“18th.—Arose before day, and after we had eaten, had a comfortable, encouraging time with this lovely family. We moved on and got to our friend Henry Clifton's, at Kingwood, about sunset. We rode through that part of the country which David Brooks and I did thirty years ago. I remembered the stop we made at Watson's, whose house stood on a hill, and before the door a very fine spring issued: this was the place I first ventured to go down in awful supplication in public. The precious feelings I had at that time, are remembered by me this day, and how marvellously I have been led about since; I am not worthy,' said Jacob, on his journey back to his father's house; and so said I.

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19th. Some more light, ease and comfort this morning. It was in Bucks county I began in the work of the ministry, and then came to this place; a little similar to Elisha following Elijah. The Lord preserve my dear aged friend and brother, David Brooks, unto the end, and protect me in and through all yet to be met with preserve me in integrity. Amen. The meeting was larger than I expected, and a season of much encouragement. Dined at Henry Clifton's, and after it paid an acceptable visit to his brother William and family.

"20th.-To Benjamin Clark's, Stonybrook; rode about thirty miles in the rain.

"21st.-To Stonybrook meeting, which was a close, searching time. Dear Susannah Horne prayed for them, and on the whole it was satisfactory. In the evening had a religious opportunity: the Lord is to be waited on for fulfilling his own will and purpose.

"22nd.-To Dr. Taylor's, accompanied by Benjamin Clark ; here we met a kind reception. It is a day of exercise, having written home respecting an opening to engage in a family visit in the Northern district.

"23rd. To meeting at East Branch, [Robins']; a favoured time. B. Clark staid with us, and I thought, had a good time near the close; indeed, the meeting throughout was to my admiration.

"24th, First-day.-To Crosswicks' meeting, and favoured with an open season, to satisfaction. Second and Third-days, attended Burlington Quarterly Meeting, and on Fourth-day evening arrived at my own habitation, a little after night, and found my family in health."

CHAPTER XXII.

1811-1814. VISITS, IN COMPANY WITH SUSANNAH HORNE, SOME OF

THE FAMILIES OF FRIENDS IN PHILADELPHIA-PERFORMS A SIMILAR

SERVICE IN COMPANY WITH THREE OTHER FRIENDS, IN 1812—

ACCOMPANIES S. HORNE TO NEW JERSEY AND NEW YORK-PAYS HIS LAST VISIT ΤΟ WEST TOWN BOARDING SCHOOL ADDRESSES A FRIEND WHOM HE BELIEVES IS CALLED TO THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY-IS TAKEN ILL-SOME OF HIS DYING EXPRESSIONS.

IN the Twelfth Month of this year, he visited the families of the Northern district Monthly Meeting, to which he belonged, in company with his friend Susannah Horne; and after this was accomplished, a similar visit was made to the families of Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, both of which were to the peace of his own mind, and the edification of the visited.

He remarks, in relation to these visits; "O! the deep descendings I have experienced this last winter, both on my bed and in families, and since. Whilst sitting in one of them, about Third Month 26th, of this year, 1812, the very same prospects respecting the renewings of hostilities on the continent of Europe, opened and spread over my exercised mind, as did in the last conflict with Austria, Fourth Month 2nd, 1809; and I know not how to record it better, than to transcribe what Ezekiel mentions: 'Also, son of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come: both twain shall come forth out of one land and choose thou a place, choose it at the head of the way to the city,' &c., &c., to the end."

Fifth Month 12th, First-day, 1812.-He thus writes; "The descendings of my soul into darkness and the deeps, have been humblingly great, and my trials such, as almost to induce me to entertain a belief I am forsaken. I have queried again and again, why it should be so, if I am indeed not cast off and out of mind of my heavenly Father; then surely I have, must have, fellowship with such who have lived in dens and caves of the earth; or with the prophet, who was fed by the ravens, and travelled in the strength of the sustenance his Lord and Master ministered to him, until he arrived at his destined place; where, after those alarming seasons of fire, wind, and earthquake, he stood in the

entrance of the cave, wrapt his head in his mantle, and heard thy voice, O Lord! intelligibly once more, and was further commissioned in thy blessed service. O Lord, my God! my Helper hitherto, thou favouredst me in New England, and also in the late exercise gone through, in the families of my fellow-members and others. If, at any time, thy servant exceeded, forgive; and wash and purify me, and make more me clean and pure; keep me in patient resignation to thy will, and be graciously pleased to open my state and condition once more to me; but yet in thy time, not mine; and thy will be done."

The latter part of the year 1812, and the beginning of 1813, he was engaged in a visit to the families of Friends belonging to the Southern district Monthly Meeting, Philadelphia, in company with Susannah Horne and her companion, Mary Allinson, and Jonathan Evans; which he remarks, was a closely exercising time.

In the Fifth Month, 1813, he accompanied Susannah Horne to Bristol and Trenton meetings, and back to Burlington. He remarks, respecting this visit; "I was under great discouragement respecting going this little tour, and hardly knew how to leave home, several circumstances combining to hinder. But after setting out I felt comfortable, and may record, that the 17th, and Second-day of the week, was a day of days. On my way to Trenton I had not a sensation of pain, either in body or soul; and in the ride back in the afternoon, both the heavens above and the earth beneath, to my outward view, were beautiful, cheering and pleasant; and may I not venture to record, that such a holy sweetness and peace spread over all, that it was as heaven upon earth to me. I returned home peaceful, and with a sufficient reward, which with thankfulness is recorded."

On the 15th of the Sixth Month following, he writes: "To meeting, but all closed up, and has been pretty much so of late; yet not without some little peep through the cloud at times. It is trying to live in death, and yet I crave ability so to do; for man can do nothing aright, without Christ his Lord. I say in secret oftentimes, in low places, O! when will my poor travailing soul know more of an emancipation from fetters, bonds and chains. I long for ability to serve God with greater freedom; but why should I desire even this, so desirable, if it is not safe for me. I might be in danger of taking the precious jewels of peace and liberty, and play the harlot with them. Thou, O my heavenly Father! knowest best what is best for me. This I crave of thee, to be enabled to fulfil thy will in suffering: Sigh, therefore, thou son

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of man, with the breaking of thy loins; and with bitterness sigh before their eyes.'-Ezekiel xxi. 6. Why did this exercised prophet sigh? For the tidings; because it cometh and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak as water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass,' &c."

In the Seventh Month of this year, he went to New York to be with Susannah Horne and Elizabeth Coggeshall, at the time of their embarking for England. He says in relation to it; "As I sat in our adjourned Monthly Meeting, Sixth Month 29th, after many tears of contrition, I felt an opening, accompanied with a degree of sweetness, to go to New York.

"Seventh Month 7th.-Attended the Monthly Meeting of New York, which was a remarkable time. Susannah Horne opened the service, Elizabeth Coggeshall followed, and I bent in supplication.

"11th, First-day.-Orders were given to go to the ship, which had dropped down to the watering-place, seven or nine miles off. Samuel Emlen, John Warder, William Allinson and I, with several New York Friends, accompanied them aboard. Staid about an hour and a half with them, and parted with near sympathetic affection." The next day he set off for home, where he arrived on the 13th.

In the Twelfth Month, 1813, he paid his last visit to Westtown boarding school, an institution in which he had long been deeply interested, and where his labours had been blessed. At this time he had some precious religious opportunities with the teachers, and children, both in the school-rooms and at meeting. In one of the former, his mind was led into close feeling with one of the teachers, under an apprehension that she was called to the work of the ministry, which he found it his place to communicate to her, speaking in a very impressive manner on those words of our dear Lord to Peter; "Feed my sheep." The event proved that his impressions were correct, the Friend appearing in prayer at the meeting on the following Fifth-day, and being afterwards acknowledged as a minister in the Society of Friends. Shortly after his return home, he addressed the following letter to her, viz:

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"DEAR FRIEND,

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Philadelphia, First Month 5th, 1814.

Thy letter came to hand this day, and after perusing it, I felt a portion of the same freedom thou expressed, to sit down and

answer it; for as in a glass face answers to face, so doth the heart of man to man; such salutations proceeding from exercised children in the heavenly Father's family, brought forth by and through many baptisms, cannot fail to unite. I have looked back at the little visit paid you at West-town with sweetness, and the opportunity of expressing what impressed my mind in thy school-room; and finding soon afterwards I was not mistaken, is one more seal, added to others, graciously vouchsafed me. I rejoiced over thee in thy appearance in the meeting and afterwards, as much as I could have done for a new-born babe; yes, more so; and as I perceive, by thy plaintive letter, thou art desirous of being preserved so as to abide in that lot which thy Divine Master may apportion thee, and I have no doubt of the sincerity of thy humbled soul, it arises in my heart to encourage thee to be faithful; remembering, that it is the faithful who are to abound with blessings. Remember, dear child, in all thy movements in so weighty a work, how it was with thee that day, what carefulness to move aright. Well then, be watchful, be vigilant; wait in the assemblies of the Lord's people for the same renewed touches of that live coal; and after thou hast, through holy help, turned the fleece and tried it both wet and dry, and feels the evidence of the requiring, then hesitate no longer, and even if thy going forth in the work may be in fear and trembling-words thus spoken will reach the witness in others, and by faithfulness thy gift will be enlarged; and when it is so, render all the praise to the great and bountiful Giver: seek his praise, and not the praise of men. May the Lord preserve thee in humility, reverence and fear, all the days of thy life; so wilt thou have occasion to bless his Holy Name. This is written with fear and care, by no means to exalt the creature; but that, as expressed above, thou may be kept in lowliness and fear. So craves for himself, and for thee, thy affectionate and sympathising friend,

"THOMAS SCATTERGOOD.”

Thomas Scattergood was taken sick on the night of the 20th of the Fourth Month, 1814, with typhus fever, which soon greatly prostrated his strength. It was during the time of the Yearly Meeting, the several sittings of which he had attended until Fourth-day evening; and in conversation with his son he expressed his satisfaction in believing, that so far it had been owned by the overshadowing of heavenly good, which he hoped might continue to be the case to the end; adding, "Though I cannot be