In the fall of the year 1781, I was taken sick with a fever, which lasted for several months, in the course of which my strength became very much exhausted, and some of my friends were ready to conclude, that I should not continue long with them; yet, through the whole of my indisposition, I had to believe that I should recover. But through the exercise and distress both of body and mind which I experienced, it proved a very humbling dispensation to me. One circumstance in particular made it peculiarly exercising to my mind, although it was that on which I principally grounded my belief of recovery. When I was reduced nearly to the lowest state of bodily weakness, a prospect opened on my mind to pay a religious visit to some parts of our island where no Friends lived, and among a people, who, from the acquaintance I had with them, were more likely to mock, than to receive me, seeing that I considered myself but a child in such a service. But when the prospect first presented, it was very impressive on my mind, and an injunction seemed to attend requiring my assent thereto; and although I pleaded as an excuse my weakness and inability of body, as well as my unfitness, even if I was well, for such a service, yet with all my reasonings and pleadings I could feel no excuse granted me, and the requisition lay heavy upon me both day and night. By my thus standing out, I was brought very low both in body and mind; and finding that I could get no peace in this state of refusal, and that if I did not yield, my life must be taken for my stubbornness without any prospect of peace hereafter, I at length yielded to the heavenly call, which brought immediate peace and comfort to my afflicted soul; and the Lord was very gracious, opening many things for my encouragement. In the forepart of the next summer, having fully recovered my health, and apprehending the right time had arrived to perform this service, I opened it to the monthly meeting, and obtained its unity and concurrence, and two Friends agreed to bear me company. We set out about the middle of the 8th month, 1782, and had a very favoured meeting at Jamaica, with a considerable number of the inhabitants. After this we had a meeting at Samuel Doughty’s, on the south side of the island, and then passed on to a Dutch settlement called Flatlands, where we had some difficulty to obtain a meeting, in consequence of the priest of the place being opposed thereto. The people seemed generally afraid to offend him, but said that if he would consent, they should be very willing to attend. However his assent could not be obtained, for he appeared very jealous lest his interest in the people should be affected. But there was one man, who seemed so much master of his own house, that he said we were welcome to have a meeting in it, let others say what they might. A meeting was accordingly appointed, which, although small, was a satisfactory opportunity. The master of the house