On Tuesday and Wednesday, the 30th and 31st days of July, a quarterly-meeting was held at Mabury's dwelling house in Brunswick (now Greensville) county. No meeting-house in Virginia could have held the people. We had a large arbour in the yard, which would shade from the sun, two or three thousand people. The first day was a blessed season; but the second day was a day never to be forgotten. We held the lovefeast under the arbour in the open air; the members of society took their seats, and other people stood all around them by hundreds. The place was truly awful, by reason of the presence of the Lord. Many of the members spake; and while some declared how the Lord had justified them freely, others declared how, and when the blood of Jesus had cleansed them from all sin. So clear, so full, and so strong was their testimony, that while some were speaking their experience, hundreds were in tears, and others vehemently crying to God, for pardon or holiness.

Such a work of God as that was, I had never seen, or heard of before. It continued to spread through the south parts of Virginia, and the adjacent parts of North-Carolina, all that summer and autumn.

When the returns of the members were made to conference this year, there had been added to the society in Brunswick circuit 811 members.

But if we include Hanover circuit, and Caroli na, which had been united to Brunswick, there had been added in one year 1800 members.

I have spoken largely of this revival of religion; but my pen cannot describe the one half of what I saw, heard and felt. I might write a volume on this subject, and then leave the greater part untold.

the Americans, until their way should be quite open and clear for them to return to their native country. About the middle of September, Mr. Rankin and Mr. Rodda left the continent, and sailed for Europe. But some time before they embarked, Mr. Rodda had taken some imprudent steps in favour of the Tories; a company of them having collected together in Delaware state, be low Philadelphia. Mr. Rodda's conduct brought many sufferings, and much trouble, on the Methodist preachers and people.

Notwithstanding the opposition that the preachers met with in their labours, there was a gracious revival of religion in many places; but the greatest was in Brunswick circuit, and the two circuits that were lately taken from it, Sussex and Amelia. And there was a very gracious work in North-Carolina, where we had but one circuit in all the state.

There was a decrease in the members in seve. ral circuits to the north, principally owing to the spreading of the war in those parts; where the preachers found great difficulties in keeping their stations, and some were forced to be given up; so that some of the Classes were entirely given up.

It might be well said during this year, that without were fightings, and within were fears. War, and the shedding of blood, was heard of in all directions: armies marching back and forth, one after another; and in many places the people were in great confusion, so that religion was almost banished from some neighbourhoods where it had been pretty lively. Some of our societies in the north, suffered more from that quarter than we did in the south parts of Virginia. But the Lord took care of his own work, and his own people.

1778. The sixth conference was in Leesburg, in Virginia, on the 19th day of May; at which time they added six new circuits. Four of them were in Virginia, Berkley, Fluvanna, James-Ci. ty, and Lunenburg. And in North-Carolina, the preachers divided the one that was there before, so as to form three circuits, and they were now called Roanoke, Tar-River, and New-Hope. Five of the old circuits were left out this year, namely, New-York, Philadelphia, Chester, Frederick, and Norfolk. Some of these circuits could not be attended to, on account of the war, and some of them were in the possession of the British.

We had seventeen circuits this year, and twenty-nine preachers to travel in them. There were ten young preachers received on trial.

The form of the annual minutes was changed this year, and the second question was, "What preachers remain on trial?" Whereas it used to be, "What preachers are admitted on trial ?”

In the return of members this year, we found we had lost in numbers 873. This was the first time that we came short of the old number given in the preceding year. This decrease was wholly owing to the breaches made upon many societies and circuits by the distresses of war; and some of our preachers had scruples of conscience about taking the oath of allegiance in the different states where they laboured, and of course were forced to leave their stations.

As paper money was much depreciated, the preachers concluded to allow each travelling preacher eight pounds Virginia money a quarter, or thirty-two pounds per year. They also appointed the last Friday in August for a day of fasting and

prayer.

This was a year of distress, and uncommon troubles. The war on one hand, and persecution on the other, the preachers were separated from their flocks, and all conspired to increasé the burden of christians.

In the beginning of March, G. Shadford left his friends, after he had kept a day of private fasting and prayer with Mr. Asbury, in order to know the will of God. He then said he saw his way clear to return to England. Mr. Asbury saw it best to abide in America; so they parted, and each one acted as he thought right.

On the fifth day of March, Mr. Asbury began to lye by at Thomas White's, in the Delaware state, where he shut himself up. Speaking of himself he says, "On conscientious principles I was a non-juror, and could not preach in the state of Maryland; and therefore withdrew to the Delaware state, where the clergy were not required to take the state oath though with a clear conscience, I could have taken the oath of the Delaware state, had it been required; and would have done it, had I not been prevented by a tender fear of hurting the scrupulous consciences of others."

Notwithstanding Mr. Asbury was shut up in a friend's house, he looked forward, and hoped for the time to come when he might again visit his brethren, and be of some service to the scattered flock; among whom he had laboured almost seven years.

Some of our preachers were brought into difficulties and sufferings this year; in the month of April, Joseph Hartley, one of our travelling preachers from Virginia was apprehended in Queen Ann's county, on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, for preaching the gospel; he gave bond and secu

rity to stand his trial at court. He was then obliged to desist from preaching in that county; but he would attend his appointments, and after singing and prayer he would stand on his knees and exhort the people; till his enemies said they had as lieve he should preach on his feet as on his knees. After that he went to Talbot county and preached, and the people took him and shut him up in Jail. But he was not silent there; for he frequently preached through the grates, or window, to the listening crowd who stood on the outside of the prison. His preaching took such hold on the minds of the hearers, that some of them were deeply awakened, and began to seek the Lord in earnest. Some of the inhabitants said, if the preacher was not turned out of jail, he would convert all the town. After a while he was turned out, and set at liberty; but they had kept him too long, for religion had began to revive, and soon after that it prospered greatly in that place, And from that day to the present time, religion has prospered in that town.

Freeborn Garretson, another of our travelling preachers, was much persecuted. One day while he was riding in Queen-Ann's county, on the Eastern shore of Maryland, about the beginning of July in the same year, J. Brown met him, and taking his horse by the bridle, began to beat Mr. Garretson over the head and shoulders with a stick, and continued to beat him for some time; and then called to the servants in the field to come and help him. But Mr. Garretson getting loose from him, gave his horse the whip, and rode off as fast as he could: Brown mounted his horse and pursued him, and taking a near way, he overtook him, and making another stroke at him, by some means Garretson was thrown off his horse, and