taken to step safely, and slowly, to lead on gradually into a plainer and more open road; and often has brought me into the King's highway, with songs of joy.

I am to get round to the Yearly Meeting at Philadelphia, if in reason to be done, and Master's approbation: but expect it will rather crowd hard on my constitution. Do not fail, I desire of thee, to let me have the satisfaction of a letter when I get round to that great city; so that I may have some pretty late accounts, how it is with thee and all ours. For though I don't feel so anxious about any thing, as I have done, yet it is very sweet to me to hear of thy welfare, content, and happiness; and of those with thee.

This is my ninth letter to thee, since I saw thee. I may write again from Charleston, South Carolina; how soon, don't yet know. My dear love is first and ferventest, dear heart, to thee; and then to our dear babes, whose footsteps may their watchful mother safely guide. Tell them their father loves them dear, and greatly wishes they may all be good. Give my hearty love and affectionate good-will to my own dear father, and remember me, as occasion offers, to all my relations, friends, and neighbours, especially my dear sister Lapham, her husband and children; and don't forget my particular remembrance of, and love to dear Daniel Aldrich, and Asa Smith. Many more I could name, but they are too many, so leave it to thee, and conclude, with a fulness and fervency of heart-felt affection, yet in calmness and serenity, thy oft tribulated, but now much comforted husband,

JOB SCOTT.

To his Wife.

Jack Swamp, Northampton co. N. C. 26th of 6th mo. 1789.

My dear, dear wife,

I wrote thee from Pascotank, last 7th day, the 20th of this month, and also our dear parents; but yesterday I received a letter from dear Daniel Aldrich, written from New York, 10th

of last month, and having an opportunity to forward a line to him, I also squeeze out time to inform thee, that I am so far in health as to keep travelling, but have been for about a week a good deal complaining. Bile now gathers on my stomach and distresses it, more or less, most of the time; and in consequence my head is dizzy and uneasy, and my ideas a little affected by it. Have been more cheerful for several weeks, on the whole, than I had any hopes of, my way very clearly cast up before me, though it had been much otherwise, before. Yesterday a companion met me here with a certificate from near where Yearly Meeting was held in Virginia, in order to go on a while with me, he don't know how far. I am trying to get round to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting; but if I get within three or four hundred miles, by about that time, I think it must be by pretty closet pushing.

My heart is often with thee, the babes, &c. but am borne up latterly pretty well. Blessed be my gracious helper, whose favours are far more than I think myself worthy of; yet I am at times much depressed, and am now looking out for such a scene, as day and night succeed each other.

Daniel mentioned, in his letter from New York, that Amy Thurston was there, and said when she left home our dear sister was bravely, and my family in usual health. This account with thy one, father's one, and M. Brown's one letter, is all that I have heard from home since I left thee. How much was meant by my dear Remember's being bravely, I don't know, but was glad to read so good an account. My dear love is to her and all the family. May her faith be unshaken in his power, who has wrought wonders for her. My love to my poor dear father. I wish him happiness here, and hereafter. Tell my dear children, I love them dearly, and beg of them to behave well, and be good little Friends. Do, my most tenderly beloved, write me as often as thou canst, and desire our dear father to do the same. Thou don't know the satisfaction of a line from a dear wife, or near friend, in a strange land, where I change my acquaintance almost every day. Thou hast thy dear friends about thee. I, as soon as I begin to get an agreeable acquaintance with a friend, must part, and go among strangers again.

True, I find something that often sweetens every bitter cup: but still, I can but often greatly wish another line from thy dear hand and heart; for there it is, in great degree, that my joys are centred, except the joys of love divine; to which the love of soul with soul united, bears a near resemblance, and is but the next degree below. May they both ever increase. And may the Lord my shepherd hold thee and me, and all ours, in his holy hand, is the sincere and fervent desire of thy sincerely and fervently affectionate husband,

JOB SCOTT.

Extract of a Letter to a Friend.

Northampton, N. C. 6th month 26th, 1789.

With gratitude, I acknowledge the receipt of thy kind letter, of 16th of last month, yesterday. I have had none from home later than 14th of 4th month. One from my dear wife, one from her dear father, and one from my dear friend, Moses Brown. I wish much to hear again from my family, but must submit. My health is but low, the heat being extreme. Some time past, my way seemed much shut up; but, blessed forever be the leader of the blind in the way they know not, my way was at length clearly opened, and I have travelled as in a way cast up before me for several weeks. I have indeed some times of depression still, but nothing to complain of. On the other hand have been favoured with unexpected enlargement and satisfaction.

A dear friend from Virginia, James Ladd, met me yesterday, with a certificate to accompany me, and seems given up to go with me as far as way may open. I am trying to get to your (Philadelphia) Yearly Meeting, but have no hope of doing it, without leaving many meetings to return to. If I find as much engagement to appoint meetings from among Friends, as I have done, it is not likely I shall be at your Yearly Meeting. I have had divers meetings to good satisfaction where no Friends live.

My dear,

To his Wife.

Core Sound, North Carolina, 5th of 7th month, 1789.

I am now writing thee the eleventh letter, having before written thee ten, since I left home. I dare not complain of my not having received but one from thee, for I know not but thou may have written, and the letters miscarried, or not come to hand. But I may, without complaint, inform thee that I feel, often feel, such anxious risings of desire to obtain a renewed token of thy affectionate remembrance of thy poor husband, that it requires the exercise of considerable resignation, to keep in proper submission. Indeed, it is no small trial to be absent from thee so long, especially as I have no prospect of being soon at liberty, even to think much of returning, though there are seasons, wherein, if I had wings, I believe I should soon be with thee; for never did I leave thee, when I oftener had thee present in my mind, than this time;-never more feelingly bore thee on my heart, or in my affectionate remembrance. It is in the effusions, or flowings forth of this heart-felt and fervent affection, that I am now engaged to write thee so soon after two late letters. I don't know that I have much to inform thee, except that I am in good health, much mended of late. But a Friend being bound hence soon to Baltimore, my heart leaped within me, in the fresh remembrance of my best beloved on earth, my bosom friend, my wife-dear tender name. O my dearest thou hast been much with me, in mind, of late, both by day and by night. Oh! that it may not be owing to any evil that has befallen thee. May the Lord my God preserve, watch over, and defend thee. May guardian angels surround, and protect thee in all thy ways, and through every trial and affliction. O my God and Father! hold, I pray thee, the dear object of my heart's affection, my chosen companion, my endeared Eunice, and her little tenderly beloved infants, in thy holy hand. Shield them, O holy Shepherd! if it be thy holy will and good pleasure-shield them from all harm, and preserve them rough every danger. Be more than the kindest husband to her

in all her besetments, and fill her oft-afflicted soul with heavenly consolation. Be more to her, and my dear babes, than any earthly father. Touch their tender hearts with an early sense of thy goodness. Impress their minds with desires to know and serve thee. Take them into thy powerful protection. Make them thine, and keep them so forever. And, O all-gracious, holy God! I am engaged to intercede with thee on behalf of my aged father. Oh! that he may find a place of acceptance with thee, and obtain thy royal favour! May his heart be deeply engaged to live near thee, now in his old age, and to walk worthy of thy approbation; that so his spirit may find a resting place at last, a mansion in the realms of glory.

Thus, dear love, was my heart in motion, and my intercessions ardently poured forth, when the hour of more public devotion called me away, else might my other parents, now, I trust, thy guardian friends, have shared the benedictions of my flowing soul; for they are likewise near; yea, very near my anxious heart, a place they often find, while I far, far remote from thee and them, constrained, am forced to spend my days; at least a while,-though not condemned, I hope, to longer exile than for good shall prove, at least to me, dear heart, if not to thee and many more. Oh! may you patiently my absence bear, and more your souls ascend, in supplication for my faithful stay, my firm reliance on the arm divine, and upright perseverance, till the work be done, than for my sudden, or too soon return.

The work is great before the view of my mind; wide the field, and in some places white unto harvest. But, alas! few indeed are the faithful labourers in this land, as few, perhaps, as in any my feet have ever trod. I often think, if Friends in these states were deep in the life of truth, and the ministry in true gospel authority, that many who are awakened, especially among the noisy Methodists, would flock unto our Sion as doves to their windows. But, alas! when they look towards Friends, they can see or feel little to draw or fix their attention: so they continue in their tumultuous devotions, though very sensible of truth's impression when its testimony is livingly declared. Oh! how the everlasting gospel flowed with life and power this day! Few untendered hearts were in the meeting. Many were thoVOL. II.-14