Memoir of Robert Charleton

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Chapter I. Paok

Early Life and Character. — Death of his Mother. — His Business Training. — Trade Engagements. — Commencement of Philanthropic Labors. — Joins the Total Abstinence Movement. — Loss of his Brothers. — Addresses on Total Abstinence. — Solitary Walks. — Leighton's " Commentary.'* — Accompanies S. Capper to Ireland. — Letter on the Temperance Movement there. — Interest in Education. — Address at Taunton. — Power of Close Application 1

CHAPTER H.

Death of his Father. — His Marriage Engagement. — Accompanies S. Capper in his Tent-Meetings in Oxfordshire, etc. — Extracts from Letters to his Wife previous to their Marriage. — Decease of her Mother . . .20

CHAPTER in.

His Marriage. — Attention to Schools. — The Peace Cause.

— Accompanies S. Capper in Wiltshire. — John Foster.

— Peace Congress at Frankfort. — Letters from Bristol.

— Views on Investments and on Total Abstinence. — Peace Congress in London. — T. Evans at Bristol. — Speech on the Kafir War. — Low Estimate of his own Services 32

CHAPTER IV.

His Attachment to the Views of Friends. — Notes of Yearly Meeting of 1852. —On the Weather. —* Burial of T. S.

VI CONTENTS.

PAOK and Death of Samuel Capper. — The Militia Act. — Retires from Business. — Attends Peace Congress at Manchester. — Address on our Relations with France. — Deputations to the Earl of Aberdeen. — Tour in Scotland. — Removes to Ashley Down. — Recollections by a Friend.

— Attention to Family Claims 48

CHAPTER V.

Breach with Russia. — The Meeting for Sufferings addresses

the Emperor of Russia. — R. C. forms one of a Deputation

to present the Address. — His Narrative at length. —

. Speaks at the Annual Meeting of the Peace Society. —

Letter respecting the Yearly Meeting of Friends in 1854.

— Continued Support of Philanthropic Objects . . 59

CHAPTER VI.

Tour in Switzerland. — Letters therefrom and from Paris.

— Other Correspondence. — Views on Temperance and Education. — Attends Peace Conference at Manchester.

— Accompanies Josiah Forster to Paris. — Letter therefrom .92

CHAPTER VII.

Letter to E. H. Duval. — Joseph Eaton. — Journey as one of a Deputation to present a ** Plea for Liberty of Conscience ** to the Governments of Northern Europe. — Letter to the " Western Temperance Herald." — Return from the Continent. — First Appearance as a Minister of the Gospel in a Meeting for Worship . . . .110

CHAPTER VIH.

Death of Joseph Sturge. — R. Charleton's estimate of his Character. — Letter to E. H. Duval. — Is recorded as a Minister. — Birth of his Son. — Conference of Friends in London. — Advocates the " Permissive Bill." — Notes of the Yearly Meeting of 1861. — Views of Divine Truth. — Visit to Friends* Meetings in Devon and Cornwall. — Letter on the American War, etc. 142

CONTENTS. Vll

CHAPTER IX.

PAOI

Lectures on the Protestant Reformation in England. — The American War. — Visits Yorkshire. — Letters to and respecting John Budge. — Attends Ackworth School General Meeting. — Letter to E. H. Duval. — Visits in Gloucestershire and Cornwall. — Notes on the latter Visit, and that in Devonshire. — The Peace Cause. — Visit to Ireland. — Qualifications for Social Gatherings . .169

CHAPTER X.

Appearance of his Malady. — Speech at Annual Meeting of Peace Society. — Submits to an Operation. — Letters to various Correspondents. — Death of William Tanner. — Attends First-day School Conference at Birmingham. — Offers a Home for the Children of L. and S. Street. — Illness in Pleurisy. — Correspondence. — Work at Horfield 188

CHAPTER XI.

Letter on our Lord's Second Coming. — Correspondence. — Last Address on the Peace Cause. — The Geneva Arbitration. — Freedmen's Aid Society. — Mission of E. and I. Beard. — Presides at and addresses Auxiliary Meeting of London Missionary Society. — Opposes the C. D. Acts.

— Address at the Interment of George Thomas. — Reminiscences of R. C. in the " Western Temperance Herald " and by S. Short. — Continued Interest in the Temperance Cause. — Extract from his " Temperance Experiences."

— Correspondence. — Visit to B. Seebohm. — Diligence under his progressing Malady. — Letters from Sidcot, London, and Bristol 237

CHAPTER Xn.

His ripened Christian Experience. — Address in Bristol Meeting. — Aid to the Sufferers by the Franco-Prussian War. — Pens one of the Addresses to the French. — Corvm CONTENTS.

PAGE

respondence. — Attends the Yearly Meeting of 1872. — His Remarks there. — Letter to W. C. — Visit to Ilfracombe and Torquay. — Letter on Righteousness, etc. — Return of L. and S. Street to England. — Letter on the Anti-Slavery Movement. — Last Illness and Death. — Interment. — Letters of Sympathy, and Testimonies to his

Christian Character 287

MEMOIR

OF

ROBERT CHARLETON.

CHAPTER I.

Early Life and Character. — Death of his Mother. — His Business Training. — Trade Engagements. — Commencement of Philanthropic Labors. — Joins the Total Abstinence Movement. — Loss of his Brothers. — Addresses on Total Abstinence. — Solitary Walks — Leighton's * * Commentary.** — Accompanies S. Capper to Ireland. — Letter on the Temperance Movement there. — Interest in Eilacation. — Address at Taunton. — Power of Close Application.

ROBEBT Chableton was the eldest son of James and Elizabeth Charleton, and was born in the city of Bristol on the 15th of Fourth Month, 1809. Two brothers, to whose early death allusion will hereafter be made, were the only other members of the family. Parental care and training appear to have been watchfully exercised within it ; and, in rather an uncommon degree, the influence of his beloved mother would seem to have been felt by the subject of this Memoir. To her he was tenderly attached, and for her memory he cherished, in after life, a devoted affection and reverence. 1

Of his early childhood we have few particulars. He was taught in the simple schools then provided for those of tender age, and was afterwards, for a short time, a pupil in the boarding-school of the late Joel Lean, near Bristol. Before, however, his education could have been far advanced, the increasingly delicate health of his dear parents led to their removal from Bristol, and to their subsequent residence, for several years, in the South of France and in Cornwall.

As Robert accompanied his parents, the intended course of his school education was cut short, and he was in consequence deprived of some literary advantages. This was, however, largely compensated for in after years by a diligent use of the talents which had been bestowed on him. Habits of steady application, the cultivation of the powers of observation and memory, and the exercise of an understanding of no common vigor, strengthened and expanded the intellectual faculties ; so that these, no less than the affections of the heart, being consecrated to the service of the Great Giver, yielded their full measure of fruit to His praise.

We would desire, however, to bear in mind that none would have deprecated more strongly than himself any approach to eulogy, or more emphatically have ascribed any right occupation and increase of gifts and talents to the grace of his God and Saviour.

But, to return to the days of his boyhood, those of his surviving friends who were his companions at school bear testimony to the remarkable conscientiousness and uprightness of his character thus early in life ; and to the apparent freedom from many of the temptations to which others are subject. One of these friends, who was with him at a preparatory school, says : —

" I well recollect being impressed with Robert's remarkable unselfishness. We were nearly of an age, and about equally advanced in our lessons ; but no little notion of rivalry which may have existed in my own mind, and which the plan of the school rather tended to foster, could excite in me any ill-feeling towards so conscientious and kind-hearted a school-fellow."

By another, friend, who was with him at a more advanced school, he is thus described : —

" He was rather short, broad-set, with a steady ^ quiet air, and a cheerful intelligent expression of countenance ; particularly free from any and every thing having even the appearance of evil ; not inclined to play, and not associating freely with other boys.*'

The following extract from a letter of R. C.'s, written to his son at Weston School, and dated Torquay, Ninth Month 14th, 1871, refers to the period immediately following that of his own school-days in England : —

"TO R. A. C.

". . . . My twelth year was a somewhat eventful period of my early life ; for during that year I went with my dear parents (on account of my father's poor health) to the South of France, and spent the winter with them at Hidres, near the Mediterranean Sea. It is the most southerly point in France, and, owing to its being sheltered from the north winds by a range of hills^the climate is so mild that orange trees grow to a large size in the open air, and the fruit they produce forms an important source of income to the owners or cultivators of these orange gardens.

'* I believe we remained at Hidres about five months, during which time I went to a day-school in the town, where I was the only English boy ; and being obliged to use the little French I knew, I soon got to speak it pretty fluently — almost as easily as speaking English.

" But though I was favorably situated for learning French, yet in all other respects my advantages were not nearly so great as those which my dear son is now enjoying at the Weston School "

We quote the following from the reminiscences of a valued friend who knew him at Congenies at about the same period : —

"All my recollections of him are most pleasant. He was a very simple, honest, and cheerful lad ; fond of play but singularly upright and conscientious. There never was any reason to doubt, not only his words, but his representations of things ; and, though young, we could perceive that the fear of the Lord was at the basis of his actions. He was affectionate and kind to all, so that all loved him. Few of those who remembered him at Congenies are now left ; but as long as they lived they remembered him with affection. He was a remarkably good example to his brothers ; when in school, keeping most assiduously to his lessons, and doing everything conscientiously. He was then about thirteen, and I fancy I can see him — rather regardless of appearances, and with a degree of honesty and frankness depicted on his countenance which we all admired Robert did not

care what others thought, provided he was doing what his beloved parents approved, and especially

\<^hat God approved My dear father especially

loved him, and often spoke of him in after life with much affection. He seemed thoroughly to enjoy everything ; giving, too, an evidence that (although that was a time when less was said to, and less expected to be said by, children on religious subjects than would be the, case now) he had early learned the fear of the Lord ; and, truly, in manner^ at Meeting and other religious opportunities, he gave Him reverence. In him we could see the blessing which had rested on the prayerful training of his beloved mother, to whom he was devotedly attached."

Another friend writes, in reference to this time, when also staying at Congenies : —

" I do not recollect any particular incident to record ; but I do remember that he was a nice, gentle, intelligent boy, in whom I never saw or heard of any deviation from what we should describe as a good and amiable boy. He and his brothers were the companions of their affectionate parents, and carefully trained and watched over. We spent much time together during my long stay at Congenies."

Whilst much of the amiability and straightforwardness thus described was doubtless traceable to natural disposition and parental influence, we believe that very early in life the regenerating work of Divine grace was also experienced in his heart, the renovating process being apparently of a gradual kind, rather than marked by evidences of a sudden and striking character.

The decease of Elizabeth Charleton occurred in the year 1826, during a sojourn at Penzance, when the subject of this Memoir was seventeen years of age. This event, to which feeling allusion is made in a letter written in 1869, hereafter inserted, probably deepened his religious impressions, and tended to promote his growth in grace. But, to quote the words of a dear friend and relative, —

" Whatever may have been his spiritual character in childhood and youth, it became abundantly evident in the first years of his manhood that his heart had then been given to his God and Saviour."

From the same biographical sketch we quote the following particulars of his secular engagements after leaving school : —

" His business training was that of a land surveyor and agent, in the office of H. F. Cotterell, a Friend at Bath. His ability and energy, steadiness and perseverance, would probably have given him much success in that or any other worldly calling which afforded scope for the full exercise of those qualities ; but his Heavenly Father had higher purposes for him than mere worldly success of any kind.

" Not long after leaving Bath he entered upon what was, with a very brief anterior exception, his only business engagement through life — that of a pin manufacturer in the vicinity of his native city, Bristol. There is reason to believe that in taking this step he was as much influenced by the desire to prevent a considerable number of work-people being .thrown .out of employment as by the prospect of gain to him-

The following memorandum, given by R. Charleton to his father, affords instructive evidence of the watchfulness with which he humbly sought for Divine guidance at this important period : —

*' About the beginning of the present year I was favored with a clear evidence or assurance (communicated to my soul in a very intelligible manner) of the continued extension of the love and mercy of the Almighty towards me. Assurances of this kind have since, through the goodness of God, been often repeated, both mediately and immediately ; but these impressions have always been accompanied by a conviction that, in order to secure the continuance of this inestimable favor, I must yield a much more perfect obedience to His will than heretofore has been the case ; and that, in order to ascertain what may be His will respecting me, and to obtain ability to perform it, I must yield myself up to the direction of the Holy Spirit. I believe it to be required of me to apply to this Counselor for spiritual ilhimination and assistance, not only on what may be termed extraordinary occasions, but also on some of those more common or ordinary ones where the unaided efforts of the understanding are generally considered to be sufficient guidance. With this belief, I cannot be satisfied to fix what course to pursue after the Yearly Meeting — whether to engage in business at all, when, or where ; and however unpleasant to myself this state of uncertainty and indecision may be, yet I cannot tell how to avoid it. This it was that gave to my conversation on the subject that appearance of mystery which I could neither remove nor easily explain."

We may here, as referring chiefly to R. Charleton's early manhood, quote from another friend, who writes of the " strong impression " retained " of his conscientious, exemplary conduct, and peculiar unselfishness, as well as the power of mind, correct judgment, and business capability evidenced at an early period." The same friend adds : —

" His valuable and lovable qualities were somewhat veiled by shyness and awkwardness of manner, which was only gradually corrected ; but his ability as well as moral excellence was even then fully recognized.

" But though the sterling qualities were there, the love of nature, and other tastes which added to the beauty of his matured character, were not then developed. That intense interest in his fellow-creatures which afterwards became the means of such wide-spread blessing, existed in a somewhat utilitarian form, causing him, as he said, to prefer the prospect of a number of human habitations to the finest scenery. We know that in after years his appreciation of natural beauty only increased his power of conferring gratification on others as well as ministering to his own thankful enjoyment. It helped to form the glow in his character so impressed on the remembrance of those who knew him, but so impossible to convey by words to those who knew him not."

We are brought, at this point, to his entrance upon the more active and responsible duties of life, among which we find that those of a philanthropic character early held with him a prominent place. His benevolent care for those in his employ, and for the necessities of others, accompanied by a perception of the unspeakable importance of habits of strict sobriety, induced him to join in the efforts made by the pioneers of " Total Abstinence."

On this subject his convictions were strengthened by advancing years ; and in later life he would often recur with interest to those early days of the Temperance movement when he was first banded with some of its earnest and honored advocates, such as were Joseph Eaton, Edward and George Thomas, and others.

One of the earliest occasions recorded of his own public advocacy of the cause occurred soon after the loss of his two brothers by shipwreck, off the coast of

America, This recent affliction did not prevent him from fulfilling an engagement which he regarded in the light of a duty — an instance of that unshrinking performance of what he deemed to be such which so strikingly characterized him through life. From his address, as reported at length in the " Western Temperance Herald " of December 26, 1836, we give extracts proving the depth and earnestness of his feelings, and the clearness of his judgment on the subject : —

" Mr. R. Charleton said the circumstances of the severe affliction with which, by Divine dispensation, he had been visited, must be his excuse for not having upon late occasions taken so active a part in the proceedings of the Society; but, at the call of the chairman, he readily came forward to address them. It had always appeared to him that of all kinds of argument the strongest was the practical. Of the truth and Divine authenticity of the Holy Scriptures there are several kinds of evidence. There is the historical evidence, and the evidence of miracles ; but most persons agree that their Christian principle and Divine origin are most strongly attested by the practical argument. When facts are furnished and fruits brought forward, the argument cannot be disputed. In support of Total Abstinence there are also a variety of arguments. There is the argument of personal safety, physical health. Christian principle ; but the strongest of all is the practical argument. If any one should ask the question. How does it work in Bristol ? he would refer them to the two hundred drunkards reclaimed ; to the diminution in the consumption of stimulating and intoxicating drink ; to the many victims of drunkenness, tottering on the brink of the grave, who have been plucked as brands from the burning ; to the many homes rendered miserable and desolate

1* by want, deprivation, and riot — now converted to homes of comfort, peace, concord, and love. Amongst the company then present he was pleased to recognize many laboring men and their wives, to whom the return of this season had hitherto only brought the same sorrow, the same misery, the same desolation ; but now he was pleased to see them with the smile of contentment on their brows."

After referring to the greatly diminished use of alcohol in Bristol, he asked, ' —

" Was it not a delightful fact to find that the consumption of the whole kingdom had declined one tenth part ? He knew of no fact that was more gratifying than the one to which he had just alluded. But there were some persons who would be ready to exclaim, * Aye, this may be all very true ; but are not you making more haste than good speed ? ' Suppose this to be so — supposing that they effected no further good than had already been achieved — they would be sufficiently recompensed by this one fact for all the exertions they had made."

Portions of an address delivered at Exeter, two years subsequently, may be inserted here to show the statistical method of dealing with this question which he often adopted, whilst never neglecting to enforce its moral and religious aspects : —

•'After noticing the enormous national loss sustained, directly and indirectly, through the practice of drinking intoxicating liquors, he stated that a more definite idea of the actual extent of this loss might be given by a few calculations in the way of illustration, than by a bare statement of figures, howr ever large ; and proceeded to make a comparison between the amount of money thus expended and that required for some of the great national undertakings and works of art of the present day. He stated that the Suspension Bridge, now in progress at Clifton, near Bristol, would cost about £50,000; but the amount expended and lost throughout this nation in intoxicating drinks, in one single day^ would be sufficient to build five or six such bridges. The Great Western Railway was a work of great national utility and importance ; but were the entire population of this country to abstain from strong drinks for two weeks, an amount of money would be saved more than sufficient to make a railway from Bristol to London, including the requisite supply of engines, carriages, and all the other apparatus for carrying on the most extensive traffic. After giving some further illustrations of this description, he proceeded to notice the prodigious destruction of grain caused by the manufacture of intoxicating liquors. It had been estimated that the barley consumed annually in malting and distillation in this country was equal to the produce of two millions of acres : this was equivalent to a tract of land one hundred and twenty miles in length and about twenty-four miles in breadth. It would reach from Bristol to London, and include the whole of Middlesex and Berkshire, and a great part of several other counties. He called on the audience to imagine one vast field of these dimensions covered with a rich harvest of grain, and then to suppose the whole of this to be set on fire, .... such a calamity as this, dreadful as it would be, would still be light indeed when compared with that which is annually inflicted on this country through the manufacture of intoxicating liquors ; for, in the former case, it would be simply the destruction of so much wholesome and nutritious food ; whilst, in the latter, it is the conversion of that food into a noxious poison, which is filling our land with poverty, disease, and crime, and sending our fellow-countrymen by thousands to the drunkard's grave and the place of the lost."

He next proceeded to show, that, for this gigantic evil, the only adequate remedy was entire abstinence, since every measure of a palliative character had signally failed : —

" He believed that in Bristol alone no fewer than three hundred individuals had been reclaimed from a state of the most confirmed and apparently hopeless degradation, and had become respectable and useful members of society, and many of them had joined Christian churches."

In order to promote these delightful results, the speaker concluded by calling on the audience to come forward and espouse the cause of the Temperance Society : —

" It is easy for us," said he, " to TELL the drunkard that he must abstain ; but if we wish it to be believed that we are sincere in the profession we make of concern for his salvation, let us come forward and give proof of the reality of that concern by submitting to the required sacrifice ourselves, in order that we may thereby be exhibiting an example such as he may safely follow, and under the shelter of which he may find protection and safety."

In the same year, at a tea meeting held in the Lancasterian School-room, Kings wood, we find in his address a careful calculation of the annual cost in th^t locality of alcoholic beverages, including the loss through waste of labor and of productive industry, and through crime resulting from intemperance, giving a total of .£26,358 in a population of 6,000. He adds : —

"It is calculated that this sura would be sufficient : First, To pay the rent of all the inhabited houses in the district. Second, To provide the important article of fuel through the winter months to all the families there. Third, To maintain in a state of decency and comfort all the poor. Fourth, To pay for the education of all the children. Fifth, To provide for the support of the ministers of religion of all denominations, and for the maintenance of all the places for public worship ; and, after all these heavy and important items of expense were provided for, there would still be left a large surplus biUance, which might be set apart as a reserve fund to meet any unforeseen contingency, — such as a bad harvest, a failure of the potato crop, a season of sickness, a general scarcity of employment, or any other similar calamity, which, in the providence of God, might be permitted to visit us."

To his practice of total abstinence, Robert Charleton made public reference on an important occasion at Bristol, in the year 1840, attributing to it his rapid recovery when reduced to a state of great weakness by a severe attack of typhus fever in the previous autumn.

He set his seal to this testimony after a lapse of more than thirty years, in his " Temperance Experiences," in the following words : —

" My own experience has been, and is, such as to confirm me in the views which I have long held with regard to the physical benefit, whether in health or sickness, of abstinence from all intoxicating liquors."

This was rendered the more emphatic by the fact, to which he not unfrequently referred, of his own naturally somewhat delicate constitution.

It has been necessary, thus early, to bring rather prominently into view the portion of his philanthropic labors bearing on Total Abstinence. Should any of the readers of this volume deem the references we may still have to make to this subject, and those relating to Peace, to be rather too frequent, we have only to plead that any Memoir of Robert Charleton which should cast into the shade that important part of his life's work which was connected with these movements, must necessarily be incomplete.

In the words of the beloved relative whom we have before quoted, —

'* It cannot be doubted that while he was, in ways such as these, ' watering others,' he was also ' watered himself.' And there was another way in which the providence of God so ordered it as that his worldly business should become subservient to his own spiritual good. His place of business and his home were a few miles apart ; and, in his evening returns to the latter, he often chose a more circuitous and less frequented path than the direct road — one which led him through pleasant fields and over wooded hills. Much of the time occupied by these solitary walks was employed in communion with God and with his own heart ; while, in the winter months, they further served to call forth his interest in the only branch of natural science to which he ever gave much time or thought — that of astronomy."

It appears that about this period of his life, or rather earlier, Archbishop Leighton's "Commentary on the First Epistle of Peter " came into his hands. It will be well remembered, and not onlt/ by those most intimately acquainted with him, how often in later life and with what fervor he would read from its pages portions which had evidently long been precious to