CHAP. IX.

1734-1736.

Voyage to Dublin and back-Then to Barbadoes, and thence to London-Settles his affairs satisfactorily-Visits Friends in several parts of England; and returns home.

AFTER this long and tedious voyage, which ended in the Second month, I stayed but a few weeks at home, and loaded with wheat and flour for Dublin, in Ireland; had Alice Alderson, my kinswoman, and Margaret Coupland, passengers. We had a very comfortable, pleasant passage, fair winds and weather, and good religious meetings. I think it was the most pleasant time that ever I crossed the seas; about Nantucket we saw several sloops a whaling, and spoke with one, by which opportunity we inquired of the welfare of our Friends on that island, and sent our loves to them. Not many miles from the sloops we saw a shoal of whales: I counted eight in a row lying side by side in the water.

We were four weeks and six days from our capes to Cape Clear in Ireland; coming near the land we met with fishing-boats, and got plenty of

choice fresh fish: in the evening we got into Kinsale, took in a pilot for Dublin, and sailed next day from Kinsale, an were out one night at sea; got next day to Dublin-Bay, where we went ashore, and were kindly entertained by our friends. We were at divers large meetings in that great city, which some of us, while we live, at times I believe shall remember. My stay in Ireland was about seven weeks, in which time I visited several meetings in the country, and at Edenderry, the Moate of Grenogue, Carlow, Ballytore, &c.

We set sail from Dublin with a fair wind, in company with the ship Neptune, and our friends sent many prayers and good wishes after us. We were about forty persons, sailors, passengers, and servants, on board, and had a good passage, all things considered.

We had divers religious meetings on board, and were on our passage, from the sight of Ireland, to the sight of our land, five weeks and six days: it was the quickest voyage I ever made to Europe and back again to Philadelphia.

When I came home, finding all well, I was thankful to God, in the name of Christ, for all his mercies, and the many preservations wherewithal he had favoured me.

After being a little at home, and at several meetings, and not being clear of the world, in order to it, I undertook another voyage to Barbadoes, and from thence intending for London, in, order to settle my affairs there, which I intended

some years before, but losses and disappointments hindered me. Wherefore, the 7th of the Tenth month, I proceeded on a fifth voyage in the Barbadoes packet, and left Philadelphia, and was at a meeting the next day at Chester (being First-day) and in the evening we had a large meeting at Grace Lloyd's, where I met with my dear friend Joseph Gill, who had good service in the said meeting we rejoiced in Christ to see each other. We left Chester the 9th, and got that tide down the river to Newcastle, and, after visiting those few friends there, we set sail the 12th in the morning; the wind being high and the weather very sharp, freezing hard; our sails were so froze, that we had hard work to get the vessel under sail. The 13th day weighed anchor, and sailed down the bay, and the 14th we were clear of the Capes. The First-day following we had a good, seasonable meeting, for the worship and service of God, and, in the said meeting, as I was treating of disobedience to parents, and disobedience to Almighty God our great Parent and heavenly Father, a youth, who was a passenger in the vessel, went out hastily and abruptly, as I was shewing the ungratefulness of the first, much more of the last. When I asked the reason of his going out, he said it was because he could not forbear crying; and thinking I spoke so because of him, he said he could not hear me any more. Afterwards I understood that he was a youth who was very ungrateful and disobedient to his parents; the

which I knew not of, for his mother told me, and himself also, that he went to sea on account of his 0 health. I thought his going out so hastily was occasioned by some indisposition of body; but it was, as he gave us to understand, through resenting what was spoken, and by his taking of it to himself. I have in like manner sometimes observed, that divers people have shewn a restlessness and uneasiness in public assemblies of worship and devotion, and sometimes going out, &c. so that they have thereby exposed themselves to the notice of the people, as persons guilty of the matter publicly reprehended, or spoken against; just as though they were the only persons in the assembly, who were guilty of the evil then taken notice of. Such public restlessness is a great folly and weakness, besides so openly and publicly exposing themselves.

After

After we left our Capes, we had divers hard gales of wind, which lasted several days. The 23th being a First-day, we had a meeting for Divine worship, in which God was praised, and his holy name exalted, for his unspeakable grace in sending his only begotten Son, a Divine Light to enlighten the inhabitants of the world. which we had stormy weather and contrary winds for some weeks, so that our passage was tedious; and of fifteen times going to Barbadoes, I found this the most difficult; and the prospect was very discouraging of making a losing voyage, by the great expense I expected for repairing and re

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fitting the vessel, &c. so that I began to despair of accomplishing my design of discharging my debts in Great-Britain, and the thoughts and consideration of losing so much of the company and conversation of my wife, relations, and friends, and spending so much precious time, which cannot be recalled, to so little purpose, lay heavy on my mind; yet by the grace of God, my mind was supported, and my resolutions confirmed to praise the Almighty for every dispensation of his Providence.

The 23d of the Eleventh month, we saw the island of Barbadoes, at the breaking of the day, having been from the Capes of Delaware forty days and one night; and [I] was truly thankful, that at last, we, through Divine favour, got well to our desired port, where we were lovingly received by our friends at Speight's Town, who were joyful at our arrival. From thence I went to Bridge-Town, and so on to the governor's, in order to enter our vessel; but, staying a little too late, the governor, who was the Lord Howe, was come from his house on his way to BridgeTown, with his coach and six, and his attendants; but he, seeing me, courteously stopped his coach, and did my business as he sat therein; and though I made an essay towards an excuse, he would not admit of it, saying there was no need of any excuse. He was indeed an extraordinarily courteous man: he died soon after, much lamented, as he was much beloved.