and instructed me, that I might have a quick and lively Feeling of the Afflictions of my Fellow-creatures, whose Situation in Life is difficult. CHAPTER IX _His religious Conversation with a Company met to see the Tricks of a Juggler_--_His Account of_ JOHN SMITH'S _Advice, and of the Proceedings of a Committee, at the Yearly-meeting in 1764_--_Contemplations on the Nature of true Wisdom, occasioned by hearing of the Cruelty of the_ Indians _to their Captives_--_His visiting the Families of Friends at_ Mount-Holly, Mansfield, _and_ Burlington, _in 1764, and the Meetings on the Sea-Coast, from_ Cape-May, _toward_ Squan, _in 1765_--_His Visit to the lower Counties on_ Delaware,_ and the eastern Shore of_ Maryland, _in 1766, in Company with_ JOHN SLEEPER; _with some Account of_ JOSEPH NICHOLS _and his Followers; and Observations on the different State of the first Settlers in_ Pennsylvania, _who depended on their own Labour, and those of the southern Provinces, who kept Negroes_--_His visiting the northern Parts of_ New-Jersey _the same Year, and the western Parts of_ Maryland _and_ Pennsylvania _in 1767, and afterwards other Parts of_ Pennsylvania, _and the Families of Friends at_ Mount-Holly; _and again, several Parts of_ Maryland _in 1768_--_Farther Considerations on keeping Slaves; and his Concern for having formerly, as an Executor, been Party to the Sale of one; and what he did in Consequence of it_--_Thoughts on Friends exercising Offices in civil Government_ The latter Part of the Summer, 1763, there came a Man to _Mount-Holly_, who had before published, by a printed Advertisement, that, at a certain Publick-house, he would shew many wonderful Operations, which he therein enumerated. This Man, at the Time appointed, did, by slight of Hand, sundry Things; which, to those gathered, appeared strange. The next Day, I, hearing of it, and understanding that the Shew was to be continued the next Night, and the People to meet about Sun-set, felt an Exercise on that Account: So I went to the Publick-house in the Evening, and told the Man of the House that I had an Inclination to spend a Part of the Evening there; with which he signified that he was content. Then, sitting down by the Door, I spake to the People as they came together, concerning this Shew; and, more coming and sitting down with us, the Seats of the Door were mostly filled; and I had Conversation with them in the Fear of the Lord, and laboured to convince them that, thus assembling to see those Tricks or Slights of Hand, and bestowing their Money to support Men, who, in that Capacity, were of no Use in the World, was contrary to the Nature of the _Christian_ Religion.