strating with them on the neglect of this duty. This address was translated into the German language, and extensively distributed by him there with his own hand. Though our departed friend had received but little education, his courteous and affable, yet respectful manners often facilitated his access to persons of high rank in society. Considering kings in the character of fathers of their people, he many times, both in this and in foreign countries, thought it his duty to seek for interviews with them: as he patiently looked unto the Lord, in simple dependence upon Him, an opportunity was often afforded him to communicate what was upon his mind: either verbally or by written memorials, he conveyed his exercise for their eternal welfare, and that they might be good examples to their subjects; and also his concern for their adopting measures calculated to repress crime, and to promote Chris tian virtue, and the true happiness of their people. In the year 1826, at the advanced age of seventy-two, he paid a religious visit to Friends in America, and travelled among them about three years. It was a time of much unsettlement and of sore trial to faithful Friends, owing to a grievous disesteem, on the part of many, of the great truths of the Christian religion. It appears by the testimonials which have been received, that the company of our dear friend was acceptable to his brethren in America at that time; and that his solid, consistent deportment, and steady testimony against the spirit of unbelief, tended to their encouragement and strength. After returning home he lived the rest of his days at Tottenham with his wife, who had been and continued to be a faithful help-meet to him, and who survives him. He felt the infirmities of declining years:-of later times his bodily sufferings were often considerable; but living near the meeting-house, he regularly attended all our meetings, continuing earnestly to exhort us to let our obedience to the law of God keep pace with the knowledge of its requirements; labouring with us on the necessity of pressing after holiness of life, and of a thorough surrender of our wills to the Divine will. He still endeavoured to do good and to communicate. He was much beloved and respected by his neighbours. One of the very last acts of his life, when his weakness had greatly increased, and disease was wasting his constitution, was to collect and assist in expending some money for the comfort of a few of his poorer neighbours, by the repair and improvement of some almshouses. He was continually concerned that he might be found ready to meet his Lord, when the solemn messenger of death should arrive; often adverting to the necessity of watchfulness, lest having long professed the truth, he should in the end become a cast-away. In the retrospect of his lengthened but active life, he was very desirous that his friends should know, that he trusted in nothing but the free mercy of God in Christ Jesus, repeatedly assuring them, that all his own righteousness was but as filthy rags. On the 5th of the 6th month, 1836, he was taken more alarmingly ill. Early in the morning of the following day he became much worse, from increased debility; and his breathing being difficult, he said, "It is labour, but not sorrow. O! deliver me, if consistent with thy blessed will. I am in the hands of a merciful God-take me. I can give up all in this world. Mercy! mercy! O! come, come, blessed Jesus, if it is consistent with thy blessed will." In the course of the evening of that day he was visited by a friend, who found him in extreme weakness; but in the possession of his mental powers. He observed that it was difficult to maintain patience. "O! for patience!" he exclaimed; "O! for a little help to be preserved in patience;" adding, after some further expression, "but surely mercy is even now covering the judgment-seat as to a hair's breadth." A hope was expressed to him, that although the body was brought very low, the mind was anchored on the unfailing Rock; he promptly replied, "O! yes:—if it were not so, what should I now do, or what would now become of me? Ah! truly, I am a poor creature every way, wholly dependent on the mercy of my Redeemer; and if he do but admit the pearl gates to be so far opened, that I may be admitted within them, it will be enough. O! I see the goodly land before me, and the glorious journey thither; but I am not yet permitted to enter it. It is indeed a beautiful prospect, as clear to the eye of my soul as any outward object to the natural sight." He then exclaimed, “Ŏ! the love of my Redeemer, how sweet it is. May my latest breath be engaged in singing his praises." He further observed, that he had no works or merit of his own to carry with him on that beautiful road, nor any claim to prefer, at the pearl gates;-but the love and mercy of that Saviour, who shed his precious blood for him. On the Friend's taking leave of him, he expressed that he felt love to all his friends without exception, emphatically adding, "to all my friends." At another time, on receiving a message of love from two friends, he said his love was to every body, all the world over, even the worst sinner ;-- he loved them, but not their deeds; that his love was universal to all the human race; adding, "If it were not so, how miserable indeed should Í feel!" He quietly passed away from time to eternity, on the 12th of the 6th month, 1836, and his remains were interred in our burial-ground at Tottenham, on the 17th of the same. He was about eighty-two years old, and had been a minister upwards of fifty years; and we believe, that to this aged servant of God may be applied the words of Holy Scripture; "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works do follow them." London and Middlesex Quarterly Meeting, held the 28th day of 3rd month, 1837. The foregoing testimony on behalf of our late dear friend Thomas Shillitoe, has been read in this meeting, and is feelingly united with. Signed by the direction and on behalf of the meeting by GEORGE STACEY, Clerk. Signed on behalf of the women's quarterly meeting by ELIZABETH KIDD, Clerk. VOL. I. The Author's birth, parentage, early career, convincement, appearance in 1794.-Religious visit to King George III. at Windsor-Visits some 1805.-Quits his business-Again visits Guernsey and Jersey—Visits fa- milies at Bristol-Travels with certificate to Sheffield, Manchester, and 1807.—Visits some meetings in Yorkshire and Lancashire, &c. 1808. His Address to the Rulers of this Nation-Proceeds to Ireland, 1808. His ministerial labours in various parts of Ireland-With Elizabeth 1809. His labours in Ireland continued; at Belfast and in the north-Re- turns home by Waterford and Bristol: and in 1810 again visits Ireland 1811. Returns to Ireland with certificate-At Cork visits the drinking- At Dublin pays visits to the drinking-houses-Returns home to Barnsley 1812.-With Ann Fry, visits the colliers at Kingswood, near Bristol. 1812. Visits the families and widows of machine-breakers [about Hud- |
