habitants of the Island, and distributed some little books among them, for which they were exceedingly thankful. In the evening I preached at Berwick-upon-Tweed; the next evening at Dunbar and on Friday 25 about ten, at Haddington, in Provost D.'s yard, to a very elegant congregation. But I expect little good will be done here, for we begin at the wrong end. Religion must not go from the greatest to the least, or the power would appear to be of men.

In the evening I preached at Musselborough; and the next, on the Calton-hill at Edinburgh. It being the time of the General Assembly, many of the Ministers were there. The wind was high and sharp, and blew away a few delicate ones: but most of the congregation did not stir till I had concluded.

Sunday 27, At seven I preached in the High School-yard, on the other side of the city. The morning was extremely cold. In the evening it blew a storm: however, having appointed to be on the Calton-Hill, I began there, to a large congregation. At first, the wind was a little troublesome; but I soon forgot it: so did the people for an hour and a half, in which I fully delivered my soul.

Monday 28, I spent some hours at the General Assembly, composed of about a hundred and fifty Ministers. I was surprised to observe, 1, That any one was admitted, even lads, twelve or fourteen years old: : 2, That the chief speakers were Lawyers, six or seven on one side only: 3, That a single question took up the whole time, which, when I went away, seemed to be as far from a conclusion as ever, namely, "Shall Mr. Lindsay be removed to Kilmarnock parish, or not?" The argument for it was, "He has a large family, and this living is twice as good as his own." The argument against it was, "The people are resolved not to hear him, and will leave the Kirk, if he come." If then, the real point in view had been, as their law directs," Majus bonum Ecclesiæ," instead of taking up five hours, the debate might have been determined in five minutes.

On Monday and Tuesday I spake to the members of the Society severally. Thursday 31, I rode to Dundee, and about half an hour after six, preached on the side of a meadow near the town. Poor and rich attended. Indeed there is seldom fear of wanting a congregation in Scotland: but the misfortune is, they know every thing: so they learn nothing.

Friday, June 1, I rode to Brechin, where Mr. Blair received me in the most friendly manner. In the afternoon I preached on the side of a hill, near the town, where we soon forgot the cold. I trust, there will be not only a knowing, but a loving people in this place.

About seven Mr. Blair was occasionally mentioning, what had lately occured in the next parish. I thought it worth a farther inquiry, and therefore ordered our horses to be brought immediately. Mr. B. guided us to Mr. Ogglevie's house, the Minister of the parish; who informed us, "That a strange disorder had appeared in his parish, between thirty and forty years ago; but that nothing of the kind had been known there since, till some time in September last; a boy was taken ill, and so continues still. In the end of January or beginning of February, many other children were taken, chiefly

girls, and a few grown persons. They begin with an involuntary shaking of their hands and feet. Then their lips are convulsed; next their tongue, which seems to cleave to the roof of their mouth. Then their eyes are set, staring terribly, and the whole face variously distorted. Presently they start up, and jump ten, fifteen, or twenty times together straight upward, two, three, or more feet from the ground. Then they start forward, and run with amazing swiftness, two, three, or five hundred yards. Frequently they run up like a cat, to the top of a house, and jump on the ridge of it, as on the ground: but wherever they are, they never fall, or miss their footing at all. After they have run and jumped for some time, they drop down as dead. When they come to themselves, they usually tell, when and where they shall jump, and to what places they shall

run.'

I asked, "Are any of them near?" He said, "Yes, at those houses." We walked thither without delay. One of them was four years and a half old, the other about eighteen. The child, we found, had had three or four fits that day, running and jumping like the rest, and in particular, leaping many times from a high table to the ground, without the least hurt. The young woman was the only person of them all, who used to keep her senses during the fit. In answer to many questions, she said, "I first feel a pain in my left foot, then in my head. Then my hands and feet shake, and I cannot speak; and quickly I begin to jump or run." While we were talking, she crid out, "Oh! I have a pain in my foot: it is in my hand: it is here, at the bending of my arm: oh! my head, my head." Immediately her arms were stretched out, and were as an iron bar: I could not bend one of her fingers; and her body was bent backward, the lower part remaining quite erect; while her back formed exactly a half circle, her head hanging even with her hips. I was going to catch her, but one said, "Sir, you must let her alone; for they never fall." But I defy all mankind to account for her not falling, when the trunk of her body hung in that manner.

In many circumstances, this case goes beyond the famous one mentioned by Boerhaave, particularly in that, their telling before, when and how they should be taken again. Whoever can account for this, upon natural principles, has my free leave; I cannot : I therefore believe, if this be, in part, a natural distemper, there is something preternatural too: yet, supposing this, I can easily conceive, Satan will so disguise his part therein, that we cannot precisely determine, which part of the disorder is natural, and which preternatural.

Saturday 2, I rode to Aberdeen, and preached, in the evening, in the College-hall, and at seven in the morning. Sunday 3, at four in the afternoon, I preached to a crowded audience in the College-kirk, at Old Aberdeen. At seven, I preached in the College-close, at New Aberdeen; but the congregation was so exceedingly large, that many were not able to hear: however, many did hear, and, I think, feel the application of Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. We want nothing here but a large house, and the foundation of one

is laid already: it is true, we have little money, and the Society is poor but we know in whom we have believed.

Thursday 7, I rode over to Sir Archibald Grant's, twelve computed miles from Aberdeen. It is surprising to see how the country between is improved, even within these three years. On every side, the wild, dreary moors are ploughed up, and covered with rising corn. All the ground near Sir Archibald's in particular, is as well cultivated as most in England. About seven, I preached: the Kirk was pretty well filled, though upon short notice. Certainly, this is a nation swift to hear, and slow to speak, though not slow to wrath. Mr. Grant a gentleman from the country of Murray, came in soon after us and, understanding we were going north, desired we would call at the Grange-green, in our way. In the morning, Friday 8, I rode to Old Meldrum, and preached in the Market-place, at noon, to a large and serious congregation, among whom were the Minister and his wife; but I was more surprised to see a company of our friends from Aberdeen, several of whom had come on foot, twelve old Scotch miles, and intended to walk back thither the same day. In the afternoon, we rode on to Bamff: I had designed to preach, but the stormy weather would not permit. We set out early on Saturday morning, and reached Nairn in the evening. Sunday 10, about eight, we reached Inverness. I could not preach abroad, because of the rain; nor could I hear of any convenient room; so that I was afraid my coming hither would be in vain, all ways seeming to be blocked up. At ten, I went to the Kirk. After service, Mr. Fraser, one of the Ministers, invited us to dinner, and then to drink tea. As we were drinking tea, he asked, at what hour I would please to preach: I said, at half an hour past five. The High Kirk was filled in a very short time; and I have seldom found greater liberty of spirit. The other Minister came afterwards to our inn, and shewed the most cordial affection. Were it only for this day, I should not have regretted the riding a hundred miles.

Monday 11, A gentleman, who lives three miles from the town, invited me to his house, assuring me, that the Minister of his parish would be glad if I would make use of his Kirk; but time would not permit, as I had appointed to be at Aberdeen on Wednesday: all I could do was, to preach once more at Inverness. I think the Church was fuller now than before; and I could not but observe the remarkable behaviour of the whole congregation, after service: neither man, woman, nor child spoke one word, all the way down the main street: indeed, the seriousness of the people is the less surprising, when it is considered, that for, at least, a hundred years, this town has had such a succession of pious Ministers, as very few in Great Britain have known. After Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen, I think Inverness is the largest town I have seen in Scotland. The main streets are broad and straight; the houses mostly old, but not very bad, nor very good. It stands in a pleasant and fruitful country, and has all things needful for life and godliness. The people in general, speak remarkably good English, and are of a friendly, courteous behaviour.

About eleven, we took horse. While we were dining at Nairn, the inn-keeper said, "Sir, the gentleman of the town have read the little book you gave me on Saturday, and would be glad if you would please to give them a sermon." Upon my consenting, the bell was immediately rung, and the congregation was quickly in the Kirk. O what a difference is there between South and North Britain! Every one here, at least, loves to hear the word of God; and none takes it into his head to speak one uncivil word to any for endeavouring to save their souls.

Doubting whether Mr. Grant was come home, Mr. Kershaw called at the Grange-green, near Forres, while I rode forward: but Mr. Grant soon called me back. I have seldom seen a more agreeable place. The house is an old castle, which stands on a little hill, with a delightful prospect all four ways; and the hospitable master has left nothing undone, to make it still more agreeable. He shewed us all his improvements, which are very considerable, in every branch of husbandry. In his gardens, many thing were more forward than at Aberdeen, yea, or Newcastle. And how is it, that none but one Highland gentleman has discovered, that we have a tree in Britain, as easily raised as an ash, the wood of which is of full as fine a red as mahogany! namely, the Liburnum. I defy any mahogany to exceed the chairs which he lately made of this.

Thursday 12. We rode through the pleasant and fertile county of Murray, to Elgin. I never suspected before, that there was any such country as this, nearly a hundred and fifty miles beyond Edinburgh: a country which is supposed to have generally six weeks more sunshine in a year, than any part of Great Britain.

At Elgin, are the ruins of a noble Cathedral, the largest that I remember to have seen in the kingdom. We rode thence to the Spey, the most rapid river, next the Rhine, that I ever saw. Though the water was not breast-high to our horses, they could very hardly keep their feet. We dined at Keith, and rode on to Strathbogie, much improved by the linen manufacture: all the country, from Fochaber to Strathbogie, has little houses scattered up and down; and not only the vallies, but the mountains themselves, are improved with the utmost care they want only more trees to make them more pleasant than most of the mountains in England. The whole family at our inn, eleven or twelve in number, gladly joined with us in prayer at night indeed, so they did at every inn where we lodged, for among, all the sins they have imported from England, the Scots have not yet learned, at least not the common people, to scoff at sacred things.

Wednesday 13, We reached Aberdeen about one. Between six and seven, both this evening and the next, I preached in the shell of the New House, and found it a time of much consolation. Friday 15, we set out early, and came to Dundee, just as the boat was going off: we designed to lodge at the house on the other side, but could not get either meat, drink, or good words: so we were constrained to ride on to Coupar. After travelling nearly ninety miles, I found no weariness at all; neither were our horses hurt. Thou, O Lord, dost save both man and beast!

Saturday 16, We had a ready passage at Kinghorn, and, in the evening, I preached on the Calton-hill, to a very large congregation: but a still larger assembled at seven on Sunday morning, in the High School-yard. Being afterwards informed, that the Lord's-Supper was to be administered in the West Kirk, I knew not what to do: but, at length, I judged it best to embrace the opportunity, though I did not admire the manner of administration. After the usual morning service, the minister enumerated several sorts of sinners, whom he forbade to approach: two long tables were set on the sides of one aisle, covered with table-cloths: on each side of them a bench was placed for the people; each table held four or five and thirty: three ministers sat at the top, behind a cross table; one of whom made a long exhortation, closed with the words of our Lord; and then, breaking the bread, gave it to them who sat on each side of him: a piece of bread was then given to him who sat first on each of the four benches; he broke off a little piece, and gave the bread to the next; so it went on, the Deacons giving more when wanted a cup was then given to the first person on each bench, and so by one to another: the minister continued his exhortation all the time they were receiving then four verses of the twenty-second psalm were sung, while new persons sat down at the tables: a second minister then prayed, consecrated, and exhorted. I was informed the service usually lasted till five in the evening. How much more simple, as well as more solemn, is the service of the Church of England!

The evening congregation on the hill was far the largest I have seen in the kingdom; and the most deeply affected: many were in tears; more seemed cut to the heart. Surely this time will not soon be forgotten. Will it not appear in the annals of eternity?

Monday 18, I set out early, and reached Woller, about four in the afternoon. Some friends from Newcastle met me here, and took me in a chaise to Whittingham. Tuesday 19, after preaching about noon at Morpeth, we went on to Newcastle. The fire had not gone out since I was here: I felt it as soon as I began to speak; and so, it seems, did the whole congregation. At five in the morning, the same spirit was in the midst of us, as well as at seven in the evening: but most of all at the Fell, while I was applying those words, Believe, and thou shalt be saved.

Thursday 21, Leaving this house of God, I rode to Carlisle. The day was extremely sultry, so that I was faint and feverish in the evening: however, the next day, I got well to Whitehaven. What has

continually hurt this poor people, is offence. I found the Society now all in confusion, because a woman had " scolded with her neighbour," and another "stolen a two-penny loaf." I talked largely with those who had been most offended; and they stood reproved. Sunday 24, about seven, I preached at the Gins, and the people flocked together from all quarters. The want of field-preaching has been one cause of deadness here: I do not find any great increase of the work of God without it. If ever this is laid aside, I expect the whole work will gradually die away.

Monday 25, I rode by Keswick to Kendal. The clouds shaded us VOL. 3.-S