THE EARNEST PHILANTHROPIST. who met us very courteously ; several were there in attendance. Dinner was soon announced ; imagine me, the King on one side, and the Queen on the other, and only my poor French to depend upon, but I did my best to turn the time to account. The fashion was to touch glasses ; no drinking healths. The King and Queen touched my glass on both sides ; when dinner was over, we all rose and went out together. The afternoon was very entertaining; the King and Queen took us to the drawing-room window, where we were to see a large school of orphans, protégées of the Queen." These orphans had been brought in twenty-five carts "to meet Madame Fry," the Queen said. A shower of rain coming on, the children were brought into the saloon, and Mrs. Fry took the opportunity of speaking a few words to them. A German prince interpreted; and he was so impressed by the dignity and eloquence of her ministry that he exclaimed in astonishment, "C'est un don de Dieu ! " In Denmark, as elsewhere, Mrs. Fry effected magical changes. She found the prisons in a horrible state; but by her intercession they were enlarged and their inmates classified; while the Bible was made known through the gloomy regions of vice and woe. The arrival of the Kingof Prussia in England, on the occasion of the christening of the Prince of Wales, afforded him an opportunity of renewing his acquaintance with Elizabeth Fry, which had begun 41
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