"I can scarcely say how very much I enjoyed these talks both with Maria and our dear friend at the Bank; yet they were altogether different in character. Towards our friend I felt almost the same kind of confidence, reliance, and affectionate veneration as to a parent; and I treasured up her words as lessons of deep wisdom and truth, as from lips that I had long been accustomed to venerate.

"Falmouth Meeting is said to have more convinced Friends than any other; and I no longer wonder (though I have not verified the prediction) that E. P. said to me as I went down: Thou must beware of Falmouth; for all who inhale Falmouth air become Friends, if they were not so; and turn zealous Friends, if they were lukewarm ones,'

"But I forget, we are all this time in the summer-seat (in the long walk, where Maria and I had our talks) whilst evening is coming on: and it is almost time to see in the distance the little merry face of Carry, with Anna Maria and Barclay, preceding the walking party; and, as soon as they see us from the wicket, running up; Carry jumping and throwing her arms round my neck; Anna Maria gently seating herself at my knee, and softly kissing me; and Barclay standing by, taking my hand; and all proclaiming, it is time to tell them more stories; which accordingly, when they had dragged me by the shawl and gown into the drawing-room, and were seated, one on my knee, and the others about me, I generally did for twenty minutes before tea.

"After which, Robert would show us experiments; a few amusing ones, with which the children were delighted,

and the principles of which he explained to them; after which they generally retired to bed. Imagine the back drawing-room strewed with reflectors, and magnets, and specimens of iron, and borax, cobalt, copper ore, blowpipes, platina, &c. &c.; deflagrations, fusions, and detonations, on every side; whilst we were deeply interested in watching the fusions of the ores, or their assaying; only that now and then I, having a house of my own, had a fellow-feeling with Maria, at seeing a certain beautiful zebra-wood table splashed with melted lead or silver, and the chased Bury Hill candlestick deluged with acids.

"Whilst we were thus engaged, after the children went, Maria would withdraw. She made a point every night of sitting a little with each of them, reading to them some short portion of Scripture, or allowing them to repeat anything they might have learnt of their own accord, or might have on their minds to say. She would converse a little with them, and have a little silence, leading each to selfexamination if they had told the truth, and lived in love, and been obedient. This time the children looked forward to as the happiest of the whole day. I can scarcely say how valuable I think this habit is to them, nor the sweet and confidential and religious influence it seems to spread over their lives. A little after ten the supper made its appearance. Soon after, I went up to bed. Maria generally accompanied me, and stayed, perhaps, five, or at most, ten minutes in my room; ending the day with her household, with her guests, as with her children, in some sweet and quiet intercourse. I felt it like the prophet's evening blessing, or as heavenly dew falling on the heart, pene

trating, and refreshing, and preparing it to wait in spirit and in truth upon the Lord of the household Himself."

Mrs. SchimmelPenninck looked back to this period with peculiar interest. After her visit to Falmouth, she passed some time in London and its neighbourhood. Her stay principally was with her kind friends at Bruce Grove, Tottenham, and from thence she visited many friends and relations. Circumstances prevented her from seeing her cousins at Earlham; but she enjoyed intercourse with Mrs. Fry, and other members of the Gurney family. She thus writes of a visit she paid to her relations, the late Mr. and Mrs. Barclay.

"I have not yet said how much we enjoyed a visit of ten days at Bury Hill. It was quite a treat to be once more with Agatha, and to meet Elizabeth. It was indeed encouraging and heart-cheering to be with them. I only longed that Maria and her dear children had been with us to complete the party. Elizabeth seemed, for her, well and comfortable: and Agatha quite of one spirit with her sister, differing only in garb. Mr. and Mrs. Barclay were most kind, and I seldom paid a visit in which all the members of the family appeared, from first to last, more usefully and honourably employed, and in which all appeared guided more by real principle. It was a truly delightful visit."

But amongst the kindnesses she received, and the delight of renewing old ties, there was nothing upon which she oftener loved to dwell than intercourse she at this time enjoyed with Hannah Kilham, the devoted missionary and martyr in the cause of Africa. Hannah Kilham had just

returned from her first visit to that country. Through subsequent years Mrs. Schimmel Penninck often spoke of her as one of the most single-minded persons she had ever known, and as one who, in her deep abhorrence and condemnation of sin, and in her boundless love to the sinner, in an eminent degree possessed the spirit of her Master, and trod in His footsteps. The final sacrifice of her life in the cause to which she had devoted it, was ever a subject of much feeling to Mrs. Schimmel Penninck.

CHAP. IX.

1837-1846.

"Affliction has a taste as sweet

As any cordial comfort."

SHAKESPEARE.

"For a crowd is not company, and faces are but a gallery of pictures, and talk but a tinkling cymbal where there is not love."-BACON.

THE last day of 1837 was a Sunday. Mrs. SchimmelPenninck had just returned from the Moravian chapel; her friend Mrs. Richard Smith had called, and was sitting by her side, and Mrs. SchimmelPenninck was speaking with earnestness on the work of the Holy Spirit, when in a moment she was seized with paralysis; life seemed to stand still; she thought herself dying, and made an exclamation to that effect. Happily, medical help was near at hand. Dr. Riley happened to be passing, and was with her in a few moments: he bled her, and ordered other remedies; and after a time the powers of life began to return, her speech became more articulate and her mind clearer.

Though this attack of paralysis was called slight by her medical attendants, and probably was so in reality, yet long years passed ere she recovered from its effects. Up to this