In the course of our journey through North Ca rolina, I preached (among other places) at the house of Mr. Hodgins, near the town of Salisbury. He was formerly a dancing-master, and has amassed a considerable fortune, with which he has purchased a large estate and is now a friend of the gospel, and some of his family are indeed friends of God. He has the finest prospect from his dwelling-house of open lands, woods, and water, that, I think, I have seen in America. We have in this State got up to the Cherokee-Indians, who are in general a peaceable people. I trust, the grace of God will in time get into some of their hearts.

In travelling through Virginia, our rides were so long that we were frequently on horse-back till midnight, after preaching in the middle of the day. Since I left Charleston, I have got into my old romantic way of life, of preaching in the midst of great forests, with scores, and sometimes hundreds of horses tied to the trees, which adds much solemnity to the scene.

In the course of my journey through this State, I visited the county of Halifax, where I met with a little persecution on my former visit to this continent, on account of the public testimony I bore against negro-slavery. I am now informed that soon after I left the county on my former tour, a bill was presented against me as a seditious person before the grand jury, and was found by the jury: and ninety persons had engaged to pursue me, and bring me back again; but their hearts failed them. Another bill was also presented in one of the neighbouring counties, but was thrown out. Many of the people, I find, imagined that I would not venture amongst them again, However, when I came, they all received me with perfect peace and quietness; and my visit, I have reason to believe, was made a blessing to many. Indeed I now acknowledge that however just my sentiments may be concerning slavery, it was ill-judged of me to deliver them from the pulpit. A man who pursued me

with a gun in order to shoot me when I was in this neighbourhood before (but this circumstance was then secreted from me) is now converted to God, and become a member of our society.

In Mecklenburg County in this State, where the Lord is not only increasing but deepening his work in a very glorious manner, we held our second Conference. After some little jealousies were removed, we renewed our love more closely than ever, and our whole business was conducted with great dispatch and most perfect unanimity. On the Lord's-day I had the largest congregation I ever saw in America, although there was no town within a great many miles of the place: I think there were about four thousand hearers. We here ordained five deacons in public, and it was a very solemn and profitable time, I believe, to very many.

One circumstance at this Conference gave me very great pleasure. Brother Hawes, one of our elders, who last year was sent with a preacher to Kentucky, on the banks of the Ohio, near the Missisippi, wrote to us a most enlivening account of the prospect in his district, and earnestly implored some further assistance. "But, observe!" added he, "No one must be appointed for this country, that is afraid to die! For there is now war with the Indians, who frequently lurk behind the trees, shoot the travellers, and then scalp them: and we have one society on the very frontiers of the Indian country." After this letter was read, a blessed young man (brother Williamson) offered himself as a volunteer for this dangerous work. What can we not do or suffer, when the love of Christ constrains!

In a few days after this, we arrived at Richmond. Many of the inhabitants, I was informed, had said that I would not dare to venture into that town (which is the seat of government in Virginia) on account of a petition for the abolition of negroslavery which had been presented to the General Assembly, and had been subscribed by a very re

spectable

spectable body of freeholders, the origin of which was attributed to me. But they did not know me; for I am a plain blunt man, that goes directly on. However, instead of opposition, the governor of the State who resides there, ordered the courthouse to be opened to me, and a very respectable and very attentive congregation I was favoured with.

From Richmond to Alexandria, which is a hundred and twenty miles or thereabouts, we have no societies. At one of the inns we joined a company of agreeable men, who were not unacquainted with the Methodists, though they were unacquainted with God. These gentry laid a plot for us, I have reason to believe. For in our first dish of tea there was a little taste of rum; in our second a little more; but the third was so strong, that on our complaining of a conspiracy, it seemed as if the rum had sprung into our tea of itself, for both company and waiters solemnly protested they were

innocent.

On the last day of April, Mr. Asbury and I ar rived at Baltimore; and on the next day our third and last Conference began; when, behold! Satan exerted his utmost subtilty.

Never surely was more external peace and liberty enjoyed by the church of God or any part of it, since the fall of man, than we enjoy in America: and every things seems to be falling before the power of the word. What then remained for the infernal serpent, but to sow the seeds of schism and division among ourselves. But, glory be to God, yea, glory for ever be ascribed to his sacred name, the devil was completely defeated. Our painful contests, I trust, have produced the most indissoluble union between my brethren and me. We thoroughly perceived the mutual purity of each other's intentions in respect to the points in dispute. mutually yielded, and mutually submitted; and the silken cords of love and affection were tied to the horns of the altar for ever and ever. K

We

The

The Lord has done marvellous things in this land in the course of the last year. No less than six thousand six hundred, have been added to the society on the balance in the United States alone. And, praise be the Lord, the work is deep, as well as wide. O that I myself may be watered under this glorious shower, and lose nothing of my share in the blessings which the heavens are pouring down.

At this Conference another young man offered himself as a volunteer for Kentucky: and the two preachers are to be sent off as soon as possible, breathing the true spirit of Missionaries.

I felt much of the power of God in all my public administrations at Baltimore; and I have no doubt but many of my hearers felt it too. The divine Comforter was also very graciously present at the ordination of two elders and eleven dea

cons.

On Tuesday, the 8th of May, Mr. Asbury and I paid a visit to our new college, which will be opened (we expect) between this and Christmas; and we trust, will unite together those two great ornaments of human nature-Genuine Religion and Extensive Learning. The situation pleases me more and more. Our object is (not to raise Gospel-ministers, but) to serve our pious friends and our married preachers in the proper education of their

sons.

We now visited our affectionate societies in PhiAadelphia and New-York. In each of these cities we want a second church, and I believe, the Lord will soon enable them to bring this to effect.

Not meeting with a suitable ship in the port of New-York, (and after taking an affectionate leave of my dear friend Mr. Asbury) I returned to Philadelphia. On the road I waited on Mr. Ogden, of Elizabeth-Town, New-Jersey, a minister of the church of England, and a minister also of Jesus Christ. He is the only regular minister I have met with, that enforces the Methodist discipline

among

among his people. He has many classes under his care and much of the life of God, I doubt not, is among them. In the evening I preached in his church.

On Sunday, the 27th of May, after preaching a farewel-sermon to our friends in Philadelphia, I embarked on board a merchant ship for Dublin. The captain, his wife, and another gentlewoman, who are my company, manifest as much decency, courtesy, and respect, as can be expected from unawakened persons. But God is with me, his weak, sinful worm, glory be to his blessed name.

On Monday, the 25th of June, by the mercy of God, I arrived safe in Dublin-bay after a passage of twenty-nine days: and was received in much love by our Irish brethren.