MARCH I, Sun,[1] was a solemn day indeed. The new chapel was sufficiently crowded both morning and afternoon; and few that expected a parting blessing were disappointed of their hope. At seven in the evening I took the mail-coach; and, having three of our brethren, we spent a comfortable night, partly in sound sleep and partly in singing praise to God. It will now quickly be seen whether they who prophesied some time since that I should not outlive this month be sent of God or not. One way or the other, it is my care to be always ready.         

 

Mon. 2. -At Bath the evening congregation was such as we used to have on Sunday evening; and I have seldom seen a larger here. In the morning a young gentleman who had heard me the evening before desired to speak to me. He seemed greatly affected, and was almost persuaded to be a Christian. In the afternoon he sent his carriage, and would needs have me see his lady, though she had lain in but two or three days. Whether they turn back or no, they both seem now not far from the kingdom of God.

 

Wed. 4.[2]-I went on to Bristol, where we had a crowded con­gregation both this evening and the next.

 

MARCH 2, Monday

 

3.30 Thatcham, tea, chaise, within; 1.30 Bath, at Mr. Vaslet’s, within, writ narrative; 2 dinner, conversed, letter; 4 visited some; 5 tea, conversed, prayed; 6.30 Rev. xx. 12! 8.15 supper, prayer; 9.45.

 

Tuesday 3[3]

 

4 Prayed, letter; 8 tea, conversed, prayer; 9 letter; 10 [-]; 11 visited; 12 letter, visited, conversed, prayer, Journal, letters; 2 dinner, conversed; 5 tea, conversed; 5.30 at Sir Eg[er]ton[‘s] L[ady’s] [see above, text, and below, Nov. 25, 1789], conversed; 6.30 Mark xii. 32! society, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Wednesday 4

 

4 Prayed, letters; 8 tea, conversed, prayer; 9 letters, visited; 1 dinner, conversed, prayer; 3 letters; 5 prayed, tea, within; 6 prayed; 6.30 Zech. iv. 6! the bands, at sister Jo[hnson’s], supper, conversed,

 

prayer; 9.30.

 

Thursday 5

 

4 Prayed, letters; 8 tea, conversed, writ narrative, [-], visited; 11.30 chaise, visited, chaise; 2 at Mr. Durb[in’s], dinner, conversed, prayer, within, prayer, letters, tea; 6.30 Lu. ix. 14! supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Saturday 7

 

5 Prayed, Jos[eph] B[radford]; 6.45 sermon; 8 tea, conversed, sermon, visited; 1.15 dinner, within; 3 letter, within, prayed; 5 prayer, tea; 6 Temple Church, prayers, Col. ii. 6! Pen[ry], at Miss Jo(hnson’s); 8 supper, conversed, on business, prayer; 9.30.

 

Sun. 8. -In the evening I preached in Temple Church to a large congregation. It was an acceptable time, especially to the mourners in Zion.

 

Mr. Baddiley read prayers for me, but could not stay to assist me at the Lord’s Supper. However, my strength was as my day. Monday the 9^th,[4] and the following days, I visited the classes, which do not decrease either in grace or number.

 

Tues. 10. -I had the pleasure of an hour’s conversation with Mr. -, whom I had hardly seen for several years. On all these evenings God was eminently present in the congregation. On Thursday the 12th, the grand day of rejoicing for His Majesty’s recovery, I preached on part of King Hezekiah’s thanksgiving for his recovery; and indeed it was a season of solemn joy; particularly when I applied those words, ‘The living, the living, he shall praise Thee, as I do this day.’

 

Sunday 8

 

4 Prayed, sermons, sermon; 8 tea, conversed, on business; 9.30 prayers, Matt, xv. 28, communion; 1 dinner, within, prayer, sleep; 3 prayed, tea, conversed; 5 Luke xix. II! society, meditated; 8 supper, con­versed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Monday 9

 

4 Prayed, I Cor. xv. 33, class; 8 tea, within, class; 10.30 on business; 11 class; 12 dinner, conversed, prayer; 2 class, letter; 5 visited, tea, conversed, prayer; 6 prayed; 6.30 Mark xii. 32, at brother Bulgin’s, within, supper; 9.30.

 

Tuesday 10

 

4 Prayed; 6 class, writ narrative; 7 class, tea, conversed, class; 1 dinner, conversed; 2 class; 3.30 visited some; 5 tea, conversed, Mr. Hap[-]d’s; 6 prayed; 6.30 Psa. xiv. I, the leaders; 8 at brother Bulgin’s; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Wednesday 11

 

4 Prayed; 6 at brother Capel’s class; 8 tea, conversed, writ narrative; 9 class; 1 at brother Hopk[ins’s], dinner, conversed; 2 class; 4 visited some; 5 tea, conversed, prayer; 6 Jer. viii. 22! the bands, coach; 8 at Mr. Giffo[rd’s], supper, conversed; 9 prayer, could not sleep; 12.

 

Thursday 12

 

5.30 Prayed, class; 8 tea, within, letter; 9 class, letter, writ narrative; 1 at brother Cross’s, dinner; 2 conversed, Diary, visited, writ narra­tive; 3.30 visited some; 5 tea, conversed, prayer, prayed; 6.30 Isa. xxxviii. 8; at brother Ca[stleman’s], supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Fri. 13. -I spent some time with poor Richard Henderson, deeply affected with the loss of his only son, who, with as great talents as most men in England, had lived two-and-thirty years, and done just nothing.[5]

 

Sat. 14.[6]-In the evening I preached in Temple Church; perhaps for the last time, as good Mr. Easterbrook was suddenly taken ill the next day. Well, ‘whatever is, is best.’[7] 

 

Sun. 15. -Having Mr. Baddiley to assist me in the morning, I preached at Kingswood in the afternoon, and in the evening at the room. We concluded the day with a solemn and com­fortable lovefeast.

 

Friday 13

 

5.30 Prayed, sermon; 8 writ narrative; 11 on business, within; 12 the females; 12.30 chaise; 1 Hannam, conversed, dinner, visited, chaise; 4 at the School, prayer; 5 tea, within with R[ichard] Henderson;      8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.                                                                      

 

Saturday 14

 

4 Prayed, read, sermon; 6 the children; 7.30 tea, conversed, accounts; 8.30 chaise; 9.30 at home, letters; 1 dinner, conversed, letters; 3.30 on business, at Mrs. Phi[lips’s], tea, conversed; 6 prayers, Isa. xxxviii. 18! Pen[ry], at Miss Jo[hnson]’s, supper, prayer, on business; 9.30.

 

Sunday 15

 

4 Prayed, letters; 8 tea, conversed, on business; 9.15 prayers, Eph. ii. 8! communion, coach, at the School, dinner; 2 Mark xii. 32! coach, within, tea, christened, prayed; 5 Eph. v. 14, lovefeast; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Mon. 16. -We set out early, and dined at Stroud, where I had proof that either people or preachers, or both, had left their first love. I strongly exhorted them to remember from whence they were fallen, and do the first works. God applied His word, and I suppose two hundred were present at five in the morning.

 

Tues. 17. -Many were present at Gloucester in the evening; but they seemed to be little affected.

 

Wed. 18. -I preached in Tewkesbury at noon.[8] The room was crowded, and all seemed to feel what they heard. I was informed that one who, two or three years ago, had carried all his family to America, in quest of golden mountains, had crept back again, being utterly beggared, and forced to leave his family behind him. In the evening the house at Worcester was thoroughly filled with a deeply affected congregation; but we were in great want of more room. In due time God will give us this also.

 

Monday 16

 

3.30 Prayed, tea; 5 chaise; 8 Newport [near Berkeley], tea, conversed; 9 chaise; 11 Byford, tea, within; 12 chaise; 12.45 Stroud, writ narrative; 1 dinner, conversed; 2.30 sleep, journal, prayed; 5 tea, conversed; 6 Rev. ii. 4! society, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.15.

 

Tuesday 17

 

4 Prayed, Gen. xix. I, writ narrative; 8 tea, conversed, on business; sermon; 10.30 chaise; 11.30 Painsw[ick]; 12 Gen. i. 27, dinner; 2.30 chaise; 4 Glo[uce]ster, within, writ narrative, tea, prayed; 6 Gen. xii. I, 2, society, within, supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Wednesday 18

 

4 Prayed, letters; 8 tea, conversed; 9.30 chaise; 11.30 Tewkesb[ury], 12 Ecc1. vi. 12; 1 dinner, within; 2 chaise; 4.30 Worc[ester], on business; 5 tea, conversed, prayed; 6 Deut. v. 7, the bands; 8 supper, within; 9.30.

 

Fri. 20. -We went on to Birmingham, still increasing on every side. Hearing the cry of want of business, even in this as well as most other trading towns in England, I considered what the meaning of it should be; and the case seems plainly this: Two or three years ago, business poured into Birmingham, and consequently more hands were wanting; but when business returned into its usual channel, they were wanted no longer. These men therefore certainly wanted business, and spread the cry over the town. The same must be the case at Manchester, Liverpool, and all other towns where there is an extraordinary trade for a time. It must subside again; and then arises the cry of want of business.

 

Sat. 21. -I had a day of rest, only preaching morning and evening. Sunday the 22nd was appointed for my opening the house at the east end of the town. It would have been crowded above measure, but that the friendly rain interposed; so that we had only a moderate congregation. It was otherwise in the evening, when heaps upon heaps were obliged to go away. How white are these fields unto the harvest![9]

 

Thursday 19

 

4 Prayed, sermons; 8 the preachers; 9 sermon; 12 walk; 1 dinner, con­versed, [-], sermon, prayed; 5 tea, conversed; 6.30 Mark iii. 31! society, within; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Friday 20

 

4 Prayed, Phil. iii. 14, tea, conversed, prayer; 7 chaise; 9 tea; 10 chaise; 12.30 Birm[ingham], within to many; 4 letters; 5 tea, conversed, prayer, prayed; 6.30 Eph. v. 14! within, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Saturday 21

 

4 Prayed, Heb. iv. 9! writ narrative; 8 tea, conversed, prayer; 9 letters; 12 walk; 1 dinner, conversed, prayer; 2 visited, letter, prayed; 5 tea, conversed, prayer; 6.30 Mark xii. 32! within, at brother Barnard’s, supper, conversed, prayer, on business; 9.30.

 

Mon. 23. - The congregation at Dudley pretty well filled the new house, where I preached as I did at London fifty years ago. Thence we hastened to Madeley, where I found Mrs. Fletcher better than she had been for many years, and young Mr. Fletcher[10] much alive to God, and swiftly growing up into the spirit of his uncle. I preached in the evening, after Mr. Horne[11] had read prayers, to a deeply serious congregation; and again at nine in the morning, Tuesday the 24th, in the preaching-house she has lately fitted up. Going on to Shrewsbury, at six I preached in the preaching-house on 1 Cor. xiii. 1-3. Several of the gentry and several clergymen were there; and, I believe, not in vain. I had purposed to set out early in the morning, but was per­suaded to stay another day, there being now a fairer prospect in Salop than had been before. I preached morning and evening. I have cast my bread upon the waters, and hope it will be found again, at least after many days.

 

Sunday 22

 

4 Prayed, sermon; 7.30 tea, conversed, sermon; 11 Jo. ix. 4! sermon; 1 dinner, sermon; 2.30 coach; 3 letter, prayed; 5 tea, conversed; 6 1 Pet. iv. 7, society, within, supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Monday 2

 

4.45 Prayed, tea; 5.45 chaise; 7.30 Dudl[ey], tea, conversed; 8 Eph. ii. 8! chaise; 1.15 Madel[e]y, on business; 1.30 dinner, within, prayed; 6 prayers, 2 Tim. i. 7; writ narrative; 8 at Mrs. Ferr[iday], supper, conversed, prayer; 9.45.

 

Tuesday 24

 

4 Prayed, sermon, letters; 7 Isai. xxxviii. I, etc.; 9 tea, conversed, Eph. iii. 14! 10 chaise, Salop, conversed; 2 letters; 3 dinner, con­versed, prayed; 5 tea; 6 1 Cor. xiii. I; 7 society, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Wednesday 25

 

4 Prayed, sermon; 6 Matt. v. 6, letter; 8 tea, conversed; 9 sermon; 11 [-] [-], prayer, within, within to many; 1 sermon; 2 dinner, within, sermon, letters; 4 prayed, conversed; 6 society, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Thur. 26. -We set out early, and, taking post-horses at Llanrwst,[12] reached Conway between eight and nine o’clock, having travelled seventy-eight miles that day, twenty-eight more than from Chester to Conway.

 

Fri. 27. -We went on to Holyhead, and at eight in the evening went on board the Claremont packet. The wind stood fair three or four hours. It then turned against us, and blew hard. I do not remember I was ever so sick at sea before; but this was little to the cramp, which held most of the night with little intermission. All Saturday we were beating to and fro, and gaining little ground; and I was so ill throughout the day as to be fit for nothing; but I slept well in the night, and about eight in the morning, Sunday the 29th, came safe to Dublin quay.[13]

 

Thursday 26 

 

3.30 Tea; 4.30 chaise; 8 Oswestry, tea; 9 chaise [-]; 12 chaise; 1.30 dinner; 2.30 chaise; 5.30

 

horses; 8 Llanrwst, supper, on business; 10.

 

Friday 27

 

4.30 chaise; 8 Conway, tea; 9 chaise, read Watson; 11.30 Bangor Ferry, chaise; 3.15 Gwyndu; 4.30 chaise; 6 Holyhead, tea, within; on board the Claremont; 12 sailed, cramp!

 

Saturday 28

 

6 Not walk[----]! together, prayer; 10 [there is a long blank, evidently owing to his sea-sickness]; 9 lay down.

 

Sunday 29

 

7 Prayed, together, tea, conversed; 9 in the boat; 10 coach; 10.30 at Whitefriar [Street], on business, tea; 12 Isa. xxxviii. 18, communion; 2 at brother Dugd[ale’s], dinner, conversed, prayer; 3 sleep, prayed [-], tea [-], Jo. iv. 31, writ society, supper, prayer, conversed; 9.30.

 

I went straight up to the new room. We had a numerous congregation, and as serious as if we had been at West Street. I preached on the sickness and recovery of King Hezekiah and King George; and great was our rejoicing. I really took knowledge of the change which God has wrought in this Con­gregation within a few years. A great part of them were light and airy; now almost all appear as serious as death.

 

Mon. 30. -I began preaching at five in the morning; and the congregation, both then and the following mornings, was far larger in proportion than those at London. Meantime, I had letter upon letter concerning the Sunday service; but I could not give any answer till I had made a full inquiry both into the occasion and the effects of it.[14] The occasion was this: About two years ago it was complained that few of our society attended the church on Sunday, most of them either sitting at home or going on Sunday morning to some dissenting meeting. Hereby many of them were hurt, and inclined to separate from the Church. To prevent this, it was proposed to have service at the room; which I consented to, on condition that they would attend St. Patrick’s every first Sunday in the month. The effect was (1) that they went no more to the meetings; (2) that three times more went to St. Patrick’s (perhaps six times) in six or twelve months than had done for ten or twenty years before. Observe! This is done not to prepare for, but to prevent, a separation from the Church.

 

Monday 30

 

4 Prayed, Eccl. ii. 2, writ narrative; 8 tea, conversed, prayer; 9 writ narrative; 2 dinner, within, prayer; prayed, sleep; 5 tea, within, prayed; 6.30 Eccl. vi. 12, supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Tuesday 31

 

4 Gen. xix. I, conversed, letter; 8 tea, conversed, prayer; 2 dinner, within, prayer; 3 within, prayed; 5 tea, conversed, prayed; 6.30 Mark xii. 32! the bands, supper, prayer; 9.30.

  

---

 

[1] During March, Howard, the prison philanthropist, called at City Road to see Wesley, but found he had gone on one of his journeys.

 

[2] He Wrote from Bristol to Miss Rachel Jones, of Barton-le-Willows, near York (Works, vol. xiii. p. 117).

 

[3] On March 3 he drafted proposals for Walter Churchey’s Poems (new ed. Wesley Letters).

 

[4] On March 9 he wrote to Adam Clarke (Works, vol. xiii. p. 103).

 

[5] John Henderson was a student of Pembroke College, celebrated for his acquirements in alchemy, judicial astro­logy, and other abstruse and curious learning. He was a boyish prodigy, being a teacher of Latin when only eight years old. In time he lost all energy, became solitary and eccentric, smoked all day and drank not a little. He died in obscurity. A portrait of him is in the National Portrait Gallery. A full account of this genius was published in the Arm. Mag. 1793, p. 140. See also Works, vol. xii. p. 437, and Boswell’s Life of Johnson, p. 472 (Fitzgerald’s ed.)

 

[6]   He wrote from Bristol to Mrs. Hannah Bowman (new ed. Wesley Letters).

 

[7] Pope (Essay on Man, Bk. i.) wrote: 

 

And, spite of pride, in erring reason’s spite, 

 

                One truth is clear, whatever is, is right.

 

In his ‘Prayer for a Dying Child’ (Hymn No. 914 in the Collection of 1876), Charles Wesley toned down the dictum, and wrote:

 

Safe in Thy decree we rest, 

 

Sure whatever is, is best.

 

[8] A story appeared in the Gloucester Times of July 1885, which bears marks of authenticity, and all the dates named agree with those in Wesley’s Journal. In brief, the story describes a widow whose only daughter lay apparently at the point of death. She lived between Gloucester and Tewkesbury, and was induced by a neighbour to hear Wesley preach on March 17 at Gloucester, and to confide to him the condition of her daughter. He called the following morning, pre­scribed medicines and a treatment which resulted in the girl’s restoration to health. On the occasion of his last visit to 

 

Gloucester, in 1790, he called on the widow, and gave her a small manuscript containing remedies which earned for the widow afterwards the title of ‘the village doctor.’ Her daughter married one of the ancestors of the writer of the story. Their son studied for the medical profession, and in the north of England became a most skilful physician. The remedies received through his grandmother from Wesley he acknowledged as the most successful remedies used during his professional life. See Telford’s John Wesley, p. 337.

 

[9] The allusion is to the chapel in Belmont Row, then called Coleshill Street. In saying the east ‘end’ Wesley Was literally correct, for there was then scarcely a house beyond it. For an account of the early history of Belmont Row see W. C. Sheldon’s Early Meth. in Birmingham, pp. 37-9, and Meth

 

Rec. Aug. 29, 1901.

 

[10] For Fletcher’s brother and nephew see Cox’s Life of Fletcher, pp. 125, 130, 140. 

 

[11] Melville Horne. See above, p. 253.

 

[12] This was his last visit to North Wales. In adopting the newly established coach-route via Oswestry, Corwen, and Llanrwst, he not only saved twenty-eight miles, but by crossing the river by the bridge at Llanrwst avoided the perilous ferry at Conway. See W.H.S. vol. vii. p. 8.

 

[13] William Myles, who met Wesley in Ireland and returned with him to England, three months later, says that Wesley, who had been twenty-nine hours on the sea, was exceedingly ill during the voyage. He read prayers for him, and afterwards preached. But, having the Lord’s Supper to administer to about five hundred persons, he desired Myles to assist him by giving the cup to the people. This created a scandal in clerical circles. ‘Mr. Wesley had in­vited a layman to assist him at the Lord’s table.’ Myles wisely held his peace. (Arm. Mag. 1797, p. 313.)

 

    During this visit Mr. Wesley met with very great respect and attention from several persons of rank. . . . The Earl of Moira was among the number. Indeed, I never saw him treated with more respect, by those that were not in his own society, than he was at that time. They seemed to think it a blessing to have him under their roof, and he, in return for their kindness, strove to make his visits not only pleasing but profit­able (W.M. Mag. 1831, p. 298).

 

There is, however, another side to this roseate picture; it was given by Wesley a little later in a letter from near Dublin to Adam Clarke. He writes:

 

Every week, and almost every day, I am bespattered in the public papers, either by Mr. Smyth [his old friend Edward Smyth] or by Mr. Mann, his curate. Smooth, but bitter as wormwood, are their words; and five or six of our richest members have left the society because (they say) I have left the Church. (Tyerman’s Life of Wesley, vol. iii. p. 583,) See also W.H.S. vol. v. p. 19. and vol. ix. p. 188.

 

[14] On March 31 he wrote from Whitefriar Street a circular letter denying that he separated from the Church or had any intention so to do ; justifying those who met on Sunday noon for worship. He turned the tables upon his critics by asking, ‘How often have you been at church since Christmas?’ and persuasively appealed to their good sense. (Works, vol. xiii. p. 267.)