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tend it, he assigning as the reasons, 1st, he did not like my appointing meetings of such magnitude; 2nd. the season of the year being too early, and 3dly, it was too soon after conference: but I could not in conscience falsify my engagement, seeing I was within a few miles of the ground. This meeting was appointed some time before the alteration of the time of the Confer

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Friday, March 8th. Lawson Dunnington fell in with me, and carried me in his chair to Stoney-Creek meeting-house, where the Camp-meeting was appointed, and I found two preaching stands erected, a number of wooden cabins, tents, covered waggons, carriages, &c. The meeting lasted four days, in which time the Lord gave us extraordinary fine weather; and although the preach-" ers did not arrive from conference, several local ones joined with me heart and hand in the work; about five thousand people attended, and about thirty souls were hopefully converted to God; sinners were alarmed, backsliders reclaimed, christians quickened, and good was done in the name of the Lord and notwithstanding that the weather at this season is generally inclement, and was so now until we arrived on the ground, when the sun beamed forth the warmth of his influential rays; and so the weather continued until about three hours after the meeting broke, which caused some to say, I will tell J. Lee that God is able to send fine weather in the fore-part of March, as in April: These before had been prejudiced against me. The wicked observed the weather suitable to our convenience so extraordinary, that they said, it was in answer to prayer. The trustees requested me to occupy the meeting-house, but I refused, lest I should give offence, considering the countermand, but desired the local preachers to occupy it within, and I would officiate without, so the cause might not be wounded: hence the Lord raised me up friends to aid me on through my appointments to papa Hobson's in Cumberland.

Friday 15th. I went in their carriage, and spoke on a funeral occasion.

16th. We went to another vicinity, where, standing on the carriage box, I addressed a large congregation

from Solomon's irony, in which I shewed the contrast of a gentleman and fool deist, with an address to the magistrates and candidates: here I parted with my friends, and rode to squire Evans's, who hath three daughters and a son, whom the Lord gave me at a Camp-meeting, after I had begged them of their father, greatly to the mortification of the daughters, who with inward reluctance, attended to prevent their father's displeasure. I perceiving uncommon tranquility and felicity in this family, desired the father to tell me how it was that his children were so respectful, he replied, "when they are little stubs of things, I take the switch and let them know that they must submit, so I have but little difficulty with them when growing up."

Sunday 17th. I spoke to about two thousand, near Hendrick's new store, and then proceeded around the country, near one hundred miles: spoke at Amelia court-house, and Chinkapin church, where the congregation was a third larger than I had ever seen there before. It being court time, the auditory at Petersville church was not so large as it otherwise would have been, however, what few there were, were solemn and tender; amongst whom were some of the twenty-five men who had, in vain, combined to flog me at the Camp-meeting. I spoke at Columbia and Fluviana; also at NewCanton, where I found some given me in the Lord.— Bidding farewell to my friends hereabout, I started for the west, on Tuesday.

26th. In company with Brother Mead, but having returned my borrowed horse, I was on foot when a young gentleman, who, having finished his studies at Philadelphia, was on his way home, dismounted, and constrained me to ride; thus we three spelled each other alternately. When I came to Lynchburg, I found the brick meeting-house was in a fair way, and engaged 301. worth of books more for its aid: had a good time, and went to New-London.

Friday 29th. Camp-meeting began at Ebenezer; the inclemency of the weather retarded many; however, we continued the meeting, and God sent off, in some degree, the clouds which threatened us: being invited to a local preacher's tent, I at first hesitated

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till they agreed to give me their daughter to give to my master, which greatly mortified the young woman, and prepared the way for conversion: I found two young men and another young woman in the tent, with whom I conversed about their souls; the young woman was turbulent; I told her that Old Sam would pay her a visit, which reminded her of my description of a character some months before, pointing to her and saying, you young woman, with the green bow on your bonnet, I mean." Here conviction ran to her heart; her shrieks became piercing, and the three others also, which gathered the christians around to wrestle with God in prayer, and he set their souls at liberty: prejudice had been conceived in the minds of some, which was removed by my relating in public the particulars of my marriage. I bought me a new horse for 451. and continued my journey.

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Sunday April 7th. I feel unwell, having travelled in the rain near an hundred miles expeditiously, to get on to this chain of appointments, which began this day in Abington: Here I spoke to hundreds at 11 o'clock in the sun at 3 at Crawford's Meeting-house, thence five miles: spoke by candle-light.

8th. Arose at two, proceeded to Royal-oak, and spoke at 8: the day before, a man was buried moving from Powhatan to Kentucky: I could but pity his disdisconsolate widow, who requested me to speak something over her husband: Oh! how uncertain is life!! I proceeded to Wyth, and spoke in the Court-house : my horse was taken lame, so that I was constrained to leave him and borrow another, and proceeded to my evening appointment, which was to begin at 9: being appointed about thirteen months: This day I had travelled seventy miles, and spoke three times.-I was disappointed of near one hundred dollars which were to have been sent to me.

9th. Spoke at Montgomery court-house, to a large auditory; and in Salem at night; having travelled fiftyfive miles, and good I think was done.

10th. Left my borrowed horse with a friend to be returned, and my lame one to be disposed of: but my directions being not followed was a great detriment to

me however I got another horse on credit for 361. this morning, and proceeded to Fin-castle, where I employed a smith to shoe my horse during meeting, but having no money to pay him, I was under the disagreeable necessity of making my circumstance known to the congregation, who gave me three-fifths of a dollar, this being the first time that I ever had hinted for the public aid since travelling.—I sold a book which enabled me to clear out with the smith, and then went to Springfield, where I spoke at night.

A man privately asked my advice, saying, his daughter shouted and fell down, which caused him to beat her, with prohibition from religious meetings: I asked him if he did not believe his daughter sincere, and feel conviction for his conduct: He answered in the affirmative; I replied, parents have no right to exercise authority in matters of conscience; only to give advice, as every one must account for themselves to God.

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11th. Lexington, the people mistook the time by an hour which made me haste to my evening meeting in Stantown, where I arrived about sun-set opposite a house which I had felt my heart drawn particularly to pray for when here before: A woman now rushed out

of the door and grasping me in her arms, gave me a welcome to the house she was a spiritual daughter of minė, and lately married to the man of the house, whose former wife with him found peace, and she'shortly af ter died happy, though I knew not who lived in the house at the time I had preached in the street fearing lest my horse might have been heated too much, to prevent injury I gave him salted grog. The church be

ing open, I sat on a table in the door, and spoke to (I suppose) some thousands.

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12th. My horse I think, is as well as usual; so I proceeded on my journey, preaching in Rock-town and two other places on the way.

Sunday 14th. I spoke at Newtown, at an hour by sun in the morning to about three thousand; thence to Winchester, where I spoke at 11 to about six thousand in the woods; rode twenty-two miles, and spoke at night; continued my way to Carlisle, where I spoke twice, fulfilling appointments on the road: hence a

methodist preacher accompanied me to Tioga point, 150 miles in three days: this young man was labouring under some depression of mind when we met, but the circumstances of the meeting and journey seemed to help him both in mind and body. Thus in fifteen days I closed the journey of seven hundred and fifty miles, speaking twenty-six times on the way, which appointments were given out about thirteen months beforehand.

22d.

CHAP. VII.

TOUR THROUGH NEW-ENGLAND.

RRIVED back in Western, after an absence of near eight months: PEGGY was not at home our marriage was not known in general in this neighbourhood, until within a few days past: it caused a great uproar among the people.

23d. Peggy felt it impressed on her mind that I was here and so came home early in the morning; having enjoyed her health better, and her mind also, than for some time previous to my absence. In the afternoon S. Miller and his wife came home well, and were preparing for their journey to the Missisippi Teritory.

Thursday May 2d. I saw brother Willis, who married us, and Joseph Jewell, presiding elder of Genesee district, who came a great distance to attend the Campmeeting, and brought a number of lively young preachers with him; they having never attended one before.

Friday 3d. The people attended in considerable crowds, amongst whom was Timothy Dewey, my old friend, whom I had seen but once for more than four years past: the wicked attempted intrusion, but their efforts were ineffectual, and turned upon their own heads, being checked by a magistrate.

Monday 6th. We had a tender parting time: in the course of the meeting good was done in the name of the Lord. I moved a collection for one of Jewell's young preachers, Perley Parker, formerly a play-mate of mine.. Here I left my Peggy on the camp-ground within three

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