260 FOTHERGILL AS A FRIEND CHAP. 



nor did he seek to do so, but he exercised an influence in 

 the growth of spiritual religion. Many yet prize their 

 memories of the old-fashioned Quaker household for the 

 type lasted into the next century with its atmosphere 

 of calm and sweetness, due to an indefinable sense of 

 reserve and of quiet stability in its members ; the outcome 

 of what was called " recollection " in silence, of habitual 

 prayer, and of faithfulness in little things. The garb and 

 the language were symbols of a type of spiritual refine- 

 ment unique in its way. 



Fothergill himself might be called a man of the world, 

 in the sense that he moved amongst all classes, and that 

 he took part in some of the best life of his time in scientific 

 and in political circles "quaker," says Vicq d'Azyr, 

 " sans etre trembleur." But he was a strict Friend, 

 bearing the testimonies of the society in plainness of 

 speech, behaviour and apparel. Such peculiarities were 

 deemed a part of the true growth ; not trees of the forest, 

 but, in S. Fothergill's picturesque language, as the under- 

 wood of the lofty Lebanon of the Lord. Yet Fothergill's 

 manner was so engaging, so infused with a spirit of 

 kindliness to all, that none took offence. Ridicule some- 

 times indeed followed him, as is illustrated by a letter 

 which he wrote to Dr. William Hunter about 1769, asking 

 his friend's influence with Lord Hertford (Lord Chamber- 

 lain) to put an end to his being represented in a play " for 

 the whole town to laugh at " a request put forward not 

 only for his own sake but for that of the society to which 

 he belonged. 1 He found in Friendly doctrine and practice 

 the motive and the power for a life of self-denial and of 

 humility, of untiring labour and pure benevolence. The 

 little hedge of Quaker ways he needed, so he seemed to 



1 See Chapter XL, Dr. W. Hunter. The play was perhaps Dibdin's The 

 Quaker, a Comic Opera, which was long a public favourite, and was printed in 

 1780. It introduced a nonsensical dancing Quaker and others of the sect, a 

 love story, etc. The allusion to Fothergill might be supplied in the acting. 

 See Gent. Mag., 1778, p. 47 ; T. H. Lacey, Acting Edition of Plays, etc., vol. 86. 

 On the 8th Aug. 1759, during the Seven Years' War, when an express came, 

 telling of the victory at Minden, " Our Citty was illuminated from one end to 

 the other, and Jno. Wallis, Doct. Fothergill, Robert Plumstead Besington [?], 

 Doctor Talwyn and severall others grossly abused by breaking their windows " 

 (Letter of Philip Eliot, in E. Howard, The Eliot Papers, 1895, i. 70). 



