the torrent, and all perished.  The husband, who was left alone in the house, got to land on some boards, part of the wreck of the house, and expected to find his family safe; what must have been his feelings when he found they had all perished in the deep!  We felt truly prepared to sympathise with them, and think they were sensible of our visit being in the sincere love of the Gospel.  Their kindness towards us exceeded description.  In going from house to house, one of them seeing us in the field, and not knowing our errand, thought we had missed our way, and came running almost out of breath to set us in the road.  When he found that our visit was intended to him, he seemed overjoyed, and conducted us to his home and his interesting wife.  His name is Friedrich Fockensllammen.  He soon showed us all that was in his house and barns; and I may say he was equally ready to tell us all that was in his heart.  We could not get away without taking coffee with them.

Having felt much towards seeing them together, the way seemed open to propose to this man to have a meeting.  He readily undertook to consult with a few others; and he came to our inn next morning with another, when he said, the good work must have a small beginning, and although he himself was quite willing, the others did not see the necessity of it, or were too cautious.  This person told us that, with respect to temporals, they could never have got forward again in the way they had done, had it not been for the kind and effectual assistance received from England.  After an interesting conversation with these two, we parted in much affection.  My M.Y. drew up a short epistle, which was signed by us all, and forwarded to them:  this was an entire relief to our minds.

Understanding the fair was to commence on First-day morning, we found it necessary on Seventh-day evening to seek fresh quarters.  The First-day is worse kept in the territories belonging to Hanover than in any part of the Continent that I have seen, and the greatest religious ignorance prevails there.  The cause may rest with the Government in giving too much power to the Church:  the ecclesiastics are fond of keeping in their own hands all things relating to religion, and will not suffer the light to shine that the people may see for themselves.  The Edict of Stade has lately been renewed, prohibiting religious meetings; no unauthorised persons (as they call it), are permitted to preach or hold meetings, on pain of imprisonment; all foreign missionaries to be immediately sent beyond the boundaries.  The settlement we were visiting was partly in Hanover, and partly in Oldenburg.

Besides these colonies on the reclaimed strand of the ocean, John Yeardley had another object in undertaking this journey, which was to inspect the Industrial Colony at Fredericks-Oort, in the province of Drenthe, in Holland.  Towards this place the party now directed their way.