cularly in the province of Munster, not lying fo contiguous as in many parts of England, could not fo conveniently be joined several together, to constitute monthly or men's meetings of difcipline for transacting the affairs of the church, but in these parts particularly, each particular meeting was a men's meeting in itself, and some of the meetings both hereaway and in other parts, being greatly re duced in number, it became the concern of friends in Ireland to recommend to the larger meetings nearest to them, the care of vifiting these little meetings frequently, to infpect their state, and help them by advice and counsel, as occasion might require. Two of these meetings, viz. those of Bandon and Youghal were under the care of Cork men's meeting, which was regular and conftant in appointing vifits to them at the stated times.

I being now become a member of Cork men's meeting, being recommended by certificate from Bristol, it fell to my lot in company with other friends, to go upon a visit to the meeting of Youghal; here seeing Mary the daughter of John and Martha Dobbs of the faid town, a plain and orderly young woman, I found my affections closely engaged towards her, and having propofed to her parents my defire to address her in order to marri

age, and obtained their confent, after fometime we were married there, according to the good order used in our fociety.

The said John Dobbs her father being convinc ed of the truth, while he was a student at the uni versity of Oxford, was for his fidelity to convicti on difinherited by his father Richard Dobbs, of Castle-Dobbs, near Carrickfergus, Efq. of an estate worth feveral hundreds per ann. being his eldest fon.

His father left it to a younger fon, who was to pay my father in law ten pounds per ann. out of it, which during the lifetime of that son was but indifferently paid, and by his prodigality the estate was involved. But his fon Arthur Dobbs, late governor of North Carolina, fucceeding to the inheritance thereof, voluntarily doubled the said annual fum, and paid it punctually. My father in law having ftudied phyfick at the college, practifed it with good fuccefs, and great christian charity to the poor, fo as to fave little from his income that way.

He had been the favourite of the family, but upon his joining in fociety with friends, and giving up his whole heart to follow the discoveries of the

light of Chrift in his own confcience, he was treated by his father with the utmost severity as a rebel, and then caft out as an alien; fo that he might well be faid to have forfaken for Christ's fake, father and brethren, and fifters, and houses, and lands; and like faithful Abraham to have offered up to the Lord whatever was deareft to him in this world, and to have trufted in God, which was doubtless counted to him for righteoufnefs.

Being beloved by friends, he was urged by fome to have recourfe to the law for the recovery of the family estate as his birthright, which he had done nothing to forfeit, and affiftance offered him for doing it. Whereupon he was prevailed upon at length to make a begining; but not having that inward peace with Chrift which he preferred before all the world, in the first step of contention, he put a stop to all further proceedings, and rather chose to confide in God without it.

For a more particular account of him, see the collection of friends' fufferings in folio, vol. 2, and Doctor Rutty's Hiftory of the Rife and Progrefs of truth in Ireland. Of him I have only to add, that he made a joyful and happy exit, in an exceeding thankful and triumphant state, out of this world, with a full affurance of going to live

for ever in a better. He died about feven or eight months after our marriage.

His wife Martha Dobbs was convinced of truth before their marriage, by the dying expreffions of a handmaid of the Lord, viz. Deborah Sandham. She had a few words of publick testimony in meetings, furvived her husband fome years, and died in a good old age, having been a heavenly-minded woman.

Previous to my marriage, a small lot of ground offering for building on, which was very conve nient to my school, and the carpenter reckoning he could run up a neat fmall house for a sum I could then fpare, (having in my employment in Bristol and here faved so much) I adventured in conjunction with a friend, to take the ground and build upon it, and the house was finifhed a few weeks after our marriage; but the cost of it came to double the fum the carpenter had proposed it might be built for. This and fome other things filled me with gloomy apprehenfions, and I became very dull and dejected in my mind, in confideration of my circumstances, finding I had gone too far, and owed what I was not able to pay.

However, as my intentions were honeft, and

my anxiety great that I might not by any mil conduct blemish the truth, which I had been inftructed fo highly to prize, by exerted endeavours, with industry and frugality, and through divine affiftance, in some time I got over this difficulty, and paid every farthing.

It may perhaps appear to fome, that the recording of fuch tranfctions is of little importance or edification to uninterested readers; but it hath not appeared fo to me. The account of thefe difficulties which for want of due care and forefight, and a constant, steady, and deep attention to the unerring guide, we fall into, though more humiliating, may perhaps be no less useful for caution, than those experiences which we can review with more heart-felt fatisfaction, are for encouragement and imitation.~ Truth hath ever led to integrity, punctuality, and upright dealing in our outward affairs, and to limit ourselves to few exigences, and an humble condition in life, rather than invade or rifque the properties of other men. cannot all get a deal of the treasures of this world (nor is a deal neceffary to our well being. "A "man's life confifteth not in the abundance of "the things he poffeffeth") but we may all live on a little, if our minds be kept humble, and the fenfual appetites be subjected to the cross of

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