"The

Under date of 7th of 4th mo. the following remark occurs: effect of being transported in about three weeks from the cold winds, which blew at the Mother-bank, to the burning heat of the sun near the equator, can only be estimated by those who have witnessed such a change in a vessel as small as the Henry Freeling;' even the nightair seems to come off the heated deserts of Africa charged with dampness most unwholesome."

6

Under date of 21st of 4th mo. he observes, " After having been nearly twelve whole days and nights within five degrees of the equator, we were favoured to get to the southward of it at an early hour this morning."

The following quotation from the Journal under date of 5th of 5th month, will explain the cause of his visiting Rio de Janeiro. "Although hitherto favoured with a passage, such as no person on board had ever before witnessed for favourable winds and weather, yet it now became considerably lengthened out from the unusual prevalence of calms and light airs of wind, not only during our being in the neighbourhood of the equinoctial line, but at a later period. This circumstance seemed to point out at once the necessity of our abandoning the intention of aiming at the Cape of Good Hope for a supply of water, &c., on account of the advanced state of the winter season, and the probability of not being able to reach that place, before those heavy gales set in, that render its approach very difficult it was also remembered, that if we once made the attempt, and therein failed, there was then no alternative left to us, but that we must continue to hover about until we did accomplish that object, let the weather be ever so tempestuous, as we must undoubtedly perish at sea for want of water before we could possibly reach Van Diemen's Land, a distance from the Cape of Good Hope of more than 6200 miles, and from our present situation to the Cape full 3500 miles. After deliberately weighing these considerations, it seemed expedient (however reluctant to our wishes to visit a place where superstition and slavery appear with open face) to bear down towards the South American continent for Rio de Janeiro, and thence procure the needful supplies, if permitted to reach it in safety."

5th mo. 10. "This afternoon at sun-set a brig was seen upon our lee quarter, steering the same course as ourselves, perhaps three or four miles distant from us; she was soon covered up by the night, and no more thought of. Being upon the deck, (a usual practice with me the fore-part of the night,) between nine and ten o'clock, the carpenter suddenly exclaimed, Why here's this brig!' Upon looking, I saw the vessel at a considerable distance from us, but soon perceived by the stars that she was approaching with uncommon rapidity in a most suspicious direction, as if intending to cross our fore-foot, and cut us off. We watched her very narrowly, expecting every minute she would open a fire upon us. She continued to haul directly across our head at a very short distance from us, but we steadily kept our course, without the slightest variation, or manifesting any symptoms of hurry or fear, or noticing her in any way. I felt our situation to be at the

moment very critical, knowing that these latitudes, and particularly this neighbourhood, are exceedingly infested with piratical vessels, which find shelter in the Brazilian harbours as traders, where they fit out occasionally for Africa with merchandize, and return with whole cargoes of oppressed Africans for sale, landing them on private parts of the Brazil coast; at other times they act as pirates, when it suits their convenience, or are in want of stores. This was indeed a trial of faith of no common kind; but my mind was stayed upon the Lord, feeling a good degree of resignation to his holy will, whatever might be permitted to befal us. After watching the vessel with anxiety for some time, she passed away, without making the least apparent stop. On considering the matter, we concluded, that when she saw us at sun-set, we were taken for a Dutch galiot, that might fall an easy prey to her; but when she came up to us in the dark, near enough to examine with telescopes the real shape of our vessel, we were found of such a suspicious build of a non-descript kind, not seen before in these seas, as might lead to the supposition that we were intended as a decoy, and though very tame-looking without, yet perhaps fiery hot within, if meddled with. From the position she took, there is no doubt she expected to throw us into confusion by firing into us, and then, in the midst of it, to have boarded us on the weather side. There was not the least glimmer of light to be seen on board of her, whilst the 'Henry Freeling was well lighted up in both cabins and the binnacle, and the reflection from our sky-lights was well calculated to puzzle and intimidate the crew, as this circumstance would be sufficient at once to show that we were not a common merchant vessel. The captain, cook, steward, Charles and myself, were all additional persons upon the deck, besides the regular watch, which would give an idea of strength to them, unusual in so small a vessel as the 'Henry Freeling. Every thing was conducted with great quietness, not the least hint given to any one on board to prepare for an attack: the watch below was not even informed of what seemed to await us upon the deck. The Lord only was our Deliverer, for she was restrained from laying a hand upon our little bark; and to Him alone our preservation is with gratitude and thankfulness ascribed. The crews of these pirates consist in general of desperadoes of all nations, who frequently commit the most dreadful attrocities on board the ships they seize, in putting to death all those who oppose their boarding them; they are mostly crowded with men amply sufficient in number to take and destroy some of our large armed traders. This vessel was doubtless a selected one for the work: we thought she actually sailed twice as fast as the 'Henry Freeling,' which is far from being a slow vessel. We saw no more of her, but after midnight I partook of some refreshing sleep."

It may be here observed, that D. W. mentions in a letter from Rio, dated the 27th of 5th month, that during their stay there, an American captain, who had seen them at a distance at sea, going on board, D. W. asked him what he thought of the "Henry Freeling," as to her appearance when he saw her and his own vessel becalmed; [near the equator]:

his answer was, that he did not like the look of her, and was glad when he could get farther away from her. D. W. adds, "There is little doubt but we were taken for a pirate by all that saw us, which perhaps might be of advantage, except that it deprived us entirely of sending letters by any homeward-bound ships, as none would have liked to come near, to ascertain what we really were."

5th mo. 11th. First-day. "The weather being beautifully fine, the crew were collected upon deck twice in the course of the day, for devotional purposes, &c. 12th. Fine weather, with a fair wind all the day, and a prodigious swell of the sea from the south-east. The swell was so immensely large, that we concluded that the summit of one wave was at least half a mile distant from that of another.

"A little before five P. M. land was proclaimed by the man at the mast-head; shortly after we were able to behold from the deck the lofty cliff of Cape Frio on the coast of Brazil, (about sixty miles east of Rio de Janeiro,) just in the position, and about the distance it was calculated to be, from the true time of our chronometers, the lunar observations, and the dead reckoning, all combining to prove the accurate navigation of the vessel, and nautical skill we possess on board of her. Although we seem to be destitute of all interest upon this coast, beyond that of the welfare of mankind the world over, yet, after being fifty-eight days from England, during fifty-seven of which nothing was to be seen but water and sky; without having spoken another vessel, or even seen more than six, the sight of Cape Frio was cheering and animating, and raised in my heart a tribute of thanksgiving and praise to our never-failing Helper, who hath in mercy sustained us in perfect safety, across such a prodigious expanse of mighty waters."

Arrival in the Rio de Janeiro.

The next day they entered the Rio de Janeiro, as appears by the following extract.

5th mo. 13th. "The wind continuing favourable (although not very brisk) the whole of the night, considerable progress was made to the westward; but when the day broke it was discovered that a strong current had swept us farther off the land several miles than was the case the preceding evening. Every possible exertion was made throughout the day, and the different headlands and rocky islands upon the coast were so far recognized as to enable us to steer with confidence towards the mouth of the river, which we entered about three P. M. We had intended to run up the harbour till nearly opposite the town before anchoring; but soon after passing the fort of Santa Cruz, from which several questions were asked, we were compelled immediately to anchor, by an order from the guard-vessel. In a short time after this a bill of health was demanded, and a certificate, signed by the Brazilian Consul in London, but as neither of these could be produced, the vessel was at once declared under quarantine, and as it was in vain to remonstrate, quiet submission was all that was left in our power, which was

manifested by our immediately hoisting a yellow flag. Although somewhat prepared for this event, I was a little disappointed, having anticipated that we should be once more enabled to stretch our limbs upon the shore, an exercise from which we had long been debarred. For my own part, I had not landed or been absent from the vessel for upwards of six months, except the short interval of enjoyment in the company of our dear friends of the Committee from the Meeting for Sufferings at the town of Ryde, in the Isle of Wight; but I trust, whether we are permitted to land or not on these shores, that the same Almighty Arm of strength will continue to uphold us, which has been hitherto so marvellously stretched out for our support. For although we have been fifty-nine days from the Mother-bank, out of that time twenty-one have been expended in calms and light breezes, fifteen of which occurred while near the equinoctial line, without intermission. But the most remarkable thing is, that we have never made one tack, from the time of leaving England to our anchoring here this day, notwithstanding we have passed over more than 50 degrees of north latitude, and 23 degrees of south, at sixty miles to a degree, with upwards of 43 degrees west longitude. Would it then be accounted presumption in any one to hope that He, under whose constraining influence, in love unutterable, this voyage was prompted, will be graciously pleased to prosper it, from the beginning to the end, and cause it ultimately to tend to the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom, in the hearts of some of the benighted sons and daughters of the human family, although such blessed effects may never be permitted to come to our knowledge or to gladden our hearts." After performing a quarantine of five days, Daniel Wheeler thus writes under date of 24th of 5th month: "To day several hours have been spent on shore by Charles and myself, for the purpose of expediting the shipment of the needful supplies, in the course of which we had much satisfaction in unexpectedly becoming acquainted with two serious persons, both natives of Scotland, at the house of James Thornton, (a relation of our kind friend William Tindall,) whose family is one of the solitary few in this place who are desiring to do the thing that is right.

"Although we were amply provided with introductory letters, &c. to all the ports of importance throughout the whole voyage, viz. The Cape of Good Hope, the Derwent or Hobart Town, New South Wales, Lima, Valparaiso, Coquimbo, and others, besides letters from the London Missionary Society's Secretary, William Ellis, to that Society's correspondents, upon many islands of the Pacific Ocean, where Missionaries are established; yet at last we were in some measure compelled to enter a port for which, with all our contrivance, we do not possess a single document, and are even unfurnished with a bill of health. After considering the subject, I told my son Charles that I thought our coming here would not be without answering some good end, though at the time there might be nothing in view, nor had any thing occurred to give rise to such a supposition; but on our meeting with the two serious persons above mentioned, an opening for some service presented to my mind,

and from the conversation which took place while we were together, it seemed pretty clear to me that we should see each other again. Before we parted, I was invited to attend a meeting, which is held by the welldisposed English in this town every first-day evening at seven o'clock, which by them is termed a prayer-meeting. I told them (after acknowledging their kindness) that I could not give an answer at the moment, that I must wait to see what to-morrow would bring forth, and if the way opened for me to accept the invitation, that I would take care to be in time. Although it was very evident to me that it was no light thing for a member of our religious Society to attend such a meeting, and faithfully support the different peculiar testimonies given us as a people to bear, and which to some might appear like opposition to, or slighting the forms and ceremonies which they have been trained, perhaps from early youth, to the daily practice of, yet it did not seem a time for me to shrink or hold back on that account: leaving the matter altogether unfixed, we returned to our vessel for the night.

5th mo. 25th. "Both forenoon and afternoon the crew were assembled in the usual manner. At both seasons a quiet feeling seemed to prevail. In the course of the day, the prospect of attending the meeting on shore, being as a burden upon my shoulders, increasing as the day wore away, and believing that I should not be clear without giving up to it, accompanied by Charles, I set forward, and reaching the shore just as it became dark, repaired immediately to the house of James Thornton, where the meeting was to be held; and as soon as some of the principal persons arrived, I thought there would be a propriety in speaking to them privately before the meeting commenced. Taking such aside, I told them, that although we might have the same great and important object in view, yet it was probable that we all might not see exactly alike, and therefore I should prefer their going on with their meeting as usual; and if, after it was over, we might be allowed to come in and sit down amongst them, it would perhaps be the most agreeable on both sides: at the same time, I candidly stated, that we could not engage to kneel when they did, neither was it our practice to sing and that we were desirous to offend neither Jew, nor Gentile, nor the Church.'

After relating some further conversation that passed, D. W. adds: "At length it was concluded that they should proceed as usual, and that we should sit by and act as was most easy to ourselves. Accordingly, at the time appointed, the company repaired to another room prepared for the occasion, where some others were seated in readiness ; and amongst these, several black young people that understood English. It was previously arranged, that when the meeting was quite over, the certificate furnished me by my dear friends of the Morning Meeting in London should be read, in order to account to all present for the appearance of strangers, and to open the way for any communication on my part that might arise."

It may be here proper to observe, that although we have reason to believe that our dear friend Daniel Wheeler is one of those who would