In 1835, they returned to England, and in the

bosom of her beloved family and friends, great was, for a time, her domestic happiness. But home endearments were not permitted to interfere with her devotion to Him, to do whose will, was not only her highest aim, but her chief delight: and whenever the Lord’s call was heard, she was ready to obey. Many parts of England, and Scotland were visited between this time and 1845. During this interval some of her nearest domestic ties were broken; her eldest surviving son, an engaging youth of seventeen, her beloved husband, and a precious daughter, the wife of John Hodgkin, of Tottenham, were all summoned to their eternal home: whilst under the pressure of sorrow occasioned by the removal of Ann Hodgkin, the following letter was penned:—

Tottenham, 12th Month, 9th, 1845.

“My losses have been many and great, but the greatness of this, I am increasingly coming into the apprehension of. She was lovely in her life, and in death may we not be divided! or by death, but may her sweet spirit be very near in my remembrance, to the end of my days, and then may I join Father and Mother, Brothers and Sisters, Husband and Children,—how many of the nearest ties now, we trust, in heaven, and how few on earth comparatively. On this subject I cannot now dwell,—when I can view her free from all weakness, corruption, and suffering, in the enjoyment of that rest, she knew so well how to appreciate, I could smile with a joyful sorrow; but few of such moments have been given; in general a patient bearing of the present moment, is the most we have arrived at, under the blessed unmoved confidence that all is well.

Your very affectionate sister,
H. C. Backhouse.”

From this time a cessation from labour was granted, and after having thus devoted the meridian of her life to the service of her Lord, she was permitted for some years previous to her decease, to enjoy a season of almost uninterrupted repose. Love, meekness, gentleness, and peace were eminently the clothing of her spirit; and like Moses viewing from the Mount the Promised Land, she seemed almost to live above the trials and temptations of time; nothing appeared materially to disturb or ruffle the repose of her soul, deeply centred in God. Her ministry was often

strikingly beautiful and impressive, especially exhorting to unreserved dedication, and dwelling on the glories of the heavenly kingdom.

During the latter part of 1849, her health, which had long been delicate, began increasingly to give way; at the end of the 3rd Month of 1850, she was seized with alarming illness, from which little hope was entertained of her recovery; from this she so far rallied as to leave her bed-room, and go into an adjoining sitting-room, but never was able to go down stairs. It was evident her strength was very small, but no immediate danger was at this time apprehended. She was at times, cheerful, always tranquil and full of repose, and able to enjoy the company of those immediately around her; at other times illness oppressed her, and prevented the power for much exertion of mind or communication of thought. But words were not needed to declare her faith or her love, when through having faithfully occupied with the grace that had been given to her, her whole life might almost be said to have been one act of dedication to God.

On the night of the 5th of Fifth Month, increased illness came on, she continued conscious almost to

the last, and alluded with perfect calmness to the fresh symptoms of danger. On her sister remarking to her, that “though it was a dark valley, it would soon be all joy to her,” she responded by a beautiful smile, but power of articulation soon failed, and on the morning of the 6th of Fifth Month, 1850, she most gently expired.

We cannot close this account more appropriately than in the language of a dear friend who had long known and loved her.

“A character of such rare excellence, such singleness of purpose, such true devotedness, in which the intellectual and the spiritual were so well balanced, and well developed together:—a character in which, with all the occasional undulations and agitations of the surface, there was such a deep, such a clear, such a calm and steady under-current of sterling piety, of unwavering attachment to the cause of our God and of his Christ, of close adherence to the leadings of his Spirit, and strong desire to do his will;—a character in which the woman, the Christian, and the Quaker were so fused into one, did truly adorn the doctrine of God her Saviour. It was conspicuous that by the grace of God she was what