and I felt constrained also to preach on the unreasonableness of persecution for conscience’ sake, either by the government, private persons, or families.  Conviction seized her heart, and she became broken to pieces.  After the meeting she sought up the Friends whom she had driven from her house, and told them she could not be happy unless they would give her a proof of forgiveness by taking up their abode in her family so long as they might remain in the place.  Several of them accepted the invitation, which gave them an opportunity for free and satisfactory conversation.

How merciful are the Lord’s doings with us in sending help in the needful time!  I was so spent when we arrived at Sand, having had nothing from breakfast till 5 o’clock, that I said in my heart, It is impossible to get through the meeting this evening.

The Friends had some religions service at several other places about Stavanger, and on the 6th of the Eighth Month proceeded northward to Bergen, accompanied by Endre Dahl and his wife and Asbjoen Kloster.  Their chief service in this city was a public meeting, at which there was a large attendance.  John Yeardley says of the meeting:—­

There was a great mixture of feeling.  Many pious, thirsty souls, I believe, were present, and I hope such were encouraged and comforted; but the strong impression on my mind was to call the sinner to repentance.

On their way back to Stavanger, among the passengers were two Finland convicts, for whose peculiar case they felt much sympathy.

On board our steamer were two prisoners on the deck, in heavy irons.  They were natives of Finland, and had been sentenced to some months’ confinement in irons at Christiania, for having, it is said, committed some outrage on the priest in disturbing the national worship.  There has for some time past been a great awakening about religion in Finland and other parts of the North, and the most active among this number, in their zeal not tempered with right knowledge, have transgressed the law.  I heartily pitied the two poor creatures, inasmuch as I feared justice had not been done them; the prejudices of the priests and judges are so great in all matters connected with any separation from the national worship.  They were chained together, and were clothed in their native reindeer skins, and on their ironed feet were snow-sandals turned up with a long toe.  We offered them money, but they turned from it; and when acceptance of it was pressed, their change of countenance indicated anger.  They understood nothing but the Finnish language.

On their return to Stavanger, Peter Bedford felt that his share in the work was accomplished, and that it was not his part to accompany John Yeardley in the service which remained for the latter to do in Norway.  After being present at another public meeting in Stavanger, and in a parting interview with the Friends of the town, he went with William Robinson direct to Kiel.  John Yeardley had two or three more meetings in the neighborhood of Stavanger, where the desire of the people to attend was more remarkable than ever.