EARLY LIFE. 37 



Some of my grandmother's nearest relatives were 

 persons of eminence, to which they had raised them- 

 selves; and both from this and from her brother's 

 great position, gained, like theirs, by his own exer- 

 tions, she constantly impressed on my mind the duty 

 of following such examples; but always required 

 that distinction should be sought by just means : and 

 above all, she used to inculcate the duty of benevo- 

 lence, and to dwell upon its reward in the pleasure 

 beneficence produced. An ardent love of liberty and 

 hatred of oppression seemed part of her nature. A 

 horror of war and delight in peace could with diffi- 

 culty be overcome by any circumstances that could 

 be urged to create an exception. The words " Peace 

 is my dearest delight " were ever in her mouth. She 

 felt an affection for the Quakers on this account; 

 and when any one had anything to say against them, 

 her answer always was, " Well, but it is the only 

 sect that never persecute ; " and on the Independents 

 being cited against her, she would say, " But Oliver 

 Cromwell was an Independent, not a Quaker, and if 

 he did not resist toleration, he made war/' If it was 

 hard to find an exception to peace and tolerance, no 

 exception would she ever suffer to the necessity of 

 strict economy, public and private. The necessity 

 of economy must only yield to claims of humanity, 

 irresistible in their nature and wholly undisputed. 

 For next to a sense of strict justice, humanity was a 

 constant topic. 



Many an argument have I heard between her 



