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396 THE JOURNAL OF BISHOP COKE. blessing of GOD, I shall never forget. We dines at a friend's house by the way, and reached brother Bushby's at Alexandria, about seven in the evening. There I met, according to appointment, that dear valuable man Mr. Asbury. He had informed the people that when I arrived, the courthouse bell should ring, and about eight o'clock I had a very large congregation in the Presbyterian church, to whom I insisted on the necessity of the witness of the Spirit. Thursday 26. Mr. Asbury and I set off for his Excellency General Washington's. We were engaged to dine there the day before. General Roberdeau, an intimate acquaintance of General Washington's, who served under him in the war, paved our way by a letter of recommendation. We lay at General Roberdeau's the night before, and he was to have gone with us; but Mrs. Roberdeau was so ill after lying in, that he did not chuse to leave her. His excellency's feat is very elegant, built upon the great river Potomac; for the improvement of the navigation of which, he is carrying on jointly with the state some amazing plans. He received us very politely, and was very open to access: but he is quite the plain country-gentleman, and he is a friend of mankind. After dinner we desired a private interview, and opened to him the grand business on which we came. He asked us to spend the evening and lodge at his house, but our engagement at Annapolis the following day, would not admit of it. I was loth to leave him, for a greatly love and esteem him, and if there was no pride in it, would say that we are surely kindred spirits, formed in the same mould. O that my GOD would give him witness of his Spirit! We returned that evening to Alexandria; where at eight o'clock, after the bell was rung, I had very considerable congregation. Friday 27. Mr. Asbury and I rode to Annapolis, in the state of Maryland, where the general-court (the supreme court of judicature of the state) was sitting. This prevented my preaching in the court-house: however I had a noble congregation in the play-house, and most of the great lawyers to THE JOURNAL OF BISHOP COKE. 397 to hear me. And surprizing! the fine ladies and gentlemen attended at five the next morning, so that I had one of the largest morning-congregations that I have had in America. We have no regular preaching here yet, but I trust shall soon see good days. One lady was so defirous of my coming, that she sent word to Mr. Asbury that she would advance two guines for a carriage to bring me there from Alexandria: but that I did not accept of. Saturday 28. We reached our kind friend Mr. Gough's, having spent a few hours in Baltimore, and travelled about fifty miles. Sunday 29. I preached and administered the sacrament as the Falls-church, as it is called. It was the quarterly-meeting. We returned to Mr. Gough's, where I preached in the evening. Monday 30. We rode to Abingdon, where we agreed to give Mr. Dallam L [[?]]. 60 sterling for four acres of ground, which we had fixed upon as the site of our college; and had proper bonds drawn up: we returned in the evening to Mr. Gough's. Tuesday 31. We rode to Baltimore, where I endeavoured to shew the people the necessity of union with Christ. Wednesday, June 1. We opened our conference, and were driven to the painful talk of suspending a member, and he no less than an elder, a man who for ten years had retained an unblemished reputation. "Let him that most assuredly standeth, take heed left he fall." As I expected to fail the next day, my brethren were so kind as to sit in conference till midnight. I endeavoured to shew them at noon the necessity of being faithful in the ministry of the word. We thought it prudent to suspend the minute concerning slavery for the one year, on account of the great opposition that had been given to it, especially in the new circuits; but were aggreeably informed that several of our friends in Maryland, in consequence of it, had already emancipated their slaves. But we agrees to present to the assembly of Maryland, through our friends, a petition for a general emancipation, signed by as many electors as we can procure,
