IC-NRI 
 
 SB IMl 5b2 
 
 YEARS AGO. 
 
 BY TH6 AUTHOR OF 
 
 CONSeCR/rreD WOMGN 
 
THE NONESUCH HOUSE, 
 On Old London Bridge, 1647. 
 
MARY PRYOR. 
 
 A LIFE STORY 
 
 OF A 
 
 HUNDRED YEARS AGO. 
 
 By the Aiithor of 
 
 CONSECRATED WOMEN," "FAITHFUL SERVICE, 
 "CHRISTIAN WOMANHOOD," ETC. 
 
 WITH ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 SECOND EDITION. 
 
 HODDER AND STOUGHTON, 
 
 27, PATERNOSTER ROW. 
 
 MDCCCLXXXVII. 
 
 (All Rights Reserved.) 
 
LIB. 
 
8X7795 
 7S#3 
 9S>7 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 THIS simple history of a devoted but 
 unobtrusive life is written specially 
 for Mary Pryor's descendants, who are 
 scattered over the world. The narrative 
 is accompanied with the desire that 
 they may find encouragement from her 
 example of whole-hearted allegiance to 
 her God and Saviour. 
 
 Her last surviving grandchild (my 
 beloved father), who has, during this 
 year, passed into the Home beyond, 
 cherished her memory to the last with 
 deep affection and reverence ; and I feel 
 that we of our generation are passing 
 
 6 
 
 913 
 
vi Preface. 
 
 on to the younger ones a sacred trust, 
 which he and his contemporaries in 
 kinship have handed down to us. 
 
 Others, outside the circle of relations, 
 have expressed a wish to possess the 
 narrative, and I would venture to hope 
 that they too may find their faith 
 stimulated by Mary Pryor's simple 
 trust and faithful obedience, which 
 were so manifestly rewarded. 
 
 MARY PRYOR HACK. 
 
 BRIGHTON, 1886. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 FROM BIRTH TO MARRIAGE .... 9 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 FAMILY CARES, AND SERVICE FOR THE CHURCH 2 r 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 GUIDANCE AND PROTECTION. CALL TO GO ON 
 A GOSPEL MISSION TO THE UNITED STATES 37 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 VOYAGE TO AMERICA AND FOUNDERING OF 
 THE SHIP 55 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE LANDING IN PHILADELPHIA, AND RE- 
 CEPTION BY HER FRIENDS .... 75 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 GOSPEL LABOURS IN THE EASTERN STATES . 97 
 
viii Contents. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 THE YELLOW FEVER IN PHILADELPHIA. 
 FURTHER TRAVELS 119 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 RETURN HOME. LATER LIFE, AND DEATH . 145 
 
From Birth to Marriage. 
 
 Isife is only bright when it proceed eth 
 Towards a truer, deeper life above ; 
 
 Human love is sweetest when it leadeth 
 To a more Divine and perfect love. 
 
 A. A. Proctor. 
 
CHAPTER I. 
 
 FROM BIRTH TO MARRIAGE. 
 
 IN an ancient account-book of the ex- 
 penditure of the Lord Mayor of London, 
 there is, under the date of 1558, the 
 following entry : " Paid to Durran, the 
 paynter, to bye colours to paynt the 
 vaute at Maior's Palace, in part pay- 
 ment, XXXs to ley the vaute in oyle 
 colours substantially. The quote part 
 in jasper colour as the newe house on 
 London Bridge is, all the rayles in 
 stone colour, the small pillars in per- 
 fect green colour." 
 
1 2 Mary Pry or. 
 
 The " newe house on London Bridge," 
 which supplied such a brilliant pattern 
 for the Lord Mayor's palace, was made 
 entirely of wood, brought over from 
 Holland in pieces ready to be fitted 
 together. Even the fastenings were of 
 wooden pegs, not a nail being used in 
 the whole fabric. It bore the name of 
 Nonesuch House, and when erected in 
 the reign of Elizabeth, was accounted 
 " the wonder of London." 
 
 It stood near the Southwark end, 
 with a drawbridge in front, and pro- 
 jected beyond the bridge both east 
 and west. An arch in the centre, 
 twenty feet wide, spanned the road- 
 way. At each corner of the building 
 were towers, while crowning the centre 
 
Nonesuch House. 13 
 
 of the front, and on two sides were 
 elaborately carved gables. On each 
 gable facing the river were sundials, 
 one bearing the appropriate motto, 
 " Time and tide wait for no man." 
 The whole building was ornamented 
 with a profusion of casement windows 
 having richly carved panels and gal- 
 leries in front of them and gilded 
 pillars between. 
 
 Many other stately edifices, with arch- 
 ways beneath, over the road, adorned 
 the bridge. In 1632, forty-two of these 
 were burnt down, but they were rebuilt 
 much in the former style. Later, many 
 smaller houses were erected on either 
 side, with an open road between, taking 
 the place of the covered causeway. The 
 
14 Mary Pry or. 
 
 bridge suffered severely in the great fire 
 of 1666, and never regained its former 
 splendour. 
 
 Nonesuch House was, as we have 
 said, near the south end of the bridge, 
 and escaped destruction by the fires ; 
 and it is stated in a survey of the 
 cities of London and Westminster, 
 that in the early part of last century, 
 " one-half of this house was occupied 
 by Mr. Bray, l a stationer, and the 
 other half by Mr. West, a drysalter." 
 
 It was here that Mary Bray, the 
 subject of this sketch, was born in 
 1737. All that we know of her child- 
 
 1 It is believed that this name comes from the 
 Dutch Brahe, the same name as that borne by 
 Tycho Brahe. 
 
Parentage. 1 5 
 
 hood may be told in few words. Her 
 father, Andrew Bray, son of Nathanael 
 Bray, formerly of Hertford, was a 
 rag merchant, and a member of the 
 Society of Friends. Her mother, also 
 a Friend, belonged to the West 
 family. Mary had one sister named 
 Eleanor, and a brother Nathanael ; and 
 the children were early left mother- 
 less. 
 
 Mary seems to have been carefully 
 brought up ; but as she grew older, she 
 was for a time in danger of being led 
 into worldliness. On one occasion, 
 when about to be introduced into 
 unsuitable company, she said to a 
 companion, as they were walking to- 
 gether, " I can go no further." This 
 
16 Mary Pry or. 
 
 act of Christian decision brought much 
 peace, and she told one of her daughters 
 in after life that she " hardly ever felt 
 more true joy than at that time in her 
 solitary walk home." 
 
 She again showed her decision of 
 character, when, if report be true, she 
 was asked by a rich merchant (the 
 founder of the Hope family), to be- 
 come his second wife, and refused, to 
 the chagrin of her old nurse, who is 
 said to have remarked, " You might 
 have eaten gold," receiving from her 
 young mistress the smart and wise 
 reply, "But I could not have digested 
 it." 
 
 Andrew Bray gave a considerable 
 dowry to each of his daughters on 
 
Residence at Hertford. 1 7 
 
 their respective marriages. Eleanor l 
 was married in 1757 to John Stevens, 
 and Mary to John Pry or, a wool- 
 stapler of Hertford, in 1760. 
 
 John Pryor was the second of the 
 six children of William and Sarah 
 Pryor. His mother's maiden name 
 was Burr. 
 
 On her marriage, Mary Pryor went 
 to reside at Hertford. Her new home 
 was in the town, and not far from 
 the river Lea. The house was old, 
 with a hall in the centre, opening on 
 to a small square court, in which were 
 
 1 Eleanor Stevens' daughter Mary married 
 Thomas Gates, and was the grandmother of 
 T. G. Darton, Maria Allen, the late Jane Home, 
 etc. 
 
1 8 Mary Pry or. 
 
 also entrances to the dining-room and 
 the kitchen. The house was studded 
 with small windows, many of which 
 were closed, in order to avoid the 
 heavy window-tax. The pleasant gar- 
 den ran down to the river, and thus 
 won for the place the name of Water- 
 side. 1 John Pryor was, like his wife, 
 a member of the Society of Friends, 
 and she soon entered into a position 
 of usefulness in the meeting at 
 Hertford. 
 
 1 The appearance of Waterside is now greatly 
 changed, the house having been let off in tene- 
 ments, and the delightful garden, in which three 
 generations of Mary Pryor's descendants played, 
 has been built over. Cottages have also been 
 built on the right hand side of the house. 
 
Kindness to Invalids. 19 
 
 In personal appearance Mary Pryor 
 was of fair complexion, with a bright 
 colour, which she retained through 
 life. She was fond of reading, and 
 lively in conversation; and being, as 
 we have seen, of great decision of 
 character and, at the same time, 
 genial, she was much looked up to 
 and beloved. 
 
 She was also kind and generous ; 
 indeed, her husband sometimes thought 
 she gave away too freely. She had a 
 special care for invalids, and when she 
 had any delicacies on the table, she 
 always liked to send portions to her 
 sick neighbours. 
 
Family Cares and Service for the 
 Church. 
 
 In meek obedience utterance giving 
 To words of truth, so fresh and living, 
 That, ever to the inward sense 
 They bore unquestioned evidence 
 Of an anointed messenger. 
 
 /. G. Whittier. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 FAMILY CARES AND SERVICE FOR THE 
 CHURCH. 
 
 MARY PRYOR'S first child was born in 
 the autumn of 1761. She was named 
 Mary, and was the eldest of eight chil- 
 dren, seven of whom lived to mature 
 age. 
 
 It must have been soon after the 
 birth of her first child that Mary Pryor 
 began to speak in the meetings of her 
 people. She had felt the call to 
 exercise the ministry of the word for 
 some months, and had often retired 
 to be alone with her Lord, that she 
 
24 Mary Pry or. 
 
 might the more clearly discern His will. 
 We are told that her " ministry was 
 acceptable to her friends," and that 
 " her genuine love and simplicity gained 
 her the esteem of those with whom she 
 laboured." 
 
 In reference to the public ministry 
 of women we cannot do better than 
 quote a passage from a volume l re- 
 cently published : 
 
 " The Society of Friends, as is well 
 known, recognise the ministry of women, 
 in subjection to the government of 
 Christ, under the guidance of His Spirit. 
 They conceive that the gospel is not, 
 
 1 " Memorials of Christine Alsop, compiled by 
 Martha Braithwaite. Harris & Co., 5, Bishops- 
 gate Without." 
 
The Ministry of Women. 25 
 
 in this or in any other respect, a dis- 
 pensation narrower than the law. They 
 believe, with the Prophet Joel and 
 the Apostle Peter, that it is a dispen- 
 sation under which ' daughters ' as well 
 as 'sons' are to * prophesy ' (Joel ii. 
 28-32; Acts ii. 1 6, 17). Accepting the 
 apostolic definition, that to * prophesy ' 
 is ' to speak unto men to edification, 
 and exhortation, and comfort' (i Cor. 
 xiv. 3), they do not overlook the fact 
 that the Apostle Paul himself gives 
 directions as to the exercise by women 
 of this gift (i Cor. xi. 5) ; that he freely 
 recognised the services of Priscilla as 
 well as Aquila, and that he was a guest 
 at Caesarea, in the house of Philip the 
 Evangelist, who had 'four daughters' 
 
26 Mary Pry or. 
 
 who ' all prophesied.' It was not, they 
 are persuaded, the design of the Apostle 
 to nullify, by words of seeming re- 
 striction employed by him on two 
 occasions, the great principle authori- 
 tatively asserted and acted on. The 
 seeming restriction is rather, in their 
 view, to be itself interpreted and limited 
 in harmony with the general principle." 
 
 The secret of Mary Pryor's power 
 and influence did not lie in the posses- 
 sion of large talents, but in seeking to 
 live near to her Lord, and in looking 
 for His direction, not only in her reli- 
 gious service, but also in the affairs of 
 daily life. The teaching of the Society 
 of Friends has ever been clear and em- 
 phatic on the necessity of this guidance 
 
Divine Guidance. 27 
 
 and communion, that the spiritual life 
 may be maintained in a healthy con- 
 dition. It is true that, at the time in 
 which Mary Pryor lived, the religious 
 life in many of the churches in this 
 country was at a low ebb, and that the 
 Society of Friends did not escape the 
 general declension. It is, therefore, all 
 the more refreshing to notice the many 
 within its borders at that time, who, 
 like herself, were conscientiously living 
 up to their Christian profession, and 
 were shining as lights in the world. 
 
 Mary Pryor's solicitude for the 
 spiritual well-being of her children was 
 great, and it was her custom to gather 
 her little ones in her chamber from 
 time to time for prayer. 
 
28 Mary Pry or. 
 
 Her eldest daughter a bright, lively 
 girl was early brought to the Lord, 
 and was a great comfort to her mother, 
 with whom she seems to have been on 
 terms of close intimacy in regard to 
 religious things. 
 
 The following extracts are from 
 letters written to this daughter when 
 she was away from home. Mary Pryor 
 writes in 1777, when Mary was about 
 sixteen. 
 
 " MY DEAR POLLY, I was much 
 pleased to hear, by Joseph Bevan, 
 that thou wast at Dover, as well as 
 the manner of thy going there. I 
 hope it is a mark that thou hast the 
 good cause at heart ; but thou hast 
 [disappointed] me in not writing, as 
 
Letters to her Daughter. 29 
 
 I long to hear, not only how Cousin 
 Betsy is, but of the meeting at Dover. 
 I hope Truth arose and appeared in 
 its ancient beauty. I thought the seed 
 was not only sown in many hearts 
 there, but was precious to some in 
 that county, and I trust will have the 
 dominion in such minds ; and I doubt 
 not you had a humbling, refreshing 
 season. I hope we felt a degree of the 
 baptizing power in our sitting this 
 morning. . . . Oh, saith my soul, 
 that we may be thoroughly cleansed 
 before we go hence ! There is no other 
 way for ' Zion to be redeemed but by 
 judgment, and her converts with right- 
 
 eousness.' ! 
 
 It was about this time that Mary 
 
30 Mary Pryor. 
 
 first spoke as a minister, and shortly 
 after, with the sanction of the Church, 
 she accompanied a minister from 
 America on a religious mission to the 
 West of England and Wales. Thus 
 began that interest in America and 
 American Friends which deepened and 
 widened as time went on. 
 
 Mary was visiting at Sheffield in 
 1778. The following letter from her 
 mother was written in London, where 
 John and Mary Pryor seem often to 
 have stayed : 
 
 " It is not lessened affection that 
 has prevented my writing so often as 
 thou might wish, for I think thou never 
 wast nearer the affectionate part in me 
 than of late; and I was thankful to 
 
Letters to her Daughter. 3 1 
 
 observe the disposition thou appears 
 to be in, in thy two last letters. It 
 brought to my remembrance a little 
 [religious time] we had together at 
 J. Lister's, at Newington, when, if I am 
 not mistaken, thou made a covenant 
 with thy Heavenly Father somewhat 
 like that of Jacob, which covenant 
 I have a secret hope thou hast been 
 enabled to renew." 
 
 In 1780, M. P. writes to Mary, who 
 had gone to take her young sister Sally 
 to school : 
 
 " I long to see you all. My thoughts 
 are often engaged for thee in particular. 
 And I have thought, if thou art faithful 
 to what is manifested to be thy duty, 
 thou may cause a blessing to be be- 
 
32 Mary Pry or. 
 
 stowed on our family, even like the 
 dew of Hermon that descended upon 
 the mountains of Zion, where the bless- 
 ing was commanded, even life for ever- 
 more. May this be extended to the 
 nethermost of the family, even to my 
 little ones, is my earnest petition to the 
 Father and Fountain of all our living 
 
 mercies." 
 
 The youngest child, Samuel, was at 
 this time six years of age. 
 
 In 1783, Mary Pryor writes to Mary, 
 who was again in Yorkshire : 
 
 " I wished thee to be at York 
 Quarterly Meeting if way opened for it, 
 therefore am pleased to find it is likely 
 to be so. If thou could lodge at 
 William or Henry Tuke's, I believe thou 
 
Letters to her Daughter. 33 
 
 would find it satisfactory ; but I leave 
 that to thy best Director, on whom I 
 desire thy eye may be steadily fixed. 
 If it be best for us that we be longer 
 separated, I believe our consolation will 
 be the greater when we are favoured 
 with thy return, which, that it may not 
 be sooner than thou art quite easy, is 
 my earnest desire. I intreat thee, my 
 dear child, be faithful to that precious 
 gift that is committed to thy trust, 
 remembering that they that are faithful 
 in the little will be made rulers over 
 more. A glorious crown of immortality 
 awaits the faithful follower of Jesus, 
 who was made perfect through suffer- 
 ing, who trod the winepress alone, that 
 He might succour His little ones, and 
 
34 Mary Pry or. 
 
 is worthy to be followed even through 
 the deeps." 
 
 In the same letter, Mary Pryor 
 confesses a shortcoming : 
 
 " I had something to say to my dear 
 son John the morning when he took 
 his leave of me, in which I was not 
 faithful ; and that, among other sins 
 of omission, has troubled me ; but the 
 affectionate part got up, and as it was 
 I believe a little matter [which would 
 have been] pretty close, I was loath to 
 grieve him, although it might have 
 been godly sorrow that worketh re- 
 pentance to salvation. May thou take 
 warning by my omission, and may both 
 of us stand more resigned to know our 
 own wills subject." 
 
Marriages in her family. 35 
 
 In 1786, Mary was married to Joseph 
 Savory, of Cheapside, a widower with 
 four children. He was of a genial 
 temper, seeking to make all around him 
 happy. He and his wife were closely 
 united, and it was a great pleasure to 
 both to keep open house, not only for 
 their relations, but for those travelling 
 on Gospel missions. Their house seems 
 to have been the head-quarters of min- 
 isters from America visiting England, 
 and this large intercourse with friends 
 from that land made their names fami- 
 liar on the other side of the Atlantic. 
 
 In 1791, Mary Pryor's second son, 
 William, married Elizabeth Squire, from 
 Bedfordshire, and in 1793 her second 
 daughter, Sarah, married Daniel Hack, 
 

 36 Mary Pry or. 
 
 of Brighton. This daughter was ex- 
 ceedingly lively, and must have been 
 greatly missed in the home. 
 
 It was not till after her eldest 
 daughter's marriage, and when her 
 younger children were at school, that 
 Mary Pryor felt called to travel in the 
 work of the ministry. 
 
Guidance and Protection. Call to go on 
 a Gospel Mission to the United States. 
 
 When it is well with thee before thy God, 
 Remember those with whom it is not well, 
 
 Bear them upon thy heart before that God 
 
 In whose glad presence thou hast learned to dwell. 
 
 Plead for the weary earth upon whose breast 
 
 Ages of evil and unrighteousness 
 Have lain, unbroken by one hour of rest ; 
 
 Plead for the hastening of the age of peace. 
 
 Plead for the advent of the promised King, 
 The reign of heavenly glory here on earth, 
 
 The budding of the world's eternal spring, 
 The coming of creation's second birth. 
 
 Bonar. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 GUIDANCE AND PROTECTION. CALL TO GO 
 
 ON A GOSPEL MISSION TO THE UNITED 
 STATES. 
 
 THERE was a tradesman in Hertford 
 who had gone on prospering till he 
 had taken a high position in the town. 
 But he fell into bad, drinking ways, 
 and, on his becoming ill, Mary Pryor 
 felt it laid upon her heart to visit 
 him. She accordingly went to his 
 house one evening, and pleaded for an 
 interview with him, but was refused 
 by his family. As she returned along 
 
4O Mary Pryor. 
 
 a lonely road in the dusk, she saw 
 two suspicious - looking men coming 
 towards her. Turning round, she 
 observed a man of more gentlemanly 
 appearance behind, and waited till he 
 came up. She then asked if she 
 might walk with him for protection, 
 and he accompanied her towards her 
 house. As they passed the two men, 
 she noticed that they looked curiously 
 at her and her companion. On part- 
 ing from him, she asked who it was 
 to whom she was indebted for this act 
 of courtesy, and he gave his name 
 as that of a noted highwayman, the 
 leader of a band of robbers. 
 
 Mary Pryor's thankfulness over her 
 preservation must have been mingled 
 
A Life Saved. 41 
 
 with pain when she heard that that 
 very night the poor man to whom she 
 had tried to carry a message of mercy 
 had put an end to his wretched exist- 
 ence. At the same time she must 
 have rejoiced that she had accepted 
 her Lord's call, and had let no ob- 
 stacle prevent her from going on His 
 errand. She had thus no cause to 
 reproach herself. 
 
 On another occasion, M. P.'s faith- 
 fulness was rewarded by her being 
 made the means of saving a life. She 
 was busy in domestic matters, when 
 she felt an intimation that she ought 
 to call on a person two miles away. 
 She put off the impression, but it 
 came again, and yet again ; and at 
 
42 Mary Pry or. 
 
 last she laid aside her employment, 
 and putting on her cloak and hood, 
 started in pouring rain to pay the 
 visit. Reaching the house, she sat 
 down with her friend, and addressing 
 her in the name of her Master, ex- 
 pressed the belief that she had been 
 sorely cast down, but that the Lord 
 would never permit her to be so tried 
 again. M. P. spoke other words of 
 comfort and assurance to her, and at 
 the close of the interview, the sorrow- 
 ful woman confessed that her faith 
 had indeed well-nigh failed her, and 
 she took M.P. to a cupboard, and 
 showed her the bottle of poison which 
 she had intended to take in the after- 
 noon of the same day. 
 
The Prisoners at York. 43 
 
 In 1796, Mary Pryor visited her 
 son Nathanael, who was living at 
 Leeds. At this time eight Friends 
 were imprisoned in York Castle for 
 refusing to pay ecclesiastical demands. 
 Mary Pryor's heart was drawn out in 
 sympathy towards them, and she paid 
 them a visit, and then, with much 
 difficulty, obtained an interview with 
 their prosecutor. She writes to her 
 husband : 
 
 " Way has been made for me to 
 have an interview with the prosecutor 
 of our Friends now in York Castle. 
 He heard me without interruption, but 
 afterwards endeavoured to exculpate 
 himself, and lay their 'sufferings on the 
 laws. He appeared in some pertur- 
 
44 Mary Pryor. 
 
 bation of mind, and I am ready to 
 think is going against conviction. . 
 If I am not mistaken, it seems 
 best for me to return by Upperthorpe 
 [and] Doncaster. I continue much 
 favoured with health and a desire to 
 do right, in which I conclude, 
 
 " Thy affectionate wife." 
 
 Joseph Browne, one of the prisoners 
 mentioned above, wrote to Mary Pryor 
 in reference to her visit : 
 
 " YORK CASTLE, 
 
 " ist month i$tk, 1796. 
 
 " Thy very kind and acceptable 
 letter came duly to my hand. . . . 
 I was right glad to find thou hadst 
 been so remarkably favoured with an 
 
The Prisoners at York. 45 
 
 opportunity of relieving thy mind, and 
 hope thou wilt experience peace to be 
 the reward of such faithful dedication. 
 I thought, as thou remarks, it was in- 
 deed cause for thankfulness and humble 
 admiration, how He, who is wisdom 
 unsearchable, can open ways for the 
 performance of His will through the 
 humble, dependent and obedient mind. 
 Give my love to thy husband and to 
 the rest of thy family daughter Nancy 
 in particular. 
 
 " The committee of men- Friends ap- 
 pointed by our Quarterly Meeting are 
 gone to visit our dear connexions at 
 Lothersdale, it being thought best by 
 Friends that our children should be 
 got out to different places. David 
 
46 Mary Pry or. 
 
 Sands was at our meeting last First 
 Day ; a number of the prison debtors 
 attended, some of whom were tendered. 
 "So conclude with dear love, in 
 which love I am united by my com- 
 panions in bonds, 
 
 " Thy truly affectionate friend, 
 
 " JOSEPH BROWNE." 
 
 The term of imprisonment suffered 
 by these Friends lasted two years and 
 five months. It may be mentioned, 
 that, during part of the time, they had 
 the agreeable companionship of James 
 Montgomery, the poet, who was sent to 
 York Castle on a charge for libel in 
 the Sheffield Iris, of which he was 
 editor. 
 
Pleadings with George II L 47 
 
 One of the eight Friends, John Wil- 
 kinson, died in prison ; the others 
 were liberated in 1797. A few years 
 later, Montgomery wrote, on the death 
 of Joseph Browne, those beautiful lines 
 beginning 
 
 " Spirit, leave thine house of clay." 
 
 Mary Pryor seems to have been 
 greatly exercised in reference to the 
 war with America. So heavily, indeed, 
 did it rest on her mind, that she three 
 times sought and obtained an interview 
 with King George III. in order to 
 implore him to use his influence to 
 put an end to it. One of her great- 
 grandchildren writes : 
 
 " I am disappointed at being unable 
 
48 Mary Pry or. 
 
 to find the record of these visits, 
 written by her companion. I remem- 
 ber being struck with how much in 
 advance of the public opinion of that 
 day were her remarks on the falseness 
 of the system the government was 
 pursuing, and the certainty of its 
 ultimate failure." 
 
 On one occasion she addressed a 
 letter to the king. This we insert : 
 
 "Suffer, O King, a faithful, affec- 
 tionate subject, to intreat thee once 
 more to abolish the slave trade and 
 to make peace. I believed it was the 
 word of the Lord to thee, and I 
 found great peace after I had delivered 
 that message to thee some years ago ; 
 
Letter to the King. 49 
 
 but of late I have felt, as I appre- 
 hended, a new concern, to intreat thee 
 with all the tenderness of affection I am 
 capable of, to consider the calamitous 
 situation we are now reduced to. 
 
 " Suffer me to beg for thy earnest 
 endeavours speedily to bring about 
 these two great points ; for I believe 
 that now, under this glorious dispen- 
 sation (which breathes forth a language 
 similar to that of the holy angels at 
 the birth of the blessed Jesus, the 
 Saviour of men, ' Glory to God in the 
 highest, on earth peace, and goodwill 
 unto men '), the continuance of these 
 two great evils is an abomination to 
 the Majesty of heaven, and may be 
 the means of bringing upon the land 
 
50 Mary Pry or. 
 
 greater calamities than those we now 
 suffer. 
 
 " Even now, the most industrious 
 and frugal poor, who labour early and 
 late, cannot purchase the necessaries 
 of life. Many of these, thy most 
 useful and worthy subjects, are, I 
 believe, ready to sink under their bur- 
 dens, for w r ant of a sufficient portion 
 of bread. 
 
 " May the God of all grace, mercy, 
 and truth instruct and strengthen thee 
 to do His will. 
 
 " This from thy faithful friend and 
 subject, 
 
 " MARY PRYOR." 
 
 After the close of the war she felt 
 
Call to Preach in America. 51 
 
 called to visit the meetings of Friends 
 in America. 
 
 She thus writes of this prospect to 
 her daughter, Mary Savory : 
 
 " HERTFORD, 
 
 "8M month 5^/2, 1797. 
 
 " Believing the time fully come, and 
 having been permitted to try the fleece 
 wet and dry, I ventured to spread the 
 concern before our Monthly Meeting 
 last Fourth Day, and believe I had the 
 sympathy of many near and dear 
 friends with whom I left it, believing, 
 if they should advise against it, the 
 will would be accepted. . . . The 
 closest trial has been the prospect of 
 being separated from thy dear father ; 
 
52 Mary Pry or. 
 
 but He who in mercy gave him to me 
 has an undoubted right to separate us, 
 and I feel no cause for murmuring, 
 believing, if I leave him and my dear 
 children, it will be in the arms of a 
 merciful and gracious Father ; and if 
 it were possible for me to have more 
 to give up, He is abundantly worthy 
 of the sacrifice, for I have no one 
 blessing but is His precious gift. . . 
 No doubt my friends as well as 
 myself are astonished that the Most 
 High should make use of so mean an 
 instrument ; but who amongst us shall 
 dare say to Omnipotence, ' What doest 
 Thou?' or shall the clay query with 
 Him who has the forming it' Why 
 hast Thou made me thus?' Was not 
 
Choice of a Vessel. 53 
 
 the ram's horn used as well as more 
 dignified instruments ? I do not feel 
 ability to write much, but thought it 
 might be as pleasant to thee to have 
 these hints from myself as from any 
 other quarter. We are all favoured 
 with a good degree of health, and 
 what is better, I hope a good degree 
 of resignation, in which I remain, with 
 the salutation of love, not only to thy 
 husband and self, but dear George and 
 Sarah [Dillwyn], a precious part of 
 your family, 
 
 " Thy affectionate mother." 
 
 Before Mary Pryor decided in what 
 vessel to sail for America she visited 
 several of the best ships of the period ; 
 
54 Mary Pry or. 
 
 but she did not feel easy to take her 
 passage in any of them. However, on 
 sitting down in an inferior vessel 
 called the Fame, she said that she 
 felt "so comfortable," that she must 
 go in that ship. Her son William, who 
 was an underwriter at Lloyds', tried 
 to dissuade her, having learned that 
 the ship was considered unseaworthy ; 
 and a relative, named Thomas Back- 
 house, posted from London to Hert- 
 ford, to warn her against it. On his 
 telling her that he would not trust one 
 of his dogs in it, she asked for a time 
 of quiet, in which to seek the Lord's 
 direction in the matter. She saw no 
 light, however, upon any change of plan, 
 and her place was taken in the Fame. 
 
Voyage to America and Foundering of 
 the Ship. 
 
 Thou workest perfectly. And if it seem 
 Some things are not so well, 'tis but because 
 They are too loving-deep, too lofty-wise, 
 For me, poor child, to understand their laws: 
 My highest wisdom half is but a dream ; 
 My love runs helpless like a falling stream : 
 Thy good embraces ill, and lo ! its stillness dies. 
 
 George Macdonald. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 VOYAGE TO AMERICA AND FOUNDERING OF 
 THE SHIP. 
 
 HAVING, in accordance with the custom 
 of the Society of Friends, been fur- 
 nished with credentials from her monthly 
 and other meetings, Mary Pryor started 
 for the United States towards the end 
 of 1797, when she was more than sixty 
 years of age. She travelled quite alone. 
 After leaving the docks, the Fame seems 
 to have been detained near to land some 
 ten or twelve days before fairly getting 
 under weigh. During this time of 
 
 57 
 
58 Mary Pry or. 
 
 waiting Mary Pryor writes to her hus- 
 band : 
 
 " Off DUNGENESS, 
 
 " 30^ of \2tk month, 1797. 
 
 " MY DEAR LOVE, 
 
 " The Captain thinks he can get 
 a letter on shore to-morrow. We have 
 hard blowing weather, but through 
 unmerited mercy my mind is pre- 
 served in a good degree of quiet. 
 Most of our passengers are sick. One 
 sprightly youth says he will keep close 
 to me. They all continue their kindness. 
 . . . I was on deck yesterday, and 
 walked with the help of the Captain's 
 strong arm, for the motion was too great 
 to walk alone. The good things my 
 
Off Dungeness. 59 
 
 dear children sent were very acceptable 
 to the cabin passengers. We are now 
 at anchor in sight of the lighthouse. 
 Here are about forty- two ships, I sup- 
 pose, like us, waiting for a more favour- 
 able wind. I wrote by the pilot when 
 he left us off Deal. I hope, my dear, 
 thou wilt endeavour to be content in 
 the Divine will, and bear our separation 
 with resignation to that gracious Being 
 who has blessed us many ways, particu- 
 larly with our dear children, who will be 
 a comfort to thee, as they have been to 
 me ; and I trust the Lord will bless 
 them and theirs, and be your staff and 
 stay, and mine. Dear love to dear 
 George Dillwyn and his Sarah, also 
 T. Scattergood, etc. I cannot write 
 
60 Mary Pryor. 
 
 much. . . . What a nice youth would 
 this T. Darley be, would he but enter as 
 a scholar in the school of Christ. I 
 yearn over him. . . . We had made 
 many miles further, but the Captain 
 was wise enough to put back for safe 
 anchorage. We are a strange mixture 
 on board four or five different names 
 of religion. The poor Frenchmen fast 
 often : I hope they are sincere. I have 
 no great opinion of our Jew; but I have 
 no right to make this remark. I again 
 salute thee and all our dear children 
 in great affection and love, and remain 
 
 thine, 
 
 " MARY PRYOR. 
 
 " P.S. Addison's hymn has been 
 much the companion of my mind." 
 
Addisoris Hymn. 61 
 
 This hymn, of which we give a few 
 stanzas, was much more appropriate 
 than she was then aware of, for though 
 there was no severe outward storm while 
 they were on the ocean, there must have 
 been stormy waves of anxiety and fear 
 surging through the hearts of many on 
 board the Fame during the voyage, the 
 incidents of which we are about to 
 narrate : 
 
 " How are Thy servants blest, O Lord ! 
 
 How sure is their defence ! 
 Eternal wisdom is their guide, 
 Their help Omnipotence. 
 
 " In foreign realms, and lands remote, 
 
 Supported by Thy care, 
 Through burning climes I passed unhurt, 
 And breathed the tainted air." 
 
 After describing a storm at sea, the 
 poet goes on : 
 
62 Mary Pry or. 
 
 " Yet then from all my griefs, O Lord, 
 
 Thy mercy set me free : 
 Whilst in the confidence of prayer, 
 My soul took hold on Thee. 
 
 " In midst of dangers, fears and death, 
 
 Thy goodness I'll adore, 
 And praise Thee for Thy mercies past, 
 And humbly hope for more. 
 
 " My life, if thou preserv'st my life, 
 
 Thy sacrifice shall be ; 
 And death, if death should be my doom, 
 Will join my soul to Thee." 
 
 They had not been long at sea before 
 the old vessel sprang a leak, and the 
 water gained on them so rapidly, that it 
 was with difficulty the sailors could 
 keep it under. In a short time they 
 were obliged to work unceasingly at the 
 pumps. This went on for many weeks, 
 
The Old Ship in Danger. 63 
 
 and eventually the passengers were 
 called in to take their share in the work. 
 The fatigue entailed was very great, and 
 the labour appeared so hopeless that 
 from time to time the men were entirely 
 disheartened, and, without a great deal 
 of encouragement, would inevitably have 
 resigned themselves to their fate. 
 
 During this time Mary Pryor was 
 preserved in great calmness, and, feeling 
 that her work in the world was not yet 
 done, expressed the persuasion that they 
 would be rescued. She was much in 
 prayer, sometimes in her cabin, and 
 at other times she prayed aloud in the 
 presence of the crew and passengers, 
 asking that the Heavenly Father would 
 preserve their lives. 
 
64 Mary Pryor. 
 
 These prayers made a great impression 
 on those who heard them, leading one of 
 the passengers to say long afterwards, 
 " Mrs. Pryor was a wonderful woman in 
 prayer." But she knew well that they 
 must work as well as pray, and she made 
 it her business to uphold the men by all 
 the encouragement she could bring to 
 bear upon them. She would often stand 
 by them and stimulate them with words 
 of confidence that their labour would 
 not be in vain. But with all the united 
 efforts of the crew and passengers their 
 condition grew worse, for the water in 
 the hold increased to the height of five 
 feet, and even flowed into the cabins. 
 The captain was such an intemperate 
 man that he was of little use ; for the 
 
The Crew in Despair. 65 
 
 danger, instead of nerving him to action, 
 only drove him to seek oblivion from his 
 troubles in drink. As the prospect of 
 rescue seemed to grow fainter and 
 fainter, the labour at the pumps was 
 felt to be almost intolerable, and the men 
 were on the point of finally giving up 
 all effort in despair. At this juncture 
 Mary Pryor came out of her cabin early 
 one morning, with a cheerful counte- 
 nance, saying that she had " good news 
 for the ship's company, for their deliver- 
 ance was near at hand." She told them 
 that she had had a dream or vision, in 
 which she had seen a vessel coming to 
 their help that very day, but that they 
 must still use every exertion to keep the 
 ship afloat till she should come in sight. 
 
66 Mary Pry or. 
 
 This announcement was made, as was 
 narrated by a fellow-passenger, with 
 evident confidence that it would be 
 fulfilled in their experience. Mary Pryor 
 further said that the name of the vessel 
 had been told her, and she had forgotten 
 it, but if the female passengers would 
 mention their maiden names, it would 
 recall it to her memory. The women 
 on board were summoned, and one of the 
 steerage passengers, who seems to have 
 been acting as stewardess, said that her 
 name had been Archibald. " That," 
 said Mary Pryor, " is the name of the 
 ship that will save us." 
 
 We may well imagine how anxiously 
 all eyes were now turned towards the 
 horizon, seeking some sign of the ap 
 
The "Archibald." 67 
 
 preaching means of deliverance ; but 
 many hours of terrible suspense were 
 yet to follow. The men were battling 
 with tremendous odds, for, in spite of all 
 their labour, the water gained ground, 
 and the vessel continued gradually to 
 sink. They " lightened the ship " by 
 throwing overboard portions of the 
 cargo, but all to no purpose, and again 
 it seemed as if the worn-out hands 
 would cease working in sheer hope- 
 lessness. 
 
 Once more Mary Pryor succeeded in 
 arousing the exhausted energies of the 
 men, pleading with them to persevere 
 for only two hours more in their labori- 
 ous service ; and before the expiration 
 of this interval a ship was descried in 
 
68 Mary Pry or. 
 
 the distance. They eagerly watched 
 her movements, and continued to fire 
 guns in rapid succession to attract 
 attention. On perceiving their signals 
 of distress, she made towards them, 
 and the Fame sent an officer in her 
 long-boat to inform the captain of 
 the desperate condition to which they 
 were reduced, and to implore assist- 
 ance. 
 
 The vessel was a small Halifax 
 schooner, named the Archibald, of sixty 
 tons burden, heavily laden with cod-fish, 
 and withal rather short of water, so 
 that Captain Macey at first doubted if it 
 would be possible for him to take on 
 board an additional crew, with a number 
 of passengers, seeing that 600 miles lay 
 
Thomas Scattergoods Parcel. 69 
 
 between them and the American coast. 
 However, on consultation, his own men 
 were at once willing to go on short allow- 
 ance of water, and there was still time 
 to transfer some provisions from the 
 Fame to the Archibald ; and he quickly 
 consented to take the party on board. 
 When the passengers were about being 
 transferred to the boats, Mary Pryor re- 
 membered that she had left something in 
 her cabin. She was warned that if she 
 went to fetch it she would have to wade 
 knee-deep in water, and that there was 
 no time to lose, as the vessel was filling 
 fast ; but she insisted on going, and pro- 
 cured the object of her search. This 
 was a parcel which had been entrusted 
 to her care by Thomas Scattergood, who 
 
70 Mary Pryor. 
 
 was at the time engaged in a religious 
 mission in England. 1 
 
 Efforts were made to get M. P.'s 
 portmanteau out of the hold, but without 
 success. The captain of the Fame was 
 sober enough to see that Mary Pryor 
 had been largely instrumental in saving 
 the lives of passengers and crew ; and 
 when the first boat-load was being made 
 up, he declared that she should remain 
 till the last, saying, " The ship won't 
 sink while she's on board." But the 
 young man before mentioned, who had 
 so attached himself to her, disapproving 
 
 1 The letter (written at Waterside) which 
 was contained in the parcel has been kept by 
 T. Scattergood's descendants, also the record of 
 its having been saved from the sinking vessel. 
 
Saved / 7 1 
 
 of this arrangement, courteously sprang 
 forward, and lifted her into the boat. 
 The passage from one ship to the other 
 entailed fresh danger, and Mary Pryor 
 was glad that it had not been possible 
 to save her portmanteau, apprehending 
 that the additional weight might have 
 sunk the old leaky boat, which was in 
 especial jeopardy, owing to the rough- 
 ness of the sea. It was not until after 
 midnight that the last boat passed from 
 the Fame to the Archibald, and the 
 seamen imagined that the ship could not 
 possibly have remained afloat more than 
 an hour or two longer. 
 
 In the little schooner the freight of 
 codfish and oil so filled up the ship that 
 there had been scarcely sufficient ac- 
 
72 Mary Pry or. 
 
 commodation for the crew belonging to 
 the vessel. Under these circumstances, 
 the new-comers had to make shift as 
 best they could, and they were glad 
 enough to lie down upon the codfish, or 
 wherever any space could be found. 
 Captain Macey gave up his own small 
 cabin to Mary Pryor and another female 
 passenger. 
 
 Mary Pryor went on board in a very 
 wet condition, and remained in the same 
 clothes till she reached her destination ; 
 yet she took no cold. 
 
 After a short interval they fell in 
 with a vessel bound for New York, 
 and the captain of the Fame and his 
 crew were taken on board. This some- 
 what lessened the discomforts of those 
 
Captain Macey. 73 
 
 who were left, and after two weeks 
 spent in the Archibald, under the kind 
 care of Captain Macey, they arrived 
 at Philadelphia, about three months 
 after they had left England. 
 
i- Mm 
 
 ill I 1 I ' fe.- 111! 
 
The Landing in Philadelphia, and 
 Reception by her Friends. 
 
 In that delightful land which is washed by the 
 
 Delaware's waters, 
 Guarding in sylvan shades the name of Penn the 
 
 Apostle, 
 Stands on the banks of its beautiful stream the city he 
 
 founded. 
 There all the air is balm, and the peach is the emblem 
 
 of beauty, 
 And the streets still re-echo the names of the trees of 
 
 the forest : 
 There from the troubled sea had Evangeline landed, an 
 
 exile, 
 Finding among the children of Penn a home and a 
 
 country. 
 Something at least there was in the friendly streets of 
 
 the city, 
 Something that spoke to her heart, and made her no 
 
 longer a stranger. 
 And her ear was pleased with the thee and thou of the 
 
 Quakers, 
 
 For it recalled the past, the old Acadian country, 
 Where all men were free and equal, and all men were 
 
 brothers and sisters. 
 
 Longfellow. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE LANDING IN PHILADELPHIA, AND 
 RECEPTION BY HER FRIENDS. 
 
 THE wharf at which the Archibald was 
 to discharge her cargo in Philadelphia 
 belonged to a " Friend " named Jona- 
 than Willis, and when the captain 
 went on shore and had told him his 
 story, he added, " There is on board 
 my vessel one of your Friends, whose 
 name is Mary Pryor. You had better 
 go and see her. She is a stranger 
 here." Jonathan Willis felt a good 
 deal excited by the unexpected tidings, 
 
 77 
 
78 Mary Pry or. 
 
 and having to make his way on his 
 hands and knees through walls of 
 codfish to reach her, he felt still more 
 perturbed. But when he found Mary 
 Pryor sitting quietly, her face expres- 
 sive of serenity and cheerfulness, all 
 his anxiety was dispelled. He asked 
 her to take some refreshment at his 
 house near the wharf, an invitation 
 she gladly accepted, and he proceeded 
 to escort her ashore. When she 
 reached the wharf, notwithstanding 
 the mud and the heavy rain falling 
 at the time, Mary Pryor fell on her 
 knees. A stranger, thinking she had 
 stumbled, went to raise her, but her 
 young protege put him aside, saying, 
 " Touch her not." Then the captain 
 
Praise for Deliverance. 79 
 
 and crew, by whom she was much 
 beloved, with the passengers standing 
 round, reverently uncovered their heads 
 while she offered fervent thanksgiving 
 to her Father in heaven for their great 
 deliverance, and craved a blessing upon 
 the captain, whom she called her 
 " earthly benefactor." 
 
 After a meal at the house of Jona- 
 than Willis, Mary Pryor wrote a few 
 lines to her husband and children, to 
 tell, as soon as possible, of her safe 
 arrival, fearing they might hear a 
 " worse account." She speaks of Cap- 
 tain Macey as having been " more like 
 an affectionate son than a stranger." 
 Already, she says, many Friends had 
 called upon her ; among those men- 
 
8o Mary Pryor. 
 
 tioned are the well-known names of 
 James Pemberton, Samuel Emlen, and 
 Nicholas Wain and wife. She ends 
 the note by saying that she has no 
 doubt but that her husband and chil- 
 dren will join with her in thankfulness 
 for so remarkable an interposition of 
 Divine Providence. Later in the even- 
 ing, Mary Pryor went to the house of 
 James and Phoebe Pemberton, the latter 
 fetching her in her carriage. These 
 friends ministered to all her necessi- 
 ties with a delicate and large-hearted 
 kindness. 
 
 The same evening John Warder of 
 Philadelphia wrote to his friend John 
 Capper in London : 
 
Bad Tidings reach England. 81 
 
 " PHILADELPHIA, 
 " $rd month \^th, 1798. 
 
 " I have just been to see Mary Pryor, 
 who was a passenger on board the 
 Fame. Please inform her friends im- 
 mediately that she is well, after many 
 hardships, the ship having foundered 
 at sea, when all the passengers and 
 crew saved their lives without even a 
 change of clothes, being taken off the 
 wreck by a small schooner. . . ." 
 
 There was need to inform Mary 
 Pryor's friends quickly of her safety, 
 for they had heard the " worse ac- 
 count," as she feared, a report having 
 been received at " Lloyds' " that the 
 Fame had gone down, and that all on 
 board had perished. John Pryor's 
 
82 Mary Pry or. 
 
 grief knew no bounds ; he literally tore 
 his hair in his anguish ; but his 
 daughter Ann, who was living with him, 
 seems to have clung to the belief that 
 her mother was safe, even after hearing 
 the tidings which appeared so hope- 
 less. It was strongly impressed on 
 her mind one evening that He who 
 had called her mother to the special 
 service 'in America would enable her 
 to perform it, and that her life would 
 be spared until it was accomplished. 
 The next morning, just before waking, 
 she seemed to see on a little table in 
 front of the window, a half-sheet of 
 paper with the address " Philadelphia " 
 at the head of the page, and at the foot 
 the signature " Mary Pryor " in her 
 
A Door of Hope. 83 
 
 mother's handwriting. The impression 
 rested on her mind that this letter 
 would arrive before the week was out, 
 and these little intimations opened for 
 her a door of hope which did not dis- 
 appoint her. 
 
 It is probable that Ann Pryor's faith 
 had been also confirmed by a visit 
 which had just been paid to the family 
 at Hertford, by a minister named Samuel 
 Alexander, from Needham in Suffolk. 
 He had come to Waterside some five 
 or six months after Mary Pryor had 
 started, and when, no tidings of the 
 vessel having reached England, grave 
 apprehensions as to her safety were 
 taking possession of the minds of her 
 husband and children. 
 
84 Mary Pry or. 
 
 Samuel Alexander did not refer to 
 their feelings of suspense on the even- 
 ing of his arrival, but next morning, 
 while having a religious meeting with 
 the family, he said that " it had been 
 given him to see that the wife and 
 mother was prosecuting her religious 
 service on the other side of the water." 
 On the same or the next day the notice 
 to which we have referred appeared 
 in the papers, stating that the vessel 
 had foundered. Samuel Alexander was 
 at first much distressed, but he soon 
 recovered his peace of mind, believing 
 that he had never had a clearer intima- 
 tion of duty than when this message 
 seemed given him to deliver. It must 
 have been shortly after that infor- 
 
Letter from Philadelphia. 85 
 
 rnation reached Lloyds' that the crew 
 and passengers had been saved. On 
 hearing this William Pryor started at 
 once, hoping to catch the coach for 
 Hertford. He was too late, but he met 
 a relative named Burr, who had just 
 come from Hertford on horseback, and 
 the latter, on hearing the state of the 
 case, immediately dismounted and lent 
 his horse to William Pryor, who pro- 
 ceeded to Waterside, bearing to his father 
 the joyful tidings. He found him pacing 
 the room in great distress of mind. 
 
 Very soon Mary Pryor's letter, con- 
 firming the account of her safety, 
 arrived ; it was written on the first 
 piece of paper she could lay hands on 
 just after she landed, and in it her 
 
86 Mary Pry or. 
 
 daughter recognised the half- sheet she 
 had seen in her dream. 
 
 Rebecca Jones, a minister of the 
 Gospel living in Philadelphia, had been 
 intimately associated with Mary Pryor 
 during a missionary visit to England 
 in 1784-88, and she received the news 
 of her arrival almost immediately. She 
 was very much affected at hearing of 
 her beloved friend's danger and provi- 
 dential deliverance, and early next 
 morning hastened to visit her. Their 
 intercourse during Mary Pryor's stay 
 in Philadelphia was mutually delight- 
 ful, and many of the particulars of the 
 voyage have come down to her de- 
 scendants through Rebecca Jones' pen. 
 Most of Mary Pryor's own letters and 
 
William Forster. 87 
 
 journals relating to the shipwreck were 
 destroyed at her request. Years after 
 her death, some of the incidents we 
 have given were narrated to a Friend, 
 by the fellow-passenger whose maiden 
 name had been Archibald, the circum- 
 stances attending the disastrous voyage 
 being so clearly engraven on her me- 
 mory that she could not speak of them 
 without being affected to tears. Later 
 still, when William Forster (father of the 
 late William Edward Forster, M.P.) was 
 prosecuting a mission in the Southern 
 States, in the interests of the slaves, 
 he took tea with a descendant of hers, 
 and heard the same story from his lips. 1 
 
 1 Long after the occurrence the story of the 
 shipwreck was told to a Friend named Isaac 
 
88 Mary Pryor. 
 
 The day after reaching Philadelphia, 
 Mary Pryor writes to her husband : 
 
 " MY DEAR LOVE, I wrote thee last 
 evening, soon after my landing at the 
 wharf, before I came to my quarters 
 at James Pemberton's. Truly [he] and 
 his Phcebe appear as a prince and 
 princess, both outwardly and inwardly, 
 in our Israel. Pray for me, my beloved 
 husband, that amidst so many favours 
 I may be preserved in deep, heartfelt 
 
 Wright, of Manchester, by a sailor whom he 
 accidentally met. The sailor, seeing he was a 
 Friend, asked " Did you know a quakeress 
 named Mary Pryor ? " and being answered in the 
 affirmative exclaimed, " That woman saved my 
 life." He then proceeded to tell how she had 
 encouraged the men to believe that they would be 
 saved, and spoke of M. P. in terms of the warmest 
 admiration. 
 
Nicmerous Visitors. 89 
 
 humility, for I am sensible I shall stand 
 in great need of it in our city, having 
 already had (I believe) more than forty 
 visitors. . . . We had two gentle- 
 men to dine here, one from Italy, the 
 other from Poland, companions to 
 General Kosciusko ; they appeared de- 
 sirous of an acquaintance with Friends. 
 I believe we all felt love to the stran- 
 gers and some expressions of our feel- 
 ings were uttered. Rebecca Jones has 
 been to see me, also S. Savery and T. 
 Scattergood's wife, John Warder and 
 wife, etc. Our passengers have also 
 been to express their love. I am ex- 
 pecting the captain of the schooner. 
 Our steward has also been, to whom 
 I gave thy present, and I believe a 
 
9O Mary Pryor. 
 
 Friend will take him into his service. 
 All my pleadings could not get me 
 excused from a fire in my bedroom 
 night and morning. Thus, my dear, 
 thy poor Mary is cared for abundantly. 
 . . . This is like my son Savory's, 
 a house of public resort for Friends, 
 particularly [those] who are advocating 
 the cause of truth or highly accounted 
 of, and truly some are of the first rank. 
 May the Lord Almighty bless and pre- 
 serve thee, my beloved husband, and 
 our dear children (His precious gifts), 
 and in His own time, if it be His will, 
 grant that we may again meet to ac- 
 knowledge His goodness and tender 
 mercy." 
 
 Mary Pryor attended the mid-week 
 
Frankincense and Myrrh. 91 
 
 meeting soon after her arrival, when 
 an elderly minister rose, and in rather 
 a stern tone commenced his address 
 with the inquiry, " Where are the gold 
 and the frankincense and myrrh ? " 
 After awhile Mary Pryor stood up, 
 with the words, " Some of us feel 
 that we have no gold nor frankincense 
 nor myrrh to bring to our Lord, but 
 we have this morning sat at His feet 
 and washed them with our tears." 
 This little incident was often referred 
 to by the late Lydia Shipley, of Phila- 
 delphia, who was present at the meeting 
 as a child, and who, to old age, would 
 imitate the very tones of Mary Pryor's 
 voice. 
 
 At one meeting, the young gentle- 
 
92 Mary Pry or. 
 
 man (or nobleman as he is called in 
 Rebecca Jones' letter) who had crossed 
 the ocean with her, and who had re- 
 ceived a blessing through her faithful 
 instructions and prayers, was present. 
 He had called to see Mary Pryor, and 
 hearing that she had gone to meet- 
 ing, followed her thither. Mary Pryor 
 spoke on the parable of the Prodigal 
 Son, bringing out the teaching from 
 it in a lucid and impressive w r ay. It 
 came home to the heart of the young 
 man as the picture of his own past 
 life, and he supposed it was intended 
 specially for him. In the afternoon 
 he called on Mary Pryor, and with 
 tears exclaimed, " Oh, why did you 
 expose me before so many persons ? 
 
The Parable of the Prodigal. 93 
 
 Why could you not have told me all 
 this in private ? " He was satisfied 
 when Mary Pryor explained that she 
 did not perceive that he was present. 
 
 We have not mentioned that the 
 passengers in the Fame were mostly 
 mechanics, some twenty in number, 
 with their families and household 
 effects. They had lost their all, and 
 a subscription was immediately opened 
 on their behalf. 
 
 About a fortnight later James Pem- 
 berton wrote to John Pryor : 
 
 " ESTEEMED FRIEND, Thy beloved 
 wife being part of my family, I think 
 it will be acceptable, and proper for 
 me to inform thee that she is bravely 
 recruited from the fatigues of body 
 
94 Mary Pryor. 
 
 and mind which must have attended 
 her in her perilous voyage ; in which 
 the immediate interposition of the Al- 
 mighty Protector has been miraculously 
 manifested for her and her fellow- 
 passengers, whose love and esteem it 
 is evident her discreet, prudent con- 
 duct has obtained ; proof of which they 
 have shown by their calling to visit 
 her and frequent inquiries after her. 
 Some of them have acknowledged 
 [that] deliverance from the danger of 
 perishing in the ocean is, under Pro- 
 vidence, owing to her stability and 
 compassionate regard to them in the 
 time of their extremity. Captain 
 Macey has also shown the respect he 
 has for her, and many Friends of this 
 
James P ember fans Letter. 95 
 
 city appear dipped into near sympathy 
 with her. She has attended meetings 
 almost daily since her arrival, and 
 last evening one appointed for the 
 blacks and people of colour held in 
 our Meeting-house in Pine Street, to 
 satisfaction. Thou with her other 
 connexions and friends may be assured 
 of our best endeavours being exerted 
 to contribute to her benefit in all re- 
 spects, as far as we may be enabled, 
 though as my wife is weakly and I 
 am become aged and infirm, we are 
 less qualified than in time past." 
 
 One little incident which occurred 
 shortly after M. P.'s arrival is not 
 without interest. A member of the 
 
96 Mary Pry or. 
 
 Society residing in Philadelphia, was 
 in a very depressed state of mind, and 
 had kept her bed for two years ; but 
 hearing of the Friend from England 
 who had lost everything on her voyage, 
 she came to the conclusion that M. P. 
 was in a sadder condition than herself, 
 and that even she might carry a little 
 comfort to her. She accordingly rose 
 up from her bed and visited Mary Pryor, 
 whom she found so happy, thankfully 
 numbering her mercies, that she felt 
 rebuked for having herself yielded to 
 discouragement ; and being thus led 
 to take up the burden of life with re- 
 newed hope, her depression fled away. 
 
Gospel Labours in the Eastern States. 
 
 And if her life small leisure found 
 
 For feasting ear and eye, 
 And pleasure, on her daily round, 
 
 She passed unpausing by, 
 
 Yet with her went a secret sense 
 
 Of all things sweet and fair, 
 And beauty's gracious providence 
 
 Refreshed her unaware. 
 
 She kept her line of rectitude 
 
 With love's unconscious ease ; 
 Her kindly instincts understood 
 
 All gentle courtesies. 
 
 /. G. Whittier. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 GOSPEL LABOURS IN THE EASTERN STATES. 
 
 WE shall the better understand Mary 
 Pryor's work on the American con- 
 tinent, if we describe the limits within 
 which the meetings of the Society of 
 Friends were comprised. They were 
 narrow compared with the area which 
 they cover to-day. In 1768 (thirty 
 years previously) there were in the 
 United States six Yearly Meetings, 
 embracing about two hundred and 
 forty meetings for worship. At the 
 time of Mary Pryor's visit in 1798, 
 
ioo Mary Pry or. 
 
 the number had largely increased, but 
 towards the west there were still only 
 two monthly meetings ; while twenty 
 years later, 20,000 Friends had settled 
 on the other side of the Alleghanies. 
 
 Mary Pryor did not cross the Alle- 
 ghanies, nor did she visit North Caro- 
 lina. She began her labours by first 
 attending the meetings for worship 
 and discipline as they came in course, 
 in and about the city of Philadelphia. 
 These being numerous, and coming in 
 quick succession, kept her closely em- 
 ployed for some weeks. At Philadelphia 
 and in other places, she was in the 
 midst of a large circle of devoted and 
 gifted men and women, and she much 
 appreciated their society and assistance. 
 
Gifted Fellow- Labourers. 101 
 
 She writes to her husband a long 
 letter, dated "ist of 5th mo., 1789," de- 
 scribing her impressions of people and 
 things ; we give a few extracts from it. 
 
 " I am favoured with companions, 
 far, very far superior to myself, in 
 my little visits. There are Samuel 
 Smith, Samuel Emlen, Rebecca Jones, 
 dear Nicholas Wain, Elizabeth Foulke 
 most days, my landlady, Phoebe Pern- 
 berton, and her choice husband. 
 
 " There are a great number of valu- 
 able men, but very few single. . . . 
 The young folks are very numerous, 
 and, I think, pretty promising. . . . 
 
 " The weather is coming in warm, 
 and Friends are preparing to retreat, 
 so that meetings will be likely to be 
 
IO2 Mary Pry or. 
 
 small in the city now ; but they have 
 been very large. Do, my dear, write 
 again soon. My host tells me he has 
 written to thee. Perhaps thou wilt 
 answer his letter, and acknowledge his 
 kindness, as well as his Phcebe's to 
 thy poor little wife. John Warder 
 and wife are steady Friends, and 
 Nancy a careful, good mistress, and 
 tender, religious mother to a large 
 family. They are among my very kind 
 friends. . . . 
 
 " I dare not be sorry that I came in 
 the old Fame, as there seemed no ar- 
 rival by which I could have reached 
 this port so soon, and I hope it was 
 the right time. . 
 
 "Vegetation is extremely rapid, but 
 
Impressions of Philadelphia. 103 
 
 we already want rain. The markets 
 are well supplied, provisions higher 
 than they are in England, and house- 
 rent dearer. If neither the yellow 
 fever nor war should prevent, this city 
 seems likely to reach to the banks of 
 the Schuylkill. Some incendiaries have 
 threatened to set the city on fire, and 
 anonymous letters have been sent to 
 
 the President. I had this from , 
 
 who dined with the President, and 
 heard one of the letters read, but we 
 hope this will not be permitted. The 
 cry of fire, when it happens, is dread- 
 ful in these streets. We have had 
 one, but it was pretty soon extin- 
 guished : I believe it happened by 
 accident or carelessness. Yesterday I 
 
iO4 Mary Pry or. 
 
 dined at Arthur Howell's ; I think he 
 may be said to be ' zealous for the 
 Lord of hosts.' I have not supped 
 away from my quarters since I landed. 
 I mostly find many Friends here when 
 I get home. The females seem much 
 indulged, mostly keeping fires in their 
 chambers when the weather is cold. 
 'Blacks' market for the families, and 
 great confidence is placed in them. 
 Some of the plain Friends 
 have their black servants dressed as 
 Friends. The older women - Friends 
 wear large bonnets and tippets lined 
 with white silk, and some wear white 
 sarcenet hoods. There are many very 
 ancient Friends, several near eighty 
 which I did not expect. I wonder it 
 
Rebecca Jones. 105 
 
 should be reckoned an unhealthy cli- 
 mate. There are no accounts from 
 England to-day I long to hear of 
 peace." 
 
 In one of her letters she says : 
 " The Americans do not appear to 
 wish for anything we have in England 
 but our cheeses ; I should be glad to 
 have two double Gloucesters sent." 
 
 The following extracts from the 
 journal of Rebecca Jones at this time 
 refer to Mary Pryor's visit. 
 
 " PHILADELPHIA, 
 
 11 ^th mo. 25^, 1798. 
 
 " Our monthly meeting. Mary Pryor 
 remarkable in intercession for her own 
 land, that judgment may be mixed 
 
io6 Mary Pry or. 
 
 with mercy, and that the slave-trade, 
 war, and tythes may be removed. 
 Also that her beloved husband and 
 children may be supported through 
 every conflict. A solemn and heart- 
 tendering season." 
 
 " $th mo. %th. M. Pryor in suppli- 
 cation at the Youths' Meeting for her 
 own land, for the Friends there, and 
 for the king, that evil counsellors may 
 be removed from him. Nicholas Wain 
 at the close of the meeting, in like 
 manner, for our land and rulers, etc. 
 Truly it was a solemn time." 
 
 From Philadelphia, Mary Pryor went 
 to New York Yearly Meeting, and 
 afterwards to Rhode Island, where 
 she attended the Yearly Meeting at 
 
Visit to Rhode Island. 107 
 
 Newport. She writes of the voyage 
 to Newport taken by a company of 
 Friends. 
 
 " NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, 
 
 " 6th mo. 2nd. 
 
 " My beloved husband and chil- 
 dren will doubtless like to hear a 
 little of my movements. I wrote to 
 dear George Dillwyn from New York, 
 but the vessel which was to convey 
 us to this port being ready, we were 
 summoned on board. A large, com- 
 modious vessel, our captain a member 
 of our Society, a very clever, sensible 
 young man, married a few months 
 since to a pretty, friendly young 
 woman. We dined with them yester- 
 
io8 Mary Pry or. 
 
 day, I believe to mutual satisfaction. 
 Some were extremely sea-sick, but I 
 fared better, being but little affected. 
 I kept on deck and ate pine-apples, 
 which our friends at New York kindly 
 provided for us. We were only two 
 nights and not quite three days on 
 board, and landed on 5th day afternoon. 
 The meeting [of ministers and elders] 
 was at Portsmouth, seven miles from 
 our quarters, John Parrish's house. 
 John Parrish, our Philadelphian com- 
 panion, one of our own meeting, as I 
 call Market Street, is a choice, sweet- 
 spirited young man, who has travelled 
 much among the poor Indians, and 
 been industriously concerned for the 
 promotion of peace and righteousness 
 
A Second Anthony Benezet. 109 
 
 on the earth, and that justice might 
 take place among the nations ; also for 
 the liberation of the black people. He 
 seems like a second Anthony Benezet. 1 
 
 " This worthy man drove me to 
 Portsmouth meeting in an open 
 chaise. It was a beautiful country on 
 one hand and a fine river on the 
 other, somewhat like my own country 
 in travelling to Canterbury, when we 
 have a view of our Thames and the 
 county of Kent. ... I met 
 our dear M. Jenkins at Portsmouth ; 
 
 1 Anthony Benezet, born 1713, died 1784. A 
 Frenchman, who joined the Society of Friends 
 at the age of 14. He lived in Philadelphia, and 
 had a passion for alleviating human suffering. 
 His labours for the negro race were almost 
 boundless. 
 
no Mary Pry or. 
 
 she is since come to quarters at this 
 place, where the Yearly Meeting is 
 held. It afforded me great satisfaction 
 to hear of George and Sarah Dillwyn 
 [Friends from America residing for 
 a time in England] being likely to 
 spend some time with you at Hert- 
 ford, where my mind often visits you, 
 and our mutual friends there and 
 thereaway ; also those in London. I 
 expect your Yearly Meeting was large, 
 as it seems probable several Americans 
 would bid farewell at that time. The 
 parting with George and Sarah will 
 be a trial to some of you, but let not 
 your faith fail, the Master is able to 
 raise up and qualify servants, even 
 'judges as at the first, and counsel- 
 
Gospel Labours in the Eastern States. 1 1 1 
 
 lors as at the beginning," and make 
 a way for the promotion of His glori- 
 ous cause on earth where we see no 
 way. . . . 
 
 " Our family of lodgers is so nume- 
 rous, that I have not much time for 
 writing; we had thirty lodgers at 
 Edmund Pryor's during the Yearly 
 Meeting at New York." 
 
 She recurs in the same letter to her 
 experiences on the ocean : 
 
 "We got a good deal of provision 
 out of our old Fame on board the 
 schooner, and fared well, blessed be 
 the name of Him who commands the 
 winds and the sea, and they obey 
 Him. I do not know if I told you 
 I got a good place for our steward 
 
1 1 2 Mary Pry or. 
 
 and that he saved my little trunk, con- 
 taining my dollars, etc. I feel very 
 little regret at losing my portmanteau. 
 I have written to all my 
 children but Daniel and Sarah, and if 
 I cannot accomplish this, they must 
 take the will for the deed ; hardly any 
 are more frequently in my remem- 
 brance. 
 
 " And now, my beloved husband 
 and children, may the Shepherd of 
 Israel encamp round about your dwell- 
 ings. May His everlasting love be 
 your canopy and mine, to protect from 
 every assault of an unwearied enemy, 
 and be our covert from the heat and 
 from the storm. I bless His holy 
 name for His marvellous preservation, 
 
Hitherto. 1 1 3 
 
 yea, for the little trials He hath 
 counted me worthy to pass through 
 for the trial of my faith and patience ; 
 and can say of a truth that He is 
 worthy of a full dedication of heart. 
 I feel you near and dear, and trust in 
 His mercy that we shall meet again, 
 to rejoice in His salvation, and to set 
 up our Ebenezer with the consolatory 
 language, ' Hitherto the Lord hath 
 helped us.' I commend you, with my 
 own soul, to His holy protection, and 
 affectionately bid you farewell." 
 
 " i^th 6tk mo. There were about 
 three hundred horses and perhaps fifty 
 carriages to convey Friends to this 
 Yearly Meeting (Rhode Island). We 
 
 dine to-day at the house formerly occu- 
 
 H 
 
ii4 Mary Pry or. 
 
 pied by Mary Dyer, who suffered 
 [death] at Boston." 
 
 On the way from Newport to Nan- 
 tucket, Mary Pryor visited many larger 
 meetings. From Nantucket she went 
 to New Bedford, from which place she 
 writes to her husband : 
 
 "We are now quartered with our 
 very kind friends, W. and E. Rotch, 
 a valuable couple indeed, and abun- 
 dantly blessed in their precious chil- 
 dren and grandchildren. They have 
 eighteen of the latter, some of whom 
 put me in fresh remembrance of my 
 own. I wrote thee from Newport, 
 since which I have had a little voyage 
 to Nantucket Quarterly Meeting. We 
 had about thirty passengers on board 
 
Visit to Nantucket. 1 1 5 
 
 the Bedford Packet, all Friends. We 
 were but little more than seven hours 
 under sail about sixty miles. We 
 attended both meetings on First day, 
 were at the South House in the fore- 
 noon, and North House in the after- 
 noon. Second day, the select Quarterly 
 Meeting ; Third day, general meeting 
 for business, conducted much like 
 London, and very large. I hear, in 
 Nantucket only, there are between 
 four and five hundred families [of 
 Friends], mostly very numerous. I 
 suppose it is not unusual to have 
 eighteen to twenty in family. We 
 had one meeting appointed for the 
 Black people and Indians, and an ap- 
 pointed meeting for Friends, and one 
 
1 1 6 Mary Pry or. 
 
 for others, and visited Shruball Coffin's 
 country house, and took a ride to see 
 the island. There were about ten 
 thousand sheep and large flocks of 
 horned cattle. The island suffered 
 much in the cruel war. I paid a visit 
 to Captain Macey's family. They had 
 not seen the captain for eight years, 
 as he is married and settled in Hali- 
 fax, Nova Scotia. It seemed a great 
 treat to see one who could give them 
 so good an account of the absent son. 
 " Bedford is a newly-built town, and 
 a little seaport ; it was destroyed in 
 the war. We are returned from fore- 
 noon meeting, and I wish to leave this 
 to go by a vessel to sail on the 2Oth. 
 We are going to a meeting appointed 
 
New Bedford. 117 
 
 at Aponniganset at four o'clock, and 
 have to travel six or seven miles over 
 rocks and stones. W. Jackson and 
 Elizabeth Foulke are still with me, and 
 kind companions they are. I hope to 
 hear from thee soon, who art the 
 nearest to me of all earthly blessings." 
 
The Yellow Fever in Philadelphia. 
 Further Travels. 
 
 Then it came to pass that a pestilence fell on the city, 
 
 ****** 
 
 And, as the tides of the sea arise in the month of 
 
 September, 
 Flooding some silver stream, till it spreads to a lake in 
 
 the meadow, 
 So death flooded life, and, o'erflowing its natural 
 
 margin, 
 
 Spread to a brackish lake the silver stream of existence. 
 Wealth had no power to bribe, nor beauty to charm 
 
 the oppressor. 
 
 Longfellow. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THE YELLOW FEVER IN PHILADELPHIA. 
 FURTHER TRAVELS. 
 
 ON the return journey, James and Phoebe 
 Pemberton met Mary Pryor, and took 
 her round to several monthly meetings, 
 bringing her to Burlington, in the neigh- 
 bourhood of which place she attended 
 many meetings. She had only visited 
 the cities just in time, as the yellow fever 
 broke out in the summer, and for some 
 weeks her labours had to be confined to 
 the country districts. 
 
 While at Burlington, Mary Pryor met 
 
122 Mary Pry or. 
 
 with many Friends who had been driven 
 from Philadelphia by this terrible scourge, 
 which was devastating that and other 
 cities. 
 
 The yellow fever which had now come 
 upon the country had appeared pre- 
 viously in 1793 and 1797, in a less 
 severe form. This third attack, which 
 commenced in Philadelphia, was so fatal 
 that 50,000 persons fled in terror from 
 the city. Huts and sheds were erected 
 outside for the accommodation of the 
 poor. 
 
 After travelling 1,100 miles with her 
 congenial companion, Elizabeth Foulke 
 (" Betsey," as she calls her), Mary Pryor 
 went to Whitemarsh, fourteen miles from 
 Philadelphia, for a little rest, just going 
 
The Yellow Fever. 123 
 
 to meetings in the neighbourhood. This 
 place was the residence of Anthony 
 Morris, son-in-law to James and Phcebe 
 Pemberton, and a large family party, 
 including the parents, were assembled 
 there. 
 
 She writes : 
 
 " My Betsey is with me at Whitemarsh. 
 It is a beautiful, high, airy situation ; 
 the house newly built, the rooms lofty 
 and large, commanding as fine a pros- 
 pect as I have ever seen in England or 
 America. They have four children, who 
 play about as my grandchildren do. We 
 have a very large garden, well stocked 
 with fruit and vegetables, of which the 
 Americans, who are a wise people, eat a 
 good deal. 
 
124 Mary Pry or. 
 
 " Our friends are kinder to us than 
 I well know how to set forth. May 
 humility and gratitude cover our spirits. 
 Our friend Anthony Morris sent a load 
 of his nice vegetables to the poor people 
 in the huts and booths yesterday. 
 
 "If thou knew him and his dear wife, 
 thou wouldst love them as children. 
 Their tenants and domestics all seem 
 happy. He appears to me to want 
 nothing but a willingness to take up the 
 cross and acknowledge the Captain of 
 the soul's salvation before men." 
 
 The fever was still on the increase, 
 and the letter contains the account of 
 many deaths in the circle of her friends. 
 Among them was one that touched 
 Mary Pryor deeply. She writes : 
 
Visit to Whitemarsh. 125 
 
 " We hope our dear Sarah Scattergood 
 is out of danger ; but she has lost her 
 eldest daughter, a girl of sixteen, of the 
 fever. Sorrowful tidings for her beloved 
 and affectionate father, [of which] I do 
 not desire to be the messenger. She 
 was a precious, dutiful child, and her 
 grandfather, at whose house she was 
 when the sickness broke out in the 
 city, could not persuade her to stay at 
 Burlington without going back to 
 Philadelphia to endeavour to prevail 
 upon her mother to leave the city ; but 
 the difficulty of removing Sarah Scatter- 
 good's aged and infirm mother delayed 
 them so long, that the night before they 
 had fixed to leave, either mother or 
 daughter or both of them were attacked 
 
126 Mary Pry or. 
 
 and this precious plant is removed, to 
 partake of the full fruition of her 
 Heavenly Father's love. (I was called 
 down from my pen to a wagonful of 
 Friends come to drink tea with us, which 
 is often the case when I am writing.)" 
 
 Mary Pryor then goes on to enumerate 
 many members of the Society who had 
 died of the fever. She continues : 
 
 " Our week-day meeting was very 
 large on account of so many Philadel- 
 phians having lodgings in the country. 
 Here we meet many of our particular 
 friends. I thought it a humbling time. 
 We were two wagonfuls from our house. 
 
 " By the accounts from poor Philadel- 
 phia yesterday the fever still increases, 
 and the deaths are very numerous. I 
 
The Fever Increases. 127 
 
 think near fourteen hundred in four 
 weeks, notwithstanding that three- 
 quarters of her inhabitants have left the 
 city. Lamentation and mourning are 
 the covering of many minds in this day 
 of great calamity. Places of worship are 
 still shut up, excepting Friends' Meeting 
 Houses. The Post Office is removed, 
 no letters sent out. Surely the pride of 
 man will be humbled, and the loftiness of 
 man brought low, for the Lord's judg- 
 ments are in the earth, and oh may the 
 people thereby learn righteousness ! 
 
 "A number of Friends are to meet 
 to-day to consider and feel after the 
 pointings of truth respecting the Yearly 
 Meeting which falls in course next 
 Second day." 
 
28 Mary Pry or. 
 
 month 24^. Friends met in the 
 city on Seventh day. I did not go, lest 
 it should be said to me, 'Who hath 
 required this at thy hands ? * [The 
 conference] was adjourned till this 
 afternoon. We were at German Town 
 yesterday. The meeting crowded. . . . 
 More deaths amongst us ; but were I 
 to enumerate all, my paper would not 
 contain them. Some of those who 
 stayed in the city for the sake of visiting 
 and relieving the sick have been ill, and 
 a few have died, doubtless receiving the 
 reward of faithful labour. The weather 
 is cooler than it was two days past, and 
 we are in hopes that through Divine 
 mercy this will tend to abate the dread- 
 ful disorder. Some of the citizens look 
 
More Deaths among " Friends" 129 
 
 to permanent country houses for the 
 future, as the city has been so full. May 
 they be directed in best wisdom, and 
 know their true dwelling to be the 
 " munitions of rocks." We hear about 
 one hundred Friends met in Pine Street 
 meeting, and after a solid time of wait- 
 ing, came to the conclusion to adjourn 
 the Yearly meeting to the Twelfth 
 month. A man was sent on horseback 
 with the information to us." 
 
 In another letter Mary Pryor writes : 
 " Stephen Grellet, 1 a valuable little 
 Frenchman, is ill of the fever." 
 
 1 Stephen Grellet belonged to a family of good 
 position in France, and had been brought up as 
 a Roman Catholic, but on settling in America in 
 1795, he became a Friend, and as a Minister of the 
 
 I 
 
130 Mary Pry or. 
 
 Later, Mary Pryor attended the Yearly 
 Meeting at Baltimore. While she was 
 absent on this service, James Pemberton 
 wrote to John Pryor. Besides referring 
 to her labours, his letter gives an 
 account of the supposed origin of this 
 visitation of the yellow fever. 
 
 " WHITEMARSH, 
 
 " \\th month \st, 1798. 
 " The late movements of thy beloved 
 wife have been such that I do not expect 
 she could have an opportunity of sending 
 thee any intelligence ; and I am induced 
 to inform thee, that after completing her 
 
 Gospel had a very large field of labour, both in 
 Europe and America. Vide "Memoir of Stephen 
 Grellef," by William Guest, M.A. Hodder <5^ 
 Stoughton. 
 
Letter from James Pemberton. 1 3 1 
 
 visit in Bimb's county, she spent a short 
 time with my family at this place. 
 Whilst with us, she and Elizabeth Foulke 
 took the opportunity of visiting the 
 neighbouring meetings, and having some 
 interval of necessary rest. On the 6th 
 of last month they left us, with a view 
 of attending the Yearly Meeting for 
 Maryland, being accommodated by a 
 kind friend of this township with his 
 four-wheeled carriage, the Friend him- 
 self, Isaac Williams, being driver. After 
 attending the Yearly Meeting at Balti- 
 more, they concluded to return by a 
 different route, [in order to visit] several 
 meetings in the counties of York and 
 Lancaster, etc. . . . 
 
 " Accounts will doubtless reach 
 
132 Mary Pry or. 
 
 London of a pestilential fever having 
 again visited our city, the first appear- 
 ance of which was in the last week of 
 Seventh month, and prevailed where a 
 large quantity of damaged coffee had 
 been imprudently landed and stored. 
 The disease soon extended into adjacent 
 places, and at length to most of the 
 streets, the mortality exceeding that of 
 J 793- Its infectious prevalence was so 
 alarming at the time appointed for our 
 Yearly Meeting, that very few friends 
 came in from the country. Several, 
 [however, of those who came] took the 
 disease before returning to their [homes], 
 and others sickened soon after. The 
 present cold weather for several days, 
 with hard frost and snow, will, we 
 
Letter from John Parrish. 133 
 
 hope, under Divine Providence, be the 
 means of eradicating the disease, and 
 encourage our emigrant citizens to 
 return to their usual habitations." 
 
 John Parrish, who had been one of 
 M. P.'s helpers, also writes to John 
 Pryor : 
 
 " WAKEFIELD, Six miles North of 
 
 PHILADELPHIA, 
 
 " \\th month $th, 1798. 
 
 " From my being favoured with the 
 
 company of thy dear wife at the Yearly 
 
 Meetings of New York, Rhode Island, 
 
 etc., I am inclined to testify that in all, 
 
 the Divine Hand appeared eminently to 
 
 be with her, to qualify her to exalt the 
 
 cause in which she was engaged : her 
 
 [ministry] being sweet and savoury, and 
 
134 Mary Pry or. 
 
 universally well received. As we are 
 told that the effectual, fervent prayer of 
 the righteous availeth much, I have no 
 doubt but that her prayers have been 
 availing, and that she is here in a fit 
 time, and that her life, in abundant 
 mercy, has been preserved from the 
 perils and dangers of the seas to be a 
 blessing, not only to those of her own 
 Society, but especially to such as are 
 looking towards Friends. Thus, dear 
 friend, notwithstanding thou mayest 
 frequently receive accounts of thy be- 
 loved wife, yet I conclude, from the love 
 and freedom I now feel, that a few lines 
 will be welcome from one who not only 
 has a sincere regard for thy faithful 
 wife, but for her husband and children, 
 
Return to Philadelphia. 135 
 
 who were made willing to give her up to 
 cross the great deep, that she might be 
 a blessing to the people of America." 
 
 At the approach of winter, Mary 
 Pryor returned to Philadelphia. She 
 writes to her husband : 
 
 " PHILADELPHIA, 
 " 3oM of \\th month, 1798. 
 
 " MY DEAR LOVE, Being out of the 
 way of a conveyance to forward an 
 answer immediately to thy very accept- 
 able and longed-for communication by 
 William Savery, I am desirous to avail 
 myself of the first opportunity on our 
 return to this afflicted city, where 
 numbers have fallen victims to the awful 
 disease, and about thirteen very useful 
 
136 Mary Pry or. 
 
 Friends, who came to attend the Yearly 
 Meeting. Amongst them was that truly 
 great man, Warner Mifflin, who was a 
 true friend to the poor and afflicted, 
 particularly the distressed Africans. 
 . . . We have been travelling pretty 
 much these last six months, and much 
 favoured with health, and kindly re- 
 ceived and accommodated by Friends ; 
 but by none more so than by James and 
 Phoebe Pemberton, with whom I seem 
 as much at home as possible whilst so 
 far separated from thee. My greatest 
 fear while with them is that I shall be 
 too much indulged. Samuel Emlen, 
 Nicholas Wain, and David Bacon, have 
 been this morning to see us, with several 
 other Friends, and it is with difficulty 
 
Swarms of Grasshoppers. 137 
 
 that I can get on with my letter. . . . 
 I believe very few are now affected with 
 the yellow fever, and the city resumes 
 pretty much its usual appearance ; but 
 the streets are not so thronged, and the 
 people's countenances seem rather more 
 solid." 
 
 Mary Pryor goes on to tell of another 
 plague. She writes : 
 
 " Large tracts have been made bare, 
 particularly round the city, and every 
 green thing eaten up by swarms of 
 grasshoppers, in some places to an in- 
 credible number, destroying in a very 
 short time whole fields of clover just 
 ready for mowing, buckwheat, grass, 
 and garden stuff, in a surprising manner. 
 A Friend-farmer told me they knew not 
 
138 Mary Pry or. 
 
 from whence they came or whither they 
 went all going away at once, and not 
 one to be seen, though a little before 
 the fields seemed covered with them." 
 
 In reference to her visit to Baltimore, 
 she writes, after returning to Phila- 
 delphia : 
 
 " Baltimore is a fine town, and very 
 populous ; and here many merchants 
 reside, it being an improving place. 
 The Yearly Meeting was well attended 
 by valuable Friends. Our dear Nicholas 
 Wain was highly favoured by his great 
 Master ; I thought he was clothed as 
 with the royal robe. ... I have been 
 at most of the Yearly and Quarterly 
 Meetings, and if favoured with health, 
 shall be likely to spend the winter in 
 
William Savery. 139 
 
 [this] city. Yesterday a large company 
 of us drank tea at William Savery's. 
 [W. S. had just returned from a Gospel 
 visit to England.] He gave us a pleas- 
 ing account of his travels, and of his 
 and George Dillwyn's visit to the king, 
 queen, etc. We went to our evening 
 meeting, the first this season. The 
 public service fell mostly on our dear 
 Nicholas. I thought it a season of 
 humbling, weighty instruction, and by 
 the line of his testimony 1 I am ready to 
 conclude that some of the members of 
 the Assembly were there. I am told 
 they often attend that meeting. I have 
 
 1 Friends formerly called their sermons " testi- 
 monies," i.e., testimonies "to the truth as it is in 
 Jesus." 
 
140 Mary Pry or. 
 
 been at the North meeting to-day. The 
 meetings there are large, and the young 
 people solid. We dined with Edward 
 Garrett and his family, who, from a 
 sense of duty, continued in the city 
 during the fever, and took abundant 
 care of the sick and afflicted, conveying 
 several to his own house. And oh, the 
 deep distress and agonizing strippings 
 in families he has been witness to ! " 
 
 Mary Pryor goes on to say that she 
 had been thinking of her husband so 
 much as to dream he had come to 
 Philadelphia. She concludes her letter 
 thus : 
 
 " With the salutation of love, and 
 desire k that grace, mercy, and peace 
 may be yours and mine, do I sub- 
 
Letter to the President. 141 
 
 scribe myself thy loving and affec- 
 tionate wife, 
 
 " MARY PRYOR. 
 " Many kisses to my grand- children. 
 
 Mary Pryor remained in America 
 about a year. Shortly before leaving, 
 she addressed the following letter to 
 the President : 
 
 " Respected Friend, JOHN ADAMS, 
 " President of the United States, 
 
 " Having been near twelve months in 
 this land, on a religious visit to the 
 Society called Quakers, of which I am a 
 member, and expecting to embark in a 
 few days to return to England, my native 
 land, though personally unknown to 
 thee, yet have I felt secret and humble 
 
142 Mary Pry or. 
 
 petitions to the Father of mercies, the 
 God of all grace, that it might please 
 Him who dwells on high, and in com- 
 parison of whose power all nations are 
 but as a drop of a bucket, or as the 
 small dust of the balance, who is King 
 of kings and Lord of lords, in the riches 
 of His mercy to bless and preserve 
 the President. Mayest thou be so en- 
 riched with that wisdom which is pro- 
 fitable to direct in all things, as to fill 
 thy great and important station to His 
 honour, endeavouring, as far as may be 
 in thy power, to suppress every species 
 of vice and immorality ; and mayest 
 thou, by thy example, be instrumental, in 
 the Lord's hand, to promote that right- 
 eousness which exalteth a nation. My 
 
Mary Pry or s Labours Acceptable. 143 
 
 heart is humbled whilst I am writing 
 with fresh breathings on thy account, 
 who art placed as a guardian to the 
 people, desiring that through obedience 
 to the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 the Saviour of men, thou mayest finally 
 
 receive the answer of ' well done,' and 
 thy eternal allotment be in the ' realms 
 
 of light/ 
 
 " With affectionate desires for thy 
 welfare every way, with that of thy be- 
 loved consort, I bid you farewell. 
 
 " MARY PRYOR." 
 
 James Pemberton, writing to William 
 Dillwyn, thus speaks of Mary Pryor and 
 her labours : " Her meek, humble, 
 social deportment engages the love and 
 
144 Mary Pry or. 
 
 esteem of Friends and others in all 
 places, and renders her religious labours 
 in public and private greatly accept- 
 able." 
 
 And in 1887 Amelia Leeds, of Phila- 
 delphia, writes : " I well remember 
 hearing my grandmother speak of Mary 
 Pryor with deep interest and affection. 
 She left a precious savour and good 
 name in our land, which cannot be for- 
 gotten." 
 
Return Home, Later Life, and Death. 
 
 Oh ! well it is for ever, 
 
 Oh ! well for evermore 
 My nest hung in no forest 
 
 Of all this death doomed shore : 
 Yea, let the vain world perish, 
 
 As from the ship we strand, 
 While glory glory dwelleth 
 
 In Immanuel's land. 
 
 The King there in His beauty, 
 
 Without a veil is seen : 
 It were a well-spent journey, 
 
 Though seven deaths lay between : 
 The Lamb, with His fair army, 
 
 Doth on mount Zion stand, 
 And glory glory dwelleth 
 
 In Immanuel's land. 
 
 K 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 RETURN HOME, LATER LIFE, AND DEATH. 
 
 MARY PRYOR returned in safety to her 
 family. It was thought by them that 
 she never entirely recovered from the 
 effects of the hardships she had en- 
 dured in her voyage out. But she 
 lived nearly sixteen years after her 
 mission in America, and paid an ac- 
 ceptable visit to Friends in Ireland. 
 
 In 1799 she was called to sorrow 
 with her son Nathanael, whose wife 
 (Mary Pattison) died, leaving him with 
 an infant daughter, named Mary Maden. 
 
 147 
 
148 Mary Pry or. 
 
 In 1802, Ann Pryor was married to 
 Peter Payne, of Cheapside. She was 
 thirty years of age at the time of her 
 marriage, a graceful, lovely - looking 
 woman. 1 Only Samuel remained at 
 Waterside with his parents. 
 
 Mary Pryor became the fond grand- 
 mother of seventeen grandchildren, 
 and some of the older ones were 
 largely influenced by her. She lived 
 to see two great-grandchildren (the 
 son and daughter of Mary Tylor, ne 
 Savory), and in these little ones she 
 
 1 Ann Payne had three children : Reuben 
 Craven, who resided at Bridgwater, and who 
 married Elizabeth Rickman Home, of Hook, near 
 Basingstoke; Mary, married to John Phillips, of 
 Tottenham ; and Ann, to Joseph Hancock Balk- 
 will, of Plymouth. 
 
Great- Grande k ildren. 1 49 
 
 took especial delight. Her manner to- 
 wards little children was particularly 
 winning. 
 
 The grandchildren used to ask her 
 to tell them the story of her ship- 
 wreck, and one of them remembered 
 saying, " But wast thou not frightened, 
 grandmother ? " The reply fastened 
 itself indelibly on her mind : " No, my 
 child my God has preserved me 
 through a long life without fear." 
 
 Among family events, we may men- 
 tion, in 1805, her son Nathanael's 
 second marriage, with Elizabeth Gre- 
 gory, 1 of Nottingham, who was a true 
 
 1 In 1819 Mary Pryor's grandson, William 
 Hack, married E. G.'s niece, Melicent Holtham, 
 also of Nottingham. 
 
150 Mary Pryor. 
 
 and tender mother to his child, during 
 the remainder of her suffering life. 
 Mary Maden Pryor died of consumption 
 at the age of twelve. Elizabeth Pryor 
 was associated with Elizabeth Fry in 
 , prison work. 
 
 The grandchildren loved to play in 
 the garden at Waterside, where they 
 were often joined by the children of 
 John Squire, who was brother to 
 William Pryor's wife. He had died in 
 France, and his widow went to reside 
 at Hertford. Two venerable and be- 
 loved daughters of the family, Frances 
 Octavia and Louisa Squire, remain to 
 this day (1887). and tell (as if it were 
 but of yesterday) of the happy times 
 enjoyed at Waterside. They speak of 
 
Letters to a Grandson. 151 
 
 Mary Pryor with warm love, describ- 
 ing her as most attractive to children. 
 
 In 1806, an event of touching in- 
 terest was the death of an infant 
 granddaughter, Priscilla Hack, who 
 was taken by her mother for change 
 to Hertford, and from the home of the 
 grandparents passed into the Home 
 above. The aged Frances Squire 
 vividly recalls the -beautiful features of 
 the little baby, as she saw her in her 
 last sleep. 
 
 Mary Pryor kept up a correspond- 
 ence with her eldest grandson, Daniel 
 Pryor Hack, who was deeply attached 
 to her, and old enough to appreciate 
 her Christian character and experience. 
 In a letter written in 1809, after 
 
152 Mary Pry or. 
 
 referring to various subjects of interest, 
 she ends with these words : 
 
 " May thou, my beloved grandson, 
 be preserved from every hurtful thing, 
 so that He who is now in adorable 
 mercy thy morning light, may so con- 
 tinue His heavenly love and life, as to 
 become thy evening song, is the desire 
 of thy affectionate grandmother." 
 
 In a letter to him in 1813, there is 
 a reference to her daughter Savory, 
 also to Mary Savory's grandchildren. 1 
 
 " Thy cousins [Henry and Mary 
 Tylor] are lodging near us, and our 
 
 1 M. P.'s descendants now number more than 
 one hundred and seventy, about one hundred of 
 these being members of the Society she loved so 
 well. 
 
Visit to Tottenham. 153 
 
 two little great-grandchildren 1 are fre- 
 quently in and out. Thy aunt Savory 
 left us this afternoon. She only spent 
 one night at Hertford, to attend our 
 meeting. I think I never thought 
 more of her company, because it was 
 evident her great Master sent her." 
 
 In the latter part of the letter she 
 shows that her interest in America 
 remained unabated. After speaking of 
 attending the marriage of William 
 Manser and Priscilla Tylor, she adds : 
 
 " Grandfather and myself paid a 
 short visit to thy Uncle and Aunt 
 Payne at Tottenham, where the mar- 
 
 1 The late Joseph Savory Tylor, M.D., and 
 Elizabeth, who married the late Edmund Pace. 
 She died in 1870. 
 
154 Mary Pry or. 
 
 riage was solemnised. Dear Susanna 
 Home fa minister who had recently 
 been to America] was with us ; we 
 went in the coach with her, so that I 
 had an opportunity to inquire after 
 some of my American friends, which, 
 thou must think, with her company, 
 was a great treat." 
 
 In 1814, Mary Pryor was brought 
 into sympathy with the same beloved 
 grandson, who, with three other young 
 men, was committed to Chelmsford 
 gaol, for upholding the testimony of 
 the Society of Friends against war. 
 She writes to him in a strain of thanks- 
 giving that he was " willing to suffer 
 for the glorious cause of truth and 
 righteousness in the earth." 
 
The Yearly Meeting of 1814. 155 
 
 She adds : " May the blessing of 
 the everlasting Shepherd rest upon 
 thee and on thy companions, and 
 sweeten your confinement by the en- 
 joyment of His life-giving presence, 
 which is better than even natural life ; 
 and may His supporting arm be under- 
 neath to sustain in all your low, dip- 
 ping seasons : for, doubtless, you will 
 have some of these, which I believe are 
 good for us, as they tend to deepen 
 in the root of life." 
 
 Mary Pryor attended the Yearly 
 Meeting in 1814, and enjoyed the 
 society and ministrations of some ear- 
 nest ministers, with whom she mingled 
 both in the meetings and socially at 
 her daughter Savory's house, where 
 
156 Mary Pry or. 
 
 she was lodging. Stephen Grellet, 
 whose name had been placed on the roll 
 of ministers while she was in America, 
 was there, and " paid," as she says, "a 
 precious visit of Gospel love to the 
 family." Her daughter, Sarah Hack, 
 with her children, Mary and Ann, who 
 were on their way from " York school," 
 also shared in this visit. 
 
 Mary Pryor loved, above all things, 
 to the end of her life to testify to the 
 goodness of her God, and it continued 
 to be her great desire to encourage 
 others to walk in the path of obedience. 
 
 Her last illness seemed to be "a 
 gradual decay of nature." Her son 
 William l writes to his sister, Ann 
 
 1 William Pryor was the father of John Pryor, 
 
Last Illness. 157 
 
 Payne, at Wellington, about two weeks 
 before her death : 
 
 " Having been twice to Hertford 
 lately, on account of our dear mother's 
 increasing weakness, I thought I should 
 be comfortable to give thee as clear an 
 account of the dear woman as I was 
 able, lest, on account of the distance 
 thou art from her, thou might not sup- 
 pose her so weak as I really think she 
 is. She keeps her bed till between 
 three and four in the afternoon, and 
 when she is removed to her easy chair 
 
 formerly of Bedford Square, London ; latterly, 
 of Hillbrow, Reigate. J. P. died in 1877, at 
 the age of eighty-one. He survived his brother, 
 William Squire Pryor, and his sister, Sarah Waite, 
 and was the last of M. P.'s descendants who bore 
 the name of Pryor. 
 
158 Mary Pry or. 
 
 in the same room, the exertion seems 
 almost more than she has strength to 
 support, from her breath being so 
 very short that it is with great diffi- 
 culty she expresses what she wishes. 
 When I left her she gave me directions 
 about her funeral, and the care she 
 wished might be taken of our dear 
 father, which thou mayest suppose was 
 very affecting. Sarah Savory l went 
 down on Seventh day afternoon, and 
 I hope will continue, for it certainly is 
 hardly proper she should be left. Our 
 dear father sits much with her, and I 
 
 1 Mary Savory had three daughters Mary, 
 referred to before; Sarah, who married Edward 
 Paull ; and Rachel, who remained unmarried ; she 
 became a minister of the Gospel. 
 
Resting in Confidence. 159 
 
 think in his health is bravely, but at 
 times very low ; he will need all the 
 comfort his children can afford." 
 
 During this illness she said that 
 she was " enabled to rely with con- 
 fidence on the merits and intercession 
 of her Redeemer," adding, " To sit at 
 the feet of my beloved Lord in His 
 kingdom is more than I deserve, but 
 not more than I covet ; I know it is 
 by grace we are saved, through faith, 
 and that not of ourselves : it is the gift 
 of God." At another time she said, 
 " What a favour, a blessed favour, to 
 have nothing to do but to wait for the 
 last summons ! O Lord Jesus, my 
 Saviour, be pleased to deal mercifully 
 with Thy poor handmaid, who hath 
 
160 Mary Pry or. 
 
 nothing to depend on but Thy mercy." 
 With her last breath she named the 
 " Name which is above every name." 
 She died early in 1815, aged 77 years. 
 The funeral took place at Hertford, 
 and the hospitable home was filled 
 with children and grandchildren, who 
 gathered there to pay the last tribute 
 of affection and respect to her whom 
 they and many others had so justly 
 loved and honoured. 
 
BY THE SAME AUTHOR. 
 
 Second Thousand. Elegantly bound in cloth , crown %vo, $s. 
 
 CHRISTIAN WOMANHOOD. 
 
 Mary Fletcher Mary Hall Mary Bowles Browne 
 Elizabeth, Last Ditchess of Gordon Harriet Perfect Mary 
 Kcr Mary Calvert Anna Backhouse Frances Ridley 
 Havergal. 
 
 " We know no more suitable present for a young lady than this 
 charming book, with its sketches of Mary Fletcher, Elizabeth last 
 Duchess of Gordon, Anna Backhouse, Frances Ridley Havergal, 
 and others. It will be a very fountain of inspiration and encourage- 
 ment to other good women." Sheffield Independent. 
 
 " Miss Hack has rendered good service by her beautiful sketches 
 of holy women. The volume is well worthy of a place beside 
 ' Consecrated Women ' and ' Self-Surrender/ We cannot too 
 strongly commend it to mothers, wives, and daughters. It would 
 be hard to find a better present for young women of all classes." 
 Christian Miscellany. 
 
 "There is a deep human interest in the volume, the high aim of 
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 religion a source of comfort, joy, and strength for every- day exis- 
 tence." Daily Chronicle. 
 
 " A most excellent gift book for young ladies." Christian. 
 
 " The biographical notices in this volume are well chosen and 
 deeply interesting. The book is full of wise lessons, pleasantly 
 taught by example rather than precept." Woman's Work. 
 
 " The saintly wife of the saintly Fletcher of Madeley, Frances 
 Ridley Havergal, and others form the bevy of good women whose 
 conflicts and victories are here so sympathetically recorded. They 
 were heroines in the finest sense of the word." Queen. 
 
 " May be read with delight and profit by all, but which young 
 Christians especially may find a means of stimulating them to 
 follow in the steps of the wise, loving, gracious, and devoted 
 followers of Christ, whose lines are herein portrayed." Monthly 
 Record. 
 
 ''The sketches are thorough work, based on manifestly careful 
 and loving study of the materials within the writer's reach ; avoid- 
 ing mere generalizing, the lives are left largely to speak for them- 
 selves." British Messenger. 
 
 LONDON : HODDER AND STOUGHTON, 27, PATERNOSTER Row. 
 
BY THE SAME AUTHOR. 
 
 Third Thousand. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, $s. 
 
 SELF-SURRENDER. 
 
 A Second Series of 
 CONSECRATED WOMEN. 
 
 Anne Askew Isabel Brown Helen Herschell Anne 
 Maurice Emma Maurice Elizabeth Long Mary Jane 
 Graham Lydia Reid Harriet Jukes Susanna Gibson 
 Agnes Jones. 
 
 " They are noble examples of woman admirably presented." 
 British Quarterly Review. 
 
 " It is just the book for girls, who will feel interested in these 
 beautiful and unselfish lives. Such women abound in every age, 
 and make the world sweeter, purer, and happier for their presence. 
 For young people, who cannot have access to the costlier biographies 
 used by the writer, these well-written memoirs will be both wel- 
 come and helpful." Sheffield Independent. 
 
 " The sketches are exceedingly well done." Congregationalist. 
 
 " A most delightful book written by a woman, about women, and 
 for women though it may be read by men with equal pleasure 
 and profit. The fact that nearly all these consecrated women 
 moved in the comparatively obscurer paths of life, makes their lives 
 more valuable as a theme for meditation and imitation." Christian. 
 
 " Such of our readers as made themselves acquainted with the 
 previous series of 'Consecrated Women,' will, we doubt not, be 
 anxious to read the second, while we fully anticipate the perusal 
 of this will create the desire to see the first." British Friend. 
 
 " In the volume previously published, the holy women whose 
 characters were portrayed were mostly prepared for service through 
 the severe training of their physical and mental powers. In the 
 present group, among others, some are selected of that numerous 
 class whose preparation goes on in seclusion and suffering. This 
 interesting book cannot fail to inspire high aims and noble 
 motives." Methodist Recorder. 
 
 " Full of interest. The biographical notices are all singularly 
 bright, clear, and vivid. They present pictures of a beautiful 
 family life at home, and of usefulness there and out of doors, the 
 secret of both being deep, personal piety. Those who want to get 
 a knowledge of human nature, and of the varied workings of the 
 Divine Spirit, will find what they want in this work, and hardly a 
 better book could be found for the sick-rooms of weary sufferers." 
 Leeds Mercury. _ 
 
 LONDON : HODDER AND STOUGHTON, 27, PATERNOSTER Row. 
 
BY THE SAME AUTHOR. 
 
 Fifth Thousand. Crown 8vo, price $s. Handsomely bound. 
 
 CONSECRATED WOMEN. 
 
 Contexts, 
 
 Catharine of Siena Susanna Wesley and Amelia Sieveking 
 Frau Trudel Charlotte Elizabeth Tonna Margaret Wilson 
 
 Countess von der Recke Volmerstein Christine Alsop Sarah A. 
 and Elizabeth W. Christian Eddy and Louise Schepler 
 Fidelia Fiske A. L. Newton Lena Huber Wilhelmina, 
 
 Viscountess Glenorchy Isabella Graham Marie. 
 
 " The memorials are all deeply interesting, bright and vivid." 
 Freeman. 
 
 " Some of these brief biographies are deeply interesting." 
 Record. 
 
 " One's feeling is that of profound admiration of these pure and 
 devoted lives. The stories of such philanthropic women are pro- 
 foundly touching." Spectator. 
 
 " As a gift from husband to wife in happy remembrance of their 
 wedding day, or as a birthday present to mother, or sister, or 
 daughter, this book, excellent both in purpose and execution, has 
 few that can compare with it. It should be found in every Christian 
 household." Golden Hours. 
 
 " A ladies' book. In outward form attractive, and still more so 
 as to its contents. All churches furnish noble examples of conse- 
 crated womanhood ; yes, even the Church of Rome, and Claudia 
 has done well to collect epitomes of these lives and set them before 
 her sisters." Sword and Trowel. 
 
 " The biographies are judiciously compiled and written with good 
 taste." Daily News. 
 
 " This deeply interesting and instructive volume. The idea of 
 the work was a happy one, and it has been admirably executed." 
 Baptist Magazine. 
 
 "Written in a most attractive manner, these accounts of compara- 
 tively unfamiliar strivers after the good of others, form excellent 
 reading." Rock. 
 
 " Not many better gift books could be found for maid or wife at 
 this season, and surely none could read these pages without the 
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 an unique value." Christian. 
 
 LONDON : HODDER AND STOUGHTON, 27, PATERNOSTER Row. 
 
BY THE SAME AUTHOR. 
 
 Crown Svo, elegantly bound \ cloth, $s. 
 
 FAITHFUL SERVICE 
 
 Sketches of Christian Women. 
 
 Darcy Lady Maxwell Ruth Clarke Sophie Zeller Sarah 
 B. Upton Sarah B. Judson Prisdlla Johnston Margaret 
 Foreman Eliza Fletcher. 
 
 ' ' This volume of biographies of pious women is a valuable sequel to ' Con- 
 secrated Women ' by the same writer. The subjects of the sketches are taken 
 from various countries, stations, and denominations. Lady Maxwell, the first, 
 was a Wesleyan and a Scotchwoman. Sarah Judson was an American, the 
 second wife of the famous Burmese missionary. Ruth Clarke and Margaret 
 Foreman were domestic servants, one English and one Scotch. Priscilla John- 
 ston, the daughter of Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, was her father's secretary 
 and devoted assistant in his anti-slavery labours. The lives are well written, 
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 charming gift for girls in any rank of life." Record. 
 
 ' ' The author of ' Consecrated Women ' has made her mark in literature so 
 distinctly, that anything from her pen will command cheerful attention. In this 
 tasteful volume she gives us the summaries of some eight memoirs of useful 
 Christian ladies, of differing ranks in life. She has condensed these biographies 
 with much ability, and has preserved undiluted all their spiritual teaching ; and 
 thus she has provided for the womanhood of England a book which we trust 
 will be read everywhere with pleasure and profit. Our best word for it is freely 
 given because richly deserved." Sword and Trowel. 
 
 " An eminently attractive and useful volume, which is likely to be of great 
 service to young women." Nonconformist. 
 
 ' ' We have in this goodly volume one more picture gallery of consecrated 
 women who, in varied social positions, adorned the doctrine of Jesus Christ 
 by faithful and self-sacrificing lives. Miss Hack is doing splendid service to 
 her sex, and the cause of true religion, by showing from example that, under 
 every circumstance and condition of life, it is within woman's province and 
 capacity to act as the saviours of society, the salt of the earth. To thoughtful 
 young women the presentation of such a book might be the turning-point in 
 life, pointing out the path, and furnishing the spur to an honourable and useful 
 career. " Christian. 
 
 " Eight interesting, brightly written, and instructive sketches of some of the 
 most saintly and practical women of modern times, selected from various ranks 
 of life and from different sections of the Church. The portraiture in these 
 sketches is vivid, the facts are veil and distinctly told, the tone is healthy and 
 robust, and the lessons of counsel, encouragement, and stimulus are imparted 
 in an honest and effective manner. Every page gives proof of the work of a 
 practised pen." Baptist Magazine. 
 
 "With all the attractions of a story unites the solid virtues of truth." Our 
 Own Gazette. 
 
 LONDON : HODDER AND STOUGHTON, 27, PATERNOSTER Row. 
 
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