Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-08-21
COMMUNICATION.
THOUGHTS AND REMINIsCENcEs.-No ".

tingushed among the women OF our age, since by her
benevolence and her eloquenct among the most de-
graded, neglected, and wrechei of her sex in New
gate, she was enabled to produce surprising refor-
nation, and by her example If compassionate ten
derness to encourage others in arous parts Of Chris
tendon to disnterested and elective endeavors for
the relief and benefit of prisoners. This lady was
sister of the Rev. JOSEPH .oHN GURNEY, and
member of the Society of Friends. II was at the
beautiful country seat of andher brother, JOSEPH
GURNEY, near London, Ia set once the residence
of DR.. FoTHIRGnL,) that had the pleasure of see
ing her. She was tall in her person, simplicity and
dignity were blendedin hermalners, and her counte-
nance wac 0Ar-sssye Of Intelligence. sincerity, and
benignity. She conyersed with perfect ease and
mildness, but seemed wholly occupied with great
plans for the unfortunate. A moments interview
would have taught me how, with her commanding
person, manner, and soft tones OF persuasion, she
must have appeared to the miserable of her sex in
Newgate an angel Of light and low. come to soft
en- them to penitence, and kinde in teir sad hearts
the hope of redemption.
She had for some time been earnestly engaged
in founding and sustaining house d refuge and
instruction for young women who night require
such home, and number were thee sheltered
under its wings. was present Subsequently at
publicsdin given at the London tav,n for the
which Lord NORMANDY presided, the profits of
which were several hundred pounds. The Eng
lish think themselves entitled to some enjoyment
while they contribute to the happiness of others,
and hence it is quite habit with them p get up
good dinner for charity. In this case cards were
issued announcing that the object proposed was to
aid the most benevolent institution of Mrs. Fry,
anc of course her numerous friends ESPECIALLY as
Lord Normandy had consented to presne) were
eager to obtain tickets for the moderate price of
one guinea each. The dinner, excellent az it was,
probably cost less than half what was realized from
the sale of tickets and the surplus was aided to
the charity fund. But it is not to be imagined that
the one or two hundred gentlemen who sal down
to the feast, partook of the decaces and the vines,
listened to the soul-enchantng music, and then to
pertinent and gracious speech from ''my Lord"
delicately abiding to the distinguished lady who
relied upon the lberality of her friends to sustain
her admirable endeavors to rescue and to save the
unfortunate, the young, and the defenceess, would
separate without leaving substantial evidences of
their regard to her who devised and to those who
were blest by the scheme of benevolence. His
Lordship's subscription of ten guneas elected the
warm applause Of the company, and from two to
three hundred pounds were Immediately raised for
the object. 1t required no defence or argument
since it enjoyed the patronage of Mrs. FRr. All
present felt the power of her exalted character, and
the honor Of cooperating with her in design
which had excited her deep sympathy, and prompt
ed her earnest appeals for aid
AT Upton was my first introduction to Sir THos.
POWELL Buxton, who for so many years co-ope-
rated efficiently in Parliament with Mr.. Wilberforce
against the slave trade, and earnestly (yet with very
imperfect success) devoted the last years of his life
to the civilization of Africa He appeared to be
about sixty years Of age, man of plain manners,
but of decided intellect and purpose, and at the time
of my interview almost exclusively engaged in ef-
forts for introducing the arts of civilization and
Christianity into Africa. His great work on the
Slave Trade and its Remedy had just appeared, and
made deep impression throughout England and
even on the continent The unfortunate Niger ex-
petition was preparing for its departure, and among
the guests al Upton on this occasion was Captain
Trotter, the commander of that expedition, and
gentleman who had resided thirteen years in De-
marara. Sir L. +. Buxton was one of the most
extensive brewers in the kingdom, and by his bust
ness had acquired ample fortune. Though he
married Gf mistake not sister of the Gurneys,
he was attached to the Episcopal Church and had
evidently deep sense of religion. His health,
when saw him, had begun to Decline and both he
and Mrs. Fry, as well as that admirable man Jo-
seph John Quincy, have since finished their labors
on earth. 1t is beyond expression to be regretted
that neither Mr.. Buxton nor the African Civiliza-
ton Society of England, Of which he was the ac-
knowledged leader could perceive that the great
work they sought to accomplish for Africa was to
be effected only by the restoration Of her children
free people to her shores, animated by the spirit
of selEgovernment, and determined to build them
selves up as an Independent and Christian nation
The misfortunes of their policy, by extingushing
other ideas, may yet give life 10 this and ano-
ther generation urge it to full and glorious de-
velopment.
LORD BRouGHAM-THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON.
II was in the House of Lords that heard brief
speeches from these eminentpersonage An Anne
rican on entering the House of Lords is struck not
only with the costumes of the various members, the
snowy lawn of the bishops and gowns and enor-
nous wigs of the chief officers, but with certain
hasty careless air which m7rks all the movements
and proceedings. The rem ks which heard from
Lord Brougham were on the subject of the slave
trade, and were expressed nth rapdity and We
hemence that proved his bility to command the
reason and arouse the pass ons. OF manner, one
must have supposed him never to have thought, so
natural and unstudied was i and so absolutely con-
trolled by his thoughts ard sentiments There
was about him the unprete ldng and unconscious
action of chd-careless, uick, wild, impeuous
violent, wholly Indifferent % every thing but his
object. For the extent OF his requirements, the
I-II