very different an effect it has on the mind to other advice; however, it was an encouraging thing, and I hope it will not be passed over by me or the children.

11th.-How much I wished, almost prayed, I may one day be a perfect sacrifice, wholly given up to the service of God.

18th.-Time will tell, if what "Friends" have told me will be true, that I shall one day be different from what I am; indeed, taste of the beautiful comfort and support of true religion, and not only receive myself, but be an instrument in giving to others; and that my own beloved family will feel support in me, and in a degree do as I may have done, or that my principles will spread. None but one knows my heart, and my most deep wishes, nay, I may almost say prayers, that I may, in whatever way it may be, do to my utmost the will of God; may I not faint in the day of trial and tribulation; and may self not be exalted in the day of prosperity.

Fifth Month, 30th.-I have written lately many melancholy journals, and I seem rather inclined this morning gratefully to mention the calm and sweet state I feel in. Even if the feelings be but for this time, it is a blessing to have them. My feelings towards Joseph are so calm and pleasant, and I can look forward with so much cheerfulness to a connexion with him.

Sixth Month, 6th.-I felt rather nervous and weak this morning. I wrote to Eliza Fry, and worked and talked. I might talk too much. I received a letter I liked from 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 acknowledge any real fault committed, than the natural inclination to faults. Christiana Gurney has a droll effect upon me, and leads me to feel as if she thought me a lukewarm Quaker. I believe I am so, in some respects; because, deeply interested as I am in the Society, and much as I approve some of its scruples, yet my limits are great, and I do not feel little scruples of that importance some other persons do.

9th. I have been busy to-day without doing much. They all went out about twelve. I then put my poor people's things in a little order, and cut out linen till dinner, and from dinner

till tea. I am slow in what I do. I have thought seriously upon becoming mistress of a house. I look in that, as in other things, that principle may be my support, for it leads and supports in the smallest occurrences of life. The preparations of clothing, &c., &c., as they lead me into the little things for which I have a taste, if I do not take care may hurt me, and yet they are both pleasant and interesting to me.

17th. My state is a truly comfortable one this morning, such peace of mind and body. I seem to have at present no cloud over me so calm, so easy-partly owing to having lately felt so much bodily pain, ease and rest are peculiarly pleasant; let it be an encouragement to me, next time pain or sorrow surround me, that even when heavily clouded, the sun may not be far off; may enjoying this sort of peace lead me to long for a more durable and lasting one, and may it stimulate me with more vigour to seek after it, by more frequent patient waiting upon God, and may I experience an increasing willingness to take up the cross when called to do so.

Eighth Month, 4th.-This has been a comfortable day to me. I have been busy, and a little gone on in my old plans; I have great hopes of leaving all things in good order, which is a relief to me. It is a blessing indeed to feel thus healthy in mind and body; for I think we are subject to mental diseases, that are not in our power any more than bodily ones, and that require our patience; although it is our duty in both mental and bodily maladies, to do our utmost to overcome them.

13th. This morning the Fellowe's were here; nothing particular happened till evening, when all my poor children came; it was rather a melancholy time to me. After having enjoyed themselves with playing about, I took them to the summerhouse and bade them farewell; there were about eighty-six of them, many of them wept; I felt rather 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 all of us, as a family.

CHAPTER V.

1800-1809. Marriage-First visit to Plashet-Settlement in London— Letter to a Friend-Yearly Meeting-Birth of eldest child, 1801Journey into the North of England-Second daughter, born 1803-Birth of eldest son, 1804; illness and journey to Bath-Her second son, born 1806-Death of her mother-in-law-Birth of her fifth child, 1808-Letter to Mr. and Mrs. John Gurney-Death of her sister, Mrs. John Gurney-The Rev. Edward Edwards-Death of her father-in-law.

THE marriage of Joseph Fry and Elizabeth 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 soon gained quietness and something of cheerfulness; after dressing we set off for Meeting; I was altogether comfortable. The Meeting was crowded; I felt serious, and looking in measure to the only sure place for support. It was to me a truly solemn time; I 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 was. 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 great effort to her. Driving through Norwich for the last time, "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 establish themselves in St. Mildred's Court, in the city of London. The house was large, airy, commodious, and what in the city is a still more. rare advantage, quiet; and continued to be an occasional residence of different members of the family, till it was pulled down in consequence of alterations in London.

Elizabeth Fry was, by her marriage, brought into completely new circumstances; her husband's family had been members of the Society of Friends, since an early period after its foundation. In this, 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 large circle of new connexions and acquaintance, who differed 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. She often painfully felt the incongruity of the parties assembled at her house, formed of her own family and nearest connexions, whom she so tenderly loved, and those with whom she was in strict religious communion, but whose habits and sentiments differed from theirs; and she feared for herself, lest in the desire to please all, she should in any degree swerve from the line of conduct she believed right for herself.

George Dilwyn, 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 arrived 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 that at the present time seems almost inconceivable, that of reading the Holy Scriptures aloud in the morning. Family devotion, amongst all persuasions, was much less common at that period than it is now; 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, except on Sunday evenings, until some years after their marriage.

Plashet, Ninth Month, 8th.-From continued change of scene, and the great deal that I am obliged to talk, I seem of late to be continually letting out, and taking nothing in; of course much weakened by it.

28th. I had rather a serious evening Meeting. I first wept, I believe, with thinking of them at home; however, I afterwards began to pray as far as my weak spirit could, for I am weak indeed, and even my good wishes are so surrounded with worldly inclinations, that it seems to require much strength to get through; and my faith is weak, and without faith it is a hard matter to act, but I believe I may find enough for action, if I will seek for it.

Tenth Month, 3rd.-I went to town this morning, and walked about some time, ordering plate, &c., &c. My inclination is to have every thing very handsome, but I do not think it right to have things merely for ornament, unless there be some use attached to them.

5th. I do not remember ever wishing for worldly good of any kind, as I have for spiritual; but actions show how much the love of the world still remains; indeed, I seem chained down to the world and worldly things, and my habitation seems in the dust. May it ever rise higher.

Earlham, 8th.-Here I am once more sitting in the music

VOL. I.

H