after the Yearly Meeting was over, to a meeting at Hertford. From Hertford I went to Hitchin, Jordans, HighWiccomb, &c.; was at the Quarterly Meeting at Okeham, for the counties of Leicester and Rutland, and at those at Lincoln, York, Lancaster and Kendal.

At this Yearly Meeting were no representatives from Ireland but Abraham Fuller and I. John Pim, of Ederderry, and his brother, Joshua Pim, of Mountrath, came as far as Coventry; and there the said Joshua, a valuable Friend and Elder, was visited with a distemper, which for a time seemed dangerous. He recovered, but not till some time after the meeting was over.

The like afterwards happened to another good Friend and Elder, Joseph Williams, of Randall's Mills, who reached London, and was there by indisposition prevented from getting out to any meeting; such trials being sometimes permitted, for proving and exercising the faith and patience of the Lord's servants.

In this journey I often travelled hard, and had two meetings a day wherever I could. It took me about five months. At Lincoln Quarterly Meeting, Friends lodged at inns. I do not remember that I knew one Friend there, but John Scott, from Leeds, and May Drummond. It being now about midsummer, the public meeting began at twelve o'clock, their men's meeting about two, and ended before four. In those two meetings I had been shut up. I met with an elderly Friend, and asked him how Friends spent the residue of the long evening; he answered, "In conversing together, or taking a walk or the like." I told him, I thought it was a pity, considering the large number of young people who came together from different parts of the county; and that the end would be better answered, by some religious opportunity or meet

ing, that might tend to edification, and be of benefit to some at least. He replied, "They used to have evening meetings; but being on one hand much infested with rude people, and on the other too often weakly conducted, they did not prove satisfactory; and for these reasons Friends had thought it best to discontinue them."

Hereupon we were called in to dinner, but I had little appetite; after dinner I was called out. Some of the Elders had drawn together, and upon my coming to them, signified if I had a concern for an evening meeting, they were willing to appoint one, to begin at the sixth hour. I was afraid, yet durst not refuse the proposal; so upon my assenting, the meeting was appointed. It was much crowded, and the life and power of truth was in dominion, which eased my mind of its burden and filled it with thankfulness.

From hence, John Scott, May Drummond and I, with divers other Friends, came to a meeting at Gainsborough, and on the First-day after, were at the General Meeting at Warnsworth, where we met with Joseph Storr. From thence John Scott and I went to the Monthly Meeting at Leeds, where we met with our valuable ancient Friend William Slater. From Leeds I went in company with William Hird and his wife, to the Monthly Meeting at Knaresborough, at which was John Fothergill; and from thence to the Quarterly Meeting at York, to which came John Richardson, who was expected by few, having been thought to be near death for some time before, but being recovered a little, though still very feeble in body, but strong in faith, and warm in love to God and the brethren, in a journey of three days, which he had used to accomplish in one or less, he reached this city, to have one more solemn opportunity with his friends at this meeting.

In the meeting of ministers, the good old man was enlarged in much weighty and pertinent counsel, in the clear openings of gospel light; but the public meetings were much hurt by raw and forward public appearances.

From York I came with Mary Slater to Skipton, and from thence was accompanied by John Binns to a General Meeting at Crawshawbooth, where I met with Samuel Fothergill, Margaret Birtwhistle, afterwards married to Jonathan Raine; and Sarah Routh, who afterwards married William Taylor. Next day, in company with the last two, to the Quarterly Meeting at Lancaster.

Here, in the meeting of ministers, Margaret Birtwhistle appeared lively and very suitably; but a young man, and one elder than he, by their public appearances hurt the meeting.

When I reached Whitehaven, I met with Susanna Morris and Elizabeth Morgan, of Pennsylvania, just landed from Dublin, having visited Ireland. Susanna Morris was a good old woman, and a sound minister, whose faith was remarkably tried; having twice suffered shipwreck on the coast of Ireland, and once, as I have heard, on the western coast of Europe; yet was preserved by that power and providence on which she relied, and her faith was not weakened thereby.

One time it happened in the North of Ireland, and the other time off Dungarvan, when, as I have been credibly informed, after hanging some hours in the ship's shrouds, apparently in imminent danger of being swept away by the waves every minute, and the storm continuing so violent that no boatmen durst venture out to their relief, a popish priest was made the instrument of her preservation, who, by his influence and authority, roused some of the inhabitants, at the risk of their lives, to attempt the

relief of her and others; which they providentially effected, and brought her and Joseph Taylor particularly, safe ashore.

When I landed from Whitehaven at Dublin, I there received a letter from my brother, informing me that their next Province meeting was to be at Limerick next First-day. Garret Hassen accompanying me, we left Dublin on Fourth-day morning, and came that evening to Samuel Neale's, at Christianstown, and were next day at the week-day meeting at Rathangan, and after meeting went to John Ridgway's, at Ballycarrol; next day we reached Roscrea, and Limerick the day following. At this Province meeting I was prevailed on to stay and join in a visit to Friends' families, towards which service Garret had before expressed some concern on his mind. We were accompanied by Joshua Beale, of Cork, John Philips, George Pease and William Richardson, of Limerick. It proved a memorable season: the pure influence of Truth having prevailed in the preceding Province meeting, had so prepared Friends' minds, that we found in general, great openness, and in some families scarcely a dry eye. No hardness, that I remember, appeared, except in one family; and the head of that family being an eager pursuer of the world, in some time after failed, considerably in debt. From thence I came directly home to Cork.

On the whole of this long journey, and my third with a certificate, I have this observation to make: in my two first journeys being much among tender, religious Friends, my labor was easy and edifying, and I often had great consolation and divine satisfaction among them; but in this last, coming to many places that were poor and flat, as to the life of religion, and where other things more prevailed, I often had suffering seasons, and came off but poorly.

7

CHAPTER VI.

REMOVES TO MOUNTMELICK.

ENGAGES IN THE LINEN BUSINESS.

ATTENDS THE

REMARKS ON THE DANGERS OF AFFLUENCE.
MARRIAGE AND FUNERAL OF MARY NEALE. VISITS FRIENDS
IN CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORELAND.

ENGAGES IN SCHOOL

TEACHING AT MOUNTMELICK. DEATH OF HIS WIFE. VISITS ULSTER PROVINCE. VISITS MUNSTER PROVINCE. HAS AN INTERVIEW WITH JOHN WESLEY ON ACCOUNT OF SOME INCORRECT CHARGES MADE BY THE LATTER. REMARKS ON A PROFESSION OF RELIGION, WITHOUT THE FRUITS THEREOF.

THE next summer after my return, I removed from Cork (leaving my brother John Gough there in my place) into Leinster Province, and settled near Mountmelick.

I have good reason to believe that I followed right direction, and the gracious call of Divine Goodness in this removal, on divers accounts, as in the good hand of God, the author of all good, it proved a blessing both to my wife and myself. There lived hereaway at that time, divers valuable, spiritually-minded Friends, through whose tender regard, counsel and help, we gained fresh good, and to whom we felt great nearness of heart and dear affection, in the pure love of the one eternal Spirit.

Here I tried something of the linen business, but found myself so unfit for dealing with the common people, that I saw, notwithstanding the kind assistance of some Friends, I was not likely to gain anything by following this business. And as I had little else at present for a livelihood, it sometimes spread a dejection over my mind. Such dispensations are humbling, deeply exercising our faith and patience, and proving our foundation and our