic- 
 tates; but I am sure the Scripture most clearly and forcibly 
 lays down the principle that the Spirit is not to be grieved, 
 or quenched, or vexed, or resisted ; and on this principle I 
 act, under the earnest desii-e that whatever the Lord leads 
 me into by His Spiiit may be done faithfully to Him and 
 in His name ; and I am of opinion that nothing Paul said 
 to discomage women's speaking in the churches alluded to 
 their speaking through the help of the Spirit, as he clearly 
 gave directions how they should conduct themselves under 
 such circumstances, when they prayed or prophesied." 
 
 The Meeting is thus described by one who was present : 
 
 "It was really a most impressive occasion, — the large, 
 fine, circular building filled — not less I should think than 
 fifteen hundred present. She began by entreating the sym- 
 pathy and supplications of those present. I cannot tell you 
 how mine flowed forth on her behalf. After her prayer we 
 sat still for some time ; then William Allen spoke ; and then 
 she rose, giving as text, ' Yield yourselves unto God as those 
 that are alive from the dead;' and uncommonly fine waa 
 her animated, yet tender exhortation to all present, but 
 more especially to the young, to present themselves as liv- 
 ing sacrifices to the Lord, to be made of Him ne tv creatures 
 in Christ — the old things passed away and all things be- 
 come new, as those alive from the dead. This change she 
 dwelt and enlarged on much ; its chai'acter and the Power 
 
THIRD, FOUBTH AND FIFFTH VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 299 
 
 that alone can effect it ; the duty demanded of us — ' Yield 
 yourselves ; ' and its infinite and etei'nal blessedness. I was 
 astonished and deeply impi'essed ; the feeling was, 'sui'ely 
 God is amongst us of a truth.' " 
 
 Mis. Fry and her companions — William Allen, her brother 
 Samuel Gurneyand his daughter Elizabeth, LucyBradshaw 
 and Josiah Forster, arrived at Ostend, Feb. 27th, whenca 
 she wrote to her family. 
 
 "We are favored with a bright morning and we may 
 thankfully say that our spirits are permitted to partake of 
 the same brightness. I have a sweet feeling of being in tha 
 right place. An order is come from the Belgian Govern* 
 ment for us to visit then- prisons. So the way opens before 
 US; and though I give up much to enter these services, and 
 feel leaving my most tenderly beloved ones, yet there is 
 such a sense of blessedness in the service, and the honor of 
 doing the least thing for my Lord, unworthy as I am, that 
 il often brings a peculiar feeling of health, (if I may so say) 
 as well as peace, to my body, soul and spirit. 
 
 " My brother Samuel is a capital trave.ing companion, so 
 zealous, so able, so willing, so generous; and I find dear 
 Elizabeth sweet, pleasant and cheering. Bruges is a beauti* 
 f ul old town ; su ch exquisite buildings — they delighted my 
 eye. Here we visited the English Convent v/here to our 
 surprise, we could only speak through a grating. We had 
 
 a good deal of conversation with dear S. P 's sister and 
 
 the Superior. They appeared very interesting women. We 
 talked about their shutting-in system. I expressed my dis- 
 approbation of it, as a general practice, and one liable to 
 great abuse. I sent them some books and mean to send 
 moro. We also visited a large school ; and to the great 
 pleasure and amusement of the children your uncle gave 
 them all a present. They could not in the least understand 
 our language as they speak Flemish. 
 
800 
 
 mZABETH FBY. 
 
 "We have been much interested this morning in visiting 
 theMaison de Force; it is a very excellent prison of con- 
 siderable size, but vsrants some things very much. We have 
 since been occupied with the numerous English here. They 
 are without pasteur, or school, and quite in a deplorable 
 state. We propose having a meeting with them of a relig- 
 ious and philanthropic nature, and hope to establish some 
 schools, &c., amongst them." 
 
 " Brussels, Third 3fonth, 1st. 
 
 "We left Ghent on Seventh-day, about half-past two 
 o'clock, after visiting a most deplorable prison where we 
 found a cell with the floor and sides formed of angular 
 pieces of wood, so that no prisoner could stand, lie down, 
 or lean against the wall without suffering. We also visited 
 a Lunatic asylum so beautifully conducted that I more 
 took the impression how happy such persons may be made 
 than I ever did before. They are cared for by the 'Sisters 
 of St. Vincent de Paul.' After rather a slow journey wo 
 arrived here to dinner at six o'clock. 
 
 " Ghent, Third Month, 3rd. — Here we are once more — 
 we have visited another large prison for the military, and 
 bad a very interesting Meeting with the English workmen, 
 then- wives and children. I am glad to say they conclude 
 for us to send them schoolmasters. We had flocks after us 
 last evening, English and Belgians — I suppose about sev- 
 enty ; they appeai-ed to be touched by our reading. I ob- 
 serve how much the English appear iripressed on these 
 occasions. Our little party are very comfortable and each 
 has plenty to do. 
 
 Antwerp, Third Month, 6th. 
 " Upon our return to Brussels from Ghent we visited the 
 great prison of VUorde. We gave many of our little Scrip- 
 ture extracts to the prisoners. We got home to dinner and 
 spent the evening at the Baron de Bois' where we met several 
 pleasant persons. A considerable number of Belgians, poor 
 ftad rich came to au e veuing meeting at our HoteL The nexi; 
 
THIKD, FOUP.TH AND FIFTH VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 301 
 
 day was one of no common interest. After some engage- 
 ments in the morning, breakfasting out, &c., we visited the 
 King. Our party were William Allen, my brother Samuel, J. 
 Forster and myself ; and before we left Lucy Bradshaw and 
 dear Elizabeth were admitted to see him. We first bad a 
 very interesting conversation on the state of the prisons, and 
 your uncle read the King our address to him upon the subject, 
 When the part was read expressing our desire for him the 
 Queen and his family, he appeared to feel it much. We had 
 open, iateresting communication on many subjects. We 
 remained nearly an hour. The Queen was unwell and the 
 children asleep, therefore I did not see them. We gave the 
 King several books for himself and the Queen. We were 
 invited by Count Arrivabene to dine with one of the first 
 Belgian families. I felt it rather feavful when, to my sur- 
 prise, after dinner I was seated by the Dean of Brussels, 
 Burrounded by the company and told that I was permitted 
 to speak openly upon my religious views. Indeed I think 
 the wish was that I should preach to them. This was 
 curious, because I was warned on going, to say nothing 
 about religion. Preach I did not, as I do not feel that at 
 my command; but I spoke very seriously about the Scrip- 
 tures not being read in the prisons, and endeavored to show 
 in few words, what alone can produce change of heart, life 
 and conduct, and the danger of resting in forms. We 
 parted in much good-will, and we sent the Dean and the 
 ladies some books. In the evening we had a philantbropio 
 party at our hotel. The next morning a large, very solemn 
 and interesting, religious meeting at the hotel. We left 
 Brussels in much peace — rejoicing would not be too strong 
 a word. In nearest love. E. F." 
 
 The interview with the Dean of Brussels is thus de- 
 scribed by her niece, Elizabeth Gurney. 
 
 " Brussels, March dth. — We expect to end our very inter- 
 esting visit in this place to-day. Had I a bundled limes 
 
102 
 
 ELIZABETH FRY. 
 
 more power of writing I could not initiate you into our life 
 lifre. A great Meeting is now assembling in the Table de 
 Hote salon, fitted up by our landlord for the occasion. 
 This is to be our farewell meeting. We have had a very 
 full morning, partly employed in distributing books. The 
 servants at tl e j)alace sent an entreaty that they might not 
 be overlooked. I wish you could have seen us looking out 
 a good variety for about sixty of them. 
 
 "Yesterday began with a full tide of business. They 
 were to see the King at twelve o'clock. My aunt looked 
 beautifully. Ho is a particularly pleasing-looking man, 
 rather older than I expected. The Duchess of Kent had 
 kindly written to the King to say that my aunt was likely 
 to vitoit Brussels. 
 
 T must tell you about our dinner at M. le Comte de ^'s 
 
 the first Eoman Catholic family here. The party consisted 
 of fifteen persons, only two speaking English. Amongst 
 them was the Dean, the head of the Church here, under the 
 Bishop of Malines. Much that was interesting passed. 
 The Dean and our aunt seated themselves in a corner of 
 the room, and by degrees the whole party gathered round, — 
 the Count and Joslah Forster, interpreting by turns. Ifc 
 was a critical thing to know what to say, as the conversa- 
 tion bscauie more and more of a religious nature. She 
 began on the prisons — prevention of crime — how much the 
 upper classes are often the cause, by example, of the sins 
 of the lower, re.ated a few of her prison facts as proofs, and 
 finally ended by saying, 'Wiil the Dean allow me to speak 
 my mind candidly?' Eis permission being granted, and 
 that of the Count and Countess, she began by expressing 
 the sincere interest that she felt for the mhabitants of the 
 city, and how much she had been desiring for them, ' that, 
 r.3 a people, they might each p.ace less confidence in men, 
 and in ttie forms of religion, and look to Christ with an en- 
 tire and simple faith.' The priest said nothing, but tarnsd 
 the subject and asked what tne views of the (Quakers werej 
 
THIBD, FOURTH AND FIFTH VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 303 
 
 upon which Josiah Forster gave them a short account in 
 French which appeared to interest them all." 
 
 Leaving Brussels they spent about two weeks in visiting 
 Kotterdam, Amsterdam, and TwoUe. A letter from Dr. 
 Bosworth, whose acquaintance was formed at Rotterdam, 
 shows the kind of fruit borne in those places. In it he 
 sajs: 
 
 "Before answering your questions let me discharge a 
 debt of gratitude which I and my wife owe to you and your 
 friends, for your benevolent exertions in Rotterdam. You 
 have excited amongst us, and have left, I trust, an abiding 
 Chi-istian affection. We feel we are brethren, united in the 
 same good cause of our adorable Saviour, that of promoting 
 'peace on earth and good-will to men.' How soon will the 
 wood, hay and stubble of party be burnt up, and what is 
 built on the Rock of Ages remain, &c., &c. We are here in 
 a parched wilderness, but your visit has brought a refresh- 
 ing dew, and may it abide with us." 
 
 Amsterdam, Third Months l\)th, 
 
 "My dearest H , 
 
 We find this a very interesting place. How much amused 
 you would all be at some of our curious meetiugj. The 
 other evening we went to drink tea at the house of a con- 
 verted Jew, where we met a member of the Pietists; ho 
 read the 14th chapter of John in French ; I spoke and gave 
 a, little advice on Christian love and unity ; then the Jew 
 spoke, and another Jew prayed, and afterwards William 
 Allen. The serious, the sweet, the good and the ludicrous 
 were curiously mixed up together. Yesterday was very f uil ; 
 fii-st company, breakfast and reading ; then preparation for 
 two meetings, one for prisoners in the afternoon, and one 
 in the evening for philanthropic objects, &c. At three 
 o'clock about twenty gentlemen came to discuss with us tha 
 
804 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 state of the prisoners of Holland — an excellent meeting. A 
 gentleman named Surengar was present who has followed 
 us fi'om Eotterdam, and has kindly invited us to his house 
 in the North of Holland. Tour uncle is very clever in his 
 speeches and real knowledge of the subject. I received 
 blessing and thanks from many, far too much ; our visit ap- 
 pears most seasonable here, so much wanting to be done in 
 the prisons and other things. 
 
 Fiftb'day morning. — We went to oiu* Friends' Meet- 
 ing ; when we arrived the numbers roun I the door were so 
 great that we doubted whether we coiild get in; however 
 way was soon made for us and we found a Javge and 'ivfhly 
 respectable congregation needing no interpreter. We had 
 certainly a flowing Meeting in every sense, I think the cup 
 flowed over with Christian love. I believe it has been a 
 most unusual thing the way in which hearts have been 
 opened towards us. I then went off to the prison to launch 
 the Committee of Ladies in visiting it, several gent'emen 
 also with me. I had just time to come home, rest and dress^ 
 and set off to a dinner at our friend Van der Hope's where 
 there are the most exquisite paintings by the Dutch mas- 
 ters. I think I never saw any so much to my taste. 
 
 " I can assur e thee, my dearest H •, when I see how 
 
 ripe the fields are unto harvest everywhere, I long and pray 
 that more laborers may be brought into this most interest- 
 ing, important, and, may I not say delightful service; bat 
 there must be a preparation for it, by yielding to the cross 
 of Christ, and often deep humiliations and much self-abase- 
 ment are needful, before the Lord makes much use of us : 
 but above all we must yield om selves to God, as 'those that 
 are alive from the dead ; ' He will then fit for His own worl? 
 in His own way. 
 
 Dearest love to all of you, 
 
 I am thy most tenderly attached mother 
 
 Elizabeth Fey.'' 
 
THIED, FOURTH AND FIFTH VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 305 
 
 The party now turned eastward toward Hanover to visit 
 a small colony of Friends at Minden and Pyrmont. From 
 these places Mrs. Fry writes to her family : 
 
 "Minden, Third Month, 28«A.— We left Twolle on 
 Second-day the 23rd and slept at a true German inn — 
 neither carpet nor curtain. Our night was disturbed, still 
 we did well. Q^he next day we set oflf in good time and 
 traveled until twelve o'clock; we did not settle till two in 
 the morning. I think I have not yet recovered the fatigue, 
 not having slept well one night since. We have been inter- 
 ested by the Friends, who are much like those of Con- 
 genies, but more entirely Friends. We have visited them 
 in almost all their families and had two Meetings with them, 
 X'f e have been brought into much sympathy with them, for 
 they are a tried, and I believe a Christian people. We have 
 this evening had three pastors with us, two of them I think 
 spu'itual men. Our meeting was largely attended this after- 
 noon, and I can assure you my heart almost failed me, being 
 interpreted for in German is so difficult ; but we have, in 
 Auguste Mundbenck, a well educated young Friend, a capi- 
 tal interpreter. The meeting ended well. In my wakeful 
 nights I feel solitary, and have you very present with me; 
 but I humbly trust He that sleepeth not is watching over 
 you with tender care. 
 
 '■'•Pyrmont, l^th. — In our way here we visited at Hameln 
 a large prison, under the King of Hanover, almost all the 
 poor prisoners, upwards of four hundred in number, heavily 
 chained. I told them a little of my deep interest for their 
 present and eternal welfare ; they appeared to feel it very 
 much ; one poor man, a tall fine figure with heavy chains on 
 both legs, sat weeping like a child. I am just come in from 
 visiting some families of Friends ; they are really a very 
 valuable set. I longed to take a picture for you of an old 
 Friend with a plain scull-cap, eithei quilted or knitted, a 
 purple handkerchief, a striped apron, and the whole ap- 
 
ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 pearance truly curious ; but she was a sweet old woman, full 
 of loTe. I am really amused; the old and young are as 
 fond of me as if I could fully speak to them ; the little ones 
 sitting on my lap as if I were tLeu- mother, and leaning 
 their little heads upon me. A little child about four or five 
 said, what happy days they should have when we went to 
 see them. We expect a large party this evening. 
 
 "30th. — We had our party and unde^-stand there were 
 present some of the first persons of the town, besides the 
 unaster of the hotel, his wife, the doctor, the post-master, 
 the book-binder, the shoemaker, &c., &c., &c. ! We dis- 
 cussed the state of their poor, their not visiting them or 
 attending to them ; for it appears tha*; visiting the poor is 
 not thought of here. I hope and expect our coming will be 
 useful in this respect. 
 
 "J£a77ieln — ended JSanover, Fourth Month, 2nd. 
 
 "While stopping at a small inn I mean to finish my ac- 
 count of our visit to Pyrmont. After I wrote we went 
 shaking on over such bad roads from house to house to see 
 Friends, that I almost feared we must break down. We 
 twice dined with them in their beautiful spot at Friedens- 
 fchal, (or the valley of peace,) surrounded with hills and a 
 river flowing through it; roebucks wild from the woods 
 abounding. We were very pleasantly received. Our visits 
 were very satisfactory to these very valuable and agreeable 
 people. Tears and kisses abounded at our departure. I 
 must tell you of an interesting event. I went to buy some- 
 thing for little John at a shop where a very agreeable lady 
 spoke to me in English, and I was so much attracted by her 
 that I requested her to accept a book, and sent a work on 
 the rites and ceremonies of the Jews. I asked her to attend 
 our Meeting on Second-day morning. She proved to be a 
 Jewish lady of some importance ; she came to the Meeting 
 with several other Jews, and truly I beUeve her heart was 
 touched. I invited her to come to see us the next evening, 
 when we expected several persons to join om* party. The 
 
THIBD, FOURTH AND PTPTH VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 307 
 
 fo]lo^ving day we agreed to form a District Society to attend 
 to the deplorable state of the poor. The Jewish lady capi- 
 tally helped us ; she then appeared in a feeling state ; but 
 this morning when the ladies met to finish our arrange- 
 ments, and I felt it my place to give them a little advice, 
 and my blessing in the name of the Lord, the tears poured 
 down her face. I then felt it my absolute duty to take her 
 into my room to give her such books as I thought right 
 and to tell her how eai*nest my desires were that she should 
 come to the knowledge of our Saviour. I think in our 
 whole journey no person has appeared to be so affected 
 or so deeply impressed; may it be lasting and may she 
 become a Christian indeed! 
 
 " Hildesheim, Fourth Month, Qt?u 
 " We left Hanover to-day about five o'clock, after rather a 
 singular visit. We arrived there on Fifth-day evening. 
 On Sixth and Seventh-day our way did not open quite so 
 brightly as sometimes. We saw a deplorable prison, — ^poor 
 untried prisoners chained to the ground until they would 
 confess their crimes, whether they had committed them or 
 not, and some other sad evils. Several interesting pei'sons 
 came to see us. Seventh-day evening we spent at a gentle- 
 man's house where we met some very clever and superior 
 persons, and had much important communication upon 
 their prisons, &c., &c. On First-day we had our little 
 Meetings ; such a tide on the Sabbath I think I hardly ever 
 had ; it was like being driven down a mighty stream ; we 
 had allowed persons to come to us, supposing it would be 
 the last day there. I made some calls of Christian love. 
 Q?he principal magistrate came for an hour about the prisons, 
 and very many other persons. In the evening we had also 
 a party of a select nature to our Scripture-reading, and after 
 a very solemn time we represented many tilings wanted 
 in Hanover. I forgot to tell you, amongst other visitors 
 the Queen's Chamberhn came to say that the Queen wished 
 to see our whole party on Second-day at one o'clock. We 
 
808 
 
 ELIZABETH FRY. 
 
 bad proposed going that morning early, but put it off on 
 this account. I think I never paid a more interesting visit 
 to royalty — my brother Samuel, William Allen and myself. 
 In the first place we were received with ceremonious respect, 
 shown through many rooms into a drawing-room where 
 were the Queen's Chamberlain and three ladies-in-waiting 
 to receive us. . . After some little time we were sent 
 for by the Queen ; the King was too ill to see us. She is a 
 stately woman, tall, large, and rather a fine countenance. 
 We very soon began to speak of her afflictions, and I gave 
 a little encouragement and exhortation. She was much 
 affected, and after a little requested us to sit down. We 
 bad very interesting and important subjects brought for- 
 tvai'd ; the difficulties and temptations to which rank is sub- 
 ject, the importance of then- influence, the objects incum- 
 bent upon them to attend to and help in — Bible Societies, 
 Prisons, &c. We then read our addi-ess to the Queen, wish- 
 ing her to patronize ladies visiting the prisons ; it contained 
 serious advice, and our desires for her, the King, and the 
 Prince ; then I gave the Queen several books which she ac- 
 septed in the kindest manner." 
 
 The travelers then proceeded to Berlin where they met 
 with a warm welcome from all classes and found an ample 
 field of labor. In the Princess William, sister of the late 
 King Frederick William III., Mrs. Fry found a zealous 
 supporter of her efforts for the improvement of the prisons. 
 Their first public reception is thus described by her niece: 
 also a meeting at the palace of the Princess William. 
 
 ^'^ Hotel de Russic, Berlin. 
 "Our dear aunt's first evening for phUanthropio purposes 
 took place o;a the 13th. There is a splendid room in the 
 Hotel capable of containing two hundred persons, where 
 we have our reunions. (At one end of this large room was 
 
THIED, FOOBTH AND FIFTH VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 309 
 
 a platform on whicli the company were seated, with Pro- 
 fessor Tholuck, as interpreter.) It would be impossible to 
 describe the intense interest and eagerness which prevailed 
 when our aunt rose. The attention of the whole assembly 
 eeemed completely riveted by her address. William Allen 
 had previously told them the object of their mission, and a 
 little of what they had been doing since our arrival in 
 Berlin. 
 
 " The Princess William has been desirous to give her 
 sanction, as far as possible, to the Ladies' Committee for 
 visiting the prisons that my aunt has been forming ; and to 
 show her full approbation had invited the Committee to 
 meet her at her palace. The Princess had also asked some 
 of her friends ; so we must have been about forty. Such a 
 party of ladies and only our friend Count Groben to in- 
 terpret. The Princess received us most kindly. The Crown 
 Princess arrived. The Princess Charles was also there; 
 and the Crown Prince himself soon afterwards entered. 
 Our aunt sat in the middle of the sofa, the Crown Prince 
 and Princess, and the Princess Chai'les on her right, the 
 Princess William, Princess Marie, and Princess Czartoryski 
 on the left; Count Groben sitting near her to interpret; 
 the Countesses Bohlen and Dernath by her — I was sitting 
 by the Countess Schlieffen, a delightful person who is much 
 interested in all our proceediDgs. A table was placed be- 
 fore our aunt, with pens, ink and paper, like other Commit- 
 tees, with the various rules that she and I had drawn up, 
 and the Countess Bohlen had translated into German, and 
 which she read to the assembly. Our aunt then gave a 
 clever, concise account of the Societies in England. When 
 business was over my aunt mentioned some texts which she 
 asked leave to read. A German Bible was handed to Count 
 Groben, the text in Isaiah having been pointed out, that 
 our aunt had wished for, ' Is not this the fast that I have 
 ^bosen,' &c. The count read it, after which our aunt said, 
 ♦Will the Prince and Princesses allow a short time for 
 
310 
 
 ELIZABETH PBT. 
 
 prayer ? ' They all bowed assent and stood, while she knelt 
 down and offered one of her touching heartfelt prayers for 
 them — that a blessing might rest on the whole place, from 
 the King on his throne to the poor prisoner in the dungeon ; 
 and she prayed especially for the Koyal Family ; then for 
 the ladies, that the works of theu' hands might be pros- 
 pered in what they had now undertaken to perform. 
 Many of the ladies now withdi'ew, and we were soon left 
 ■with the Eoyal Family. They all invited us to see them 
 again before we left Berlin, and took leave of us in the 
 kindest manner." 
 
 How admirably did this meek and trustful woman main- 
 tain the simple dignity of her apostolic office. Like Paul 
 she was pohte to the high as well as to the low in position, 
 remembering the words " Ye have one Master, even Christ, 
 and all ye are brethren." She was not captivated by the 
 glitter of court-life, even when it was sustained by true 
 nobility of mind and character, as was the case in Prussia. 
 Her sympathies were with the people, and she felt their 
 Bufferings and bonds, as bound with them, using her 
 divinely given influence to ameliorate sorrow wherever 
 found. She seized on this favorable moment to present to 
 the Crown Prince a concern which weighed upon her spiiit. 
 Having learned by inquu'y that members of the Lutheran 
 church still suffered great oppression, in various ways, she 
 opened the subject to the heir to the throne. He gave her 
 an attentive hearing and encouraged her to act as she be- 
 lieved to be right. Thereupon an addi'ess was drawn up 
 by William Allen and officially presented to the Eing» 
 " On the following day the King's chaplain was the bearer 
 of the delightful intelligence that the address had been 
 
THIBD, FOXJKTH AND FIFTH VISITS TO THE CONTINEIIT. 311 
 
 graciously received, and that the King had said that, *He 
 thought the Spirit of God must have helped them to ex- 
 press themselves as they had done.' " 
 
 " Leipzig, Fourth Month, ZOtJu 
 
 **Mt dearest L , 
 
 The deeply weighty exercises at Berlin had so much ex- 
 pended all my powers, that I concluded to remain here 
 alone with my maid and our young friend Beyerhaus whilst 
 .the rest of our little company went to Dresden. I have had 
 a quiet time and am much refreshed. I enjoy this fine 
 weather. How beautiful is the breaking forth of spring ! 
 
 "We have been particularly interested in visiting Luther's 
 abode at Wittemberg, being where he was, and sitting where 
 he sat by his table. Though in an old monastery he ap- 
 pears to have had very comfortable apartments. We saw 
 a beautiful painted ceiling in his sitting-room, though now 
 much defaced. I hope you have all read Merle D'Aubigne'a 
 History of the Reformation, we have found it so very inter- 
 esting ; we expect to visit many of the places mentioned in 
 it, and see the castle in which Luther was confined ." 
 
 " Frankfort, Fifth Month, Ath. — I felt very unwell yes- 
 terday and low in spirits. My dearest brother and sweet 
 niece were most kind to me ; all that I required I had ; so 
 ' the Lord doth provide.' I almost dreaded my night ; but 
 through tender mercy the Comforter was near to comfort 
 and help my great infirmity, so that I rested in my Lord 
 and feel revived in body and soul this morning. This text 
 has been present with me, ' I am the Lord that healeth 
 thee.' — Exodus xv., 26. Such fears presented themselves — • 
 How could I get home 1 How could I bear the sea ? Should 
 I not feel much burdened, not having finished what I thought 
 I ought to do ? and so on ; but now my most gi'acious and 
 holy Helper delivers me from my fears. Thanks to His 
 most blessed and holy name." 
 
812 
 
 ELIZASETB FB7. 
 
 From Dusseldorf they visited "the estabhshment of 
 Kaiserwerth, under the care of Pastor Fliedner, for training 
 Deaconesses to tend and nm-se the sick and to aid their 
 Bpiritual • necessities whilst providing for their temporal 
 wants. At that time this admirable institution had existed 
 only four years, but its utility was generally acknowledged, 
 and information upon the subject earnestly desired. Pastor 
 Fliedner, in furnishing his recollections of the visit says : " 
 
 "The 8th of May 1840 was a great holiday to us; Eliza- 
 beth Fry of London visited our institution. Of all my 
 contemporaries none has exercised a like influence on my 
 heart and life : truly her friendship was one of the ' all 
 things ' which God in sovereign mercy has worked for my 
 good. 
 
 "In Januai'y 1824, I had had the privilege of witnessing 
 the effects of Mrs. Fry's ■wonder-working visits among the 
 miserable prisoners of Newgate. On my return to my father- 
 land my object was to found a society entitled the ' Rhenish 
 Westphalian Prison Association,' having ramifications in 
 all the provinces of Germany. In this I was greatly assisted 
 by the advice and experience afforded me by this eminent 
 servant of God. Dming my second stay in England, ia 
 1834, I had the happiness, in common with Dr. Steinkopfif, 
 of spending a day with Mrs. Fry at her own home, and also 
 of accompanying her in one of her visits of mercy to New- 
 gate. By this means I was enabled to see and admire her 
 in her domestic as well as public character. 
 
 "Thus may my happiness be estimated when, in 1840, 
 Mrs. Fry, accompanied by her brother, her young niece, 
 William Allen, and Lucy Bradshaw, came in person to see 
 and rejoice over the growing establishment of Kaiserwerth. 
 She saw the whole house, going into every room, and mi- 
 nutely examining each in detail, and then delivered to the in- 
 mates a deeply interesting discomse. Many were the teai'S 
 
THIRD, roUETH AND FIFTH VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 313 
 
 shed, and I have a bright hope not in vain. . . . Truly 
 God was in the midst of us, and the remembrance of that 
 spirit of active, self-denying love is one of the sweetest con- 
 solations I possess amid the trials and difficulties which 
 every such institution must afford. 
 
 May, 26, 1848. Thomas Fliedner." 
 
 Her own account of their engagements at Dusseldorf 
 bears date May 10th. 
 
 "Here we are, and, thanks to my Heavenly Father, I am 
 much revived : my cough better ; unfavorable symptoms 
 subsided ; sufficient strength given me for the various duties 
 as they arise. I feel my prospect weighty ; first going to 
 the prison to visit some prisoners whom I did not see yes- 
 terday; and then we expect a large party in the evening to 
 read the Scriptures and for worship, — and this amongst 
 strangers who know little or nothing of us, or our ways, and 
 our interpreter not accustomed to us. But our holy Helper 
 can, through his own unmerited mercy and almighty power, 
 really so help us to touch the hearts of those who come to 
 us, to their true edification. O gracious Lord! be with us, 
 help us and bless us. Thy servants have come in much fear, 
 much weakness, and under a belief that it is Thy call that 
 has brought them here. Now be Thyself present with us, 
 in this, our last occasion of the kind, to our help, consola- 
 tions and edification! I can only cast myself on Thy love, 
 mercy and pity. 
 
 "In the afternoon I visited the prison, accompanied by 
 my dear brother, William Allen and Lucy Bradshaw. We 
 first collected a large number of men in a yard, and I was, 
 in my low state of body strengthened to speak to them in 
 the open air. Unexpectedly a valuable man, the Pastor 
 Fliedner, met us, who interpreted beautifully for me. We 
 then visited several wards, and the prisoners appeared to 
 feel a great deal. May its effects long remain. I also vis- 
 ited a very valuable lady, a Koman Catholic, who has visited 
 
814 
 
 ELIZABETH FEY. 
 
 the prison many years. We partook of Christian love, and 
 
 I believe of Christian unity. In the evening wc had a very 
 large party to our reading and worship; I should think 
 nearly a hundred persons. My Lord and Master only 
 knows what such occasions are to iiie, weak in body, rather 
 low in spu-its — amongst perfect strangers to us — not able 
 to speak to them in their own language. To whom could 
 I go? I could say, 'With God all things are possible;' 
 and so I found it. My brother Samuel read the 7th chap- 
 ter of Matthew. One of the pastors read it in German. I 
 soon spoke, and unexpectedly had to enlarge much on the 
 present state of Germany ; how it was that more fruit had 
 not been produced, considering the remarkable seed sown 
 in years past ; the query what hindered its growth ? I ex- 
 pressed my belief — first that it arose from a lukewarm and 
 indififerent sphit ; secondly, from infidel principles creeping 
 in under a specious form ; thirdly, from too much supersti- 
 tion yet remaining ; fourthly, and above all, from the love 
 of the world and the things of it, beyond the love of Christ. 
 After showing the evil and its results — the seed obstructed, 
 as in the parable of the Sower, bringingno fruit to perfeetion- 
 I endeavored to find out the remedy — to ]ook at home and 
 not judge one another; to ask for help, protection and 
 direction to walk in the nai-row way; to be doers and not 
 hearers of the word ; and to devote themselves to His ser- 
 vice who had done so much for us. William Allen followed 
 with a satisfactory sermon. I then prayed very earnestly 
 for them and afterwards exhorted on reading the Scriptures. 
 famUy worship, keeping the Sabbath, &c., and ended with-a 
 blessing. The attention was excessive ; the interpretation 
 excellent by my dear friend the Pastor Fliedner; hearts 
 much melted, and great unity expressed by numbers. It 
 was a solemn seal set to our labors in this laud, and one 
 not to be forgotten. So our Lord helped us and regarded 
 me. His poor servant, in my low estate ; afterwards peace 
 was in no common degree my portion. Blessed be the name 
 
THIED, FOURTH AND FIFTH VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 31S 
 
 of the Lord. All my dear companions, William Allen, my 
 brother, and the younger of the party, my dear niece and 
 Lucy Bradshaw, appeared happy and cheerful. I returned 
 thanks on sitting down to a refreshing meal, after the labors 
 of the day; and I think I may say we ate our 'meat with 
 gladness and singleness of heart.' " 
 
 !Hhe return to England was made in time for the Yearly 
 Meeting of Friends which was held in May, so that the 
 journey lasted about two months and a half. 
 
 " Upton, 19th. — I attended the first sitting of the Select 
 Meeting yesterday. My lot was to sit in silence. I saw 
 many much loved by me. May my most gracious Lord 
 help me, by His own Spu'it, at this Yearly Meeting fully, 
 simply and clearly to lay what I think and feel before this 
 people — that which is right for the aged and more expe- 
 rienced before them, and that which is for the youth before 
 them. Gracious Lord help me to do it in faithfulness, in 
 love, in truth, in deep humility and godly sincerity. AmeiL 
 
 "We have, altogether, a favorable reply to our letter 
 from the King of Piussia. He justifies the measures pur* 
 sued towards the Lutherans, but I believe our address will 
 not be in vain. We have had satisfactory reports of the 
 Government already acting on our suggestions respecting 
 the prisons in Prussia. The prisoners are to have more 
 religious instruction and more inspection. I have also had 
 a very interesting letter from the Queen of Denmark express- 
 ing regret at our not going there, and not only great deshe 
 to see me there, but much unity with my views on many 
 subjects." 
 
 The Yearly Meeting proved satisfactory, but no particu« 
 lar account is preserved. 
 
 " Eighth Month, 6th. — There has been some fear of a wai" 
 
S16 
 
 ELIZABETH FB7. 
 
 with France, which has been really sorrowful to me; I could 
 have wept at the thought; so dear are the people of that 
 country to my heart, and so awful is it to think of the hor- 
 rors of war, whichever way we look at the subjuct, relig- 
 iously, morally, or physically. The longer I live and the 
 greater my experience of life, the more decided are my ob- 
 jections to wai", as wholly inconsisted with the Christian 
 calling. Oh ! may the Almighty gi'ant that through His 
 omnipotence and unutterable love and mercy in Christ our 
 Saviour, the day may not be very far distant when the peo- 
 ple shall learn war no more, — when peace and righteous- 
 ness shall reign in the earth." 
 
 "JEarlham, Eighth Months list. — My dearest brother 
 Joseph is safely retm-ned home after his absence of three 
 years in America and the West India Islands. I think I 
 never saw any person in so perfectly peaceful a state ; he 
 says unalloyed peace, like a sky witho ut a cloud, and above 
 all enabled thankfully to enjoy his many blessings. 
 
 " Twelfth Month, 31s^. — I deeply feel coming to the close 
 of this year, rather vmusually so : it finds me in a rather low 
 estate, and from cii'cumstances my spirit is rather over- 
 whelmed although I am sensible that blessings abound, 
 thi'ough unmerited mercy. I think the prison cause, at 
 home and abroad, much prospering, many happy results 
 from our foreign expedition, and much doing at home. 
 Among other things the establishment of a Patronage So- 
 ciety for prisoners, by which many poor wanderers appear 
 to be helped and protected, and a Society for the Sisters of 
 Chai'ity to visit and attend the sick." 
 
 The last named institution, the management of which* 
 from the urgency of her numerous engagements was en- 
 trusted largely to her sister Elizabeth Gurney, and her 
 daughters, was constituted somewhat in imitation of Pastor 
 riiedner's Kaiserwerth, and was finally called the " Nursing 
 
TraED, FOURTH AND FIFTH VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 31T 
 
 Sisleis." Of this Society the Queen Dowager became Pa- 
 troness and Lady Inglis President, and with an effective 
 committee to conduct the management, it has steadily ad- 
 vanced and prospered. "Their aid in sickness has been 
 soiight and greatly valued by persons of all classes, from 
 Eoyalty to the most destitute." 
 
 Kotwithstanding the abundance of home interests and 
 cares, and that her health already began seriously to yield 
 to the constant drain upon her strength, this great-hearted 
 philanthropist, and devoted servant of the Lord, still felt 
 that more work remained for her abroad, whence appeals 
 for aid continued to be received. She " shrank from the 
 great effort of leaving home, and encountering the fatigue 
 of traveling, from the shaken state of her health ; her life of 
 exertion and effort had told irremediably upon her vital 
 powers ; but it was not because the shades of evening were 
 gathering around her that she would slacken her labors for 
 the good of others. Whilst it was yet day, she desii-ed to 
 work and finish all that her g-reat Master might have for 
 her to do, before the night should come when no man can 
 work." In view of this new prospect she writes : — 
 
 " Sixth Month. — I most earnestly desire the direction of 
 my Lord and Master, through the immediate teaching of 
 His Holy Spirit, that I may really know and do His will, 
 and His will only. For Thy name's sake, O Lord ! lead 
 me, and teach me. . . 
 
 " 27<A, First-day. — After most deeply weighing the sub- 
 ject, and after very earnest prayer for direction, I felt best 
 satisfied to inform my friends of my belief that it might be 
 right for me to accompany my dearest brother Joseph to 
 the Continent and to visit some of the more northern coun- 
 
818 
 
 EtIZABETH FB^ 
 
 fxies of Europe. I had very decided encouragement from 
 Friends, particulai'ly the most spiritual amongst them, which 
 I felt helpful to me ; but I was surprised at the degree oi 
 relief and peace that I felt afterwards, as from a voice be- 
 fore me saying ' This is the way, walk in it.' 
 
 " Seventh 3Ionth, 28<A, Second-day. — I had, on Seventh- 
 day, letters from the Queen of Prussia and the Princess 
 William — the first expressing much satisfaction at our pro- 
 posed visit ; our way is clearly open in her heart, and that 
 of the King." 
 
 The company on this fom'th tout consisted of her brother 
 Joseph John Gurney, his daughter Anna, Elizabeth, daugh- 
 ter of Samuel Gurney , and Mrs. Fry's maid. The prospect 
 embraced portions of Holland, Germany, Prussia and Den- 
 mark. 
 
 The first stop was made at Rotterdam where they had a 
 large party in the evening, and the next day visited the 
 prisons. She remarks, "I find a second visit to a place 
 much better than a first." 
 
 They then went to the Hague, and sent their letters to 
 the King from Prince Albert. " On Sixth-day a message 
 came to desii-e that we would wait upon the Eling and 
 Queen the next day, at half-past one o'clock, accompanied 
 by Lady Disbrowe, (wife of the British Minister.) 
 
 " We remained with the King and Queen and their daugh- 
 ter, the Princess Sophia, about an hour. As rather an in- 
 teresting event in my life, I mean to tell you (the home 
 circle) particulars of this interview. Before we went we 
 bad a solemn, short meeting for worship with our dear and 
 valued friends of tins town: afterwards we prepare.! to go. 
 
 " I was decorated in my best garments outwardly, (a neat 
 brown silk dress presented by a son, and a diab silk shawl, 
 
THIBD, FOUETH AND FIFTH VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 819 
 
 the gift of another of her family,) and I desired so to be 
 clothed with better ornaments spiritually as to render at- 
 tractive that which I had to recommend. We all felt very 
 weightily our serious engagement, as we had much to rep- 
 resent to the King respecting the West Indies, prisons, and 
 religious education for the people of his own country. 
 The King, a Hvely, clever, perfect gentleman, not a large 
 man, in regimentals ; the Queen, (sister to the Emperor of 
 Russia,) a fine, stately person, in full and rather beautiful 
 morning dress of white; the Princess much the same. 
 After our presentation the King began easy and pleasant 
 conversation with me about my visiting prisons. I told 
 him in a short, lively manner, the history of it. He said 
 he heaid I had so many children, how could I do it? This 
 I explained, and mentioned how one of my daughters 
 now helped me in the Patronage Society. He appeared 
 much interested, as did the Queen. I then said my brother 
 had visited the West Indies and would be glad to tell the 
 King and Queen the result of his observations in those 
 islands. This he did capitally, showing the excellency of 
 freedom and its most happy results. He represented also 
 the sad effects of the Dutch enlisting soldiers on the Gold 
 Coast, and how it led to the evil of slavery, which so 
 touched the King that he said he meant to put a stop to 
 ^t. I then began again and most seriously laid before the 
 King the sad defect of having no religious education in 
 their Government schools, and the Bible not introduced. 
 He said he really felt it, but what could he do when there 
 was a law against it. We then endeavored to explain how 
 ^e thought it might be obtained. Our very serious con- 
 versation was mixed with much cheerfulness. I felt helped 
 to speak very boldly, yet respectfully ; so did my brother. 
 I concluded by expressing my most earnest desire that the 
 iSing's reign might be marked by the prisoners being so 
 reformed that punishment might become the means of tho 
 
S20 
 
 KLIZABETB FBI 
 
 refonaation of criminals ; by the lower classes being re- 
 ligiously educated; and by the slaves in their colonies 
 being liberated. The King then took me by the hand and 
 said he hoped God would bless me. I expressed my desire 
 that the blessing of the Almighty might rest on the King, 
 Queen, their children, and thek children's children. We 
 gave them books which they accepted kindly. It certainly 
 was a very pleasant and satisfactory interview that I hum- 
 bly trust will not prove in vain in the Lord." 
 
 "On Sixth-day, with my brother, I visited the Piincess 
 of Orange. We had open, free, pleasant communication on 
 many important points. The same morning I visited th© 
 Princess Frederick, sister to the King of Prussia just out 
 of her confinement. I found her like the other members 
 of that superior family. My brother also had very satisfac- 
 tory intercourse with the Princess of Orange. The Minis- 
 ters of the Interior and of Finance have been very kind, 
 and we hope and expect that real good will result. The 
 Princess of Orange has a lovely little boy about two months 
 older than our Princess. The guis went to see him ; they 
 accompanied me to tbe Princess Frederick who wished to 
 see them, from her knowledge of us through the Prussian 
 Coui't. " 
 
 On the 7th of August the party reached Amsterdam 
 where they inspected all the public institutions and held 
 philanthropic and religious meetings in the usual manner. 
 On the 14th they arrived at Bremen where a large meeting 
 was held in the Museum at which several of the pasteurs 
 were present. One of these said to Mrs. Fry, "Your name 
 has long been to us ' « xoord of beauty ; ' " and a Christian 
 gentleman wrote to them afterwards, "Now I am more 
 than convinced that you are sent to us by the Lord to be 
 
TEtntD, POtlETH AKD FIFTH VISITS TO THB CONTINENT. 821 
 
 and to become a great blessing, and a salt to our city." 
 
 "An address, embodying subjects of great importance, was 
 afterwards prepared by Elizabeth Fry and her brother and 
 forwarded to the municipal authorities of the place." 
 *' When the carriage came to the Hotel door for their de- 
 parture crowds of the lower classes surrounded it, wishing 
 them a prosperous journey, ' bon voyage,' thanking them 
 for the good Meeting they had had the evening before, and 
 begging for tracts ; whilst numbers could not be persuaded 
 to move till Elizabeth Fry had shaken hands with them, 
 Their little transit aci-oss the Elbe would have been delight- 
 ful, with a splendid setting sun, but for a mob of persons 
 returning from Hamburg market, who, haviug discovered 
 Elizabeth Fry and her tract bag, so pressed upon her that 
 she was glad to take refuge in a carriage." 
 
 After various engagements and a large meeting at Ham- 
 burg, they embarked on the Baltic for Copenhagen, where 
 they remained a week. The following is Mrs. Fry's descrip- 
 tion of this part of the mission, written to her family on 
 board the packet, August 30th, 1841. 
 
 "We have been favored to leave Denmark with peaceful 
 minds, having endeavored to fulfil our mission as ability 
 has been granted us : a more important one, or a more in- 
 teresting one. I think I never was called into. On First- 
 day morning when we arrived in the harbor we were met 
 by Peter Browne the Secretary to the English Legation, to 
 inform us that the Queen had engaged apartments for us in 
 the Hotel Eoyal. The appearance of the Hotel was I 
 should think like the arrangements of one of our first rate 
 hotels about a hundred years ago. 
 
 "The next morning the Queen came to town and we had 
 a very pleasant and satisfactory interview with her. She 
 
822 
 
 ELIZABETH FB7. 
 
 certainly is a most delightful woman, as well as a truly 
 Christian and devoted character ; lovely in person and quite 
 the Queen in appearance. She took me in her carriage to 
 her infant school: it really was beautiful to see her sur- 
 rounded by the little children and to hear her translating 
 what I wished to say to them. After staying with her about 
 two hours, we returned to our Hotel, and that evening took 
 a diive to see the beautiful Palace of Fredericksburgh, in a 
 most lovely situation, the beauties of land and sea com- 
 bined, with fine forest trees around it. The following 
 morning we regularly began our prison visiting. Very sad 
 scenes we witnessed in some of them. We saw hundreds 
 of persons confined for life in melancholy places; but what 
 occupied our most particular attention was the state of the 
 persecuted Christians. We found Baptist ministers, excel- 
 lent men, in one of the prisons, and ttiat many others of 
 this sect suffered much in this country, for there is hardly 
 any religious tolerance. It produces the most flattening; 
 religious influence, I think more marked than in Roman 
 Catholic countries. We were most devoted to the service 
 of visiting prisons. Thu'd and Fourth-days we received 
 various persons in the evening, but saw as yet but few 
 Danes. 
 
 " On Fourth-day we dined at Sir Henry Watkyn Wynn's, 
 our ambassador, and here we became acquainted with sev- 
 eral persons. They hve quite in the country and we saw 
 the true Danish country-house and gardens. The King and 
 Queen were kind enough to invite us all to dine at their 
 palace in the country on Fifth-day. This was a most seri- 
 ous occasion, as we had so much to lay before the King ; — 
 slavery in the West Indies, the condition of the persecuted 
 Christians here, and the sad state of the prisons. I was in 
 epirit so weighed down with the importance of the occasion 
 that I hardly could enjoy the beautiful scene. We ai'rived 
 about a quarter past three o'clock ; the Queen met us with 
 the utmost kindness and condescension and took us a walk 
 
THIRD, FOUKTH AND FIFTH VISITS TO THB OONTIIIENT. 323 
 
 in their lovely giounds which are open to the public. We 
 had mnch interesting convei-sation, between French and 
 English, and made ourselves understood. When our viralk 
 was finished we were shown into the drawing room to the 
 King who met us very coui'teously ; several were there in 
 attendance. Dinner was soon announced : imagine me, the 
 King on one side and the Queen on the other, and only my 
 poor French to depend upon ; but I did my best to turn 
 the time to account. . . When dinner was over we all 
 went out together. The afternoon was very entertaining; 
 the King and Queen took us to the drawing-room window 
 where we were to see a large school of orphans, proteges of 
 the Queen. I took advantage of this opportunity and laid 
 the state of the prisons before the King, telling him at the 
 same time that I had a petition for him which I meant to 
 make before leaving the palace. After an amusing time with 
 the children my brother Joseph withdrew with the King 
 into a private room, where, for about an hour he gave him 
 attention whilst he thoroughly enlarged upon the state of 
 theii- West India Islands. I staid with the Queen, but after 
 awhile went to tbem and did entreat the King for the poor 
 Baptists in prison, and for religious toleration. I did my 
 best, in few words, to express my mind, and very strongly I 
 did it. I also gave Luther's sentiments upon the subject. 
 .... On Seventh-day (one of our fullest days) we drove 
 cut into the country to visit the King's sister, the Land- 
 gravine of Hesse Cassel, the Prince her husband, brother to 
 the Duchess of Cambridge, and the lovely Princesses, her 
 daughters. We endeavored to turn these visits to account 
 by our conversation. In the evening we held one of our 
 very large Meetings. I trust that we were both so helped 
 to speak the truth in love on various and very important 
 subjects as to assist the causes nearest our hearts, for our 
 poor fellow-mortals. It did not appear desuable to allude 
 to the persecuted Christians : as we had laid theii- case be- 
 iore the King we might have done harm by it. But I fee] 
 
824 
 
 ELIZABETH FBY. 
 
 the way in •which Protestant Europe is persecuting to be a 
 subject that cannot and must not be allowed to rest. Where 
 we now are, the same old Lutherans whom we found perse- 
 cuted in Prussia are persecuting others. 
 
 " The way in which ceremonies are depended upon is won- 
 derful. No person is allowed to fill any office, civil or relig- 
 ious, until confirmed, — not even to marry ! and when once 
 confirmed we hear that it leads to a feeling of such security 
 spiritually that they think themselves at liberty to do as 
 they like. Sadly numerous are the instances of moral fall. 
 
 " These very weighty subjects so deeply occupying my 
 attention, and being separated from so many beloved onea 
 prevent the lively enjoyment I should otherwise feel in some 
 of the scenes we pass through ; but I see this to be well, 
 and in the right ordering of Providence. I have the kind- 
 est attendants and everything to make me comfortable. 
 
 " On First-day morning we had a very interesting meet- 
 ing with the poor Baptists. We then again went into the 
 country to lay all our statements before the King and 
 Queen. I read the one about the prisons and the perse- 
 cuted Christians, and my brother read the one about the 
 West Indies ; we had them translated into Danish for the 
 King to read at the same time. After pressing these as 
 strongly as we felt right, we expressed our religious con- 
 cern and desii-es for the King and Queen. I read a little 
 to them in one of Paul's epistles ; after that I felt that I 
 must commit them and these in:iportant causes to Him who 
 alone can touch the heart. We had a very handsome lunch- 
 eon, when I was again seated between the King and Queen. 
 I may say their kindness to me was very great. 
 
 " On Seeond-day morning we formed a Society for attend- 
 ing to poor prisoners — gentlemen and ladies; and then 
 paid a most delightful farewell visit to the Queen and Prin- 
 cess. I forgot to mention a very interesting visit to the 
 Queen Dowager." 
 
TEIBD, POmsTH AND FIFTH VISITS TO THB CONTINENT. 325 
 
 They relumed, by Lubeck, to Hambm-g, whence Mrs. 
 Fry wrote to her family : 
 
 Hamburg, Ninth Month, Zrd. 
 
 • ••••• 
 
 "We last night finished our labors in these Hanse Towns. 
 We have labored in them in various ways, particularly in 
 this large and important town. We have boldly set our 
 faces against religious persecution, and upheld religious 
 tolerance and Christian unity in the Church of Christ. We 
 have also labored about their prisons, and expect to have 
 many evUs mitigated. It is extraordinary the good fellow- 
 ship and love we have enjoyed with numbers. In a spu-it- 
 ual sense, fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters given to us, 
 and helpers most curiously and constantly raised up from 
 place to place." 
 
 From Hamburg they proceeded towards Hanover by way 
 of Minden and Pyrmont, again visiting the Friends in these 
 places. The visit is described in a letter to her youngest 
 daughter. 
 
 *^ Hanover, Ninth Month, Qth, 1841. 
 "I cannot express the fulness of my love and interest for 
 my children, in their different allotments, and how often I 
 think of you and your families before the Lord, in my quiet 
 meditations. We arrived here after finishing our interest- 
 ing and satisfactory visits to our dear Friends at IVIinden 
 and Pyrmont. I felt it refreshing being again with these 
 dear, simple-hearted people, and I do think they are useful 
 in their allotments. How much I should like you to have 
 Been us dining with them at Friedensthal ; such a numerous 
 family, grandmother, children, grandchildi-en, in a lai-ge 
 room, and a beautiful and most hospitable German dinner. 
 We not only were favored with outward refreshment but it 
 
326 
 
 ELIZABETH FRY. 
 
 reminded me of the disciples forinerly who went from house 
 to house breaking- bread and giving thanks ; and I desired 
 that we might do as they did, ' eat our meat with gladness 
 and singleness of heart.' I hope there was something of 
 this spirit. The country is lovely. I retu'ed for rest on a 
 little German bed whilst my companions took a ride on 
 horseback over the beautif ai hills. We had a very interest- 
 ing Meeting, largely attended by the company who come 
 here to drink the waters and by the Pyrmontese. At Min- 
 den the Friends are in more humble life. I could not but 
 be struck with the peculiar contrast of my circumstances; 
 in the moi-ning traversing the bad pavement of a street ia 
 Minden with a poor old Friend, in a sort of knitted cap 
 close to her head, in the evening surrounded by the Prince 
 and Princesses of a German court ; for to our surprise Dr. 
 Julius's sister followed us to Minden to inform us that ia 
 the town of Bukeburg which we had passed through there 
 was a desire expressed that we should hold a meeting, and 
 that the reigning Princess wished us to go to the palace. 
 After some consideration we agreed to go, and upon our 
 anival in the town found a large meeting of the gentry as- 
 sembling. Sometime afterwards the Prince and Princesses 
 and theu* family came in. They rule the state of Lippe 
 Scbouenburg, one of the small, rich German states. I en- 
 deavored to speak the truth boldly in love, drawing results 
 from my experience in prisons, and seeking, as ability was 
 granted me, to bring it home to the hearts of those pres- 
 ent. Your uncle also spoke to the same purpose. After- 
 wards we had a very agreeable visit to the palace where we 
 were most cordially received and had tea at five o'clock ; 
 there were many to meet us. After this singular visit we 
 proceeded here, but did not arrive until twelve o'clock at 
 night, having had two meetings at Minden and one at Buke- 
 burg. We were completely tired; almost too much so. 
 To-day we are busy here, and I am delighted to find the 
 dear late Queen really had tha chains knocked oflf the poor 
 
THIBD, FODBTH AND FIFTH VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 327 
 
 prisoners at Hameln. It was deliglitful to see their liappy, 
 grateful faces. They looked as if they knew that we had 
 pleaded for them. I think it was one of the pleasautest 
 visits I ever paid, and to find that the prisoners had be- 
 haved so well since, and that the kindness shown them had 
 had so good an effect. We are novr much occupied in an- 
 swering an interesting letter from the King of Hanover to 
 me, and as I have many weighty things to say to him, I 
 fear I must leave off, being very tired and expecting a large 
 party this evening." 
 
 The evening proved particulary satisfactory, and after 
 meeting the prison committess the following day, they set 
 out for Berlin by way of Magdensburg, diverging on the 
 second day to visit Wittembei-g. 
 
 After examining the prisons in Berlin, and presenting 
 their recommendations to the proper authorities, the party, 
 by special invitation, followed the Eoyal Family to their 
 summer retreat in Silesia. No record of this visit was pre- 
 served by Mrs. Fry, except in a letter to her grandchildren ; 
 but the following extracts from an account by one of her 
 companions give a lively picture of her work. After de- 
 scribing the various locations of different members of tho 
 House of Brandenberg, many of whom were estimable 
 Christians, the writer says : 
 
 "To many of the Eoyal Family, Elizabeth Fry had been 
 introduced in the previous year at Beriiii, and the Prinjess 
 Frederick of the Netherlands had been visited by her at her 
 own beautiful home near the Hague sometime before. It 
 was a lovely spot in which Elizabeth Fry now found her 
 tent pitched for awhile. To a mere passing traveler there 
 was much to delight and to please ; but still more of deep 
 interest to those who could in any degree enter into the 
 
S28 
 
 ELIZABETH FR7. 
 
 Koyal domestic circles there assembled, and this Elizabeth 
 Fry was privileged to do, with much enjoyment, and with 
 an earnest desire to be permitted to be useful and faithful 
 in all her intercourse with them. The morning was 
 usually passed in writing and preparing important docu- 
 ments on the Prison, Slavery, and other questions, and the 
 afternoon in some visit to one of the palaces, which had 
 been previously arranged. The First-day was replete with 
 interest. In the early part of it it was necessary to finish 
 an address to the King on Eeligious Toleration, and on 
 matters connected with the Prisons. 
 
 "Elizabeth Fry was at that time suffering from great 
 debihty and fatigue ; but a power not her own seemed 
 granted her to rise above her infirmities, and to meet the 
 various duties which on that day were given her to fulfil. 
 It is only those who held intimate communication with her 
 at these times who can, in any measure, understand the ex- 
 treme nervousness of her constitution on the one hand, or, 
 on the other, the amount of strength granted her in every 
 time of need. She prayed that in nothing might she seek 
 herself, in all, Christ Jesus; and that all which He laid 
 upon her for His glory and the good of her fellow-creature? 
 she might I'ightly and faithfully perform. The long anU 
 interesting papers which had been prepared for the King 
 were again perused during the diive to Princess William's 
 Palace which was reached about one o'clock, she having 
 called on the way at Buchwald for the excellent Countess 
 (Eeden) whose ever ready aid was given to support and 
 help her, and who, in the present instance, interpi-eted Eliza- 
 beth Fry's words for the Princess. Many other ladies were 
 assembled at the Palace, and after some conversation of a 
 genei'al nature every one remained in silence to listen to 
 what she might have to say to them. This opportunity of 
 addressing Gospel truth to such a company she dared not 
 pass by. Every word appeared to be listened to with the 
 deepest attention by all present. She spoke of the impor- 
 
THIBD, FOURTH AND FIFTH VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 329 
 
 tance of upbolding a religious standard in the world; of 
 making- a final and decisive choice in these matters ; of 
 taking Christ as the only portion and rejecting all besides. 
 She impressed upon her hearers the duties incumbent on 
 persons of a higher class, of using their influence with 
 others for good, and not for evil. She spoke of the privi- 
 lege of possessing such means of usefulness. Very solemnly 
 she urged upon all heads of large establishments the vast 
 amount of responsibility entrusted to them; the prevention 
 of crime, and the good to be derived even by silent example, 
 and by the daily reading of the Holy Scriptures to the as- 
 sembled family. She added an account of the experiences 
 of many prisoners, as to the blessing of being placed in pro- 
 fessedly religious families, and the awful temptations pre- 
 sented to the servants of those who take no care for their 
 souls, and are neglecting their eternal interests. Many 
 tears were shed on this occasion and all seemed anxious to 
 share her sympathy and love. 
 
 " During her stay in Silesia Elizabeth Fry had opportu- 
 nities of intercourse with the poor Tyrolese who, having 
 fled from their native Zillertbal, on account of the religious 
 persecution which they endured from the Austrian Govern- 
 ment, bad thrown themselves under the protection of the 
 late King of Prussia, and by him had been placed under 
 the care of the Countess Eeden who had proved herself in- 
 deed a nursing mother to them. . . . She had cottages 
 built for them in true Swiss style, with large balconies and 
 long roofs, and established for them schools, and in every 
 possible way employed and instructed them. Ever thought- 
 ful of their interest, the Countess invited them to come to 
 Buchwald on that evening to receive encouragement and 
 comfort from Elizabeth Fry ; she having expressed her 
 anxious wish to hold some communication with them in 
 Christian love. A meeting was appointed for them on this 
 First-day evening. The King and Queen and other mem- 
 bers of the Koyal Family arrived to attend it. At length 
 
330 
 
 ELIZABETH FBY. 
 
 came the exiles from Zilleithal, forming a curious and pi<v 
 turesque group dressed in the costume of their country ; 
 both men and women in dark green clothes and high- 
 pointed hats, many of the latter ornamented with garlands 
 and nosegays of flowers. A long table was placed at one 
 end of the room, at which the Zillerthalians sat, and in front 
 of it was a Moravian brother, for whom the good Countess 
 had sent forty miles, to act as interpreter. On the right 
 band of the table were seated the Koyal family and others, 
 and many stood crowding round the door. It would be 
 scarcely possible to describe the deep interest of that whole 
 group, or the solemn silence which prevailed when Eliza- 
 beth Fry began to speak. 
 
 "After J. J. Gurney had in a few words, prepared the 
 way for her, she rose with much solemnity and earnestness.-" 
 Never did she address any assembly more beautifully, with 
 more unction, or more truly from the depths of her heart, 
 and no audience could have given more profound attention 
 to every word she uttered. She invited them all to a close 
 dependence upon Jesus Christ, and urged a fuU, firm, con- 
 stant trust in Him as their Lord and their Saviour, their 
 King and their God. 
 
 " With her usual clearness and power each individual, 
 each class present, seemed included in her address. It was 
 the first occasion on which she had seen the Kingf since 
 his accession to the throne, and she knew too that it was 
 the first time of his meeting many there present as their 
 sovereign. Her words of sympathy to him on the death of 
 
 • J. J. Gurney states in his Journal that by request of the King, who 
 tyished to save her fatigue, she spoke from her seat — probably after 
 the commencement. But this is noteworthy as an instance where two 
 perfectly candid, and probably entirely truthful eye-witnesses make 
 statements which seem diametrically opposed to each other, and yet 
 ire not so, each statement being in itself incomplete. 
 
 t Frederick William IV, brother of the Emperor William r. 
 
THIRD, FOURTH AND FIFTH VISITS TO THB CCNTINjiST. oil 
 
 his father, and her estimate of his present important posi 
 tion in Europe, which she spoke for herself as well as for 
 those about her, were beautifully adapted to the occasion. 
 Joseph John Gurney added a few words ; afterwards a hymn 
 was sung led by the Moravian brethren ; and then the Tyro- 
 lese departed. Every one flocked around her with a word 
 of love or kindness, but none expressed more interest, or 
 more gratitude, than the King himself." 
 
 Mrs. Fry's own brief account to her grandchildren will 
 not be found tedious, even wheie it treats of the same sub.^ 
 ject as the preceding. 
 
 ** I^ischbaeh. 
 
 "My much-loved Geandchildeex: 
 
 Instead of my private Journal I am disposed to writs 
 you from this very lovely and interesting place. I am not 
 very well in health but I may thankfully acknowledg-e, that 
 although tried by it for awhile, such sweet peace was granted 
 me that I was permitted to feel it sleeping as well as wak* 
 lug ; so that 1 may say, my Lord restored my soul, and I 
 fully expect is healing, and will heal, my body. I think a 
 more interesting neighborhood I never heard of, than the 
 one we are in. These lovely mountains have beautiful pal- 
 aces scattered about them ; one belonging to the King, 
 others to Prince William, Prince Frederick, and other Princ- 
 es and Princesses, not royal ; besides several to the nobility* 
 But what delights my heart is that almost all these palaces 
 are inhabited by Christian families — some of most remark- 
 able brightness. Then we And a large establishment with 
 numerous cottages in the Swiss style, inhabited by a little 
 colony of Tyrolese. They fled from Zillerthal because tliey 
 suffered so much on account of theii- religious principles, 
 being Protestants. The late King of Prussia allowed them 
 to take refuge in these mountains, and built them these 
 beautiful cottages. We therefore rejoice in the belief 
 
532 
 
 BLIZABBTB TRS. 
 
 in the cottages as well as the palaces there are many faith- 
 ful servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. This evening we are 
 to hold a meeting for such as can attend at the mansion of 
 the Countess Reden who is like a mother in Israel to rich 
 and poor. We dined at her castle yesterday. I think the 
 palaces for simple country beauty exceed anything I ever 
 saw. The diawing-rooms are so filled with flo-ners that 
 they are like green-houses, beautifully built, and with the 
 finest views of the mountains. "We dined at the Princes 
 William's with several of the Eoyal Family ; the Queen 
 came afterwards. She appeared much pleased with my de- 
 light on hearing that the King had stopped religious perse- 
 cutions in the country, and that several other things had 
 been improved since our last visit. It is a very gi-eat com- 
 fort to believe that our efforts for the good of others have 
 been blessed — may we be thankful enough for it. Yester- 
 day we paid a very interesting visit to the Queen, then to 
 Prince Frederick of Holland and his Princess, sister to the 
 King of Prussia ; with her we had much serious conversa- 
 tion on many important subjects, as we had also with the 
 Queen. Dined early at the Countess Eeden's. The Prin- 
 cess William and her daughter, the Princess Mai'y, joined us 
 in the afternoon, with several others. How delighted you 
 would be with the Countess and her sister ; they show the 
 beauty of holiness. Although looked up to by all they ap- 
 pear so humble, so moderate in everthing. I think the 
 Christian ladies on the Continent dress far more simply than 
 those in England. The Countess appeared very liberal, but 
 extravagant in nothing. A handsome dinner, but only one 
 sort of wine, and all accordingly. To please us she had 
 apple-dumplings which were thought quite a curiosity, and 
 they really were very nice. The company stood stili beloio 
 and after dinner instead of saying grace. 
 
 Afternoon. — We are just returned from Prince Wil- 
 Jiam's where we have had a Meeting of a very interesting 
 jxatui'e. Many ladies were assembled to meet us that I 
 
THIRD, FOURTH AND FIFTH VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 333 
 
 might give them some account of my experience in prisons 
 Yom- uuc'e adufd some account of bis journey to the West 
 Indies. We expressed our desire that the blessing of God 
 might be with them. Great love w as shown us : indeed 
 they treat me moielike a sister than a poor humble indi- 
 vidual as I feel myself to be. On our return we met the 
 King : we rather expect he will be at our meeting at the 
 Countess Reden's this evening. 
 
 " Second-day Morning. — We returned from our interest- 
 ing Meeting at the Countess's about eleven in the evening. 
 The Royal Family were assembled, and numbers of the no- 
 bility ; after awhile the King and Queen arrived. The poor 
 Tyrolese flocked in numbers. I doubt such a meeting ever 
 having been held before anywhere — the curious mixture of 
 all ranks and conditions. My poor heart almost failed me. 
 Most earnestly did I pray for best help, and not unduly to 
 fear man. The Royal Family sat together, or neaily so; 
 the King and Queen, Princess William, Princess Frederick, 
 Princess Mary, Prince AViliiam, Prince Charles, brother to 
 the King, Prince Frederick of the Netherlands, young 
 Prince William, beside many other Princes and Princesses 
 not royal. They began with a hymn in German. Yovir 
 uncle Joseph spoke for a little while, explaining our views 
 on worship. Then I enlarged upon the changes that had 
 taken place since I was last in Prussia, mentioned the late 
 King's kindness to those poor Tyrol ese in then- afUiction 
 and distress : afterwards addressed these poor people, and 
 then those of high rank, and felt greatly helped to speak 
 the truth to them in love. They appeared very attentive 
 and feeling. I also, at the close of my exhortation, ex- 
 pressed my prayer for them. Then your uncle Joseph 
 spoke fully on the great truths of the Gospel, and showed 
 that the prince as well as the peasant would have to give 
 an account of himself to God. In conclusion he expressed 
 his prayer for them. They finished with another hymn. 
 It was a solemn time. We afterwards had interesting con- 
 
S34 
 
 CLIZABBTB SHY. 
 
 versation for about an hour. When the King and Queen 
 
 were gone Tve were enabled to pray with the Countess for 
 herself and her sister that all their labors in the Lord's ser- 
 vice might be blessed. Now, my much-loved gi-andchildren, 
 let me remind you that we must be humbled and take up 
 the Crosr> of Christ if we desii-e to be made use of by the 
 Lord. 'Him that honoreth me will I honor.' May you 
 confess youi- Lord before men, and He will then assui-edly 
 confess and honor you. I can assure you when surrounded 
 by so many who are willing to hear me, I feel greatly 
 bumbled. 
 
 "I wish dear Frank to read this as my eldest grandchild 
 and one in whom I take so tender an interest. Indeed, my 
 beloved grandchildi-en you dwell very near my heart ; may 
 the same Holy Spirit who has helped and guided your 
 grandmother, help and guide you! 
 
 " May the Lord bless and keep you and raise you up for 
 His own service ; for it is a most blessed service. Dearest 
 love to your fathers and mothers: I am 
 
 Your most loving grandmother, 
 
 E. F." 
 
 *' It was on this occasion the Princess William gave an 
 account of the great prison at Jauer, and the King ex- 
 pressed a strong wish that Elizabeth Fry should see it, 
 though considerably out of her route. This visit was after* 
 wards accomplished. It proved one of mournful interest. 
 In one cell was a murderer, in another a man of well-known 
 desperate character; they were both most cruelly fettered 
 to prevent their escape through the window. Each was 
 fastened to an iron staple in the floor, with a heavy iron 
 bar across the shoulder, to make any movement irksome. 
 Theu' condition was afterwards represented by Elizabeth 
 Fry to the King who ordered their chains to be lightened, 
 and commanded that immediate attention should be paid 
 to their health, &c. 
 
THIED, POtJKTH AND PIPTH V1SIT3 TO THE OONTINEOT. ^35 
 
 " Many of the prisoners oh this occasion were assembled 
 in the chapel, when both J. J. Gurney and Elizabeth Fry 
 spoke to them at considerable length. Their addresses 
 were interpreted by the Moravian brother from Buchwald, 
 whose attendance at the prison had been commanded for 
 that purpose." * 
 
 " Ermansdorf, Ninth Month, IQth. 
 "This morning we visited the King and Queen after oui 
 very interesting Meeting last evening which they attended, 
 at the Countess Eeden's ; a meeting never to be forgotten. 
 We went with a long document to the King and Queen 
 about the prisoners, and various other subjects. We were 
 received with the utmost kindness and remained with them 
 nearly two hours and a half. We also had a reading of the 
 Holy Scriptui'es and I prayed for them. We parted in 
 
 love I wish I could fully describe the deep 
 
 interest we have had in this journey, and how marked has 
 been the kindness of Providence towards us in many ways, 
 and how blessed is His service. I certainly think the in- 
 habitants of the mountains of Silesia the most interesting 
 and curious assemblage of persons I ever met with. We, 
 from this place, see those beautiful mountains, the Reisen- 
 burg, in their splendor, the morning being very fine and 
 bright; probably the last time I shall ever see them — 
 though the King and Queen begged me to return ; but this 
 I never expect to do, for I find the roughs of the journey 
 are, with all my numerous indulgences, far too much for 
 me, and I often feel very nearly ill. I think through all I 
 have seldom had more reason to bolieve that I have been 
 called to any service." 
 
 It soon became evident to both Elizabeth Fry and friends 
 that her lease of strength for this journey was about ex. 
 
 * liUe by S. Col der. 
 
836 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 hausted, and they turned theii- steps homeward, arriving at 
 Dover on the 2nd of October, where she was met by her 
 husband " who was little prepared for the debilitated state 
 in which she was brought back to him." Two or three 
 months of rest, however, enabled her again to appear cau- 
 tiously in public. During this interval of rest she carried 
 on an extensive correspondence and received heart-cheering 
 reports of the results of her labors. 
 
 On the 14th of January she records a visit from the dis- 
 tinguished Baron Bunseu, whose son Earnest afterwards 
 married her niece Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Gurney, 
 who had twice accompanied her aunt to the continent. 
 
 " We had an interesting visit from the Chevalier Bunsen, 
 (the Prussian Minister,) and his wife, in which I was en- 
 abled to relieve my mind, by speaking to him on some 
 weighty subjects, after a solemn Scripture reading and 
 prayer. I felt relieved by it, as I had borne him much in 
 mind, believing him to be a sincere and Christian man." 
 
 On the 17tb of January, 1842, she attended a dinner at 
 the Lord Mayor's house in London, specially arranged by 
 the Lord Mayor's wife, who was one of her co-adjutors in 
 prison reform, that she might meet Prince Albert and 
 others whose influence would further their objects. Hon- 
 ors and successes had not blinded her eyes to the Source 
 'whence all good coirjes, and as usaal she entc ed upon the 
 work with earnest prayer. 
 
 "First Month, 11th. — Be pleased, O Lord, to be very near 
 to us this day, and help us to adorn Thy doctrine, and to 
 speak the riglit thicg in the right way, that the Cause of 
 tiuth, righteousness a:id mercy may be promoted! 
 
 "18</i. — Through condescending mercy I may say I 
 
THIED, FOURTH AND FIITH VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 337 
 
 found this prayer answered. I had an important conversa- 
 tion on a female prison being built with Sir James Graham, 
 our present Secretary of State; upon the Patronage 
 Society, &c. I think it was a very important beginning 
 with him for our British Society. With Lord Aberdeen, 
 Foreign Secretary, T spoke on some matters connected with 
 the present state of the Continent. With Lord Stanley,, 
 our Colonial Secretary, upon the state of our penal colonies, 
 and the condition of the women in them, hoping to open 
 the door for further communication with him on those sub- 
 jects. Nearly the whole dinner was occupied in deeply 
 interesting- conversation with Prince Albert and Sir Robert 
 Peel. With the Prince I spoke very seriously on the 
 Christian education of their children, the management of 
 the nursery, the infinite importance of a holy and religious 
 life ; how I had seen it in all ranks of life — no real peace or 
 prosperity without it. Then the state of Europe ; the ad- 
 vancement of religion in the Continental courts. Then 
 prisons ; their present state in this country — my fear that 
 oui' punishments were becoming too severe — my wish that 
 the Queen should be informed of some particulars respect- 
 ing separate confinement, &c., &c. We also had much inter- 
 esting conversation about my journey, the state of Europe, 
 habits of countries, mode of living, &c., &c. With Sir- Rob- 
 ert Peel I dwelt much more on the prison subject. I ex- 
 pressed my fears that gaolers had too much power, that 
 
 punishment w os lendered uncertain and often too severe 
 
 pressed upon him the need of mercy, and begged him to 
 Bee the New Prison, and to have the dark cells a little 
 altered." 
 
 A few days after this event the King of Prussia visited 
 London to stand as sponsor to the infant Prince of Wales. 
 During this visit he requested Elizabeth Fry to meet him 
 at the Mansion House where they partook of lunch, pro- 
 
338 
 
 ELIZABETH FEY. 
 
 vided by the Lord Mayor, who, at her special request, 
 arranged to have no toasts. At this time the King planned 
 to meet her the following morning at Newgate and after- 
 wards take lunch with her at her home in Upton Lane. 
 Her account of these incidents presents one of the finest 
 episodes in human history. 
 
 "First Month, 29«/j, (1842.)— To-mon'ow the King of 
 Prussia has appointed me to meet him to luncheon at the 
 Mansion House. I have rather felt its being the Sabbath ; 
 but as all is to be conducted in a quiet, suitable and most 
 orderly manner, consistent with the day, I am quite easy 
 to go. May my most holy, merciful Lord be near to me as 
 my Helper, my Keeper, and my Counsellor. My dearest 
 
 husband and K ■ are to go with me. Oh ! may my way 
 
 be made plain before me as to what to do, what to leave 
 undone ; when to speak, and when to be silent. 
 
 "30i/j, First-day. — I felt low and far from well when I 
 set off this morning for London ; but through the tender 
 mercy of my God, soon after sitting down in Meeting I 
 partook of much peace. I Avas humbled before my Lord 
 in remembrance of days that are past, when I used to at- 
 tend that meeting (Gracechurch Street) almost heart-broken 
 from sorrow upon sorrow; and I remembered how my 
 Lord sustained me, and made my way in the deep waters. 
 He also raised me up, and then He forsook me not. I was 
 enabled very earnestly to pray to my God for help, du-ec- 
 tion and preservation. 
 
 " After this solemn and refreshing Meeting we went to 
 the Mansion House. We waited sometime in the di*awino-- 
 
 O 
 
 room before the King arrived from St. Paul's Cathedral. 
 I have seldom seen any person more faithfully kind and 
 friendly than he is. The Duke of Cambridge was also 
 there, and many others who accompanied the King. We 
 had much deeply important conversation on various irnpor- 
 
THIED, FOUBTH AND FIFTH VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 339 
 
 tant subjects of mutual interest. We spoke of the christen- 
 ing. I dwelt on its pomp as undesirable, &c. ; then upon 
 Episcopacy and its dangers ; on prisons ; on the marriage 
 of the Princess Mai-y of Prussia ; on the Sabbath. I en. 
 treated the Lord IMayor to have no toasts, to which he 
 acceded, and the King approved ; but it was no light or 
 easy matter. I rejoice to believe my efforts were right. I 
 told the King my objection to anything of the kind being 
 allowed by the Lord Mayor on that day ; indeed I expressed 
 my disapprobation of them altogether. I may at the end 
 of this weighty day return thanks to my most gracious Lord 
 and Master who has granted me His help and the sweet 
 feeling of His love. 
 
 " /Second Month, 1st. — Yesterday was a day never to be 
 forgotten while memory lasts. We set off about eleven 
 o'clock, my sister Gui'ney and myself, to meet the King of 
 Prussia at Newgate. I proceeded with the Lady Mayoress 
 to Newgate where we were met by many gentlemen. My 
 dear brother and sister Gurney, and Susanna Corder being 
 with me was a great comfort. We waited so long for the 
 King that I feared he would not come, however at last he 
 arrived and the Lady Mayoress and I, accompanied by the 
 Sheriffs, went to meet the King at the door of the prison. 
 He appeared much pleased to meet our little party and 
 after taking a little refreshment he gave me his arm and we 
 proceeded into the prison and up to one of the long wards 
 whei'e everything was prepared ; the poor women round the 
 table, about sixty of them, many of our Ladies Committee 
 and some others ; also numbers of gentlemen following the 
 King, Sheriffs, &c. I felt deeply, but quiet in spnit — ^fear 
 of man much removed. After we were seated, the King on 
 my right hand, the Lady Mayoress on the left, I expressed 
 my desire that the attention of none, particularly the poor 
 prisoners, might be diverted from atteudinc; to our reading 
 by the company there, however interesting, but that we 
 should remember that the King ol Kings and Lord of Lords 
 
S40 
 
 ELIZABETH FRY. 
 
 w&s present, in whose fear we should abide and seek to profit 
 by what we heard. I then read the 12th chapter of Ro- 
 mans. I dwelt on the mercies of God being the strong in- 
 ducement to serve Him, and no longer to be conformed to 
 this world. Then I finished the chapter, afterwards im- 
 pressing our all being members of one body, poor and rich, 
 high and low, all one in Christ, and members one of an- 
 other. I then related the case of a poor prisoner who ap- 
 peared truly converter], aud who became such a holy exam- 
 ple ; then I enlarged on love and forgiving one another, 
 showing how Christians must love their enemies, &c., &c. 
 After a solemn pause, to my deep humiliation, and in the 
 cross, I believed it my duty to kneel down before this most 
 curious, interesting and mixed company, for I felt that my 
 God must be served the same everywhere, and among all 
 people, whatever reproach it brought me into. I fiist 
 prayed for the conversion of prisoners and sinners gener- 
 ally, that a blessing might rest on the labors of those in au- 
 thority, as well as the more humble laborers for their con- 
 version ; next I prayed for the King of Prussia, his Queen, 
 his kingdom, that it might be more and more as a city set 
 on the hill that could not be hid; that true religion in its 
 purity, simplicity and power might more and more break 
 forth, and that every cloud that obscured it might be re- 
 moved ; then for us all that we might be of the number of 
 the redeemed,, and eventually unite with them in heaven in 
 a never-ending song of praise. I only mention the subject, 
 but, by no means the words. The King then gave me his 
 arm and we walked down together. There were difficulties 
 raised about his going to Upton, but he chose to persevere. 
 I went with the Lady Mayoress aud the Sheriffs, the King 
 with his own people. We arrived first : I had to hasten to 
 take off my cloak and then went down to meet him at his 
 carriage door, with my husband aud seven of oui' sons and 
 Bons-iu-law. I then walked with him into the drawing-room 
 where all was in beautiful order — neat and adorneii witli 
 
THIBD, FOURTH A»D FIFTH VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 341 
 
 flowers. I presented to the Xing our eight daughters and 
 daughters-in-law, (Kachel only away,) our seven sons and 
 eldest gTand-son, my brother and sister Buxton, Sir Henry 
 and Lady Pelly, and my sister Elizabeth Fr}- — my brother 
 and sister Gurney he had known before — and afterwards 
 presented twenty-five of our grandchildren. We had a sol- 
 emn silence befoie our meal which was handsome and fit for 
 a King, yet not extravagant — everything most complete and 
 nice. I sat by the King who appeared to enjoy his dinner, 
 perfectly at his ease, and very happy with us. We went 
 into the drawing-room after another solemn silence and a 
 few words which I uttered in prayer for the King and 
 Queen. We found a deputation of Friends with an addi-ess 
 to read to him! This was done — the King apjDeared to feel 
 it much. W^e then had to part. The King expressed his 
 desire that blessings might continue to reot on our home." 
 
 "Fourth Month, llth. — This week we have a very larga 
 sale at the Mansion House for the British Society. Al- 
 though on the whole I appi'ove these sales there are many 
 difficulties attached to them. I earnestly desu'e and pray 
 that through the tender mercy of God no harm may come 
 of it ; but in whatever we do the cause of truth and right- 
 eousness may be exalted. 
 
 « 2ith.—0n Thud, Fourth and Fifth-day we were fully 
 occupied by the sale. It Avas very largely attended ; quan- 
 tities of things given and sent to us ; extraordinary kindness 
 shown to us by numbers, and the Lord Mayor and Lady 
 Mayoress treating us with almost unbounded hospitality 
 and kindness. One day they gave dumer and lucheon to 
 three bundled persons, and I should think nearly as many 
 another day or days. We sold things to the amount of 
 about thirteen hundred pounds ; still many things were left 
 on hand. When I consider the great trouble, the enormous 
 expense, the time taken up, the obligation we put ourselves 
 under to so many persons, and the fatigue of body, I think 
 
342 
 
 ELIZABETH FB7. 
 
 I can never patronise another sale. However in merqr I 
 
 was carried through -without much suffering. 
 
 " Ui^ton, Fifth Ilont/i, S</t.— On Third-clay the Lady 
 Mayoress and I paid interesting and satis*acI:ory visits to 
 the Queen Dowager, the Duchess of Kent and the Duchess 
 of Gloucester. I went with my heart lifted up for help 
 and strength and direction, that the visits might prove use- 
 ful, that I might drop the word in season, and that I might 
 myself be kept humble, watchful and faithful to my Lord. 
 I have fears for myself in visiting pa' aces rather than pris- 
 ons, and going after the rich rather than the poor; lest my 
 eyes should become blinded, or I should fall away in any- 
 thing from the simjjle pure standard of truth and righteous- 
 ness. We first called on the Duchess of Kent aad had 
 interesting conversation about our dear young Qaeen, 
 Prince Albert, and their little ones. AVe spoke of my for- 
 eign journey — the King of the Belgians, and other matters. 
 I desu'ed whenever I could to throw in a hint of a spiritual 
 kind, and was enabled to do it. I gave the Duchess some 
 papers with a note to Prince Albert, requesting him to lay 
 the suffering state of the Waldenses, from their fresh per- 
 secutions, before the Queen. We next visited the Qaesn 
 Dowager and her sister, and the Duchess of Saxe Weimar 
 and her children. We had a very satisfactory time, much 
 lively and edifying conversation upon the state of religion 
 in Eui-ope particularly amongst the higher classes, and th.3 
 great advancement, of late years, in the conduct and conver- 
 sation of the great of this world." 
 
 Her health continuing very infirm, Mrs. Fry spent four 
 months near the sea shore at Cromer, in the company of 
 several of her brothers and sisters, commencing in July. 
 Doubtless her improvement was facilitated by the sphit 
 shown in this entry of her Journal : 
 
 " Cromer, Seventh Month, Qth. — Here I am, in wnat was 
 
THIBD, FOURTH AND FIFTH VISITS TO THE COXTIN'EUT. 343 
 
 my dearest sister Hoare's little room, looldng on the sea, 
 but poorly after my journey ; feeling the aii' almost too cold 
 for me : but I am favored to be quiet and restful in spirit, 
 and deske to leave all things to Him who only knows what 
 is best for me. My sister Catherine being with us, and my 
 brother Joseph and his Eliza, and my dear Anna, near to 
 us, is very pleasant, and our dear brother and sister Bux- 
 ton and Eicheuda being still at Northrepps." 
 
 Every week was marked by slow but sure increase of 
 strength. But her amendment was retarded by anxiety on 
 account of a daughter, then very ill in the Isle of Wight. 
 To this daughter who was under much trial she wrote : — 
 
 " I am not very well to-day, but have not, by any means 
 lost the ground I had gained, though your trials appear to 
 have brought me some steps back. If, in the ordering of 
 Providence things shall be brighter, I think I shall rally 
 again ; but I desiie to have my will given up to the will of 
 Him who knows best what is best for us all, and earnestly 
 desire to be very thankful that our trials are not of a deeper 
 dye ; and being as far as I know, brought on us by Infinite 
 Wisdom, I do not feel them like those produced by the ex- 
 quisite suffering of sin. 
 
 I am thy loving, sympathizing and yet hopeful mother, 
 
 E. F." 
 
 Seventh 3Ionth, lith, (First-day.) — I have deeply and 
 BOrrowfully felt our grandson Frank's going into the army. 
 I truly have tried to preveutit but must now leave it all to 
 my Lord, who can, if He sees meet, bring ^ood out of that 
 which I feel to be evil.* 
 
 '■^Eighth Month, lith. — I have felt the weight of under- 
 taking to establish a library and room for the fishermen, 
 
 * This yoang man, being of o cerioua mind, soon retired from the 
 arujy. 
 
844 
 
 ELIZABEXa FB7. 
 
 and sometliing of a friendly society, as in my tender state 
 the grassliopper becomes a burden. I was encouraged, 
 however, in the night by these words, ' Steadfast, immova- 
 ble, always abounding in the work of the Lord.' In weak- 
 ness and in strength we must, as ability is granted, always 
 abound in the work of the Lord. May our labor not be in 
 vain in Him ! I have had very comforting accounts from 
 Denmark — our representations attended to respecting the 
 prisons, and likely to have much good done in them : also 
 from Prussia. Surely our Lord has greatly blessed some 
 of our poor efforts for the good of our fellow-mortals. 
 
 " Upton Lane, First Month, \st, 1843. — Another year ia 
 closed and passed never to return. It appears to me that 
 mine is rather a rapid descent into the valley of old age. 
 
 " Second Month, 6th. — I am just now much devoted to 
 my children and all my family, and attend very little to 
 public service of any kind. May my God grant that I may 
 not hide my talents in a napkin ; and on the other hand that 
 I may not step into services uncalled for at my hands. May 
 my feeble labors at home be blessed. Gracious Lord, heal, 
 help, and strengthen Thy poor servant for Thine own ser- 
 vice, public or private. 
 
 " Third Month, 19^/i. — Met Lord Ashley at dinner at 
 Manor House (my dear son William's) to consider the sub- 
 ject of China and the Opium Trade. Lord Ashley is a very 
 interesting man, devoted to promoting the good of mankind 
 and suppressing evil — quite a Wilberforce I think. 
 
 " Fourth Month, 2nd. — I entered the last week very low 
 in my condition, bodily and mentally, so much so that some 
 of my family could hardly be reconciled to my attending 
 the Quarterly Meeting. In the Select Meeting of Ministers 
 and Elders the subject of Unity was much brought for- 
 ward; several spoke to it, and I had to express, rather 
 strongly, my belief that there is a great work going forward 
 in the earth, and Satan desires to mar it by separating the 
 Lord's servants. I warned Friends upon this point ; be- 
 
THIRD, FOURTH AKD FIFTH VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 345 
 
 cause there are diversities of gifts, difference of operation 
 and administration, they should not sit in judgment one 
 on another, or condemn one another, or suppose they are 
 not of the same spirit, and one in the same lord, and the 
 €ame God." 
 
 How the ripening tint of that wisdom which is from above 
 shines in these utterances, reaching far beyond the narrow 
 bounds of sect, toward the day of the Lord's coming. 
 
 The fifth and last visit of Elizabeth Fry to the Continent 
 was made in the spring of 1843, commencing the latter part 
 of April and ending about the last of May. She felt that 
 there was still important work for her to do in Paiis in con- 
 firming what had been begun, and strengthening the hands 
 to which it must soon be left. She was accompanied by 
 Joseph John Gurney, who with his new American wife, also 
 a minister, contemplated a more extended journey ; and by 
 their faithful friend and co-laborer Josiah Forster. Her 
 eldest daughter Katherine also attended as her mother's 
 especial companion and care-taker. The latter oflSce had 
 now become quite essential, as the veteran apostle and re- 
 former, though but sixty-three years old, had so nearly 
 spent her allotted measure of strength that it was doubted 
 after the voyage to Bologne, whether she would be able to 
 proceed on the journey. However by using the best medi- 
 cine, prudence, patience and faith, she revived and slowly 
 advanced by way of Amiens, where they held a Meeting for 
 worship in a room used by the few Protestants as their 
 chapel. Their pastor was eighty years of age. 
 
 "At Clemont-en-Oise tlio ladies were permitted to inspect 
 the Great Central Prison ior women, calculated to contaia 
 
346 
 
 ELIZABETH FKY. 
 
 twelve hundred, although nine hundred only were in con- 
 finement when they were there. It was under the charge of 
 a Superieuie and twenty-two nuns, no men being allowed 
 to enter. 
 
 " On first arriving IVIrs. Fry had expressed a great wish to 
 see'all the nuns, but the Superieure considered it impossi- 
 ble, as they never leave the women ; however just before 
 quitting the prison, she was conducted into an apartment 
 around which sat, some on chaii'S, some on extremely low 
 seats, some apparently on the floor, the twenty-two nuns in 
 their grey dresses, and the lay ^''isters in black ; placed in 
 the middle were IVIrs. Fry and hev sister IMrs. Joseph John 
 Guiuey, the Superieure between them, holding Mrs. Fry by 
 the hand, whose daughter was r:viuesfced by the Superieui'e 
 to interpret for them. It was no light or easy task to con- 
 vey exactly her mother's address on the deep importance of 
 not only maintaining good discipline amongst the prisoners, 
 but endeavoring to lead thcra in living faith to Christ as 
 the only Mediator between God and man, through whom 
 alone they could be cleansed from the guilt and power 
 of sin. At His name every head bowed. She then wen ^ 
 on to tell them of Newgate, and the effects of the Gospel 
 there. Many tears were shed at this recital. She con- 
 cluded by a lively exhortation to these devoted nuns whom 
 she could ' salute as sisters in Christ,' to go forward in their 
 work, but in no way to rest upon it as in itself mex'itoi'ious. 
 Here the Superieure interposed ' Oh non mais il y a un peu 
 de merite, I'homme a quelque meiite pour ce qu 'il fait: ' an 
 old nun who understood English rejoined, ' Ma mere, Ma- 
 dame thinks that if the love of God does not sufficiently ani- 
 mate the heart to do it without feeling it a merit, or desir- 
 ing reward, it falls short.' 'Ah c'est b^en! comme elle est 
 bonne ! ' replied the Superieure. Mrs. Fry concluded by a 
 short blessing and prayer in French. It was a striking 
 Bcene and a solemn feeling pervaded the whole."* 
 
 * Memoir — Vol. 2, page 47L 
 
THIBD, FOURTH AND FIFTH VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 347 
 
 Arriving in Paris Elizabeth Fry felt much depressed by 
 her weakness, but was met with warm welcome and encour- 
 agement from her friends, especially the Countess Pelet 
 who assured her that her visit was most timely. They at- 
 tended the little Friends' Meeting in the Faubourg du 
 Koule, made some social visits, and called on the Duchess 
 of Orleans and her pious stepmother the Grand Dachess 
 of Meckleuburgh. The second Sabbath they held a large 
 public meeting in the Methodist chapel, and on Monday 
 evening met a party of " about thirty persons of color, 
 chiefly from Hayti, the Island of France, and Guadaloupe, 
 principally students of law or medicine ; one a painter wha 
 had some good pictures in the exhibition. . . Wednes- 
 day was a dinner at Count Pelet de la Lozere's ; Thursday 
 at M. Guizot's. Seated by their celebrated host, the dinner 
 was felt by Mrs. Fry to be an occasion of great responsi* 
 bihty. She was encouraged by his courteous attention un« 
 reservedly to speak to him on the subjects which had so 
 long been near to her heart. It was no common ordeal for 
 woman weak even in her strength to encounter reasoning 
 powers and capabilities such as his: theu* motives of action 
 arising probably from far different sources, but curiously 
 meeting at the same point; hers from deep-rooted beuevo* 
 lence directed by piety in its most spiritual form ; his from 
 reflection, observation, and statesman-like policy guided by 
 philanthropy, based on philosophy and established convic- 
 tion — yet in the aggregate the results the same ; an intense 
 desire to beneiit and exalt human nature, and arrest tho 
 progress of moral and social evil, and an equal interest in 
 ascertaining the most likely methods of effecting the de' 
 
:848 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 sired end. They spoke of crime in its origin, its conse- 
 quences, and the measures to be adopted for its preven- 
 tion ; of the treatment of criminals ; of education, and of 
 Scriptural instruction. Here Mrs. Fry unhesitatingly 
 urged the diffusion of Scriptural truth, and the universal 
 ^uculation of the Sci'iptures, as the one means alone capa- 
 ble of controlling the power of sin, and shedding light upon 
 the darkness of superstition and infidelity. 
 
 "The following morning Mrs. Fry and her brother 
 received at their hotel a large party of Greeks ; amongst 
 X)thers their Ambassador, M. Coletti. The Duke de Broglie 
 was kind enough to interpret for Mrs. Fry. Before the 
 party separated Mr. Gurney read an account of St. Paul's 
 visit to Athens : his comments on this portion of Holy Writ 
 •were luminous, powerful, and appropriate. 
 
 "When in Paris in 1839, Mrs. Fry had become interested 
 in a large party of Greeks who met her at her hotel one 
 evening. On the present occasion that interest was con- 
 firmed. The want of books in Greece, even those of ele- 
 mentary instruction, was fully discussed, and it was decided 
 to form some regular plan to supply this want. That this 
 might be done effectually a second evening was appointed 
 for the purpose. There were assembled on this occasion 
 several very superior men, among others M. de Commene, 
 who, though not ' born in the purple,' was one of a family 
 (recognized as hneally descended from the Emperors of 
 -Constantinople. A committee of Greeks, French and Eng- 
 .lish was formed to draw up rules and endeavor to raise 
 subscriptions, though not tUl after much animated discus- 
 sion, — the young Greek students in Paris undertaking to 
 
THISD, rOUBTH AND FIFTH VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 349^ 
 
 translate some works of elementary instruction. A spelling 
 book with pictures was to be the first work attempted — 
 something not existing in that country. There was reason 
 to expect that through influence with the Government at 
 Athens these books would be dispersed into every Commune 
 for the use of the schools and poor. Mrs. Fry had before 
 been interested on the subject of female education in Greece^ 
 and in this important movement for supplying that country 
 with elemental literature, she believed that the women also 
 would eventually partake of the benefit. 
 
 "It being the period of the annual religious Meetings 
 many pasteurs were assembled in Paris : about thirty of 
 them were invited by Mr. Gixiney to breakfast at the Hotel 
 Meurice." (Memoir.) 
 
 "Faris, Fifth Month, lith. — On Second-day about 
 thirty pasteurs came to breakfast : they are from different 
 parts of France; a very interesting set of men. First we- 
 had a Scripture reading ; Joseph and myself had much to 
 express to them at the time; a most weighty concern it was. 
 My brother prayed and one of the pasteurs spoke. "We 
 then breakfasted, and had really a delightful meal. I 
 remember that our Lord condescended to attend feasts, and 
 this was a feast offered to His servants, of which we par- 
 took in love and peace. The pasteurs afterwards gave us an 
 account of the religious state of the people around them j- 
 a good work certainly appears goii;g on, amidst many ob- 
 Btructions. We then spoke to them. I particularly recom- 
 mended religious unity xoith all who love the Lord, as a 
 valuable body of Christians." 
 
 Observe how " Unity with all who lcve the Lord," 13 
 becoming the key-note of her exhortations. 
 
 "Faris, Fifth Month, list, { First-da >/. J— 'My birth-day— 
 
S50 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 sixty-three ! My God hath not forgotten to be gracious, 
 
 nor hath He shut up His tender mercies fi'om me. 
 
 "The last Aveek has been an interesting one. We were 
 sent for by the King. My brother, sister and I paid rather 
 a remarkable visit to him, the Queen, and Princess Adelaide. 
 To my surprise and pleasui'e yesterday there arrived fi'om 
 the Queen a most beautiful Bible with fine engravings, 
 without note or comment ; given me as a mark of her satis- 
 faction in our visit." 
 
 " Onfe evening the Piime Minister, M. Guizot, dined with 
 ]Mi-s. Fry's party. The topics before discussed were then 
 resumed: — the state of Protestants in France, La liberie de 
 culte, and Negro Slaveiy. Elizabeth Fry entreated M. 
 Guizot's attention to the state of the Sandwich Islands. 
 She had a few months before received from Kamehameha 
 HI., the King of those islands, a letter entreating her good 
 offices to second his endeavors to prohibit the importation 
 and use of spirituous liquors in his kingdom, the baneful 
 and demoralizing effects of which he stated to be lament- 
 able. 
 
 "Much had been done for the improvement of prisons 
 since Mi's. Fry was last at Paris. The importance of the 
 subject had been fully recognized, and a bill brought before 
 the chamber of Deputies." 
 
 The concluding memoranda of the farewell visit will en- 
 able us to see her very pleasantly in her favorite occupations. 
 .Neai'ly all of her own minutes in this connection have been 
 given. 
 
 " Boulogne, 2Si/t — Through the condescending mercy ol 
 of our Heavenly Father we are safely and peacefully arrived 
 here, after a quiet journey with my dearest Katherine. We 
 were near meeting with a serious accident, but through 
 mercy vve escaped without injury. Oar leaving Paiis was 
 no common occasion. The morning before, seveiai of our 
 
THIRD, FODETH AND FIFTH VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. 351 
 
 balove J friends were -with us ; they literally loaded us with 
 presents ; indeed it appeared as if they did not know how 
 to show then- love to us enough. Before we parted from 
 each other we had a most solemn time in prayer, little 
 knowing- whether we should see each others faces more. I 
 hardly knew how to accept all then- generous kindness. 
 "What can we say but that their hearts being thus turned to 
 us must be ' the Lord's doing and is marvelous in o ur eyes.' 
 
 " The previous evening many of our dear friends, English 
 and French, came to take leave of us ; we read together 
 the 121st Psalm. In the morning I visited a Roman Cath- 
 olic Refuge, and finished well with the Greeks in the after- 
 noon. 
 
 "On Thhd-day we visited the great military prison at St. 
 Germain, accompanied by a French general, an Engiish 
 colonel, our excellent friend Count Pelet, and Moreau 
 Chi'istophe. We were received very kindly by the Colonel, 
 Governor of the Prison, and his wife, and took our de^eone 
 with them. 
 
 "In the evening we went to a large Meeting in one of the 
 Faubourgs with the French Methodists in humble life. 
 How curious the changes of my daily life: — what a picture 
 they would make ! — in the morning suirounded by the high 
 miiitai-y, and the soldier prisoners — in the evening in a 
 Methodist Meeting-house, with the people and then- pas- 
 teurs, and afterwards by poor little French children heai'ing 
 them read. 
 
 "Another day I was at a large Prison Committee of 
 Protestant ladies. I think they have been greatly prospered 
 in theu' work of Christian love, iu which they have perocveiej 
 ever since my first visit to Paris ; there have been many in- 
 Btauces of great improvement iu the prisoners under their 
 care. After prayer for them I left them. 
 
 "The afternoon of the Sabbath I paid a distressing visit 
 to the St. Lazarre Prison ; sach a scene of disorder, and 
 deep evil I have seldom witnessed — i; ambling, romp.c^, 
 
352 
 
 ELIZABETH FEY. 
 
 screaming. With much difficulty we collected four protes- 
 tant prisoners and read with them. I spoke to those poor 
 disorderly women, who appeared attentive and showed some 
 feeling. I have i-epresented to many in authority the sad 
 evils of this prison, and have pleaded with them for reform, 
 for religious care, and for Scriptural instruction. 
 
 "In the evening the dear Countess Pe'et was with us and 
 we had a large assembly, mostly of English ; it was thought 
 ninety, or a hundred. I was tu'ed and poorly, my flesh and 
 my heart ready to fail ; but the Lord strengthened me, and 
 I felt really helped by a power quite above myself. With 
 this company I had a most satisfactory parting time, and a 
 sweet feelirg of love and unity with these servants of tha 
 Lord." 
 
 Thus ended the missionary labors, abroad, of this de- 
 voted minister of Mercy, the fruit of whose sowing has con- 
 tinued to yield its increase all over Europe. The party re- 
 turned home in season to attend the Yearly Meeting of 
 Friends in London and for a short time Mrs. Fry was able 
 "to encounter the current of life better than she had done- 
 before her journey." 
 
 During these five visits to the Continent what an expen- 
 diture of the highest moral force had Elizabeth Fry made : 
 and it is easy to believe that little or none of the good seei 
 sown, even when the ground seemed least propitious, failed 
 to bring forth fruit ; while in many instances it not only 
 sprang up quickly, but yielded its thirty, sixty, or hundred 
 fold in time for the sower and reaper to rejoice together, 
 and praise the Lord of the harvest who alone "giveth the 
 increase." And beyond the more immediate effects who 
 can compute the compound results, as each generation has 
 takeu up and added to the work, and to the area where. 
 
TEIBD, FOUBTH AND FIFTH VISITS TO THB OO NTlMm TO. 868 
 
 these influences have operated to redeem the fallen, to 
 ameliorate the consequences of evU, and to add courage and 
 strength to human efforts for the elevation of the racet 
 
CHAPTER ELEVENTH. 
 
 THE FEABL GATE. 
 
 We can see the ripening toward Heaven in many of the 
 later entries of Elizabeth Fry's journal. 
 
 "/Sixth Monthy 25th. — A week of considerable occupa- 
 tion : Second-day the British Society Committee ; an inter- 
 esting meeting with those beloved ladies ; so much oneness 
 of heart and pui'pose, a delightful evidence of the sweet- 
 ness of Christian unity, and how those who differ in sec- 
 ondary points may agree in the essential one, and be one 
 in Christ. We have cause for thankfulness in the excellent 
 arrangements made by Lord Stanley for our poor prisoners 
 in Van Diemen's Land ; he appears so carefully to have at- 
 tended to the representations we made respecting the evils 
 existing there and to have proposed gqod measui-es to rem- 
 edy them." 
 
 Dui'ing this week she attended the Quarterly Meeting ol 
 Friends at Hertford. This was the last time that she left 
 home expressly on religious service. But wherever she 
 went, she was the same wise counselor and loving com- 
 forter. In July she wrote : — 
 
 "Last First-day was one not to be forgotten; much of 
 the morning without clouds. My dear brother and sister 
 Buxton were at meeting. I felt it my duty to encourage 
 the weary, and enlarged upon our foolishness, yet now the 
 
THE PEAEli GATE 
 
 355 
 
 Lora is made unto His people wisdom, righteousness, 
 
 sanctification and redemption. There were some who ap- 
 peared much impressed. Through the whole of that day, 
 and into the next renewed peace rested upon my spirit. 
 
 "As the month passed on," says her biographer, "Eliza- 
 beth Fry showed increasing symptoms of illness, the con- 
 sequence, doubtless, of bodily fatigue and mental exertion, 
 the ejfects of which were severely aggravated by a chill 
 from fitting one evening in the garden at Upton Lane." 
 
 This induced her to visit Sandgate, in company with her 
 sister-in-law, of the same name, also in declining health, to 
 obtain the benefit of sea air. While here she wrote: 
 
 "I have at times passed through a good deal of conflict 
 and humiliation in this indisposition, and it is a real exer- 
 cise of faith to me — the way in which I am tried by my ill- 
 ness. I suppose it arises from my extremely susceptible 
 nerves that are so affected when the body is out of order 
 as to cast quite a veil over the mind. I am apt to query 
 whether I am not deceiving myself in supposing I am a 
 servant of the Lord, so ill to endure suffering, and to be 
 so anxious to get rid of it ; but it lias been my earnest 
 prayer that I might truly say, ' Not as I will, but as Thou 
 wilt.' Lord, help me ! I pray that I may be enabled to 
 cast all my burthen and all my care upon Thee, that I may 
 rest in the full assurance of faith in Thy love, pity, mercy 
 and grace." 
 
 "After several distressing weeks she was moved to Ton- 
 bridge Wells, closely and faithfully nursed by her two 
 youngest daughters." But the change was unavailing, and 
 she returned to Upton near the end of September, and re- 
 mained confined to her sick chamber during the winter of 
 1842 and '43. Her bodily sufferings were very great, but 
 her soul liad its hiding-place. 
 
356 
 
 ELIZABETH FRT. 
 
 " Upton, Tenth Month, \Qth. — My God hath not forgot- 
 ten to be gracious, or shut up His tender mercies from me. 
 It appears to me that all of nature is to be brought low, 
 for what is of the Lord only can stand the day of humilia- 
 tion. I may thankfully say, I am quiet and sustained in 
 spirit, but do not often know peace to flow as a river, as at 
 some former times. Still help is constantly near from the 
 sanctuary, though I abide under a sense of deep unworthi- 
 ness before the Lord ; but what can I do but wait in faith 
 until He be pleased fully to clothe me with the garments 
 of His righteousness and His salvation? I feel I can do 
 nothing for myself." 
 
 " One afternoon when some members of her family were 
 reading with her, she was unable to atteud to a very inter- 
 esting religious biography, saying 'it is too touching to 
 me, — too affecting.' She added, after a pause, 'How I feel 
 for the poor when veiy iU ; in a state like my own, for in- 
 stance, when 'good' ladies go to see them. — Religious 
 truths so strongly brought forwa'-d, often injudiciously.' 
 She went on speaking on this subject and then dwelt on 
 'the exquisite tenderness of the Saviour's ministrations;/ 
 'His tone and manner to sinners.' 
 
 "Soon afterwards she resumed, in the most impressive 
 manner, saying that ' religicu: truth ' was opened to her 
 and supplied to her, 'inwardly, not by man's ministration 
 but according to her need,' adding, 'if I may so say, it ia 
 my life.' 
 
 "She frequently spoke of not being called to active ser- 
 vice now, and that she had no desiie as to recovery ; on 
 the contrary she was ' able quite to leave it.' Frequently 
 she repeated to those about her, 'Z feel the foundation 
 underneath me sure.'' 
 
 "One evening she opened her heart on her deep and 
 earnest desires for the good of her childi-en: of her 'great 
 Bufferings ' — ' greater than any one knows ' — that if they 
 were to last no one could wish for her life ; but soon added 
 
THB PEABL GATB. 
 
 357 
 
 * there is one thing I would willingly live for — the good of 
 my husband and children and my fellow-creatures.' 
 
 "On the night of October the 25th, her spirit was 
 remariabTy strengthened to declare her faith and hope in 
 God. She caaoted many passages of Scripture to prove 
 that faith' aiu St work by love, and that faith, if true, must 
 produce worlrs. She said, with the text, ' He that keepeth 
 my saying shall never see death,' take this one also 'He 
 that believeth on me shall never die.' She afterwards ex- 
 pressed, in a tone of deepest feeling, her 'perfect confi- 
 dence,' her 'full assui'ance that neither life nor death, nor 
 angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor 
 things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other crea- 
 ture, should be able to separate her from the love of God 
 which is ta Jesns Christ, our Lord,' adding, 'my whole trust 
 is in Sim, my entire confidence.' — ' I know in whom I have 
 believed, and can commit all to Him who has loved me and 
 given Himself for me ; whether for life or death, sickness 
 or health, time or eternity.' 
 
 "In the course of the same day she said very emphati- 
 cally to one of her daughters, ' I can say one thing — since 
 my heart was touched at seventeen years old I believe I 
 never have awakened from sleep, in sickness or in health, 
 by day, or by night, without my first waking thought being 
 how best I might serve my Lord.' " 
 
 This prayer is among the few remaining entries in her 
 Journal : 
 
 "Lord! undertake Thyself for me; Thy arm of power 
 can alone heal, help, and deliver ; and in Thee do I trust 
 and hope, though at times deeply tried and cast down before 
 Thee ; yet, O Lord ' Thou art my hope, and be therefore 
 entreated of Thy poor, sorrowful, and often afflicted ser* 
 vant, and arise for my help. Leave not my poor soul des- 
 titute, but through the fulness of Thine own pswer, mercy 
 
358 
 
 ELIZABETH FRY. 
 
 and love keep me alive unto Thyself unto the end ! that- 
 nothing may separate me from Thy love, that I may endure 
 unto the end ; and when the end comes that I may be alto- 
 gether Thine, and dwell with Thee, if it be but the lowest 
 place within the gate, where I may behold Thy glory and 
 Thy holiness, and forever rest in Thee. I do earnestly en- 
 treat Thee that to the very last I may never deny Thee, or 
 in any way have my life or conversation inconsistent with 
 my love to Thee, and most earnest desire to live for Thy 
 glory ; for I have loved Thee, O Lord, and desire to serve 
 Thee without reserve. Be entreated that through Thy 
 faithfulness and the power of Thy own Spirit I may servo 
 Thee unto the end. Amen." 
 
 The following notes are from the Journal of her son Wil- 
 liam who, notwithstanding he was now anxiously caring for 
 his mother, and watching for the " veiled ferryman," pre- 
 ceded her, by more than a year, in the final crossing. 
 
 " The evening of the 29th was one of the greatest suffer- 
 ing and distress; such as I never remember to have wit- 
 nessed. But through all her faith was triumphant and her 
 confidence unshaken. I endeavored to remember a few of 
 her expressions and have succeeded in calling to mind the 
 following : — 
 
 " ' I believe this is not death, but it is as passing through 
 the valley of the shadow of death, and perhaps with more 
 suffering, from more sensitiveness ; but the Rock is here i. 
 the distress is awful, but He has been with me.' 
 
 " 'I feel that He is with me, and will be with me, even to 
 the end. David says 'why hast Thou forsaken me? ' I do 
 not feel that I am forsaken. In my judgment I believe this 
 is not death, but it is as death : it is nigh unto death.* 
 She frequently expressed fears of being impatient. ' May 
 none of you be called to pass through suoh a furnace ; but 
 
THE PEARL OATE. 
 
 359 
 
 still my sufferings have been mitigated through mercy and 
 gi-ace — fulness of grace ! Now my dear William be stead- 
 fast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, 
 and then Thy labor shall not be in vain in the Lord. Oh 
 the blessedness of having desired to be on the Lord's side ! 
 (not that I have any merit of my own.) I cannot express 
 even in my greatest trials and tribulations the blessedness 
 of His service ! My Ufe has been a remarkable one ; much 
 have I had to go through — more than mortal knows, or 
 even can know ; my sorrows at times have been bitter, but 
 my consolations sweet! In my lowest estates, through 
 grace my love to my Master has never failed, nor to my 
 family, nor to my fellow-mortals. This illness may be for 
 death, or it may not, according to His will ; but He will 
 never forsake me even should He be pleased to take me this 
 night.' " 
 
 To one of the " nursing sisters " who was attending hei 
 at one time she said, " I am of the same mind as Paul, ' foi 
 me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.' What a grand 
 thought it is! everlastmg to everlasting, without trouble 
 and without pain ; to meet there and together be forever 
 with Christ.' " 
 
 Reviewing her history she said to an intimate friend; 
 " My life has been one of great vicissitudes ; mine has 
 been a hidden path, hidden from every human eye. I have 
 had deep humiliations and sorrows to pass through. I can 
 truly say I have " wandered in the wilderness in a solitary 
 way, and found no city to dwell in ; ' and yet how wonder- 
 fully have I been sustained. I have passed through many 
 and great dangers, many ways; — have been tried with 
 the applause of the world, and none know how great a trial 
 that has been, and the deep humiliations of it ; and yet I 
 
360 
 
 ELIZABETH FBY. 
 
 folly believe that it is not nearly so dangerous as being 
 made much of in rehgious society. There is a snare even 
 in religious unity, if we are not on the watch. I have some- 
 times felt that it is not so dangerous to be made much of 
 by the world, as by those whom we think highly of in our 
 own Society. The more I have been made much of by the 
 world the more I have been inwardly humbled. I could 
 often adopt the words of Sir Francis Bacon, ' "When I have 
 ascended before men, I have descended in humiliation before 
 God.'" 
 
 In physical suflfering it would seem that little could be 
 added to what she was called to bear duiing this terrible 
 winter, and though usually clear, the inward sky was occa- 
 sionally darkened that, like her beloved Master she might be 
 tried in all things, for the encomagement of those who seem 
 to themselves forsaken. The friend last mentioned visiting 
 her a month later and perceiving that she was much de- 
 pressed, remarked : " I believe there is an open door set 
 before thee, although thou mayst not always be able to 
 perceive it open." "The precious invalid wept much, and 
 after a time said, ' Oh yes : it is an open door.' Presently 
 she continued, ' The Lord is gracious and full of compas- 
 sion, I believe He will never leave me nor forsake me ; ' and 
 after a solemn pause she added, ' I have passed through 
 deep baptisms of spirit in this illness, — I may say, unwor- 
 thy as I am to say it, that I have had to drink, in my small 
 measure, of the Saviour's cup when He said, ' My God, my 
 God, why hast Thou forsaken me ? ' Some of my friends 
 have thought there was a danger of my being exalted, but 
 I believe the danger has been on the opposite side of my 
 being too low.' " 
 
THS FEABL GATS. 
 
 861 
 
 As the spring of 1844 advanced, the conflict became less 
 severe so that she was able to be taken to Bath for a short 
 time, and returned somewhat improved. But afflictions of 
 still another kind now awaited her, and she for whose de- 
 parture others had watched and for whom all had felt such 
 intense solicitude, was to be herself sorely bereaved before 
 her own place became vacant. First her beloved sister-in- 
 law, fellow minister and frequent traveling companion, Eliza- 
 beth Fry, who had long sat beside her in the home Meet- 
 ing at Plaistow, entered into rest on the second of July. 
 This was but a beginning, and something of the approach- 
 ing changes seemed to weigh on the invalid's spirit which 
 now " dwelt much and often on the invisible world." She 
 even dreamed that there were graves opened all around her. 
 On the 18th of the same month, July, a favorite little grand- 
 son was taken; August 15th, a lovely grand-daughter fol- 
 lowed, "one of the sweetest blossoms that could gladden 
 the heart of a parent." This was by scarlet fever in the 
 family of her beloved son William ; and before the fearful 
 malady finished its work the father and two of his daugh- 
 ters lay together in one grave. 
 
 This was a heavy blow for the great motherly heart ot 
 Elizabeth Fry. Some said " can she hear this and live ? " 
 But she met it as she had met the pains of the flesh, and 
 the fear of man, by putting on the whole armor of God. 
 " She wept abundantly, almost unceasingly, but she dwelt 
 constantly on the unseen world, and on those passages in 
 the Bible which speak of the happy state of the righteous." 
 Her journal, written before the last grand-daughter's death, 
 dtibcribes her feelings. 
 
862 
 
 ELIZABETH FBI. 
 
 " Walmar, Eighth Month, 2^th. — Sorrow upon sorrow! 
 Since I last wrote we have lost by death first, my beloved 
 sister, EUzabeth Fi'y ; second, Gurney Reynolds, our sweet, 
 good grandson ; third, Juliana Fry, my dearest William 
 and Julia's second daughter; and fourth, above all, our 
 most beloved son, William Storrs Fry, who appeared to 
 catch the infection from his little girl, and died on Thiid- 
 day of scarlet fever, the 27th of this month. A loss inex- 
 pressible — such a son, husband, friend and brother ! but I 
 trust that he is forever at rest in Jesus, through the fulness 
 of His love and grace. The trial is almost inexpressible. 
 Oh ! may the Lord sustain us in this time of deep distress. 
 Oh, dear Lord ! keep Thy unworthy, poor, sick servant, in 
 this time of unutterable trial ; keep me sound in faith and 
 clear in mind, and be very near to us all — the poor widow 
 and childi'en in this time of deepest distress, and grant that 
 this awful dispensation may be blessed to our souls. 
 Amen. 
 
 "This tenderly beloved child attended me to meeting 
 the last Fii st-day I was home, and sat beside me on the 
 women's side." 
 
 The event last spoken of is thus described by her daugh- 
 cers : — 
 
 "A change of scene and air seemed so important for 
 her that her son William's success in obtaining a very 
 suitable house in Walmar was a real matter of gratulation ; 
 but there was another office of love for that beloved one to 
 perform for his mother singularly suited to the bond of 
 iove and sympathy which had so long united them, and 
 eminently fitted to be his last. 
 
 " She had long and earnestly desu'ed again to attend the 
 meeting for worship at Plaistow. It was proposed, from 
 bauday to Sunday, but the difficult process of dressing was 
 never accomplished till long after eleven o'clock, the hour 
 
THE PEABL OATE. 
 
 ^63 
 
 when the Meeting assembled. An attempt was made on 
 the 28th of July, but totaUy failed. Her disappointment 
 was extreme, and the hold it took of her spirits so grievous 
 that it was resolved to make the effort at any cost the fol- 
 lowing Sunday. Her son William uudertook to carry out 
 her wishes. Drawn by himself and a yoxqigej: son in her 
 wheeled chair, she was taken up to the Meeting a few min- 
 utes after Friends had assembled, followed by her husband, 
 her children, and attendants. Her son William seated him- 
 self close by her side, and the rest near her. The silence 
 that prevailed was singularly solemn. After some time, iu 
 a clear voice, she addressed the Meeting. The prominent 
 topic of her discourse was 'The death of the righteous.' 
 Siie expressed the deepest thankfulness, alluding to her 
 sister Elizabeth Fry, for the mercies vouchsafed to 'one 
 who having labored long amongst them had been called from 
 time to eternity.' She quoted that text, ' Blessed are the 
 dead who die in the Lord, for they cease from then- labors 
 and theu' works do follow them.' She dwelt on the pur- 
 poses of affliction, on the utter weakness and infirmity o^ 
 tiie flesh; she tenderly exhorted the young, 'The httle 
 children amongst us,' referring to the death of little Gur- 
 ney Eeynolds. She urged the need of devotedness of hearfc 
 and steadiness of purpose ; she raised a song of praise for 
 the eternal hope offered to the Christian ; ^ijd concluded 
 with those words of Isaiah,---' Thine eyes shall see the King 
 in His beauty, they shall behold the Land that is very far 
 off.' Prayer was soon afterwards offered by her in much 
 the same strain. He joined her iu that solemn act whof 
 never was to worship with her again, till before the Throne 
 and the Lamb they should unite in that ineffable song of 
 praise which stays not, night nor day, for ever. 
 
 "About six weeks after the decease of her son," say» 
 Mrs. Corder, "she was again favored with strength to at* 
 tend the meeting at Plaistow. The occasion was a memO' 
 
m 
 
 ELIZABETH FBV* 
 
 ruble one. ^ She was led with great power and solemnity tc 
 address t^ different classes then assembled ; and perhaps 
 few could remember a Meeting in which her gift in the 
 ministry had been exercised with greater weight and clear- 
 ness, or with a more remarkable appropriateness to the 
 varied conditions of those who were present: and she after- 
 wards supplicated with a degree of heavenly power and 
 unction that deeply affected many hearts. From this time 
 ^he continued frequently to labor amongst her friends in 
 the ministry, of the word ; and her bodily strength gradu- 
 ally increased, so"%that, though very feeble, she was able 
 with some assistance, to walk a little." 
 
 On the first of November she addressed her last letter Ut 
 the Committee of the Ladies British Society. 
 
 My much-loved Feiends: 
 
 Amidst many sorrows that have been permitted for me 
 to pass through and bodily suffering, I still feel a deep and 
 lively interest in the cause of poor prisoners ; and earnest 
 is my prayer that the Lord of all grace may be very near 
 to help you to be steadfast in the important Christian work 
 of seeking to win the poor wanderers to retuin, repent and 
 live ; that they may know Christ to be their Savioui", Re- 
 deemer, and hope of glory. May the Holy Spirit of God 
 direct your steps, strengthen your heai ts, and enable you 
 and me to glorify our Holy Head, in doing and suffering, 
 even unto the end : and when the end comes, through a 
 Savioui-'s love and merits, may we be received into glory 
 find everlasting peace. 
 
 In Christian love and fellowship, 
 
 I am affectionately your friend, 
 
 Elizabeth Fot." 
 
 The list of near and dear friends that were to pass oo 
 
THE FEAKL GATE. 
 
 36S 
 
 before her and swell the company in waiting to welcome 
 her spirit to its final rest, was not yet complete. On thd 
 first of December a niece, " daughter of her late beloved 
 Bister Louisa Hoare, died, — a few days after her infant 
 son." On this occasion Elizabeth Fry wrote: — 
 
 " Eleventh Month, 2nd. — The accounts of to-day are 
 deeply affecting — to have the grave once more (and so soon) 
 opened amnngst us. What can we say, but that 'it is the 
 Lord ; ' for the flesh is very weak and these things are hard 
 to our nature. I have felt the pain of tbis fresh sorrow, 
 but desire that all most closely concerned may find Him 
 ^ery near to them who 'healeth the broken in heart and 
 bindeth up their wounds.' My love and sympathy to all 
 most nearly interested. We have our poor Julia and her 
 children here, and very touching it is to be with them. I 
 am, I think, just now very poorly, and much cast down, 
 but I remember the Scriptural words, 'cast down, but not 
 destroyed.' " 
 
 The increasing illness of her brother-in-law. Sir Thomaa 
 Fowell Buxton, now enlisted her warm interest and sympa- 
 thy. To his eldest daughter she wrote : 
 
 « Twelfth Month, 1844. 
 
 "My dearest Peiscilla: 
 
 Thanks for thy kindness in writing to me in this time of 
 deep sorrow; but, strange to say, before thy note came I 
 had been so much with you in spirit that I was ready to 
 believe thy dearest father was sinking. I have felt such 
 unity with him spiritually. My text for him, in my low 
 state this morning was, 'The sun shall be no more thy 
 light by day ; neither for brightness shall the moon giva 
 light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee au cve> 
 
366 
 
 KLlZiBETH FRY. 
 
 lasting ligtt, and thy God tby glory.' I believe this will 
 be his most blessed experience whenever our Lord takes 
 him to Himself. I write with difficulty and in haste, but 
 my heart is so very full towards you that I must express 
 myself. My dear love to every one of your tenderly beloved 
 party, particularly thy mother. I feel as it respects thy 
 dearest father, whether a member of the Church militant ov 
 the Church triumphant, all is well — and we may, through 
 all our tribulations return God thanks who giveth us the 
 victory through Jesus Christ our Lord." 
 
 This noble man and Christian statesman passed to his 
 inheritance on the 19th of February, 1845. 
 
 After this event, and the removal of a son-in-law, on ac- 
 count of his health, with his wife and a portion of their 
 children to Madeira, — which also proved a final parting- 
 Elizabeth Fry felt a strong desire to revisit Norfolk and 
 stay awhile at her childhood home. This was accomplished- 
 with great difficulty by the aid of her husband and daugh- 
 ter Louisa ; and she remained at Earlham many weeks, 
 "often able to partake of enjoyment, and highly valuing 
 the communion with her endeared brother, Joseph John 
 Gurney, his wife, and her beloved sister Catherine. "J 
 
 "She went frequently to Meeting at Norwich. She waa 
 drawn up to the Meeting seated in her wheeled chair, and 
 thence nainistered with extraordinary life and power to 
 those present ; her memory in using Scripture in no degree 
 failing her, or her power in applying it." 
 
 That wheeled chair ought to be preserved as long as art 
 can keep it. The throne of Queen Elizabeth is not half so 
 hoaorable. Her brother, speaking.of this visit, says: 
 
THE PEAEL GATE 
 
 367 
 
 "My dear sister Fry's visit has been very satisfactory, 
 and very sweet has it been to our feelings to enjoy her 
 company. Her infirmity is indeed great, and her memory 
 a little failing. Yet at times this infirmity subsides and 
 she is much like her own dear and precious self. The Lord's 
 anointing is still upon her, and she has been well engaged 
 in our meeting, which is held at eleven o'clock, on her ac- 
 count, and which she has attended two First-day mornings 
 in succession. The preserving, sustaining hand of the 
 Lord is evidently vpith her." 
 
 From Earlham she went to Northrepps "in order to 
 mingle her sorrows with those of her much beloved and 
 bereaved sister Buxton and other mourners there. The 
 last letter she ever addressed to her husband was from that 
 place, dated Fourth jJouth, 10th, 1845." 
 
 "My Deaeest Husband: — 
 
 I am anxious to express to thee a little of my near love, 
 to tell thee how often I visit thee in spuit, and how very 
 strong are my desires for thy present and everlasting wel- 
 fare. I feel for thee in my long illness which so much dis- 
 qualifies me from being all I desire to thee. I desire that 
 thou mayst turn to the Lord for help and consolation under 
 thy trials, and that whilst not depending on the passing 
 pleasures and enjoyments of this world, thou mayst, at the 
 same time be enabled to enjoy our many remaining bless- 
 ings. I also desire this for myself, in my afflicted state, 
 for I do consider such a state of health a heavy affliction, 
 independent of all other trials. I very earnestly desire for 
 myself that the deep tribulation I have had to pass through 
 for so long a time, may not lead into temptation, but be 
 sanctified to the further refinement of my soul, and prepa- 
 ration for eternal rest, joy and glory. May we, during oui 
 stay in time, be more and more sweetly united in the unity 
 of the Spirit, and in the bond of Peace. . . ." 
 
S68 
 
 ELIZABETH FBY. 
 
 Her health improved sufficiently to enable her to attend 
 two sittings of the Yearly Meeting. The event is thus de- 
 scribed by a Friend who was present : — 
 
 "She had for many years been regular in her attendance 
 upon these meetings, and had taken a lively interest in their 
 proceedings. After an illness so critical, and still in a state 
 of such great infirmity, to see her again amongst them was 
 scaicely less gratifying to many of the Friends there than 
 it was interesting to herself. On this occasion she spoke 
 of the Saviour's declaration, 'I am the vine, ye are the 
 branches ; as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except 
 it abide in the vine, no more can ye except ye abide in me.* 
 She alluded in the course of her observations to the day 
 that is ' fast approaching to every one ; ' but urged the 
 blessed truth on her hearers that those ' who loved, served 
 and obeyed Him who alone is worthy of all glory and praise, 
 would find death deprived of its sting and the grave of its 
 victory.' The second meeting she attended was one when a 
 Friend, Edwin O. Tregelles, gave a relation of his mission- 
 ary labors in the West Indies. This recital drew from her 
 some account of her own travels on the Continent. She 
 afterwards enlarged upon the various instruments by which 
 God accomplishes His works in the world. She referred to 
 the simile of the different hving stones which compose the 
 temple of God. She addressed those of evei-y age who heard 
 her ; especially such as might be compared to the hidden 
 stones of the building. She encouraged them to go forward 
 faithfully in the path of righteousness and good works : fat 
 though they might not be so much seen and known as the 
 more polished stones in the ornamental parts of the struo- 
 ture — though perhaps not so fitted to shine and occupy a 
 conspicuous station— yet were their places equally ordered, 
 equally important, and equally under the dii'ection and all- 
 seeing eye of the Divine Architect. She expressed doubts 
 
TEE FEABL OATS. 
 
 8dd 
 
 as to whether she should again be permitted to meet her 
 beloved friends in^that place. She offered prayer, her rich 
 full voice filling the house, and concluded with that sublime 
 passage, ' Great apd marvelous are Thy works Lord God 
 Almighty! just and true are Thy ways Thou King of 
 Saints.'" 
 
 On the 3rd of June she attended the Annual Meeting of 
 the Ladies British Society which, to spare her fatigue, wa» 
 held in the Friends Meeting-house at Plaistow. After her 
 death this occasion was referred to in a touching memorial 
 drawn up by the members of this first of the numerous or- 
 ganizations of which she was the founder. 
 
 " Contrary to usual custom the place of meeting fixed on 
 was not in London, but at Plaistow, in Essex ; and the large 
 number of Friends who gathered round her upon that occa- 
 sion proved how gladly they came to her, when she could 
 no longer with ease be conveyed to them. The enfeebled 
 state of her bodily fi'ame seemed to have left the powers of 
 her mind imshackled, and she took, though in a sitting pos- 
 ture, almost her usual part in addressing the Meeting. She 
 urged with increased pathos and affection the objects of 
 philanthropy and Christian benevolence with which her life 
 had been identified. After the Meeting, and at her own de- 
 sire, several members of the Committee and other Frienda 
 assembled aA her house. They were welcomed by her with 
 the greatest benignity and kindness, and in her intercourse 
 ^th them strong were the indications of the heavenly 
 teaching through which her subdued and sanctified spirit 
 i)ad been called to pass. Her affectionate salutation in 
 parting unconsciously closed, in regard to most of them, 
 the intercourse which they delighted to hold with her, but 
 which caa.Jio more be renewed on this side of the eternal 
 world." 
 
370 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 At tliis time Newgate, Bridewell, the Millbank Prison, the 
 Gillspur Street Compter, White Cross Street Prison, Tothill 
 Fields Prison, and Cold Bath Fields Prison were in good 
 order, and the female convicts all cared for by the Commit- 
 tee. The prisons generally, throughout England were 
 much improved, and in the greater number ladies were en- 
 couraged to visit the female convicts, and more than this, 
 Elizabeth Fry had the satisfaction of knowing " that the 
 principles she had so long asserted were universally recog- 
 nized; that the object of penal legislation is not revenge, 
 but the prevention of crime ; in the first place by affording 
 opportunity of reform to the criminal, and in the second by 
 warning others from the consequences of its commission." 
 
 As summer advanced her husband took her to Ramsgate, 
 to obtain the benefit of sea air. Before going there to re- 
 main she made a large wedding-party, at Upton, for her 
 youngest son whose marriage was particularly pleasing to 
 her, because he chose a Quakeress and friend of hers for his 
 wife. She spoke of it as a "ray of light upon a dark pic- 
 ture." 
 
 " She received her guests in a room opening into the flow- 
 er garden, and thence was wheeled to the end of the ter- 
 race ; a very large family circle surrounded her, many con- 
 nections, and others of her friends. It was a beautiful 
 scene, — the last social family meeting at wbi^ she presid- 
 ed ; and although infirm and broken in hfe'kl th, she looked 
 and seamed herself. 
 
 " In an easy chair, under the large marquee, she entered 
 into an animated discourse on various important topics with 
 the group around her, the Chevalier Bunsen, M. Mer.a 
 D'Aubigne, Sir Henry Pelley, Josiah Forster, her brother 
 
THE PEABL OATB. 
 
 871 
 
 Samuel Gurney, and others of her friends. An event of 
 great interest shortly followed — the marriage of her faith* 
 fill niece, Elizabeth Gurney, to Ernest Bunsen. This con- 
 nection was one which her aunt liked, inasmuch as she val- 
 ued the individual and highly esteemed his excellent and 
 gifted parents, though not unmingled with regret that the 
 childien of her brother and sister, as so many of her own 
 had done, should leave the Society of Friends by marriage, 
 and thus separate themselves from that body of Christiana 
 to which their parents were so warmly attached. The wed- 
 ding took place on the 5th of August. She joined the par- 
 ty afterwards at Ham House. It was an occasion of singu- 
 lar interest ; Christian love, unity, and good feeling prevail- 
 ing over 'diversities of administration,' yet all owning 'the 
 same Lord.' " 
 
 This occasion was referred to by Madam (afterward Bar- 
 oness) Bunsen, in a letter written after Mrs. Fry's death, 
 as follows : 
 
 "We shall not look upon her like again! and must try 
 to preserve the impression of her majesty of goodness which 
 it is a great privilege to have beheld. I never wished more 
 for the possession of the accurate memory which once was 
 mine, than after hearing her exhort and pray, particularly 
 on the day of Ernest's marriage. When we were at her 
 house on the 3rd of July, on taking leave she said, 'May 
 God bestow upon you His best gifts! the fatness of the 
 earth is good, but the dew of Heaven is better.' " 
 
 In a letter of condolence to her daughter-in-law. Madam 
 Bunsen also made this remark which it is pleasant to repeat 
 as the tribute of one gifted and noble woman to another : 
 
 " What your blessed Aunt was for those who had the 
 
372 
 
 ELIZABETH FEY. 
 
 privilege of approaching her continually, can in some de- 
 gree be felt, even by us who only occasionally had felt her 
 influence and been aware of the degree in which her whole 
 life seemed to realize the life of God in man. She met ev- 
 erybody in every human sympathy, hnl of sin seemed to 
 take no cognizance except in compassion. " * 
 
 "During the week following she was moved to the house 
 on Mount Albion at Eamsgate which had been prepared for 
 her A spacious bed-chamber adjoining the drawing-room, 
 with pleasant views of the sea, in which she delighted, add- 
 ed to her hourly comfort and enjoyment. She found ol> 
 jects there well suited to her tastes. She distributed tracts 
 when she drove into the country, or went upon the Pier in 
 a Bath chair. Seafaring men have a certain openness of 
 character which renders them more easy of access than oth- 
 ers. They would gladly receive her little offerings and lis- 
 ten to her remarks. She was also anxious to ascertain the 
 state of the Coast Guard Libraries — whether they required 
 renewing, and were properly used. " 
 
 Some of her family and friends were always with her, 
 and did all that love and art could do to make her descent 
 easy ; but the bonds of mortality were still very painful. 
 Her account with Nature had been over-drawn, and though 
 it was in the best of causes, the day of reckoning must 
 come. One h ad before said, speaking prophetically for An» 
 other, "The zeal of Thine house hath eaten me ur> : " and 
 although in a different manner, it was yet true that thia 
 pure-souled woman laid down her life prematui-ely and 
 painfully, that she might reconcile sinners unto God. The 
 earnestness with which she toiled cut short her days in sor- 
 
 *Life and Letters of Baroness BvmseiL 
 
lUlS fEABI. GATE. 
 
 873 
 
 row. "Whether or not it was wise or justifiable to go be- 
 yond her strength, whether the Spirit of Highest Love and 
 Wisdom raally called for so much, or for only a part, and 
 the momentum of excited feeling gave the extraordinary 
 exertion and incurred the suffering, and whether more good 
 was done during the time she labored than would have 
 been done had she kept the fire from consuming the instru- 
 ment and lived to work longer, are questions difficult to 
 answer. It is no doubt true that in the disordered condi- 
 tion of the world, where so few will do their part, those 
 willing and best competent must often become martyrs; 
 must freely sacrifice their lives for the safety or improve- 
 ment of the race. And the three j'ears of daily outpouring, 
 struggle, and combat which Jesus spent in Judea and Gal- 
 lilee formed a longer span of time, if measured by their 
 fruits, than that of the whole patriarchal age. Still the 
 forfeit must be paid. The laws of nature, physical and 
 moral alike, are inflexible. Atonement cannot be complet- 
 ed without a vicarious sacrifice equivalent to the shedding 
 oLblood, in larger or smaller measure, according to the 
 eSigency. The sacrifice of Christ was for the whole world ; 
 that of His children is for such a part as they stand relat- 
 ed: to in like manner, as His ministers — heads of nations, 
 famihes and so on- As we are branches of the one Vine 
 our crosses must also be branches of the one Cross. Hav- 
 \tg been saved by the one efficient Offering, does not ex- 
 empt us from sorrow and sacrifice ; but it raises these to 
 the same divine order and makes us partakers of the vica-? 
 rious sorrow of Christ for the sins and wants of others. 
 How it ennobles the sufferings of Elizabeth Fry to know 
 
874 
 
 KIIZABETB FB7. 
 
 that they were the direct consequence of her earnest zeal 
 to serve her Master ia pleading for the lowest class of so- 
 ciety and bringing the means of restoration within their 
 reach. How touching becomes this nearly last entry in her 
 Journal, written in an almost illegible hand: — 
 
 " Jiam^gale, Eighth Mon'.h, 21th. — It still pleases my 
 Heavenly Father that afflictions should abound to me in this 
 tabernacle; as I groan, being barthened. Lord, through 
 the fullness of Thy love and pity and unmerited mercy be 
 pleased to arise for my help. Bind up my broken heart, 
 heal my wounded spirit, and yet enable Thy servant, through 
 the power of Thine own Spirit, in everything to return 
 Thee thanks, and not to faint in the day of trouble, but in 
 humility and godly fear to show forth Thy praise. Keep 
 me Thine own, through Thy power to do this, and pity and 
 help Thy poor servant who trusteth in Thee. Be very near 
 to our dear son and daughter in Madeira. Be with them 
 and all near to us wherever scattered ; and grant that Thy 
 peace and blessing may rest upon us all. Amen and amen." 
 
 September 14th she wrote to her brother Samuel Gur- 
 ney— 
 
 "I was very low when I wrote to thee yesterday, there- 
 fore do not think too much of it. There is One only who 
 eees in secret who knows the coutiicts I have to pass thi'Ough. 
 To Him I commit my body, soul, and spu-it; and He only 
 knows the depth of my love and earnestness of my pl'ayers 
 for you all. I have the humble trusc that He will be my 
 Keeper even unto the end ; and when the end comes, 
 through the fullness of His love, and the abundance of His 
 merits, I shall join those who, after having passed 'thi'ough 
 great tribulation,' are forever at rest in Jesus, having 
 ♦ washed their robes and made them white in the blood of 
 
 the Lamb.' 
 
 ♦'I am, in nearest love, 
 Thy grateful and tenderly attached sister, E. F." 
 
TEB PEABL 6ATB. ^5 
 
 "Pray remember the books for the poor old women; we 
 must -work while it is called 'to-day,' however low the ser- 
 vice w e may be called to ; I desire to do so to the end, 
 through the help that may be granted me." 
 
 After this she rode four miles to attend a little meeting, 
 and "preached a most powerful and remarkable sermon on 
 the nearness of death and the necessity of immediate repent- 
 ance and preparation, for she believed to some of that small 
 congiegation it was the eleventh hour of the day." 
 
 "Her habits at this time were apparently those of former 
 days. She was a good deal occupied by writing. She ar- 
 ranged and sorted Bibles, Testaments and tracts. She had 
 applied to the Bible Society for a grant of foreign Bibles 
 and Testaments which was liberally acceded to, and in the 
 distribution of which, amongst the sailors of different na- 
 tions in the harbor, she took great interest." 
 
 She attended meeting for worship October 5th, referring 
 to which on her return she said, " We have had a very re- 
 markable meeting, such a peculiarly solemn time ;" adding 
 that she had been so impressed by the "need of working 
 whilst it was day, to be ready for the Master's summons, 
 come when He might." Those who were present described 
 the occasion as "a very peculiar one. She had urged the 
 question ' Ai'e we all now ready ? If the Master should this 
 day call us, is the work completely finished? Have we any- 
 thing left to do?' Solemnly, almost awfully.i-eiteratingthe 
 question, ' Are we prepared ? ' " 
 
 On Friday of the following week she wrote a letter, and 
 copied some texts for a person who desired her autograph. 
 She then brought out some sheets of Scripture selections 
 
876 
 
 ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 which she was preparing with a view to eventually publish- 
 ing another Text-book. "With this devout employment, 
 was finished her work below." On riding out later in the 
 morning her mind seemed to be abstracted from surround- 
 ing objects, so that she failed to notice a request for " some 
 reading " from a farmer's boy who was keeping cows, until 
 her grandchildren placed her tract-bag in her hand, and 
 then she made the selections " with a slow and distracted 
 air, as if her thoughts were far away." 
 
 The next morning she awoke suflFering severely in her 
 head ; but received company which she had invited to din- 
 ner, and conversed a little. In the afternoon her strength 
 failed and she was with difficulty removed to her bed ; but 
 she answered the physician's questions correctly. 
 
 About six o'clock on Sabbath morning she said to her 
 maid, " Oh! Mary, dear Mary, I am very ill! " "I know it, 
 dearest Ma'am, I know it," replied the sei-vant. Soon she 
 added, " Pray for me — it is a strife — but I am safe." Near 
 nine o'clock, while one of her daughters was sitting by her 
 bed side with the Bible opened to a favorite passage in Isa- 
 iah, she roused a little from her comatose state, and in a 
 Blow, distinct voice uttered these words : — " Oh ! my dear 
 Lord, help and keep Thy servant ! " Her daughter then 
 read the passage, — "I the Lord thy God will hold thy 
 right hand, saying unto thee, fear not thou worm Jacob, 
 and ye men of Israel, I will help thee, saith the Lord, and 
 thy Kedeemer, the Holy One of Israel." One bright look 
 of recognition passed over her features, and then she sank 
 into a state of unconsciousness from which she did not re- 
 vive. About four o'clock in the morning of October 13th, 
 
THB FEAKL QAT£. 
 
 377 
 
 1845, the strife of nature ceased, and she entered into that 
 Rest which remaineth for the people of God. 
 
 "What imagination can picture the scene as her spirit rose 
 to meet the happy company waiting to welcome her to that 
 "City which hath no need of the sun, neither of the moon 
 to shine in it ; for the Glory of God doth lighten it, and 
 the Lamb is the light thereof ! " 
 
 The funeral took place at Barking a few miles from Lon- 
 don, where a large company assembled in a spacious tent 
 erected for the occasion, and appropriate services were held 
 in the quiet order of Friends, which admitted of no public 
 demonstration. Her monument had long been erected in 
 the hearts of the people, where it must remain, rising still 
 higher as long as her story is read. If every grateful recol- 
 lection of Elizabeth Fry were represented by a stone as 
 beautiful as that memory, no mateiial monument of king or 
 hero has ever equaled what these would build. And may 
 not such, in some higher sense,bethe nature of theheavenly 
 mansion which her Lord has prepared for her, by the aid ol 
 her own faithfulness and industry — a home of joy — built 
 up and adorned not only with gems of human love and es- 
 teem, but, crowning all with that Pearl for which she freely 
 gave all that she possessed. 
 
 Possibly too that faithful Rewarder of His servants may 
 have ordained as He did in the case of another, who, from 
 the broken alabaster box, poured the precious ointment up- 
 on His head and Kia feet — "Wheresoever this gospel shall 
 be preached in the whole world, there also shall this which 
 this woman hath done be told for a memorial of her." 
 
 We cannot more fittingly close this account than with 
 
ELIZABETH FEl. 
 
 the concluding remarks of her daughters who are her aa- 
 thenticliiog^apIiVrs, and who were naturally best qualified 
 to express what remained to be said af cer she had herself 
 spoken. 
 
 "CoNGLusioN. — There may be some who expect a sketch 
 to be Eere given of the chai-acter of Elizabeth Fry — but a 
 little reflection will show that ia the present case to attempt 
 doing so :^ould be presumptuous. Neither is it necessary* 
 Her'"actions and conduct in life have been narrated. Her 
 letters to her family and friends portray her domestic 
 feelings and her power of loTing. Her communications to 
 others supply the knowledge of lier opinions upon the sub- 
 jects to jyhich she gave her attention. In her Journal may 
 be found the outpourings of her heai"t, the communings be- 
 tween God and her own soul. 
 
 "But there is a voice from the Dead — and the living are 
 called to proclaim, before their work is concluded and the 
 memory of the departed committed to the stream of time, 
 something of her earnest desu-es for the well-being of her 
 fellow creatures, especially for that of her own sex. Sha 
 was willing to spend and be spent in her Master's service. 
 She considered herself called to a peculiar course. Sh© 
 was very young when she first saw a prison; she had an ex- 
 traordinary deshe to visit one, and at last her father yield- 
 ed to her wishes and took her to see a bridewell — when and 
 where is not exactly known ; but not long before her death 
 she narrated the ch-cumstances to a friend, and how power- 
 ful an impression it had made upon her mind. It must be 
 a question whether this visit was occasioned by, or led to 
 the pecuUar bent of her disposition; that it tended to 
 strengthen it is indubitable, and that it was one link in the 
 chain: of Providential chcumstances which produced in the 
 end such signal results. But she would have shi-unk from 
 ur;:ing the same course upon others. She feared her 
 
THE PEABL OATK. 
 
 373 
 
 daughters, and young women generally, undertaking ques* 
 tionable or difficult public offices; but she believed that 
 where one erred from over-activity in duty many mora 
 omitted that which it behooved them to perform. ' Wom- 
 an's mission ' has become almost a word of the day. Eliza- 
 beth Fry was persuaded that every woman has her individ* 
 ual vocation and that in following it she would fulfill her mis- 
 sion. She laid great stress on the outward cu'cumstances 
 of life ; how and where providentially placed ; the opportu- 
 nities afforded ; the powers given. She considered domes- 
 tic duties the first and greatest earthly claims in the life of 
 woman ; although, in accordance with the tenets of the So- 
 ciety to which she belonged, she believed in some instances, 
 her own amongst others, that under the immediate direction 
 of the Spu'it of God, individuals were called to leave for a 
 time their homes and families and devote themselves to the 
 work of the ministry. She did not consider this call to be 
 general, or to apply to persons under an administration 
 different from her own. But it was her conviction that 
 there is a sphere of usefulness open to all. She appreciat- 
 ed to the full the usual charities of gentlewomen — their vis- 
 its to the sick and aged poor, and their attention to the cot- 
 tage children; but she grieved to think how few complete 
 the work of mercy by following the widow or disabled when 
 driven by necessity to the workhouse, or caring for tho 
 workhouse school, that resort of the orphaned and forsaken, 
 less attractive, perhaps, than the school of the village, but 
 even more requiring oversight and attention. 
 
 "A fearful accident, or hereditary disease, consigns the 
 mother of a family, or some frail child to the hospital. In 
 how many cases does she lie there from day to day, watch- 
 ing the rays of the morning sun reflected on the wall oppo- 
 Bite, tracing them as they move onward through the day 
 and disappear as it advances — and this, perhaps for weeks 
 and months, without hearing the voice of kindness and sym* 
 
B80 
 
 ELIZABETH FBI. 
 
 pathy from her own sex, save from the matron, or the hireS 
 
 jim'ses of the establishment. What might not, and when 
 bestowed, what does not, woman's tenderness effect here ? 
 
 " She heard of thousands and ten-thousands of homeless 
 find abandoned children, wandering or perishing in our 
 streets. She knew that attempts were made to rescue them, 
 and that unflinching men and women labored and toiled to 
 infuse some portion of moral health into that mass of hving 
 corruption ; but she mourned that so few assisted in this 
 work of mercy, compared to the many who utterly neglect 
 the call. She saw a vast number of her own sex degraded 
 and guUty — many a fair young creature, once the light of 
 her parents' dwelling, fallen and polluted — many who had 
 filled useful situations in business or domestic sei'vice sunk- 
 en and debased — the downward road open wide before thera 
 but no hand stretched forth to lift them the first step up 
 the rugged path of repentance, or assist in their hard strug- 
 gle against sin. She encountered in the prisons every grade 
 and variety of crime — woman bold and daring and reckless, 
 reveling in her iniquity and hardened in vice, her only re- 
 maining joy to seduce othets and make them still more the 
 children of Hell than herself ; the thoughtless culprit, not 
 lost to good and holy feeling nor dead to impression from 
 without ; and lastly the beginner, she who from poverty 
 had been driven to theft or di'awu by others into tempta- 
 tion. Elizabeth Fry mai'ked all these and despaired of none 
 amongst them I Here again, in her estimation, a crying 
 need existed for influence, for instruction, for reproof, and 
 for encouragement. But it was not to all she would have 
 allotted this task, though she could never be persuaded but 
 that in every instance women well qualified for the of&ee 
 might be found to care for the interests of the people. 
 
 " These were the things which she saw and bitterly de* 
 plored. She believed that a mighty power rested with her 
 own sex to check and control this torrent of evil — a moral 
 
THE FEABL GATE. 
 
 381 
 
 force which the educated and virtuous might bring to bear 
 upon the ignorant and vicious. She desired to have every 
 home duty accomplished, every household affection met; 
 but reason and Scripture taught her that each individual has 
 something to bestow, either of time, talent, or wealth, which, 
 spent in the service of others, would return in blessing on 
 herself and her own family. In the little parlor behind the 
 shop, in the suburban villa, in the perfumed boudoir and 
 the gilded hall, she saw powers unemployed and time un- 
 occupied. She lived to illustrate all that she had advocat- 
 ed. She wore away her life in striving for the good of her 
 fellow-beings. 
 
 "Does she now regret those labors? or find any service 
 to have been 'in vain in the Lord? ' When our great Re- 
 deemer declared that in feeding the hungry and giving the 
 thirsty di-ink, receiving the stranger, clothing the naked, 
 end visiting the sick, it was done unto Him, He added, ' I 
 was iu prison and ye came unto me.' She was one who felt 
 the force of this commendation, and took it in its largest 
 sense — not as applicable to those alone who 'suffer for con- 
 science sake,' but to the guilty and the wretched — in the 
 spirit of Him who came to seek and to save that which is 
 lost. Through weariness and painfulness she labored to 
 fulfill it. And now that her conflicts upon earth are ended, 
 and her work done, may it not be confidently believed that 
 
 for her, and such as her, are those words of marvelous joy 
 
 *Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom pre* 
 pared ^'or you from the foundation of the world.' " 
 
ELIZABETH FRY. 
 
 "A Name of Beaxtty," well hath said 
 Admiring love of one whose charms 
 
 A pure and saintly radiance shed 
 O'er human life — a light which warms 
 
 The soul to virtue while it feeds 
 Hope with a calm celestial fire, 
 
 And confidence in noble deeds. 
 "Why hath the rapt heroic lyre 
 
 Not sung thee, Earlham's gentle maid. 
 Modest and sweet, who taught the poor 
 
 And many a grateful offering laid 
 
 By sorrow's couch and penury's door? — 
 
 Who bowed thy heart with all its dower 
 Of brilliant hopes anil love replete, 
 
 Like a fresh-opening passiou-dower, 
 Low at thy waiting Savior's feet, — 
 
 Took up a cross so few could bear, 
 Unmurmuring ; doffed the idle weeds 
 
 Of fashion; bade thy feet prepare 
 To follow Christ where'er He leads, — 
 
384 
 
 ELIZABETH FBY. 
 
 To honor follow, or to shame — 
 It matters not: thy troth is given 
 
 Without reserve, only from blame 
 Deliverance asking, and in Heaven 
 
 To love and be beloved, to meet, 
 With all thy friends in safety there, 
 
 Vast multitudes made pure and sweet 
 By Jesus' love, its bliss share. 
 
 Oh great heart motherly! God saw 
 Thy wish, God heard thy noble plea 
 
 And sent His angels forth to draw 
 Thy golden net through Galilee. 
 
 After a night of toil and strife. 
 Fruitful in trial's needful lore, 
 
 And increase fair of thy own life. 
 Thy risen Savior walked the shore, 
 
 And taught thee how to drop thy line,— 
 Where in the world's great heaving pool 
 
 To cast thy net ; the word divine 
 Thou kept, and lo! a motley school 
 
 Of fishes gathered at His call 
 From the deep shadows of the lake I 
 
 And what is wondrous most of ail 
 Thy quivering cords did never break I 
 
ELIZABETH PBT 
 
 385 
 
 A dozen fair apostles soon 
 
 With thee grasped oar, and Christ-ward drew 
 Eight womanly, while the strange boon 
 
 Larger with every moment grew, 
 
 Until good men, brave, true and strong. 
 Seized manfully the lengthening line, 
 
 And urged the miracle along, 
 
 Searching for souls in sin's dark brine. 
 
 All Britain's coasts and stagnant pools 
 Thy love bade search for drowning men, 
 
 And many were the dying souls 
 Thus taught to love and live again. 
 
 Nor thus content, while foreign seas 
 And rivers rolled with sorrow's tide, 
 
 There flowed thy boundless sympathies, 
 O saintliest type of Jesus' Bride ! 
 
 "Ho! stretch the cords from shore to shore! 
 
 Join all for sweet Humanity! 
 For God, for Heaven, join rich and poor! 
 
 Join, high and low, and bond and freo! " 
 
 And kings the noblo frenzy caught, 
 And queens thy sweet behest obeyed, 
 
 Statesmen by thy wise lips were taught, 
 And the rude throng their magic swayed. 
 
ELIZABETH FRY 
 
 Light through the dismal dungeon poured, 
 "With rainbow hues cf mercy clothed 1 
 
 Again the words of Salem's Lord 
 The sinful roused, the sorrowing soothed! 
 
 March on ! march on I admiring France 
 Thrills to the music of \by voice! 
 
 Not Joan wUh her virgin lance 
 Made gallant pulses more rejoice! 
 
 The Christian patriot bids hail 
 Mercy's meek angel as she threads 
 
 The glittering street or gloomy vale, 
 Where most the call of sorrow leads! 
 
 .Ind Freedom from her Alpine heights 
 Comes forth to kiss the gentle hand 
 
 Which to a purer realm inviles 
 The least and greatest of her band. 
 
 March on ! the Netherlands give ear 
 Gladly to thy mellifluous plea; 
 
 Harsh chains relax, the mellowing tear 
 Leaps from the rock at Love's decree. 
 
 On to the wakening Fatherland, 
 Where kings a royal welcome give, 
 
 And sister queens uphold the hand 
 Which bids the weak and wandering live ' 
 
ELIZABETH FBT. 
 
 Nor yet alone the poor and blind 
 Thou win'st to virtue's upward road, 
 
 But princes of the heart and mind 
 With thee walk nearer to their God 
 
 Lifting the soul on wings of prayer 
 Thou bear'st it to the blossoming skies, 
 
 Or gently layest it, weeping, where 
 The Lamb of God for sinners dies. 
 
 Sweet gift of mother love divine ! 
 
 Oh how the thirsting heart of man 
 Needs thee, ev'n at devotion's shrine. 
 
 To teach as only mother's can — 
 
 How the Lord Gracious stooped to bless 
 And break for us sin's prison doors. 
 
 To smile away life's bitterness, 
 And point dead Hope to mercy's shoves — 
 
 Through light and darkness, praise and blame 
 How like a slave for us He toiled, 
 
 Raised us to glory by His shame. 
 And by His death our spoiler spoiled. 
 
 Such lessons yet may woman teach 
 In holy word and graceful deed ; 
 
 So cheer the struggling soul to reach 
 
 Redemption's gate and faith's bright meed. 
 
ELIZABETH FBY 
 
 Forgetful only that thine arm 
 
 Was mortal, though by Heaven inspire!^ 
 Assured that love can work no harm, 
 
 And bear each cross by Love required, 
 
 Through storm and sunshine thus thy feet 
 Past mount and valley hastened on, 
 
 Still scattering Zion's golden wheat 
 O'er fertile field and wayside atone, 
 
 And founding granaries where the poor, 
 And the lone watchman, with his flock. 
 
 May feed upon thought's healthful store, 
 And find green pastures on the rock. 
 
 Nor ceased thy toils when evening fell, 
 Fire-winged, upon the harvest plain, 
 
 And saw the o'erflowing river swell 
 To meet thee with thy goodly train. 
 
 Nor did thy loving arms forget, 
 With all their load of gathered sheaves, 
 
 Ev'n amid Jordan's billows, yet 
 
 To grasp and clasp the falling leaves. 
 
 Though burns the fire of wasting pain 
 Thy soul with heavenly music flows, 
 
 And like the Lamb for sinners slain 
 Yields fragrant balm for others' woes. 
 
ELIZABETH PBT. 
 
 Oh more than conqueror ! thy Lord 
 Did well to press such vintage hard, 
 
 For sweeter wine was never stored 
 In heart of saint or tongue of bard. 
 
 In the pearl gate thou fain wouldst turn 
 
 To see if all were pressing on — 
 Still o'er a dying world to yearn 
 
 Like angel mother o'er her son- 
 One word of comfort more to giva^ 
 
 One jewel more to gather up, 
 Another soul for Christ to live, 
 
 A di'op of balm for sorrow's cup I 
 
 Seraphic Spirit! saintliest star 
 
 Of England's bright and beauteous train! 
 So shineth from her thi-one afar 
 
 The gem that hghts the morning main I 
 
 Shine on and tell us how to sail. 
 Unmoved by fortune's frowns or smiles, 
 
 How on time's sea to bide the gale, 
 A»d anchor by Life's golden isles. — • 
 
 "The Pilot!" aye, we hear thee, mother — 
 "With heart and ear attend His word I 
 
 "Him love and also one another 1 
 "Greeting to all who love the Lord! " 
 
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