able to make up all deficiencies, praise may be ascribed both here and everlastingly!"

After the family visit, my dear mother held a public Meeting at Liverpool, which is stated to have been large and favoured; another at Prescot, for which the use of the Sessions House was obtained; and on the 25th of 10th mo. was at Warrington, where, after holding a Public Meeting, she had a solemn and relieving opportunity with her fellow professors.

She returned to Ireland in time to attend the Half Year's Meeting in the eleventh month; after which she was favoured to reach her own habitation in better health than she had left it, having accomplished an exercising journey of above three months.

CHAPTER IX.

Visit to Leinster Province, particularly the County of Wexford, also Public Meetings in the County of Cork, and Letter to the French Prisoners at Kinsale. 1794.

DURING the ensuing winter, my beloved mother

was mostly occupied in religious service within the bounds of her own Quarterly Meeting, and early in the spring she obtained a certificate for visiting Leinster Province, expressing that in this concern her view was much towards holding Meetings with those of other religious denominations. Soon after avowing this prospect she was taken very ill, and confined for many weeks to her chamber, so that she did not enter upon the engagement until after the National Meeting in Dublin. While attending that solemnity, she felt her mind impressed to have a Public Meeting in the city, respecting which and subsequent religious service she writes as follows:

"I have frequently since coming here feared what is now come upon me, but waited for the conclusion of the Meeting to have the matter matured. First day was a time of arduous labour indeed, one

wherein I was once more helped to feel a little for the state of the church, and relievingly to cast off some of the burden under which I had been oppressed. Third day sat the usual Meeting at Meath-street, and my view being to the inhabitants of that neighbourhood, notice was circulated for a Meeting at six o'clock in the evening; the house was entirely full, and such remarkable solidity prevailed, that I am willing to trust the blessed cause of truth was not dishonoured by this feeble attempt to advocate it, though my mind was affected with many fears, and earnest were my desires that the LORD's power might so arise as to keep down all of an opposing nature, which was in good measure the case. M. Ridgway was at the Meeting, and though silent the sympathy of her spirit felt strengthening.

"I proceeded on fourth day morning to Ballitore, attended Meeting there on fifth day, and next morning accompanied Friends from thence to the Monthly Meeting held at Athy, where, notwithstanding I got wet in going, I am glad to have been, feeling my mind so relieved that I hope that place may be off the list in my impending journey. Returning to Ballitore, I remained there over Meeting on first day morning, and had cause to be humbly thankful in doing so; for while very much indisposed with the effects of a cold, I was so helped to discharge my duty as to be left in possession of quiet poverty. I rode to Carlow in the afternoon, and feeling inclined. to visit the widow and children of our Friend John

Watson went on second day to Ballydarton. Mary Watson and several other Friends dined there with me, after which a season of solemn stillness ensued, which was attended with feelings that proved a sufficient recompense for this little turn.

"I believed it best to appoint a Meeting at Kilconnor for the following day, and also requested that the invitation should extend to those not in profession with Friends. A considerable number assembled at ten o'clock on third day morning, over whom a solid covering soon spread to the comfortable settling in outward quiet, under which an unusual liberty for gospel labour was experienced; and it proved, like many other seasons, one wherein that language might be gratefully adopted,' Hitherto the Lord hath helped.' At the conclusion Friends were requested to remain, and on them, I hope, honest labour was, in received ability, bestowed : after which feeling liberated for the present I deemed it best to turn homewards, first attending the usual Meeting at Carlow on fourth day the 14th of 5th month."

Her continuance at home was but short, for early in the 6th mo. she set out, accompanied by her beloved friend Margaret Grubb, for the county of Wexford; they spent several days in Waterford, attending Meetings there on first and third days, and making calls on Friends who were confined by illness. They went from thence to Ross, and on the

17th of 6th mo. my dear mother thus writes from Enniscorthy.

"Though my bodily strength as thou knowest, is not great, I have cause to be thankful that the tabernacle is so supported as that the work of the day is, I humbly trust, advancing, wherein I have peace so far in the present embassy. The lines fall not in pleasant places, our heritage is not goodly, and if we visit the seed it must be in the prison house, where it too generally lies. We attended Forest Meeting on first day, which was large and remarkably exercising to us, but through merciful assistance our minds obtained relief: we had a season of religious retirement in the evening in Jacob Goff's family, at whose hospitable mansion we lodged and were affectionately entertained.

"Feeling about the inhabitants of Taghmon, a little town through which we passed, but where no room sufficiently large was to be found, they were invited to our Meeting House about half a mile distant; and on second day forenoon we assembled with a considerable number of the military, and others of different descriptions, who conducted themselves with solid attention, and through divine mercy it proved a memorable time. There was sensible liberty in declaring, and willingness to receive, the testimony of truth. At the conclusion some books were distributed, with which the people seemed so pleased that we saw several reclining on the grass as we passed by the fields, employed in reading them.—