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tend one or another of the numerous committees on which he acted. Two mornings in the week he attended the Friends' Meeting, and on these occasions, as well as on the Sundays, no weather was ever known to keep him at home. After dinner Sarah Allen, or some friend who might be staying at the house, read aloud to him, to soothe him to sleep. He was a poor sleeper at night, and found it necessary to take a long rest in the afternoon, even if unable to sleep. Six o'clock was the hour for tea, and afterwards, when the season admitted, he walked out into the country. In the evening of every day, as in the morning, a portion of the Scriptures was read; when the clock struck ten, candles were brought in ready lighted, and every one was expected to retire for the night. A young relation (not a member of the Society of Friends) arriving, on a visit one evening at tea-time, my uncle said to him

I shall be glad of thy company as long as thou likest to stay; but remember, ten o'clock is the hour at which I choose all who are in my house to go to bed! What wilt thou do this evening? 'I think I shall go to the play,' was the answer. 'Well, remember ten o'clock.' The young man returned at ten; and the next morning, whilst at breakfast, my uncle was highly amused at the description of the performance, in which a Quaker had been introduced. The young man, however, found the time pass so pleasantly under the roof of his aged relative, that he did not again go to the play during his visit."

As one of many earnest and heartfelt appeals to his only and beloved daughter, we are tempted to give the

underneath:

Bridgwater,

10th of Sixth Month, 1777. I am not willing to close this letter without mentioning the desire that oftener than the day has been in my heart, that my dear children may live in the fear of the Lord, and die in his favour: particularly that my only and beloved daughter may, like her dear departed mother, know the power of the cross in her youth-that, if length of days should not be her portion, she may also experience the happy effects of an early obedience to the Divine requirings. It is only by the power of the cross we can experience a being crucified to the world, the love of and conformity to which brings death to that life which consists of happiness and peace. Let not, my dear Hannah, the example of others, who may be ashamed of the cross and of the plainness and simplicity which we profess, influence thy conduct; nor the levity of heart incident to youth prevent

thy seriously and frequently reflecting on the shortness and uncertainty of this life, and the continuance of the next, as well as of the infinity of the consequences of our present conduct. We are advised to pass the time of our sojourning here in fear :-how different is the conduct of the world. It ridicules or despises that fear in which is true safety and real wisdom. But let us rather be the companions of the despised followers of a despised and crucified Saviour in meekness and lowliness of mind, than grieve them, and injure our own souls, by conforming to the world and the fashions and practices of it. If thou knew or could conceive how much

my happiness (at least in this world,) depends upon thy being good, because I know thine entirely depends on it both here and hereafter, I believe it wouldnay I believe it will-have great influence with thee.

I am, and desire to be still more, humble and thankful to the Almighty that he has blessed me with chidren so affectionate and dutiful. Be assured I wish nothing more ardently respecting you than to contribute all in my power to your happiness, and consider me as a friend to whom thou may with confidence communicate every thing that concerus thee, and grieve me not by discovering a distrust of my being at all times and on all occasions,

Thy most affectionate father,
RICHARD REYNOLDS.

In 1786 this beloved daughter married. Mrs. Richard Rathbone, her niece by birth, her daughter-in-law by marriage, has gently touched one of the most exquisite and lovely characters ever permitted to grace a domestic circle. No words can, in the eyes of those who have known it, do justice to its benignity, still less, perhaps, to its sufused such an atmosphere of spirituality preme love of truth. Mrs. Rathbone difaround her, that they who came within it felt for the time as if their eyes were opened to a world till then invisible. A look, a tone from her, was like the touch of Ithuriel's spear. Strong enough, intellectually, to be proof against all that was merely specious and conventional, whether in the church or the world, she united the kindest and most tender heart with the clearest head. The grace and charm which we miss in the father, his chief and only remarkable defect, abounded in this admirable woman. In everything else she much resembled him; and never were parent and child

more strong in Christian regards one to another than Richard Reynolds and his daughter.

My earliest recollection (says one of his grandsons) of my grandfather are of his visits to Green Bank-of the pleasure with which these visits were anticipated by my mother-of her care and thought that every thing should be arranged for his comfort in the best manner possibleof her anxiety, as the time for his arrival (never, barring accident, either forestalled or delayed) drew near, that nothing should have happened on the road-that he should be in good health-and that he should not have been over-fatigued. All these things are as present with me now as when, after the first greetings, I sat in silence, like

a good little boy," at my mother's knee. We were thus brought up from infancy, by the influence of first associations, to regard my grandfather with the most profound reverence; and, although he always met us with almost parental kindness, I am persuaded that this impression never left any one of us at any after period of our lives. The general gravity of his demeanour, his dignified carriage, and, above all, his playful satire, which we understood much better than he supposed, and felt much more keenly than he desired or intended, all combined to associate with our feelings of affection and gratitude, a never-banished consciousness of awe in his presence.

About the year 1789 Mr. Reynolds gave up the Ketley works to his sons, and again took up his abode at Coalbrook Dale, having purchased the manor of Madeley, in which this dale is included: but here, after a series of severe family trials, including the loss of his excellent wife, his eldest son, and the wife of his youngest, Joseph, he determined altogether to leave Shropshire, and accordingly in April, 1804, moved to his native town, Bristol, thenceforth his fixed home, where the concluding twelve years of life were devoted to works of mercy and love. His wealth was, indeed, princely, but it was royally dispensed. Though in general secret and reserved in his charities, it was impossible that bounty like his could flow on without being often traced to its source. Frequently, when his name appeared to a sum of moderate amount, he was known to remit privately one of five times that amount. 20,000l. were awarded by him in a period of distress to one party in London; while, to secure per

manent support to some favourite charities in Bristol, he invested 10,5007. in the purchase of lands in Monmouthshire.

Mrs. Rathbone gives an amusing account of one of these transactions

An addition to the Infirmary being greatly wanted, he devoted much of his time to that object, also subscribing 2,6001. It was on this occasion that the Committee received an anonymous donation of a thousand pounds, entertaining no doubt who was the giver; and on the following day one of their number happening to meet Richard Reynolds, thanked him, in the name of the Committee, for his acceptable donation. He did not deny it, but said, "Thou hast no authority for saying I sent the money ;" and on the gentleman repeating, in strong terms, the acknowledgment of the Committee, and refusing to be thus satisfied, my grandfather quietly said, "Well, I see thou art determined that I should give you a thousand pounds;" and the next day they received a donation of that sum with his name, thus doubling his first contribution.

It is almost needless to add that the name of Richard Reynolds is to be found in all the protests against the slave trade and slavery, which were put forward in his day. More remarkable to our thinking, is the scrupulous fairness and generosity which seems to have attended every business transaction; for though it is far from unusual to meet with princely liberality among those who have already acquired wealth, we are too frequently called upon to lament over the previous absorption and even rapacity which have accompanied the process of acquirement. The declining years of such a man could hardly be otherwise than tranquil and edifying. Though never free from a grave scrupulosity, of which the fine portrait prefixed to the work gives strong indications in a certain look of anxiety tinctured with something strict and even severe, he be

came more and more even and serene as life drew to its close. We can give in no words save those of Mrs. Rathbone the account of his last visit to her father's house.

On the 24th of June, 1816, he set out on the journey which he had been in the habit of taking once every year, to visit his children in Shropshire and at Liverpool. He arrived first at his son Joseph's house at Ketley, when his increased fee

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Seal of the Church of St Stephan at Bristol.

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