Fri. 2.[1]-I was desired to go over to Torpoint, a village on the Cornish side of the water. We were attended by a large company from the Dock, and a great multitude from all quarters. I suppose a great part of these had never heard this sort of preaching before. They now heard with inexpressible attention, and I believe not in vain. God opened, as it were, the windows of heaven, and sent a gracious rain upon His inheritance. I am in hopes a plentiful harvest will spring from the seed which was sown this hour.

 

In the afternoon I went over to Plymouth, and drank tea at Mr. Hawker’s, the minister of the new church.[2] He seems to be a man of an excellent spirit, and is a pattern to all the clergy round about. It rained all the evening, but that did not hinder the house from being thoroughly filled with people that heard as for life. This congregation likewise seemed to be, ‘all but their attention, dead.’ The like has hardly been seen here before. What! is God about to work in Plymouth also?

 

Sat. 3.[3]-Many attended at five in the morning, although it rained sharply. It likewise blew a storm. So it did all the day, as well as in the evening. The house was then crowded indeed; yet there was attention still as night. But God uttered His voice; yea, and that a mighty voice, insomuch that the stout­hearted trembled; and it seemed as if He would send none empty away; but of these, too, though many were called, I fear few were chosen.

 

MAR. 1, Thursday

 

4 Prayed, 2 Pet. ii. 8! texts; 7.30 tea, conversed, prayer, chaise; 10 the Dock, texts; 1 dinner, conversed, christened; 2.30 texts, [cipher]* christened many; 5 prayed, tea, conversed, prayer; 6.30 Mark iv. 3! supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Friday 2

 

4 Prayed, texts; 11.30 visited, in the boat; 1.15 Torpoint, Isa. iv. 7! dinner, conversed; 3.15 at home, writ narrative, prayed; 4.30 Plym[outh], at Mr. Hawk[er’s], tea, conversed, prayed; Lu. xv. 7! supper, conversed, prayed; 9.30.

 

Sun. 4. -I began the service at half an hour past nine, and concluded it before one. I suppose such a number of Communicants were never seen before at Plymouth Dock[4]; but there was no disorder or hurry at all. There was more difficulty in the evening; the throng was so great that it was impossible for me to get through them to the pulpit, so at length they made shift to lift me over the seats. Again God spoke in His word, I believe to all that could get in; but some could not, and were constrained to go away.

 

Saturday 3

 

4 Prayed, I Pet. i. 18! read narrative; 7 tea, conversed; 8 Dock, letters; 1 dinner, conversed, prayer; 2.30 writ Journal; 4 prayed, tea, conversed, prayer; 6.30 Matt. xx. I6! supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Sunday 4

 

 4 Prayed, Journal, tea, conversed; 9.30 read prayers, I Cor. xiii. 13, communion; 1 dinner, conversed, prayed, texts; 3.30 read, tea; 4.30 tea, prayed; 6.

 

Mon. 5. -The house was well filled again, both above and below; and, after a solemn parting, we took coach at six, leaving such a flame behind us as was never kindled here before. God grant it may never be put out!

 

We reached Exeter between two and three. In the evening I preached on ‘By grace are ye saved through faith’ to as many as could possibly squeeze into the room. It was a glorious opportunity. God uttered His voice, and that a mighty one. It seemed to break the rocks in pieces, to make the stout-hearted tremble. I know not that I ever saw such an impression made on the people of Exeter before.

 

Tues. 6. -It rained much while we were at Plymouth and at the Dock, and most of the way from the Dock to Exeter; but we had lovely weather to-day, and came into Bath early in the evening. So crowded a house I had not seen here for many years. I fully delivered my own soul by strongly enforcing those awful words, ‘Many are called, but few are chosen.’ I  believe the word sunk deep into many hearts. The next evening we had another large congregation equally serious.

 

                                           Monday 5

 

4 Prayed; 6 coach, Ashburton, tea, coach; 2.30 Exon; 3 dinner, con­versed, writ narrative, prayed; 5 tea, conversed; 6 Eph. ii. 8! at Mr. M[-], supper, conversed; 9 prayer; 9.30.

 

Tuesday 6

 

4 Prayed, tea, coach, writ Mag.; 11.15 Bridge[water]; dinner; 11.45 coach, writ Mag.; 6.15 Bath, tea; 7 Matt. xx. 16; 7.30 at sister Sim’s, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Thur. 8. -I went on to Bristol, and the same afternoon Mrs. Fletcher came thither from Madeley. The congregation in the evening was exceedingly large. I took knowledge what spirit they were of.  Indeed the work of God has much increased in Bristol since I was here last, especially among the young men, many of whom are a pattern to all the society.

 

Fri. 9.[5] -I went over to Kingswood and found the school in a better state than I expected, considering the want of a second master, which they had for some time laboured under.

 

Sat. 10. -I had the pleasure of an hour’s conversation with Mrs. Fletcher. She appears to be swiftly growing in grace, and ripening for a better world. I encouraged her to do all the good she could during her short stay in Bristol. Accordingly she met, in the following week, as many of the classes as her time and strength would permit; and her words were as fire, conveying both light and heat to the hearts of all that heard her.

 

Wednesday 7

 

4 Prayed, writ sermon; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, sermon; 12 visited, walk; 1 dinner, conversed, prayer; 2.30 writ narrative; 3 sermon, prayed; 5 tea, conversed, prayed; 6.30 Heb. iv. 12, society; 8 supper, con­versed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Thursday 8

 

4 Prayed, sermon; 6 Heb, xiii. I, the letters, sermon; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, sermon; 10 chaise; 12 Bristol, visited, on business, prayed; 6.30 I Chron. iv. 10, the bands; 8 at Mr. Gif[ford’s], supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Friday 9

 

4 Prayed, letters, tea, letters; 12 the females, letter; 1 prayer; 2.15 dinner, conversed; 3.30 chaise, visited; 6 at the school, tea, within, letters, supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Saturday 10

 

4 Prayed, letters, [-], the children, within, chaise; 7.30 at home, writ narrative; 8 tea, conversed, at Mrs. Fletch[er]’s, within, prayer; 10.30 letters; 1 dinner, conversed, prayer; 2.30 letters; 5 tea, conversed, prayer; 6 prayed, letters; 7.30 Pen[ry], at sister Ca[stleman’s], supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Sun. 11. -We had a solemn season at the room, both in the morning and evening; and also in the afternoon at Kingswood where the work of God revives as well as at Bristol. I strongly warned the people of Bristol of their indolence,[6] through which the preacher had twelve, ten, or five hearers in a morning, and advised them to shake it off. Many of them did so, and I sup­pose we had three hundred on Monday morning, one hundred and fifty on Saturday, and between two and three hundred every morning of the week besides.

 

Monday the I2th and on the four days following, I met the society. They were considerably increased both in grace and number. In the evening we had a Sunday’s congregation, and a very uncommon pouring out of the Spirit. If this continues, the society in Bristol will soon vie with that in Dublin. On

 

Thursday the 15th we had such another shower of grace. Many were wounded and many healed. 

 

Sunday 11

 

4 Prayed, letter, sermon; 8 tea, conversed, on business; 9.30 prayers, Lu. xi. 22, etc., communion, dinner. chaise; 2 at the School, Matt. xx. 16! chaise, sleep; 4 prayed, tea; 5 Eph. v. 14! society, visited! 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Monday 12

 

4 Prayed, 1 Pet. iv. 8-10, class; 8 tea, sermon; 9 class; 1 dinner, prayer,           2 class, [cipher],*; 4 writ narrative, tea, prayed; 6.30 Mark iv. 3; 8 at Mr. Giffo[rd’s], supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Tuesday 13

 

4 Prayed, sermon; 6 class; 8 at Miss Mo., tea, conversed, prayer; 9 class; 1 dinner, conversed; 2 class; 4 sermon; 5 tea, conversed, prayer, prayed; 6.30 read the letters, the leaders, at Mr. G., supper, within, prayer; 9.15.

 

Wednesday 14

 

4 Prayed, I Pet. iv. 12-16, Mr. Lock, etc.; 8 tea, conversed, prayer; 9 class; 12 letters; 1 dinner, conversed; 2 class; 3.30 letters; 5 tea, conversed, prayer, prayed; 8.30 I Pet. iv. 7, class at Mr. Ca[stleman’s], supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Thursday 15

 

4 Prayed, 1 Pet. iv. 7, letters; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, letters; 9 class; 1 dinner, conversed; 2 class; 5 tea, conversed, prayer; 6.30 Eph. iii. 8! the bands; 8 at Mr. Gi[fford’s], supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Sarah Bulgin,[7] went to rest in the full triumph of faith. Sunday the 18th I preached her funeral sermon to a listening multitude, and had such a number of communicants as was never seen together at Bristol room before. In the evening we had a love­feast, at which Mrs. Fletcher[8] simply declared her present ex­perience. I know no one that is so changed for the better in a few years, even in her manner of speaking. It is now smooth, easy, and natural, even when the sense is deep and strong.

 

Mon. 19. -I left Bristol with much satisfaction, expecting to hear of a plentiful harvest there; and in the evening preached at Stroud. The house was unusually filled, both with people and with the power of God.

 

Friday 16

 

4 Prayed, I Pet. iv. ad fin., letters, sermon; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, letters; 12 the females, sermon; 1 prayer; 2 dinner, conversed; 3 class, visited some; 5 tea, conversed, prayer, visited; 6.30 I Pet. iv. 18; 8 at Mr. Gi[fford’s], supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Saturday 17

 

4 Prayed, I Pet. iv. 18! letters; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, letters; 1 dinner, sermon, visited; 4.30 tea, conversed, prayer; 6 on business; writ narrative, Pen[ry], at brother Pown[al’s], supper, conversed, prayer, on business; 9 on business; 9.45.

 

Sunday 18

 

4 Prayed, sermon; 8 at brother Bulgin’s, conversed; 9.30 read prayers, I Pet. i. 24, prayed, sister Bulgin’s; 11.30 communion; 1 dinner, con­versed, prayer; 2 sleep, sermon; 3 tea, conversed; 5 Jo. v. 8! society, lovefeast; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Monday 19

 

3.30 On business, coffee; 5 chaise; 7.30 Newport [near Berkeley], in talk; 8.15 chaise; 10.30 Stro[ud]; 11 at Mr. Freeb-, writ narrative; 1 dinner, conversed, prayer, sermon, prayed; 5 tea, conversed; 6 I Cor. xiii. 3! society; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Tues. 20. -We had a large congregation at five. Afterwards I met the select society, many of them enjoying the pure love of God, and constantly walking in the light of His countenance. We then visited one that was always sick and in pain, and always rejoicing in God. Another man we found nearly in the same condition-always afflicted, and always happy. Mrs. Wathen, a few doors from them, left by a most affectionate hus­band with six children, is a pattern to all about her. I walked from hence through one of the loveliest valleys I ever saw, running, with a clear stream in the midst of it, between two lofty and fruitful mountains, sprinkled all over with little white houses. Between eleven and twelve I reached Cirencester; and, no larger place being to be procured, I preached at one in our own room to as many as could hear, either in or near it. And the labour was not lost; they all drunk in the word, as the thirsty earth the showers.

 

In the evening I preached to a multitude of people in the Tolbooth[9] at Gloucester. High and low, rich and poor, behaved well I trust a good blessing is coming to Gloucester also.

 

Tuesday 20

 

4 Prayed, 2 Pet. ii. 9! select society, chaise, visited! 8,30 New House, tea, conversed, prayer, walk; 10.30 chaise; 12.30 Cirenc[este]r, on busi­ness; 1 Isa. lv. 6! dinner, conversed ; 2.30 chaise; 5.30 Glo[uce]ster, tea, within; 6 Pro. iii. 17! Prayed; 8 supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Wednesday 21

 

4 Prayed, writ Diary; 6 Heb. ii. 3, Diary; 8 tea, conversed; 9 writ Journal; 10 visited; 11 at the B[isho]p’s, conversed; 1.45 at Mr. [ ]aide’s, within, dinner, within; 3.15 writ narrative; 5 tea, conversed; 6 Gal. vi. 14! within, supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Wed. 21. -We had a numerous congregation at six, on whom I strongly enforced the great salvation. About eleven I had the satisfaction of spending an hour with the Bishop; a sensible, candid, and, I hope, pious man.[10] The palace in which he lives (once the Priory) is a venerable place, quite retired and elegant, though not splendid; the chapel, in par­ticular, fitted up by good Bishop Benson. The hall is noble; as are also two or three of the bed-chambers. But how soon must all these change their possessor!

 

Finding prejudice was now laid asleep, the tide running the contrary way, our friends thought it time to prepare for building their preaching-house; and a hundred pounds are already subscribed. In the evening I preached to a larger congrega­tion than ever; but all was still as night: and once more in the morning on ‘Whosoever doeth the will of God, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother.’

 

Thur. 22. -About noon I preached at Tewkesbury to the largest congregation I have seen there for many years; and, in the evening, to our lovely and loving people at Worcester­ plain, old, genuine Methodists.

 

Fri. 23.-Notice having been given, though without my knowledge, I went over to Stourport, a small, new-built village,[11] almost equally distant from Bewdley and from Kidderminster.

 

Thursday 22

 

4 Prayed, writ narrative; 6 Mark iii. 35! conversed; 8 tea, within, prayer; 9 chaise; 10.30 Tewk[e]sb[ury], on business; 11.30 Eph. v. 14, dinner, within; 3 chaise; 4 Worc[este]r, on business; 5 tea, conversed, Heb. xii. 7, supper, music; 9.30.

 

Friday 23

 

4 Prayed, Mag.; 61 Pet. i. 18, Mag.; 8 tea, conversed, prayer; 9 chaise; 11.15 Stourport, Mag.; 12 Isa. Iv. 6! dinner, conversed, prayer; 2.30 chaise; 5 W[orceste]r, tea, visited; 6.30 Matt. xx. 16! supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

I had seen Mr. Heath[12] before, a middle-aged clergyman, who is going over to Cokesbury College,[13] and is, I believe, thoroughly qualified to preside there. I met his wife and two daughters here, who are quite willing to ‘bear him company; and I think their tempers and manners, so ‘winning soft, so amiably mild’ will do him honour wherever they come.       

 

At noon, abundance of people being gathered together from all parts, I preached on Isa. liii. 6, 7. We have not had such an opportunity since we left Bristol. The stout-hearted trem­bled; and everyone seemed almost persuaded to be a Christian. The congregation at Worcester in the evening seemed to be of the same spirit, and God spoke to every heart.

 

Sat. 24.[14]-I went on to Birmingham. But my hoarseness increased; so that I was afraid the people would not hear me in the evening. But they did, though the congregation was uncommonly large.

 

Sun. 25.-Having promised to read prayers and administer the sacrament, I knew not how I should do.

 

Saturday 24

 

4 Prayed, 2 Cor. xiii. II, tea, conversed; 7.30 chaise; 8.30 tea; 10 chaise; 12.45 within, dinner; 2.15 on business, letters; 5 tea, within, prayed; 6.30 Mark iv. 3; 8 supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Sunday 25

 

4 Prayed, letters, tea; 9 prayers, Heb. ix. 13! communion; 1 dinner; 2.30 letters, [cipher], *; 3.30 prayed; 4 tea, conversed; 5 Mal. iv. I; society, writ narrative; 7.30 supper, conversed; 9 prayer; 9.30.

 

But as we were doing to the house Mr. Heath, just come to town, overtook us. So he read prayers, and assisted me in delivering the sacrament to seven or eight hundred communicants. In the evening the house at Birmingham, as it was rainy, contained half (I suppose) of those that would willingly have come in. Those that could get in found it an acceptable time; and we all praised God with joyful lips.

 

Mon. 26.[15]-I spent an agreeable hour with the select society. Most of them still enjoy the pure love of God, and the rest are earnestly panting after it. I preached in the evening (at the request of a friend) on 2 Cor. v. 19, &c. Many seemed to receive the word with all readiness, and I trust will bring forth fruit with patience.

 

Tues. 27. -I went on to Wednesbury. As it rained great part of the afternoon most of the congregation could get into the house; and I took knowledge of the ancient spirit, although most of our first hearers are gone to rest.

 

Wed. 28. -About ten Mr. Horne[16]  (from Madeley) read prayers in the church at Darlaston, and I preached on those words of Ruth, in the First Lesson, ‘Thy people shall be my people, and thy God shall be my God.’ We have had no such time since I left Bristol. The flame of love seemed to melt many hearts. What has God done for Darlaston! How are the last become first!

 

Monday 26

 

4 Prayed, writ letters, texts; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, select society; 10 Hymns, within; 1 dinner, conversed, prayer; 3.30 writ narrative, prayers; 5 tea, conversed, prayer; 6.30 2 Cor. v. 20! within; 8.30 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Tuesday 27

 

4 Prayed, Judges i. 27, texts; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, visited, Mag., within! 10.30 within, prayer; 11 chaise; 12.30 Wed[n]es[bury], Mag.; 1.30 dinner, conversed, prayer; 3 Mag., prayed; 5 tea; 6 Eph. iii. 4, society, supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Wednesday 28

 

4 Prayed, Mag.; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, Mag., chaise; 10 Darl[aston], prayers, Ruth i. 16; 12 chaise, W[olver]hampto[n], Mag.; 12.30 dinner, Mag., prayed, tea, conversed; 5.30 1 Cor. i. 24, at Mrs. Lee’s, Mag., prayed; 7.30 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

In the evening I opened the new house[17] at Wolverhamp­ton, nearly as large as that at Newcastle-upon- Tyne. It would not near contain the people, though they were wedged to­gether as close as possible. I believe such a congregation was never seen in Wolverhampton before; not only so serious, but so well-behaved. I hope this is a token for good.

 

Thur. 29.-About twelve I preached at Lane End.[18] It being too cold to stand abroad, the greater part of the earnest congre­gation squeezed into the preaching-house. Here we entered into the country which seems to be all on fire-that which borders on Burslem on every side; preachers and people provoking one another to love and good works in such a manner as was never seen before.

 

Thursday 29

 

4 Prayed, tea; 5 chaise; 7.30 Staff[ord], chaise; 11 Lane End, Mag.; 12 Acts xvi. 31! dinner, conversed; 2.30 chaise 4 Borslem, [-], tea;  5.30 Matt. xx. 16! lovefeast, supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

In the evening I preached at Burslem. Observing the people flocking together, I began half an hour before the appointed time. But, notwithstanding this, the house would at contain one half of the congregation. So, while I was preaching in the house to all that could get in, John Broad­bent preached in a yard to the rest. The lovefeast followed; but such a one as I have not known for many years. While the two or three first spoke the power of God so fell upon all that were present, some praying, and others giving thanks, that their voices could scarce be heard: and two or three were speaking at a time till I gently advised them to speak one at a time; and they did so, with amazing energy. Some of them had found peace a year ago, some within a month or a week, some within

 

a day or two; and one of them, a potter’s boy, told us: ‘At the prayer-meeting I found myself dropping into hell; and I cried to the Lord, and He showed me He loved me. But Satan came immediately, and offered me a bag of money as long as my arm; but I said, “Get thee behind me, Satan.” Several also testified that the blood of Christ had cleansed them from all sin. Two declared, after bitter cries, that they knew their sins were just then blotted out by the blood of the Lamb; and I doubt not but it will be found, upon inquiry, that several more were either justified or sanctified. Indeed, there has been, for some time, such an outpouring of the Spirit here as has not been in any other part of the kingdom; particularly in the meetings for prayer. Fifteen or twenty have been justified in a day. Some of them had been the most notorious, aban­doned sinners in all the country; and people flock into the society on every side-six, eight, or ten in an evening.

 

Fri. 30.-I had appointed to preach at five in the morning; but soon after four I was saluted by a concert of music, both vocal and instrumental, at our gate, making the air ring with a hymn to the tune of Judas Maccabeus.[19] It was a good prelude.

 

Friday 30

 

4 Prayed, I Cor. x. 12! Mag.; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, chaise; 11 Congl[e] t[on], visited, Mag.; 1.30 dinner; 2.30 Mag., prayed, tea, 6 Matt. v. 47, supper, prayer; 10.

 

So I began almost half an hour before five; yet the house was crowded both above and below. I strongly, but very tenderly enforced that caution, ‘Let him that standeth take heed lest he fall.’ And is not God able to make them stand? Yea, and He will do it, if they walk humbly with God.

 

In the evening I preached at Congleton to a serious and well established people. Here I found my coeval, Mr. [Troutbeck],[20] two months (I think) younger than me, just as a lamp going out for want of oil, gently sliding into a better world. He sleeps always, only waking now and then just long enough to say, ‘I am happy.’

 

Sat. 31.[21]- I went on to Macclesfield, and found a people still alive to God, in spite of swiftly increasing riches. If they continue so, it will be the only instance I have known, in above half a century. I warned them in the strongest terms I could, and believe some of them had ears to hear.

 

Saturday 31

 

4 Prayed, Col. i. 10! Mag.; 8 tea, conversed, prayer; 9 chaise; 11 Macc[lesfield]; 1 dinner, within; 2 letters, prayed; 5 tea, conversed; 6 Mark iv. 3; 8 supper, conversed, prayer, on business; 10.

---

 

[1] In March he wrote to Miss Nancy Taylor, dating the letter officially from ‘London’ (new ed. Wesley letters).

 

[2] The Rev. Robert Hawker, D.D., well known as the author of The Poor Man's Morning and Evening Portion, Was vicar of St. Charles the Martyr, Plymouth, for fifty years. He acquired great popularity as an evangelical preacher. George III admired him, and used to test his powers by handing him a text just before he entered the pulpit. Robert Stephen Hawker, the famous ‘Hawker of Morwenstow,’ was his grandson. See Lond. Q. Rev. July, 1905, p. 84; Diet. of Not. Biog.

 

[3] He wrote from Plymouth Dock to Adam Clarke describing his present and prospective engagements (Works, vol. xiii. p. 101); also to Mr. Arthur Keene in Dublin (W.H.S. vol. viii. p. 42).

 

[4] The name was not changed until 1824. For Ker Street chapel, the mother Chapel of Devonport, with the preacher’s house adjoining, see Meth rec. Oct. 16, 1902, and Nov. 9, 1905.

 

[5] He Wrote from Kingswood to Joseph Benson, advising the payment of a tax ‘which perhaps is due in law, though not in equity.’ On the day following he wrote a postscript on Fletcher’s Letters to Dr. Priestley, urging him (Benson) to correct and publish them (new ed. Wesley Letters). See above, vol. vi. p. 468.

 

[6] See above, p. 197.

 

[7] Wife of William Bulgin, the printer, a trustee of the Old Room in Bristol. See Arm. Mag. 1787, p. 301. ‘ She received a great comfort from the following hymn which he (Charles Wesley) made on purpose for her:

 

Jesus in whose name I trust,

 

Nearest those who need Thee most.

 

(Osborn’s Poetical Works of J. and C. Wesley, vol. xiii. P. 269)

 

[8] Wesley advised Mrs. Fletcher to Settle at Bristol and London; but during her prolonged widowhood, for the love she bore her husband, and for the sake of the work in which he had delighted, she remained at Madeley, and amongst its rough population did successful Chris­tian work. She survived her husband till Sept. 9, 1815, dying at Madeley when about seventy-six years of age. Her widowhood for thirty years was a fitting sequel to a course of holy living. For a long time before her death she had from seventy to a hundred members in her classes.

 

[9] The Tolsey (‘Tolbooth’ is corrupt) was an early eighteenth-century building at the angle of Westgate and Southgate Streets. Earlier civic buildings and the Roman forum had occupied the site. It contained the city council chamber, and the Sheriff’s court. It was demolished in 1892. Aug. 7 records his opening of the new preaching-house (see below, P.308).

 

[10] Samuel Hallifax (Gloucester 1781­-89; St. Asaph 1789-90) had been Pro­fessor at Cambridge, first of Arabic, and then of Civil Law, and was a fluent and elegant Latinist, a liberal in Church views, and a friend of Hannah More, who spoke of his death (see her Memoirs, vol. i. p. 461) as the loss of a good man (Abbey’s English Church and its Bishops, vol. ii. p. 240).

 

[11] In 1765 Brindley cut the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. The principal basin was at Stourmouth, the junction of the Stour and Severn. Stour­port Sprang into a town (in forty years, with quays and warehouses) some time before Wesley came. This was his first visit; the Calvinists and Arminians had a ‘Union’ chapel. The Arminians were soon forced to leave. Chiefly through the efforts of Mr. Cowell a new chapel was erected for them, which is mentioned by Wesley (see below, March 21, 1788, and again in 1790), The letter found in his bureau after his death addressed to Mr. York, Stourport, near Kidderminster, says that he intended to be at Stourport on Thursday, March 18, 1791. (Meth. Rec. April 26, 1906.)             

 

[12]Wesley remembered Heath in his will, bequeathing the sum of £60 to him. He highly commends 

 

him in a letter to the Rev. Peard Dickinson (Works, vol. xii. p. 459), in which also he refers to his ‘wife and children’ as ‘cast in the same mould.’ 

 

[13] Asbury’s original scheme was on a modest scale, but it was overborne by the more ambitious ideas of Coke, who carried the Conference with him. The departure from simplicity grieved Wesley, who wrote to Asbury, Sept. 20, 1788: ‘... I study to be little; you study to be great. I creep; you strut along. I found a school; you a college! Nay, and call it after your own names!’ After ten years of terrible burden to Asbury, it was destroyed by fire in 1795. See Works, vol. xiii. p. 74, Briggs’s Life of Asbury, p. 275, and Etheridge’s Life of Coke, p. 135.

 

[14] He wrote from Birmingham to John Valton at the New Room in Bristol on behalf of Mr. Heath, President-elect of Cokesbury College, and his family. ‘Ships convey passengers far cheaper from Bristol than from London.’ He is to make a bargain with the captain, and is to ‘make everything as easy for them’ as he can (Meth. Rec. Winter No., 1900, p. 55). On the 25th he wrote to Samuel Bardsley, strongly protesting against leaving the Church. (Works, vol. xii. p. 504.)

 

[15] He wrote from Birmingham to Adam Clarke urging him to add Sark to his circuit of islands, to spread himself abroad, and not to speak too loud or too long (Works. vol. xiii. p. 101).

 

[16] Melville Horne was at this time curate of Madeley. He began as one of Wesley’s itinerant preachers, was received on trial in 1784, and appointed to the Liverpool circuit. In the Minutes for 1785 his appointment appears as follows: ‘Chester, John Fletcher, Richard Rodda, Melville Horne, James Wray.’ John Fletcher was the vicar of Madeley, and Madeley was at this time in the far­ reaching Chester circuit. On Oct. 2, 1785, not many weeks after her husband’s death, Wesley wrote to Mrs. Fletcher: ‘There is much of divine providence in this, that the people are permitted to choose their own curate. I believe Mr. Horne to be a sound Methodist, and think he will serve them well if he can procure ordination.’ Wesley, writing to his brother, April 6, 1786, reports: ‘Melville Horne hopes to be ordained on Trinity Sunday.’ He was ordained, and was chosen curate of Madeley. In 1787 his name appears in the Minutes for the Wolverhampton circuit thus: ‘Melville Horne, supernumerary, John Leach, John Brettell.’ As Wesley in 1785 had appointed Fletcher (vicar of Madeley) at the head of the Chester circuit, so in 1787 he appointed Melville Horne (curate of Madeley) at the head ­of the newly formed Wolverhampton circuit. Although he styles Horne ‘supernumerary,’ he places his name first, not last, as was the common usage. See Meth. Rec. Feb. 18, 1909.

 

[17] In Wheeler’s Fold, off Lichfield Street, at the rear of the Noah’s Ark inn, whence its popular name ‘Noah’s Ark’ Chapel. It measured 38 ft. by 32, was pewed in the centre of the floor, and contained a gallery for the choir opposite to the pulpit. Noah’s Ark Chapel was famous in South Staffordshire Methodism until 1825, when the first chapel in Darlington Street took its place. It was demolished for street improvements in 1882. See Meth. Rec. Feb. 13, 1902, and W.M. Mag. 1825, P.703.

 

[18] See Meth. Rec. Jan. 3, 1901. Lane End is now Longton.

 

[19] See Sacred Harmony, tune, ‘Maccabeus,’ No. 12, and Butt’s Harmonia sacra, p.83, ‘For Easter day,’ set to ‘Christ the Lord has risen to-day.’ The melody is that of ‘see conquering hero comes’

 

[20] He died on the 3rd of the following month. It is said that Wesley preached his funeral sermon from ‘Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord’ (W.H.S. vol. iv. p. 32). He was an apothecary, and fitted up a room at the back of his house, which was the first meeting-place of Wesley’s followers at Congleton. He had been a member since 1759 (ibid. vol. vii. p. 116).

 

[21] He wrote from Macclesfield to Miss Cooke (Works, vol. xiii. p. 98).