on theatrical amusements, headed with the query, Why don't you go to the play?" I procured a young man to conduct me to the residences of some of those most esteemed for their piety and rightly tempered zeal for the good of others, amongst the Baptists, Presbyterians, and Methodists, and furnished each of these with some of these sheets, accompanied with this charge, "I have now done my part towards having publicity given in this city, to the salutary advice and caution these sheets of paper contain; be faithful and do thy part." I found they were well received, and where they were read over, accepted as a treasure in a needful time, when exertions were making to promote stage entertainments: thus closed my engagements at Richmond, I humbly hope under a grateful sense of the need I had, afresh to set up my Ebenezer, to the praise of Him who had helped me, and been present with me in every time of trial.

372

CHAPTER XL.

FOURTH-DAY morning, 14th of 3rd mo. 1829, we rode to Jennito, and were kindly received by a Friend of that place; and on Fifthday attended meeting there, consisting of three families; many not in profession with Friends gave us their company, and we were favoured with a quiet solid sitting together.

Seventh-day, attended Cedar Creek monthly meeting.

First-day, attended Caroline meeting, consisting of two whole families, and part of two other families; the house was nearly filled by the coming in of the neighbours. I believe there was /ground to hope that what was offered was by some received gladly. Had a quiet sitting in the family before I retired to rest, and in the retrospect of having endeavoured to do my best towards a faithful discharge of this day's work, fresh cause was felt for singing the Lord's praise, who had in mercy been my stay and staff through this day's exercise of faith and patience.

my

Third-day, we proceeded towards Alexandria, and reached Ferrisburgh that night; the next night we reached Ward's tavern with great difficulty, from the danger we were frequently in of being set fast in mud-holes or turned over, the heavy falls of rain having washed the road and made such gulleys in some places as barely to leave room for our carriage to pass between them and the bank on the opposite side: on conversing with our tavernkeeper on the state of the road we had travelled, and inquiring into the cause we had not met one carriage since we left Ferrisburgh, we were informed, travellers had found it so dangerous, that the steam-boat conveyance had been considered preferable.

Fifth-day morning, after we had comfortably refreshed ourselves, we pursued our journey, but soon found we should not have to say the last part of our journey was the best; my companion appeared at times apprehensive of our not being able to get to our journey's end without some injury to our horses, carriage, or ourselves; but through the watchful care of that Almighty Power, without whose notice a sparrow falls not to the ground, we were favoured to accomplish this journey of eighty miles in three days, and reached Alexandria in safety this evening, not having scen a carriage of any kind on the road since we left Ferrisburgh. As I advanced towards Alexandria the

watchword was in mercy powerfully proclaimed in the ear of my soul, "Into whatever city or town ye enter, inquire who is worthy, there abide; go not from house to house;"—although 1 was well aware, that a steady, uniform attention on my part to this Divine injunction, would expose me to much suffering of mind. The family in which I was most kindly cared for when here before, as well as some other families who had been unremitting in their attention to me, had united themselves to the separatists' party in this Yearly Meeting. I thought I never felt greater need of attending to the injunction of, "Pray always; pray without ceasing,"-lest the affectionate part should be so wrought upon, as that the feet of my mind should be turned off from the sure foundation, which I soon found I was in great danger of; our arrival in the city being quickly noised abroad, I had invitation after invitation from families, who had been amongst the most active in the separation that had taken place in the Yearly Meeting of Baltimore. Aware how generally the members of the Society at Alexandria had gone off with the Hicksites, I had, before I left Virginia, written to a Friend of Baltimore, requesting him to inform me where I could be safely housed; and having received the necessary instructions on this head, I endeavoured after holy help to be preserved firm in keeping to my quarters, notwithstanding all the importunities I had to encounter, to visit here and there amongst those who had denied the faith: however, accompanied by my companion and landlord, I called upon the amiable family with whom I had taken up my abode when here before. Our meeting appeared to be mutually tryingtrying to them, as they expressed themselves, that I had changed my quarters, and as trying to me, if not more so, on account of that which had been the cause of my being obliged so to do. I felt my mind drawn to make a visit to those individuals, who were esteemed the most pious amongst the Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Baptists, and Methodists, for the purpose of leaving with them what I could spare of the printed sheet on theatrical performances; they appeared to receive them with feelings of gratitude, and to be viewed as help sent in the time of need: the theatre in this place had been long shut up on account of repairs, and was to be opened again in a few days; much pains, I was informed, had been taken, through the public papers, to obtain a full attendance when it should be opened, by endeavouring to set forth the benefit and advantage of theatrical amusements. thing to counteract these attempts, I understood, had been in contemplation by some of the more serious part of the city, but it was not yet effected; I was led to rejoice I had yielded to these simple pointings of duty, not being aware at the time of the state of things here relative to the theatre.

Some

First-day morning, I rejoiced that the time was come for me to

leave Alexandria; and more so, that strength had been afforded me by my Heavenly Father, to rise above the affectionate part, by withstanding the importunities of those whose spirits I could not now associate with, as it respected religious opinions,-the command having been renewedly ushered into my mind, of “ Touch not, taste not, handle not, the leaven of their spirits." Accompanied by a kind friend and his wife, we rode to the city of Washington, to sit with the four individuals in that city now with Friends; the few left at Alexandria and Washington, now make one meeting, which at present is held in a sitting-room belonging to one of this little company; two young women, not in membership with Friends sat with us: the Divine Master, who told his followers, "Lo, I am with you always," condescended, in his mercy, to own us in our sitting together; causing feelings of gratitude, I believe, to flow in our hearts.

Second-day morning, part of a committee appointed by the last Yearly Meeting to visit the quarterly, monthly, and other meetings within the compass of this Yearly Meeting, having notified to Friends their intention to sit with such of this meeting, as had not united themselves to those who had seceded from the Society, application was made for the use of their own meeting-house, it being in the possession of the Hicksites, but it was refused; on which, application being made to the Baptists for the use of their house for the purpose, we understood it was cheerfully granted. Having yet a few sheets left of the printed paper on theatrical performances, and apprehending it would be right for me to put them in a channel to be made public, I waited on the preachers of the different religious denominations in the city, and found it was gladly received, with an assurance from them of making it public through the newspapers and other channels.

Fifth-day, part of the Yearly Meeting's committee, with the Friends of this place, also such as had been disowned, and others who had been in the practice of attending Friends' meeting, but had not united themselves to the Hicksites, met at the Baptist meeting-house; several also who had joined the separatists and other religious persuasions gave their company, the doors not being shut against any during the meeting for Divine worship: the people generally appeared solid, and I doubt not but that it was a season of profit to not a few. When the meeting for worship closed, such as had been disowned, and others who were in the practice of attending Friends' meetings, but had not united themselves with the separatists, were encouraged to remain in the house and keep their seats; a Friend on behalf of the committee informed those who remained with Friends the cause of their being thus convened, and such means were proposed for the help of those yet left with Friends as Truth appeared to dictate; the meeting separated under a humbling and thankful sense that

best help had been mercifully vouchsafed in conducting the several matters that were brought forward as important to be attended to.

First-day; a separation having taken place here, the meeting was held in a large room offered for the use of Friends; it was supposed that more than one hundred Friends and others were present. Second-day morning I proceeded to Baltimore.

Fourth-day, 1st of 4th mo., I proceeded to Deer Creek; and on Fifth-day, attended Friends' meeting there; the Hicksites keeping possession of Friends' meeting-house, the meeting is now held in a private house; here are yet left a few solid Friends to keep up this meeting.

Sixth-day, attended meeting at Eastland; the meeting-house being in possession of the Hicksites, the few Friends of Little Britain and Eastland are united in one meeting. Several not in profession with us gave their attendance; I believe Friends were comforted in their sitting together.

Seventh-day, we returned to Baltimore. First-day; both the meeting-houses in this city being in the possession of the Hicksites, Friends hold their meeting in a chapel built by a private individual, of whom it is rented, until they can build for their own accommodation; here I found a very respectable body of Friends left; the morning and afternoon meetings were well attended by Friends and others, and proved solid, satisfactory meetings.

Second-day, I rode to Gunpowder, accompanying a part of the Yearly Meeting's committee of men and women Friends, and took up my abode with my kind friend Thomas Scott. The Hicksites having possession of the meeting-house belonging to Friends, they had the use of the meeting-house belonging to the Methodists' Society.

Third-day, the committee and Friends of this meeting met, and they were encouraged to seek out a place to meet in for the purpose of religious worship, which, as yet, it did not appear they had strength to do, as they sometimes met with the Hicksites, at other times staid at home, and some of the young people went to the Methodist meeting; these are some amongst many more of the sorrowful effects which this dividing spirit has produced. Friends of Gunpowder manifesting a desire to embrace the present opportunity to put in practice what had been proposed, a time was concluded upon for them to meet and consult together, as to the most suitable place for them to hold their meetings for worship in, until some more permanent situation could be provided. After meeting we rode to Baltimore.

Fifth-day, attended the week-day meeting there; at the close of which was held the monthly meeting. Friends not having yet taken up the cases of those who are gone off with the sepa