Pliny reached his province by the usual route, the port of Ephesus; where John had lived for many years, and indited his letters, A.D.96, scarcely ten years before.

The letters of Peter to the strangers scattered through Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, bring us to the same mountainous region, eight hundred miles distant from Judea; whence, in earlier days, our savage ancestors received those Phoenician priests of Baal, whose round towers mark the coasts of Ireland nearest to the setting sun; and whence, about the period under consideration, came the heralds of the Sun of Righteousness, who brought the "_Leabhar Eoin_"[74] which tells their children of him in whom is the life and the light of men.

Natives of these countries had been in Jerusalem during the crucifixion of Jesus, and, though only strangers, had witnessed the darkness, and the earthquake, and had heard the rumors of what had come to pass in those days; and on the day of Pentecost had mingled with the curious crowd around the apostles, and heard them speak, in their own mother tongues, of the wonderful works of God.

The remainder of the story of their conversion we gather from the letters of Peter, John, and Pliny.
"Pliny, to the Emperor Trajan, wisheth health and happiness:[75] "It is my constant custom, Sire, to refer myself to you in all matters concerning which I have any doubt.

For who can better direct me when I hesitate, or instruct me when I am ignorant?
"I have never been present at any trials of Christians, so that I know not well what is the subject matter of punishment, or of inquiry, or what strictures ought to be used in either.
Nor have I been a little perplexed to determine whether any difference ought to be made upon account of age, or whether the young and tender, and the full grown and robust, ought to be treated all alike; whether repentance should entitle to pardon, or whether all who have once been Christians ought to be punished, though they are now no longer so; whether the name itself, although no crimes be detected, or crimes only belonging to the name ought to be punished.
"In the meantime, I have taken this course with all who have been brought before me, and have been accused as Christians.