On the 14th the Friends drove out a few miles into the country to “pay some family visits.”  They had two double carrioles, or gigs:  the road over which they passed was “steep and rugged beyond description.”  In returning, the carriole in which Peter Bedford rode struck against a rock at a sharp corner and was overset.  Peter Bedford’s right shoulder was dislocated, and he otherwise bruised.  In conveying him into Christiansand he suffered much from the shaking of the car; but the joint was quickly set by a skilful surgeon; and, in the evening, the love he felt for the people was so strong, that he could not remain absent from the meeting which had been appointed for that time, and he even took part in its vocal exercise.

It was, writes John Yeardley, a favored time.  Peter Bedford gave some account of the difference between our religious Society and other professing Christians.  It opened the way for me to speak on the peculiar doctrines and practices of Friends at more length than I ever remember to have done before; after which the glad tidings of the gospel flowed freely, and the people were invited to come to Christ and partake of the full blessedness of his teaching by the Holy Spirit.  A precious solemnity prevailed, and the serious attention of the company was great.  A good many soldiers, and some officers, were present; but the expression of our dissent from all wars and fightings had not displeased them, for they shook hands with US most kindly.—­(Diary and Letter.)

Besides being interested for the people of Christiansand in general, John Yeardley and Peter Bedford were especially attracted towards several young men who had embraced the doctrines of Friends, without any knowledge of the Society, and without any instruction from man.  With these persons they met more than once.  John Yeardley writes:—­

“We had a precious meeting with them.  They were invited to embrace the doctrines of the gospel in living faith, and to give full room to the workings of the Spirit of Jesus, whose voice they had already heard inviting them to come under his teaching.  We encouraged them to meet for divine worship.”

On the 16th the Friends proceeded thirty-five miles to Mandal, travelling post.  From thence, John Yeardley and Asbjoen Kloster went by the road to Stavanger, leaving Peter Bedford and William Robinson to follow by steam-vessel, the former being unable to bear the motion of the Norwegian carriages.

John Yeardley, in one of his letters, in a lively manner describes the mode of travelling:—­

The usual vehicle in this country is the single-seated carriole, made exactly to fit the figure of the traveller, and no spare room except a little well under his feet.  The seat is placed on two crossbars fixed to the long shafts, the spring of which is intended to mitigate the jolting of the road.  We chose double cars on iron springs, which we found not too easy:  they were like old-fashioned, worn-out, and very shabby