went to the youth's meeting at Darby, where my beloved friend and brother Benjamin Jones met me, by an appointment before I left home, to join in the visit. And we were at Radnor, Merion, Richland, North Wales, Plymouth, and Abington meetings; and had cause to bow in reverence before the Lord, our gracious God, by whose help way was opened for us from day to day. I was out about two weeks, and rode about two hundred miles.

The monthly-meeting of Philadelphia having been under a concern on account of some friends who this summer (1758) had bought negro slaves, the said meeting moved it to their quarterly-meeting, to have their minute reconsidered in the year. ly-meeting, which was made last on that subject: and the said quarterly-meeting appointed a committee to consider it, and to report to their next; which committee having met once and adjourned, and I, going to Philadelphia to meet a committee of the yearly-meeting, was in town the evening on which the quarterly-meeting's committee met the second time; and, finding an inclination to sit with them, was, with some others, admitted; and friends had a weighty conference on the subject. Soon after their next quarterly-meeting, I heard that the case was coming to our yearlymeeting; which brought a weighty exercise upon me, and under a sense of my own infirmities, and the great danger I felt of turning aside from perfect purity, my mind was often drawn to retire

alone, and put up my prayers to the Lord, that he would be graciously pleased to strengthen me; that setting aside all views of self-interest and the friendship of this world, I might stand fully resigned to his holy will.

In this yearly meeting, several weighty matters were considered; and toward the last, that in relation to dealing with persons who purchase slaves. During the several sittings of the said meeting, my mind was frequently covered with inward prayer; and I could say with David, "that tears were my meat day and night." The case of slave-keeping lay heavy upon me; nor did I find any engagement to speak directly to any other matter before the meeting. Now when this case was opened, several faithful friends spake weightily thereto, with which I was comforted; and feeling a concern to cast in my mite, I said, in substance, as follows:

"In the Difficulties attending us in this life, nothing is more precious than the mind of truth inwardly manifested; and it is my earnest desire, that in this weighty matter, we may be so truly humbled as to be favoured with a clear understanding of the mind of truth, and follow it; this would be of more advantage to the society, than any medium not in the clearness of divine wisdom. The case is difficult to some who have them; but if such set aside all self-interest, and come to be weaned from the desire of getting estates, or even from holding them together, when truth requires the contrary, I believe way will open that they

will know how to steer through those difficulties."

Many friends appeared to be deeply bowed under the weight of the work; and manifested much firmness in their love to the cause of truth, and universal righteousness on the earth. And though none did openly justify the practice of -slave-keeping in general, yet some appeared concerned, lest the meeting should go into such ineasures, as might give uneasiness to many brethren ; alledging, that if friends patiently continued under the exercise, the Lord, in time to come, might open a way for the deliverance of these people; and I finding an engagement to speak, said, "My mind is often led to consider the purity of the Divine Being, and the justice of his judgments; and herein my soul it covered with awfulness. I cannot omit to hint of some cases. where people have not been treated with the purity of justice, and the event hath been lamentable. Many slaves on this continent are oppressed, and their cries have reached the ears of the Most High. Such are the purity and certainty of his judgments, that He cannot be partial in our favour. In infinite love and goodness, He hath opened our understandings from one time to another, concerning our duty towards this people; and it is not a time for delay. Should we now be sensible of what He requires of us, and through a respect to the private interest of some persons, or through a regard to some frendships which do not stand on an immutable foundation, neglect to do our duty in firmness and constancy,

still waiting for some extraordinary means to bring about their deliverance; it may be by terrible things in righteousness, God may answer us in this matter."

Many faithful brethren laboured with great firın. ness; and the love of truth, in a good degree, prevailed. Several friends, who had negroes, expressed their desire that a rule might be made, to deal with such friends as offenders who bought slaves in future to this it was answered, that the root of this evil would never be effectually struck at, until a thorough search was made into the circumstances of such friends as kept negroes, with respect to the righteousness of their motives in keeping them, that impartial justice might be administered throughout. Several friends expressed their desire, that a visit might be made to such friends as kept slaves and many friends said, that they believed liberty was the negroes right: to which, at length, no opposition was made publicly. A minute was made more full on that subject than any heretofore; and the names of several friends entered, who were free to join in a visit to such as kept slaves.

CHAPTER VI.

His visiting the quarterly meetings in Chester counts; and afterwards joining with Daniel Stanton and John Scarborough, in a visit to such as kept slaves there. Some observations on the conduct such should maintain who are concerned to speak in meetings for discipline.-Several more visits to such as kept slaves; and to friends near Salem.-Some account of the yearly meeting in the year 1759, and of the increasing concern in divers provinces, to labour against buying and keeping slaves.-The yearly meeting epistle. - His thoughts on the small-pox spreading-and on inoculation.

On the eleventh day of the eleventh month, in the year 1758, I set out for Concord; the quarterly-meeting, heretofore held there, was now by reason of a great increase of members, divided into two by the agreement of friends, at our last yearly meeting. Here I met with our beloved friends, Samuel Spavold and Mary Kirby, from England, and with Joseph White, from Bucks county, who had taken leave of his family in order to go on a religious visit to friends in England; and, through divine goodness, we were favoured with a strengthening opportunity together.

After this meeting, I joined with my friends