Reading Experience Database
1450-1945

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Record 23080

Reading Experience:

Evidence:
'The last time that Mrs Fry was on board the Maria, whilst she lay at Deptford, was one of those solemn and interesting occasions that leave a lasting impression on the minds of those who witness them. There was a great uncertainty whether the poor convicts would see their benefactress again. She stood at the door of the cabin, attended by her friends and the Captain; the women on the quarter-deck facing them. The sailors, anxious to see what was going on, clambered into the rigging, on to the capstan, or mingled in the outskirts of the group. The silence was profound - when Mrs Fry opened her Bible, and in a clear audible voice, read a portion from it. The crews of the other vessels in the tier, attracted by the novelty of the scene, lent over the ships on either side and listened apparently with great attention; she closed the Bible, and after a short pause, knelt down on the deck, and implored a blessing on this work of Christian charity from that God, who, though one may sow and another water, can alone give the increase. Many of the women wept bitterly, all seemed touched'
Century: 1800-1849
Date: Between 1 Jan 1818 and 31 Dec 1818
Country: England
Time: daytime
Place: city: London, Deptford
specific address: Maria convict ship
other location: on a convict ship
   
Type of Experience (Reader):
silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown
Type of Experience (Listener):
solitary reactive unknown
single serial unknown

Reader/Listener/Reading Group:

Reader:Elizabeth Fry
Age Adult (18-100+)
Gender Female
Date of Birth 21 May 1780
Socio-economic group: Professional / academic / merchant / farmer
Occupation: wife of merchant
Religion: Quaker
Country of origin: England
Country of experience: England
Listeners present if any:
(e.g. family, servants, friends, workmates)
female prisoners (convicts), sailors, Captain, friends of E. Fry
Additional comments: nee Gurney

 

Text Being Read:

Author: [n/a]
Title: Bible
Genre: Bible
Form of Text: Print: Book
Publication details: n/a
Provenance: owned

 

Source Information:

Record ID: 23080  
Source - Print  
  Author: Elizabeth Fry
  Editor: Katharine Fry
  Title: Memoir of Elizabeth Fry, with extracts from her Journal and letters, edited by two of her daughters
  Place of Publication: London
  Date of Publication: 1847
  Vol: 1
  Page: 321
  Additional comments: n/a

Citation: Elizabeth Fry, Katharine Fry (ed.), Memoir of Elizabeth Fry, with extracts from her Journal and letters, edited by two of her daughters (London, 1847), 1, p. 321, http://can-red-lec.library.dal.ca/Arts/reading/recorddetails2.php?id=23080, accessed: 29 March 2024

Additional comments:

 

 

Reading Experience Database version 2.0.  Page updated: 27th Apr 2016  3:15pm (GMT)