Wisdom. O may you, my father, feel so too!" After he retired, she said, My poor father is sensibly affected; he does not wish to part with his Caroline. I hope God will bless him with Divine grace; and he will see me where parting shall be no more. I love him more than ever; for he has qualities which, if properly tempered, would make him a most valuable Christian. O he has ever been a tender parent to me. He never corrected or spoke harshly to me in his life. He has told me of faults; but always did it with more softness than I deserved." At no great distance of time from the preceding interview with her father, she held the following conversation with her mother:

She said, "Mother, I wish you to deliver a message from me to my beloved sister-cousin, Cornelia Walker (who was then absent on a visit to her friends in New York). I wish you would tell her of all that the Lord has done for me. Tell her that I desire her never again to participate in sinful amusements. She loves me, and will, I hope, value what I say. Tell her I requested, on my deathbed, that she might never enter a theatre, a ball-room, or attend another fashionable tea party, as they are called; they are all of the same family, let who will say otherwise. If one of them be sinful, they are all so; and on that subject I have no doubt. I am also of opinion, that the lastmentioned are more so, if possible, than either of the others; tea parties, as generally attended, lead to more extravagance and party spirit, more vanity, more ambition, than any of the others. I have some knowledge of all. I have been at many tea parties, and I know I have never seen more folly anywhere. The great amusement consists in a display of luxurious delicacies, which are continually carried round by poor slaves, that bend under their weight; and which only vitiate the stomach, and unfit it for wholesome food. More ostentation, or greater excess of vanity, is never seen at plays or balls. Sometimes a few tunes are played on a piano, the sound of which is completely lost by the loud conversation of many persons speaking at the same time, so as to resemble the confusion of Babel. I have sat for hours, and not heard one serious observation-one rational idea; on the contrary, I have heard nothing but loud peals of laughter, or light frivolous chat-perfect levity-nothing else. I generally attended with reluctance; and nothing but a desire to conform to the customs of the society in which I moved, ever induced me to go. Silly excuse! for my better judgment told me better things. But I often, at first, used to be amused; yet, always at a particular hour, there would come a knock at my heart, saying, Come out why will you stay here? I have gone to cousin, and asked her to go home with me. She would say, O cousin Caroline, I have just commenced the enjoyment of the evening, and cannot go at this time.' She will be able to tell you the very words. I am very sorry that so many of our serious people countenance those things, and declaim against the others. There is a strange inconsistency in this, which gives the world great reason to say what they do-that such professors strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel. Mother, you will never, I hope, give them your countenance again; for you must know that they are injurious to a growth in grace. To this her mother replied, that she never would. Caroline then embraced her, and said, "I thank God for that. I hope my dear cousin will make the same promise. I do not wish you to give up society. O no! for religion is a social thing. I wish you and her to keep up a rational intercourse with all our dear friends; but let it be done with gospel simplicity. My dear uncle Walker will, perhaps, think I have made an unreasonable demand of my cousin, in requesting her to

give up dancing; but he loves me, and if she is willing, he will not oppose her. Tell her that, on a deathbed, she can be amply rewarded for all the self-denial she puts in practice now. O mother! tell her to seek an interest in Christ while she is in the bloom of life. Her health is delicate, and I have often grieved in reflecting that I might see her descending into an early tomb. But I have been spared this trial; she will now grieve for me. But 0! she must not grieve as those who have no hope. She must strive to follow me; and if we meet again, it will be to part no more. I hope my early call will speak to her heart; and, indeed, I pray that it may speak to the hearts of all my young friends. I had as pleasing prospects of long life as any of them, never having been seriously sick, and now in my seventeenth year. O mother! how portentous has your presentiment been, that you would have to part with me at a very tender age-just as if the Lord had been striving for years to prepare and fortify your mind to endure an event which he knew would try your very soul. You often told me of this presentiment; and is it not strange that it never alarmed me? I used to feel solemn; but it never depressed my spirits, or produced melancholy. How mercifully have all things been conducted in our behalf! I view your indulgence, in allowing me to participate partially in worldly amusements, as intended to show me that there was no solid pleasure in them. Had I never known what they were, I might have attached great innocence to them; but now I am enabled to declare that they are exceedingly sinful. Let all those who participate in those sinful feasts of unrighteousness, and know that they are contrary to the will of God, beware lest heavy judgments come upon them. Dear Dr. Thompson was much censured for the severity with which he condemned them. I was one, though then a child, who thought he carried his prejudices too far; but I now think he was right as to the principle, though his manner might have been milder. It ill becomes those who name the name of Jesus, and who have made a solemn covenant to be his, to mix with the world, and join in extravagant,! volatile, and trifling pleasures. We are told that we cannot serve God and Mammon; and this is true; they will find it so when they come to die. O what a different example ought Christians to set before the world! I have wondered to hear the excuses which some professors make for folly. They say that we are social beings; that we require relaxation; that God is more merciful than man; that, while we are in the world, we must mix with it-we must have society; that religion was never designed to make us melancholy, but cheerful, &c. My strength is too feeble to state all; but admitting these excuses to be true, they only pervert the whole. The Lord abundantly provides for all his dear children, and never requires more of them than they can perform; and he commands us not to be conformed to this world-to be holy, as he is holy. What has the great apostle said? therefore, followers of me, as dear children. Put on the whole armour of God. As ye have, therefore, received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him; rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through phi osophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudi. ments of the world, and not after Christ; for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Pray. ing always, with all prayer and supplication, in the Spirit,' &c. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose glory is their shame, who mind earthly things.' I am not unhappy about my cousin; but I

Be ye,

feel anxious that she should know these things, and lay them to heart speedily. She is almost a year older than I am; and, by this time, has seen enough of the world, to know that all its joys are transitory and unsatisfying. To a deathbed she will have to come; and after that the judgment. Tell her that, if she embraces the gospel of Christ, in all its purity, she will have nothing to fear. No; it is sweet to die; death is a pleasant friend-the gate of heaven. I long to meet death; but still I am willing to wait until I shall have finished the work appointed for me to do. Tell her I loved her much; we were brought up as twin sisters; we lived in delightful harmony together. O that all children could love one another as we did! and it is natural that I should feel more for her than for my other cousins. But the same message I leave to all; for I love all.' She then left particular messages to her dear uncles, aunts, and friends that were absent; which were afterwards faithfully delivered, verbally or by letter.

Thus lived, and thus died, CAROLINE ELIZABETH SMELT. By the exercise of the numerous amiable qualities which she possessed, she had endeared herself to a numerous circle of friends, of all ages, sexes, and ranks in life. It is asserted that she was never seen to be in a passion, although her disposition has been visibly tried. She was affectionate, meek, dutiful, and modest. She has been seen to be displeased, and to suffer momentary mortification; but never allowed herself to utter an indelicate, harsh, or hasty expression. She possessed great independence of principle, and would support her opinions with great firmness and propriety; but, if convinced of error, would never hesitate to retract and acknowledge it. To servants, she was particularly mild; and as she made her requests to those of her father's household with the utmost softness, they always served her with the greatest alacrity. When they did so, she would often thank them as politely as if she had no claim to their obedience. When they disobliged her, she was always ready to frame and offer an apology for them. She would say, "Perhaps it proceeds from forgetfulness. I know I am too thoughtless myself, and omit many important duties; and why should I condemn, in those poor ignorant beings, faults that are less than my

own?

In a word, reverence towards God; filial submission, and respect towards her parents; affability and bene volence towards all with whom she was acquainted, seem to have been united in her temper and practice through life, and in her death they were not divided. [See Editorial Remarks, page 298.]

RESPECTED FRIENDS,-On reading in one of the late numbers of The British Friend, the report of the flourishing state of the "Friends' Provident Institution," for insurance of lives, arising from the remarkable longevity of the parties insured; it occurred to me, that an institution for insurance against fire, confined to persons connected with our Society, would be likely to answer well both to the insurers and insured.

A fire on a Friend's premises is a rare occurrence; and a vast amount must be paid by us beyond the loss incurred. This, I think, may be chiefly attributed to a greater degree of care among us than generally exists, to guard against this calamity; and we may as well take advantage of our moral position, and retain the profits ourselves. - Yours, W. C.

PLYMOUTH, 11th Month, 12th, 1350.

THE YEARLY MEETING, AND THE EXHIBITION OF 1851.

To the EDITORS of THE BRITISH FRIEND.

RESPECTED FRIENDS,-I should feel obliged to you, through the medium of The British Friend, to express a desire which I believe is very general amongst all country Friends, that the Meeting for Sufferings may be induced to bring forward the ensuing Yearly Meeting a month earlier than usual.

If general expectation be realized, the city will be so crowded during the time of the Great Exhibition, that very many of our members will be prevented attending, from the difficulty of procuring lodgings; besides which, it seems very undesirable that the young people who go to the Yearly Meeting, should have their attention divided between its sittings and the Exhibition, which, if taking place at the same time, would most probably be the case. 11th Month, 1850.

A.

THE TEMPERANCE QUESTION.-IMPORTANT

LETTER.

To the EDITORS of THE BRITISH FRIEND. DEAR FRIENDS,-If you think the insertion of the following letter likely to be useful, at the present. juncture, it is at your service.-Your friend, E. B.

HULL, Feb. 22, 1850. DEAR SIR,-The most distressing instances of religious declension, in my experience, have been connected with intemperance. Strong drink has been the ruin of almost all those with whose exclusion from the Christian church, I, as a minister, have had to do. The most pleasing cases of true conversion to God, within my personal knowledge, have originated instrumentally with total abstinence. cious advocacy of this principle is highly favourable to I am increasingly convinced that the judireligion. If it is otherwise advocated, this is the fault of those Christians who ought to take the lead in the movement, but who leave it to others less informed, Were I not, as I most fully am, a teetotaller from and less under the influence of Christian principle. conviction, I should be so from expediency; as I see that my usefulness as a minister is greatly augmented by my uniting with the working classes in this great movement.-I am, dear Sir, yours, faithfully,

To Mr. T. B. Smithies.

NEWMAN HALL.

BOWDEN'S HISTORY OF FRIENDS IN AMERICA. To the EDITORS of THE BRITISH FRIEND. ESTEEMED FRIENDS,-Having been informed, through a letter from America, that the extract given in mine on James Cadbury's communication, published in your valuable periodical for Ninth Month, contains an error in stating that, after the attack, Elias Hicks survived but twenty-four hours; it now appears, by the said letter from America, that, having had a paralytic affection on the right side,' he lived twelve days after the attack; and during the time, mostly in a tranquil and peaceful state of mind."

I much regret that anything not correct should have crept into your journal from my pen, and am, Yours sincerely, A. B. F. 11th Month 23d, 1850.

PROPOSED AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE-LETTER OF "A. B.," &c.

To the EDITORS of THE BRITISH FRIEND. RESPECTED FRIENDS,-A month or two ago, I had written a letter to you, containing a few remarks on the subject of the proposed Agricultural College, but

address the children on the importance of always being early and punctually at school. When he thus lost an hour in the morning, he felt displeased in himself; and things seemed not to go right all day. The children soon acquired a habit of coming late; perhaps they did not wish to hurt the feelings of their teacher by being in their places before him. However this may have been, from his indifferent manner, one scholar strayed away after another altogether; as his class diminished, the superintendent continued to fill it up with new scholars, week after week. He soon found he might as well turn the scholars out of school—for it amounted to the same thing; and he found it needful to urge upon this teacher the importance of complying with a rule of the school, which made it the duty of the teacher to visit the absentees, and report the cause. Indeed, the teacher soon began to feel ashamed of his reduced class; and he determined to inquire after the absentees. About the middle of the week he found leisure, but then recollected that his roll book was locked up in the school-room; and by the time he found it convenient to see the superintendent, and obtain a list of names, it was Saturday afternoon. It proved to be an exceedingly unpleasant day, but he was determined to do something before another Sabbath; and off he went, with a list of absentees sufficient to have formed a large class, with hardly time to visit half the number.

J

"He had considerable difficulty to find where many lived; some had removed, and one or two had sometime since tried some other Sunday school, which they liked much better. He inquired at one place for * and found no such person. When the mother of the boy appeared, he informed her that Joseph had not been at the school the last two Sundays. Joseph being there, said he was at school on Sunday afternoon week; the teacher just recollected that he himself was absent that afternoon, and could not contradict the child; and after saying a few words on the importance of regular attendance, he went his way. The next house he called at, he saw the father of George, and told him his son had not been at school for a few weeks past. 'No,' said the father, he has not been for five weeks; previous to sending him to the Sunday school, he stayed in the house, and read, or went to church with his mother. As we knew much good had been received in Sunday schools, we were persuaded to send George; and we had him ready every Sunday, and thought he attended regularly; but last Sabbath, he came running home, followed by a friend of mine, who informed me that George spent every Sunday with a crowd of bad boys, near his house, and they had just broken the parlour window. And now, as I cannot be certain he will do any better, I shall keep him in the house.'

At the next place, the teacher knocked very gently at the door, for he had lost some confidence in himself. He did not knock again, or wait long; he had no time to lose; and, perhaps, quieted himself with the thought -Well, I have called, and if no one comes, it is not my fault; and away he went, without looking back.

We shall only mention one more call which he had some difficulty in making, not knowing exactly who to ask for. Here he saw the mother of a boy who had been in his class; introduced himself as his Sunday-school teacher, and inquired about her son James, who had been absent from the class. She looked sorrowful, and said she believed 'James was better off; she hoped he was in heaven.' What! is James really dead?' Yes,' said his mother, he died of a fever, from taking a severe cold one Sunday in the street; he was ill just thirteen days, on Thursday last. When the teacher recollected himself a little, he said

6

he could not have thought it so long a time since James was at school; and inquired whether he thought he was going to die, and what were his views. The mother replied, As he became worse, he was very much alarmed at the thought of death; talked about the Sunday school, and longed to see the teacher he USED to have, and wished me often to read the Bible to him; and when he became ill, and near his end, seemed resigned to die. We asked him if we must send for you, and he did not seem to desire it. He said, "the teacher we have now has never been here, and maybe he would not like to come;" and then he held up his thin arms, and said, "I do not think he would hardly recollect me, I've fell away so much.

James died without seeing his teacher; and his poor mother entertained the hope that he was happy, because he once loved the Sunday school, was desirous of hearing his Bible read when he could not do anything else, and appeared willing to die when he found he could not live. This teacher! he seldom thought of James while he lived, but he never forgot him when he was dead !!”

THE ROMISH AGGRESSION.

For THE BRITISH FRIEND.

"THE Mitre and the Crown are so firmly consolidated together, that it is vain to think to divide them. The temporal supremacy of the popes, direct or indirect, has been so long avowed, it enters so deeply into all their acts, and appears so much in the whole tenor of their administration, and has been so often established and ratified by the highest authority of their church, that it rests on the same bottom with any other article of her creed, and it cannot be renounced without endangering the whole system; if this fall, infallibility falls with it; Rome's golden prospects vanish; the spiritual supremacy will become a feeble and despicable thing, if not a mere nothing; it will be of as little consequence or advantage to its possessor as the idle titles of King of Jerusalem or Emperor of the moon, with which some kings have adorned their escutcheon. The reader is referred to the following councils and synods which, either directly or indirectly, have established, or practised the temporal power spoken of :

1079... Rome.

1086...Quintiline Burg. 1998...Rome. 1105...Mayence. 1114...Soissons. 1114... Beauvois. 1115...Rheims.

1115... Chalen. 1115... Cologne. 1115... Cologne. 1116... Lateran. 1118... Capua. 1119...Rheims.

1120...Rheims.

1122...Lateran. 1161... Clermont. 1166... Lateran.

Fourth

1195...Montpellier. 1209.. Montilly. 1213...Lavaur. 1215...Lateran. General Council. 1224...Montpellier. 1225... Bourges. 1226... Paris. 1227...Narbonne. 1228...Rome. 1248... Breslau. 1248... Valence. 1302... Rome.

1311...Vienna. 1311...Trent. 1612...Paris, &c.

"The Papal authority, in every view, has been greatly weakened since the Reformation. The court of Rome since that happy period, has more sparingly insisted upon and asserted their high pretensions, nor have they dared, with the same tone of arrogance, to dietate to princes, or rule the affairs of kingdoms, as in some preceding ages; yet it has not ceased to discover, on many occasions, the same spirit, inclination, and principles; so often have they attempted to interfere by the rude way of authority, and more often still by intrigue and finesse, that the nations of Europe may know that their safety and tranquillity, on that quarter, is to be imputed more to inability than to any essential change in the Popish system.' Thoughts on the Toleration of Popery.

- From Free

CREATION AND REDEMPTION.
LORD, when we creation scan,
What thy power has done for man;
Lord, our conscious tongues agree
How much man must owe to thee.

Every sweet that scents the gale,
Every note that cheers the vale,
Every blooming flower we see,
Tells the joys we owe to thee.
Every breath that heaves the breast,
Every sound by voice exprest,

Every thought the mind sets free,
Tells the joys we owe to thee.

But when we redemption view,
Gaze on all that love could do,
Lord, our thankful tongues agree
How much more we owe to thee.
When we think what we have been-
Sunk in sorrow, lost in sin;

Saved from sin, from sorrow free,
More than joy we owe to thee.

When we hear our Master say,

"Death is vanquish'd, come away!
He is yours!" we sure must be
More than life we owe to thee.

JESUS, who mad'st the meanest soul
An object of thy care,

Attend to what my heart would speak,"

And hear a beggar's prayer.

For thou, when bleeding on the cross,
My sins and griefs did'st bear;
Therefore, my Lord, thou'lt not refuse
To hear a beggar's prayer.

I was a helpless beggar girl,
That wander'd in the street,
When good men took me to the school,
Where I got clothes and meat (food).
And yet the lot which seem'd so hard,
God's faithfulness did prove;
For I was carried there to hear
And learn of Jesus' love.

Poor and despised though I was,
Thine arm, O God! was nigh;
And when thy mercy first I knew,
Sure none so glad as I.

In ign'rance long my soul had dwelt,
A rebel bold I'd been;
But thy great mercy, O my God!
Sav'd me from all my sin.

Mine was a wretched state, expos'd
To men and angel's view;

A slave to vice, a slave to sin,

A slave to Satan too.

But if thy Son hath made me free,
Then am I free indeed;

From powers of darkness, sin, and hell,
Thy love my soul has freed.