with, would have been my own choice, rather than to have again crossed the mighty deeps. Yet there are a few little ones in my native land, and also in this meeting, who are as bone of my bone in the spiritual kindred; for their sakes I am willing to be a sojourner the appointed season of unerring wisdom, or I sometimes think, it might be better for me to die than to live, lest I should not hold out to the end in well doing. After our Yearly Meeting I was about three weeks in Essex, where affectionate inquiry was made after thee. It is likely thou wilt have heard that dear Mary Pryor is gone on a religious visit to some parts of Ireland, manifesting dedication in advanced age worthy of consideration. I think I never heard her more close or lively in testimony than in our last Yearly Meeting.

I hope to forward this to Liverpool to-morrow, and should it get safe to hand request thee to present me in near and dear affection to the friends mentioned herein, also to dear Ann Mifflin, whose letter I have also received; to thy aged brother, if living, and his children, whom I love in the truth; likewise thy husband, with any others in thy freedom; as I have not room to mention many more, must not forget dear Rebecca Jones, T. Scattergood, and others of our fellow labourers. MARTHA ROUTH.

From the same.

Manchester, 7th mo. 2nd, 1810.

My dear friend,—I have long desired I might not outlive the season when I might be capable of feeling a sympathizing mind; and I now believe that prayer will be granted to me whilst I have a being here,

Under this impression, my spirit hath often visited thee, since our lately deceased friend, Mary Gilbert, informed me of the renewed trial which thou and thy husband were brought under through loss of outward property; and though I do not esteem this the greatest trial to a redeemed mind, no, my beloved friend, we have known much deeper wounds than any thing arising from this quarter;—yet in advanced age, this also must be nearly felt. But what a favour, under all that is permitted to befal us, that we know him in whom we have believed, and that we can spread our cause on his sacred altar, and leave it with him both to judge and to plead.

It is grateful to hear by a letter from our endeared sister in tribulation, Phebe Pemberton, that thy husband and thyself can remain in your habitation, and with some additional labour pass on comfortably. The last letter I received from our nearly united, and justiy beloved fellow-labourer, Deborah Darby, says, "the receipt of thine, wrote last month, was cordial to my feelings as the salutation of an endeared sister, as also the intelligence respecting our dear friends in America; except the account of the increased afflictions of dear Sarah Harrison, which will doubtless affect the minds of many of her friends with near sympathy: but she has long known the name of the Lord to be a strong tower, to which' she has fled and found safety; and there is no doubt that this place of refuge will be renewedly opened to her consolation." We were companions together about three weeks at the close of a western journey, in the 10th month of 1808. Mary Jefferies had been with her, and Ann Grace of Bristol with me, and our way lying together homewards, we mutually embraced each other in the fel

lowship of the gospel, which bound us in the cement of that union, which I trust will never be dissolved; though my feelings were then deeply penetrated with an apprehension that she would not be long in the field of labour; her bodily strength being so reduced that she could not well rise from her bed without a little assistance, nor did she seem much refreshed by the sleep she got. But she is now gone from all trial, beyond temptation, and above applause; and her soul no doubt centred where the morning stars sing together, and the sons of God shout for joy.

Perhaps thou wilt have heard that Edmund Darby was suddenly removed, a few weeks after his dear mother. He was going with his wife to attend the marriage of one of her brothers, near Bristol,-was taken ill on the road with pain in his bowels, and died at his uncle Robert Fowler's, at Melksham, where his remains were interred. William Byrd and his wife attended the burial, who with others concerned in gospel mission, expressed a belief that he was taken in mercy, and entered into rest. Deep instruction to us who survive, is no doubt intended by the all-wise Disposer of events, when the young and the rich in this world are so suddenly called from works to rewards.

Dear Mary Alexander died at Worcester of the small-pox, in a resigned sweet state of mind, according to the testimony read at our Yearly Meeting.Great indeed is the stripping we have had for two years past of this part of the family: and now dear John Hall, with several others, are numbered to the silent grave within the last three months. John Hall was taken with a violent bleeding at his nose, the day I was at their meeting at Broughton, so that he

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could not attend; but in the evening appeared very serene, and sweetly revived that passage of scripture, as iron sharpeneth iron, so doth a man the countenance of his friend;" and said he thought he had never felt the truth of it more forcibly. He has left ten children, several married, and the rest appeared hopeful.

Please to present me in near affection to thy husband, nephew and nieces, with any other friends in thy freedom, and accept for thyself a large portion; in all which my husband unites with thy sincerely affectionate friend, MARTHA ROUTH.

From Thomas Scattergood.

New York, 6th mo. 11th, 1811.

Dear Sarah Harrison,-Having received the enclosed in a valuable letter from Elizabeth Ussher of Ireland, I thought it afforded an opportunity to write a few lines and enclose it to thee. I felt the more induced to make the attempt, from the remembrance of my two last visits to thee, O thou exercised, dear friend, whose path through life has not been strewed with roses, but ofttimes and again as with prickly thorns. Well, I may say again to thee, what matter, if so be those slight afflictions work for thee a more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, by patiently continuing the warfare in righteousness; for surely the blessed Shepherd and Bishop of our souls knows how much is right for us to bear in order to fill up the measure. Oh! then, that thy tribulations may work in thee patience; and patience, yet greater experience of the love and mercy of thy heavenly Father, to be

shed abroad in thy heart in due time:-fear not, nor doubt that this is possible with Him with whom all things are possible; who can bring light out of darkness, strength out of weakness, and cause thee yet livingly to acknowledge that thou couldst not have done without thy afflictions.

Tell thy dear Thomas from me (when thou thinks it right) as one that has loved and sympathized with him for years in his afflictions, (for he has been afflicted) not to give up the conflict or warfare. Oh! that he could and would stand still for a little moment, and wait for the salvation of his God,-his merciful and compassionate God, who is able to help him through all, even unto the end of time, and grant him an inheritance amongst those who have passed through great tribulations. Tell him in all straits to sink down, and wait upon his God for help, and look not, neither depend on any thing short of his almighty Arm for strength and preservation. Thus will he surmount those mountains of difficulty that have appeared in the way; yea, in due time, he will know the "mountains and the hills also to break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field to clap their hands. Instead of the thorn will come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier will come up the myrtle tree; and it shall be unto the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off." Thus desires, thus prays for you, my poor, dear, tribulated friends (hoping you may yet behold with your eyes days of greater calm, peace and comfort) your affectionate friend,

THOMAS SCATTERGOOD.