the hands of God to that fallen man's ruining our whole work in that neighbourhood. For his influence among those who are both within and without, is I believe three times as great as that of any other.

On the 8th I preached at ten in the morning at Brother Spain's, and at six in the evening at Brother Mann's. On Sunday, the 9th, I preached at Brother Grange's, and Brother Finney's. Brother Finney is one of our Committee, whom we have appointed to conduct our business relative to our petition to the general assembly. He is a good local preacher, and a man of fortune and family, an honour to our connection. On Monday, the 9th, I preached at Brothers Briscoe's and Johnson's; and on Tuesday, the 10th, at Brothers Ogee's and Bansford's.

On Wednesday 11, I rode through the heavy rains to a church in a forest, where I was engaged to preach. Every body told me that no one would come-that no one would imagine I would attend on such a day. And I found it true: so after being wetted to the skin, and the very linen in my saddle-bags drenched with rain, we rode (Brother Bowen, the preacher who travelled with me through this circuit, and myself) to the house of a kind physician, who gave us a very hospitable reception. On Thursday, the 12th, I preached in a church about fifteen miles from the place where I had lodged, to a considerable and attentive congregation.

Friday 13. I preached at Bent Chapel, belonging to the church of England. At night I lodged at the house of Captain Dillard, a most hospitable man, and as kind to his negroes as if they were white servants. It was quite pleasing to see them so decently and comfortably clothed. And yet I could not beat into the head of that

poor man the evil of keeping them in slavery, although he has read Mr. Wesley's thoughts on slavery, (I think he said) three times over: but his good wife is strongly on our side.

Saturday and Sunday 14 and 15. I preached in a handsome church. On the Sunday I had a very large congregation. During the sermon, after I had spoken very pointedly concerning the impropriety of going in and out during divine service, two dressy girls walked out with such an impudent air, that I rebuked them keenly. After the public service, whilst I was administering the sacrament, baptizing, and meeting the society, their father, who is a colonel, raged at the outside of the church, declaring that as soon as I came out, he would horse-whip me for the indignity shewn to his family. But his two brothers (all unawakened) took my part, and insisted that I had done my duty, and the young ladies deserved it. However, finding that our preaching in that church, which we do regularly, chiefly depends upon him, I wrote a letter of apology to him as far as the truth would permit, when I came to my lodging. We had a good time during the sermon and the sacrament. But when I enlarged to the society on negro-slavery, the principal leader raged like a lion, and desired to withdraw from the society. 1 took him at his word, and appointed that excellent man (Brother Skelton) leader in his stead. When the society came out of the church, they surrounded Brother Skelton, " And will you," said they, "set your slaves at liberty?" liberty?" (He has many slaves) "Yes," says he, "I believe I shall." I lodged that night with dear Brother Skelton.

Monday 16. I preached to a most polite congregation at New Glasgow, and lodged at Colonel M's. They gave me great attention. Colonel M- is a very sensible, and polite man. He

acknowledged the force of my arguments concerning the negroes, but (I evidently saw) did not choose to take any active part for fear of losing his popularity. His son is a member of the house of delegates, and he wants himself to get into the senate, His lady wishes to be religious. On Tuesday the 17th, 1 preached in a Court-house at noon, but in a very wicked neighbourhood. However the congregation gave me their ear, while I endeavoured to shew them the necessity of the new-birth. At four in the afternoon I preached at one Mr. L-'s, a drunkard. The preachers find this a convenient half-way house; so they take it in their way out of a kind of necessity. How strange it is that so many will do any thing for the cause of religion, but part with their besetting sin. I now was met by our dear valuable friend Dr. Hopkins.He brought me that evening to his house, though it was dark before we reached it. Here I found myself locked up in the midst of mountains. So romantic a scene, I think I never beheld. The wolves, I find, frequently come to our friend's fences at night, howling in an awful manner; and sometimes they seize upon a straying sheep. At a distance was the Blue Ridge, an amazing chain of mountains. I have been for a considerable time climbing up and descending the mountains. I prefer this country to any other part of America; it is so like Wales, my native country. And it is far more populous than I expected. On Wednesday, the 18th, I preached at the Doctor's to a little loving congregation, and administered the sacra ment; and the Lord was with us.

Thursday 19. I preached to a quiet, unawakened congregation, at Brother Tandy Key's, who is lately come into that neighbourhood. He told me as we rode together, that he was determined to emancipate his slaves (about twenty) although

his miserable father, I suppose, will never give him any further assistance, if he does. I pushed on in the evening, with an intention of reaching his father's, Mr. Martin Key's; but at nine o'clock at night was glad to take up my lodgings at a tavern, in a little town, called Charleville, more especially as I had a dangerous river to cross before I could get to Mr. Key's. Nor am I sorry that I did not go thither: for when I called there the next morning, I found he had shut his door against the preachers, because he has eighty slaves. some years, I think, we preached at his house.His youngest son is a local preacher, and I believe, soon will take a larger field. His eldest son is a child of Satan, and therefore, I suppose, will have all his possessions when he dies. I drank a little milk here, (it being Friday) and before I went away, cleared myself of the blood of the old man, which, I evidently perceived, not a little pleased his pious wife.

For

Friday 20. I preached at Brother Grimes's, where I had many dressy people to hear me: and at five the next morning had a very good congregation.

Saturday 21. I preached at a chapel in a forest, which we call the New Chapel, and administered the sacrament, and was here met by our valuable friend Brother Harry Fry, one of the members for Culpepper County. Our society is not numerous in that county, and they long, but in vain, solicited him to become a candidate. At lást, a little before the election, he consented, and he and his colleague out-polled the other candidates, though supported by most of the principal gentry in the county; which enraged them to that degree, that they were almost mad. One of them cried out at the poll-booth, "These Methodists and Baptists will never rest till they get their

knives into our bellies." On Sunday 22, I read prayers, preached, and administered the sacrament in Mr. Fry's great room, which he had built for a ball-room. But, I think, before he had used it for one ball, the Lord caught hold of his heart, and he turned it into a preaching-room. He is a precious man, and, I trust, will be eloquent in the house of delegates for the emancipation of the slaves. He is to present our petition.

Monday 23. After the falling of heavy rains, I set off with one of the preachers for Alexanandria, This day I met with many difficulties. In crossing the water in one place, that I might reach the bridge under which the main stream ran, the water was above the top of my boot. In another place where we endeavoured to drive our horses over the run (the bridge being broke) we were likely to lose our beasts, the stream being too strong for them, and carrying them down. At last we got them out, and with great labour and some danger, patched up the broken bridge with the loose boards, and got over with our horses safe. After riding about forty miles, it grew so dark, and our horses and selves were so fatigued, that we lay at an inn upon the road, though we were within five miles of our friend's house where we intended to lodge.

Tuesday 24. We were locked up by the waters, so much rain having fallen the night before. We arrived however, at Brother Watson's, a local preacher, and he procured for me a little congregation.

On Wednesday, the 25th, I set off again: and after many doubts, and I confess, with trembling, was prevailed upon to walk over a long pine-tree, which lay across a strong and deep stream of water, in which I must have been inevitably drowned, if my foot had slipped. A man went before,