Breakfasted at half after nine. Mr Lane the other Day informed me that the _Anabaptists_ in _Louden County_ are growing very numerous; & seem to be increasing in afluence; and as he thinks quite destroying pleasure in the Country; for they encourage ardent Pray'r; strong & constant faith, & an intire Banishment of _Gaming_, _Dancing_, & Sabbath-Day Diversions. I have also before understood that they are numerous in many County's in this Province & are Generally accounted troublesome--Parson _Gibbern_ has preached several Sermons in opposition to them, in which he has labour'd to convince his People that what they say are only whimsical Fancies or at most Religion grown to Wildness & Enthusiasm!--There is also in these counties one Mr Woddel,[131] a presbiterian Clergyman, of an irreproachable Character, who preaches to the people under Trees in summer, & in private Houses in Winter, Him, however, the people in general dont more esteem than the Anabaptists Preachers; but the People of Fashion in general countenance, & commend him. I have never had an opportunity of seeing Mr _Woddel_, as he is this Winter up in the Country, but Mr & Mrs _Carter_ speak well of him, Mr & Mrs _Fantleroy_ also, & all who I have ever heard mention his Name. Like _Bob_ I am at once fill'd with pleasure & surprise, when I see the remarks of the Reviewers confirmed as to the Writings of that ingenious _African Phillis Wheatly_ of Boston; her verses seem to discover that She is tolerably well acquainted with _Poetry_, _Learning_, & _Religion_. In the universal Magazine for September 1773 are the following Lines on her being brought from _Africa_ to _America_ by herself. [131] James Waddell (1739-1805) was an outstanding Presbyterian minister in the colony. His gentle manner and forceful sermons did much to advance the cause of his church. At this period he was the pastor of a congregation in the Northern Neck, composed of families of Northumberland and Lancaster Counties. He later exerted a strong influence in the Shenandoah Valley and Piedmont sections. After 1787 he was blind for a number of years and was later celebrated as "The Blind Preacher" in William Wirt's _The Letters of the British Spy_. "Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan Land, Taught my benighted Soul to understand, That there's a God; that there's a Saviour too; Once I Redemption neither sought nor knew, Some view our sable Race with scornful Eye, "Their Colour is a diabolic Dye." Remember, christians, Negroes, black as Cain, May be refin'd, & join the Angelic Train.