Hannah More (British edition 1888)/Chapter 16
CHAPTER XVI.
CLIFTON.
A house at Windsor Terrace, Clifton, received Mrs. Hannah More, and speedily was rendered home-like by receiving her cherished possessions, while she was able to enjoy with thankfulness the beautiful view from the windows, and so many visitors poured in on her that she was persuaded to restrict them to two days in the week. With her usual buoyancy and cheerful gratitude, she wrote a list of "my Court at Windsor Terrace," alluding to the numerous attentions and gifts that she received.
"The Duke of Gloucester, Sir Thomas Acland, Sir Edmund Hartopp, and Mr. Harford, my sportsmen.
"Mr. Battersby, Mr. Piggott, and Mrs. Addington, my fruiterers. . . . .
"Mr. Wilberforce, my guide, philosopher and friend.
"Miss Frowd, my domestic chaplain, and house apothecary, knitter and lamp-lighter, missionary to my numerous and learned seminaries, and, without controversy, the queen of clubs" (the penny clubs of Mendip.)
"Mr. Heber, my incomparable translator, who by his superiority, puts the original out of countenance."
Barley Wood was purchased by Mr. Harford, and about the same time the copyright of all Mrs. More's works was bought by Cadell. Her expenses being reduced within reasonable bounds, she had full scope for all her benevolence, and with an easier mind, so that she was really happy when the shock was over. She was much amused by hearing that her Hints for the Education of a young Princess, after having been for twenty years excluded from publication in the republican atmosphere of the United States, had at last been brought out there as a valuable literary work. "I have conquered America," she merrily exclaimed.
Her memory, however, began to fail at times, and though at others there was the old sparkle of vivacity, there were slight confusions and repetitions; and as time went on it, became needful to keep her from the strain and exhaustion of visitors. In the autumn of 1832 a great shock befell her in the death of her friend Miss Roberts, and in November, after a heavy cold on her chest, "a degree of bewilderment, or mild delirium" set in, and continued at short intervals during the ten months that remained of her life. Even then, she could still read without spectacles, and hear perfectly, and retained her comeliness of appearance; nor did she suffer, but was uniformly cheerful, enjoying the Psalms, and often, when they were read to her, finishing the verse. Once, indeed, she said, "My dear, do people never die? Oh! glorious grave!" When the last day came her face suddenly brightened, she tried to raise herself, and stretched out her arms, crying, "Patty! joy." It was the last time she spoke, though she lived some hours longer, and breathed her life away on the 7th of September 1833, when eighty-eight years of age.
On the 13th, the worn-out body was laid to rest beside those of her four sisters in the churchyard at Wrington. Her directions had been to avoid all pomp and display, only that suits of mourning were to be given to fifteen old men whom she had selected, but there were endless spontaneous tokens of respect. Every church in Bristol tolled its bell as the funeral passed through the streets. All the neighbouring gentlemen met the procession a mile from the church, and fell into the rear, and for half a mile the road was crowded with country people mostly in mourning, and two hundred school-children, with a large number of clergy, preceded the coffin into church.
Hannah More's property was worth about £30,000. Having no near relations, she left £10,000 between various charities in London and at Bristol, with bequests to her clubs at Cheddar and Shipham. But her truly valuable legacy was not only the example of what one woman could be, and could do, but a real influence on the tone of education in all classes of English women.
London: Printed by W. H. Allen & Co., 13 Waterloo Place, S. W.