I cannot omit to mention here the orderly manner in which, the Quakers, conduct their business on these occasions.  When a subject is brought before them, it is canvassed to the exclusion of all extraneous matter, till some conclusion results.  The clerk of the monthly meeting then draws up a minute, containing, as nearly as he can collect, the substance of this conclusion.  This minute is then read aloud to the auditory, and either stands or undergoes an alteration, as appears, by the silence or discussion upon it, to be the sense of the meeting.  When fully agreed upon, it stands ready to be recorded.  When a second subject comes on, it is canvassed, and a minute is made of it, to be recorded in the same manner, before a third is allowed to be introduced.  Thus each point is settled, till the whole business of the meeting is concluded.

I may now mention that in the same manner as the men proceed in their apartment on this occasion, the women proceed in their own apartment or meeting also.  There are women-deputies, and women-clerks.  They enter down the names of these deputies, read the minutes, of the last monthly meeting, bring forward the new matter, and deliberate and argue on the affairs of their own sex.  They record their proceedings equally.  The young females also, are present, and have similar opportunities of gaining knowledge, and of improving their judgments, and of acquiring useful and moral habits, as the young men.

It is usual, when the women have finished the business of their own meeting, to send one of their members to the apartments of the men, to know if they have any thing to communicate.  This messenger having returned, and every thing having been settled and recorded in both meetings, the monthly meeting is over, and men, women, and youth of both sexes, return to their respective homes.

In the same manner as the different congregations, or members of the different meetings, in any one division of the county, meet together, and transact their monthly business, so other different congregations, belonging to other divisions of the same county, meet at other appointed places, and dispatch their business also.  And in the same manner as the business is thus done in one county, it is done in every other county of the kingdom once a month.

CHAP.  III.

Quarterly court or meeting—­constitution of this meeting—­one place in each county is now fixed upon for the transaction of business-this place may be different in the different quarters of the year—­deputies from the various monthly meetings are appointed to repair to this place—­nature of the business to be transacted—­certain queries proposed—­written answers carried to these by the deputies just mentioned—­Queries proposed in the womens meeting also, and answered in the same manner.—­