a dhe same time I gave my horse the switch, and leanec down on the saddle, so that if they shot I would give them as narrow a chance as I could to hit me, as I sup pased they would wish to spare and get my horse. I did not look behind me until I had got out of sight and hearing of the Indians. I was not long in going a dozen or fifteen miles; so I overtook the company that day, and told them what I had passed through; they said, that they had met the same Indians, and a Chickasaw trader who was with them, told them that two Chickasaw Indians with him said, that the Choctaws which I met informed them, that if the Chickasaw trader was not with these Kentuckians, they should have taken their provisions from them. When I heard this I reflected, if such a small preventive was the only means of saving a party from being plundered, what danger was I exposed to? And I felt more solemn afterwards, than when in the midst of dangers. About forty-eight hours after, a party of twenty-five men were attacked by some ruffians, driven from their camp, and plundered of some thousands of dollars, and some of them came near starving before they got in. I travelled on several days with the company, but they proceeded so slow, that I resolved to quit them n; and thinking I was within about forty miles of the Chickasaw nation, set off alone one morning in hopes of getting in the same night, so I travelled on all day as fast as I could conveniently, stopping only once to bait, until I came within about twenty miles of the settlements, and about ten at night, came to a great swamp,* where I missed the trail, and was necessitated to camp out without any company, (except my horse) fire, or weapons of defence; and as I dismounted to fix my* bridle and chain together, for my horse to graze while fastened to a tree, I heard a noise like the shrieks of women, and listened to know what it might be; and it occurred to my mind, that I had heard hunters say, that the catamount or panther would imitate the cries of women; at first, I felt some queries or fears in my mind, but I soon said, God can command the wild beasts of the forest, as well as he can command the Indians; and I kneeled down and committed myself to the protection of kind Providence, and then lay down, and had a comfortable night's rest. The next morning I went on, and joined the settlement about ten o'clock, and got some milk and coarse Indian bread for myself, and corn for my horse; then went on about twenty miles further, and through the good Providence of God, I did not miss my road, though there were many that went in different courses. At length I saw a man dressed like a gentleman; he came up and shook hands with me, and after some conversation, invited me to his house, about a mile and a half off: I tarried with him a few days, and had two meetings, with some reds, blacks, whites, and half-breeds, and good I think was done in the name of the Lord. The post came along, and I left Mr. Bullen, the, missionary, whom I spent my time with, and set off with him; and in three days and an half we travelled upwards of two hundred miles, and came to the settlements of Cumberland ; and having a letter, I called on major Murray, who treated me kindly. I gave away the last of my money and my pen-knife, to get across an Indian ferry, I sold my chain halter for two dollars, and brother Murray lent me an horse to ride to Nashville, where I got two or three letters, which I consider as the hand of Providence, as it was the only means of opening my door. I inquired for methodists, but found none-I strove to get a place for meeting that night, but all in vain; so I went about six miles and called upon a local preacher, who treated me with friendship, so I tarried all night. Next day early, I returned to Nashville, and tried to get the court house, and several private houses, but all in vain. Then I went to a grog house and began to talk ironical, as if I was one of their company, and soon the man offered me liberty of his house for what I would choose to give him, he supposing that I was not in earnest; but I let him know that I was, by giving him a dollar, and told him as a man of honour, I should expect the room of him. I then went out and told the postmaster, who advertised it for me, as he knew by the su perscription of my letters that I was no impostor. I returned to major Murray's, and delivered up my horse, where was a class-meeting; the circuit preacher was cool, but Mr. Cannon, a local preacher, being a man of consideration, prevailed, and I met the class, and the Lord being with us, we had a good time; so my way was opened through the country. The grog house in Nashville would not contain the people, and somebody prepared the market house for me, and I spoke and described the characters of a christian, a gentleman, and the filth of the earth, which were the subjects of my discourse, and some fearing of coming under the class of filth, behaved well. I appointed meeting again, and in the court house if it should be opened, if not, on the public square, or in an adjacent grove, as might best The court sat in the mean time, and they ordered the court house to be opened, and I spoke to hundreds. Contributions were offered me, which I'refused; however, several dollars were forced on me by some gentlemen. The cause of my refusing the above was this, I did not wish to put myself in the power of another, nor to give satan a sword to slay me, or power to hedge up my way, as the eyes of hundred were upon A camp meeting was held, but I believe that good was prevented by their not following the openings of 、 Providence. serve. me. I visited several other places, and then went to Kentucky, and visited Beardstown, Frankfort, and Lexing ton; some methodist local preachers treated me cool, and strove to shut up my way; but God opened my way, by the means of a baptist at Beardstown; and at Frankfort I got the state house and at Lexington I got first the court house, then a play house, and afterwards, the methodists opened to me their meeting-house -in several meetings, God was with us. Thence I steered to Virginia, on the way, I was informed of an old salt well being found and a large bed of ashes by it, and pieces of earthen kettles, denoting their size to be larger than pot ash kettles, and also a vessel of stone like a salt cellar, which must have belonged to the ancients. At an inn, I offered the man pay over night, but he refused, saying, he would be up in season in the morning; however he was not, so I left what I supposed would me. be his demand, on the table, and went on; he afterwards reported that I had cheated him. At another place, all my money was gone to one dollar, and the landlord attempting to accuse me of passing counterfeit money, would not exchange my dollar for my fare, but thought to injure me, until another man changed it for At length, I met two men, who told me that my appointments were made in Virginia, at Abington, where I arrived August 21st, about three hours before meeting time. I was now dirty and ragged, as my pantaloons were worn out, my coat and jacket worn through, as also my moccasons. I had only the smallest part of a dollar left: however, some gentlemen gave me seven dollars, and then a collection was made, which I refused, until they hurt my feelings and forced it upon me; some others held back their liberality. I had a convenient stage erected, and we had a solemn time. I left an appointment when I would be there again, and in the neighbouring counties, and went on to Fincastle; then to Bedford county, where I spoke in the town of Liberty; from the Age of Reason I took my text, and some went off before I had cleared up the point; they supposed me to be a deist, but afterwards were sorry. I spoke in Lynchburg, New-London, and at Carmel court-house, and a number of adjacent places, and left hundreds of appointments for the spring. I saw Dr. S. K. Jennings, and found him to be a man of strong powers of mind, and great acquired information, and very pious. Oh, may he fill up that sphere of life, which he is qualified for! In Cumberland county, John Hobson, jun. got awakened, and found peace, as he fell down while I was speaking: his dear companion was labouring under great trials of mind, for the loss of all her offspring, till God cast my lot in that quarter, when she got reconciled to the same, by the sanctifying influence of God's Holy Spirit -his mother, who was upwards of eighty years old, also found peace. I visited several other places, and the Lord was with us:-Then I went to Richmond, and by the governor's consent, spoke in the capitol, which somebody had advertised in the Argus, and afterwards in the methodist meeting-house, several times; also in Manchester, and at New-Kent quarterly meeting. I rode twenty miles to Petersburgh, in the rain, and seeing a man, inquired of him if he knew Jesse Lee? he replied, he is my brother, and took me to his house; and as soon as I passed the gate, I saw Jesse standing in the door, and I sat still on my horse, though I was wet through, (with a bundle of books under my arm;) I had no outer garment on; and there was not a word spoke for some time between us: at length, said he, come in-I desired to know whether it was war or peace said he, come in-said I, is it war or peace? said he, come in-I made the same reply said he, it is peace; so I dismounted and went in, and he, after some conversation, went and procured me a large assembly that night, in the methodist meeting-house. I spoke there several times, and God was with us. Oh, how different was I now received, from what I was formerly! Surely I was agreeably disappointed in my reception; and there must have been the hand of God in this. I visited several neighbouring places not in vain. I got five hundred pamphlets printed, and as I was going to the office for them, a stranger called me on one side and put ten dollars into my hand (though he knew not my necessity) which was just the sum I wanted for the printer. . I had much offered me in my travel through the state; but was unwilling to give satan any ground to hedge up my way, and of course declined the most of it.. One day, I had an appointment to preach, and then started for S. Carolina, through a part of some hundreds of miles, where I never was before, and had only a few cents at my command: however, my trust was still in God, who put it into the hearts of some, as we were parting and shaking hands, to leave about seven dollars in my hand; so I went on and saw some more providences of God; also I saw some evils. Near Raleigh, N. Carolina, a petty constable attempted to take me up as an horse thief. Col. Paul Rushian of Chesterfield county, S. Carolina, took me up also, and examined my private writings, and gave some of the most abusive |