"be telling of the righteousness and salvation "of Christ all the day long; for I know no end "thereof."

In his youth, Mr. Wems accompanied some young Americans to London, where he prepared himself by diligent study for the profession of the church.* After being some months in the metropolis, it was remarked by his companions, that he absented himself from their society towards the close of the day; and conjecturing that the motive of his disappearing arose either from the heat of lust, or a proneness to liquor, they determined to watch his conduct. His footsteps were traced, and they found him descending into a wretched cellar that augured no good. But their suspicions were soon changed on following him into his subterranean apartment. They found him exhorting to repentance a poor wretch, who was once the gayest of the gay, and flatered by the multitude, but now languishing on a death bed, and deserted by the world. He was reproving him tenderly, privately, and with all due humility; but holding out to him the consolation of the sacred text, that his sins, red as scarlet, would become by contrition white as snow, and that there was more joy in the angels of heaven over one sinner that

[*The Bishop of London was the Diocesan of Virginia before the Revolution. Parson Weems was in London for his studies after 1781.]

repented, than over ninety-nine persons whose conduct had been unerring.

Of the congregation of Powheek Church, about one half was composed of white people, and the other of negroes. Among many of the negroes were to be discovered the most satisfying evidences of sincere piety; an artless simplicity, passionate aspiration after Christ; and an earnest endeavour to know and do the will of God.*

After church I made my salutations to Parson Wems, and having turned the discourse to divine worship, I asked him his opinion of the piety of the blacks. "Sir," said he, no people in this country prize the Sabbath more seriously than the trampled-upon negroes. They are swift to hear; they seem to hear as for their lives. They are wakeful, serious, reverent, and attentive in God's house; and gladly embrace opportunities of hearing his word. Oh! it is sweet preaching, "when people are people are desirous of hearing! "Sweet feeding the flock of Christ, when they "have so good an appetite!"

แ

How, Sir, did you like my preaching? Sir, cried I, it was a sermon to pull down the

[* Cf. Dr. Coke's Journals &c. London. 1793, p. 18,—“I sometimes give notice immediately after preaching, that in a little time Harry will preach to the blacks; but the whites always stay to hear him. Sometimes I publish him to preach at candle-light, as the Negroes can better attend at that time. I really believe he is one of the best preachers in the world."]

proud, and humble the haughty. I have reason to believe that many of your congregation were under spiritual and scriptural conviction of their sins. Sir, you spoke home to sinners. You knocked at the door of their hearts.

I grant that, said Parson Wems. But I doubt (shaking his head) whether the hearts of many were not barred and bolted against

me.

I had been three months at Occoquan, when I so often caught myself stretching, yawning, and exhibiting other symptoms of Ennui, in my chair, that I began to be of opinion it was time to change my residence. My condition was growing irksome. There was no light, airy vision of a female disciple, with expressive dark eyes, to consider my instructions oracular; but I was surrounded by a throng of oafs, who read their lessons with the same tone that Punch makes when he squeaks through a comb.

I, therefore, resigned my place to an old drunken Irishman of the name of Burbridge, who was travelling the country on foot in search of an Academy; and whom Friend Ellicott made no scruple to engage, though, when the fellow addressed him, he was so drunk that he could with difficulty stand on his legs.

I remonstrated with Friend Ellicott on the

impropriety of employing a sot to educate his children. "Friend," said he "of all the schoolmasters I ever employed, none taught

my children to write so good a hand, as a

man who was constantly in a state that bor"dered on intoxication. They learned more of "him in one month, than of any other in a quarter. I will make trial of Burbridge." *

CHAP. IX.

Return from Occoquan to New-York.-Visit to Mr. George on Long Island.-Meditations among the Tombs.-I go to Baltimore.-Mammoth Cheese.-An Exchange of Letters with the Vice-President.-A Walk to Washington.Congress assembled.-Debates.—Politeness of the Vice-President.-A Journey on Foot into Virginia by the Great Falls of the Potomac.Get benighted.-A Hospitable Reception at a Log-house in the Woods.-A cast-away Sailor restored to the bosom of his Family.-The Story of Jack Strangeways.

IT was not without emotion that I quitted the Banks of the Occoquan; those Banks on which I had passed so many tranquil hours in study and meditation. I was about to ex

[* Cf. Goldsmith,

"Logicians have but ill defined

As rational the human mind;

Homo est ratione preditum

But for my soul I cannot credit 'em."]

change the quiet of solitude for the tumult of the world; and was posting I knew not whither, without any object to my journeying.

I pass over the common occurences of the road to Washington; the contributions levied on my purse by the landlords of Alexandria, and those of the imperial city; but at Baltimore an accident happened, which I have still, under every combination of circumstance, in my memory's eye.

I had left Peck's tavern in the stage-coach at a very early hour of the morning, when, before we had proceeded half way down Market-street, one of the fore-wheels came off. The driver, on whose presence of mind the safety of the passengers depended, deserted his post in the moment of danger, and leaped from his seat. The horses being without any check, accelerated their pace, and I can only compare their speed to the rapidity of lightning. This was an awful moment. pected every moment to be dashed in pieces; and determined to make one effort for my life, I leaped from the carriage into the street; an example that was soon followed by two other passengers. In my eagerness to clear the wheels, I leaped further than was necessary, and received a bruise in my forehead: but one of the other passengers was mangled by the flints in the road.

I ex

On looking up I could perceive nothing but