to
Lausanne, Berne, and Zurich, the party returned home.

As her life passed on and infirmities grew apace, it seemed that Mrs.
Fry's zeal and charity grew also, for she planned and schemed to do good
with never-flagging delight. Early in 1840, she departed again for the
Continent, accompanied this time by her brother, Samuel Gurney, and his
daughter, by William Allen and Lucy Bradshaw. During this journey and a
subsequent one, she had much intercourse with royal and noble
personages. At Brussels they had a pleasant audience of the King, who
held an interesting conversation with them on the state of Belgian
prisons. A large prison for boys at Antwerp specially drew forth their
commendations; it seemed admirably arranged and conducted, while every
provision was made for the instruction and improvement of the lads. At
Hameln, in Hanover, they found one of the opposite class, a men's
prison, containing about four hundred inmates, but all heavily chained
"to the ground, until they would confess their crimes, whether they had
committed them or not." One wonders if this treatment still prevails in
the Hameln of Robert Browning's ballad. At Hanover they waited on the
Queen by special command, and during a long interview many interesting
and important subjects were brought forward.

At Berlin they were received by royalty in the most cordial way. Mrs.
Fry's niece, in a letter, gives a vivid account of the assembly at the
royal palace specially invited to meet the Quakeress and her party.

The Princess William has been very desirous to give her sanction,
as far as possible, to the Ladies' Committee for visiting the
prison, that my aunt had been forming; and, to show her full
approbation, had invited the Committee to meet her at her palace.
So imagine about twenty ladies assembling here, at our hotel, at
half-past twelve o'clock to-day, beautifully dressed; and, further
fancy us all driving off and arriving at the palace. The Princess
had also asked some of her friends, so we must have numbered about
forty. Such a party of ladies, and only our friend Count Groeben to
interpret. The Princess received us most kindly, and conducted us
herself to the top of the room; we talked some time, whilst
awaiting the arrival of other members of the royal family. The
ladies walked about the suite of rooms for about half an hour,
taking chocolate, and waiting for the Crown