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two young men were both of them descendants of German parents who had left their native country, in order to enjoy the blessings of religious liberty in this land; a privilege which neither the Em- peror, nor the petty Princes of Germany, had the good sense or the policy to allow. 5th Month, 9th. This day was remarkably tempestuous; and in the evening there was so great a light over the cities of Philadelphia and West Chester, that they appeared to be on fire; and next morning we received accounts, that in Philadelphia 30 houses had been burnt down in a central part of the city, and that in West Chester two large ships were burnt. Within about two miles of my lodgings the same evening, a powder mill was blown up, and one person who had the management of it, lost his life by the ex- plosion. Not many days before the accident, being well acquainted with the man, I had some conversation with him on the danger of his oc- cupation; but the great wages he received out- weighed all apprehensions of his danger, and he seemed to have made up his mind to continue the employment, notwithstanding he had before been blown up, and narrowly escaped destruction, with the loss of one eye, and the use of several of his fingers. So many dreadful accidents happening around us at the time called forth serious and awful reflections. 5th Month, 10th.