But the bravest and strongest pilgrim, when he is travelling toward the sunset, cannot but perceive that the shadows are lengthening around him.  He did not, like most old people, watch the gathering gloom; but during the last two or three years of his life, he seemed to have an increasing feeling of spiritual loneliness.  He had survived all his cotemporaries; he had outlived the Society of Friends, as it was when it took possession of his youthful soul; and though he sympathized with the present generation remarkably for so old a man, still he was among them, and not of them.  He quieted this feeling by the best of all methods.  He worked continually, and he worked for others.  In this way, he brought upon himself his last illness.  A shop had been built very far up in the city, for a discharged convict, and the Association had incurred considerable expense on his account.  He was remarkably skilful at his trade, but after awhile he manifested slight symptoms of derangement.  Friend Hopper became extremely anxious about him, and frequently travelled back and forth to examine into the state of his affairs.  This was in the severe winter of 1852, and he was past eighty years old.  He took heavy colds, which produced inflammation of the lungs, and the inflammation subsequently extended to his stomach.  In February of that year, declining health made it necessary to resign his office in the Prison Association.  His letter to that effect was answered by the following Resolutions, unanimously passed at a meeting of the Executive Committee: 

“This Association has received, with undissembled sorrow, the resignation of Isaac T. Hopper, as their agent for the relief of discharged convicts.

“He was actively engaged in the organization of the Society, and has ever since been its most active member.

“His kindness of heart, and his active zeal in behalf of the fallen and erring, whom he has so often befriended, have given to this Society a lofty character for goodness, which, being a reflection of his own, will endure with the remembrance of him.

“His forbearance and patience, combined with his great energy of mind, have given to its action an impetus and a direction, which, it is to be earnestly hoped, will continue long after it shall have ceased to enjoy his participation in its active business.

“His gentleness and propriety of deportment toward us, his associates, have given him a hold upon our affections, which adds poignancy to our grief at parting with him.

“And while we mourn his loss to us, our recollection of the cause of it awakens within us the belief that the good he has done will smooth his departure from among us, and gives strength to the cheering hope that the recollection of a life well spent may add even to the happiness that is in store for him hereafter.”

He sent the following reply, which I believe was the last letter he ever wrote: