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Wilson, giving an account of the death of my beloved friend and brother in the Truth, Norris Jones, who was expected to have been my companion in this journey. Although he had been for some time poorly, yet he laid the concern before Friends, and obtained their certificate, intending to meet me at Long Island Yearly Meeting, or about that time. But his weakness increasing, prevented him, until the 28th of the 5th month last, when he left Philadelphia, and came on as far as William Smith's at Rahway, where he closed his days in sweet peace with his heavenly Father. He was a clean-spirited, upright-hearted man, who loved the Lord and his blessed cause of truth and righteousness. I loved him as a brother, to whom I could unbosom myself freely. He was a tender, sympathizing friend, without dissimulation; and though his removal is a loss to the church, I believe it is his eternal gain. Dear Norris, thou hast been to me a very pleasant friend; our love to each other was sincere as the love of David and Jonathan. But thou art gone before me; thou art entered into rest, never more to fear; thou hast fought the good fight; thou hast kept the faith, and hast received the crown of righteousness which God had in store for thee, and for all that love him. There was not any thing able to separate thee from his love; the frowns and imprisonment of men could not move thee from thy steadfastness; thou wast kept above and over them all; because He who is stronger than all ruled in thy heart. Oh! how was my soul united with thee in that day, because thou wast willing to suffer for the testimony of a good conscience. But thou art now delivered out of thy trials and provings, and hast as it were stepped aside behind the vail, so that I shall

not see thee with my outward eyes; yet with mine inward and spiritual senses I behold thee, and have unity with thy spirit, enjoying thee in the seed of life.

7th month 6th. We were at Mendon, the state of that meeting appeared very low; next day at Upper Smithfield, and the day following at Lower Smithfield, silent, to the mortification of many. Here Job Scott met us and we went home with him: next day, he and his wife accompanied us to a meeting held at a Friend's house, in which Job had good service, but I had no public testimony to bear. Our next meeting was in the edge of Connecticut, held in a Baptist meeting-house, my companion James Mott sat at my left hand and the priest on my right; but he felt to me no more than a little boy, as to any fear of man. When I closed my testimony and sat down, he said "Amen, friend; that doctrine will stand in heaven. and earth." We parted friendly, and lodged that evening at the house of a man who had been convinced of Friends' principles for some years, but had not yet joined them in membership. Like many others, he has become too talkative, and is likely to dwindle as to the life of religion. On first-day we had a large meeting in his barn, that held upwards of three hours. There is a tender, seeking people in these parts who are growing weary of the priests, and incline to go to Friends' meetings. On second-day, we had a meeting in a friendly man's house at a place called Pomfret, the first Friends' meeting ever held in that part of Connecticut. Here also there is a seeking seed.

13th. Having no meeting appointed, we went in search of an old man lately received into membership, but who through bodily indisposition, did not

get out to meetings. At length we found him in a remote place, fifteen miles from meeting; with him and his family we had a comfortable opportunity, and were glad we found them out. We parted with them in tenderness and rode about seven miles to dine with a young man and his wife who were inclining to Friends: then went on to Benjamin Batty's, where we lodged. Next day, we were at their week-day meeting; but the Friend's house where their meetings are usually held, not being large enough to contain half the people that assembled, it was held in the woods, and continued about three hours and a half. Next day, being the 15th, we attended Providence week-day meeting, in which I was silent: stayed two days at Moses Brown's, and were at their first-day meetings in which both morning and afternoon I had public service. Daniel Offley had lately passed thro' Providence and was gone northward; intending also for some of the upper meetings in York government. On second-day, the 18th, Moses Brown and his son Obadiah went with us to Swanzey meeting; a close, searching time. Next day at Taunton, a poor place! My impression was, that the meeting there ought to have been laid down some years back. We then had meetings at Freetown, Tiverton and Little Compton; but so low is the state of things in these parts, that I was ready to say, "By whom shall Jacob arise, for he is small?" After a large and satisfactory meeting at Portsmouth, we went to the widow Rodman's at Newport, who with her lovely daughters received us very cordially. On first-day, the 25th, we sat in silence in both meetings at Newport; next day, visited several Friends and their families, and the day following attended their monthly meeting. Fourth

day, were at Providence monthly meeting; fifth-day' and sixth-day, at the monthly meetings of Smithfield and Uxbridge. In these meetings I had to bear testimony against the practice which Friends follow in relation to burials. It is customary in many places hereaway to hold meetings on account of the interment both of Friends and others. Ministering Friends are sent for, sometimes at a considerable distance, to attend these funerals; the corpse is taken into the meeting-house, and after meeting exposed to view to all present that choose to look at it. On these accounts my mind was closely exercised; but when people get, as it were, rivetted to customs, its hard to break them off. There is danger of these things becoming flat, lifeless and formal.

The parts of New England where we have been, are generally a very rough, stony country. We ride day after day, and see very little but stone fences.But notwithstanding they have stones in such abundance, they build almost altogether frame houses and barns: it is very rare to see a stone house in town or country places. The land appears to be strong, and yet they raise little or no wheat; and about Providence town, very little rye is raised. The corn, barley and oats look well, and there is abundance of good flax. They say they cannot raise wheat, because it blasts; and of latter years, the rye also is often subject to blight. The country is much overrun with barberry bushes, which are thought to be injurious to the raising of grain. Moses Brown, near Providence, told me, that when he first settled where he now lives, he raised abundance of good rye; but of latter years, he has quite given out trying to raise it; and he imputes the failure to the great increase of

barberry bushes. Rye and corn flour mixed together is their common bread; and there is very little wheat flour bread to be seen. Rhode Island is a rich, fertile spot of land; and yet they cannot raise wheat; and very little rye. Newport was formerly a brisk place for business, but is now fast going to decay, and the trade carried on at Providence, a flourishing town at the head of Narraganset bay.

8th mo. 1st, being first-day, I was at Lower Smithfield meeting the second time, and had a little to say among them. In the afternoon, at Providence, where I met with John Elliott and William Wilson of Philadelphia who were there on a religious visit. At Swanzey monthly meeting, next day, I had to bear my testimony against the formal way of conducting funerals, and also to hold up to view the ancient religious concern and practice of visiting Friends' families; which is very much lost sight of in this land. I believe Friends have sustained great loss for want of keeping this concern alive; a sense of this has frequently covered my mind as I have travelled along visiting meetings. The discipline also appears to be at a low ebb in many of the monthly meetings we have attended. A kind of formal acknowledgment for outgoing in marriage is very generally accepted; and seldom that any are disowned for that breach of our good order. Thus, weakness ensues; and Friends making the way so easy for this class of offenders to be retained, opens a door for more outgoings than otherwise would be.

We then were at meetings at Long Plain, Accushnet, Newtown, Aponeganset, New Bedford and Centre; the last so large that many could not get into the house, and it held near four hours; during which the

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