Walden, he was not easy without following me, and he overtook us and accompanied me to his nephew's at Royston.

"22nd-I find this morning that there is a little company under our name in this place, and after some thoughtful exercise I was most easy to see them by themselves. I accordingly had an opportunity with them; and a full, close time it was, and dear George rejoiced that he came to us. We then went to Hitchin and put up at Rudd Wheeler's.

"24th.-Feeling easy to move from this place, Hitchin, and mentioning it to Rudd Wheeler, he prepared to go with me. We got into Amersham near dark, after riding about thirty miles.

"25th.-Attended the week-day meeting; divers of the town came in, and I had an open, good meeting. This is the town where the corpse, mentioned in Thomas Ellwood's journal, was thrown from Friends' shoulders and laid in the street some time; and Isaac Penington, T. Ellwood and others were put into prison for attending the funeral. I was shown the place, near the markethouse. After tea we went to High Wycombe.

"26th. To the meeting at High Wycombe, and on the 27th got into Oxford and put up at an inn. On entering into this town we were mocked by the children; and I have not noticed more drunkenness any where in this land, than in walking through this place this evening.

"28th, First-day.-Went to meeting poor and stripped; it was very large and crowded. A remarkable quiet attended the gathering, and continued throughout; and the people parted with much solidity, to my humbling admiration; for it was an open, good time to me, and I hope to many others. At the close I stopped the few Friends that live in this place, and we had a comfortable time together. After dining we set off, passing through Witney, and arrived at Burford, where we met a kind reception from Thomas and Elizabeth Minching.

"30th. After a silent sitting with Thomas Huntley's scholars, and the few Friends who live in this place, I felt easy to move on, and proceeding to Cirencester, put up with Thomas Brown.

31st. To the week-day meeting at this place, which was a pretty open time: in the afternoon passed through Tetbury, where stands an old meeting-house of Friends, but no meeting is held in it, and arrived at Bristol towards evening.

“Ninth Month 1st.-To Thomas Phillips', near the Wells, where came the widow Usher and daughter, who are attending upon a daughter in a consumption, and near her end; and a sweet

season we had together. When I met with them in Waterford, Ireland, they were gay [in their dress], now so friendly and plain that I did not know them.

"6th. The meeting here was large, and I had a pretty open, relieving time, though close to some states, yet a comfortable opening toward the visited youth."

While at Bristol he wrote a letter to his friend Susannah Horne, dated Ninth Month 7th, from which the following is taken, viz:

"I parted from thee with a cheerful mind, believing thy stay with us was right, and it was not long before a vacancy was felt by me, who am frequently a poor blind creature, but endeavouring to cast my care on the great Care-taker and Preserver of his servants, I moved on from place to place, as way opened. I had to admire how my spirit was supported in the season of parting from my affectionate father and friend [David Bacon ;] the Shepherd of Israel being my support in that hour, enabling me to resign up wife, children, and, I trust, all into his hands, who knoweth best what is best for us.

:

"Thou hast been favoured with a sense of my state in coming to this place, and I seem at some loss how to describe the feelings of my mind. However, this is the sum it was like going down into the valley and shadow of death,-O! the buffetings and inward presentations of evil, both night and day, that I experienced; so that I have been ready to say, Surely my soul dwelleth among lions. At times all seems gone, and fear surprises me as in the night; when former experiences are called in question, and sometimes the apprehension stares me in the face, that, after all I have passed through, deceit may so enter that I shall fail. Such close things have escaped my lips, in two meetings I have attended, that I have in some degree trembled in myself; and surely I have need, considering what a poor creature I am.”

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8th. To the meeting at six o'clock, and after sitting a considerable time silent, felt a portion of encouragement to hold forth to the sincere seekers and mourners; having first been favoured with a ray of light and encouragement myself.

"11th.-Attended meeting here again, which was large, and a remarkable time. O! what a mercy and favour; and yet, afterwards the tempter was near, who would whisper this language; 'Well done; thou hast had a large time.' O, may my soul be

prostrated! The widow Usher and daughter Lucy, and other Friends dined with us, and when we sat down to table, I ventured to appear in prayer, which proved a tendering season; the Lord be praised, and the creature abased.

"12th. A tendering time at breakfast, with a large number of Friends. Two seeking people came to see me; one of whom went with me into another room, and opened her condition, which was remarkable; and said she never had felt so comfortable before in the company of any people as this morning with Friends. Attended the select meeting for this place, and I was brought into a state of trembling, soon after sitting down,-remembering the language of the Master, where he said, With desire I have desired to eat the passover with you; one of you has lifted up the heel against me,' &c., and had to express it with more: and now I saw measurably into my exercise when standing at the grave of an individual, whose funeral I attended a few days ago, and which continued upon me for some time after. We could not get forward, and so adjourned the meeting, that more might be together next time.

"13th. To meeting, which was large, and a very open, precious time. Sat with the members of the select. meeting, and before they got through the business I requested leave to withdraw; this was a time to be remembered, -close and searching. Feel much relief of mind, for which I know I ought to be, and hope I am, thankful to the Father of living mercies, and willing to move on to the next work which may in wisdom be opened.

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“ 14th.—Had a solemn time in prayer with a number of Friends, among whom were divers tender minds; and it was a time to be remembered. A young man who is under convincement came in, with whom I had a tendering time alone. Parted sweetly from my friends at Bristol, and journeyed on to Bath, where we dined, and reached Melksham, twenty-four miles.

"16th.-Got to Hungerford, and 17th to Reading;" where he tarried a few days to rest and wait for the holding of the Quarterly Meeting.

"20th. To the Quarterly Meeting; and soon after sitting down my mind was brought under exercise, and it proved a tendering time, but not a long meeting. In that for business, I was favoured in testimony to the humbling of divers, which was acknowledged; and although things are low, yet there seemed some ground gained against opposers."

The next day they got to Uxbridge, and on the 22nd to London.

CHAPTER XI.

1796.-WRITES TO REBECCA

JONES RELIGIOUS

ENGAGEMENTS IN

DUDLEY-TRAVELS IN

LONDON AND MIDDLESEX-EXTRACT FROM ONE OF HIS LETTERS-
LETTERS FROM ANN CROWLEY AND MARY
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE-RETURNS TO LONDON.

In a letter to Rebecca Jones, written from London, he says :

"It was pleasant to find thou hadst got through thy arduous task, and to hear from others that thou art cheerful. Thou remainest as a seal upon my spirit, as one whom the Father of mercies was pleased to baptize in an eminent degree, into a sense of my state before leaving home,- By one spirit are ye all baptized into one body, and made to drink into one spirit;' and O! that I may be accounted worthy to experience this baptism whilst in this land, and to the end of my pilgrimage. The love which flows in my heart reaches forth towards all the children and servants of our heavenly Father's family in my native land, as well as here. There is a precious remnant preserved here, among all classes, and great has been the love I have felt to the youth in this city, both in meetings and in families. If I may speak as an instrument employed in the Lord's work, I would add, that there is a precious visitation extended to this class. O! the tenderness and gravity I have seen in some who are very young in years; so much so, that I have been ready to say in the secret of my heart, surely the Lord has begun a work in the minds of the children by the power of his love, which will in time spread to the astonishment, as well as the comfort of many. Indeed, at times, I have almost been induced, in the opening which has presented, to lay my hand upon the heads of some, and tell them what good things are in store for them. On the other hand, I have found thy sisterly advice good, not to be afraid of the rich and great. Dear Rebecca, if my knees have not smitten together, they have at least trembled, and Habakkuk's experience been mine, in degree, when in the families of the great and towering ones, desiring that they might find a resting place in the day of trouble, which may be nearer at

hand than many careless sons and daughters are aware of. I magnify not the officer, but the office, and that adorable Hand, who commissions and sends forth his servants; yea, I bless his name, in that he is raising up labourers, one here and another there, in this land, who appear hopeful."

"27th, Third-day.-To London Quarterly Meeting, which was large, many of the youth being present: dear S. H. opened a door for me, and I had an enlarged time of encouragement to all, but especially to the youth; and I sat through the rest of the meeting for business, with greater sweetness and composure of mind than I have experienced of late; I also rejoice with much joy, to behold that weight had increased in this Quarterly Meeting; the business was conducted comfortably.

"Tenth Month 5th.-This morning feel more serenity and calmness of mind than I have experienced for a length of time; and now while making this note, am anxiously desirous to cast away that labour and toil which have made my way, at seasons, uncomfortable. O! that my heart may be lifted up to God in faith; and in all things be given up to his blessed will, that so I may be favoured from season to season, not only to know it, but also to do it. Attended Gracechurch Street meeting; and it was an awful time, at least to me, from these words; As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.'

"6th. To the Monthly Meeting at Tottenham, before which Susannah Horne, spread her prospect of visiting the families within. Horselydown Monthly Meeting, and a minute was made setting her at liberty.

"10th.-Wait on thy God, O my soul! for the further unfoldings of his will; who can turn his dispensations, as a man turneth his water-courses in his field; and remember, that if the Lord's will is done, it is thy sanctification and redemption, under all trouble, whether outward or hidden.

"11th.-To Horsely down Monthly Meeting, where I opened my concern to visit their families, to the men and women before they separated; my friend Susannah Horne following in the same manner; both were minuted, and Benjamin Simkin appointed to accompany me, and Mary Smith, Anna Kaye, and Elizabeth Hobson, to accompany my female friend. Dear Richard Chester came to this meeting, and expressed his sympathy. In the first meeting I ventured to prostrate myself in supplication.