and dearest friends, was a severe
stroke to Martha Yeardley, and sensibly affected her bodily health. In a
letter to her sisters, of the 14th of the Ninth Month, she thus gives vent
to her feelings:--

It would not be possible to set forth in words what we have felt from the
affecting intelligence contained in dear R.'s letter. What shall we do but
seek ability at the Divine footstool to bow in humble resignation to this
afflictive dispensation? I have had for some time a strong impression that
something of this kind awaited us in our immediate circle; and it was with
a trembling hand that I opened the letters. The tie which bound me to her,
and which is now perhaps for a very short time broken, as far as relates
to earthly things, was sealed upon my heart by a communion of more than
forty-eight years, and includes all the various changes of an eventful
life, during which my best feelings were ever cherished and encouraged,
both by example and precept, and by the tenderest affection. But I must
not dwell upon this subject, lest I become unfitted for the duties which
our present engagement daily calls for.

To these afflictive tidings was added some discouragement in respect to
their proposed journey to Russia. The little hope that John Yeardley still
entertained of being allowed to cross the Russian frontier was
extinguished by the information he received at Stuttgardt. A large number
of the German emigrants who settled in the South Russian colonies were
from the neighborhood of this city, and John Yeardley inquired of some of
their ministers, who had served in the colonies, how far the country was
likely to be accessible to a foreigner going thither to preach the gospel.
The information he received was unfavorable, and his endeavors to obtain
in this city the signature of the Russian ambassador to his passport were
fruitless.

They had, however, something to console them under these trials.

In all our former travels in Germany, says J.Y., we never experienced such
an open door and spirit of inquiry among the people as in the present
journey. It is said that there is scarcely a village in all Wuertemberg
where meetings for worship are not held in private houses. The late
revolutionists declare vengeance against these people, the pietists, as
they call them, and that if the war breaks out again, they are to be the
first to be cut off. But the present king gives them their liberty and his
protection, and has ope