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1735. ferved to me, that the more kind they were to their Slaves, they had their Bufinefs the better done for it; though I obferved also, that I had been at some Places, where I had watched to hear fome Expreffions that might look like Charity; but in divers Houses, and fome of Note, I could not hear any Chriftian-like-ExBarbadoes. preffions to their Slaves or Negroes, and that with Sorrow I had seen a great deal of Tyranny and Cruelty, the which I diffwaded them from: This Doctrine fo exafperated fome that were there, that they made a Disturbance in the Meeting; one of which Perfons meeting me on the King's High-way, fhot off his Fowling-piece at me, being loaded with fmall Shot, ten of which made Marks on me, and feveral drew Blood; by which unfriendly Action, the Man got a great deal of Difgrace, it being highly refented by all who were acquainted with me; the Prefident of the Inland look'd on it as a very base Action, as did also divers of the Juftices and the Gentry, alfo the Veftry, and several Člergymen and Lawyers; one of the Lawyers told me, I should not be just to the Country, myself, nor the Man, if I did not profecute him; another, profeffing the Law, faid, He ought to be abandon'd by all Mankind, if he shot at me with Defign; many were for profecuting him, for the People generally took Notice of it with Abhorrence; but he fending for me, and figifying, he would not do fo again, I forgave him; and I pray it may not be laid to his Charge in the great Day, and that he may be forgiven, he being ignorant of the Love I had and have for him and all Men, even them whom I know to be mine Enemies. It would be too great a Scandal and Reproach, to expofe his Name and Station in the World. Some thought I did well in forgiving him, and fome thought I did ill in it; but I fpoke my Mind to him alone freely, in which I had Satisfaction and Peace.

Intending

Intending my Veffel for London, I made my Chief- 1735. mate, Ralph Loftus, Master of her, not knowing whe-m ther I might proceed the Voyage, it being a very Barbados, fickly Time; afterwards my Mate had the Diftemper

alfo, but I bless God we both recovered a good State of Health.

It was this Voyage that my Friends in Barbadoes published a little Piece I wrote at Sea, which I called, Free Thoughts communicated to Free Thinkers; done in order to promote Thinking on the Name and Works of God; which had, as far as I understand, a good Acceptance among the People; the principal Clergyman on the Ifland, thanked me for it, and faid There swas need enough of it: But I could be glad another, or a better Hand, had done fomething of that Nature, and more large. If this may be of any Service, I shall be thankful.

I had alfo a Meeting at John Lewis's, in Jofeph's Parish, at which were divers not of our Profeffion, and fome who were never at any of our religious Meetings before; who faid, They were glad they were there that Day; it being a fatisfactory, open Meeting.

After I had visited my Friends, and fettled my Affairs as well as I could, and loaded our Veffel with Sugars, for London, being willing, once more, to fee my native Land, and to fettle my Affairs there, and ke my Relations and Friends; on the 6th of the Third Month, we fet fail from Barbadoes for London, and had pleasant Weather. The 16th, being the Firft-day of At So the Week, we had a religious Meeting for the Worship of God, in which I was concerned to fpeak on the Government of the Tongue (having on board feveral Hands, which did not fail with us before that Voyage, that were much used to Swearing.) After that Meeting, we had not fo many bad Words and Oaths as before. I was thankful in my Soul to the Lord, and

blefied

At Sea

1735. bleffed his holy Name, for his Goodness to us that Day; and, in the Night, my Sleep was very fweet and comfortable, being fenfible of the Love of God in the Vifions of the Night; fo that I witnefs'd the Fulfilling of the Prophecy of Joel, Chap. ii. 28.

The 23d, being the Firft-day of the Week, we had a Meeting, in which the Grace of God, that comes by Jefus Chrift, was magnified, and a Bleffing begg'd for all who love and ferve God, throughout the World, by Sea and Land; alfo a tender Petition was put up to Almighty God, that, as he was graciously pleafed to look down on thofe eight Perfons in Noah's Ark, fo he would please to look upon us in our Veffel; and that, as, by his divine Providence, they fafely landed on the Earth, fo we, if it were his Will, might fafely land at our defired Port; yet not that our Wills, but his Will might be done: Which Supplication was put up with great Submiffion. Both Day and Night I of ten fought the Lord, and was much alone in this Voyage. I read the Old and New Teftament almost through, and much of it divers Times over; my Time being moftly taken up in Reading, Writing, and Meditating, in which at times, my Heart would be broken into Tenderness; and I was humbly thankful to God, that my Heart was not hard; he having promised to vifit the contrite Ones; the which he fometimes fulfilled, to my unfpeakable Satisfaction: Glory to his holy Name for ever. My Heart was also thankful that God was pleafed to vifit me in my wat’ry Travels and Troubles, and in my Separation from my Family and Friends, which are much nearer, and more valuable to me, than all Riches, and a great Cross to my natural Inclination to part with.

The 8th of the Fourth Month, being the Firft-day of the Week, we had a Meeting, in which Acquaintance with God was exhorted to, fhewing the Benefit of it, and of loving him above all Things, and delighting in his Law, and meditating therein Day and

Night. The 19th, in the Morning, a ftrong norther- 1735. ly Wind came up, and blew fo hard, that we could not carry Sail, but lay to the Wind, under our Mizen, which was split or torn with the Violence of the Wind, and the Sea rofe high, fo that it came into the Win dows of our great Cabbin: It was very rugged for the Time, and, though it was Mid-fummer, it was fo cold, that we were obliged to cloath ourselves, as in Winter. The 22d, being First-day, we had a comfortable Meeting after the Storm, wherein the great Benefit of true Religion was a little open'd to our fmall Company, and the Lord, moft High, was praised for our Deliverance and Prefervation. The 26th, we founded, and found about 70 Fathom Depth of Water. The 29th, we were a-breaft of the Ifle of Wight. From the Time we left the Inland of Barbadoes, to the Time we found Ground, was feven Channel. Weeks. Thus, through many Perils and Dangers, we came to Great-Britain; for all which Mercies and Providences, let my Soul blefs and praife the holy Name and mighty Power of the moft High. It was now a Time of very great Preffing for Seamen, and feveral Men of Wars Boats came on board to prefs our Sailors; but they had prepared a Place in the Veffel to hide themselves, and the Men of Wars People could not find them: One Lieutenant, with his Men, came on board, and feeing us weakly handed (the best of our Hands being hid) he asked me, if I had any more Hands on board? I made him very little Anfwer; he then faid, He was fure I could not bring the Ship from Barbadoes without Hands: I told him, Sailors were hard to be got in Barbadoes, either for Love or Money, to go for London, for fear of being prefs'd, and I was oblig❜d to take any I could get: He faid, It was in vain to talk much, but if I would fay, I had no more Hands on board, he would be fatisfied; he having a Belief that I would fpeak the Truth, though he never faw me before; and he faid, if I would fay,

there

1735. there were no more Men on board, he would go away s for then he had no more Business there: But I made him no Answer, not daring to tell a Lie: Now I know that there is Men on board, faid he; fo he commanded his Men to fearch the Ship to her Keel; fo they stripp'd, and made a narrow Search, and fweated and fretted, but could not find them. He being civil, I made him, when he went away, a small Prefent; he wished me well; and fo I carry'd my People fafe up to London.

London.

In the Beginning of the Fifth Month, I came to London, and lodged at the Houfe of Simeon Warner, in Southwark, and at divers kind Friends and Relations in and about London; the tender and brotherly Respect which I received from divers, in fome of those Families, in my Sickness, will not, I believe, ever be forgotten, while I am in this World, at times, by me; and, I hope, that He, whom I ferve with my Might and Strength, will be their Reward. When in the Country about London, my Refidence was mostly at Edmonton, at my dear Brother George Chalkley's, who, with my Sifter and Coufins, were a Comfort to me, both in Health and Sickness; for I was often in London forely afflicted with the Phtbyfick and Afthma, which fometimes made me very uneafy; and, though my Affairs required me to be often at the City, yet I was obliged to return into the Country for Air, and, both in Health and Sicknefs, was kindly and very affectionately received and tended by my dear Brother, Sifter, and all my loving Coufins; the Memory thereof is cordial to me in penning thefe Lines: It may be truly faid, We were very joyful in meeting one another, and our Sorrow in parting not eafy to be expreffed.

In London I fold my Veffel the Barbadoes Packet, and fettled all my Affairs to general Satisfaction, so far as I know, on which Account I had laboured for feveral Years, and was joyful that Providence had

favoure d

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