fore I was at all the meetings of our friends on the island.

Here I met with Moses Aldridge, a friend from NewEngland, who came on a religious visit to friends of this island, with whom we had divers good meetings, his service in preaching the gospel being edifying and acceptable; we were together at the marriage of Andrew Drury and Mary Lewis, after which meeting and marriage, I was ill of a fever several days, which distemper was very much among the people, of which near twenty masters of vessels, and some hundreds of people died; and though I had been at Barbadoes many times, I never had so much illness there before; Moses Aldridge, and several friends of us, had a large meeting at John Gibson's, where were many people, not of our persuasion, who were generally sober; but as I was recommending charity to the people, according to the doctrine of the apostle Paul, as the most excellent gift, I advised them to show it forth to all people of all professions, and also to their negroes, telling them, that some of the gentry of this island had observed to me, that the more kind they were to their slaves, they had their business the better done for it; though I observed also, that I had been at some places, where I had watched to hear some expressions that might look like charity; but in divers houses, and some of note, I could not hear any christian-like expressions to their slaves or negroes, and that with sorrow I had seen a great deal of tyranny and cruelty, the which I dissuaded them from: this doctrine so exasperated some that they made a disturbance in the meeting; one of which persons meeting me on the king's highway, shot off his fowling-piece at me, being loaded with small shot, ten of which made marks on me, and several drew blood; by which unfriendly action, the man got a great deal of disgrace, it being highly resented by all who were acquainted with me; the president of the island looked on it as a very base action, as did also divers of the justices and the gentry, also the vestry, and several clergymen and lawyers; one of the lawyers told me, I should not be just to the country, myself, nor the man, if I did

not prosecute him; another professing the law, said, He ought to be abandoned by all mankind, if he shot at me with design; many were for prosecuting him, for the people generally took notice of it with abhorrence; but he sending for me, and signifying he would not do so again, I forgave him; and I pray it may not be laid to his charge in the great day, and that he may be forgiven, he being ignorant of the love I had and have for him and all men, even them whom I know to be mine enemies. It would be too great a scandal and reproach, to expose his name and station in the world. Some thought I did well in forgiving him, and some thought I did ill in it: but I spoke my mind to him alone freely, in which I had satisfaction and peace.

Intending my vessel for London, I made my chief mate, Ralph Loftus, master of her, not knowing wheth er I might proceed the voyage, it being a very sickly time afterwards my mate had the distemper also, but I bless God, we both recovered a good state of health.

It was this voyage, that my friends in Barbadoes published a little piece I wrote at sea, which I called, "Free thoughts communicated to free thinkers ;" done in order to promote thinking on the name and works of God; which had, as far as I understand, a good acceptance among the people. The principal clergyman on the island thanked me for it, and said, "There was need enough of it:" but I could be glad another, or a better hand, had done something of that nature, and more large. If this may be of any service, I shall be thankful.

I had also a meeting at John Lewis's, in Joseph's parish, at which were divers not of our profession, and some who were never at any of our religious meetings before; who said they were glad they were there that day; it be ing a satisfactory open meeting.

After I had visited my friends, and settled my affairs as well as I could, and loaded our vessel with sugars, for London, being willing, once more, to see my native land, and settle my affairs there, and see my relations and friends; on the 6th of the third month, we set sail from

Barbadoes for London, and had pleasant weather. The 16th, being the first day, we had a religious meeting for the worship of God, in which I was concerned to speak on the government of the tongue (having on board several hands, who did not sail with us before that voyage, that were much used to swearing). After that meeting, we had not so many bad words and oaths as before. I was thankful in my soul to the Lord, and blessed his holy name, for his goodness to us that day; and in the night, my sleep was very sweet and comfortable, being sensible of the love of God, in the visions of the night; so that I witnessed the fulfilling of the prophecy of Joel, chap. ii. 28.

The 23d, being the first day of the week, we had a meeting, in which the grace of God, that comes by Jesus Christ, was magnified, and a blessing begged for all who love and serve God, throughout the world, by sea and land; also a tender petition was put up to Almighty God, that as he was graciously pleased to look down on those eight persons in Noah's ark, so he would please to look upon us in our vessel; and that as by his divine providence, they safely landed on the earth, so we, if it were his will, might safely land at our desired port, yet not that our wills, but his will might be done : which supplication was put up with great submission. Both day and night I often sought the Lord, and was much alone in this voyage. I read the Old and New Testament almost through, and much of it divers times over; my time being mostly taken up in reading, writing, and meditating, in which, at times, my heart would be broken into tenderness, and I was humbly thankful to God, that my heart was not hard; he having promised to visit the contrite ones; the which he sometimes fulfilled, to my unspeakable satisfaction; glory to his holy name forever. My heart was also thankful that God was pleased to visit me in my watery travels and troubles, and in my separation from my family and friends, which are much nearer, and more valuable to me than all riches, and a great cross to my natural inclination to part with.

The 8th of the fourth month, being the first day of the week, we had a meeting, in which acquaintance with God was exhorted to, shewing the benefit of it, and of loving him above all things, and delighting in his law, and meditating therein day and night. The 19th, in the morning, a strong northerly wind came up, and blew so hard that we could not carry sail, but lay to the wind, under our mizen, which was split or torn with the violence of the wind, and the sea rose high, so that it came into the windows of our great cabin. It was very rugged for the time, and though it was mid-sum mer, it was so cold, that we were obliged to clothe our selves as in winter. The 22d, being first day, we had a comfortable meeting after the storm, wherein the great benefit of true religion was a little opened to our small company, and the Lord, Most High, was praised for our deliverance and preservation. The 26th we sounded, and found about seventy fathom depth of water. The 29th we were a-breast the isle of Wight. From the time we left the island of Barbadoes, to the time we found ground, was seven weeks. Thus through many perils and dangers, we came to Great-Britain; for all which mercies and providences, let my soul bless and praise the holy name and mighty power of the Most High. It was now a time of a very great pressing for seamen, and several men of war's boats came on board to press our sailors; but they had prepared a place in the vessel to hide themselves, and the men of war's peo ple could not find them. One lieutenant, with his men, came on board, and seeing us weak handed (the best of our hands being hid), he asked me if I had any more hands on board? I made him little answer. He then said he was sure I could not bring the ship from Barba does without hands. I told him sailors were hard to be

got in Barbadoes, either for love or money, to go for

London, for fear of being pressed, and I was obliged to take any I could get. He said it was in vain to talk much, but if I would say I had no more hands on board, he would be satisfied; he having a belief that I would speak the truth, though he never saw me before; and

he said, if I would say there were no more men on board, he would go away, for then he had no more business there: but I made him no answer, not daring to tell a lie. Now I know that there are men on board, said he: so he commanded his men to search the ship to her keel. So they stripped and made a narrow search, and sweated and fretted, but could not find them. He being civil, I made him, when he went away, a small present. He wished me well; and so I carried my people safe up to London.

In the beginning of the fifth month, I came to London, and lodged at the house of Simeon Warner, in Southwark, and at divers kind friends and relations, in and about London. The tender and brotherly respect which I received from divers, in some of those families, in my sickness, will not, I believe, ever be forgotten, while I am in this world, at times by me; and, I hope that he whom I serve with my might and strength, will be their reward. When in the country about London, my residence was mostly at Edmonton, at my dear brother George Chalkley's, who, with my sister and cousins, were a comfort to me both in health and sickness: for I was often in London sorely afflicted with the phthisic and asthma, which sometimes made me very uneasy; and, though my affairs required me to be often in the city, yet I was obliged to return to the country for air, and, both in health and sickness, was kindly and affectionately received and tended by my dear brother, sister, and all my loving cousins. The memory thereof is cordial to me in penning these lines. It may be truly said, wwe were very joyful in meeting one another, and our sorrow in parting not easy to be expressed.

In London I sold my vessel, the Barbadoes-Packet, and settled all my affairs to general satisfaction, so far as I know, on which account I had laboured for several years, and was joyful that Providence had favored me so far as to see it accomplished: so that now I wholly intend to leave trading by sea, the which I never inclined to, only on a principle of justice; for I was fully resolved in my mind that my creditors should be paid their just k k