he urged my leaving him, and pursuing my in some places there were no other suitable prospect; and our friend Philip Madin, pro- houses to accommodate us; for the country, mising to take care of him, I reluctantly as well as the people, is generally poor, and parted with him; and with John Abbot, of few inns. We met with much civility, and Huntingdonshire, and Alexander Cruickshank, were accommodated at some of the best houses. of Old Meldrum, returned to Inverness. We The provost of Kirkwall, William Lindsay, had two very large and satisfactory meetings had his house always open to receive us, as there, and crossing into the highland shires of we passed backward and forward; he was a Ross, Sutherland and Caithness, had meetings feeling, sympathizing, sensible and consideat Boulie, Dingwall, Milltown and Tain. Three rate man. We visited six of the islands, viz: Presbyterian ministers, also Lord Ankerville, South Ronoldsay, Burra, Flota, Wass, Grimsa so called, and Sir Hector Monroe, attended the and Pomona. This last is about thirty-six meeting at Tain; the latter expressed their miles long and ten broad, and we spent most satisfaction, and Ankerville pressed us to his of the time on it. The poor people on Grimsa, house. This meeting was a season of favour; where there is a worship-house, told me there and the way of life and salvation was pointed had not been a sermon there before, for more out, under the seasoning virtue of truth. May than seven years. Though there is no great the Lord, the great helper, have the praise! real hunger and thirst after righteousness, yet We distributed some books, as we usually do the people seem free from some of the vices after meetings, and then hastened on our jour- that prevail in many places. They live in ney, and crossed a water with one of the minis- harmony, and would come from one to five ters, who with his wife and daughter, was at miles to a meeting. I believe there were from meeting at Tain, and pressed us on our re-two to three hundred people at some meetings, turn to call at his house in Sutherlandshire, and at others five hundred and upwards. I and tarry a night; and if we inclined to have look upon my proceedings as only paving the a meeting we should have his 'kirk,' and he way for others, and believe, though a poor would notify the people. We were afterwards creature, I have left love in every place, and very openly, and without affectation, kindly an open door. My mind was deeply proved received and entertained, and though a very throughout the journey, and I was not clear stormy, snowy day, had a gathering of repu- in leaving the islands, there being many more; table people, and the Lord condescended to but the weather was very boisterous, and snow favour us. This man was so civil and sin-came on; and the thoughts of being detained cere, that he offered to suspend his morning in a cold country, where we must be beholden and evening prayers, if they were offensive to strangers, and perhaps confined all winter, I could not reconcile, and hoped my gracious Master would have compassion." to us. "From Tain we went directly for Wick, where we had three large meetings. "Ninth month 11th; This day is three years and three months since I parted with my dear wife and comfortable habitation; in which time many and deep have been my probations, but the Lord hath helped hitherto. "13th; Procceded to the northernmost part of Scotland, and crossed to South Ronaldsay, one of the Orkney islands, having about three hours passage. "We continued on these islands five weeks, in which time we rode about three hundred miles by land, and went about seventy-four miles by water, not allowing myself one day's rest, and had forty-four meetings, mostly large. Sixteen were held in their kirks, so called, which being offered by their ministers for the accommodation of the people, I was free to accept them, and we were kindly entertained at several of their houses. When I considered their openness to offer their worship-houses, and some of them to send their servants to notify the people, appearing sincere, I was free to accept their invitations. And indeed, This anxiety to get away occasioned him much mental conflict. He thus mentions one attempt which they made to escape from the field of apprehended duty, and what it cost him. "Ninth month 27th; The weather very stormy, with frequent showers of rain and hail; yet we had a full meeting, much spent in silence; and having laboured to be resigned to return to Pomona, I sat the meeting with more satisfaction. The opportunity was favoured, and some were tender. On fourthday, looking again towards crossing the Firth, renewed the unsettlement of my mind, but strong were my desires to be released from these islands; and so we proceeded to Bur wick ferry, on the south side of South Ronaldsay. When we came there, the boatmen refused to cross. Though I did not feel myself clear of these islands, yet both myself and companions were disposed to go, as the season was advanced, and we were far north and had a very difficult passage to cross. On fifth-day, had a large satisfactory meeting at Huntley. At Montrose I parted with my dear friend Alexander Cruickshank, who had been a kind companion and fellow-helper, though not in the ministerial line. He returned home, and John Abbot and myself crossed the ferry and proceeded to Dundee. the wind being lower, and it appearing likely ket-cross, and spoke to the people, many of for us to cross, we placed our horses on board | whom stood amazed, yet they were sober, and a boat and put out to sea. But showers of some solid. We then proceeded to Forres, rain coming on, and high tempestuous winds, Elgin, Fochabers and Keith, and afterwards after passing one third part over, it was judged prudent to return; one of the men saying he did not know what sort of people they had in the boat, having never been obliged to return before. I thought of Jonah, for my mind continued heavy and not peaceful. On getting ashore we set out, and at Carra ferry had a meeting held in a barn, to which many poor people came, to whom advice was given in innocent simplicity. Dined on potatoes this day, which led me into a deep feeling with the poor. "Tenth month 19th; Went to Burwick and crossed the Pentland Firth with a fair wind, and through favour got safely over. "23d; Went to Thurso, the largest town in Caithness, where we provided a spacious room in a ware-house; but when the people were assembling, it was thought it would not contain a fourth part of them; so the chief magistrate proposed our going to the 'kirk,' which being opened, it was supposed seven hundred people assembled, to whom the gospel was preached in a good degree of the demonstration of the Spirit; though it was a trying time to me for many hours before the meeting, and my mind had been much stripped and tossed. But blessed be God, he owned the meeting, as also another large meeting in the same place the next day, through the condescending goodness of the Lord, the great helper of his depending children. 66 "Third-day, eleventh month 14th, crossed the water, and passed on to Cupar, where we refreshed ourselves, and found our visit to that place as we passed northward, had left a profitable impression. The people would have. been pleased with another religious opportunity. Fifth-day, rode to Edinburgh, and the next third-day reached Newcastle. I was enabled to bear the fatigue of riding better than I expected. The meetings in these remote parts have been generally large, the people behaved well; and I have laboured by watchful attention, to keep in the meekness and simplicity, so that I hope the reputation of the blessed truth has not suffered. Since I left London, that is, from the 2nd of sixth month, to eleventh month 23d, I have travelled about two thousand miles, and been at about two hundred and seven meetings, besides visits to prisons, schools, families, &c. "I was detained at Newcastle, in visiting families. On second-day, twelfth month 12th, the business of the monthly meeting was entered upon; in which my mind was engaged to urge Friends to a proper care over their members; and a committee was appointed to visit those who deviate from our religious testimony, in complying with the priests' demands, and who have launched into the world's customs, in dress, &c. From thence I reached York on the 24th, coming there to see my dear aged friend Thomas Ross, who has been poorly several months. "We left Thurso in the rain, and proceeding about nine miles, a man of good appearance stood near his house looking at us, and kindly invited us to take up our quarters; which we accepted, and had a meeting that evening at his house, with his servants and neighbours. Setting off early next morning, we had a long rough ride through much "Fourth-day, 28th, at Leeds. The quarsnow, and over bad roads; and had meet-terly meeting for Yorkshire opened with a ings at Golspy and Dornoch, Tain, Cromartie, and Fort Ross. Here were many raw people, yet they generally behaved well, and the meeting was full as well as could be expected. A person who was at it, told me that he believed there were only himself and one other person, called Sir Alexander McKenzie, that were ever at a meeting of our religious Society before. meeting for worship, in which Rebecca Jones, lately returned from Ireland, had good service, and had to proclaim a time in which that quarterly meeting would be thinned of elders and active members, and that the burden must rest on the youth, who were encouraged to come forward. It was a solid weighty time. On fifth-day the business of the meeting was resumed, and Rebecca Jones spoke of a time coming when the foundations of Friends would be proved; and exhorted to labour to be prepared for it, when the blast of the terrible might be as a storm against the wall. The minds of many appeared tenderly affected. the people, not only of their society, but strangers who come out of curiosity. It is evident the light is spreading, but these poor people will probably be brought under great sufferings, as they have not withstood the the priests' demands, nor the hiring of substi tutes on account of war; though they have had scruples, and wanted advice. 66 In the last month, I received a letter from William Lindsay, provost, or chief magistrate of Kirkwall, in the Orkneys, who was very kind to me and companions when there, part of which follows:" I "Dear sir, you "Third-day, attended the monthly meeting at Stockton, and on fifth-day went to Yarm. "First month 19th, at Crawthorne. I have indeed great cause to bless the Lord, in that he has inclined the minds of many in near sympathy with me in the singular path I have had to tread; and it ought to have engaged me to more resignedness of mind and unreserved dedication than has sometimes been ceived and read your letter of the 14th of last "IT was with great satisfaction that I rethe case. The flesh is weak, and we often suffer loss by parleying and looking out too month, from Dundee. The warm and kindly much, and suffering our own fears, or thoughts am fully convinced, from a feeling, sincere expressions which make use of, proceed, of what others may say or think, to prevail. and benevolent heart. I have long had the I have been hitherto, through great mercy, highest admiration of the manners and senti preserved in the unity, and I wish ever toments of your society in general, though I dwell in such abasedness as to be kept in it; but my own natural will, joined to the desires of some, hastened me out of Scotland sooner than was prudent. I know that some, out of near sympathy, have wished my line was turned; and having striven for it, I have brought on much inward proving; and indeed outward too; for I have been poorly ever since I left Scotland, though wonderfully preserved for the most part whilst there. I have not attempted a meeting for those of other societies since I entered England from the north, until last first-day. I have since had two meetings, large and open, which have relieved me a little. However mortifying or singular, I must go the way I am led, or I may go home; for I seem to have little to do among Friends. I live but from day to day. "The general state of our religious Society "The general state of our religious Society here is low; yet there is a remnant preserved, and in most places some who labour to keep never had a personal acquaintance with any of their habitations in the truth. The attention "Sixth-day, attended the monthly meeting at ley Murray. He removed thither from WilCastleton, which was a seasonable good meet-liam Tuke's, on the 26th of twelfth month, ing, though the testimony ran closely against a lukewarm spirit and formal profession without life, and also against a worldly spirit. "Seventh-day, went to Moorsom, and the neighbours being notified, many came. Some were tender, but too many careless professors of Christianity. I laboured as well as I could under the strength afforded. A sergeant of the army came, with some other people, from Gisborough to this meeting, he having attended the meetings at Gisborough and at Ayton; and two women, one of them far advanced in years, who live at Ormsby, walked about seven miles to Ayton meeting, being some time under convincement. "Second month 7th, at Lindley Murray's, near York. I came to this place on secondday of last week, hearing that my worthy aged friend Thomas Ross, was reduced to a weak state. I found liberty to come and abide with him, and have since attended on him with diligence. He is gradually wearing away; but preserved in a happy state of mind, and full of good matter. being open, airy and retired. For a week before his departure, he wanted great attendance, being rendered very helpless; yet his understanding was preserved until just at the close, though he lost his speech about three hours before. He often begged he might have an easy passage, which was granted to him, though for several days he endured a good deal of pain. He drew his last breath with apparent ease, and I doubt not is gone to the general assembly of the just, to reap the reward of a devoted well spent life, saying the day before he died, that he had been fighting the the good fight above fifty years, and hoped he should have the reward. A very comfortable evidence of this often attended him; that it may be justly said, the righteous hath hope in his death.' I wish his descendants may be concerned to know the God of their father, and serve him with a perfect heart; that so their end may be alike glorious. "His remains were deposited in the silent grave, on fifth-day the 16th, next to the remains of dear John Woolman. Rebecca Jones was much favoured at the grave, and our dear friend George Dillwyn, at the meeting house, where a large company gathered." "Though many are regardless of the Divine fear, and are treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath, yet the glorious gospel light spreads, and many we find, are believing in it. Surely the Lord intends to gather, or he would Thomas Ross was born in Ireland, in the not engage some to go amongst a dark super-county of Tyrone, and educated a member stitious people, to shake them from their false of the Episcopal church. He came to Amedependence, and turn their minds to the teach- rica about the twentieth year of his age, ings of the good Spirit in their own hearts, and and settling in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, also to open the way for such labour. Indeed, was convinced of the Truth as professed by though I am such a weak instrument, yet way Friends, and received into membership by hath been wonderfully opened for me; so that, Buckingham monthly meeting; and in the as I have formerly mentioned, ministers and year 1753, became a member of Wright's great men of the earth, have countenanced town monthly meeting. Not long after his the doctrine of the gospel and acknowledged convincement it pleased the Lord to bestow the truths delivered. For many weeks I la- upon him a gift in the ministry of the gospel, boured to turn from this path, but found it in which he experienced a growth, and was produced perplexity and barrenness; so that exercised to the edification of his brethren. I returned to it, and latterly have had several He frequently visited meetings in these and the open comfortable meetings in the upper part adjacent parts, and in company with John of this county. I seem likely to continue Griffith paid a religious visit to the northern here a while for the sake of this worthy an- and southern colonies. cient. He has been very solicitous for my company, and I desire to discharge the care of a faithful friend to him in his last moments. "So much snow has fallen, that some of the oldest people do not remember the like. I have rode through heaps that were as high as my head when on horseback. Towards the close of the year 1783, after being raised from an attack of severe illness, his mind was renewedly drawn to visit, in the love of the gospel, the churches in Great Britain and Ireland, of which he had had some prospect for several years; and spreading his concern before Friends, he received testimo"Second month 15th, I attended upon my nials of their sympathy and unity from the aged friend and comfortable companion, Tho-monthly, quarterly, and general spring meetmas Ross, with all the care I well could, until ing, and prosecuted the concern as set forth I closed his eyes on second-day morning, the in the following memorial respecting him, 13th instant, about ten o'clock, at the house of which will doubtless be acceptable to the our dear, and I may say, worthy friend, Lind-reader, viz: ger of falling therein; and, as in the course "Testimony of York monthly meeting, Great Brit-of his own sanctification, he had been made ain, concerning THOMAS ROSS, late of Wright's deeply acquainted with the necessary baptisms town meeting in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, peculiar to that important work, so he was a minister, who departed this life at Holdgate, near the city of York, the 13th of the second month, 1786, in the seventy-eighth year of his age. "To perpetuate the memory of the just, by endeavouring to render their examples and precepts beneficial to others, is a debt due to posterity as well as to the praise of His name, by whom they have been made more than conquerors, and become pillars in his house, which go no more out. furnished by living experience and the renewings of holy help, with qualifications to administer in tender sympathy, pertinent and wholesome counsel to the true Christian travellers; and so to dip in the present state of the church, as profitably to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.' "In meetings for business he was particu larly serviceable, his remarks being mostly short, pertinent, and very instructive; exciting to a steady attention to divine counsel in the transacting of our Christian discipline, and therein to exercise true judgment, without partiality and respect of persons. Having the unity and near sympathy of his friends and brethren at home, as appears by sundry certificates, he embarked in the "During the course of his illness he was fourth month, 1784, with divers other Friends, preserved in a heavenly frame of mind; on under the like religious engagements, and ar- almost every occasion dropping instructive rived in London just before the yearly meet-counsel and advice to Friends who attended ing, which, though under bodily infirmities, he attended. on and visited him, of which the following collection is but a small part. He frequently said, that he knew not why he was continued in such an exercised state of bodily weakness, yet doubted not, but that it was all in wisdom, and for some good end; adding, 'It was not for the clay to say to the Potter, why hast thou made me thus?' "He was detained by indisposition in and near that city for some time after. When a little recovered he travelled towards Bristol, and after some religious labour there and in that neighbourhood, sailed for Ireland and arrived at Cork; visited the meetings of Friends in that nation, which when he had nearly "Sitting in the family where he was during gone through, he found his mind engaged to the fore part of his illness, he expressed himjoin our friend John Pemberton, of Philadel-self thus: Dear young people, keep to your phia, in religious labour, principally amongst first love. The Bridegroom of souls will not those who do not make profession with us. be unmindful of the bride, whilst she remains After the national meeting in Dublin he re- chaste: some of you, I believe, are espoused turned to England, attended the yearly meet- to Him. O, the ardent desire which I feel for ing in London, those at Woodbridge and Nor- the youth! Thy name is as ointment poured wich, the quarterly meetings of Lincoln and forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.' Durham, and divers other meetings, and then proceeded in this religious service to Scotland. "His bodily indisposition increasing, he was under the necessity of resting at Old Meldrum, Edinburgh and Newcastle; from which last place, taking a few meetings in his way, he reached York the 2nd of eleventh month, and was at our monthly meeting the day following, which was the last meeting he was able to attend. "The same day:-'I have not sought mine own honour, but the honour of Him who first drew me from my habitation, and have great reason to praise his name. One thing which inclines me to think my work may be nearly done, is this, that it never appeared to be laid upon me to pay a general visit to England.' "At another time said, 'O, the harmony there is in the Lord's family! Ephraim shall not envy Judah, nor Judah vex Ephraim; nothing shall hurt or destroy in all thy holy mountain.' During the course of his travels we have abundant cause to believe his religious services were truly acceptable to Friends, and "Again, under bodily oppression, ‘I find no well received by others; for, having an espe- relief but when I feel a revival of that which cial eye to the puttings forth of the Divine is the healer of breaches; but that is not at hand, his ministry was attended with living my own command. My mind was last night virtue and deep instruction; though not in much drawn out to my fellow labourers. O, the words which man's wisdom teacheth,' yet that they may keep little!—I have rememin godly simplicity, and with a zeal according bered that saying, There are a few names to true knowledge. He was wise in detecting even in Sardis, who have not defiled their the snares of the enemy; faithfully, and with- garments; and I hope there are a few in out partiality, warning those who were in dan-York. Dear friends, what a people we should |