labor.  The Rev. Thomas Timpson, a dissenting minister in London, acted most efficiently as secretary, and lightened her labors to a large extent.  During the summer of 1835, the work of distributing these volumes was nearly all accomplished; and as during that summer Mr. Fry’s business demanded his presence in the south of England, she decided to seize the opportunity of visiting all the Coast Guard stations in that part of the country.  In this way she journeyed along the whole south coast, from the Forelands to Land’s End, welcomed everywhere with true-hearted veneration and love.  She addressed herself principally to the commanders of the different stations, bespeaking for the books care in treatment and regularity in carrying out the exchanges.  These gentlemen manifested the warmest interest in the plan, and promised their most thorough co-operation.

At Portsmouth she visited the Haslar Hospital, and while in Portsea, the female Penitentiary.  In the latter institution she desired to speak a few words to the inmates, who were, accordingly, assembled in the parlor for the purpose.  Mrs. Fry laid her bonnet on the table, sat down, and made different inquiries about the conduct of the young women, and the rules enforced.  It appeared that two of them were pointed out as being peculiarly hardened and refractory.  She did not, however, notice this at the time, but delivered a short and affectionate address to all.  Afterwards, on going away, she went up to the two refractory ones, and, extending her hand to them, said to each, most impressively:  “I trust I shall hear better things of thee.”  Both of them burst into unexpected tears, thus acknowledging the might of kindness over such natures.

At Falmouth, during this same excursion, she supplied some of the men-of-war with libraries.  Some of the packets participated in the same boon, so that each ship sailing from that port took out a well-chosen library of about thirty books.  These library books were changed on each succeeding voyage, and were highly appreciated by both officers and seamen.

In 1836, the report of the Committee for furnishing the Coast Guard of the United Kingdom with Libraries, appeared.  From it, we find that in addition to the L500 kindly granted by the Government at first towards the project, Mr. Spring Rice, a later Chancellor of the Exchequer granted further sums amounting to L460.  Thus the undertaking was brought to a successful termination.  There were supplied:  498 libraries for the stations on shore, including 25,896 volumes; 74 libraries for districts on shore, including 12,880 volumes; 48 libraries for cruisers, including 1,876 volumes; school books for children of crews, 6,464 volumes; pamphlets, tracts, etc., 5,357 numbers; total, 52,464 volumes and numbers.

These were distributed among 21,000 people on Coast Guard stations, and to the hands on board many ships.  Years afterwards, many and very unexpected letters of thanks continued to reach Mrs. Fry from those who had benefited by this good work.