Romanists. It is a large, magnificent, and busy town, and a strong
fortress. The railroad also was just in sight on the opposite side of
the river. There was scarcely a trace to be seen of that poverty
which you see so often in large towns in England, but all bespoke
abundance, though I know there is not the abundance of the English
gold. Yesterday morning, Aug. 18, we ought to have left at eight
o'clock by the steamer, in which we had taken our places from
Rotterdam to Mannheim, but the steamer, by which we ought to have
gone, did not arrive. We waited hour after hour, till at last, near
four o'clock in the afternoon, we left Mayence for Mannheim by a
steamer of another company, having thus to lose the money we had
previously paid. We were on board of this steamer about seven hours,
till near eleven in the evening, when we arrived at Mannheim. There
were at least 14 English passengers on board, besides many Germans
and French. I distributed English and German tracts, and had
conversation with several. There was a dear young sister, a French
lady, with whom I had much conversation. She had been with her little
brother to a bathing place near the Rhine. I saw her reading the
Epistle to the Romans, and thus took the opportunity to converse with
her. She had been at school in Paris till within a few months, and is
now, as she has no parents, living with her aunt, a pious woman near
Strasbourg. It was very refreshing to be able to help this solitary
one, who knew no one on board, and who was very glad to have a little
counsel. In parting I gave her a copy of my Narrative, some English
tracts, a German tract, and an Orphan Report, as she has begun to
learn English, and has a friend, a believer, who understands English
well. I had also a pretty long conversation with a German young
gentleman, a Roman Catholic, about the way to heaven. This morning,
Aug. 19, we called on our sister N. at Mannheim, if it might please
the Lord to use us to benefit and restore her soul. We found out her
residence after some inquiry, and she seemed very glad to see us.
After having our passports signed, and taken up some money from the
banker, we left Mannheim at two o'clock in the afternoon, and arrived
here at four, where we were very affectionately received by brother
T. H. and dear Mrs. M. We are now staying in an old building,
formerly a Roman Catholic cloister, where I this evening expounded
the Scriptures.

Aug. 20, 1843. This morning I ex