As a Quaker he wrote a critique of Barclay's Apology(1868). He was present in as a child at Congénies in the 1820s. He was a member of the Peace Society and was part of a peace delegation (1854) with Joseph Sturge and Henry Pease that went to St Petersburg to attempt to head off the Crimea War to present an address to the Emperor Nicholas at St. Petersburg against the war. This address was graciously received by the emperor on 10 Feb (Illust. London News, 4 and 11 March 1854).