But to return. The first journey into the interior, undertaken for the purpose of discovery, is that remarkable one which Herodotus records as performed by some young Nasamonians. This people occupied a district of Northern Africa, lying to the west of Cyrene, and forming part of the modern Tripoli. Five young men, sons of the principal ci. tizens, were seized with an ardent desire to explore Africa, beyond the farthest limit to which discovery had hitherto reached. They traversed first, without difficulty, the cultivated tracts of Lybia; then passed safely also through the region inhabited by wild beasts, and came to the great desert of sand. Being well stored with provisions and water, they also entered this last, and traversed it for many days in a westerly direction; after which they came to a plain diversified with a few trees. These being a novel object, they began to pluck and eat the fruit with peculiar relish, when they were surprised by a body of men, black, and of small stature, who immediately made them prisoners. These men carried them through very extensive marshes or lakes, to a city inhabited by people similar to themselves. This city was traversed by a great river flowing from west to east, and in which crocodiles were found.

From all these circumstances, Major Rennell infers, that the city must have been one situated in Central Africa, and the river which traversed it the Niger. The only character given of the inhabitants is that they were impostors or sorcerers, a description agreeing sufficiently with the superstitious habits to which the negroes are generally addicted.

The next attempts of which we find any record are the two expeditions of Cambyses to the south and west of Egypt. Although conquest was doubtless their primary object, yet a considerable share of wild curiosity seems to have mingled in these desperate undertakings. Cambyses divided his army into two parts, one of which he led in person against the southern Ethiopians, while he sent the other against the Ammonians, inhabitants of the modern

oasis of Siwah. He himself, taking the command of the former, set out from Thebes, and proceeded for some time in full confidence of success. The army had not gone far, however, when their whole stock of provisions was exhausted. Support was afforded first by killing all the cattle which belonged to the expedition, then by feeding on the scanty herbage which the ground afforded. Still the proud obstinacy of Cambyses, who conceived that all nature ought to be subservient to him, repelled the mortifying idea of renouncing his project. At length they came to the region of pure sand, where all food whatever failed, and the troops had recourse to the desperate extremity of devouring each other. Cambyses, struck at length with just horror, desisted, and returned to Thebes, but not until he had lost a large proportion of his army. Of the other expedition which had gone against the Ammonians, the fate remained for ever buried in impenetrable mystery. It could only be known, that it never either reached Ammon, or returned to Egypt. It was hence inferred, that the whole must have found a grave in the vast ocean of sand which intervened. These examples proved an awful beacon to future conquerors and explorers; and they heightened the mingled sentiments of veneration and terror with which these interior abodes were contemplated.

These regions remained undisturbed till the arrival of a new conqueror, who was not wont to be deterred by any common obstacles. Alexander, when the career of conquest carried him to Memphis, determined to proceed and visit the temple of Jupiter Ammon. With the frantic wish of being owned as the offspring of that deity, was probably mingled a romantic curiosity to behold the mysteries that were hid in the depth of these awful solitudes. He viewed himself probably as the darling of fate, over whom the perils that overwhelm the rest of mankind would lose their influence. The army, however, suffered immensely during this march;

But I think it right to mention to you, that in what you state respecting the early circumstances of Methodism in Londonderry, you have unconsciously fallen into some degree of error. What you supposed to have happened after my father's attaching himself to the Methodists actually took place several years before. You know that the name of Thomas Williams is on record in the annals of Methodism; and that Mr. Wesley joins him with two others to whom the siren song" would be grateful, that "believers who are notorious transgressors in them selves have a sinless obedience in Christ." I believe this man continued to itinerate after Mr. Wesley had discarded him, and in the course of his movements he visited Londonderry. He preached in the Diamond, (you remember that name,) and, being a man of showy talents, he was listened to by all sorts and conditions. He at length formed a society, and as long as he conducted himself with propriety appeared to attract both attention and respect. It is said that when he felt his unhappy propensities likely to overcome him, he wrote to Mr. Wesley, stating the promising appearance of things, and begging a Preacher might be sent to replace him. No Preacher came; not, I have understood, through Mr. Wesley's fault; and Thomas Williams, having made a marriage with a young woman who happened to be well known in the town, went off, leaving her behind him. How many years elapsed before Londonderry was again visited by a Methodist Preacher, I cannot say; but I know this event took place in the latter end of the year 1764; and it is remarkable that it arose from a conversation perhaps quite casual, between two persons in low circumstances, who had been members of Williams's society, and who began to talk of former times, over, I believe, a pot of porter. While they talked, it would seem that some of their old feelings revived in their minds. They agreed that it would be a good thing to invite a Methodist Preacher to Londonderry; and they forthwith carried their project into

execution, by writing to Dublin, requesting a Preacher to be sent to them.

The person sent was a plain but very worthy man: his name was James Clough. I have understood he was not a little astounded when he saw the very poor appearance of the two persons who had invited him. He had brought a few guineas with him; but these were soon exhausted; and I am not sure but that he sometimes wanted his dinner. How soon after his arrival my mother and father became acquainted with him, I cannot tell; but I am sure from that time his difficulties were lessened, and his wants, at least, not unattended to.

In the times which followed, no shadow of offence was afforded by the conduct of any Methodist Preacher. James Clough was succeeded by John Johnson; and before they had separated, Mr. Wesley paid his first visit; the circumstances of which are yet alive in my remembrance, though I was but seven years old: but Mr. Wesley was a person never to be forgotten. Consequently I relate from clear recollection all that I am stating. I can therefore go on to mention, that Mr. Johnson was followed by William Thompson; and he again by Mark Davis. This last was my first instructer in Latin. I believe I need only mention the names of these men to satisfy you that the "false step" to which you refer was an occurrence of other times. In fact it happened before I was born, and before my father and mother were married.

Nor was it the case that Methodism ever became popular in Londonderry, except in the former shortlived instance. My father and mother, and their brother-in-law, a Mr. Fairley, were the only persons of any consideration who countenanced the Preachers. The circumstance of Mr. Wesley's being placed next the Mayor at church arose simply from my father's taking him to the Corporation seat, and from the politeness of the gentlemen already there, who made Mr. Wesley sit above them. This juxta-position, however, produced an invitation from the Mayor to din

ner, which Mr. Wesley accepted; and I well remember his saying, four-and-twenty years after, to this gentleman's son, whom we had invited with some other Clergymen to meet Mr. Wesley at dinner, "Mr. Kennedy, one of the most useful lessons I ever received, I heard from your father. It was, how best to reconcile two parties who are at variance; namely, by leading each to give full vent to every thing which formed matter of mutual complaints, and then to take that moment for bringing them to mutual reconciliation. I have since often followed that course, and seldom found it unsuccessful." The Mayor had stated this to Mr. Wesley as the method which he himself used with effect, for appeasing such slight differences as often came before him.

My father's becoming a Methodist could not divest him of his influence in the town, which several circumstances concurred to maintain; but it nevertheless made him as real a confessor as those became who in the first centuries embraced Christianity. They who had been accustomed to respect, and in some sort look up to him, could not imagine how he had been so bewitched. He was well aware that such was the general feeling; but I may with truth apply to him what is said of Moses, "He endured as seeing Him who is invisible." There was a grace and suavity in his manner, which made it impossible to withhold outward respect; but he could not doubt that most, at least, around him despised him in their hearts. His brother-in-law, whom I mentioned, gave him little support. This gentleman had become somewhat religious in the Calvinistic way, long before he knew Methodists; and hearing no sermons which came near his own way of thinking, until they came to Londonderry, he attached himself to them. But his religion appeared to consist in doctrines rather than practical principles; and though for a time he manifested much zeal, his inconsistencies were such as to afford little satisfaction to his religious

the

friends. Young as I was, I remember particulars, which have made me deeply jealous of mere doctrinal religion. He, however, adhered to the Methodists during my father's life; but after his death the poor man swerved, I fear, more and more; and though as tenacious as ever of his theoretical notions, and ever ready to shed tears at the thought of our Saviour's love, he showed no evidence of subdued passions or a purified heart.

I mention these, I fear, uninteresting circumstances, simply to let you see, what little support my father received from things or persons around him; and how completely, except so far as my poor dear mother encouraged him, he ran his race alone. His course was short, and in many respects beset with trials; which I am assured he bore with an equanimity only to be derived from the religion of the heart, and the continued influences of divine grace. He possibly escaped temptations of a different kind by being so soon removed to a better world; and he assuredly left a blessing behind him, of which, in the way of Providence, I must say, with humble gratitude, I have to the present hour been an ample inheritor.

As my father could not, without a miracle, have been led to vital religion but by means of the Methodists, so, if he had not been thus led, what might have been my state for this world and for that to come? As to my use of the blessings I have received, I feel much reason for abasement; but I hope and trust the hand of God has been over me, and that for more than three-andthirty years, I have, in some measure been kept in the path of his commandments.

I cannot sufficiently estimate the advantages of my having been acquainted with Mr. Wesley; though that was not the means of making an impression on my heart. Whatever has been lastingly done in this way, God himself was pleased to effect. But the lights which have been afforded me through my acquaintance with Mr. Wesley, and with his writings, I regard as invalu