from Concord monthly meeting, recommending him as a minister well approved, with Susanna his wife and their four minor children. Hugh had previously rented a mill on the Brandywine creek, near which he resided with his family, and diligently attended Wilmington meeting. But his health was on the decline, so that in the 6th month, 1784, he informed the monthly meeting he had a prospect of going to Nantucket on account of his weak state of health, and that if he should recover and gain strength, he had a prospect of visiting some meetings thereaway. Joseph Tatnall proposed to accompany him, and they were set at liberty by their friends to pursue the prospect. Of this journey he wrote the following narrative:

“Having been in but a poor state of health for some months past, it was thought best, with the advice and consent of my friends, to try what a little relaxation from business would do towards restoring me again. For this purpose, a voyage to Nantucket was proposed, and Friends gave me a certificate of concurrence, in case I should feel my mind drawn to visit some meetings; though I desire not to put forth a hand to so great a work until the full time of ripeness comes. My wife gave me up cheerfully, and we left home the 23rd of the 6th month, 1784. We went on board the brig Manilla, bound for Boston, captain Starbuck, commander, and my health soon began to improve; so that instead of wanting a nurse, I had to be nurse to the friend who went as my companion; he being very poorly most of the way, with something like an ague.

On the 29th, in the evening, I landed on Nantucket, leaving Joseph on board the brig till next day.

The water was very rough, but I was tired of the ship; so with the captain and several of the passengers I went on shore, though not without getting wet with the spray occasioned by the dashing of the water against the boat. On landing, I met with Samuel Hopkins and Phineas Buckley, and we were truly glad to see each other. We were very kindly entertained at the house of William Rotch, and on the 30th, attended their meeting to satisfaction. We stayed about two weeks on the island, and were at a number of meetings; then crossed over to New Bedford, and spent six days about that neighbourhood. Thence to Newport, on Rhode Island, where we made a short stay and attended two meetings. stage boat being ready to sail, bound for New York, we agreed to go on board, and had a pleasant passage of about thirty-four hours sail. We landed in New York on seventh-day, and on third-day morning following, took the land stage from Rahway, and reached our homes on fifth-day morning in time for attending meeting. I was five weeks from home, and travelled by land and water about one thousand miles, and my health appeared much improved by the journey. After my return, we moved into our own house to live. It was but a small, yet convenient and good habitation; not grand, but plain and becoming my station."

A

During the voyage to Nantucket, Hugh Judge wrote several letters, from which the following is extracted:

On board the Manilla, 6th mo. 1784.

Dearly beloved brother, Edward Hatton,-I left my family well, except our youngest child, which has been poorly for some time; so that I have been

thoughtful whether I shall ever see it again. But let that be as it pleases Divine Providence, I feel perfectly easy in mind, fully believing that if it should please Him who gives life to take it from us, it cannot go in a better time than infancy. I am therefore at times made willing to resign all into his holy hand, in the renewals of whose love, I salute thee, with desires that we may so walk in true obedience to him, as to be counted worthy of his protection and acceptance when this mortal must put on immortality, and death be swallowed up of life. Surely they only are wise, who are found watching when their Lord cometh, and in faithfulness are discharging the duty of wise stewards, according to the measure of grace received. It is these that will be entitled to the invitation, “Come, ye blessed of my Father,—ye have been faithful in a few things, I will make you rulers over more." Here is encouragement, diligently to observe his pointings and faithfully to obey his commands; and not like some of old who were pleading excuses when bidden to the wedding. Yet I know it is sometimes hard getting over this kind of fleshly reasoning; but those who give way thereto and get into a doubtful or unbelieving state, will not grow in the Truth, nor arrive at a full stature in Christ.

In the spiritual voyage, there are so many shoals and bars and rocks, lying so far out from the shore and so hidden, that it requires great judgment and watchful care to steer clear of them all. Again, sometimes by crowding too much sail, there is damage sustained; and at other times, by reefing sail, there is time lost. Yet, notwithstanding doubts and fears and dangers surround, there is that felt and known at seasons which is over all, even the power of God,

that gives victory over all changeable things, and makes the weak strong, to the confounding of the wise and prudent of this world, who cannot understand the language of that pure, holy Spirit, which speaks in the silence of all carnal reasoning. When the true Shepherd puts forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and his voice is intelligible to the waiting, attentive mind; but the voice of a stranger they will not follow.

I long to be of the number of those that are divested of all selfishness, both of flesh and spirit; who are resigned to the Divine will in all things, and careful not to go before, nor yet to loiter behind the true Guide. The eyes of these being anointed with the true eye-salve, they discover the adversary in all his approaches and transformations, and are enabled to say, "Get thee behind me, satan, for thou savours not the things that are of God."

Oh! how I desire to see that day more and more come, when righteousness shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea. I sometimes think, had all those who profess the Truth been faithful to their principles, it would have arisen more conspicuously than now appears. Alas! too many who might have shone as sons of the morning, through unfaithfulness and disobedience, have fallen as on mount Gilboa, where there is neither dew nor rain, nor fields of offering!

On board the Manilla, 6th mo. 29th, 1784.

Dearly beloved wife,-Through the riches and goodness of Him whose mercies are over all his works, I have been favoured since I left home, with an increase of health; and have very often remem

bered thee and the dear children. Both by day and by night, waking and sleeping, my spirit has been. with you, in the bonds of natural as well as spiritual affection. But, dear heart, thou knowest the Rock of refuge,—thou knowest the pilgrim's pillar to lean upon. Cleave to Him; for he will not leave thee nor forsake thee: he will be a covert from every storm, and a shelter from the heat. Hast thou not known a feeding upon the dainties of his table? Then was thy soul humbled and ready to say, Draw me, and I will run after thee.

But notwithstanding we are sometimes favoured, through the goodness of God, to see the riches and fatness of the promised land, yet, my dear, we must not always expect to draw as from the breast, and be dandled as on the knee. In our probationary state, we meet with suffering seasons, and times of drought, even to the calling in question of the favours we have enjoyed. Neither need we marvel at these trials and provings of our love, and of our steadfastness; for it is the way in which the purifying power works for our refinement. Therefore, look forward, and so walk as we have Christ for an example; not regarding what the accuser of the brethren shall say in times of weakness and stripping; for then it is he comes in as a flood as if to draw us back, or raise a spirit of murmuring in us. Oh! how I long to be more and more redeemed from every thing that has a tendency to eclipse the beauty and excellency of a life devoted to a humble walking with Christ!

My dear love to all my children, friends and neighbours. I remain thy affectionate husband,

HUGH JUDGE.