CHAPTER XXX.

Opening of Friends' Meeting House, at Sydney.-Voyage to Van Diemens Land. -Escape from danger.-Electric Phenomena.-Arrival at Hobart Town.State of the Congregation of Friends.-Yearly Meeting. - Journey to Kelvedon, Falmouth, Launceston &c.-Dangerous Riding.-Hunting Cattle.— Gentleness of Bulls.-Accident.-Launceston.- -Influence of Strong-drink.— Religious Attainments.-Mounds of Oyster Shells.- Remarkable Tide.— High Rents.-Hospitals.-Irrigation.-Wesleyans.-Progress of Temperance. -Return to Sydney.

On the 1st of 11th month, we had the privilege of assembling, for the first time, in a neat meeting-house, in Macquarie Street, built by John Tawell, for the accommodation of persons professing with Friends. Several strangers met with us, on the occasion. Some of them seemed disappointed, that we did not dedicate this house for worship, by some vocal communication. We were willing to have spoken, had anything been given us to communicate, but this not being the case, we bore a plain testimony, by our silence, to our conviction, of the advantage of attending to the injunction, "Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils," and of trusting in the Lord alone. Our silence was also calculated to encourage those who might meet in our absence, to bear this testimony faithfully.

Having believed that it would be right for us, to join our friends in Van Diemens Land, at their Yearly Meeting, in the 12th mo. we engaged berths, in the cabin of the brig, Maria, for £10 each, and sailed on the 13th of the 11th month, for Hobart Town. In leaving Port Jackson, we narrowly escaped drifting upon the South Head. We were delivered from this danger, by the springing up of a breeze,

when all human efforts appeared to be unavailing. Being affected with sea-sickness, I had "gone down into the sides of the ship," and was fast asleep, I did not awake till the danger was past; from which we thus escaped, by the intervention of the almighty power of Him, "who maketh the wind his messenger," and watcheth over us when we are asleep, as well as when we are awake, and "suffereth not the briny wave to prevail against us," though, at seasons, he permits the billows to assume a threatening aspect, in order that we may know, that it is indeed himself who protects us, and thus may be stirred up, to give to him the glory, due unto his holy name.

On the 18th, we were off the point of Van Diemens Land, called St. Patricks Head, and observed much snow on the ridge of Ben Lomond. The Aurora australis was remarkably brilliant, this evening, forming faint columns of light, like the Aurora borealis. In New South Wales, there is an electric phenomenon, somewhat allied to this. It occurs in warm, summer evenings, when no clouds are to be seen; and it is a diffuse, flickering light, differing from lightening, in not being discharged from any perceptible clouds, and in its want of density: it generally appears to the eastward.

On the 20th, we landed, at Hobart Town; where we received a cordial welcome from many of our former acquaintance, including the Lieutenant Governor and his family.

During our absence in New South Wales, the little congregation professing with Friends, had been enabled to maintain their ground, and some of them appeared to have grown in grace, notwithstanding they had had to mourn over the departure of one of their number, from the paths of rectitude. His deviations had so offended another, that he had ceased to assemble with the rest, for divine worship, notwithstanding they had faithfully testified their disunity with the offender, and after endeavouring in vain to restore him, in the spirit of meekness, had disowned him as a member of the Society.

The Yearly Meeting commenced, on the 4th of 12th month, and continued, by adjournments, to the 10th; on

the evening of which day, it concluded, after recording the following minute:

"In reviewing the several sittings of this Meeting, we feel it incumbent upon us, to record, that though we have met in much weakness, yet, through the unmerited mercy and condescension of our Heavenly Father, we have been made sensible; that the Everlasting Arms were underneath;' and strength has been afforded us, to conduct the business that has come before us, in unity and brotherly love; for which we feel humbly thankful; and reverently acknowledge, that 'hitherto, the Lord hath helped us.'"

12th mo. 16th. Having purchased two horses, one for £21, and the other for £30, we commenced a journey, in company with Francis and Anna Maria Cotton. Crossing the Derwent, in a steamer we proceeded to Lauderdale, where we paid a visit to our friends, the Mathers.

On the 17th, we rode, by way of the Hollow Tree, to the Coal River, and from thence, on the 18th, to the Eastern Marshes. The road between Jerusalem and this place, is undergoing improvement, by a long cut, in the side of a steep hill. It is formed by prisoner labour, and is a great accommodation, though it is yet only passable for horses, and requires some nerve to ride along it. From the Eastern Marshes, we travelled by a road, lately cut, which winds up the Sugar-loaf Hill; and by which, Little Swan Port is rendered accessible for carriages.

On the 19th, we reached the peaceful dwelling of our friends, at Kelvedon. On the way from Hobart Town, we visited several of the families of the settlers; many of whom appeared to be prospering in temporal things. We were received with much cordiality, by an aged woman, who was slowly recovering from an apoplectick attack. She expressed great thankfulness, that she was not cut off at once, by the disease, but allowed time to repent. We were glad to see her in such a state of mind, but were confirmed in the conviction, that it is a dangerous thing to defer repentance to such a time. Well might the prophet exclaim, "O, that my people were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!"

On the 28th, we left Kelvedon, being accompanied by Francis Cotton; and after visiting some of the settlers in Great Swan Port, who also appeared to be in improving circumstances, reached Moulting Bay, in the evening. On the following day we arrived at Falmouth. Our chief object in taking this route, was to visit our friend David Stead, who was still residing here. My horse proved a very untractable one, and several times exposed me to danger, on the way through the forests. To-day, he ran off with me, and when passing under some low trees, close to the shore, a short stump, projecting from one of them, caught my coat by the shoulder, and took me off his back; but when I fell, he stopped, and I was mercifully preserved from injury. The manner in which a skilful rider, on a tractable horse, avoids the branches of trees, clears logs upon the ground, rocks, and other impediments, in riding at full speed, through the continuous, and hilly forests of this country, is very remarkable; particularly when hunting cattle out of the bush. As these cattle are brought into the fold, in some instances, only once a year, when the young ones are branded, in order that they may be identified by their owners, they are consequently, almost as wild as those that have never been under human control. But the ferocity observed in bulls, in England, may be said to be unknown. in them, in the Australian Colonies. Whether this arises from the climate, or from some other cause, is doubtful.

On the 30th, we crossed the hills, and traversed the Break-o'-day Plains, which being less parched than the land on the coast, were more verdant than most of the country that we had seen, since returning to V. D. Land. We continued our journey by Avoca, and the Buffalo Plains, to Launceston, where we arrived on the 1st of 1st mo. 1836; having renewed our acquaintance with several estimable families, on the way.

My horse fell, as if shot, when near the Nile-bridge, and going at a smart pace. I received a severe bruise on my right side, from which I was not fully restored for many weeks.

On the 5th, we had a meeting with many of the inhabitants

of Launceston, in a large chapel, lately erected by the Wesleyans, who have become a numerous and influential body in the place, which is remarkably improved, both as a town, and in moral and religious character. In the course of the day, we visited a person in the chain-gang, who was brought up among Friends, but who sacrificed all his advantages to the love of strong drink, and through its influence became a prisoner. Having been respectably connected, he was treated with more than ordinary lenity, but he abused his privilege, received the addition of a year to his original sentence, and is now wearing party-coloured garments, and double irons. O that young men would take warning, and neither touch, taste, nor handle this accursed thing! and that they would beware of despising the counsel of their friends, and the reproofs of the Holy Spirit! for, after having suffered themselves to be carried, by almost imperceptible degrees, into evil habits, it is hard indeed for them to learn to do well.

We left Launceston on the 7th, and reached Kelvedon again on the 9th, having again visited some thoughtful families, with whom we were acquainted, upon the way. It was truly pleasant to see among them, the tokens of advancing religious character; yet I could not but lament that the immediate teaching of the Holy Spirit seemed to be so little understood. The consequence of this is, that it is not waited for, and little, if any, of its baptizing influence is to be felt, in the generality of the devotionalexercises, of many truly estimable characters, who know something of the evidence of their past sins being blotted out, through faith in the blood of Jesus, and cherish a desire to conform themselves to the will of God, so far as they understand it. These have witnessed so much of the work of the new birth, as makes them very distinguishable from those whose minds are not yet, in any degree, brought under divine influence. They have a religious understanding also, according to the measure of their faith; but not having faith in the perceptible guidance of the Spirit, they do not so walk, as to perceive things clearly, by its light, and much of their religious exercise is,