of things like green long slender worms: at one end of them was the light, much like the glow worm: I should call them sea glow worms. Perhaps it is the spawn of some kind of fish. When some of them were taken up, it was like a white jelly; and there was a black spot at the head of every one. By the ship's time, the sun set 10 min. before 6.

Sounded

11th. About noon sounded,-83. fathom. again, could find no bottom: perhaps the first was on the top of a mountain, commonly called a rock.

In the afternoon it rained, then ceased, and it blew a gale. The sailors set to, and reefed the mainsail. Soon after this was done, it became calm.

12th. Wind nearly west, and a very strong cold breeze; two coats difference then and two days before. About noon we got on St. George's bank, and found it 40 fathoms.

13th. The vessel rolled much, the water being agitated by the shifting of the wind. Our eggs that we brought from Europe were as good as when taken out of the nest, --we had kept them in salt.

We saw abundance of porpoises, probably several hundreds bounding over the waves. The sea water 62. air 57, five degrees colder than the water. The reader should consider that the climates varied the more as we had some times to make our course nearly against the wind: by this means, in tacking, we had to run to the south, then to the north.

Lord's-day 16th. About noon we could see the lighthouse on Sandy hook. In the afternoon we plainly saw land on the right; and found that it was Long Island. Before night we saw several vessels coming from New York these prospects were probably more cheering to us than the reader can imagine. About sun set, the wind fell away to a calm. We then cast anchor. Land was a pleasant sight; it being a fine bright moonlight night, still and calm, some of us walked the deck till near midnight. Who but a sailor can conceive the pleasure of coming to land after having been nearly six weeks, surrounded only by seas and skies?

17th. Soon after sunrise the News-Boat came along

side, to exchange papers with the Captain. The passen. gers were on the look out for the Pilot-Boat,-which soon appeared in sight. Soon after, the Pilot came on board, the wind increasing a little though contrary, we weighed anchor, and beat on towards the city; but it was nearly sunset when we got into harbour. As we drew nearer the land, a delightful prospect opened to our view. The scenery exceeded description. No rocky cliffs; but a beach of yellow sand, and trees, or green open land from the water edge rising gradually, until the sight is bounded by borders of tall trees of various kinds. Long Island was on one side of us, and the State of New Jersey on the other. Lofty houses painted white, red, and I know not how many colours beside according to the taste of the owner, standing amidst green parks or meadows, with here and there clusters of trees. I had no idea before, of there having been such a coast in the world. It seems strange that travellers should not have more fully described this beautiful landscape. As we came into the harbour, the beauty of the prospect increased. We looked and admired more and more. I thought surely this is a land the Lord hath blessed. After sun set, there appeared a beautiful pinkcolour* glow round about above the horrizon.

On dropping anchor I and our dear companion P. B. went on shore, and procured some fresh provisions to take on board, as our family intended to remain overnight in the vessel. On landing I kneeled down and returned God thanks on the first American land I put my foot, for His manifold mercies bestowed upon us all, our journey through.

18th. Several of our family went ashore. On going into a store, (shop as it is called in England) for an ounce of tobacco, the man told me that they did not sell less than half pound; the price was eight cents, about four pence English money. New York is a populous city, contaming nearly three hundred thousand souls. Steam Boats run from morning to night across the rivers on each side the city. Across the east river to the city of Brooklyn where is one of the government Dock Yards; and across the North river (or river Hudson) to Jersey

* This so strange to us, I afterwards found a common case.

city. They run across, a mile or more, in about six minutes. I think it much better than a bridge. There is a cabin for the people, and on each side of it, room for cattle and carriages. Instead of having chain-crutch steamers I think it would well pay for some English Steam Boat men to go to America to learn how to work them, so as to run without a crutch.

On the water I had written about half a score letters to friends in England, so that on landing, I had only to say we were safe arrived, &c seal them and put them into the post offie, or Merchants' bag.*

19th. We went to the Park, (an enclosed green before the city Hall,) to hear the Sunday Scholars sing. They first went to the several chapels where they learnt; then all walked to, and met at the Park. A multitude of people attended to hear the little songsters.

CHAP. III.

An account of our journey from New York to Bethany, in Pennsyl1831

vania.

24th. We went on board a steamer, next day arrived at Bolton, a hundred miles up the North river, from thence by Canal to Honesdale, and thence by road to Bethany, where we arrived on the 2nd of November, and where two of our daughters kept schools for females; one the Couuty Academy, the other kept a Seminary of her own. The prospect up the river was entertaining; and going up the valley about 104 miles to Honesdale, appeared much more so. I shall omit a further description lest it would swell my publication too large for the pockets of some, and the hearts of others.

Most of the canal boats are open but there are two or three packet boats, these have a deck and a cabin, to accommodate passengers. We took the latter, on the deck of which I could sit and write down my observations as we travelled on.

* Merchant vessels are allowed to carry letters,-they advertise what ship is about to sail, and there is a large bag hung up in the Merchant's office, with the ships name on it; so the person goes and throws in the letter as into a post office.

After we had taken our passage, we found the captain was put on the limits at Kingston, for debt. If a debtor can get a bondsman he is at large within certain limits, similar to prisoners of war on the parole. But another captain was appointed, and the boat proceeded. About 80 miles on, we crossed the Delaware which there divides the States of New York, and Pennsylvania. The canai hitherto had been in New York with the Delaware on our left; the tow-path being between the river and Canal. After crossing at this place (called the mouth) we got into the State of Pennsylvania. On arriving at Honesdale, Mr. Tarbox, the Justice of the peace in that place, came on the quay, bade me welcome, and invited me to come there to preach. We found the people generally civil, often obliging.

The following Lordsday, the Metho list preacher at Bethany, invited me to preach at the Court House in the forenoon in his stead. The Presbyterians have a chapel, but the Methodists and Baptists, preached alternately in the Court House.*

In the afternoon several friends from England met me in my daughter's school room, to consult how to proceed in carrying on the work of God. Their opinion was, that for the present we remain a society to ourselves. In accordance with this decision, a Local preachers' plan was afterwards made, and a circuit formed in that neighbourhood.

11th. As I returned from one of my preaching places, a messenger met me, with a request that I would in the afternoon preach a funeral sermon, in behalf of the son of an Englishman, W. Old, of St. Kew, in Cornwall, who was supposed to have died of a fever. According to custom, the doctor walked with me before the corpse to the Presbyterian Chapel, which was granted for the occasion. After preaching, the carpenter removed the lid off the coffin for any one to come forward and look at the corpse. The father kissed it and wept much, (the mother was not arrived from England,) the lid being secured, we walked to the public burying ground, where after laying it in the earth, and as I found was usual there, I returned the peo

*The County Session Hall. Bethany being the County town.

ple thanks for their attendance; to which I added a few words of exhortation.

It should be remembered, that in the United States, all authorized ministers are on a level, and the parties concerned, choose who shall, baptize, marry, or bury. As to burying, there are in some places public burying grounds; in other places, a family have their own burying ground. I heard nothing there about burying ground being consecrated. I think it would be a hard matter to get an American to believe that a man could put holiness into the ground, even if he had an uncommonly large wig, and a white frock on. A Justice of the peace, or authorised minister, may marry, and in any place, or at any time that may be most convenient. The couple may choose who shall marry them, either a justice or preacher of the gospel; and he may marry them in their own house, morning, noon, or night. A certificate of such marriage must be returned to the proper office within a fortnight, to be recorded.

What church or cathedral, may we suppose Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were married in? or what Bishop consecrated the cave in the field of Ephron? Genesis xxiii. 19, &c. or the ground in the way to Ephrath, where Rachel was buried? Gen. xxxv. 19.

Soon after our arrival at Bethany, a near friend of ours, Philip Buckthought, who accompanied us from England, was taken ill. The doctor pronounced it a fever. On Friday 25th, he departed this life. From the strong attachment on both sides, it was to us a heavy affliction. But what sweetened the cup of sorrow was, a sure hope of his going safe, and that our loss is his gain.

On the 27th, many people attended the funeral. The corpse was carried to the Court House. I gave out the first hymn,

"Is it a thing so small,

So easy to comply,

When summon'd by the sudden call,

To get me up and die?" &c.

then read the 39th and 90th Psalms, and part of the 15th chapter of the 1st. Epistle to the Corinthians. After this Mr. Baker, (the Methodist preacher stationed at