The 21st of the Ninth month we had a very hard gale of wind at north-west, which blew so hard, that it put us by from sailing, so that we were obliged to lay the vessel to the wind; for, by the violence thereof, we could not carry any sail; and it was so dark, that we could neither see stars nor one another; nor hear one another without we were very near, the seas rising very high indeed the long, stormy and dark nights were very dismal; and some of our goods got loose in the hold. In the beginning of the night, about the seventh hour, Philip Kearney, my apprentice, fell into the sea and was lost, which was a deep affliction to us in divers considerations.

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The 25th we saw the land, and next day we came to an anchor in Delaware-bay. The loss of this lad was a cause that we were not so joyful as is usual for people to be when come to the shore.

The latter end of the Tenth month I went the third voyage, commander of the Barbadoes Packet, from Philadeiphia, bound to Barbadoes: we were towed through the ice by two boats from Thomas Masters's wharf, and in two days got to Reedy Island; from whence we sailed down Delaware bay, where we lay two nights, the wind being contrary, blowing hard, the nights being long, the days very short, and weather sharp; we left our Capes in the night, it being dangerous lying in the bay; and after being out several days, we had favourable winds, and pleasant weather; but when we got into the trade wind, it blew hard, and

mostly against us, so that the first land we saw was the island of St. Christopher's, where we arrived in twenty days from our Capes; and the market for provisions being at that time better than at any other of those islands, and the property of the vessel mostly belonging to me, and the cargo generally consigned to me, I disposed of part of it. Here being no meeting of our society on this island, I had meetings on board the vessel in the harbour, and divers from the shore, and several masters of vessels came to our meetings, the snow having large accommodations for such an occasion; and, so far as I could understand, the people were generally satisfied, and spoke well of our meetings.

Of late times, and also in this voyage, meeting with many losses and crosses, and much afflictions, and various exercises, I was ready to say in my heart, Lord, why am I thus afflicted now in my declining years, since thou knowest I love thee above all things, and that I would not willingly or knowingly offend thee, my great and dear Lord: It was answered, as though vocally spoken, My only begotten and beloved Son, who never offended me, suffered much more. This word being such an evident truth, I begged patience to go through all my sufferings and afflictions, so that at last I might live with Christ in the glorious kingdom of God for ever, where I might always bless and praise his holy name.

Five or six days after our arrival at this island,

a vessel, that came out five or six days before us, arrived, she meeting with the same boisterous weather as we did, yet we made our passage ten or eleven days sooner. Divers other vessels, bound to Barbadoes, put in here, through these contrary winds; and when I saw others in the like circumstances with us, I was the more thankful for being preserved safe, and so soon to this place; yet it was a considerable loss and sore trial not to get to Barbadoes, the island I was bound to, and a great disappointment to me and many more.

At this island a person whose name was

Galloway, a man of a great estate, hearing that I kept meetings on board the vessel, kindly invited me to have a meeting at his house, and said he would give notice of it to divers of the gentlemen, as he called them, of the island, telling me that I should be welcome to his house, which was much more convenient than the vessel; but I was not very forward to accept of my friend Galloway's kind offer, being sensible of my own weakness and inward poverty, so that I made several excuses to evade it; but he obviated them all. 1st. I asked him if he could bear the reproach of having a Quakers' meeting at his house: he answered, Yes, there is good and bad of all societies. 2dly. I asked if his wife would like it, or be willing that a meeting should be in the house : he said she desired it, and would be very willing. Sdly. I asked if he thought he could sit in silence:

he told me he believed he could. I then told him, I was obliged to him for his kind and friendly offer, and, God willing, I intended to come, and tell my people of the ship's company to come also, and desired him to give notice of it: the which he did, and there was a large satisfactory meeting: Oh may the Almighty sanctify it to some souls is my desire!

He and his wife were both very courteous to me, and invited many of his rich friends and relations: his wife's father was a judge in this island of good repute. Divers people, of several professions, were at this meeting, and many expressed their being glad of it. An attorney at law said he was thankful for the words he had heard that day, and if I would stay with them he would always come to our meetings. One judge Mills was at this meeting, and very kindly invited me to his house. Some meeting me next day, said they were sorry they were not there, The mistress of the house told divers of the people, who were persons of note, that they should remember what they had heard; and spoke it with a religious concern, as it seemed to me. When I went to this meeting, I was very poor, and in much fear, speaking with a great concern on my mind for the people's salvation; and that God, through Christ, might be glorified.

After this meeting, it was (as though a voice) said unto me, How dost thou know but for this cause, and for this meeting thou art brought here

to this island, though against thy will? The people told me, that they did not remember that there ever was a meeting of our Friends before on this island. The meeting had this effect, that the people had a better opinion of our society than they had before. The subject in this meeting was the excellency of the gospel dispensation above that of the law, in that it brought us to the law, went through the law, and was above the law, and far from destroying the law, but fulfilled it; for proof of which they were referred to Christ's most excellent sermon which he preached on the Mount, Matt. v.

From the island of Christopher's, I proposed, God willing, for Barbadoes; the which I apprehended would be a troublesome voyage, it being about 100 leagues to windward, and a strong current against us. On the 19th of the Twelfth month we sailed towards Barbadoes; and the wind being a-head, and blowing hard, we tarried two nights at the island of Lucia, where we took in wood and water. The people here were mostly French, and were very civil to us.

The 21st we put out again to sea; but the wind and current being against us, obliged us to go into the harbour from whence we came, and tarry for an opportunity more favourable. While we were in this harbour, which is a very good one, several vessels came in on the like occasion; and a vessel that came from Christopher's about