vell's creek. Next morning it was thought best that a public meeting should be held at that place, which was appointed to be held at two o'clock in the afternoon, and notice given to the neighbours. In the mean time we rode six miles to Townsend Mathews', who lived in a remote place, and had an instructive time in his family: then returned and attended the appointed meeting, at which numbers of other societies were present. It was a solid and instructive opportunity, in which much labour was bestowed in order that a reformation might take place among them. In the evening we rode ten miles towards. Smith's creek, and had a sitting in John Moore's family, where we lodged. The day following, we visited the families of Thomas Embree, Thomas Moore, Sarah Hawkens, Griffith Dawbin, Joseph Mathany, and Lydia Allen.

10th of the month, and first of the week, we visited Isaac Smith's and Joseph Allen's families in the morning; then attended Smith's creek meeting, which was large, numbers being present of other societies, amongst whom the everlasting gospel was freely declared, in order to stir up the careless professors of christianity. We went home with Jackson Allen, and in the afternoon had a solid season in his family. This appeared to be the last family of the members of that branch of the monthly meeting; and on conferring together, the Friends of the other committee who had joined us, not seeing their way clear to proceed further with us, proposed returning to Hopewell; and we, intending for Stafford, ninety miles distant from this place, set out early next morning; and crossing the South mountain, came to Jacob Fallis's, twenty-seven miles. We had an opportunity

with his family, and proposed having a public meeting, to be held next day at Jeremiah McCoy's, on the south branch of the river Shenandoah, near the Three-topp'd mountain, so called, and quite out of the settlement of Friends. Several persons being employed in giving the necessary information, we went on to J. McCoy's and lodged there. Next morning, numbers collected at the meeting; it was a closely exercising time, and held more than an hour in silence, occasioned as we thought by the great stupidity and rawness among them, manifested by their restless disposition. At length authority was given, with great clearness, to show the necessity of true humility, and the advantage of waiting upon God in solemn, awful silence, in order to be qualified to worship him acceptably; and also showing the difference there was between christians of the letter and christians of the spirit; likewise distinguishing the true ministers of Christ from those who preach for hire. After which, my dear friend Hugh Judge was led in a remarkable manner to treat plainly on what had appeared to him (during the painful feelings he had suffered among them) to be their situation, in regard to a spirit of strife, envying, discord, and evil speaking one of another, which prevailed in the neighbourhood.

Soon after the meeting ended, we got on our horses and left the place, without entering into much conversation. In the afternoon we set out to cross those mountains called the Blue Ridge, which were exceedingly difficult, as we had no pilot, and only a narrow path that in many places winding among rocks was scarcely to be discovered, by reason of its being grown up with bushes, and interrupted by

abundance of trees lying across it, together with the roughness of the rocks and stones, and the cavities between them; all these, with the steepness of the hills, made it seem dangerous. In this day's travel, was brought fresh to my remembrance the experience and observations of John Woolman, when placed in somewhat similar circumstances; and had to believe with him, that those who have never seen such places, have but an imperfect idea of them. But we were preserved in safety (though late at night before we got over, and the weather very cold) "through the kindness of Him whose works in these mountainous deserts appeared awful," towards whom our hearts were turned, I trust as his was, during this day's travel.

Having arrived on the other side, we had several streams of water to cross, being the upper branches of the river Rappahannock, through which we had no fording place, and the night being dark and cold, we got considerably wet and our garments much frozen about us. These things increased the unpleasantness of our situation; but through mercy we were enabled to reach John Garwood's before midnight, where we were kindly entertained. We were now within the verge of Culpepper meeting, and concluded to have a public meeting at the meeting-house at two o'clock in the afternoon. It was accordingly held, numbers of the inhabitants of other persuasions being present (for there were but two families of Friends who kept up that meeting) but the opportunity proved to be a distressing time to our minds. We afterwards had a sitting in the family of John Garwood; and next morning proceeded thirty miles to a place called Mount Pony, where we had a re

ligious opportunity with Jonathan Bishop and his family; and in the evening reached John Strode's.

On the 15th of the 2d month, we arrived at Poplar Quarter, in Stafford, and visited the families of William Wright, Robert Painter, John Paxson, and Daniel Antrim. Next day, we had opportunities with the families of George Shinn, John Holloway, William Branson, Isaac Holloway, Isaac Green, Thomas James, Esau Holloway, and John Green. The 17th, being first-day, we attended Stafford meeting; which was said to be much larger than usual, many of other societies attending: but it was a time of sorrow and close exercise to us, from a sense of the great oppression of our fellow creatures, held in bondage among them. The meeting concluded in solemn supplication, and upon the whole was believed to be a favoured time.

Under a belief that it would be profitable to have an opportunity with the members selected by themselves, a meeting for them was proposed at three o'clock in the afternoon; at which time they generally attended with their families. It was an open, favoured opportunity, and I believe was to general edification and comfort: my companion being concerned to labour amongst them, in gospel love, for their preservation in the Truth, particularly the beloved youth. After meeting, they took leave of us in an affectionate manner; and Hugh Judge apprehending himself not fully clear without returning to see a family we had visited the day before, we attended thereto, and had a precious season that I hope will have a good effect. In the evening we sat with the family of George and John Fallis, which completed the service in this quarter.

Next morning we set out for Crooked Run, and arrived there the 19th. In the afternoon we visited the families of Robert Hanna, Andrew McCoy, and Jacob McCoy. 20th. In the morning, sat with the families of Thomas Fossit and his mother, Caleb Antrim and Isaac and Hannah Painter. Then attended their week-day meeting at Crooked Run, which was an edifying season. In the afternoon, had opportunities in the families of John Haines, Levi Haines, Joseph Haines, John Smith, Jesse Holloway and Thomas Farnley; also proposed a public meeting to be held at the meeting-house at two o'clock to-morrow afternoon, and general notice to be spread thro' the neighbourhood. 21st. We visited the families of Eunice Walton, Robert Haines, James Swayne, Aaron Gregg, Robert Ray, Anthony Moore and John Painter. Then attended our appointed meeting, which was large, and in a good degree quiet. Under the influence of the Divine presence, the testimony and doctrine of Truth flowed freely to the people; in an humble sense of which, praises ascended to his holy Name. In the evening we had a sitting with the family of Margery Ellis. Next morning we rode a considerable distance and visited the family of Thos. McClun, which was the last of the members of that meeting.

We then proceeded to Mount Pleasant, and on the way had a solid opportunity at David Pancus's, who lived at Zane's iron works, where we had the company of Isaac Zane jun'r, and Charles Logan, the latter from Philadelphia. We spent a short time there, in viewing the wonderful works of Providence, and likewise the works of men: after which we visited the families of Joseph Rakestraw, Thomas Wood,