The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-04-29


AS the two met, murmur of applause ran
through the assembly, followed by smulta-
neous clap and shout, which was taken up by
the multitude without, and died away in the
distance. They hailed the scene before them
as the omen of q nations regeneration they
saw in it, not so much the Queen and the phi,
lanthropist, as royalty offering its need of
approval at the shrine Of mercy and good
deeds.
In the retrospect of her early days, how often
Elizabeth recalled the breakfast-room at Earl
ham. and the patriarchal Quaker preacher
who had dmly foretold in her girlhOod what
she had now become. The meridian of her
life had passed and she desired to dedicate the
remainder of it yet more solely to her import
ant calling.
1t was no slight sacrifice to engage, shortly
after, in what she considered an imperative
duty This was visiting the prisons through
out Great Britain, and inspecting personally
these abodes of crime and misery. She would
90 from yard to yard and from one ward to
another, addressing the most minute inquiries
to the jalors, and calculating the capacities OF
the different buildings for the greatest degree
of improvement The results of her observations
were always afterward stated, in letter ad-
dressed to those in authority. One of her
brothers accompanied her upon this tour, and
during it's accomplishment. He who had called
her to the work opened the hearts of many
persons in various circumstances TO aid her.
Visiting associations of ladies were formed, So
cieties for the reformation of juvenile offend
ers; and of those unable to give their time to
the work, not few profered offerings of gold
and silver to carry it on.
One of the things most deeply affecting
Elizabeth was the condition of the poor luna
tics confined in these prisons For these she
made frequent and touching appeals, and the
tenderness with which she treated those with
whom she came in contact proved how power
fully her heart was touched with compassion
for the sufferers of that "heayiest Of human
maladies'
Another class of persons, who had long
claimed the attention of this devoted woman,
were the prisoners sentenced to transportation:
and scarcely convict ship sailed, but her ut
most endeavors were made to promote the
spiritual welfare and bodily comfort of those
doomed to spend months in these floating pris-
ons Frequently she visited them, sometimes
with companion, often alone, This was not
done without much fatigue, and frequent expo
sure to weather. On one occasion she was
placed in situation of considerable danger
Eagle was racing up the Thames, the captain
hoping to overtake his competitors, when in
the midst of the excitement sudden squall
| accompanied by heavy rain came on. He was
looking ahead pleased with the reflection that
they would soon outstrp the other vessels, when
upon entering Long Reach, he saw a small
| boat, laboring with but little effect against the
tide. In it were two ladies, in the close habit
of the Quakers drenched with the heavy
| shower.
He was dashing, high-spirited sailor. To
stop, would spoil the chase, in which his pas
sengers were eagerly interested. To go on, and
| leave two ladies in such a situation, was impos-
sible. His gallantry prevailed; he passed the
word softly to the engineer, to sheer the steamer
| alongside. threw the wearied rowers a rope
| and before the passengers were aware, the en-
| CINE had stopped the ladies were on board
| and the Eagle again flying up the Thames
| Elizabeth, with q dignifed and beautiful ex-
preston, gratefully thanked him, as he led
| them below.
In short time the gale cleared away and
they came on deck. The gallant captain had
some prejudices against the Quakers but he
could not resist this lovely and heavenly mind
ed woman and as she moved about, distribu-
ting tracts among the crew, with kind smile
or word of encouragement he saw in her all
that was attractive in woman, lit up by the
bright beams of philanthropy In writing of
the incident he says" feel assured, much of
the success which attends her missions of mer-
| cy is based upon the awe inspired by her pres
ence 1t is something to possess a cOuntenance
| which portrays, in every look, the overhowings
| of such a heart AS an instrument in Gods
hand, she is indeed highly favored" To see
her is to love her. to hear her, is to feel as if a
guardian angel were bidding you to follow
that teaching which alone can subdue the
temptations Of this life, and secure Redeem
| ers love in eternity At the time of this Oc-
currenoe Elizabeth and her companion were
returning from farewell visit to female con-
Wet ship upon the point of sailing There was
great uncertainty whether the poor creatures
would ever zee their benefactress again. She
stood at the door Of the cabin, "a priestess of
heaven On the threshold of hell The women,
gathered on the quarterback faced the little
party. The sailors, anxious to see what was
going on, clambered into the rigging or min
gled in the outskirts of the group. The silence
was profound, when Elizabeth opened the Bible
and read the l07th psalm with such emphasis
and intonatiOn as to make the simple reading
a commentary The crews of the other YES
sels anchored around attracted by the novelty
OF the scene, leaned over the ships on either
side, and listened with great attention. She
closed the Bible, and after pause knelt down.
She touched on the history of the pardOned
Magdalen, her loving much because forgiven
much her washing the feet Of the Saviour,
being with Him at bis DEATH watching by his
tomb, and permitted first to see Him after his
resurrection. IL was the strongest encourage
ment to the repentant sinner. She then spoke
in strain of entreaty and solemn warning to
the hardened and profane; and, finally, inn
plored blessing from God, on these his chill
dren. Many Of the women wept bitterly; all
seemed touched, and when she left the ship,
they followed her 10 the side, blessing her as
an angel of mercy The sailors in the rigging,
touched by the melting scene, cheered her as
her little boat passed vessel after vessel, till
they could see her no longer.
Her exertions for these perishing ones stop
ped not here; through her fundamentally,
many improvements were made in the various
stations to which they were consigned and she
had frequently the satisfaction of receiving
grateful letters from those she had remembered
& as in bonds with them"
Succeeding years brought more extensive
services Accompanied by her husband and
brother, who entered warmly into sympathy
with her various objects of bcneyoence, she Wis
tied the prisons and lunatc asylums Of France,
Spain, Germany, Denmark, and parts of the
Prussian dominions She formed lasting friend
sbips with some of the most gifted and infiuen-
tai men and women Of the age; and her pecu-
liar faculty of drawing out all that was lovely
and Of good report in others, was perhaps the
best test Of the purity and loneliness of her own
character. She entered schools and, attracted
by her beaming and maternal smile, little chill.
dyen gathered round her in rosy clusters, and
tmidiy proffered their gifts of shining pebbles,
or bright sea weeds as remembrances OF their
nat;ve lands 10 the good lady Of whom they