A part of Elizabeth Walker’s errand in coming to Europe was to visit the Friends in Germany; mid it was proposed that John Yeardley should take charge of her and her companion, Christiana A. Price of Neath, on his return to Pyrmont.  They went together through Essex and Suffolk, having meetings on their way; but at Ipswich it appeared that C.A.  Price’s health was unequal to the journey, and Elizabeth Walker proceeded to Hull to cross the water from thence with another company of Friends who were bound for the Continent.  J.Y. was thus left to proceed alone to Pyrmont, and he sailed from Harwich on the 19th of the Sixth Month.  When in Suffolk he went to Needham to see “dear ancient Samuel Alexander.”

I had, he says, long known this fatherly man by name and person, but had had no acquaintance with him until now:  his company and conversation were exceedingly pleasant and instructive to me.  In the evening I took a walk in a large plantation which he had himself planted when young, and had now lived to see afford him a comfortable retreat.

John Yeardley was taken ill when in Suffolk, and on settling down again in his quiet home at Friedensthal he writes: 

7 mo. 15.—­I am drinking salt-spring-water, and my health is mercifully restored.  The air of this country seems to suit my constitution better than that of England.  Time is very precious.  I think, to keep a more correct journal of what I do each day might be very useful, by inducing a more narrow scrutiny how each hour is spent; for I know not how many more may be allowed me to prepare for eternity.

To this resolution he did not adhere.  With the exception of two short entries in the same month, he wrote nothing in his diary for the remainder of the year.  The difficulties of his position, perhaps a lack of sufficient employment, and the want of that instant watchfulness without which the disciple is ever prone to stray from his Master’s side, seem to have again produced, as they did twelve months before, a season of spiritual famine.

His own gloomy condition did not, however, altogether disable him from sympathizing with others.  In a letter to his brother of the 4th of the Eleventh Month he says;—­

I have of late been in such a low tried state of mind, that I have been discouraged from writing thee, under an apprehension I should say nothing that would afford thee any satisfaction in reading.  But though I may not have it in my power to relieve thee, I hope it will not be unpleasant to thee to know that thou art still more dear and near to me than ever thou wast in the times of more apparent outward prosperity.  It is a high attainment to know how to set a right value on perishable things, and it requires no small degree of fortitude to bear the depression of apparent temporary adversity, in that disposition of mind which becomes the character of a true Christian.  Although, according to our apprehensions, the storm may last long, yet it most assuredly will blow over, and then greater will be our peace than if we had never known a tempest.