CHAPTER III.

Success in business-poetical and literary tastes-social circle-Earlham Bible Society.

MANHOOD with its responsibilities now opened on our friend; and his nephew writes,-Although the pressing duties of every day life necessarily absorbed much time and attention, my uncle found opportunities for the cultivation of his mental powers.

The year 1808 he ushered into the world a quarto pamphlet, with a little tribute (see "Fugitive Poems") to the memory of William Cowper, author of "The Task," and other poems, occasioned by the perusal of his works, and the memoir of his life by Hayley.

This work was printed at Ipswich, by the late John Raw, a man of literary taste and qualified to appreciate its beauty. The first edition being rapidly exhausted, the publisher advertised a second. It would seem that the modesty of the author had not allowed his name to appear, and from the mode of wording the title page, a superficial observer would perchance imagine that Hayley was the writer of the piece; however the possibility of mistake was precluded in the second impression, and the well-known initials, J. T. S., were added. Ann Shewell, delighted with the attainments of her eldest son, exerted every effort to obtain a wide circulation for his poem, which was much read and admired. His talents were not however confined

to the higher walks of poetry, but were alike attuned to the cheerfulness of youth and the gravity of age.

In the bright circle which ever assembled on 12th night at Mary Liversidge's, when ancient custom and festive mirth were the innocent order of the evening, J. T. S. was a welcome guest; he never forgot "his mite" towards the general entertainment, and one of his little lively pieces has been preserved, drawn from the old game of characters, and addressed to the amiable hostess.

Hail to the circle round the sparkling fire,
The festive circle innocently gay,
Whose social warmth we value and admire ;
Whose soothing friendship drives dull care away.

Still may the feet of unremitting time

Hither in annual course your steps convey;

May fears nor cares molest your early prime,
And may the sun that beams a morning ray
With mild effulgence gild your closing day.

A few lines copied from the memoir drawn up for the Annual Monitor, may not be unsuitable here, as given a slight sketch of the social and domestic circle in which he long exerted a genial and beneficial influence.

"The intellectual tone of the establishment, and its great respectability induced parents to be anxious to send their sons to be there initiated into business habits, and many young men were under his (J. T. S.'s) care, whose influential positions in early life testified to the benefit they had derived under his roof, several of whom became approved ministers in the Society of Friends.

"Few now remain who remember him in early life; but the

following information gives some idea of the warm feeling those who knew him best entertained for his society; and one who recollects his social gatherings, states,-that he was always 'much given to hospitality.' On such occasions, besides his own intellectual conversation, he would come stored with some piece of poetry:

For poetry he had a relish,

And always was ready to quote
Some maxim or thought, to embellish
The truth he desired to promote ;

some information new and valuable; some book which, when as in those days books were scarce, was a boon not to be lightly prized; and above all he always led the conversation to some point of profitable instruction, not only for this but for another world; and to know that J. T. Shewell would be present, was to young friends a guarantee that such an evening would be a pleasant and satisfactory one.

"When the work of J. J. Gurney on the "Peculiarities of Friends" was published, it was proposed by the junior members at Ipswich, that a meeting for reading it socially should be held at the houses of Friends. At these gatherings our dear friend entered with heart and hand; his observations, remarks, and at the close of the evening, his supplications were such as to exercise an influence on his hearers. In the mind of the writer of this they will ever live, with thankful feelings for the great privilege of being present at them."

J. T. S. had, when on a visit at Aldeburgh, the agreeable society of Joseph John Gurney, when the proceedings of the then rather recently formed British and Foreign Bible Society were detailed in their social walks along the beach, in a manner

which awoke a deep interest in the mind of the subject of this memoir; and on his return from a visit to Earlham he began to exert himself in the good cause, encountering opposition and difficulties. The following is an extract from a letter to Mary Liversidge, written at this time.

"DEAR FRIEND,

"Ipswich, 9th mo., 13, 1811.

"As it does not seem likely that I can meet thee again at Aldeburgh, without incurring much fatigue to but little purpose, I am desirous of devoting a few minutes this evening to conversing in this way, particularly as you will, I am sure, be anxious to hear the result of our Norfolk journey. In a word, it has been most satisfactory, and we have returned, much encouraged, to 'do likewise.' The mail got into Norwich by twelve o'clock; but as we had to take a slight refreshment, we did not go to St. Andrew's Hall till a few minutes after. When we entered, the Foreign Secretary, Steinkoff, was opening the business of the meeting, which he did with much simple and pathetic eloquence; and was followed by his valued colleagues, the Revds. John Owen and Joseph Hughes, whose impressive persuasions were listened to with delight and attention by an assembled company of more than five hundred persons. The resolutions were then moved by the venerable Bishop of the Diocese (Bathurst), and carried unanimously, and a liberal sum, both in donations and subscriptions, collected upon the spot. The union of all denominations of Christians in the great and glorious work, was very interesting, and has left an impression upon the minds of most present which will not soon be effaced.

"At five o'clock, we adjourned to Earlham, to dinner, when we sat down to a most bountiful entertainment, thirty-three or four

in number, a mixture of all sects, of many of different persuasions, eminent for their parts, their piety, and their virtues. No words can adequately express the enjoyment that reigned, so pure in its nature and object as to produce a feeling somewhat like a foretaste of that blessed communion which the just of all generations shall finally partake of. On the cloth being removed, Elizabeth Fry knelt down in supplication, in the most sweet and impressive manner imploring the Divine blessing for the present company, for the peculiar labours of the day, and for the general promotion of truth on the earth: and on her rising, the secretary, Owen, observed, in a solemn manner, 'Now of a truth I perceive that God is no Respecter of persons; but that in every age and nation, those who fear Him and work righteousness, are accepted of Him:' and the conversation becoming more general, flowed on in so pleasing and edifying a strain, as surely 'had less of earth in it than heaven,' insomuch that the wine and dessert were kept back, and the servants. dismissed for half an hour, that nothing might interrupt the soul-refreshing current. The like was never witnessed by most of us before; for there was converse such as it behoves man to maintain, and such as heaven approves, and we were anxious not to lose any portion of such interesting and instructive communications. After tea, and about ten o'clock, most of the company remaining, we again assembled, and that chapter of Isaiah was read which begins, 'Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee;' after which, in his usual affectionate and simple manner, the Foreign Secretary, Steinkoff, knelt down in extempore supplication, and we all retired to rest.

"John Head is more warmed with the subject than myself, and I am afraid I have set it before you in fecble terms.