leading me by the hand. But here, as every where, the Lord was at my right hand, that I should not fall. On this day I crossed the very same run of water in the afternoon, where the awful scene happened, which, I trust, through the blessing of God, I shall never forget. We dined at a friend's,, house by the way, and reached Brother Bushby's, at Alexandria, about seven in the evening. Here I met according to appointment that dear, valuable man, Mr. Asbury. He had informed the people, that when I arrived the Court-house bell should ring, and about eight o'clock I had a very large congregation in the Dissenting Meeting-house, to whom I insisted on the necessity of the witness of the Spirit.

Thursday 26. Mr. Asbury and I set off for General Washington's. We were engaged to dine there the day before. The General's seat is very elegant, built upon the great river Potomawk; for the improvement of the navigation of which, he is carrying on, jointly with the state, some amazing plans. He received us very politely, and was very open to access. He is quite the plain, countrygentleman. After dinner we desired a private interview, and opened to him the grand business on which we came, presenting to him our petition for the emancipation of the negroes, and intreating his signature, if the eminence of his station did not render it inexpedient for him to sign any petition. He informed us that he was of our sentiments, and had signified his thoughts on the subject to most of the great men of the state: that he did not see it proper to sign the petition, but if the assembly took it into consideration, he would signify his sentiments to the assembly by a letter. He asked us to spend the evening and lodge at his house, but our engagement at Anna

polis the following day would not admit of it.We returned that evening to Alexandria, where at eight o'clock, after the bell was rung, I had a a very considerable congregation.

Friday 27. Mr. Asbury and I rode to Annapolis, in the state of Maryland, where the general court (the supreme court of judicature of the state) was sitting. This prevented my preaching in the Court-house. However I had a noble congregation in the Play-house, and most of the great lawyers to hear me. And, surprising! the fine ladies and gentlemen attended at five the next morning, so that I had one of the largest morning congregations that I have had in America. We have no regular preaching here yet, but I trust shall soon see good days. One lady was so desirous of my coming that she sent word to Mr. Asbury that she would advance two guineas for a carriage to bring me there from Alexandria; but that I did not accept of.

On the 28th, we reached our kind friend Mr. Gough's, having spent a few hours in Baltimore, and travelled about fifty miles.

Sunday 29. I preached and administered the sacrament at the Falls, as it is called, our church being built near a great fall of water. It was the quarterly-meeting. We returned to Mr. Gough's, where I preached in the evening.

Monday 30. We rode to Abingdon, where we agreed to give Mr. Dallam sixty pounds sterling for four acres of ground, which we had fixed upon as the site of our college, and had proper bonds drawn up. We returned in the evening to Mr. Gough's.

Tuesday 31. We rode to Baltimore, where I endeavoured in the evening to shew the people the necessity of union with Christ.

Wednesday, June 1. We opened our confer

ence. As I expected to sail the next day, my brethren were so kind as to sit in the conference till midnight. I endeavoured to shew them at noon the necessity of being faithful to the ministry of the word. We thought it prudent to suspend the minute concerning slavery, on account of the great opposition that had been given it, our work being in too infantile a state to push things to extremity. However, we were agreeably informed that several of our friends in Maryland had already emancipated their slaves.

Thursday 2. I met my brethren early in the morning, and at eleven o'clock endeavoured to enforce St. Paul's awful exhortation to the elders of the church of Ephesus, Acts xx.

And now I took my leave of my friends, and set out in a boat for the ship Olive-Branch, which had sailed down the river the day before, and of which I got on board in the evening. In my younger days, one of the greatest afflictions in life to me, during the time it lasted, was to be torn away from my friends whom I dearly loved. This, through the extensiveness of my acquaintance, and the constant change of my place of abode, and partly perhaps through the grace of God, has of late years considerably worn away.

But I think for many years I have not felt myself so effeminate (shall I call it?) as I did on parting with my American brethren, the preachers: and the sensation continued very painful for a considerable time after I left them.

From Friday, June 3, to Sunday 12. All this time we have been sailing about seventy leagues, having been locked up for five days in a place called Moxat-Bay. However this delay gave me an opportunity of writing forty or fifty letters to my friends on the continent. There is no other passenger in the ship, so that I have the state-room

always to myself, and the cabin most part of the day. It is a blessed opportunity for fellowship with God and the improvement of my mind. that I may husband it accordingly! That I may return to England in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

Here, perhaps, I ought to apologize for giving so large an extract from the Doctor's journal, But after looking it over repeatedly, I could not prevail upon myself to leave any part of it out.The scenes described were so different from what we have in these isles, and yet in general so agreeable; and more especially as we see such a pleasing though true picture of the Doctor's spirit and conduct, that I thought I should neither do justice to my subject nor my reader if I withheld these pages from insertion. But I will be as sparing as possible of such insertions in future, that I may not exceed the prescribed limits, and that I may have sufficient room to do justice to the other parts of my subject.

The Doctor, we see, during his excursions in America, took occasion repeatedly, while preaching, to deliver his sentiments against slavery. The abolition of the slave trade had engaged the warm attention of philanthropists, about this time, in Europe. Their exertions were continued for more than twenty years, till they were finally crowned with complete success. Dr. Coke had imbibed their sentiments and spirit, and finding slavery to be very common on the continent of America, he warmly bore his testimony against it. And it should be observed, that whatsoever the Doctor's hand found to do he did it with his might; and whatsoever he did he did it heartily, whether unto the brethren or unto strangers. It would seem, laudable as was the attempt, as well as the motive, there was some danger, at this time, of the Doctor,

Bishop Asbury, and the American Conference, acting too rashly and precipitately. And it seems, they themselves saw the matter in this light, after making a trial. The consequence was, that the minute which their conference had made against all slave-holders, had its operations suspended.But it is a strange thing, that any person who fears God, loves man, and pays any regard to the bible, should traffic in the flesh and blood of his fellow men, or be offended at those who witness against the abominable practice. We see also, in some of the last pages preceding, that Dr. Coke used very active exertions for erecting and estab lishing a college, or rather several colleges, in America. And in a very short time, two colleges were prepared and opened, and promised very fair for doing good, and conferring credit on the Methodists. One of these they called Wesley-college, in honour of Mr. Wesley; and the other they termed Cokesbury-college, the name being composed of those of the two Bishops, Coke and Asbury. But one of these colleges being at least twice burnt down, and other discouragements occurring, the institution was altogether abandoned.

During Dr. Coke's stay in America, another circumstance happened, which must not pass unnoticed.

The American states, after renouncing the authority of the government of England, and after a war which continued about eight years, in which they were assisted by France, Spain, and Holland, became an independent empire. They established a government upon the system of representation, having two separate houses, and instead of an hereditary king, a chief magistrate, to whom they give the title of president, chosen by popular election, who was to go out of office at the end of