VISITS CHAPTER IX. ENGLAND, 1825-RETURNS TO RUSSIA-DEATH OF THE EMPEROR ALEXANDER, AND OCCURRENCES CONSEQUENT THEREON -ADDRESS TO BALBY MONTHLY MEETING, 1826-EXTENSIVE FIRES, ETC. In the early part of 1825, Daniel Wheeler visited England. He took the overland route, in company with Thomas Shillitoe, and landed at Harwich after a fatiguing journey of thirty-six days. His stay did not much exceed three months: during this time, he attended the Dublin Yearly Meeting, to which he had felt his mind drawn before leaving home; also the Yearly Meeting held in London. The following extracts are from letters written on, and after, his return to Russia. TO JOHN HIPSLEY, HULL. Alster, off the Spurn, Sixth Month 23rd, 1825. The pilot being about to leave us, I hasten to inform thee that we shall shortly shape our course for the Naze of Norway. The vessel, I believe, will be very comfortable, when we get fairly out to sea, and the decks cleared up. It would have been very pleasant to have assembled once more with my dear Friends on shore, if it had been permitted; as it is, I have great cause to be thankful, for having been allowed at seasons to partake, while on this side the Baltic, of the streams of that river, which makes glad the whole city and heritage of God. At the same time my heart is filled with gratitude, at the prospect of returning to my dear wife and family, with my health so much restored and renewed; which cannot fail to raise in all our minds, the tribute of thanksgiving and praise to the great and good Shepherd; unto whom not only every sheep, but the most helpless lamb, of the flock is known, wherever situated, or however hidden. TO ONE OF HIS FAMILY. Alster, Seventh Month 13th, 1825. MY DEAR -Within the last twenty-four hours we have only got about as many miles to windward; but we must learn in all states to be content. I little thought when I wrote from Elsineur, that another fortnight would elapse without my reaching home,and several days may yet intervene. There is, however, abundant cause for humble gratitude and thankfulness, that we have been so far preserved from accident. One night, since we have been in the Gulf, we drove very near the rocks on the Finnish coast. I had been up till after twelve o'clock, which is my usual practice at sea, as midnight often decides the weather we are likely to have the mate had had the first watch, and when he called the captain at twelve o'clock, he asked whether the ship should go about. about. The captain said, 'No; let her stand on.' I did not feel satisfied with this, particularly as the mate went to his berth, and the captain did not turn out but I lay down in my cabin, and kept myself awake, as it was highly needful that somebody should be ready, if wanted. Before one, A.M., a sailor discovered the rocks, and had the captain alarmed, who without waiting to put on his clothes, went on deck, and immediately the sailors were called out, and the ship's head laid the other way. Had it been much darker, we might have gone ashore, before the ship could have been got round. But our great and merciful Helper was nigh to deliver; to whom belongs all praise. Seventh Month 21st.-After beating about two other days with a contrary wind, in the night of the 14th the wind altered, so that the vessel could lay on her proper course the captain carried as much sail as she could bear, and at six in the morning we hove to, off the guard-ship; and as soon as they had boarded, we filled sail and stood in for the Mole of Cronstadt. I succeeded in getting a passport without delay, and proceeded in the afternoon steamer, and was favoured to find thy dear mother and all the family in good health. I trust we rejoiced together in humble thankfulness for being permitted to meet once more. Now, my dear child, I must bid thee farewell. Unite with me in grateful thanksgiving to the Lord Most High, for all His gracious mercies to us, and in humble prayer that he will be pleased to keep us meek and lowly in His fear, watching continually; that so we may be favoured to discover and escape every temptation, and be preserved from the many evils that are in the world, and alive unto Him who liveth for ever, through Jesus Christ, the Saviour of men whose blessed Spirit dwelleth in the contrite and humble heart. To RICHARD COCKIN, DONCASTER. Moscow Road, Ninth Month 26th, 1825. My late visit amongst my dear friends in England, very frequently furnishes us, when the family is collected together, with a pleasant theme for conversation; and when absent from them and alone, it is often with me the subject of contemplation. But while it serves to revive affectionate feelings for those I love, a sting of regret remains behind, at having enjoyed their company for so short an interval, and being again so widely separated from them, as has been my allotment for the last seven years. But, I trust, I have no disposition to murmur or repine; -on the contrary, I am often favoured to feel that resignation of mind, which, as it is abode in, has for its companion a feeling of sweet peace, of more value and more to be desired than the wealth of nations. No part of the journey leaves so much solid satisfaction when brought to remembrance, as my visit to Dublin. This was not a matter of choice, but undertaken and performed in the cross to my own natural will and inclination: and, although I am unworthy to be trusted with a sling and a few small stones, yet was I permitted to see how my brethren fared, and to take their pledge,—a pledge of love, which I believe will be long treasured up in my heart, and cannot diminish; being impressed with a belief, that it sprung from an inexhaustible source, a fountain of eternal duration, constantly flowing through innumerable channels, but still full to the margin of mercy and truth. There are several dear Friends in that land, with whom I feel a precious unity; and whether they ever remember the stranger or not, he often thinks of them, with feelings which time and distance only serve to heighten. From what I have said of Friends in Dublin, my dear friend must not suppose that those in England are forgotten, or that any thing like a transfer of affection has taken place on my part. Such is the transcendent quality of true love, that whilst it embraces new objects, it does not lessen for those, on whom it has long and deservedly been fixed. Be assured my attachment has not lessened for those whom I have long known and loved; on the contrary, it is strengthened by the renewal of intercourse. I am informed on good authority, that John Gossner, the reformed Roman Catholic minister, is now allowed to preach in any part of the Prussian dominions. He has lately had an opportunity of preaching before the Crown Prince of Prussia, and also before another great personage at that court, who was so much affected, as to faint in the course of John Gossner's discourse. The wife of the latter personage, it is said, has long been a serious character; so that one cannot help rejoicing in the hope, that the great and good work is going forward in the hearts of some, and perhaps in the hearts of many, where least expected or looked for by poor short-sighted man. To SAMUEL STANSFIELD.* Fifth Verst, Moscow Road, Tenth Month 29th, 1825. Thou wilt soon have been twelve months in England, and by this time canst form a judgment of the state of things in the meeting at Sheffield. I shall much rejoice to hear that there is a prospect of the younger branches coming forward to advocate the precious cause. The burden-bearers are thinly scattered in that large and once flourishing meeting; and some of those who yet remain on the watch-tower, Samuel Stansfield had resided some years in Petersburg, and been a constant attender of the little gathering at Daniel Wheeler's house. cannot be expected to continue much longer, before they are called to receive the reward prepared for all, who have fought the good fight, and kept the faith. It so happened that I was not at a week-day meeting at Sheffield, when last in England: there seemed no deficiency on First days as to numbers; but, then, numbers do not always add to strength: on the contrary, large meetings are often painfully laborious, as it frequently happens that but a small remnant are rightly concerned in endeavouring to roll away the stone from the well's mouth; and there is reason to fear, on these occasions, that many return home without having been sensible that any of the assembly have been feeding upon that bread, which alone can nourish the immortal part. I think I have witnessed, in the course of my pilgrimage, that the most favoured meetings I have been permitted to share in, have been those held in the middle of the week, or on other days than First days. At our little meeting here, seven or eight is the greatest number that now collects, only one or two individuals besides our own family, ever attending. We often sit as in low places; yet at times are permitted to feel that power, which can subdue all things unto itself, and enable us to draw near in the silence of all flesh to the "fountain," which is "opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem" to wash and to bathe in. What a favour it is, although far removed from the fostering care of the church, not to be deprived of the privilege of worshipping Him, whose watchful unslumbering eye beholds the feeble endeavours of all, who desire to seek his face in sincerity of heart; and who, in matchless and unmerited love, hath provided the blessed means to help our infirmities, which, though unutterable, are understood even in sighs and groans. [In the next letter, he gives an account of the death of the Emperor Alexander in the south of Russia, and of the occurrences at the capital consequent upon that lamented event.] |