under water. Seventh-day, not able to use my daily exercise. First-day, although much indisposed, I walked out to meeting; but feeling my cold getting worse, I did not stay the afternoon meeting. The accounts received to-day from Cronstadt state, that two vessels were dashed to pieces in the storm, but the crews were saved; and that great distress was occasioned by the inundation in that town.

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Second-day, in my ramble this morning I was met by five English sailors, part of the crew of a vessel from Liverpool, which was wrecked on one of the islands in the Gulf of Finland during the late storm: although total strangers to each other, our meeting appeared mutually agreeable. Except men churls indeed, I have found these feelings are generally excited, when we are permitted to meet our countrymen in a foreign land. On my way home this afternoon, I was joined by an Englishman, who was a resident in a part of the palace called the Hermitage, appropriated to natural curiosities and paintings: he gave me a kind and pressing invitation to make him a visit, and view the rarities which the Hermitage contained. My natural inclination would have prompted me readily to accept his invitation, but my duty told me, that to see rarities and paintings was not the errand that brought me from my native land to visit this city; I therefore was constrained to decline his kind offer, at which I thought he felt disappointed, as I could not doubt but that he was desirous of doing me a kindness.

Third-day, the weather threatening to be stormy, drove me home earlier than usual: in the afternoon I ventured out again, and walked to the Newskoi Prospekt; the crowd of people and carriages, many of whom came to pass away the time, was not suffered to dissipate that sweet covering of good desires, with which my mind was favoured; but amidst all this display of finery and bustle, I was enabled to strew my tears, and offer up my prayers before the Lord, that I might be preserved faithful in everything which he should see meet to require of me in this nation, more especially in this city; and for a safe return home, when the time for my departure should be fully come. Divine mercy condescended to dry up my tears, giving me the assurance, that if I continued faithful in doing his will, He would care for me every way to the end of my journey home, and afresh bringing to my remembrance the repeated intimations which I had received, that he had service for me to perform amongst my brethren on the American shore, with such clearness, that all my doubts about my safely getting out of this country, and reaching my own home, vanished out of sight, and as if I never had them to contend with. But, O! the messengers of Satan, how hard are they to endure; but they are, I doubt not, permitted, in great wisdom and unutter

able loving kindness, to prove our faith in the all-sustaining arm of God, and our constancy towards him; in order that, by our patiently enduring them all throughout the Lord's appointed time, these tribulations may work patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, that maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us. I returned home, and retired to rest, under a humbling hope, that another day of my pilgrimage in this city, (which has been a place of sore exercise of mind to me daily since my lot has been cast in it,) has been as well passed over as many days of my life; for which favour, under a thankful sense thereof, the exclamation, "What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits?" was the language of my mind; accompanied with an earnest desire, that there may not be a failing in doing what may be called for at my hand, during my sojourning in this place; otherwise how will this inquiring language thus uttered, rise up in a future day, and condemn me.

Fourth-day, in my rambles this morning, I bent my course to Catherine Hoff, a village about a mile and a half from the city: had I made my visit to it previously to the late inundation, I suppose, from the remains left by that awful visitation, I might have fancied myself entering one of our well-built, well-planted villages in some of the flats on the banks of the Thames. I was informed, that large sums of money were last summer expended by the government on this spot, in order to form something similar to the Elysian Fields in the neighbourhood of Paris, to draw the inconsiderate inhabitants out of the city on the First-day, when the diversions were to be more generally going forward, to a greater abuse of that day, if possible, than takes place in the city but, alas! how uncertain, how shortlived, have all these attempts proved, when the great and terrible One, who inhabits eternity and dwells on high, whose name is holy, who inhabits the holy place, sees meet to arise, and assert his power and sovereignty, fulfilling his determination, because of their wicked ways;-I will overturn, overturn, overturn;" and it shall be no more. I stood and viewed with astonishment the remarkable manner, in which this declaration of the prophet had been fulfilled on this spot, in a more striking and destructive way, than in any other part of the city or its suburbs that I had seen or heard of; how all that the art, skill, and labour, which the invention of man was capable of producing, to gratify the evil imaginations and desires of the corrupt heart, had, as it were, at one stroke been hurled away together; not a vestige of these inventions was left standing anywhere, except part of a newly-erected building, where I was informed much of their wicked nightly practices went on the stairs and part of the foundation of this building were carried away, the gravel walks thrown up,

the plantations destroyed, and the labour that had been bestowed as completely laid waste, as it is possible to conceive. Whilst viewing these remains of the Lord's judgments, I was led secretly to crave, that these things might prove a means of awakening in the minds of those, who had been the frequenters of this place of folly, dissipation, and wickedness, a more serious consideration of their ways and doings; but, alas! from the manner the people continue to conduct themselves, there is no ground for cherishing this hope on their account.

Fifth-day, I walked out to meeting, and was well rewarded for my labour in going to sit down with the little company I met with, independent of the enjoyment of having the opportunity of a little conversation, as I mostly pass the day over without exchanging a sentiment with any one, except, as necessity compels me, with the family I am in; towards whom the caution in my mind continues to be, to carry myself, on all occasions, with the greatest possible care as to conversation, and yet to manifest a kindness of disposition toward them, and gratitude for the attention I receive.

Sixth-day, my kind friend Daniel Wheeler sent his droskey for me, and with him and his family I spent the day, an enjoyment which I seldom have partaken of since coming to the city, except on meeting-days; for, understanding that I continue to be considered by some in authority as a suspicious character, I feel it necessary to be careful, not to expose any of my friends here to the danger of becoming implicated with me.

First-day, walked out to meeting; the wind setting strong across the road, I was greatly annoyed by the burning of the carcases of the cattle and pigs, that were brought out of the city, where they had perished during the flood; it not being considered best to bury them, lest the wolves should be attracted thereby. The days being very short, I did not stay the afternoon meeting, having nearly five English miles to walk to my lodgings.

Believing the time to be fully come when I must be willing to take up my pen, and as matter rose in my mind, to commit it to paper, in an address to the inhabitants of Petersburgh, I devoted the afternoon and evening to this service, which, when I had finished, my mind felt relieved from some of the load of exercise I had been brought under, since the awful visitation which this city had witnessed.

Second-day, my mind continued to be charged with an apprehension of religious duty to attempt a visit to the emperor. I waited on a merchant in the city, with whom I had made a slight acquaintance, who was on terms of friendship with the emperor's private secretary, through whom my request must be conveyed. On my informing him of the cause of my now waiting upon him, he engaged to call upon the secretary, and to inform him of my re

quest: having thus far done my part towards bringing about that which I believed would be required of me, before the way would open for my quitting the city, I did not lose my reward of peace.

Third-day, brought me under fresh difficulty: my friend who yesterday had offered to assist me in obtaining an interview with the emperor, appeared to regret he had taken such a task upon him, as he requested to be excused from the performance of it. I therefore concluded it would be best for me to adopt my usual plan of doing my business myself, by addressing a note to the secretary, leaving the result to that Almighty Power, who, I firmly believed, was able to make the way easy for me, if it was his design I should be admitted to the emperor. I therefore wrote a note as follows: "I am one of the Society of Friends; and feeling, as I have done for some time, my mind exercised with apprehensions of religious duty, if possible to obtain an interview with the emperor, I shall feel myself greatly obliged to thee, his secretary, and served, by thy endeavouring to make such way for me, as may be in thy power." This note was forwarded to him by a messenger whom my friend provided for me for that purpose. The circumstance of my friend's refusal to fulfil his engagement, was at first trying; but I believed that Divine goodness was making way for my release from some of my weights and burdens, and that if patience were but enough abode in, these dispensations would be sanctified; although my faith, patience, and obedience never were more fully put to the test. Having forwarded my note to the emperor's secretary, from the peaceful feeling in my mind, I was enabled to hold up my head in hope, that my movements thus far were in the line of Divine appointment; and thus I was freed from all anxiety as to the result of it.

Fourth-day, patience is indeed very requisite, when we are lying, as it were, on our oars, waiting for the word of command to be clearly given to get under way again: although at times, I feel as if the time for my release from the field of labour here was hastening apace, and that an overland journey must be submitted to by me, yet I dare not at present take any step whatsoever towards arranging for it; having the assurance in my own mind, that every thing needful for my safe return to my family again, will, in due time, be provided for me.

Fifth-day, I walked out to meeting.

Sixth-day, I rambled to the great market; the snow was falling heavily, I walked under cover for near two hours, and then returned home. A person called upon me to-day, inviting me to make him a visit; although I could not doubt but that his invitation was given in great sincerity, I found I must decline it, which placed me under difficulty; but as it appeared clear to my mind my safety was in being willing to take up the cross by

declining, I endeavoured to do so in as handsome a manner as I was capable of, so as not to give just occasion for offence to be taken at it. The evening closed by reading in" Piety Promoted," and by mental prayer for strength to be enabled to hold on the way of well-doing, and bear the daily cross to the end. But, O! the fears that I am at times tried with; being almost ready to cast away the shield, as if it never had been anointed, or I had never known any thing of its miraculous sufficiency to ward off every blow of Satan. Before I retired to rest, a glimmering prospect was afforded of my safe landing on the shore of Harwich.

Seventh-day, 11th of 12th mo., such have been my secret plungings this day, and the fears and misgivings which I have had to pass through, that nature at times seemed nearly exhausted. Having finished a fair copy of the address to the inhabitants of Petersburgh, I was not able to know, how it is to be disposed of, or who will dare to translate and print it; for nothing can go to press in the city, without first having the sanction of the censor. When my bed-time arrived, I saw no other prospect but that of my having a distressing night to pass through: my inclination would have led me to remain up through the night, but fearing that the family I was in would notice my so doing, and be anxious to come at the cause of it, which I should not be able to disclose to them; such was the state of nervous irritability I was sunk into, that I found it would be difficult for me to lie quietly in bed; my feet were more like the feet of a corpse than of one in whom a spark of life existed, yet there was no way but to go to bed, and endure the suffering that might follow. Divine mercy however failed me not, but continued to be my stay and staff during this long and trying night, for so I thought it; and I anxiously watched for the peep of day, when I might be able to rise from my bed without notice being taken by the family, and to parade my room. That the Lord alone who thus sustains, may have the praise and full dedication of the remainder of my days, is the earnest desire of my soul.

First-day, walked out to meeting; after again reading over the address to the inhabitants, I signed it on inquiry, I was fully satisfied a translation could not be procured, nor printed copies, as no one would dare to attempt to undertake either of these offices of kindness: my mind continued to feel relieved as far as I had thus proceeded. There appeared no way for me but to keep in patience, until the way for disposing of it was seen with greater clearness, than at present was the case with me.

Fifth-day, I walked out to meeting; the change from a fine clear frost to close, damp, warm weather, occasioned my walk to be very oppressive; the next day was, however, fine, clear, and frosty.