On Second-day, as they were setting off, an accident happened to John Yeardley.

He had left the horse’s head, writes M.Y., to attend to placing the baggage, when, hearing another carriage drive rapidly up, our horse set off, and my J.Y., in attempting to stop him by catching hold of the reins, fell, and was much bruised, but through mercy no limb was broken.  We applied what means were in our power, and I urged our remaining at Pyrmont, and sending to defer the meeting; but he would go on to Lemgo.  His whole frame was much shaken, and we passed a sleepless night, so that the meeting next day was not a little formidable.  It proved a much longer journey to Vlotho than we had expected; when we arrived we found a large number assembled.  Five of our Friends came from Minden to meet us, and it was a remarkable meeting, notwithstanding we had gone to it under so much discouragement:  we have cause to bless and adore our Divine Master, who caused his presence to be felt amongst us.  August Mundhenck interpreted for J.Y. and for me.  J.R. also suffered his voice to be acceptably heard in testimony, after which the meeting closed in solemn supplication.  We pursued our way that night to Bielefeld and the next day towards the Rhine.

On their way home they stopped at Duesseldorf.  The ten years which had gone by since they had visited the Orphan Asylum at Duesselthal, near this town, had wrought a great change in the physical condition of Count Von der Recke.  He looked worn and ill, the effect of care and anxiety for his numerous adopted family; but he evinced a spirit of pious resignation, and had a hearty welcome ready for his visitors.  They returned to England through Belgium, and arrived in London on the 8th of the Eighth Month.

They did not at once return to their home at Scarborough, but spent a month in Hertford, Oxford and Buckinghamshire, attending the meetings of Friends in these counties, and visiting that of Berkhamstead several times.

CHAPTER XVI.

REMOVAL TO STAMFORD-HILL, AND COMMENCEMENT OF THE FIFTH CONTINENTAL JOURNEY.

1843-48.

The tour which John and Martha Yeardley made in and around Buckinghamshire, and which is mentioned at the conclusion of the last chapter, was undertaken in quest of a new place of abode.  In a letter from Martha Yeardley to her sister, Mary Tylor, written on the 3rd of the Eleventh Month, she says:—­

Thou art aware that we have thought, if way should open of going nearer to you, and of pitching our tent within the Quarterly Meeting of Buckinghamstead.  We offered to purchase a cottage at Berkhamstead, but for the present that has quite fallen through:  we therefore intend to rest quietly here for the winter, in hopes that in the spring or summer something may offer, either at B. or in that quarter, to which we feel attracted; yet desiring to commit this and all that concerns us into the all-directing hand of our great Lord and Master, who has a right to do with us what seemeth him good.