SIR FOWELL BUXTON.

As he was likely to inherit considerable property in Ireland, his mother sent him to complete his education in Dublin.

HE mother knew her boy, and when she heard recent remarks of this character she would say, cele-"Never mind, he is self-willed now, you bra- will see it turn out well in the end." tion Never was prophecy more truly fulfilled. romil of the In his subsequent parliamentary Jubilee of the career, in which he so bravely fought to Emancipation the cause of the oppressed slaves, he of the slaves in recognised the result of his mother's the British co- training. "I constantly feel," he wrote lonies, recalls to her from London, " especially in the memories of the workers action and exertion for others, the effects in that great cause, among of principles early planted by you in my whom Fowell Buxton was mind." prominent. He was born at Castle Hedingham, in Essex, on the 1st of April, 1786, but the stories of his early childhood clearly show that he was no He had learnt little or nothing at "April fool." When he was six years school. When the prospect of going to old his father died, and he seems at college opened before him, he gave up once to have risen to a sense of his desultory reading and shooting, and responsibility in a family of five, where made everything bend to his determinathere were two little brother and sisters tion not to be behind any of his comyounger than himself. One who knew panions, and he soon recovered lost him well said of him, "He never was ground. As might have been predicted, a child, he was a man in petticoats." Wordsworth's oft-quoted line, " The child is father to the man," was never more literally true. The remarkable determination of purpose to carry things to a successful issue was manifested in his almost infantile years. He was sent to school, first at Kingston, and then at Greenwich, but the education for lifework which he received in his holidays under his mother's care left a far deeper impression upon him. To that gifted mother he owed much that he afterwards became. Her great desire was to give her sons a deep regard for the Holy Scriptures, and a lofty moral standard of action. The strong character of Mrs. Buxton was reproduced in her son Fowell "for worse and for better." He describes himself as having been in his boyhood of "a daring, violent, domineering temper." But the

the young student, not then eighteen,
came off successfully after his examina-
tion, and tells his mother with delight,
that as far as he could ascertain, he was
the first Englishman who had gained
a premium at the Dublin University.
During a tour in Scotland in one of his
vacations, taken in company with the
family of Joseph Gurney (father of the
celebrated Elizabeth Fry), who resided
at Earlham, near Norwich, he became
increasingly interested in the subject of
religion. He purchased a large Bible
with the resolution, steadfastly kept, of
reading a portion every day. And he
remarks, under date September 10th,
1806,
that quite a change had passed
over his mind with regard to reading the
Holy Scriptures. "Formerly," he says,
"I read generally rather as a duty than
as a pleasure, but now I read them with

great interest, and I may say, happiness." his recovery, he says, "It would be diffiHe visited Earlham as often as possible during his college career, and an attachment formed on the first day of their acquaintance with Mr. Gurney's fifth daughter, Hannah, ripened into an engagement, and they were married in May 1807. In the year 1812 his brotherin-law, Joseph John Gurney, insisted that he should give his aid in the second meeting of the Norwich Auxiliary Bible Society.

This was his first address at a public meeting, and is thus described. "His | speech was distin-bod guished by its mitrach || acuteness and good frylins algion sense, as well as for the Christian temper in which it was delivered." moi About this time

we find the religious 77
impressions, to Toledo
which reference has
been made, taking ad
a firmer hold on his d
soul, and he attri-
butes the clearer
views of gospel
truth, which he then
received, to his at-ri

tendance on the
ministry of the Rev.
Josiah Pratt, in
Wheeler Chapel,

Spitalfields. Thirty years afterwards he wrote to this honoured friend, "Whatever I have done in my life for Africa, the seeds of it were sown in Wheeler Street Chapel." In 1813, he was attacked by an illness which brought him to the brink of the grave. It was a memorable period in the history of his spiritual life. His mind, which had previously been harassed with doubts, clung henceforth with a tenacity which could not be shaken to the reality of the Christian faith, and the "omnipotence of prayer." Alluding to this wonderful change after

cult to express the satisfaction and joy I
derived from it. Now know I that my
Redeemer liveth,' was the sentiment
uppermost in my mind. In the merits of
that Redeemer I felt a confidence that
made me look on the prospect of death
with indifference. No one action of my
life presented itself with any sort of con-
solation. I knew that by myself I stood
justly condemned, but I felt released from
the penalties of sin by the blood of our
Sacrifice. In Him was all my trust."
"I feel a joyfulness of heart," he said

to his doctor, "which would enable me to go WWE through any pain." "From faith in Christ?" he was asked. "Yes, from faith in Christ. It is an inexpressible favour beyond my deserts. What have I done all my life long? Nothing, nothing that did God service, and for me to have such mercy shown! My hope," he added, "is to be received as one of Christ's flock, to enter heaven as a little child." A day

or two afterwards he said "I shall never
again pass negligently over that passage
in the Prayer-book, "We bless Thee
for Thine inestimable love in the redemp-
tion of the world by our Lord Jesus
Christ," and he broke forth into thanks-
giving for the mercy, "the unbounded,
the unmerited love" displayed towards
him in having the Christian doctrine
brought home to his heart. From this
well-spring of love and gratitude to his
Saviour issued that intense devotion to
His cause, which bore him up in after
life amidst much opposition, and many

painful struggles of mind and body. lawful commerce in Africa was brought În 1818, Fowell Buxton was elected prominently forward. Shortly after this member for Weymouth, and his parlia- meeting the rank of baronet was bestowed mentary career indicated throughout his on him, who had so well merited the one desire of making his high position distinction by his untiring labours. conducive in lessening the sufferings of the oppressed.

He was chiefly remarkable for the indefatigable efforts which he made to abolish slavery in the British colonies. His sister on her death-bed commended 66 the poor, dear slaves to him."

In the spring of 1843, Sir Fowell's health broke down, but his heart still throbbed warmly towards all that was connected with Africa. "No matter, he once observed, " who is the instrument, so that there be successful labourers for God, for Christ, and for man, especially for heathen man!" Slowly, but surely the pins of the tabernacle were taken down. After a time of great exhaustion, he said "Christ is most merciful, most

Faithful to this death-bed commission, her brother worked on, through evil report and good report, through opposition and encouragement, through varying success and defeat, till, finally, he had the merciful to me. I do put my trust in unutterable joy of seeing the Law of Emancipation passed. In 1834, he writes: "How had I to exult and to thank my God for His mercy with regard to the slave question! On the 17th of March, Stanley, in answer to a question from me, gave a most highly encouraging account of what was going on in the West Indies: the whip abolished, the negroes more industrious, no disturbances, no murmur, no terror to the planter. Three years ago who dreamt of such a termination? termination? What would I have given to secure such good tidings, even one year ago, the day of my motion? Do I say more than the truth, when I say I would have given my life? Blessed be God, for ever blessed, for this singular mercy!"

The efforts of this energetic philanthropist did not cease with the liberation of the slave-he continued earnestly to labour for the elevation of these longoppressed people, and strove to promote education amongst them.

Him." His belief in the efficacy of prayer had long been intense. When in comparative health, he had often risen at four or five in the morning to pour out his heart in fervent prayer. When remonstrated with, he would answer, "I have not time enough for prayer; I must have longer time for prayer." "How could. I be shorter," he once said, "I could not stop." One night, his voice being heard after he was in bed, he was asked what he was saying. Praying hard," was his reply. "I have been praying vehemently for myself, that I may receive faith, that I may have a clear vision of Christ, that I may perfectly obey Him, that I may have the supporting arm of the Lord in every trial, and be admitted finally into His glorious kingdom." Nor was the answer withheld.

66

When his wife expressed her concern that he should lie so long awake, he replied, "Oh, do not be sorry; I have had such heavenly thoughts." Thus resting solely on Christ his Saviour, he passed away to his eternal rest-from death to life. At a large death to life. "Never was death," writes his brother-in-law, J. J Gurney, soon after the close, "more still and solemn and gentle, than on this occasion."

The work which he inaugurated is being now most successfully carried on in several parts of America. At a large and influential meeting held in Exeter Hall in June, 1840, at which Prince Albert presided, the subject of promoting

A VISIT TO BERGEN.

OUND for the north on thousand inhabitants buried in their our annual holiday we first and deepest sleep, the red and crossed the North Sea green harbour lights shone out more between Hull and Sta- brightly, and the gas lamps rising up in vanger, and after spend- semicircular form tier above tier, from ing an hour or two in the water edge right up to the upper visiting the last-named town, together with heaven's bright town, and the cathe- lanthorns hung out high in the firdral dedicated to Saint mament, made one fancy he was in Wonderland.

Swithin, a Gothic structure, and the only building of importance in the A large vessel, lighted up from stem place, we left for Bergen. For hour to stern, and with steam up, was imafter hour our vessel, the s.s. Domino, patiently waiting to receive that section was piloted through the labyrinth of of our company which wanted to press islands which fringe the Scandinavian on to Trondhjem, and farther north. A mainland on the western coast. It would few turned into their berths to sleep till require the pilot to know his work well daylight, while others of us were turned when threading these devious channels, adrift to secure accommodation where for they are often very narrow, and the best we could. Where best we could! water goes down sheer from the rocks to We use the words advisedly. Had a a great depth. As the evening came on passenger steamer been expected at most apace the weather, which had been bad European ports even at the most unduring the whole voyage, fortunately timely hour, hotel porters would have improved; the sun shone out in his been in attendance offering their favours westering splendour, gilding the purple with unrhythmical vociferation; but they fiords till they shone like a sea of glass do it differently in Norway. Not a porter clear as crystal. As twilight deepened was to be found, so, shouldering our beinto night the stars shone out bright in longings, in a party of four we started the clear northern heavens, and when the off on a voyage of discovery. We had Domino dropped her anchor at the mouth been recommended to go to the Hotel of the Bergen harbour at one o'clock in Scandinavie, but the question was, where the morning, the only reminder we had was that national hotel to be found? that we were now in 60° north latitude, Not even a policeman with his morning and in the middle of August were touch- star or peace preserver was to be found. ing the fringes of autumn, was a little For half a mile at least we wandered chill, which made an additional wrap a along the main street, and when at last not-to-be-despised comfort. The approach we got hold of a belated Bergener, we to Bergen was a sight to be remem- had to retrace our footsteps a long way, bered for many a day. The passengers and then ascend to the upper town. This clustered on the deck stood at attention; good friend was exceedingly polite, for not a word was spoken, and saving the he not only piloted our way, but carried occasional blowing of the steam-whistle, my "collapsing Gladstone," and waited and the churning of the smooth waters until, after repeated rings, the old landof the fiord by the screw of the Domino, lord came to the door. Surely, at length no sound was to be heard. The nearer our troubles were at an end! Not yet we drew to the town, with its forty | awhile, however. The hotel was full;