Transcriber’s Note Italic text displayed as: _italic_ MRS. GURNEY’S APOLOGY. MRS. GURNEY’S APOLOGY. IN JUSTIFICATION OF MRS. ——’S FRIENDSHIP. [Illustration: Decoration] PHILADELPHIA. WILLIAM BROTHERHEAD. No. 218 South Eighth Street. MDCCCLX. [_Entered, according to the Act of Congress, July 23, 1860, by_ WILLIAM BROTHERHEAD, _in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania._] PREFACE. In presenting to the world the extraordinary document which follows, the Publisher deems it fit, by way of Preface, to advert briefly to the principal circumstances and persons connected with this great outrage, which it embodies, upon the sensibilities and morals of the public—distinctly repudiating, himself, any endorsement of the views of the misguided writer, and deeply regretting the scandal which has attached in consequence of her acts to the influential Society of Friends, and to the numerous high families, with which she is allied, both in England and America. The Gurney Family is known wherever on the Eastern or Western continent, philanthropy, charity, liberality in its most comprehensive meaning, scholarship and literary ability of the highest order, or wealth in the most profuse exuberance, becomes the theme of the social circle or the text of the author’s pen. It is, moreover, one of the most notable and ancient of the English aristocracy, dating from the time of the Conqueror, ever since when they have held wealth and position in the County of Norfolk, where nearly all the various members of the name still reside. In England’s early and stormy days they rendered essential service to the State in many famous battles both at home and abroad—for it was at a comparatively recent date only that this till then redoubtable race became identified, through some of its branches, with the pacific and lowly doctrines of the Quakers. They are closely connected with families here of the very highest respectability of character—the celebrated John Joseph Gurney having taken a wife from this city; and no man in the Society of Friends ranked equal to him in his day, either in religious influence, mental ability, or excellence of heart. His indeed gave the name to the Gurneyite Orthodox Friends, of which branch of that sect he was the acknowledged leader. He died about twelve years ago. His only son, John Henry Gurney, who was the heir not merely of his father’s wealth, and name, but of his good character, is the betrayed husband of this story. He is the present representative in Parliament of King’s Lynn, Norfolkshire, and is noted for his liberal political sentiments. He is now forty years of age.