The New Hampshire Gazette

LONDON, February 21.

To the PRINTER, &c.

SIR,

On Friday Morning about ten o'Clock, an old man upwards of seventy years of age, clothed all over in white apparel, went through the city preaching repentance to the people. He began first at the Exchange, and walked in the middle of the street with his hat under his arm (which was also white) and a bible in his hand. Had a long white beard and white hair, with a bald head. His appearance was awful and venerable, and by his countenance it appeared that he had something weighty on his mind, often stopping and preaching to the people, and so continued till he came to the King's palace, where he preached some time; the sum and substance of what he there delivered, as near as I can recollect, was as follows.

"Oh! England, England, England, thy sins, thy iniquities, and thy transgressions, which are very great and many, from the youth to the grey hairs, seem to cry loudly to heaven for vengeance. Oh! England, repent, repent, repent, and turn from the evil of thy doings: cease to do evil, and learn to do good, and fast a solemn fast, according to the holy scriptures of truth, as Nineveh did at the preaching of Jonah. Remember, that when the King and his nobles proclaimed that fast, they turned from the evil of their ways, and put violence out of their hands. Therefore this day fast a solemn fast, as Nineveh did, and cry mightily unto the Lord, that he may be pleased to have mercy and compassion on thee, and cause his righteous judgments to be averted."

When he had concluded he attempted to go into the King's palace, but the sentinel refused him admittance; then he went round to the back gate, but before he got there, orders were sent not to admit him; I suppose in order to prevent any mob assembling in the palace yard. As soon as he was denied admittance at this last place, he put on his hat, and said, "Then my work is over."

The uncommon appearance of this old man caused variety of sentiments from the multitude; and although it was odd, yet I could not observe, but it was decent and awful; and upon enquiry, I find he is one of the people called Quakers, who for many years past, has lived the life of a hermit in Wales by the side of a mountain, and is the same man who came preaching repentance through this city, about seven years ago; his food is all upon the vegetable creation; but what authority he has for such a publick work, I leave the learned to judge for themselves, and conclude with part of the old man's sermon,-- Let every one turn from the evil of his way, and put violence out of his hand, that the Lord may be pleased to have mercy and compassion, and cause his righteous judgments to be averted. And as I find there is one of these people called Quakers now in prison for a contempt in the Ecclesiastical court, and has been confined upwards of twelve years, I hope, the Government will be pleased speedily to cause him to be set at liberty.

Feb. 17, 1758.

A SPECTATOR.