place.

The 21st day of June 1803, being at Sea, we were met by an English Vessel who told us that war was declared between France and England, and for that reason we were taken prisoners, and conducted to Plymouth.

I stay'd 35 days in Plymouth, and was sent after to Tiverton in Devonshire upon Parole of Honour; there I remained five months, and was sent afterwards to Ashbourn in Derbyshire. I arrived at Ashbourn the 17th of december 1803, and was in such a deplorable state of mind, that I did not know what to do. Very often the public house was the place where I went to seek comfort, by getting intoxicated, and then casting all my sorrows behind me; I after awhile took such a delight in this course of life, that it became quite an habit to me; I was the greatest Sabbath breaker that ever existed; I was daily fighting or swearing the most execrable Oaths, which was enough to excite the anger of GOD against me. One morning being half drunk, I went out to take a walk; when passing through a dark foot path, I was persuaded by some evil spirit to put an end to my miserable life. For that purpose I went into the darkest part of the place, and took my knife out of my pocket to accomplish the horrid deed.—The instrument was already lifted up, and the stroke was to ensue; but an Angel of the LORD, (or some thing of that kind,) stopped my rebellious hand, and my weapon dropped from it; then many ideas came into my mind such as these, "Oh! miserable wretch, art thou going to plunge thyself into eternal misery? remember thou art going into Hell head-long, if thou dost such a thing:" I was struck with terror with those ideas, and was so frighted, that I durst not move from the place for fear that the justice of an avenging GOD should fall upon me. I stay'd in that place for some time, and went home with such a burden, that I could hardly bear: having my head cast down as if I was a criminal, for I durst upon no account lift it up.

I was for several days in a such distressed state of mind, that I had not courage enough to go out; for I thought every body knew what was the matter with me; and to appease my wounded conscience, I thought that a reformation would have been sufficient to justify me in the sight of GOD: so that I began to build, as it is said upon a sandy foundation, by performing a few formal duties; thinking that by my good works, I should merit the favours of GOD so as to forgive me all my trespasses. The plan I had formed was this: having a Roman Catholic prayer book, I thought it was all-sufficient to calm my troubled breast, and to bring me to a perfect state of happiness. So every night and morning I used to kneel down, and taking the prayer book I read the morning and evening prayer; this performance I thought would please GOD, and get me from under the terrors of an accused conscience: but in all these vain duties I never looked to JESUS for forgiveness or remission of sins, neither to his precious and cleansing blood, nor could I perceive the depravity of my corrupted nature: but I depended wholly upon my best endeavours and good works. I continued but a little time in doing those erroneous duties, and felt insensibly at last that all my fears were vanished away; I was like the dog, returning to his vomit again: for I begun the same method as before, keeping all sorts of bad company, and breaking the sabbath with drinking, swearing and fighting &c. I was at the least five days drunk in the week, and always quarrelling.