The voyage out was a very tempestuous one, but he was preserved through all danger; and, accompanied by his son Charles, arrived safely at his destination.

the return of his certificate for the South Seas, that it was required of him at once to set out for the American Continent, to visit more especially the cities on the coasts. At this time Amongst those distant islands he was long his son Charles Wheeler, his endeared comand acceptably occupied. Yet he was often panion amidst the perils and fatigues of the made sensible, preparatory to attending meet-Southern hemisphere, was in a critical state ings, and other religious services, that he had of health, and for his sake his father might no ability or qualification of his own, until have felt anxious to delay his voyage. But he was humbled as in the dust; when after so devoted was he to his Master's service, and patiently waiting to be endowed with strength so faithful to apprehended duty, that the from on high, he has been enabled so to min- yearnings of a father's heart could not stay ister, that the divine power has overshadowed him, nor call forth a repining word. He prothe assembly; softening and contriting these ceeded to America, and appeared to have poor islanders; filling their eyes with tears, pretty much carried out the work required of and their hearts with love, until they could him, when he found himself released to pay a scarcely allow him to leave them. This ar- visit to the remnant of his family, who had duous service, extended through the long pe- now removed, on account of Charles' declinriod of nearly four years, was at length ing state, to the more genial climate of France. brought to a close; and he returned safely to At St. Germains, near Paris, he witnessed the England. peaceful close of his dear son. He once more attended his own monthly meeting in the third month, 1840, and soon after sailed from this country for the last time, for New York. On preparing for his voyage out, he writes, But now that the time draweth nigh, I feel more than ever the need of the prayers of the faithful for preservation and support in this the evening sacrifice about to be offered, when the natural strength of the poor body, and perhaps that of the mind also is weakened, as days have multiplied upon me, and years have increased; and, I think I never felt more at the prospect of being again severed from my beloved children:' adding, 'Certain it is that nothing short of implicit obedience to what we believe to be a divine requirement will be accepted; and nothing can so fully bring our love to the test, as the having to leave all and forsake all, without making any reserve for ourselves.'

In the published accounts of our valued friend's labours in these distant regions, there is abundant evidence of his care to direct his hearers to the Great Teacher and Sanctifier, and to wean them from a dependence on instrumental aid; and it is gratifying to observe, that, in preaching the truth boldly, without respect of persons, he also gained the goodwill of the resident missionaries, who received him with uniform kindness, and gave him on his departure very ample testimonials of their approval.

It may not be unprofitable in this place to notice the exemplary care which our departed friend had exercised over his tender offspring, to train them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord: that they might experience a growth in grace, was the fervent desire of his heart. He would rise at an early hour to read the Scriptures to them, and at night he would quietly withdraw from the room, when the children were gone to rest, to endeavour to direct their youthful minds in reverent approach to their heavenly Father.

The blessing of Him who alone was able to preserve them, and render them meet for His kingdom, we believe was not wanting. For when, within a short period of each other, three of these young people were called from their afflicted parent to exchange time for eternity, he had the consolation of knowing that their end was crowned by a humble and confiding trust in redeeming mercy.

Had it been in the ordering of the divine will, after being so long a traveller in distant regions, and sensible of declining strength, our dear friend would have thankfully settled down for a season of rest. Hence it is scarcely in words to express the sympathy that was felt for him, when he informed his monthly meeting, on

A week after he sailed, Daniel Wheeler was taken ill, and continued so for the remainder of the voyage. The complaint appeared to be a cold attended with fever; and as he was unable to lie down from difficulty of breathing, his strength rapidly declined. He received every attention that could be rendered on shipboard, for he bore the respect and regard of all. When he arrived at New York, he was conducted on shore by kind friends there, and further medical advice was obtained. The opinion formed of his situation was decidedly unfavourable. On being told that he was thought to be in a very critical state, he said: All has been done that could be done; only write to my dear children, how it is. The work has been going on with the day. All I want is quietness; it is a great thing to be clear from pain. Love to all my friends on this side the Atlantic as well as the other. I

He remarked to a friend; As to himself, he had no doubt: he had the same faith that had been with him through life, and which was founded upon the gospel of Christ, which en-ness, and of his interesting expressions, when abled him to say with the apostle, "nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

He revived, however, in the afternoon, so safely landed, though extremely weak in body, as to write a few lines to his children. On and was enabled to say, should the Lord see the following day, he had returns of oppression. meet to raise me up, and strengthen me, still On the 3rd of the fifth month, after being bled, to show forth his wonderful works to the chilhe said, 'Without blood there is no cleansing;' dren of men, or cut short the work in rightupon which one of the physicians remarked, eousness, Thy will, O God, and not mine be "It is the blood of Jesus that cleanseth us done. I do not see how the end will be.' from all our sins." Yes,' Daniel replied, 9th. He passed a distressing night, and 'but not in our natural unregenerate state. If one time said, 'I did not know whether I we walk in the light as he is in the light, then should live to see the light of another day.' I believe it will cleanse us from our sins: yes,' he added with much emphasis, 'I know it.' In the evening he said he had had a hard struggle, and at one time he did not know but it was the cold sweat of death.

On the morning of the sixth, he called for his clothes, and having given directions for the disposition of some papers which they contained, he said, 'Now I have done with the things of this world;' and further observed, that he had no wish to live, but for the sake of his family, and that the Lord Jesus might live in him; that He had been his guide for many years, and he had declared his name unto thousands: that he had no hope but in Him, and he was the same Lord over all: that it was not the prospect of immediate release, that led him to speak thus, but it was in his heart, and he must say it while he had words; with much more, in a very impressive manner, and with a strong voice.

Towards evening his mind appeared to overflow with adoration of the mercy and goodness of his dear Lord and Master, which had constantly attended him in his pilgrimage, and crowned him with loving-kindness and tender mercies.

11th. He said he felt the Saviour to be near him, every hour of the day. From this period there was some apparent improvement, and for a time he was more comfortable; but the disease not being removed, his weakness again increased, and on the 29th he was very feeble. At one time he said, as to himself, he had no doubt: he had the same faith which had been with him through life, and which was founded upon the gospel of Christ, which enabled him to say with the apostle, "Nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

12th of sixth month in the morning, he said, 'Perhaps this day will end all your cares and troubles.' In the afternoon he said, 'It is very doubtful whether I shall be permitted to return to England.' In the evening his breathing became more laboured: after some time he was incapable of being aroused, and a little after twelve o'clock at night, he quietly passed away, in the 69th year of his age.

Throughout all his extreme weakness and great distress, that faith and trust in the mercies and promises of his dear Redeemer, which had been so remarkably exemplified during his eventful life, remained firm and unshaken; and that all things would work together for good, seemed to be the prevailing covering of his mind throughout his illness.

He has ceased from his many and extensive labours; and we feel an assurance that he has entered into that rest, which is prepared for the people of God.

He briefly recapitulated what had occurred since he left America, alluding to the consolation he had received at the death of his son Charles; so that he had to rejoice in the midst of grief, saying, "The Lord is good to them that love and fear his name: great things hath he done for me;" things so wonderfully marvellous that they would hardly be believed were I to tell of them. If I have experienced any shortness in my journey Zionward, it has His remains were conveyed to Friends' been on my side, and not the Lord's; for he meeting-house, in Orchard-street, where a large has been faithful, and his promises have and solemn meeting was held; in which, tesbeen and remain to be, yea and amen, for ever. timony was borne, to the sufficiency of that Whilst I was on ship-board, and thought by divine power, by which he was prepared for some to be nigh unto death, how did the Lord usefulness in the church, and made instruappear for my help and consolation! and since mental in promoting the cause of vital ChrisI have been in this chamber, how has he ap- tianity in the world. After which the corpse peared for my comfort in the night season, was followed to the grave by many Friends and I have been enabled to sing hymns of and others, and interred in Friends' burialpraises and thanksgiving unto him! When ground, the 15th of the same month.

the ship made her soundings, I made my Signed by direction, and on behalf of the soundings on that Rock which has never monthly meeting aforesaid, held in New York, failed me, whose foundation is from everlast-7th of fourth month, 1841. ing to everlasting. I saw that I should be

MEMOIRS OF DANIEL WHEELER.

CHAPTER I.

Introductory remarks by the author—his parentage, education—early becomes an orphan-enters the Merchant service, then the Royal navy is paid off—enters the army.

HAVING frequently derived much valuable instruction, from the perusal of the narratives of those who have long since exchanged an earthly for an heavenly inheritance, the thought has at times occurred to me, that a short memoir of my own life, however evil "the days of the years of my pilgrimage" have been; might, under the divine blessing, be made in like manner useful to others. But perhaps, from the humiliating conviction, that days as without number have been miserably devoted to madness and folly, in forgetfulness of a long-suffering Lord God, who is abundant in goodness and truth,-the guilty mind would gladly hide the remembrance of these for ever in oblivion, and pass over them in silent abhorrence; or, conscious that there yet remains a stubborn and unsubdued residue of human corruptions, a sense of unworthiness and unfitness may have hitherto operated to retard the undertaking; lest the creature should in any degree be exalted, to whom shame only with blushing and confusion of face must ever belong.

ed again and again to the temptations of the unwearied and insidious enemy of mankind, and have been long in the fetters of sin and death; yet I feel to have surpassed all others, drawn "iniquity as with cords of vanity, and that I have read any account of, in having sin as it were with a cart rope." I can adopt as my own, I hope in a degree of true abasement of self, the acknowledgment of the apostle," this is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief."

I was born in London, the 27th day of the eleventh month, 1771: my parents, William and Sarah Wheeler, were members of the established religion of the country, and strict adherents to all its rites and ceremonies; and although not particularly conspicuous as being more religious than others of the same class, yet they were highly esteemed and respected, by a large circle of acquaintance for uprightness and integrity, of which 'there are at this day many living witnesses. They had a large family of children, whose minds they endeavoured to imbue at an early age with the fear of their great Creator-taking them regularly to attend the performance of public worship, and also reading the Holy Scriptures in the family at home; portions of which I well remember reading aloud when very young.

Whatever may thus far have impeded any attempt of the kind, I am induced, not as a By a document now in my possession, it matter of choice, but as a duty, now in the appears that until some time after my father's sixty-first year of my age, to commence the marriage, he was not in any line of business: work; humbly imploring the assistance of but afterwards, to meet the demand occasioned Him, who "knoweth the thoughts and intents by a great increase of family, he commenced of the heart," to enable me, as far as it may the wine trade in a select way. To enter into be carried forward, to accomplish it to his minute family details is not the present object, own praise and glory, as a faithful testimony nor is it within my reach, being too young, for the advancement of our holy Redeemer's when deprived of both parents, to be able to kingdom in the hearts of my fellow-creatures. speak from knowledge of my own. I have Although no man can possibly be excusable but a very indistinct recollection of my father's for having done wrong, because others may person, not being quite seven years old when have been as bad as himself, or even worse, he died, at the age of forty-three years. Some yet the magnitude of the present undertaking time before his death, our once large family would, in my view, be diminished, if on re- of children was reduced to five only, of whom viewing writings of a similar kind, any thing I was the youngest. We then lived in Lonlike resemblance, or a parallel case could be don, at the Bond street end of Lower Grosdiscovered. But, alas! all that have gone be- venor street; but those parts of the premises fore, appear to me to have travelled a much which looked into Bond street, were occupied shorter time than myself, in the broad way by another person, as tenant to my father. that leadeth to destruction. Many have yield

My mother was endowed with a large ca.

pacity, combining great sweetness with firm- Although by our brother's imprudence, the ness of mind: and although an entire stranger family were now banished from a comfortable to every kind of business, she persevered in home, and separated, never all to meet again an extraordinary manner after the death of in mutability; yet the business itself received her beloved husband, in carrying on the trade no material check, nor was it for a single hour for the support of the family; and so long as suspended; but was afterwards carried on to she lived, it continued increasingly to flourish, advantage for several years by our successor. our eldest brother being her assistant in the When proper arrangements were made, our business. When she was attacked by the ill-beloved but unhappy brother sailed for Janess that deprived her family of their endeared maica, preferring in all probability a foreign and only surviving parent, I was sent for home clime, rather than endure the reflections which on the mournful occasion, being then at a boarding-school at Parson's Green, near Fulham. Of the loss of such a mother, I was very sensible, being about twelve years old at the time and as I had a much greater personal knowledge of her worth and solicitous affection, than I could possibly have had of my dear father, the event of losing her made a deeper and more lasting impression. I had had much of her maternal society, and had largely partaken of her constant parental and tender care, of which perhaps, from being the youngest of the family, I had more than an ordinary share.

he so justly merited at home, for having thus brought ruin and disgrace upon a family, whose prospects had been less clouded than those of many others in similar circumstances. It cannot be doubted that much sorrow of heart would be his portion: but I had never an opportunity of obtaining much information respecting him, from the time he left England until several years after his death. He died at the age of thirty-eight years; and it appears that he had been comfortably settled for the last several years of his life, and been frequent in correspondence with those branches of our family that were more stationary than myself. My other brother had previously settled in the West Indies. At this time, my eldest sister went to reside with our relative in Yorkshire, to whom she looked up as a guardian, until married: my youngest sister was at a boarding school at Putney; and I remained with the family which succeeded to the business. Having been previously removed from school to assist my brother in the counting-house, I had acquired considerable knowledge of its management; it was therefore a convenience to them who were entire strangers to it, and for a time no other occupation offering for me to engage in, I was furnished with employment, and had still a comfortable home.

A clergyman related to my mother by marriage, who resided on a living in the West Riding of Yorkshire, had the whole management of our family affairs, being left sole executor. He came up to London at this eventful moment; and after having examined into the state of things, it was judged eligible that the business should still be carried on for the benefit of us all, by our eldest brother; whose character at that period, and known capability, seemed fully to warrant such a decision. Shortly after, I was sent again to school; and our little family band, although lamentably reduced, still remained awhile longer unbroken. For a few months after this great bereavement, all things went on as well as could be expected with our solitary family; but the deep Our family compact was now forever disaffliction into which it had been plunged, by solved; we were scattered and widely sepadegrees began to wear away, although for a rated from each other, without any near relatime it seemed as if it could scarcely be borne, tive in the world. My father was an only much less forgotten. Our brother, on whose son, and my mother an only daughter, so conduct the welfare of the rest greatly depend- that we had neither uncles nor aunts; and I ed, thus left without parental control, became believe in the strict application of the term less and less attentive to business; and grad- cousin, not one that could properly be called ually sliding into bad habits, and mixing with so: neither were any of our grand-parents evil associates, gave way to every excess and living, or had ever been known to us, except indulgence in his power. From his extrava- our dear mother's mother, who ended her days gance and negligence, the affairs entrusted to at our house three years before her daughter's him at home became so much embarrassed, decease. Our family being thus severed from that it was now determined by the executor each other, we were cast upon the wide world, in trust, that the business should be disposed as to relatives, in a peculiarly destitute situaof; and the necessary steps were taken accordingly. It was not long before a person came forward, who was competent to purchase the stock on hand, and enter into the trade on his own account.

VOL. VII.-No. 1.

tion; but yet not altogether friendless,-for some who had long been bound to the family by ties of strong attachment, clearly evinced their sincerity, by never withdrawing from the orphan children, (now overtaken by adversity,)

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