paffengers, I arrived in Dublin in good time, and was at the half year's meeting there which was a fatisfactory season.

Still feeing little or no profpect of getting any thing by the linen bufinefs, one morning Thomas Boake, fchoolmaster of Mountmelick, came to acquaint me, that the doctor had told him he muft quit the school or lofe his life (being then in a bad state of health,) and to advise with me and others thereupon. He foon quitted it, and I fucceeded him in a fchool poor indeed, as I found it at my first entering upon it; for except a few friends whose children I had, who duly paid me, most of the reft put me off with promises, few of which were ever performed; so that a dull profpect ftill threatened, and looking back in my mind to both Bristol and Cork, I thought it a ftrange condition to which I was now reduced: yet hope in the Lord fometimes fupported and cheared my mind; and it was not long till things began to wear a better face; for first fome friends of Dublin, and afterwards others from other parts fent their fons to board with ́us, till we had above twenty boys boarded in our house, for whom we were well and duly paid.

About ten years after our marriage, my wife was delivered of a fon, whom we named John, and in a few days after the departed this life. For about two years before her decease the had been engaged a little in the work of the ministry; but her principle fervice was in friends' families and in the women's meetings, in which her fervice was much miffed when fhe was removed. She died in a sweet frame of mind, and in near unity with good friends,

My brother had married at Youghal a rela, tion of my wife's, upon whofe death he and his wife came into my house at my defire; and in the winter following I vifited Ulfter province pretty fully and thoroughly, being at fundry meetings twice over; in this journey I was favoured with the company of old Robert Richardfon many miles, and to many meetings, in fevere weather, and he about eighty years of

age,

I had a particular concern to have a meeting in the town of Belfait: I confulted Robert upon it; but he did not encourage it, not one of our profeffion living in that town: he faid he had been at fundry meetings there, but few of them proved to fatisfaction, So I left the matter for

fome days, but the concern followed me still. And it opened in my mind, that if I would have the bread of life to my foul, I must go to the place appointed for me to receive it, viz. to Belfast.

I thereupon confulted fundry other friends, all of whom approved of it. Upon application the town-hall was obtained for it, and fitted up with feats of deal boards. Sundry friends attended from the meetings of Ballinderry, Lifburn, Hillfborough, and Newtown, particularly from Lisburn, feveral friends accompanied me, and old Robert could not be eafy without coming along in the rear of the company; he fat next to me on the jus tices' bench.

The magiftrates were fo favourable, as to order the constables to stand at the door to keep out the rabble: the inhabitants of the town of upper rank with their wives and children came to it in a decent folid manner.

I had had a great weight and fear on my mind respecting the undertaking; but proceeding on the foundation hinted above, a steady hope and reverent dependence on the Almighty stayed stayed my

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mind, and I thought my friends felt for me, and felt unity of heart with me. The meeting was eminently favoured with the clear light of the gofpel, and the sweet fenfe and enjoyment of divine life and goodness. After the meeting, Robert in a tender thankful frame of mind expreffed his fatisfaction, as did divers other friends. It proved a good day, honourable to the cause of truth, and affording folid joy to us, who attended that meeting, which had been crowned with the divine prefence.

After this I had meetings of the like kind at Dungannon, Moira, and Legicurry or Rich-hill, all of them open, and comfortable. And indeed in this visit to Ulfter province, I was favoured often with the supporting evidence of my being under right direction. It had been on my mind for fome years before, and I thought I had waited till the right time.

I was accompanied in this journey many miles and to many meetings by my esteemed friend Thomas Greer, whofe company was acceptable; also by my dear friend Sufanna Hatton to fuch meetings as fhe could get out conveniently to attend.

Sometime after I alfo vifited Munfter pro

vince, accompanied by my friend John Pim, of Lackah.

About this time the Methodists had got fome footing in fundry parts of Ireland, and in Mountmelick in particular: John Curtis a friend of Bristol, who had been one of them about a year, having been afterwards convinced of our principles, and received a gift of the ministry, came over upon a religious vifit to friends in Ireland, amongst whom his •fervice was very acceptable.

I was with him at a large meeting in the courthouse in Athy, another in the affembly-room at Athlone, and at feveral others which were very large. He appeared in inwardness of mind to attend upon his gift, and follow it's leading; and concluded, his fervice in Ireland with an epiftle to friends whom he had vifited, which the national meeting ordered to be printed.

I mention this by reafon of what follows.

One afternoon John Wesley made his first entrance into Mountmelick, attended by a large company on horseback of those who joined him in fociety. As feveral of their ministers had been here before, fome of whom had invited me to come,