end, to be a subject for thankfulness on
their parts; for just before the hour of assembly of the missionary
society, an alarming fire broke out, and threw the whole town into
commotion; and the missionary meeting was obliged to disperse as soon as
the opening hymn had been sung.

The Friends' meeting, which took place two days afterwards, was held in
quiet. John Yeardley preached on a subject which seems to have engaged his
mind ever since he had entered the place,--viz., the Fall of Man. While in
Elberfeld he printed a tract on this subject; and in a conversation which
he and Martha Yeardley had with a doctor from Charleroi, the doctor told
them it was the very thing which was wanted, being exactly adapted to the
condition of the numerous sceptics in that part, of whom he had once been
one.

Their sojourn at Bonn, where they arrived on the 31st of the Eighth Month,
was exceedingly cordial to their religious feelings. The persons with whom
they were the most intimately united were two ladies, Alexandrine
Mackeldey and the Countess Stynum; the latter of whom had come to know the
way of salvation during a visit to England. J.Y. describes the opening for
service which they found in this city, in a letter to Josiah Forster:--

This morning, the 1st of the Ninth Month, we received an early visit from
a pious young woman, _interior_. On her entering the room we felt the
Spirit of Jesus was near. As soon as we discovered the piety of her mind,
and her sweet and open disposition, I said to her: Now, tell us who there
are in this place who are really spiritually-minded persons. She said, I
will; and instantly took the pen, and put down about six or seven names,
among which was the name of the Countess Stynum. This lady, said she, I am
sure, will be rejoiced to see you; she is too weakly to leave her house,
but I am going to her and will tell her you are here.

Our kind helper soon returned with the expression of a warm desire from
the Countess that we would remain tomorrow and hold a meeting in her
saloon in the evening, and invite any of our acquaintance, and she would
give notice to her own friends. There was so evidently a pointing of the
Great Master's finger in this matter, that we were at once constrained to
accept the invitation.

9 _mo_. 3.--A little before six o'clock last evening the Countess
sent for us to take coffee with her, to have an hour of our company before
the meeting. She gave us a hearty reception,