inexorable
ferocity of the law and its administrators.

On this occasion Mrs. Fry was seriously distressed in mind. She had
vehemently entreated for the poor creature's life, stating that she had
had the offer of pleading guilty only to the minor count, but had
foolishly rejected it in hope of obtaining a pardon. The question at
issue on this occasion was the power of the bank directors to virtually
decide as to the doom of the accused ones. Mrs. Fry made assertions and
gave instances which Lord Sidmouth assumed to doubt. Further than this,
he was seriously annoyed at the noise this question of capital
punishment was making in the land, and though not necessarily a cruel or
blood-thirsty man, the Home Secretary shrank from meddling too much with
the criminal code of England. This misunderstanding was a source of deep
pain to the philanthropist, and, accompanied by Lady Harcourt, she
endeavored to remove Lord Sidmouth's false impressions, but in vain.
While smarting under this wound, received in the interests of humanity,
she had to go to the Mansion House by command of Her Majesty Queen
Charlotte, to be presented. Thus, very strangely, and against her will,
she was thrust forward into the very foremost places of public
observation and repute. She recorded the matter in her journal, in her
own characteristic way:--

"Yesterday I had a day of ups and downs, as far as the opinions of
man are concerned, in a remarkable degree. I found that there was a
grievous misunderstanding between Lord Sidmouth and myself, and
that some things I had done had tried him exceedingly; indeed, I
see that I have mistaken my conduct in some particulars respecting
the case of poor Skelton, and in the efforts made to save her life,
I too incautiously spoke of some in power. When under great
humiliation in consequence of this, Lady Harcourt, who most kindly
interested herself in the subject, took me with her to the Mansion
House, rather against my will, to meet many of the royal family at
the examination of some large schools. Among the rest, the Queen
was there. There was quite a buzz when I went into the Egyptian
Hall, where one or two thousand people were collected; and when the
Queen came to speak to me, which she did very kindly, I am told
that there was a general clapp. I think I may say this hardly
raised me at all; I was so very low from what had occurred