vented English and American Friends from mutually caring for and helping each other, in their religious concerns. I remember to have observed on the occasion, that we might change our style in writing to those on that side the Atlantic, and address them as our 'Beloved Enemies;' but the occasion, happily, was soon removed!

1814.

A. D. Downfall of Bonaparte, and entry of the Allied Powers into Paris: Restoration of the Papacy to its former authority. "Nowhere was the spirit of reverting to former principles and systems of policy more conspicuous than under the dominion of the papacy. Fius VII. in his proclamation from Cazena, on May 5th, assumed the ancient title of God's Vicar on earth,' and spoke of his Imperial sovereignty as essentially connected with his spiritual supremacy. A proclamation at Rome declared the restoration of the former pontifical, civil, and criminal code; and the Pope, on resuming his functions in person at his capital, reserved to himself all proceedings against those who had taken part in the late usurpation [of his temporal sovereignty,] and appointed a commission for making a report on the property termed National; which had been ceded to companies that were creditors of the French government.

"The spirit of the present Pontificate was more peculiarly displayed by the renewal of the order of Jesuits: the suppression of which, in 1773, effected by the concurring efforts of the Bourbon sovereigns, was the result of a jealousy of its power and a detestation of its principles, which then seemed almost universal in the Catholic world. On August 7th his Holiness, seated in state, caused a Bull to be read for the re-establishment of the company of Jesus, which as still subsisting in Russia [since cleared of them in one night by banishment] and in Sicily, he had several years before authorized to follow the rule of its order, and to which he now extended all the same powers in all other places: he conferred upon them all the privileges they formerly possessed; took them and their property under the immediate protection of the Holy See, and abrogated all constitutions and ordinances to the contrary. An act was afterwards read, confirming the restitution of the patrimony of the Jesuits in funds still existing in the Ecclesiastical states, and making provisional compensation for alienated property.

"The zeal of the Pope in favour of religious orders was not confined to the Jesuits, but extended to all other monastic communities; and on August 5th he promulgated an edict, in which, after lamenting the almost total annihilation of those societies as one of the greatest calamities of the time, he mentioned the appointment of a committee to consider of the reestablishment of the regular orders; by whose advice all the disposable convents in Rome were to be given them; that the greatest number might be assembled. The renovation of all the festivals observed at Rome before its incorporation with the French empire, and the prohibition under the severest penalties of all secret assemblies, especially those of the Freemasons, were further indications of the prevalent spirit in this quarter.” Aikin, ii. 436.

"This year was [also] rendered memorable by a concourse of illustrious visitors to the English capital; in number and rank surpassing any

modern example. At the head were the Emperor of Russia and his sister, and the king of Prussia, with his sons." Aikin, ii. 449.

Friends on this occasion thought proper to present to those Sovereigns, Addresses in favour of Religious Liberty, to which good work they might say they were led by sympathy with the oppressed. Haud ignara mali [Ecclesia] miseris succurrere disco.'-Virg. I shall subjoin some account of these proceedings; having witnessed a part of them myself.

A. D, The Meeting for Sufferings petitions both houses of Parliament, 1814. on the subject of the French Slave Trade.

The petition was signed by forty-seven Friends, being those met on the occasion. That to the Commons was presented on the 28th of the Sixth month, by William Wilberforce. In the Lord's house there was some little demur on account of the title given to the house being deemed by the Lord Chancellor informal: the words 'Spiritual and Temporal' had been omitted; but the petition ultimately passed without them.

This document is more florid in its style, and wears more the appearance of a declamatory address, than any thing I have yet had to notice on the Society's behalf.

Your petitioners [it resumes after reprobating in the fore part 'that combination of enormities the Slave Trade'] cannot but contemplate with feelings of grief and dismay, the consent on the part of this country, for France to renew this system of robbery and murder for five years. Should this take place, they think it but too evident, that the generous efforts now making to diffuse instruction and promote improvement, in regions to which so large amends are due for grievous and long-continued suffering, will be in vain; and that the deluge of blood, which has been stopped in Europe, will now take its course through unoffending and defenceless Africa. Under these circumstances it will be difficult to feel cordiality for a nation, which, by stipulating for itself the revival of a commerce in the persons of men, shall have been the cause of evils so enormous. And your petitioners are impressed with the consideration, that as no State while engaged in deliberate murder can expect the countenance and protection of heaven, there is great reason to fear that France may, on this occasion, be seeking fresh calamity to herself, and (unhappily also for this country) possibly sowing the seeds of a

new war.

"But your Petitioners derive consolation from reflecting, that the expected Congress of the principal European powers [in London] may afford the opportunity of doing away immediately, and for ever, the reproach of this traffic from the Christian name."

The Meeting for Sufferings of London, in writing to that of Philadelphia in the Tenth month this year, thus adverts to the result.

"The subject of the Slave Trade was left, by the treaty of peace with France, in such a state as justly to alarm the friends of humanity in this country. The prospect of the revival by France, to an indefinite extent, and for at least five years, of this abhorred traffic, could not but excite our sympathy for the poor Africans, its intended victims. Finding that the subject would be agitated in Parliament, and that, possibly, some amelioration of this article of the treaty might be obtained at the ensuing congress of the several powers of Europe, Friends, in common with their fellow-subjects, were prompt in petitioning Parliament to this effect; and both Houses have unanimously addressed the Prince Regent, in very forcible language on the subject."

A. D.

Congress of Sovereign Princes in London. The Society pre1814. sents books, with addresses, to the Emperor of Russia and King of

Prussia.

The object of Friends, as stated in the Minutes of the Meeting for Sufferings was, that the present opportunity should not be lost for giving them some information relative to the nature of our religious principles.' The books presented (besides a few from individuals,) were, Extracts from Yearly Meeting's Minutes, [or the Society's Rules and Discipline,] Barclay's Apology, Penn's No Cross No Crown, and the Summary of the History, Doctrine, and Discipline of Friends.

The addresses were chiefly directed to the subject of Liberty of Conscience and the occasion was embraced of advocating, in this respect, the claim to it of such as might be found in the dominions of either of these princes, under our name. I do not think it needful to insert them at length: as they may be perused, by such as desire it, in the records of the Society. The following Report was made to the Meeting.

MEETING FOR SUFFERINGS, 7th mo. 1, 1814. "The Friends appointed on the Addresses report, that an introduction having been obtained through Baron Jacobi, the Prussian Ambassador, for Stephen Grellet, Jno. Wilkinson, Luke Howard, and William Allen,—the Address to the King of Prussia was presented on the 17th of 6th mo. together with the books ordered by this meeting, to the King, as he was passing through the hall at Clarence House: who received the Friends with condescension; referring the address and books to the care of the Ambassador: from the circumstances of the case, there was little opportunity for conference, but the Ambassador informed the Friends, that he would furnish them with the King's written answer after he was gone.

"The Friends appointed report-that the address to the Emperor of Russia, together with the books ordered by this meeting, were presented to him on the 21st of 6th month, that the conference with the Emperor was peculiarly interesting; and the Friends before appointed are desired to prepare a short account of it, and bring it to next meeting :" [which may also be found on the Records.-Ed.]

The written answer from the King of Prussia, reported to the Meeting 9th mo. 2nd. was to the following effect:

Translation." I value the sentiments which the respectable Society of Quakers have exhibited in their Address of the 13th instant, and declare hereby my most cordial thanks for their good wishes expressed therein, and for the books presented me. Signed. FREDERICK WILLIAM,"

66

66

London, 20th of June, 1814. "To Mr. William Allen,

"Secretary of the Society of Quakers."

A. D.

Visits of inspection are paid, by small Committees appointed 1816-17. on behalf of the Society, to the persons under our denomination

in France and Germany.

YEARLY MEETING, 6th mo. 7, 1816. "The subject of a visit to our Friends at Pyrmont and Minden, has been renewed by a minute from the Meeting for Sufferings: and the following Friends being proposed by the said Meeting for this service, and they being acceptable to this Meeting,

they are accordingly appointed, viz: Josiah Forster, William Allen, Luke Howard, and Thomas Christy :t o report to the Meeting for Sufferings; which is directed to afford them every necessary assistance."

MEETING FOR SUFFERINGS. "The following Report of the visit which has lately taken place to Friends at Pyrmont and Minden was brought in and read, in addition to which much verbal information was communicated, and the services of the visiting Friends are truly acceptable to this Meeting. "To the Meeting for Sufferings. In consequence of our appointment to visit the two months' meeting at Pyrmont and Minden, we left London about the end of the 6th month, and arrived at Minden on the 6th of 7th month.

"We attended the First day morning meeting at that place, the day after our arrival, in which, about fifty persons were assembled. The serious behaviour of those who were present, and the quietness of the Meeting in the time of silence, afforded us much satisfaction. The two-months' meeting for discipline, attended by two representatives from Pyrmont, was held in course that afternoon, and was conducted in a solid orderly manner, with the appearance of much harmony. Five applications for admission into the Society, from persons who live in the neighbourhood of Minden, are now under its consideration; in all which, we thought there was a desire on the part of the meeting to exercise caution. The members of this meeting, thirty in number, are nearly all grown persons. We saw them in their dwellings, in the town and surrounding country, with the exception of three small families, who live in villages ten or twelve miles distant from each other and from Minden. In these visits, which took up four days, we had satisfaction. Though many of the Friends are very poor yet their wants are few, and as far as we could observe, they are industrious and contented. In consequence of their distance from Minden, when they cannot meet with their friends there, it is the practice of many of those in the villages to sit down on a First day in silence, either together, as is the case in two places where several live near one another, or alone. There are now seven boys and one girl, taught at the school kept at Charles Dammeir's house, seven miles from Minden: none of whom are members of our Society. We were satisfied with the appearance of the school, and with their proficiency in learning. They are the children of those, who are either [already and without their children] admitted into membership, or have applied to be received. We felt comforted in our visits to the members of this little meeting, and would express a desire, that whilst their remote situation has a claim upon the sympathy of Friends, any future care or counsel may be extended towards them with prudence and caution. "The meeting at Pyrmont consists of upwards of fifty members, about one half of whom are children or young persons. The State of our Society in this place must be acknowledged to be very low, and discouraging. The meetings in the summer-time are on First days large and unsettled, owing to the attendance of strangers, who resort hither on account of the mineral waters; and here we may remark, that the influx of company, and the dissipation which usually prevails, almost unavoidably subject the Friends to many trials. The Fourth day meeting appears to have been greatly neglected, and sometimes wholly discontinued. We believe that the cause of truth has suffered from the pecuniary embarrassments, as well as from the differences, of those in the foremost ranks among them; that a right concern of mind has been much wanted of late years, and that there has been in some a wish to be active, in making known the principles of the Society, beyond their own religious experience, We have been here about ten days,

and have seen all the Friends at their homes, and offered such advice as we felt it our duty to give. We believe there are a few sincere minds among them, attached to the principles and testimonies of the Society; but those in profession with us, here, appear to stand in need of the continued care of Friends.

“There are fourteen Friends' children taught by the present schoolmaster, in whose learning we should have been glad to have perceived more forwardness; but we apprehend that one cause of this deficiency is, that the children do not always regularly attend, in consequence of their being employed at home.

Our friend Wm. Allen has thought it right to accompany two women Friends, who were coming to pay a religious visit in these parts. We have therefore been deprived of his services.

"Pyrmont, 7th mo. 22, 1816."

"Luke Howard
Thomas Christy

Josiah Forster."
"Our friends, William

MEETING FOR SUFFERINGS, 6th mo. 6, 1817. Allen and Josiah Forster, members of this meeting, having felt an engagement of mind to offer themselves to it, to proceed under its appointment on a visit to the persons professing with us, at Congenies and other places in the South of France; and this meeting feeling much satisfaction at this offer, and in the prospect of the services of love which these Friends may be enabled to render, appoints them as a deputation accordingly. Our said Friends propose to proceed on this journey, in company with Hannah Field and Elizabeth Barker, two ministering friends now on a religious visit from America: which is approved by this meeting.

Ninth Month 5. Our friends, William Allen and Josiah Forster,being returned from their visit to those professing with us in the South of France, presented a report in writing, which was read in this meeting to our satisfaction, and is as follows:

:

"London, 5th of 9th Mo. 1817. "To the Meeting for Sufferings.-In making our Report on the subject of our appointment, we may inform the Meeting that soon after our arrival at Congenies, we accompanied our friends Hannah Field and Elizabeth Barker, in a visit to the families of those who reside there, and in some neighbouring villages, professing with our Society; to whom we paid thirty-six visits. We were received with much kindness and openness, and believe that there is in the hearts of many of these, a sincere attachment to the fundamental principle of our Society-a belief in the inward teachings of the Spirit of Christ; and in silent spiritual worship. A meeting is regularly held twice on First day, and once in the course of the week. We have not observed much that would indicate a maintenance of our other religious testimonies: but it should be remarked, that those whom we have visited are not liable to tithes, and that marriages are by the present law of France considered solely as a civil contract. The registry of children is also made by the mayor or his deputy. All military service is said to be at this time voluntary; and when an oath has been required of any one of them, which has not often occurred, his affirmation has, on stating his objections, been admitted. We should have been glad to have perceived more firmness of character, and clearer indications of a conformity of conduct to principle; but we think there is that which has a claim to the Christian kindness of