Reverexd  and  Dear  Brother: — T  wrote  to  you,  though  unac-
quainted, by  Mr.  Lamb,  from  North  Carolina,  of  my  designs  for
Ashley  river.  South  Carolina,  which  I  was  forward  in  attempting,
that  I  engaged  in  a  voyage  and  went  to  sea  in  the  month  of  May,
but  God  in  his  providence  saw  fit  I  should  not  see  it  at  the  time,
for  wo  were  tossed  upon  the  coast  by  contrary  winds,  and  to  the  North
as  far  as  Delaware  Bay,  so  that,  fallingshort  in  our  provisions,  we
were  necessitated,  after  several  essays  to  the  South,  to  Virginia;
and  in  the  meanwhile  Colonel  Anthony  Lawson,  and  other  inhabit-
ants of  tiie  parish  of  Lynnhaven,  in  Lower  Norfolk  county  (who
had  a  dissenting  minister  from  Ireland,  until  the  Lord  was  pleased
to  remove  him  by  death,  in  August  last,  among  whom  I  preached
before  I  went  to  the  South,  in  coming  from  Maryland  against  their
earnest  importunity),  coming  so  pertinently  in  the  place  of  our
landing  for  water,  prevailed  with  me  to  stay  this  season,  which  the
more  easily  overcame  me,  considering  the  season  of  the  year,  and
the  little  encouragement  from  Carolina,  from  the  sure  information
I  have  had.  But  for  thesatisfactiou  of  my  friends  in  Ireland,  whom
I  design  to  he  very  cautious  in  inviting  to  any  place  in  America  I
have  yet  seen,  I  have  sent  one  of  our  number  to  acquaint  mo  fur-
ther concerning  the  place.  I  am  here  assured  of  liberty  and  other
encouragements,  resolving  to  submit  myself  to  the  soverign  provi-
dence of  God,  who  has  been  pleased  so  unexpectedly  to  drive  me
biick  to  this  poor  desolate  people,  among  whom  I  design  to  continue
till  God  in  his  providence  determines  otherwise  concerning  me.
