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informed was closely attended to; some of them appeared to have made considerable improvement in writing, as we were told was also the case in their reading. The quiet and order observed was pleasant to behold, as well as the agreeable countenances many of them exhibited, as if they rightly appreciated the privilege of being thus cared for. Feeling something stirring in my mind towards them, my interpreter informed them thereof, on which the pastor kindly requested such as were reading to cease. What I had to communicate appeared to obtain attention. At our parting, the pastor invited us to take our dinner with him, but this we respectfully declined, for my dinner now felt the most distant thing from my mind. At the time proposed for us to see the governor, we returned to the prison. On being introduced to the governor, I presented him with my fresh order from the minister of justice, to visit the prisoners again: his countenance bespoke the effect it had on his mind, as he showed himself uncomfortable and much agitated, probably from two causes-the peremptory manner in which the order was couched, and the fear still prevailing in his mind of those, whom he called the most desperate of the prisoners, being loose together in the yard. For a time he appeared like a man recovering from a violent electric shock, and then again stood like a petrified subject. During this season of proving to the governor and my companions, I trust I was not void of a proper feeling for him, and for them; but I found I must maintain my post with firmness. After the governor had a little recovered himself, he brought forward, as before, many reasons to prevent my seeing the prisoners; but as his excuses did not prove effectual, he next tried what he could do by persuasion, saying, that from his knowledge of the disposition of some of the prisoners, it would be dangerous to attempt to have them assembled as I wished. No such apprehensions, however, prevailed with me, in whatever way I viewed the matter; yet I humbly hope I may say, I was not lost to a feeling of sympathy for those who were to accompany me, and who were not able to see and feel the subject as I was enabled to do. The governor seeing there was no other way, yielded to my request, and ordered all the men prisoners to be assembled in the great yard of the prison. On entering the yard where they were assembled, I observed that the number assembled far exceeded what I had met with in the chapel at my first visit, there now appearing from three to four hundred prisoners: many forbidding countenances I could not recollect to have seen before, whose legs were loaded with irons, but not their hands. Had they been disposed to have injured us, I thought, as I viewed those who were placed in front, we should only be like so many grasshoppers amongst them. Besides ourselves and the governor, we had the company of the head-officer of the town, several military officers, and

some of the inhabitants. Our kind friend the pastor placed us on a flight of steps, very suitably for the occasion, and the prisoners formed a circle in front of the steps. After a pause had taken place, the governor addressed the prisoners: although I could not understand a word which he expressed, yet I had a clear evidence that his matter was appropriate to the occasion, and that he was assisted by best help in doing it: his observations produced such a remarkable quiet over the whole assembly, that not the motion of a foot or clink of a fetter was to be heard. This address of the governor seemed very much to open my way in the minds of the prisoners: I cannot call to remembrance a time when I have found a more open door to receive what was communicated, than in this opportunity; the countenances of many of the prisoners appeared sorrowfully affected, and bathed in tears; and the quiet solid manner in which they behaved during the whole of the meeting, considering what a rough, uncultivated company they appeared to be, was a striking proof of the sufficiency of the power of God, now as formerly, to controul and bring into subjection, the evil power in man; that thus He alone, whose right it is to reign, may have the dominion. Having been favoured with ability fully to relieve my mind towards them, I found I must propose to give each of the prisoners my hand of love, before I left them; the governor then arranged them for that purpose in this step I was led to believe the prisoners generally sympathized, for, although they were not able to express themselves on the occasion in my own language, their countenances and the manner of their pressing my hand, I thought fully indicated this disposition of mind.*

Having thus taken a farewell of the prisoners, we retired to the governor's apartment, who seemed now at a loss to know how to manifest his kindness sufficiently towards us. The pastor not following us, I felt anxious to take our leave of him; but before we had finished the repast which the governor had kindly set before us, the pastor joined us again, informing us he had been

In a letter written from Berlin, to our dear friend T. S., some years after this period, his correspondent thus expresses himself :-"I am sure your visit at Berlin, and especially the attention you paid to the prisoners, has been of very great benefit. Since that time, there has been formed a society for instructing and amending the prisoners. This very important branch of Christian charity has formerly been too much neglected. The society has done much good already, and will do much more, if they keep a single eye, and do all they do, to glorify

Christ."

In this and other letters written to T. S. from the Continent, (several from persons of rank,) are often to be met with, expressions of nuch warmth of feeling towards their much esteemed, aged visitor; indicating how closely they became united in the bonds of Christian love to our friend. "As often as I happened," says the above letter, written after his return from America, "o speak to Friends coming from England, I used to ask them, I may say in some degree with the tender feelings of Joseph, Does my father Shillitve yet live?'"

detained with the prisoners, who had requested him, in the name of the whole of them, to express their thankfulness for the visit, and that many of them could say, the words that had been delivered amongst them reached to their very hearts, and they hoped, would, in a future day, produce good fruits. May all the praise be given, where alone it is due, is the prayer of my soul! We parted from the governor very affectionately; and the pastor accompanying us to our hotel, expressed the regret which he and others felt, that our stay amongst them was of so short a duration. We were informed, a man of considerable account in the world, was much in the practice of asserting it to be his belief, there was no such thing as people being actuated by the love of God in their conduct towards each other. Our first visit to Spandau having excited much conversation amongst the town's-people, from the manner in which our motive for making this visit was viewed by some, as proceeding purely from the love of God, this man took up the subject in support of his own opinions; in the course of his arguing, his mind became so convinced that nothing short of the love of God to the poor prisoners could have influenced our minds to leave our homes and families, endure the hardships by sea and land which we must have done, that he acknowledged he must now abandon his former opinions on this subject. I returned with my companions to Berlin, thankful that my good Master had not suffered my manifold discouragements to cause me to rebel against Him. My great care now was, how I should get through the evening's work before me, viz. the holding a meeting with such individuals as were inclined to give us their company. I fancied I could have been glad to have been anywhere else rather than at this occasion, notwithstanding I had so recently had cause to bow in reverent acknowledgment to the mercy and goodness of the Lord, in helping me through the last scene of trial. Oh! how did my poor mind, in its reduced and stripped condition, crave after a willingness to become any thing or nothing, that so I might be found keeping my proper place amongst the people this evening! I found, whilst the meeting was gathering, a young man was preparing to take down in short-hand what might be communicated; but I prevailed on him to desist. The meeting gathered early, and soon quietly settled down: the room was as full as it well could be the people appeared serious and attentive, and we understood, that they were well satisfied with the meeting.

Second-day morning, my prospects of being liberated from Berlin began to brighten; the gates were now set open for my departure, which rejoiced my heart, on account of my kind, companion Lewis Seebohm. I proceeded to the post-office, and secured my place in the diligence to Hamburgh on Fourth-day.

Third-day, my friend Lewis Seebohm left me for his own home. I was now alone, no one in the hotel being able to understand me, except at times by signs: this made it trying, when

VOL. II.

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visitors came, with whom I was deprived of the opportunity of an exchange of sentiment. My mind having been frequently introduced into exercise, on account of some pious persons that were about the court, I believed, if the way clearly opened for it, I must be willing to try to have them brought together in a meeting capacity: but there appeared such insurmountable difficulties in the way, that I gave up the prospect, and I had reason to believe properly so: yet my exercise continued, and by endeavouring to keep patient under it, the way in due time opened for my relief, by taking up my pen, and committing to writing that which arose in my mind, which was done as follows:"TO THE SERIOUSLY AWAKENED MINDS, WHO ARE MOUrning, IN THE HIGHER CIRCLES OF LIFE, IN Berlin.

"Berlin, 16th of 8th Month, 1824. "The more exalted the situation of life we are by Divine Providence permitted to be placed in, the greater need there is for humility of heart; a virtue that never appears more conspicuous than when it is really to be found imprinted in the general tenour of conduct and converse of such as are travelling on in the higher walks of life; nor is its influence ever so likely to be productive of real good to others; because, the more elevated our situation of life may be, the more extensive will be the influence of our example, whether it be good or whether it be evil. I have therefore, in my solitary moments, earnestly craved, that all who may be placed about the person of the king, and every branch of his family, and others who may be placed in affluent situations in life, whose lips may have been mercifully touched, as with a live coal from off the holy altar, may keep humble, little and low in their own estimation; for this will be the way, and the only way, for such to experience the Lord to teach them of his ways; and by keeping in meekness and true fear before him, know him to direct their steps, guiding them in the paths of true judgment, causing such who thus love him to inherit substance. It is the great that must set an example of faithfulness to God, and an entire dedication of heart to him and his cause, before those who are moving along in more humble life; it is these who must lead the way into the paths of holiness of life and conversation, if the Lord's work goes forward and prospers in this land, as he designs it should; and my soul craves it may do. And now, with the feelings of Gospel love and thankfulness, for the kind reception of my feeble endeavours, and the assistance I have met with, I take my last farewell of those amongst you. I have made acquaintance with many, of whom I can say, they are as bone of my bone. "THOMAS SHILLITOE."

The above being put into the hands of a faithful, pious individual about the court, for circulation amongst those to whom it was addressed, my services here closed.

51

CHAPTER XXVI.

FOURTH-DAY morning, accompanied by some of our newlyformed acquaintance, I took the diligence for Hamburgh, which I was favoured to reach on Fifth-day, with songs of praise in my heart to that Almighty Power, who had so mercifully cared for me every way. On my arrival at Hamburgh, I felt disposed to spend some time amongst my friends there, expecting it would be the last time we should be likely to meet on this side of eternity; but I found Hamburgh was not to be a resting-place for me: my halting there, longer than was necessary for me to recruit my strength and to prepare for my journey, would subject me to danger. My friends in England had proposed my making an overland journey to Petersburgh, and forwarded me letters to Dantzic, Memel, and Riga. On my reaching Hamburgh, some captains at my hotel advised my going by sea, to Cronstadt, in Russia, to escape the difficulties of an overland journey, in consequence of my not being acquainted with any language but my native tongue; and to sail from Lubeck, in preference to Elsineur, the Lubeck vessels to Cronstadt being well fitted up for the accommodation of passengers; but if I sailed from Elsineur, I must take such accommodation as the merchant-vessels afforded; and my sailing from Lubeck would occasion me much less travelling by land; Lubeck, therefore, had the preference in my mind, independent of that reluctance which I felt to set my feet again in Copenhagen, which I should do if I sailed from Elsineur; but the more I inclined to go by Lubeck, the clearer I thought I saw my taking shipping there would endanger my being in some way (I knew not how) involved in difficulty. I therefore endeavoured after a willingness to take shipping at Elsineur; but fresh difficulties presented: a diligence left Hamburgh daily for Lubeck, and arrived the same day; and when my fare by it was paid, I should have no further difficulty. I had already experienced the inconveniences attending a journey by a conveyance from Hamburgh to Kiel, and feared to attempt to encounter this mode of getting forward again; but after all these considera

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