Cecil.

1738. we had a Meeting, but by reafon of the wet Weather it was but fmall; thence we travelled to Cecil Meeting, and fo on to Chester, where we had a Meeting on Firstday, then to Queen Ann's County, and back from New town thence to Newtown, on Chester River, at which Town we had a large fatisfactory Meeting, in which is was fhewn, that no good Chriftian might or could break the moral Part of the Law, for it (faith the Apoftle) is a Schoolmaster to bring to Chrift, and that thofe who come to the Gofpel of Christ, can in no wife break the leaft Commandment of God. As for Example, the Law faith, thou shalt not forfwear thyself, but if a Man (according to Chrift's Gofpel) fwears not at all, then that Min cannot forfwear himself. Again, the Law faith, Thou shalt Love thy Neighbour and hate thine Enemy; but Chrift fays, Love your Enemies; the which if we do, there is no doubt but we shall Love our Neighbours. Again, the Laws fays, Thou shalt not Commit Adultery; but if according to the Doctrine and Gospel of Chrift, a Man doth not look on a Woman with a luftful Eye, there is no Danger of committing Adultery with her, &c. Those Things were largely spoke to and opened in the Meeting, and the People (there being many not of our Society) were very attentive and fober, and the good Hand of the Almighty was amongst us in this Meeting. From Chefter River, we croffed Chesapeak Bay, to the YearlyWen-River, meeting at Weft-River, with Chefter Friends in William Thomas's Boat, and fent our Horfes over by Kent-Island to Weft-River, where we met with our Friends Michael Lightfoot, Elizabeth Wyat, and Grace Mafon, with divers others (Elizabeth and Grace, being on their Return from a religious Vifit to North-Carolina and Virginia:) We all being far from home, and well acquainted, were glad to fee one another, being thankful to the Almighty, who had been pleafed to preferve us fo far on our Way. After the Meeting was ended at Weft-River, taking Leave in the Love of Chrift of di

River,

vers Friends, with Hearts full of Love, and Eyes full of 1738. Tears, as never expecting to fee one another again. I with my Companion and Armiger Trotter (who came up with the Friends from Virginia, to West-River) fet out for Virginia, and having paffed over Patuxent Potusem River, had a Meeting among the Family of the Plum- Potomack mers, one of whom, with another Friend, accompanied us to the River Potomack; we rode as near as we could compute it fixty Miles that Day, I being heavy and aged, and the Weather hot, was very much tired, and laid down in my Clothes all Night, and the next Morning ferried over the River Potomack, computed about three Miles over, and parted with our Guides. When over this River, we travelled about fifteen Miles to William Duff's, had a Meeting there, and from thence to a Meeting of Friends at John Cheagle's, and fo on to Black-Creek, had a Meeting there, and Blackthen went to the Monthly-meeting of Friends on the CreekWeft-fide of James-River, and fo to William Lad's, after which we went to the Monthly-meeting of Friends Nanfemonde at Nanfemond River, and from thence to Carolina, and North on a First-day had a large Meeting at a new Meeting- Carolinas house built to accommodate the Yearly-meeting; it was a good folid Meeting, and there the Friends appointed for us the Meetings following. Third-day of the Week, being the 13th of the Fourth Month, at JoSeph Barrow's, Fouth-day at Jacob Butler's, Fitchday at Samuel Newby's, Sixth-day and First-day at the Upper-meeting-houfe at Little-River, and Thirdday at the Lower-meeting-house on faid River, and Fouth-day at Pofpotanck, and Fifth-day at Amos Trueblood's up Pofpotanck-River, and then we went to the River. Quarterly-meeting for Friends in North Carolina, which was very large; the People were exhorted to overcome Sin as Chrift overcame, that they might fit with him in his Kingdom, as he overcame, and is fit down in the Kingdom of God his Father; that Subject was largely Ipoken to that Day, and we had a good Opportunity

Pofpot anck

1738. portunity with the People, and the great Name of God was exalted over all. After this Quarterly-meeting, we had a Meeting at James Wilfon's, in the Barrens, which was a large, good and open Meeting; in the Conclufion thereof, I told them, That I came among them in great Love (tho' in a Crofs to my own Will, with refpect to my Age, and the Heat of Weather) being willing to fee them, in that Province, once more before I left the World; and, as I came in Love, fo I parted with them; defiring them, to dwell in Love and Peace, and then the God of Love would be with them.

Bennet's. Creek. Chucka

tuck, &e.

Pagan.

Creek, &c.
Virginia.

From Carolina we travelled into Virginia (Zachariah Nanfimund. Nickfon accompanying us) and had a Meeting at the Widow Newby's, and from thence had a Meeting at Nanfimund, and fo to the Branch, where we had a very large Meeting; many People were there not of our Society, and were very attentive and fober; and next Day, being the Second day of the Week, we had a fatisfactory Meeting at Bennet's-Creek, and thence to Chuckatuck, and fo on to Rafper-Neck, and then to Pagan-Creek, thence into Surry County to Samuel Sebrell's, and thence to Robert Honicut's, had a Meeting there, then to Curl's up James-River, to Thomas and John Pleafant's, had a Mecting there on a Firstday, and then to the Swamp and Cedar Creek, and fo on to John Cheagle's. We came to John Cheagle's the 20th of the Fifth Month, being the fifth of the Week, and being unwilling to be idle on Sixth and Seventh Days (intending to have a Meeting at his Houfe on First-day) I asked John if he could tell where we could have a Meeting on Sixth and Seventh-day? And he faid Yes, he could. And he appointed one about three Miles off his Houfe, and another fix Miles off; at which Places we had good Service; and then had a very large Meeting at his House on Firstday, which was, I hope, to pretty general Satisfaction, to the religious Part of the People. From thence

we

Potomack

way.

we travelled to William Duff's (John, and another 1738. Friend, going with us) and had a Meeting at their Meeting-houfe, and afterwards William went with us. over Potomack River, as far as Pifcataway in Maryland; this River is computed to be near four Miles River over, and, when about the Middle, there was a large Pifcarta. Swell in the River, fo that our Horfes could not ftand, and the Motion of the Boat made them fall down, and the Boat having much Water in it, being very leaky, fhe was near overfetting; they in the Boat were in fome Concern and Confternation, faying, when we came to the Shore, that they did not remember they were ever before in the like Danger; and I apprehend we were in Danger, and if the Boat had overfet, in all Likelihood, we might all have been drowned; and I then thought I was in the Service of Chrift, my great Mafter; and I alfo knew, I muft die, and I thought I might as well die in his Service as my own; fo I gave up my Life for Chrift's Sake, and he gave it to me again. Oh! may I, with all those who fincerely love him, ferve him truly all our Days, is my Defire!

From Pifcataway we travell'd to Patuxent, to the Patuxent Family of the Plummers, who were ten Sons of one River. Father and Mother, who were convinced about the Time I first had Meetings in thofe Parts, and, fo far as I know, they are all fober Men. After this Meeting we went to Gerard Hopkins's, and from thence to Pa- Patapfe. tapfco, had a large Meeting, the House being full before the Friends came, fo that they were hard fet to get in; to me it was a good, feafonable Opportunity, as was our next in the Forest of Gunpowder River; River where Friends have built a new Meeting-houfe, which, at this Time, could not contain the People: From Bulb Riw Gunpowder River we went to Bush River, had a good, Deeropen Meeting, and one at Deer Creek, and fo over Creek Sufquehannab to Elibu Hall's.

At

Gunpowder

1738.

Weft Not

singham.

Chriftine,

At West-Nottingham, I parted with my Companion, he having about a Day's Travel home. I had two Meetings on Firft-day at the great Meeting-house at Weft-Nottingham, which were very large, and Friends glad to fee me once more: And after having Meetings at Chriftine Bridge, Wilmington, Center, and Kennet, Wilming went to the Quarterly-meeting of Minifters at ConBennet, & cord, and was there First and Second-day, and Thirdday at Derby, all which were very large Meetings, and Friends were fatisfied and comforted, and I was encouraged in the Work and Service of the Gospel of Chrift. From Derby I went home, having been abroad about four Months, and rode, by Computation, above eleven hundred Miles, and at about feventy Meetings.

son, Center,

Derby.

Frankfort,

While I was on this Journey, I had an Account of the Death of my dear and only Brother, George Chalkley, a religious, prudent Man; he died the 24th of the Ninth Month 1737, near the feventieth Year of his Age, and left behind him a mournful Widow and four Daughters, all virtuous Women.

When in Virginia, I wrote to thofe of our Society at Opeckon, Shannadore, &c. many of whom went out of our Province, to fettle in the Government of Virginia, to the following Effect, viz.

Virginia, at John Cheagle's, 21ft 5th Month, 1738.
To Friends of the Monthly-meeting at Opeckon.

H

Dear Friends, who inhabit Shannadore and Opeckon. AVING a Concern for your Welfare and Profperity, both now and hereafter, and allo C the Profperity of your Children, I had a Defire to fee you; but being in Years, and heavy, and much fpent and fatigued with my long Journeys in Virginia and Carolina, makes it feem too hard for me to perform a Vifit in Perfon to you; wherefore I take