ly Meeting in London, requesting assistance to build our meeting house, in said town. Which request -being granted, we put it in execution, as far as the money which we contributed, and that for which we sold the frame of the old meeting house, would effect, under the care and direction of Henry Shayltz. At this time, there was not any of the meeting remaining on the Island, but Henry, with Mary his wife, and myself; the other families having gone to settle in other places.

Having a great desire to visit Friends in Philadelphia, I humbly prayed to the Lord, if consistent with his will that I should come, he would open a way for me to leave my family, which was large, but being grown to years of discretion, they were able to provide for themselves. And the Lord was graciously pleased to answer my request; for all things seemed to be made ready, even a companion, who, of her own accord, offered to come with me, and the unexpected reception of a sum of money due me from Tortola, to bear my expenses in the voyage. And now, for all his gracious mercies extended to me, I ascribe unto the Lord, all power, praises, glory and honour, forever.

Philadelphia, 12th month, 1785.

Amen.

DORCAS LILLIE.

The visit of Dorcas Lillie to Philadelphia appears to have been satisfactory to Friends;—by whom she was received as a sincere member of society. She returned to the West Indies, where it is probable, she closed her days.

EDWARD STABLER'S LETTERS.

Alexandria, 3rd mo. 22nd, 1830.

Do not suppose, my dear M. A., that I have forgotten thee, because I have not yet replied to thy kind letter of 1st mo. 27th. My friendship for thee is not founded upon fugitive circumstances, but is built, I hope, upon the basis of religious fellowship, which forms the sweetest and most durable ground of social communion. I am fully aware that there is (as thou say'st) a great diversity of talents, but it is at the same time equally true and encouraging, that in every instance, he or she who is faithful over the few things which are first committed to their trust, will infallibly "be made rulers over more"until they shall come to abound in "the good and perfect gifts," which are benevolently and liberally bestowed by the Father of mercies. I think there is good reason to believe, that men do not so generally mistake, by forming wrong estimates of the number of talents bestowed upon them, as they do in respect to what constitutes the talents appertaining to eternal life. They either do not use them for the purposes intended by the gracious giver of them or substitute a dependence upon other things, which never did, nor never can produce the desired effects. This latter mistake has been the parent of all superstition; and time itself would fail, to enumerate the sighs, and tears, and miseries, which have sprung from its desolating dominion.

"The truth as it is in Jesus," is simple, but perfect. It consists in the law of God, written in living characters, not upon paper, or tables of stone,

but upon the heart. And in looking to other things, men become bewildered in a crowd of imaginations and uncertainties, which keep them from the truth, and leave them without help in their adversities. It has been in this way, that a deplorable, instead of a beneficial use, has been made of the Scriptures of Truth, which contain a record of the experience and counsel of saints and prophets. Instead of adverting to the principles and powers by which their heavenly Father wrought in them "both to will and to do of his good pleasure," imbuing them with wisdom and holiness-the children of superstition have made images in their own minds, (as the ancients did of gold and silver, wood and stone) agreeably to their several fancies-and have not only worshipped them, but used all their energies to persuade all people to bow down to them, and worship them, also. And yet the Scriptures are not to blame for these perversions: their directions are clear and simple. Witness the preaching of the blessed Jesus-"blessed are the pure in heart-blessed are the meek— blessed are the peace-makers-blessed are the hungerers and thirsters after righteousness," &c. The Apostle Peter is also exceeding plain-"add to your faith, virtue-and to virtue, knowledge,temperance-patience--godliness---brotherly kindness, and charity. Surely the intelligent human family know what these things are, as well as they know what animals and vegetables are. There is no mystery about them; nor are their natural effects either concealed or unsearchable;-but all may know them, from the least to the greatest. If they are cultivated or occupied, they will prove themselves to be divine gifts and talents, capable of an everlast

ing increase; and they will enrich their possessors with the treasures of purity-meekness-mercy— faithfulness-virtue-knowledge-temperancepatience, &c.-verifying the further declaration of the Apostle: "If these things be in you, and abound, they make you, that you shall be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Now my dear M., what greater blessing can any sensitive soul desire, than to "have an entrance thus abundantly ministered to it, into the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?" And the Apostle ascribes this blessed consummation, not to the notions of men about these things, but to the influence or operation of the things themselves. (See 2nd Peter, chap. 1st.)

Though the remoteness of our habitations prevents us from enjoying frequent personal intercourse, yet it is a precious privilege that our minds are not capable of being equally shackled. We can still commune in spirit, and by cultivating the precious gifts of our Heavenly Father, we may approach nearer and nearer to Him, and in the same proportion, draw nearer to each other.

The many dear friends that I should probably meet with, were I to go to your approaching Yearly Meeting, furnishes a strong impulse to my natural affections to do so. But it would be temerity in me to proceed upon that ground alone, with the expectation that I should thereby be qualified for religious usefulness. I am therefore constrained to relinquish the prospect. It would, however, give me pleasure to hear, through the medium of thy pen, how you fare. My affectionate remembrance is presented to

thy father and mother-and to all my dear friends in your neighbourhood who may inquire after me, please to present the kind salutation of

Thy affectionate friend,
EDWARD STABLER.

Alexandria, 9th mo. 2nd, 1830.

To say that I have often thought of thee, my dear friend, and of all my dear friends at and about B., would be common-place, and would by no means convey an idea of that earnestness of affection, with which you have been remembered.

I was favoured to arrive safely at my dear home, on the 12th of last month, and found my beloved domestic circle in good health, and still possessed of unimpaired affection for their long-absented wanderer. Our meeting was mutually joyful; and my heart was filled with thankfulness to the merciful Author of our being, for the great blessings contained in the interchange of even domestic love. Oh! who that has ever felt them, can doubt that they are real? and that there is an eternal distinction between the source from which they flow, and the doleful fountain of sighs, and tears, and agonies? But alas! the latter also are too real to be disputed;-and both, as effects, give self-evidence that there are causes which produce them. The existence of the tree is known by its fruits, as well as its kind.

We are sent into this world to philosophize (to learn the dictates of wisdom) in relation to these realities, in which our interest is so great, forever; (that is, perpetually, both in time and eternity.)