The first opportunity I intend to write to my dear brother, who is often in my thoughts; my love to him, and all our nearest and next kin-enced the Truth to cover our minds, and the pardred, relations and friends everywhere, from, my dear, thy affectionate husband, and dear children, your affectionate father,

We came from Boston to Lancaster, Leicester, Uxbridge and Brickhouse, where we had a large meeting and silent, but I hope profitable to such as waited not for words, but on the Word Himself! [Passing on through

meeting at Upper Greenwich which was much crowded. I was led to speak of the variety of dispensations that were allotted to the righte ous for their purification: it was an open good meeting, and the name of the Lord was praised for it, who is worthy of all praise. First-day, the 13th, was at Salem meeting, which was very large, both of our own and other societies. I had to speak of the univer sality of the love of God to all people of every profession everywhere, and to exhort those who were more immediately called into religious services to be faithful therein: the meeting ended in prayer and praising the Lord. Next day to Lower Alloways creek, and after meeting went home with James Daniel, an able minister of the Gospel, who visited some part of Europe in the year 1752 in a religious capacity, which was to his own peace and the satisfaction of Friends: had a meeting in his family, which was mercifully owned to the re

good satisfaction. On seventh-day following, Cooper, in whose family we had a comfortable the 21st of ninth month, began the Yearly meeting: he has some promising children, inMeeting of ministers and elders for Pennsyl-clined to sobriety and virtue; such I think are vania and the Jerseys, held at Philadelphia, an honour to parents, and also such parents which we attended throughout. At this meet- an honour to children. Fourth-day, rode to a ing were presented certificates on behalf of our friends Sarah Morris of Philadelphia, an able minister of the Gospel, and Elizabeth Smith of Burlington, an excellent minister, and who for many years past have had it on their minds to pay a religious visit to Friends in Old England; and produced certificates from their Monthly and Quarterly Meetings for the Yearly Meeting's approbation. After many weighty sittings and solid deliberation, the meeting having a near sympathy with them in their religious concern, recommended them to the Lord for protection and to the guidance of his Holy Spirit, and granted them certificates to proceed as their way might more fully open to their satisfaction. These, and the preceding meetings for worship and discipline, continued till late on the fifth-day following, and were very large, many weighty matters were brought before them, and spoken to according to Gospel order. It may be said that the meetings both for wor-freshing of our souls. He accompanied us ship and discipline were to the glory of God, the praise of his great name, and to the comfort and edification of his church and people. Great is his power and goodness, and worthy to be had in everlasting remembrance, even for ever and ever!

the next day to Lower Greenwich meeting: after dinner divers Friends coming in, we had a short but profitable sitting, and some bread was cast upon the waters, which I believe will remain after many days. First-day, the 20th, had a meeting at Middle Egg-harbour, which was low and small, but the Lord was with his ministers, helping them to divide the word rightly, blessed be his name for it!

Second-day went to Abington Monthly Meeting; the meeting for discipline not satisfactory: many having gone out in marriage, contrary to the good order established amongst Seventh-day, the 26th, began their Yearly us; some recent instances appearing at this Meeting at Shrewsbury: amongst others who time, brought sorrowful exercise upon well attended were Robert Valentine from Pennconcerned Friends. Many also showed them-sylvania, Mark Reeve from West Jersey, selves very disorderly in going frequently out Isaac Andrews from Haddonfield, Richard of meeting during the time of worship, and Titus from Long Island, Sarah Morris, Benvery much so in time of transacting the ser-jamin Swett and wife, and some others. In vice of the discipline, which was painful to the meetings on first-day I was silent: the bear. Fourth-day was at Byberry; lodged at James Thornton's, who came from Old England some years since and settled in this country he is a worthy minister and elder. Sixth-day rode to Philadelphia, where I received a melancholy letter from my dear brother John Oxley, giving me an account of his being attacked with a paralytic stroke, and though he was getting better, I was much concerned and affected with the news, lest another attack of the same kind should soon follow, and be of still worse consequence. Third- and were well received, all tending to edifica day, in company with Samuel Emlen, senior and junior, went to Woodbury and had a meeting there; it was a time of laborious exercise, but I hope not without some advantage. Went home with our friend and elder David

meeting for worship on second-day previous to that for business was very large, and though it gathered very badly, yet afterward it settled into solemn and profitable waiting, and it was a glorious good meeting, the Lord got himself the victory, and it ended in supplication and thanksgiving to him for all his mercies and benefits. The discipline of the church was carried on in the spirit of love and condescension; sundry necessary remarks were made and advices given for counsel and instruction,

tion. These meetings being over, went with many other Friends to Richard Lawrence's, who was formerly a member of parliament, but he became convinced of the Truth and took up the cross, so that he had not freedom

to continue his seat in that house; he, as also his wife, are steady valuable Friends, and he himself waited on his guests at table, as one being redeemed from all worldly pomps and honours.

Shrewsbury, 7th of Tenth month, 1771.

My dearly-beloved wife,

which was large, but gathered in so much disorder as to make it quite burdensome; and as it met so dishonourably, the Great Master would not condescend to honour as at other times. I faithfully spake what was given me, which I believe will be long had in remembrance.

Second-day was at their Monthly Meeting at Buckingham, which I think was Thy kind and affectionate epistle of 23d Grace Fisher, a ministering Friend from Philthe largest I have yet seen in Pennsylvania: of seventh month, I have received with the adelphia, also Susanna Lightfoot were there, usual marks of the loving and faithful wife; and we were much pleased to see each other. and in return please to accept these lines from The meeting for worship was to good satisfacthy dear and affectionate husband, though tion, but that for discipline not so, many of separated so long and at so great a distance. other societies crowding themselves in, on acThis I think nothing temporal should have count of seeing some young couples present occasioned, but He on whose account it is, is their intentions of marriage, which when over still worthy to be served and obeyed; and here I trust we consider ourselves as being married they generally withdraw, and many of our in the Lord, and so he is become our husband disturbance of the meeting, and it is to be young Friends go out after them, to the great and head. It is our incumbent duty to be feared many times it has a hurtful tendency subject to him however nearly we are united as husband and wife, yet his commandment is to put a stop to this unbecoming and disagreeto our young people. Much was said in order above all to rule us and to be attended to; and able custom, which is painful to many Friends, in this matter, I trust, we are of one heart and and it is to be hoped the advice that was given one mind, and are one another's in the Lord. would have a happy effect. Third-day went I am through Divine favour in good health to Wright's Town Monthly Meeting, after and spirits, and at times made strong to de- which went to our friend Joseph White's, an clare the goodness of the Lord, and to invite able minister of the Gospel, well known by to him, whose ways are ways of pleasantness and whose paths are peace; and sometimes Ivice there. Sixth-day, had a meeting at Bormany in Old England for his acceptable serhave a hope that my labour is not altogether in vain in the Lord, though my all be only as the two mites.

dentown, in the afternoon visited Joanna Sykes, who had buried her husband but a few days before, who was in the ninetieth year of his This letter, and indeed all that I have received from thee, are proofs not only of thy had lived together in a married state sixtyage, and his widow almost eighty-eight; they integrity as a loving wife and an affectionate mother, but also as valiant and bold in the ministers of the Gospel. I felt some good in seven years, and both of them acceptable cause of Israel's God: if it should please Him for whose cause we are separated, to bring us I communicated, and we were comforted tomy heart, whilst sitting in retirement, of which together again, I trust it will be a joyful meet-gether thereby. About this time, there came ing. I have now travelled over great part of the continent, so far as even to think, at least if health is preserved and nothing unforeseen prevent, I may finish what remains with the year; but if it should be so, there is great probability that the frost and other impediments may prevent, that I shall not say more at present on that head, nor draw hasty con

clusions.

I am now at Shrewsbury attending this Yearly Meeting, at which there are many Friends of higher degree, but none so little

and mean as I am. We have been favoured

this day with a large and good meeting, Truth rose into dominion, and the Lord's great name became glorious, his own arm wrought salvation: the meeting ended in prayer and praising him, who is worthy for ever!

Seventh-day, 2nd of tenth month, had a meeting at Hardwich or the Great Meadows,

down out of the wilderness into Pennsylvania we heard that a child was killed by one of many bears, which did considerable damage; them, and a man and woman much hurt by another.

near Philadelphia has not been known for The coming down of bears so ing at a place called Robins; this meeting many years past. Seventh-day, had a meetand meeting-house was fallen much into decay; scarcely any Friends left to uphold the meeting with any degree of reputation; yet it was to us a time of Divine favour, and strength Lord, whose presence is near, and able to prewas given to speak well of the name of the afterwards set forward for Philadelphia; and serve those who put their trust in him. ferrying over Rancocas and Delware rivers to the city, was made thankful in that I witnessed the protection of the Lord to preserve my body in health, and my mind from sinking into un

We

profitable lowness: blessed be his name for ever and ever!

day had a meeting at Center, to which many were gathered, wherein was preached the tesThe soil of the Jerseys towards the east is timony of Truth in a good degree of heavenly very barren, but abounds with cedar-swamps life and power; thanksgiving and praise be and pine-trees, much made use of for building. given to Him who gives strength and power The timber in the northern part, which is to do it. Fifth-day attended a very large mountainous, is oak of various kinds, some of meeting at Wilmington: the chief part of the which are three, four, five and six feet over; inhabitants of this town, which is a very imblack walnut, commonly called in Old Eng-proving one, are under our denomination. In land Virginia walnut, much used by joiners this meeting I gave way to fear, and disfor desks, drawers, tables, coffins, &c.; pop-couragement prevailing, I let go that faith lar, hickory, chesnut, ash, beech, sassafras, which before I had known to be my support, with swamp bushes of various kinds, as the and without which we are not able to please bay, magnolia, white and black alder, sumach God. At this place live Elizabeth Shipley of divers kinds; one of which, called the and Esther White, both eminent in the minisswamp sumach, is of so poisonous a nature try, particularly the former: they visited that even handling it will so poison a person's Friends in Great Britain, &c. in company, in flesh as to blind them. Peaches they have the year 1745, to great satisfaction: they are in great abundance, also quinces, pompions, now far advanced in years. I visited them to squashes, melons, &c. Their horses in a com- my spiritual comfort and refreshment. mon way are not handsome, but travel much easier and are much more hardy than ours in England. Of wild beasts there are bears, wolves, panthers and deer, which decrease as the inhabitants increase: also foxes, raccoons, otters, musk-rats, opossums, &c. On the sea-coast and bay are numerous quantities of flies and mosquitoes, which extremely annoy both man and beast by their biting and injecting a poisonous quality, which is painful

to bear.

First-day, the 1st of twelfth month, attended a meeting at Marshey creek, where were some of the people called Nicholites and also of other professions. After taking some refreshment at William Edmundson's, at whose house we had lodged the night before, we bent our course toward Little Choptank. The wind blew very hard, and we had to pass over a bad and dangerous causeway about half a mile long; it was with great difficulty we got our horses through without being mired: at the end of Fourth-day, 13th of eleventh month, was this causeway was a ferry over Choptank held a meeting for the Negroes; the service river. When we came to the river-side, we that day fell on Sarah Morris, Samuel Emlen, were all afraid; the ferrymen said, the wind and John Pemberton; there were few at this was so boisterous, it was not possible for us to meeting but Negroes, they generally sat so- get over but with the greatest danger. We berly, and conducted themselves well; these overtook three Negroes who were also going meetings for the benefit of the poor Africans over; one of them said he had been used to are held quarterly. Fifth-day, left the city in that sort of work, and he did not fear but that company with John Pemberton. My late com- we should get over very well. For my own panion Joshua Thompson returned home, hav-part, I was very much discouraged, and exing travelled with me upwards of two thou-ceedingly loath to come away from our friend sand miles, whose company was very agrecable William Edmundson's house; but my companand useful, he being an elder worthy of double ion was very much for it, so, in condescension honour. We passed over the river Schuylkill to him I complied and set forward. We all to Derby, where there was a marriage of a son of us got into the boat, being nine in number of William Horne, a ministering Friend well besides three horses. The wind being exceedknown in England for his services there in the ing strong, it was with great difficulty we year 1762. Sarah Morris was at this meeting; could put off from the shore, which at length and it was an opportunity of Divine favour we did, and soon got driven far beyond the to many, which our souls were made thank- usual place of landing; the wind being ahead fully to acknowledge. The same evening to of us, we could make very little way across Springfield, and lodged at Mordecai Yarnall's, the river, and it increasing, blew the water an excellent minister of the Gospel, who visited out of the river like rain; also at the same Old England in the year 1757, and whose ser- time it froze very severely, so that we became vices are remembered by many. Seventh-day quite benumbed with cold. The men rowed to Providence, then to Chester, and lodged at with all their might, and sometimes got a little Joshua Hoskins's, who was husband to Jane forward, at other times lost what they had Hoskins, an able and well approved minister, gained, and night coming on, there was very who visited Europe in company with Elizabeth little better prospect than our being cast upon Hudson in the years 1749 and 1750. Third- a wide swampy marsh, where was no landing,

and in a dark, frosty night in an open boat: excellent name for ever more, who has so we concluded we must be all dead by morn- wonderfully preserved me in this great and ing. At length it pleased Divine Providence arduous engagement, through this long wilderto cause the wind to lull, as the sailors term it, ness, with a measure of that peace, which he and we got a little forward, but it soon increased the Lord only can give, and it pleaseth him to again, and we were in great distress, and it bestow it upon those who in faithfulness follow was now almost dark; our horses also began him, in the way of his requirings. to be very unruly, which increased our difficulty. Some of the men would have us endeavour to go back again to the place where we entered into the boat; others said it was impossible, and advised our using our utmost strength to get forward, which we did, and with long and hard labour we at length got happily over to the other side, but far wide from the landing-place, and reached a Friend's house not far distant. I hope to be thankful for this merciful deliverance, and in future to be more attentive to my inward feelings, which when duly attended to are many times preservatives both from spiritual and temporal dangers.

[John Pemberton about this time writes thus to Mary Oxley:] "Thy dear husband has stepped along wisely, and has gained the love of Friends, and, indeed, it is a great blessing and mercy to be so preserved, and I expect he will leave us much united to him. Visiting the churches in our time is attended with much suffering: frequent baptisms into death, in sympathy with the suffering seed, is the allotment of the Gospel labourers; but where faith and strength are vouchsafed to discharge duty, there is a satisfaction; and the sweet evidence which at times through adorable condescension is granted to the sincere in heart, who have nothing in view but the glory of God, and the good of souls, and that they may be found faithful, tends to support in seasons of secret mourning."

[The following is an extract of a letter from Joseph Oxley to his wife:]

Philadelphia, 1st of First month, 1772.

Since my last to thee I have been visiting Pennsylvania and the Jerseys, and about two days since was met by my kind friend John Pemberton, who gave account of the Pennsylvania packet, Captain Osborne, being arrived, and brought me thine of 2nd of ninth month, which is truly acceptable, with the comfortable tidings of thine and our family's welfare. My last would acquaint thee with my intention of returning by Osborne. The time of her sailing is settled to be the middle of next month, if nothing unforeseen prevent. Having finished what I apprehend to be my duty, I am waiting in the city, visiting Friends. I think I may say I find much freedom and openness in their hearts, as well as in their houses to receive me, and am shown much respect by Friends in general, though undeservedly. I am, through the favour of a kind Providence, in good health and tolerable spirits, content with my wages, and murmur not.

First-day, the 15th, rode to Goshen, where we lodged at our worthy friend Thomas Goodwin's, a minister of the Gospel, who paid a religious visit to England in the year 1762. Second-day was at their meeting, and went home with Aaron Ashbridge, an elder in good esteem, who was husband to Elizabeth Ashbridge, a minister well approved; she visited some parts of England and Ireland in company with Sarah Worrall, who was also well approved of in the same religious capacity. Yet it pleased the Lord to visit them with sickness, under which affliction they long lingered, and with hard travel, and inward and spiritual exercise grew weaker and weaker, and at length quietly departed this life, and I doubt not are at rest and peace with the Lord. Fourth-day, was at Concord Meeting, which was a day of great power, wherein the Gospel of Christ was preached in good authority, and the great Name praised, who is worthy for ever and ever. From hence to Nathan Lewis's, who is a minister, as is also his wife; she visited some parts of Europe about the year 1753. Seventhday at the Valley meeting; I thought it like unto Rephidim, a place where there was no water: I was altogether silent, but my companion, Thomas Carleton, communicated a little matter. After meeting to Edward Jones's, Dear Elizabeth Smith continues in great where I was met by my kind friend and land- bodily weakness, and more likely to die than lord John Pemberton, who brought me let-to live. Samuel Emlen, at our last Monthly ters from my dear wife and children, with Meeting at Philadelphia, laid before the meetgood accounts respecting their welfare, for ing a concern he had on his mind, to pay a which my mind was made humbly thankful. First-day, 22nd, was at Radnor meeting. Second-day to Haverford, and so to Philadelphia; through Divine favour, in very good health blessed and praised be his great and VOL. II.--No. 12.

religious visit to Friends in some parts of Great Britain; also another Friend, John Woolman, a wise sensible man, having a good gift in the ministry and well approved of, has a concern of the like kind, more particularly

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