have also the satisfaction of informing thee that dear mother is mending: yesterday was the first of her being apprised of the death of dear sister Mary-she bears it with fortitude beyond what we expected; her weak state would not admit of an earlier discovery. The day of her decease was the first of my attempting to set up, and though so weak as to be just able to move a little about the room, I could not be easy without trying to get down to see her remains-which I effected, and beheld them decently laid out; her countenance was exceedingly yellow, but a pleasing innocence was fixed thereon, and an evidence seemed to possess my mind, that she was taken from the evil to come, and out of the way of many temptations, into those perpetually abiding habitations, where joy and peace forever dwell; therefore, what excuse is there for mourning?'

favourable kind; but cousin Sarah and Mary my own footsteps sounded solemnly in my were severely attacked,—the first lay several ears; truly I thought that none but those who days so low that her recovery seemed doubt-are actually on the spot could form an adeful, and when she arrived to a state of con- quate idea of the solemnity of the scene which valescence, she acquired her strength but our distressed, depopulated city exhibits. I slowly. But lovely, innocent Mary-how shall I speak of her! I feel near sympathy with thee on her account, and yet thou well knowest, that He whose dispensations are all in wisdom, has a right to dispose of us as he sees meet, and that when he inclines to take even such as are most near to us, unto himself, it is rather a cause of rejoicing than of grief. After struggling with the disorder for several days, she was taken from a world of temptation, to join, I trust, the blessed in the realms of purity and love. We are sweetly confirmed in this persuasion, in remembering that her conduct and deportment of later time evidenced an improvement, and that although her disposition was naturally volatile, her mind was in a great measure kept free from the taints of impurity. Consonant herewith is the opinion of Thomas Moore, a valuable religious young Englishman, with whom I understand thou wast acquainted in England. "After cousin Sarah and Joseph had pretty Being in company with him at Darby, where well recovered, the way opened for the famihe at present sojourns, our conversation turn-ly's coming to this place, which was accomed upon thy family, and speaking of Mary, plished without much difficulty. Her accushe remarked in substance thus, As I was tomed meekness and serenity did not forsake sitting with the family, a short time before I her in this time of affliction, her mind being left the city, and observing her innocent de-strengthened and supported by that Almighty portment and solidity, it rejoiced me to think she was improving, and what a comfort she was likely to be to her father on his return.' An extract from another letter of Joseph's to cousin Rachel Hoskins, directly after his getting out the first time, I am induced also to transcribe, viz:-Ninth month 9th.-Having arrived through favour, at a state of pretty tolerable strength, I feel my mind influenced, I trust, in best love again to address my dear cousin in this way. I feel as if I could not enter into a very minute detail of the afflictive dispensation, which no doubt in the ordering of best wisdom, hath, within these two weeks past, fallen to our lot; indeed I am ready to conclude it is hardly necessary, as I have but little doubt you have received nearly every particular from the pens of our truly kind and attentive friends E. Garrigues and N. Smith; they have been indefatigable in their attention, by visiting us divers times in a day, and in procuring necessaries. I hope and be- "22nd. I feel deeply for the inhabitants lieve their reward is sure. I got down stairs of this city, and sorrow for them at seasons. last fifth-day, but was very weak,-have been Attended meeting at Westminster with Mary mending fast ever since-got out this morning Stacey, where tears with anguish of soul were to meeting, being the longest walk I had taken, my portion; until a young man kneeled down but find myself not the worse for it. When I in supplication, and appeared dipped into my first went out, I think there was not a person feelings; and having before apprehended that to be seen in the street, and as I passed along | duty would fall on me before the conclusion

Power, who fails not to be strength in weakness, and an impregnable fortress to which the righteous may flee, and find safety in times of trouble; so that she might adopt the language, (as dear Samuel Emlen told her in my hearing,) All thy waves and thy billows passed over me."

"21st, fourth-day.-To Peel monthly meeting, where dear George Stacey, who returned last first-day from Germany, gave in an account of his travels there with S. Harrison, C. Cook, and M. Swett, and he being encouraged to go to the women's meeting, I felt a liberty to go and set by him: and after he had given in his account there, I felt a motion to kneel down and return thanks for their preservation, and to pray that the Almighty might be pleased to protect all his servants and messengers whom he has sent forth in this land.

of the meeting, upon his closing I gave up to it, and felt enlargement to pray for the inhabitants of this city, for the poor amongst men, who have no helper but the Lord, and that if it was his pleasure, in unspeakable wisdom, to humble and bend the sturdy oaks, he may be pleased also thus to manifest his mercy.

"23rd. This has been a day of retirement, in which I have felt a comfortable degree of resignation and quiet; and in reading the Bible, some passages in Revelations, &c., were more opened to my view than ever before. I trust that in this deep plunging season for many months past, I have had a degree of fellowship with the sufferers in ages past, viz: David, Job, Jeremiah, &c., and also with my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; and O how I should rejoice in being favoured once more with strength to go forth and publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of the won drous works of the Lord. This I know the mighty One of Israel can accomplish in me and for me, if it be his will. But, if it is his pleasure to strip me longer, and that I must. yet remain desolate, sitting on the ground, Not my will, but thine be done, O God.' Pardon me, and cast all my iniquities behind thy back."

the uttermost parts of the earth for a possession, who also gave his cheeks to the smiter, and his face to them that plucked off the hair, who hid not his face from shame and spitting, nor withheld his head from the crown of thorns, or his body from the cross; and all this willingly for our sakes; unto whom I beg ability to look up in all my struggles and trials. My soul can say of late with the royal Psalmist, O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee; let my prayer come before thee; incline thine ear unto my cry: for my soul is full of troubles, and my life draweth nigh unto the grave. I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that has no strength : free among the dead, like the slain that lay in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more, and they are cut off by thy hand: thy hand layeth hard upon me, thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves: thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me, I am shut up; I cannot come forth.'

"25th, third-day.-Awoke early this morn ing and arose more calm and quiet, and I hope truly disposed to say, Here am I, Lord, send me. How precious to feel this even for a little moment: how comfortable in the outward, after a storm of tossing and danger, to

In a letter dated eleventh month 28th, 1798, experience an easy breeze; and so it is in a at London, to his family, he says:

religious sense. I have had days of tossing and trouble for many months past, and now if it should consist with the will of the Lord, to grant me some ease and liberty of spirit, how thankful ought my soul to be. But it is not for me to judge: if more suffering is best, I ought likewise to be resigned to say, Here am I: Thy will be done, my heavenly Master. Keep thy tried servant from falling.

"Great indeed has been the travail of my soul in secret for six months past. I could copy many things from my little diary which would convince my friends that I have not been idle, and I have thought sometimes if it was my Master's good pleasure to remove me from my troubles here, the account of my time spent from day to day would witness for me; "Attended the quarterly meeting, which for indeed I have been a mournful Jeremiah was very large; and to my thankful and in and near London, and but little can I do but humble admiration, much labour fell to my weep, and wait for those days to be over, and lot; my heart being opened and enlarged, to hear this language, 'It is enough.' I have both in testimony and in supplication. The not drawn back from any labour which was business was conducted comfortably, and the clearly pointed out in my own land, neither meeting ended so. I felt a change in my do I find this charge against me here, though situation last evening before I lay down, and of late weeks it has been a time of as deep went to bed more calm and comfortable in searching of heart as ever my soul has expe- mind, when an opening presented of enlargerienced. Yet after all, with deep humility I ment in the quarterly meeting, which has now acknowledge I have not been faultless. What been fulfilled; also the renewal of a prospect a hard thing it is, when plunged into the which has for some months been presented to deeps, to be content in the will of God. What my mind, and then died away and left me; a hard thing for the unsubjected will, wit, and that is, to visit the prisons of this city. This reason of man to become a fool-one of no prospect seemed so fixed and sealed on my reputation. Truly I have thought, my soul mind, that I stopped some Friends after meetnever was made so sensible of what the pat-ing, and laid it before them for their concurriarchs, prophets, and mournful sufferers in rence and help in the arduous work. their day and generation passed through, and of the agonizing pangs of Him unto whom the heathen was given for an inheritance, and VOL. VIII.-No. 5.

"26th, fourth-day.-Empty and poor this morning, but I desire to be so, that I may be qualified to render up my will and affections

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unto my God, that he may be pleased to guide my feet aright. I desire ability to say, day by day, Thy will be done. Attended Gracechurch street meeting and laboured in testimony.

"28th. Spent this evening more lightsome and comfortable than has often been my experience feeling resigned to whatever kind Providence may be pleased to permit; yea, the cup he gives I am willing to drink. Lord, bless it, sanctify it, and preserve thy servant over and through all. O preserve me to the end of my days, and grant that in passing through tribulation and distress here, I may wash my garments in the blood of the Lamb.

"29th, seventh-day.-To a meeting appointed for the children of criminals, at the Philanthropist Reform, there were about one hundred and two. They were arranged in ranks before me, and stood. It was an open time, and when I kneeled down in supplication they went down also. Several of the committee who have the care of them, also the governor, and the masters who teach the boys their trades, attended, and were kind and respectful. After the opportunity we went to the girls' apartment, and had a pretty good time with about fifty of them. Some were noticed to weep, and I left them relieved in mind. Dined at Thomas Sturges' with Joseph Smith and Wilson Birkbeck, who accompanied me in this visit.

distress upon taking up the blessed book to read. O Lord, my soul is bowed down because of oppression. Remember me and search me-let nothing remain unjudged, that I may stand before thee with acceptance, and be accounted worthy to promote thy cause and truth in the earth. Help me through my difficulties; wean me from all letting and hindering things. For thy mercy's sake, grant that I may leave that labour and toil that has made me to walk uncomfortably in the way, and lift up my heart to thee in faith and confidence, and give up in all things to do thy blessed will, that so I may yet be found doing thy work in my day and generation. Send forth the covering of thy righteousness. Strip me of all my filthy garments, and clothe thy servant with a change of raiment. Thou knowest the unutterable pangs of distress [ have passed through for many months past, and I humbly hope my soul lies prostrate in dust and ashes before thee. Restore unto me peace and comfort.

"1799, first month 3rd, fifth-day. -I have had occasion to praise the Lord for ease of spirit this morning; that is, if we are to rejoice in ease and quietness of mind more than in dispensations more trying. The cloud separates, and a little light spreads. I desire to receive it with fear and trembling, for baptism, deep baptism is profitable. Went to the new jail for the county of Surrey, where I had an open time with about two hundred

In relation to this visit he remarks in a letter of this date.

"30th, first-day.-J. Smith, W. Birkbeck and T. S. accompanied me to the House of prisoners, much to the relief of my mind. correction. Had an opportunity with about Went afterwards to the Clink prison, where fourteen men in a dismal place-however, we found only two prisoners—a little arose on it was relieving to my mind: the poor my mind for them." creatures behaved well, and I was dipped into sympathy with them, and hope it will prove a time of some profit and encouragement to individuals among them. Some of them on parting sent their blessing after me. Went into the women's room and had a satisfactory time with about eight or ten of them; some of whom appeared tender: from thence we stept into a school for girls, where there were about fifty, and I had a satisfactory opportunity among them. After dinner endeavoured to obtain a meeting at the Asylum for poor orphan children, but failed, and though I felt a great weight and exercise on my spirit on returning home, as I frequently have done in walking London streets, yet after reading with the family, I feel pretty comfortable and easy, for which favour I am thankful.

"31st, second-day; and the last day in the year. I had a comfortable night, and I awoke and arose so. But O what a baptism I passed through afterwards! how is it possible to describe it, except in David's words in the seventy-seventh psalm, on which I opened in my

"This day accompanied by my kind friends, I visited the prisoners in the new jail: a most extraordinary building indeed. I suppose we had all sorts, and truly I may say, such was the love and desire I felt for them when amongst them, and the enlargement of heart, that I forgot my own troubles, and how long I had been as it were in the pit. Tenderness was apparent in some, and a secret hope prevailed in my mind, that the opportunity would be, at least to some, like bread cast on the waters, found after many days." ... He adds, "I expect and look for deep labour and travail before the door will open peacefully to leave this city; how far I may be engaged in this arduous work, or what will next open, I feel disposed to leave to Him, who marvellously leads the blind by a way that they know not, and in paths they have not seen."

"4th.-Attended the meeting for sufferings. I am informed that the committee meet with much difficulty to obtain leave for me to go into the prisons-and no more business can be laid out this week.

"6th, first-day.-To Gracechurch street meeting, low in mind but had to labour once more in a close line. Appointed a public meeting to be held at six o'clock in the evening. Attended afternoon meeting at two o'clock, and a little arose on my mind to impart to the youth. In the appointed meeting, which was large, I was altogether shut up. Charity Cook preached early, and after a considerable time of silence, dear George Dillwyn took the service of the meeting entirely off my mind, and I felt content and easy.

10th.-I opened the Bible on Job, sixth chapter, which is descriptive of my often tried state. C. C., M. S. and A. C. paid me an acceptable visit, in which my mind was comIs forted, and its burden a little removed. then faith, even when no more than a grain of mustard seed, able to remove a mountain? Yes, and it seems as though it was possible to live under the weight of a mountain, when this little grain is hid out of sight; yet, if it is hid in the heart, it is enough.

read this part of thy letter I was filled with a mixture of sorrow and joy; sorrow on thy account, that thy sufferings were so great, and joy on my own, to find I had the company of so dear a brother, travelling in a way I thought almost untrodden by any. I may acknowledge that my trials since in Ireland, have been like the loosening of new seals of the book of religious experience. But hitherto I have been helped and carried through every afflictive dispensation, and am at present in better health of body than when I first landed in Europe, and find much greater openness amongst people of every rank than when I first entered Ireland. I have lately visited most of the towns and places where the greatest destruction of lives and property occurred, and found many seeking people, whose former rests appeared to be much Public shaken, if not broken up; and with these I have had many refreshing seasons. meetings are generally crowded by the better sort of people, whose behaviour is very becoming the occasion. I have also visited most of the families of Friends where the greatest trials have appeared, as Carlow, Ballitore, Rathangan, &c., and returned to this city a few days since. What may open as the line of duty, I do not clearly see at present; but as I did not visit all the families before I left this city, I may likely do a little more in that way before I go to the northern parts the nation. My detention in this land has been very trying to me, as I seemed exposed to every kind of danger, not only by robbers and murderers, confusions and tumults of various kinds, but by unfeeling professors, who have greatly departed from the faith of their worthy forefathers, and yet desire to be called the children of Abraham: but I believe my trials of this sort are nearly over, as many who have been hidden are now made manifest, and of the more undesigning and simple hearted are favoured to see the snare, and divers have escaped from the wreck, and I humbly hope all may be gathered into the faith once delivered to the saints, and the prey be taken from the jaws of the devourer: but this must be the Lord's work, for none but him can do it. The general state of society appears to me but low, yet there are many precious plants My long silence has not been for want of in Ireland, and I think their number will near sympathy, nor true brotherly love, as I increase, and is now increasing. Many enknow of no brother that I am more united to inquire after thee with much affection and love. the bond of gospel fellowship. Thy last letter I have heard of thy late trial in the loss of was the most satisfactory that I ever received thy dear daughter, and I believe do sympafrom thee; nor do I think it could have been penned more suitably to my then situation. Thou mentioned thy deep trials, in which thou felt as though thou wast plunged into the horrible pit and sunk to the bottom of it. When I

“12th.—A quiet day-a sweet calm spread over my mind whilst sitting by the fire side of my kind friend Truman Harford. I received a note from J. B., informing that they will not let me proceed further in visiting prisons. I received the account with composure of mind, for which I feel thankful.

“13th, first-day.-Went to Ratcliff meeting and had an open time in testimony. I was much abased on going to the afternoon meeting, but a solemnity soon spread, and I bent in supplication in a broken manner, with tears. I prayed fervently for strength and ability to drink the remainder of the cup of suffering, even the dregs of it, in this city, and subscribe to the Lord's will. M. Ransom had a good time after; and before the meeting broke up, I was enlarged, and much tenderness appeared. Spent the evening in pleasant conversation, and lay down pretty easy and comfortable."

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"Dublin, First month 2nd, 1799.

"Dear Thomas,

thize with thee in that and other afflictive dispensations, yet have not the least doubt but all those things that we meet with, and which may seem little else to our taste than the wormwood and gall, are but like the strong