The  Prefect,  after  a  while,  took  the  officer  aside  to  inquire
of  him  what  had  passed  in  the  meeting.  I  heard  the
officer  give  him  a  pretty  accurate  short  statement  of  it,
concluding  with  these  words:  "I  have  never  heard  any  one
speak  in  such  a  manner  before;  the  whole  assembly  was
melted  into  tears."  After  further  consultation,  I  was  told
that  I  might  go  for  the  night  to  my  hotel,  but  must  return
next  morning  at  nine  o'clock.  It  was  pretty  late  by  that
time,  but  though  spent  in  body,  my  spirit  was  refreshed  of
the  Lord ;  the  joys  of  whose  presence,  wherein  there  is  life,
had  been  in  a  gracious  manner  dispensed  to  me  that  day,  and
I  felt  great  peace  in  resigning  myself  to  His  will,  whatever
He  might  permit  to  be  done  unto  me.  I  went  to  the
Prefect  the  next  morning  at  the  time  desired.  I  was  now
received  with  more  civility ;  many  inquiries  were  even  made
with  apparent  interest  into  the  nature  of  the  Christian  testi-
monies of  our  religious  Society,  and  of  my  object  in  having
such  meetings  "to  which,"  he  said,  "the  people  are  flocking
in  such  crowds."  On  finally  parting,  he  manifested  good
will  towards  me.
Having  thus  narrowly  escaped  the  walls  of  a  prison
at  Nismes,  S.  G.  took  a  short  journey  to  Montpellier,
and  had  several  religious  interviews  with  pious  indi-
viduals and  families  there,  "  the  Lord  refreshing  them
together."  From  this  little  digression  he  returned  to
Congenies,  to  mingle  once  more  in  Christian  sympathy
and  fellowship  wnth  those  of  his  own  religious  profes-

L  — 18


258  1813.  [^T.  39.
