I shall not soon forget the sensation I felt on passing the river into France.  I could not forbear drawing the discouraging contrast of quitting those to whom we had become united in the gospel of peace, in a country the most beautiful that Nature can present, with a long journey in prospect through a dreary country whose inhabitants wish only to get what they can from us.  These discouraging fears could only be silenced by reflecting that the same protecting Providence presides over all and everywhere.

Travelling with their own single horse, their favorite Poppet, the progress they made was necessarily slow, and they did not reach Paris till the 19th.  After spending a few days in that city, they proceeded to Cherbourg, and arrived there after six days of hard travelling.  At this place John Yeardley writes:—­

3 mo. 2.—­In looking back on our late travels, a degree of sweet peace and thankfulness covered my mind in the humble belief that our weak but sincere desires to do the great Master’s will was a sacrifice well-pleasing in his holy sight.  In looking forward to the dangers we had still to encounter, I was led closely to examine on what our hope of preservation was fixed.  Should it please Him who had hitherto blessed us with his presence and protecting care, to put our faith again to the test, how we could bear it, how we should feel at the prospect of going down to the bottom of the great deep.  I felt a particular satisfaction that our great journey had first been accomplished; if this had not been the case it would have been a sting in my conscience.  But now an awful resignation was experienced, and it came before me as an imperious duty to be resigned to life or death; and the joyful hope resounded in my heart, All will be well to those who love not their lives unto death.

The presentiment of danger which this passage describes was speedily fulfilled, as was also the hopeful promise by which it was accompanied.  They were detained at Cherbourg until the 13th, waiting for a vessel.  Leaving port early that morning, they landed in Guernsey the next day; and it was in going ashore that they were exposed to some danger of their lives.  John Yeardley thus relates the occurrence:—­

I descended first into a little boat, and standing on the side to take my M.Y. down, the man not holding the boat secure to the ship, our weight pushed it from us, and we plunged headlong into the sea.  My dear M.Y.’s clothes prevented her from sinking, and she was first assisted again into the boat.  I went overhead, and had to swim several turns before I could reach the boat.  The salt water being warm, and the time not long, we received no further injury.  What shall we render unto the Lord for all his mercies to us, his poor unworthy servants! how often has he made bare his mighty arm for our deliverance.  In the midst of danger fear was removed from us, and we were blessed with the unspeakable advantage of presence of mind, and enabled to use the best means under Divine Providence to save our lives.