the prime of life, and of the younger class, who might contribute much more largely than they do to the general good. Many of these excellent societies still want labourers, (such as the Bible Society, &c.); and did we but sufficiently consider the importance of the declaration, 'That where much is given, much will be required,' surely there would not be such an apathy towards them as now exists among us. Where is there a people who have had more privileges bestowed upon them than ourselves; and what is our return to the Omnipotent Author of all our mercies? Is it sufficient that gratitude should occasionally fill our hearts, that we were born members of such a Society? Surely not! But were this gratitude sufficiently excited and rightly directed, it would be a powerful principle to stimulate us to individual activity. May each take the subject into consideration, and see whether we have not the power of doing much more than we have hitherto done, even consistently with our own religious principles, and our more immediate duties. And may we not hope that these efforts will be accepted by, and redound to, the glory of him, of whom it is truly said,

'Eternity's too short to sing his praise,'

"We hear that in one great empire there are hundreds of millions of human souls speaking one language, and reading one character, willing and eager, though ignorant of the true value of its contents, to receive the precious gift (alluding to Gutzlaff's voyage along the coast of China to distribute the Holy Scriptures). Surely we cannot consider these things, and not feel our hearts burn within us, to do all that in our power lies to forward the spread of that knowledge which, through faith in Christ Jesus, maketh wise unto salvation-which directs the poor lost creature where to find relief from the burden of sinhow to find redemption through the blood of the cross;

teaches him to love that blessed Saviour who first loved us, and to delight above all things to praise him, and to do his pleasure.

"Let us remember that we have it on the highest authority, in the parable of the lost sheep, that there is more joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, than over ninety and nine just persons who need no repentance. If the conversion of one poor sinner be thus remarkably celebrated, what shall we say when numbers are brought over from darkness to light, from the power of Satan unto God. Shall not the answer be, we will no longer stand idly in the market-place, but will at once answer the call, and advance to the assistance of the Lord's servants. Can any of us say that no man hath called us? Have we not heard a call from Serampore for the translation of the Scriptures? and a loud call from the poor negroes of the West Indies for schools, and for teachers? Is there not a call from China for the Scriptures, and from the dense population of the entire East Indies for these, and especially for female education? And can we, as members of the Society of Friends, truly say that no man hath called us? The promotion of all these objects is quite consistent with our religious principles; and we are assured by the missionaries themselves, that these are amongst their best and surest means of success. not for these purposes, form a society amongst our own members, solicit contributions, and appropriate the money entrusted to our care to such objects as at the time shall appear most urgently to call for pecuniary assistance, taking care that it shall always be applied in strict accordance with our religious principles?"

Could we

Whilst engaged in the contemplation of means for promoting the improvement of the human family, he apprehended that a sphere of usefulness was opened to himself

in furtherance of what was called the Temperance Reformation. Having engaged in this with some success, he afterwards entered, with considerable ardour, into the labours of a society for the promotion of entire abstinence from all intoxicating liquors, except for medicinal purposes. A doubt cannot reasonably be entertained but that these efforts were productive of much good, in inducing many who had been habitual drunkards entirely to abstain, greatly to their own benefit, and to the comfort of their families. Meetings for these objects were frequently held, to which he gave his active support and countenance in common with some other respectable members of the Society of Friends. His post of usefulness was not that of public speaking, which he rarely attempted, but in assisting to manage and to arrange the affairs of the institution. He was occasionally useful with his pen, and also with his purse, according to his limited means. He frequently visited, at their own houses, those persons who had been induced to engage to abstain from intoxicating liquors, in order to strengthen and encourage them in their good resolutions; and to promote their religious improvement. Some instances of remarkable success attended these labours. One individual, to whom his efforts appear to have been blessed, though he was a clever workman, capable of earning good wages, had long been a notorious drunkard. After one or two unsuccessful efforts, he was at length effectually reclaimed, and has continued to maintain his ground up to this period, being for two years and a-half.

Previous to Isaac Richardson leaving home on his last journey, he presented the individual in question with a Bible, in token of interest in his welfare, and of his esteem for him, accompanying the gift with a letter of advice. The following, received in reply, may be suitably inserted :

"My dear Sir,-I should be wanting in gratitude if I

did not avail myself of the first opportunity which has presented itself, to express to you my grateful acknowledgments for the gift you have been pleased to bestow upon me; as also for the truly kind letter which accompanied it. Any gift from you, however trifling in value, is most acceptable, when, as I flatter myself it is, in this instance, presented as a mark of your esteem; nor could selected ought for a present which could be more welcome; its intrinsic value is to be found in its contents. By a careful and diligent perusal of which, together with a strict attention to its sacred precepts, I humbly hope I may learn so to live that I may not fear to die.

you

have

“It shall be my aim to make it a Family Bible, in the strictest sense of the word, as I shall consider it my duty to read aloud from it, for the edification of my family. And now enjoying, by God's blessing, the benefits resulting from temperance and industry, I hope I shall be able to fulfil the duties of that station in life in which it has pleased God to place me.

"I fully concur in every sentiment expressed in your kind letter. I, in common with every Christian, hope that we may again meet in heaven-that we may be judged worthy of being numbered with the spirits of just men made perfect," &c., &c.

In the course of the year 1837, a tendency to pulmonary consumption, of which he had previously felt some apprehensions, began to be apparent.

The exposure to the heated atmosphere of the meetings of the Total Abstinence Society, which were held weekly, or oftener, and after them to night chills on his way home, were regarded by his near relatives as fraught with considerable danger to his health: nor were they without some apprehensions lest the frame of his mind should also suffer from other causes in connexion with the same

pursuit. Such is frail man, that he is encompassed with temptations and dangers as on every hand. He was sought after and caressed by that class of the community with which he was associated in these useful labours, some of them, men but recently emerged from the lowest walks of dissipation-their stability untried. Amongst his associates were men of piety, devoted to do good;* but there were others ardently engaged in the cause, who, though of good natural abilities, had not received the benefit of a guarded education, consequently their standard of moral and religious principle was not likely to be of a very elevated character; an almost daily intercourse with such mixed society could not be contemplated without some apprehension, however laudable the main object of pursuit.

He appears to have been awake to some of these dangers, as may be gathered from the early part of these Memoirs; and there is good reason to believe, that, to a considerable extent, he did witness the preserving hand of a gracious Providence extended for his protection, whereby he was kept in holy fear and watchfulness.

The frame of his mind, about this period of his life, is exhibited in the following memorandum, bearing date, New Year's Day, 1838:

"I have been led, at this time, seriously to reflect on the occurrences of the past year; and although I cannot doubt that the Lord has been mercifully pleased to adopt me as one of his unworthy children, yet I have to deplore that I have indeed been an unprofitable servant. I have not so fully loved him with all my heart, with all my soul, and with all my strength, as the duty (to obey his holy law requires, and as one who has been redeemed by the most precious sacrifice, ought especially to feel when he remem

* See his remarks on one of these estimable men, in a letter to his brother G., inserted near the close of the Memoir.