But my object was to describe John Yeardley’s meetings in Bristol.  The truth is, however, that in describing the man, one seems most truly to describe his service.  In addition to his family visits, he met a large company of our members in our meeting-house, and gave an interesting narrative of his journeys in Southern Russia and Greece.  He afterwards invited many of our young friends, especially those who were engaged as teachers in our First-day Schools, to spend an evening with him.  Meeting at the house of a kind friend, we had an opportunity of hearing from his own lips some interesting details of his labors, chiefly, I think, in reference to the schools in Greece.  With characteristic simplicity, he made various inquiries respecting our own First-day Schools, in which he felt a deep interest.  The occasion was of a very sociable and easy character, and well calculated to promote in his young friends the healthy tone of religious feeling which seemed so peculiarly to belong to himself.

After Martha Yeardley’s decease, and as years rolled on, his mind dwelt still more habitually and more confidingly than ever on the approaching end of the race.

4 mo. 24.—­I cannot say my spirits are always high.  There is an individuality in the allotment of each of us which we must seek for grace and aid to endure to the end.  The road may be now and then a little rough, but it cannot be very long, at least to some of us; and when the eye closes under the last gleam of earthly light, and then opens in the full brightness of eternal glory, to enjoy the fulness of a Saviour’s love, it will be bliss indeed.

Thinking his state of health unequal to the attendance of the Yearly Meeting, he left London and again, resorted for a while to the baths near Minden, where he passed two months in tranquil retirement.  He had in former visits been deeply interested in the sufferings of a Prussian soldier who refused conscientiously to bear arms.  The late Samuel Gurney wrote to the King of Prussia, on behalf of the young man, who was in consequence liberated from military service, but was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.  The term was not nearly expired; but John Yeardley, whilst at Minden, heard that he had been released from prison by immediate command of the King.  J.Y. had “spent a First-day with him within the gloomy walls in Duisburg,” and was consequently the more ready to rejoice in his liberation.

On his return to England, John Yeardley proceeded to Birmingham.  His service in this and the neighboring towns was similar to that which he had had to perform at Bristol.  He says: 

By day I called on the sick and such as were confined at home.  In the evenings I met companies of young men and women.  They were invited to the Friends’ houses where tea was first served, and then a religious occasion of silence and exhortation, with supplication when felt to be under right pointing.  The remainder of the evening was spent in social converse.  I am very favorable to the mixing of social intercourse with gospel labor.  All seemed pleased, and I trust we were mutually edified.  I was often requested to give some account of my late journey and the state of religion in the various countries where I had travelled; and the conversation often, turned on points connected with our religious principles.