present at, could possibly forget to the day of his death. Several of the best known and most experienced thieves were stationed at the door, to prevent the admission of any but thieves! Some four or five individuals, who were not at first known, were subjected to a more public examination, and only allowed to remain on their stating who they were, and being recognized as members of the dishonest fraternity; and before the proceedings of the evening commenced the question was very carefully put, and repeated several times, whether any one was in the room of whom others entertained doubts as to who he was. The object of this care was, as so many of them were in danger of "getting into trouble," as they call it, or, in other words, of being taken up for their crimes, if discovered, to ascertain whether any who should betray them were present; and another intention of this scrutiny was to give those assembled, who naturally would feel considerable fear, a fuller confidence in opening their minds.

The meeting commenced with the singing of a hymn and with a prayer. What was the real state of the heart of those present, while these devotional exercises were proceeding, it is, of course, impossible for any man to say; but the apparent fervour and earnest attention exceeded what is, perhaps, scarcely ever to be witnessed, even in a church or chapel.

When the singing and prayer were concluded, Mr. Jackson rose, and stated the following, amongst other facts, to Lord Ashley :

On

The thought struck me, after reading your lordship's masterly speech, that I would consult my friends whether it would not be right to petition the government to grant to these ruined young men the privilege of free emigration to some one of Her Majesty's colonies. There were six young men who said they could prevail upon one hundred to come in the course of a month. This day, your lordship should know, is only the second week. Monday, the 17th of July, the Rev. T. Binney and Rev. Mr. Allen, Incumbent of St Jude's, Whitechapel, met at my house, not by appointment, but accidentally. They saw a large number of felons and vagrants. They read the Word of God, and engaged with them in prayer. I had a few meetings on their behalf for reading the Word of God and prayer. I appointed Tuesday, July 18th; and on that night we had several gentlemen

interested in the objects of the London City Mission present. Before that meeting closed we numbered ninety-seven thieves and vagrants. The Thursday following we numbered one hundred and fifty-nine. On Sunday last, ifty-two; and on last Tuesday night, one hundred and thirty-eight young men, from whom I obtained the following statistics :

There were fifty-one thieves at the first meeting, and forty-one at the second, who, exclusive of laborers, were brought up to the following trades: tailors, shoemakers, cabinet-makers, masons and carpenters, blacksmiths, miners, bakers, sailors, bargemen, shopmen. They state they have all been from one to twentyseven times in prison. Two cannot tell the number of times they have been in prison, they have been in so often.

Lord Ashley, on the conclusion of this address, spoke to the assembly of felons and vagrants at considerable length, and in a most careful and judicious manner. He recommended them to petition both Lord John Russell, as the head of her Majesty's Government, and Sir George Grey, as her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Home Department, and promised to present the petition; but would do so only on the condition they should at once abstain from thieving. It was then arranged that the petition should be signed a week hence.

GEORGE III. AND THE SCHOOL-MASTER.

JOSEPH LANCASTER, the founder of the Lancasterian system of education, was admitted to an interview with his late majesty George III, at Weymouth, in 1805, which is thus described by Mr. Corston:

“On entering the royal presence, the king said, ‘Lancaster, I have sent for you to give me an account of your system of education, which I hear has met with opposition. One master teach five hundred children at the same time! How do you keep them in order, Lancaster?' Lancaster replied, "Please thy majesty, by the same principle thy majesty's army is kept in order by the word of command.' His majesty replied, 'Good, good; it does not require an aged general to give the command; one of younger years can do it.' Lancaster observed that in his schools the teaching branch was performed by youths, who acted as monitors. The king assented, and said, 'Good.' Lancaster then described his system; and he informed me that they all paid great attention, and were highly delighted; and as soon as he had finished, his majesty said, 'Lancaster, I highly approve of your system, and it is my wish that every poor child in my dominions should be taught to read the Bible; I will do any thing you wish to promote this object.'

"Please thy majesty,' said Lancaster, if the system meets thy majesty's approbation, I can go through the country and lecture on the system, and have no doubt, but in a few months I shall be able to give thy majesty an account where ten thousand poor children are being educated, and some of my youths instructing them.' His majesty immediately replied, Lancaster, I will subscribe £100 annually; and,' addressing the queen, ‘you shall subscribe £50, Charlotte; and the princesses, £25 each;' and then added, 'Lancaster, you may have the money directly.' Lancaster observed, 'Please thy majesty, that will be setting thy nobles a good example.' The royal party appeared to smile at this observation; but the queen observed to his majesty, 'How cruel it is that enemies should be found who endeavour to hinder his progress in so good a work.' To which the king replied, 'Charlotte, a good man seeks his reward in the world to come.' Joseph then withdrew.—Sketches by Henry Dunn.

A PRAYING EMPEROR.

In 1814, the General Peace brought the allied sovereigns on a visit to London, when the Society of Friends hastened to present addresses to the Emperor of Russia and the King of Prussia.

That for the Emperor of Russia was left with Count Lieven, on the 18th of June, and the next day William Allen the well known philanthropist called to arrange for its reception. To his surprise, however, instead of obtaining a formal interview, he found the Count in his carriage, who bade him get in, and, driving off immediately, informed him that the Emperor wished to attend a Friends' meeting, and that there was no time for it but the present.

Calling at Count Nesselrode's for the Emperor, the Grand Duchess of Oldenburgh, the Duke of Oldenburgh, and the Duke of Wurtemburg, the whole party drove off, without the slightest previous intimation, to the nearest meeting-house then open. No commotion was excited by their arrival. They were quietly shown to the seats usually ocupied by men and women respectively. The meeting remained in silence about a quarter of an hour, 'in which time,' says Mr. Allen, my mind was sweetly calmed and refreshed, in the firm belief that the Great Master had the work in his own hands.' Richard Phillips then stood up, with a short but acceptable address to the meeting; and soon after, John Wilkinson was engaged in explaining the effects of vital religion, and the nature of true worship. After he sat down, John Bell uttered a few sentences, and John Wilkinson concluded in supplication. The Emperor and the whole party conducted themselves with great seriousness; and ' after meeting' they kindly shook hands with the Friends, and departed.

Two days after this, the Emperor received Mr. Allen and the deputation with the 'Friends' address. The number was very limited, in accordance with Count Lieven's instructions. Alexander received them alone, and conversed freely with them in English; asking questions, which 'evidently showed that he was acquainted with the operations of the Holy Spirit in the soul.' He said he 'agreed entirely with Friends on the subject of worship.' He told them that he was himself in the habit of daily prayer, that at first he employed a form of words, but at length grew uneasy in so doing, as the words were not always applicable to the present state of his mind, and that 'now the subject of his prayer was according to the impression he felt of his wants at the time.' He stated how the Lord had made him acquainted with spiritual religion,' after which he had much

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sought it, and that 'herein he found strength and consolation ;' adding, that he, and ́all of us, were only placed in this life to glorify God, and to be useful to one another.' During the interview, he repeatedly pressed their hands, expressed a wish to know more of them, said he should like to see a Friend's house, and concluded by observing, that if any Friends should visit Petersburgh on a religious account, they were not to wait for any introduction, but to come direct to him, and he would do everything to promote their views.

The 'wish to see a Friend's house' was not forgotten. When at Portsmouth he again reverted to it, and arrangements were made for John Glaisyer, of Brighton, to receive him. But when he reached that town, the crowd was so great, that he was obliged to proceed without fulfilling his intentions. Passing a farm-house, a few miles from Lewes, however, he observed two persons standing at their own gates, who by their appearance, he supposed to be Friends. He immediately ordered the driver to stop, alighted, inquired if they were of the people called Quakers, and, being answered in the affirmative, asked permission to go into the house. The request, although considered exceedingly strange and unaccountable, for these parties had not heard anything of the Emperor's interest in Friends, was of course cheerfully complied with. The Duchess then alighted, and they all went in together. After a little time, the Duchess asked if they might go over the house, and they were accordingly conducted into the principal apartments, the neatness of which they praised. On returning to the parlour, they were invited to take some refreshments, which they did, and seemed pleased with the attention. Finding that the family had not heard of the Emperor having had any communication with 'Friends' in London, he gave them an account of his having been ‘at meeting.' At parting, the Emperor saluted the hand of the lady, and the Duchess kissed her. They then both shook hands cordially with her husband, Nathaniel Rickman, and bade them 'farewell.' -Sketches by Henry Dunn.