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INTRODUCTION.

AS it is declared that "the memory of the just is blessed," and "the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance," it seems to be the duty of those who possess the requisite materials, to select and bring forward such particulars, respecting the lives and characters of pious and devoted individuals, as may tend to instruct and encourage survivors, and exalt the power of divine grace.

My beloved mother did not keep a regular journal; yet when absent from home she mostly transmitted copious details of her engagements, and sometimes made memoranda to which she often mentioned her intention of adding; but frequent attacks of illness, and the occurrence of trying circumstances, combined to frustrate her purpose; so that when not actively engaged in the service of her Lord and Master, the leisure she possessed was seldom accompanied by sufficient ability for much

writing. In the following pages, however, her own language has been generally adhered to, although in making extracts some trifling verbal alterations were found necessary; but great care has been taken to preserve the true sense and import where any small variation seemed expedient. The prosecution of this interesting employment has been attended with a consciousness of inability to do justice to the valuable documents committed to my trust, or the character of my departed parent; both of which are capable of being made extensively useful, had the office of Editor been filled by one more competent to perform its duties.

The work is however submitted to the public, with an earnest desire, that one who spent so large a proportion of a lengthened life in seeking to promote the highest interests of her fellow-creatures, may, though dead, continue to speak instructively to the hearts and understandings of those who are alike "called to glory and virtue."

ELIZABETH DUDLEY.

Peckham, 11th Month, 1824.

THE LIFE

OF

MARY DUDLEY.

CHAPTER I.

From her birth to the time of her joining the Religious Society of Friends, in 1773.

MARY DUDLEY was the daughter of Joseph and

Mary Stokes, and born in the city of Bristol, the 8th of the 6mo. 1750. Being of a delicate constitution, she was, during infancy and childhood, subject to frequent and severe indispositions, yet she was early sent to school, and has often mentioned, as a proof of serious thoughtfulness, her love of reading the Holy Scriptures, and that her partiality for the Prophecies of Isaiah was such, as to make her Governess repeatedly inquire whether she had not yet got through that book? Being of quick parts, and possessing facility at acquiring knowledge, she made rapid progress in learning; and as she advanced to youth, the vanity which is inherent in the human mind was much fed by the admiration of her relations and acquaintance; yet, even at this early

B.

period, she was at times sensible of the humbling visitation of Divine Love; and in expressing her solicitude for young people, she has often been heard to say, how highly she should have valued the privilege of christian counsel and sympathy, under those convictions which were at times counteracted on one hand by incitements to worldly pleasure, and on the other by ridicule for wishing to appear better than her cotemporaries; nor were these efforts untried on the part of those whose duty it was to act very differently. The following are her own observations:

"I am drawn to commemorate the gracious dealings of a merciful Father and CREATOR in early visiting my mind, which, though ignorant of the nature of deep religious feelings, was certainly often impressed with them in the morning of my day; though, from a remarkably lively disposition, I did not yield to that awful fear, (at seasons felt) which preserving from the snares of death would have led into a conformity to the divine will. Being educated in great strictness by my parents, respecting the observance and ceremonies of the worship they professed, (that of the Establishment), I was a constant attendant upon them from childhood, though with this, allowed to enter into most of the vain amusements of the world, to which my natural disposition greatly inclined; while in the midst of dissipation I often felt a dissatisfaction, and my mind was visited with something so awful that I appeared