J. and M.Y., the Countess came alone, her husband
being unwell, and asked a few questions respecting our views in
travelling. She is a Roman Catholic by profession, but has been brought up
in great ignorance of her religion, and quite in the gaiety of the world.
She deeply lamented the state of her unhappy country, to which a fatality
seemed to attach, and spoke of her own particular trials, having lost four
of her children. Whilst we were endeavoring to make her sensible of the
mercies which are often hid under the most painful dispensations, an
English missionary, who had been engaged in preaching to many of the
Polish refugees in the country, came in with Professor Petavel. They
became much interested for the Countess, and in reply to some of her
questions, the missionary explained the truths of the gospel in a clear
and satisfactory way. We rejoiced in the unexpected meeting; several
others came in, and it proved a memorable visit.

When again alone with the Countess she continued her history, opening her
heart to M.Y. with the greatest confidence. In former years, she said, she
had been drawn to seek the Lord, but for awhile affliction seemed to
harden her heart, and she lost the religious impressions she had received;
but now she felt again a desire to become acquainted with her Saviour, for
she was miserable and felt the need of such a refuge.

22_nd_.--In the afternoon the Count and Countess paid us a visit. He
is a man of strong mind, weary of the disappointing pleasures of the
world, and happily turned to seek comfort in the substantial truths of
religion. The Countess was delighted to find that we were of the same
Society as William Penn, whose name her father much revered. They desired
permission to attend our meeting; and a little before the hour we called
on them, and they accompanied us to Professor Petavel's, where we had a
room quite filled and a good meeting. At the conclusion M.Y. made some
apology to the Countess for the imperfect manner in which the
communication was made; but she replied, "It comes from the heart, and it
goes to the heart." After the meeting none seemed disposed to move, and
the Countess commenced asking questions directing to passages of the
Scriptures, apparently desirous to confirm the practices of the Romish
Church, but sincerely seeking to have the conviction of her own heart
confirmed that they were errors. It is not easy to describe the interest
which this scene presented. A