In the women's meeting, I endeavoured for a regulation, that our Chriftian difcipline might be revived, for which a concern had rested upon my mind for fome years: and fome women Friends of this city being under a like exercife, it afforded a comfortable hope, that the Lord would qualify inftruments for this fervice. In the evening, the vifitation of infinite goodness was renewed to us, and to a few friends who came to visit us at my dear friend Afhby's, in the fenfe of which we parted. The 6th we went to Evesham, where we were met by my brother James, and feveral friends from Ireland, who were going to the yearly meeting at London. We staid over the monthly meeting there the next day, and fo proceeding on our journey (Ann Ashby going forward with us), reached London the 9th; where I met with my dear friend and companion, Mary Peisley.

The yearly meeting was large, and attended by many weighty Friends; who were divinely affifted to labour for the promotion of Truth, and the ordering of the affairs of the church.

My brother and fifter left me in London; and, my companion Mary Peifley having a concern to attend the meetings at Colchester, Woodbridge; and Norwich, I spent a little time at Chelmsford, at the houfe of John Griffith (the state of my health and fpirits being fuch as feemed to call for rest and quiet), and returned to London in about two weeks; but being ftill poorly in health, I

went

went to the country-house of my worthy friend John Hayward, accompanied by Ann Fothergill; where I was indifpofed, and confined to my bed and the house, for about a week. Recovering a little strength, I returned to London; where the diforder returned, and continued for nine or ten days; and, being fucceeded by the jaundice, it brought me very low; but through the kindness of Providence, I was preferved patient and refigned under this difpenfation. In this time my companion returned to London, but did not find her way open to leave England; fo that my trials were increased with the profpect of being longer detained, and at a distance from my dear relations. But infinite Wisdom knows beft how to plan out the way for his people, the fecret workings of whofe Providence I thought I clearly discovered, in this fucceffion of probations being permitted to attend me where they did. Had it been at home it would have been much more afflicting both to my relations and myself; as it would have rendered their parting with me in fuch a weak state of health the more painful, and my leaving home the more difficult: nay, I have questioned, if I had not left it as I did, whether, confidering the difcouragement, I should have gone the journey. Nor was my indifpofition without a fingular fervice: for my health had languished under the oppression of the remains of the fever which I had at Edinburgh; which by this diforder were, in a good measure,

measure, carried off, and my body the better prepared to fuftain the fatigues and trials of the enfuing journey, arifing from the difference of climate, &c. So that in this painful allotment, I had renewed cause to blefs and praise the name of my God, and to acknowledge, that whatever he does is beft.

Almost as foon as I recovered ftrength to get abroad, the cloud dispersed; and we found our fpirits at liberty to take our paffage on board the Alexander, Captain Curling, bound from London to Charlestown, in South Carolina; which failed in about a week after we agreed to go in her. The laft First-day we were in London, we were favoured to take a comfortable farewel of many of our friends, in the feeling fenfe of divine goodnefs; wherein alfo, we were enabled to refign and commit each other into the hands of the Almighty for preservation.

We left London the 21ft of the Eighth month, 1753; and, as our veffel was to stop at Portfmouth to take in fome of her paffengers, our friends thought it beft for us to go thither by land: which we did, and feveral of them freely accompanied us.

We came to Portsmouth the 24th, and went on board our veffel the 25th, where we took leave of our friends with affection.

Being fettled in our veffel, a fweet compofure came over my spirit; which strengthened my that I was moving by divine direction.

faith

The

of Wight.

The next day the wind turned against us, and we came to an anchor in Yarmouth Road, Ifle Being First day, we were a little thoughtful about having a meeting with the paffengers; but one of our company being a clergyman, and the ship's crew bufy in fettling the vessel, we concluded it would not be very cafily obtained, and were content in fitting together in our own apartment; during which time the parfon got fome of our people together in the great cabin, and read prayers to them.i

I had purpofely left our room door open, in order that, if any duty prefented, I might have an opportunity of performing it; and after they had done, I found a concern to call upon the Lord in humble fupplication, to which I gave up; but a part of the company went on deck, being I fuppofed exampled by their teacher; however I was favoured with a pretty fatisfactory opportunity, and the strengthening evidence of peace in the conclufion.

The 27th, we fet fail, and paffed the Needles the 28th. The 29th, the wind came against us, and blowing hard we anchored in, the evening in Portland Bay, where we lay till the 3d of the Ninth month; when we fet fail, and got clear of the land the 5th; from which time we were mostly favoured with gentle favourable winds, till we came near the coaft of South Carolina.

The

The 18th of the Tenth month, we got into foundings; but the wind blowing very hard, and the fea running high, our captain durft not attempt to go over Charlestown bar, fo ftood off, in hopes the wind might fall; but instead of that it turned against us, and continued to blow very hard till the 22d all which time we lay with our helm lashed, driving with the wind. The 22d, the fea and wind fell very much, the weather (which in this time had been very foul) cleared up, and the wind became favourable, and we got within fight of the land; but it being to the fouthward of our defigned port, the captain tacked about to the northward, hoping thereby to gain fo much in the night as to be able to run in with the tide in the morning; but we were again beat back to fea by a contrary stormy wind.

Thus were we toffed to and fro, almost within fight of our harbour; but through prevailing grace our minds were wonderfully preferved above either fear or complaint, enjoying a calm within, in the midst of a storm without; being happily refigned to fuffer in this way, if it were the Lord's will fo to appoint: which bleffed difpofition, attending us through the voyage, helped to alleviate our bodily hardships, which would otherwife have appeared confiderable.

We were fea-fick, though not fo extremely as: we expected; and we fuffered much from the exceffive heat of the weather, fteering within one

degree,