what God had done for their souls. The congregations were very large. I had a desire to visit the adjacent country; but no door opening, as no one might travel without a pass; the country being under martial law..

When I arrived at Larne, the captain said, "When I sailed from Quebec, you was so weak and low, that I never expected to bring you to land again: I thought I should give your body to the sharks," "But now, said the mate, you look ten pounds better." The inhabitants said, "We evidently perceive that since your coming here you have altered for the better every day; you are become quite another man than when we first saw you."

The first night after I came on shore, I went into my room, and was going to pull off the coverlet of the bed and spread it on the floor, according to my usual custom in America; and behold the floor was earthen or ground, which I had never seen before. I felt amazed, to think what I should do: to sleep in a bed (thought 1) I cannot; to sleep on the ground, I shall be chilled and take a fever. At length, I came to this resolution; I'll go into bed with my clothes on, and if it comes to the worst, I'll get up so I lay down, thinking it was more than probable I should have to rise within half an hour, on account of my asthma. I soon fell asleep, and slept sound until morning.

DR

CHAP. V.

MY DUBLIN RECEPTION.

ECEMBER 15th, after two days' sail, I landed in Dublin. Having a letter, I sought to find him to whom it was directed; (and a custom-house officer, for two and six pence English, piloted me there) but in vain, he not being at home, and night coming on, I scarcely knew what to do, (as the family would not suffer me to stay within, fearing who or what I might be.) I inquired for Methodists; and a chaise-man said, I know where there is one lives; and for a SHILLING, I got him to pilot me to the house.

After rapping, the door was opened by a boy, who informed the mistress that a stranger wanted her husband:

she said, let him come in till he comes home: so I went in, and sat down in the shop. By and by, in came her husband, William Thomas, who stopped and looked, and then with a smile, shook hands with me; which gave me some hope. After I told him my case he invited me to tarry all night; which I accordingly did, and in the evening, attended meeting at Gravel-walk, where I was called upon to pray.

The next day, I called to see the preachers, and when I saw Mr. Tobias, made my case known to him. He heard me, and then with plain dealing, advised me to go on board again and return to America (though he did not attempt to scruple the account I gave of myself.) He offered me half a crown, which I refused, and with tears left him, though I had only two shillings left?

In the the evening at Whitefriar-street meeting-house, I was again invited to pray and sing; but Mr. Tobias the preacher (on whom I had called) checked me in the meeting, and took the hymn out of my mouth, commanding the persons who prayed to stand on their feet; and after meeting gave me a sharp reprimand: and then calling the local preachers and leaders into a room, and, I suppose, charged them, and reprimanded him who had invited me, as he ever after was shy to me.

Now my door seemed to be completely hedged up, and I saw nothing but death before me, having no money to pay my passage back, and did not know how to do ship work, and no trade to follow for my bread, and I could not expect this family to entertain me long; no acquaintance round about, and three thousand miles from my friends. No one can tell my feelings, but those who have been in the like circumstances. It was a trial of

my faith, yet I could not say I was sorry that I had come; though it seemed to me I should sink: But these words strengthened my confidence," the very hairs of your head are all numbered;" immediately I lay down and fell asleep, and dreamed that I saw a person put leaven in a bowl of meal, it leavened and leavened until it swelled clear over on the ground, then leavened under ground till it got a distance of some score rods, imperceptible by the inhabitants: at length it broke out in the furthermost place; and then appeared in several

other spots. This dream strengthered my confidence in God, that my way was preparing, though imperceptible to me. When I awaked, my trials of mind were greatly lessened. I besought God if he had any thing for me to do in this country, to open a door and prepare my way; but if not to take me to himself, for now I was ou ly a burden to myself and others; and I did believe that one or the other he would grant.

20th. Whilst we were at family prayer, a Scotch soldier overheard us, and came in, and invited me to preach in the barracks at Chapel-izod; which I did sev eral times. Several other doors opening in different barracks, I improved the opportunities; one of which was at Island-bridge, where God began a revival, and a small society was formed. Having a desire to visit the country, at first the door appeared shut; but one (who for a scruple of conscience had been expelled society,) upon hearing thereof, sent word to me, that he was going to the Queen's County, and if I was minded to go, would bear my expenses.

26th. Taking the canal boat, we proceeded to Monastereven, whence we walked to Mount Mellick.

Here I found a man out of society, who had been abused, which occasioned the separation of about thirty, who held meetings by themselves. I held several meet-. ings in different parts of the neighbourhood, and refreshing seasons we had from the presence of the Lord. A quarterly-meeting was held here; I petitioned for liber ty to go into the love-feast, but was denied, saying, you belong to no particular people.

My congregations were so large, that no private house Gould contain them; for which reason some got open the preaching house doors, contrary to my advice; lest it should look as though I wanted to cause divisions; as the preacher had left strict orders not to let me in, &c.

Here I heard two women from my own country preach, (called quakers) for the first time of my hearing any of their society.

A question arose in my mind whether I had done wrong in coming away from my own country; is it not possible that I lay under a mistake after all? Thus I fell asleep, and dreamed that I died and was buried un

H

der a hearth; the lid which composed a part of the hearth was marble: My father coming into the room, said, What is there? "one replied, your son lies there; he then pulled off the lid, and behold it was truth; and I stood and looked at my body, and behold it began to putrefy and moulder. I was then a mystery to myself, to see my body in one place and I standing in another.' I began to feel, to see if I was flesh, when a voice seemed to answer, I will explain the mystery to you: If you had tarried in America you would have died as the prophet predicted, and your body would have been mouldering as you now see it; but now you are preserved for future usefulness. I waked up with the queries gone.

From hence (Mount Mellick) I returned to Dublin.I received two letters from the north requesting me to return with all speed to Larne. I had received money enough from the withdrawn members to return.

After holding some more meetings in the barracks, (and paying my passage, and procuring some provisions, having two shillings left) I set sail, but was put back by a contrary and tempestuous wind, after being out thirty hours.

I believe there was the peculiar hand of God in this: for a powerful time we had at Island-bridge the same · evening.

Jan. 20th, 1800. After walking some miles I ėm barked again, and just as I was going on board heard the shrieks of a woman, and turning round saw (a door shut too) one weeping as if her heart would break; I asked the cause, she said she had three children at home whe had eaten nothing since yesterday, and that she had not a sixpence to buy bread for them, and this family would not lend a shilling, and that her husband would not receive his wages till Saturday night. There was a dialogue in my mind whether duty required me to relieve her want, (as I reflected how much better my present circumstances were than her's) however I did not leave her till I had given her one of the shillings I had left; and, O, how grateful she appeared! The wind was not entirely fair, however we put to sea: The storm increased and the sea seemed to run mountains high, and washed severat valuable things overboard; but, what

surprised me was, I never once heard the captain swear or take an oath during all the time.

On the 22d we gained Belfast harbour, and came to anchor within two miles of the town, where I jumped into the pilot's boat, and gave my remaining shilling to be taken ashore; and through cold wind and rough sea, reached the town about six o'clock in the evening; I wandered up and down for some time the way I felt my heart inclined,* till recollecting a letter I had in my pocket; but how to find the person to whom it was directed I did not know, but feeling my heart drawn up an alley, I went to the door and rapped; the people desired to know what I wanted, I told them, and they invited me to take tea, which favour I received as from the hand of God; then a lad piloted me to the house where I wished to go to, where I found the mother of sergeant Tipping, in whose room I preached at Island-bridge, he having sent by me a letter to her.

Here I had lodging and continued a few days. I went to see the preacher, Andrew Hamilton, jun. to whom I related all my situation, and after a little conversation, he gave me the right hand of fellowship, with liberty to improve round his circuit, so long as my conduct should be such as it had been at Larne: He could not be blamed for this precaution, for if I behaved bad he would be blamed. I told him I hoped he would not by me have cause to repent giving the liberty. He likewise gave me money, to pay the passage of a letter to New-York, to get justice to my character.

From thence to White abbey, where I was questioned very close, and it was judged I did wrong in leaving America; but J. Morrison, whom I had seen at Larne, (the local preacher who formed the class and questioned me very close to know where I came from and was gosing to) persuaded them to call an assembly to whom I spoke.

Thence to Carrickfergus, (where a gaoler apparently died and remained for some hours, then revived again for some hours, and appeared to be in great horror) and

By the light of lamps—famine and death now stared me in the face in this large town-yet could not say I was sorry I had left America.

S