May 1, Tues.- Setting out early in the morning, between nine and ten as I preached in the Church at Old Ross, to a large company of as plain country-people as I saw in Yorkshire. We reached Waterford between two and three. At six I preached in the court-house to an immense congregation, while a file of musketeers, ordered by the Mayor, paraded at the door. Two or three hundred attended in the morning, and gladly received the whole truth. In the evening, the congregation was larger than before and equally attentive.

 

MAY 1, Tuesday

 

4 Prayed, tea; 5 chaise; 8.30 Old Ross, tea, conversed, prayer; 9.30 Acts xvi. 31! chaise; 12 at the [-]; 1 chaise; 2.30 at J[ames] Deaves, dinner, conversed, writ narrative; 5 tea, conversed; 6 Matt. iv. 10! slipper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Wednesday 2[1]

 

4 Prayed, letters; 6 Heb. ii. 3, within to many; 7.30 tea, conversed, prayer, letters; 1 visited many; 2 dinner, conversed, letters, within to A[rthur]Keen[e]; 5 tea, conversed, prayer; 6 I Cor. vi. I, society; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Thur. 3.-I took my leave of this earnest, loving people, rid went on through a delightful country to Clonmel. At six I a reached in the court-house. I was much surprised. I know not when I have seen so well-dressed and ill-behaved a congregation; but I was told it was the same way that they

 

behaved at church. Pity, then, they do not turn Papists. The Church of England needs no such members: they are no honour to it.

 

Fri. 4. - With great difficulty we got over a most horrid road to Cappoquin; but that from thence to Tallow (eight miles) was exceeding pleasant. The remaining ten miles were very toler­able, so that we[2]  reached Youghal in good time. The court­house was thoroughly filled at six, and above half filled at five in the morning.

 

Sat. 5.-We went on to Cork.[3] The latter was pleasant beyond description. At a very small distance on the left hand, the river ‘rolled its sinuous train’[4]; beyond which were shady trees, covering a steep hill, and rising row above row. On the right we had another sloping mountain, tufted over with trees,

 

Thursday 3

 

4 Prayed, letters; 6 2 Cor. v. I; 7 tea, conversed, prayer; 8 chaise; 11.30 Cirric[k-on-Suir]; 12 tea, conversed; 1.15 chaise; 3.45 Clonmel, dinner, conversed, on business; 5.30 Acts xi. 26; 6.30 coffee, within, on business, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.45.

 

Friday 4

 

4 Prayed; 5 chaise, Inn; 8.30 chaise; 10.30 Capp[o]quin, tea, society; 12.30 chaise; 1 Tallagh [Tallow], dinner; 2 chaise; 5 Youghall, tea, conversed, prayer; 6 Jo. iv. 24; 7.30 prayed, on business, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.15.

 

Saturday 5

 

4 Prayed, Jo. v. 8, tea, conversed, prayer; 7 chaise; 10.30 Middleton, tea, chaise; 1 Cork, on business; 2.30 dinner, conversed, prayer; 4 prayed; 5 tea, conversed; 6 Mark iv. 3! conversed; 8.30 supper, conversed, prayer, on business; 10

 

sometimes forming one green, even wall, sometimes scattered up and down. Between these appeared several beautiful seats some of them fit for noblemen.  

 

At six in the evening the preaching-house would ill contain the congregation, and many of the rich and honourable were among them! Who hath warned these to flee from the wrath to come?

 

Sun. 6.[5]-We had an evening congregation at seven, whom I warned to order their conversation aright. At three in the afternoon I preached on the road to a numerous congregation; but many of them, especially the genteeler sort, were rude as colts untamed. We stowed the people together in the evening as close as it was possible; but still many were constrained to go away, finding no place even at the door.

 

Mon. 7. - The congregation at five in the morning was little inferior to that we used to see on Sunday evening. This time also we had many of the gay and honourable, who seem, at present, almost persuaded to be Christians. Oh what shoals of  half-awakened sinners will be broad awake when it is too late! On Tuesday likewise the congregations were exceeding large, and deep attention sat on every face.

 

Wed. 9.-We went to Bandon. Here also there has been a

 

Sunday 6

 

4 Prayed, Journal, tea; 8 Psa. 1. 23, Journal; 11 prayers, Journal; 12 dinner; 3 Rev. xx. 12! prayed; 4.30 tea, conversed, prayed 5.30 Matt. iv. 10; 7 society; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Monday 7

 

4 Prayed, Rom. xv. 2! Journal, tea, conversed, prayer, Journal, sermon, Genius, tea, walk; 2 dinner, conversed, prayer; 3.30 prayed; 5 tea, conversed, prayer; 6 Heb. xii. 7! the leaders; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Tuesday 8

 

4 Prayed, Psa. cvi. 24, visited, Mag.; 8 tea, conversed, prayer; 9 Mag.; 1 walk; 2 dinner, conversed, prayer, letter, visited; 4.30 prayed; 5 tea, conversed, prayer; 6 Rom. xiv. 9, the bands; 8 supper, together, prayer; 9.30.

 

Wednesday 9

 

4 Prayed, letters; 8 tea, conversed; 9 letter; 10 chaise, visited; 1.45 Bandon; 2 dinner, conversed; 3 letters, prayed; 5 tea, conversed, prayer; 6 Hos. xi. 8, society; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

remarkable work of God; and yet not without many back­ sliders. It was therefore my chief business here to strengthen the weak, and recall the wanderers. So in the evening I reached in the assembly-room (which was offered me by the Provost) on ‘How shall I give thee up, Ephraim?’ and God applied His word. I believe there was a general melting among the people, and many purposed to return to God. But the room was exceeding hot, and extremely crowded; and yet would not near contain the congregation.

 

Thur. 10.-The preaching-house was filled at five in the morning, and again I applied directly to backsliders, and found a strong hope that ‘the times of refreshing’ will soon ‘come from the presence of the Lord.’

 

At noon we took a walk to Castle Bernard. Mr. Bernard[6] has given it a beautiful front, nearly resembling that of Lord Mansfield’s house at Caen Wood,[7] and opened part of his lovely park to the house, which, I think, has now as beautiful a situa­tion as Rockingham House,[8] in Yorkshire. Mr. Bernard much resembles, in person and air, the late Sir George Saville. Though he is far the richest person in these parts, he keeps no race­horses or hounds, but loves his wife and home, and spends his time and fortune in improving his estate and employing the poor. Gentlemen of this spirit are a blessing to their neighbour­hood. May God increase their number!

 

In the evening, finding no building would contain the congregation, I stood in the main street and testified to a listening multitude ‘This is not your rest.’ I then administered the Lord’s Supper to the society, and God gave us a remarkable blessing. 

 

Fri. 11.-I took an affectionate leave of our friends at five.

 

Thursday 10

 

4 Prayed, Lu. ix. 62! letters; 8 tea, prayer, letters; 12 walk; 2 dinner, conversed, visited some; 4 prayed, tea; 6 Mic. ii. 10! communion, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

­

 

I left them full of good desires and resolutions. Calling on one that was ill at Inishannon, word was quickly brought me that the people were flocking together to the preaching-house. It was soon filled from end to end; and I preached to them ‘Jesus Christ, made of God to us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption.’ About noon I preached in the court-house at Kinsale to a very large congregation. But how different from that which I had in the Bowling-green two years ago![9] That was one of the most indecent, ill-mannered congregations that ever I saw in Ireland. This was as eminently well-behaved the sovereign[10] and many genteel persons being among them: It was no wonder to see the congregation at Cork in the evening equally well-behaved. So they always are; the chief of the city being no longer bitter enemies, but cordial friends.

 

Sat. 12.-A gentleman invited me to breakfast with my old antagonist, Father O’Leary.[11] I was not at all displeased at being disappointed. He is not the stiff, queer man that I expected, but of an easy, genteel carriage, and seems not to be wanting either in sense or learning. In the afternoon, by appointment, I waited on the mayor-an upright, sensible man,

 

Friday 11

 

4 Prayed, Hos. xiv. 4, letters; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, visited; 9 chaise, Inish[annon]; 9.30 I Cor. i. 30! chaise; 12 Kinsale, Job. xxii. 21; 1.30 dinner; 2.30 chaise; 5.30 Cork, tea; 6 I Thes. iv. 3! select society, supper, within; 9.30.

 

Saturday 12

 

4 Prayed, Isa. lvii. 1, 2, sermon; 8 tea, conversed, Mr. O’Leary! 9 sermon, letters; 1 dinner, prayer; 2 at the Mayor’s, Workhouse; 4 walk, tea, conversed, prayer, prayed; 6.30 Psa. ciii. 14, supper, conversed, prayer; 9 on business; 9.30.

 

who is diligently employed, from morning to night, in doing all the good he can. He has already prevailed upon the Corpora­tion make it a fixed rule that the two hundred a year which was spent in two entertainments should for the future be employed in relieving indigent freemen with their wives and children. He has carefully regulated the House of Industry, and has instituted a Humane Society for the relief of persons seemingly drowned; and he is unwearied in removing abuses of every kind. When will our English mayors copy after the mayor of Cork?[12]  He led me through the Mayoralty House- a very noble and beautiful structure. The dining-room and the ball-room are magnificent, and shame the Mansion House in London by their situation; commanding the whole river, the fruitful hills on every side, and the meadows running between them. He was then so good as to walk with me quite through the city to the House of Industry, and to go with me through all the apartments, which are quite sweet and commodious. A hundred and ninety-two poor are now lodged therein, and the master (a pious man, and a member of our society) watches over them, reads with them, and prays with them, as if they were his own children.

 

Sun. 13.-We had a very comfortable opportunity at eight in Cork. At three Mr. Broadbent preached on the parade. At five (as we removed the benches and stowed the people close together) the room contained most of the people, and I took a solemn leave of them, after closely applying our Lord’s question, ‘Do ye now believe?’

 

Mon. 14.-We went to Kilfinane, about twenty Irish miles (so I compute) from Mallow. I preached in the court-house,

 

Sunday 13

 

4 Prayed, sermon; 7 tea, conversed, prayer; 8 2 Cor. v. 19! sermon; 11 prayers, communion; 2 dinner; 3 sleep, prayed; 4 tea, prayed;     5 Jo. xvi. 27! lovefeast; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Monday 14

 

4 On business, tea, prayer; 5 chaise; 9 Mallow, within, prayer; 10.30 chaise; 2.45 Killfinnan[e], dinner, within; 4.30 prayer; 5.15 tea; 6 I Cor. i. 30, communion; 8 walk, the Spa,; 8.30 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.         

 

about seven, to a large and serious audience, and again at five in the morning, Tuesday the 15th. We then went on, through a delightful country, to Limerick. Here were always an affectionate people; but I never found them so much so as now. It was too cold in the evening to stand abroad, so we squeezed as many as possible into the preaching-house. I preached on ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart.’ Many here once experienced this, but few, if any, retain it now!

 

Wed. 16. - The congregation at five filled the house almost as well as it was filled in the evening. Finding a remarkable deadness, I inquired what were the reasons of it; and found (1) There had been, for several months, a deep misunderstanding between the preachers[13] and the chief of the society. Hence, on the one hand, the preachers had little life or spirit to preach; and, on the other, the congregation dwindled away. (2) Many had left off meeting their bands, and many others seldom met their classes. (3) Prayer-meetings were entirely given up. What wonder if all the people were grown dead as stones?

 

In the evening I endeavoured to reawaken those that were settling upon their lees by strongly applying those solemn words, ‘The first shall be last, and the last first; for many are called, but few are chosen.’ In the morning, Thursday the 17th, I endeavoured to stir them up once more

 

Tuesday 15

 

4 Prayed, I Pet. iv. 18, tea; 6.30 chaise, Bruff, tea, within; 9.15 chaise; 12 Lim[erick], on business, read; 2 dinner, conversed, prayer; 3 read; 4 tea, prayed; 5 conversed; 6 Matt. xxii. 27; 7 the bands; 8.30 supper, conversed; 9 prayer; 9.30.

 

Wednesday 16

 

4 Prayed, Matt. xxii. 29, Journal, letters; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, letter, sermon; 12.15 visited; 2 walk, sermon; 2.45 dinner, conversed, visited; 5 tea, prayed; 6 Matt. xx. 16! the leaders; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Thursday 17

 

4 Prayed, Matt. v. 6, the Stewards, letters; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, letters; 1 visited; 2 dinner, conversed; 3 visited, the Workhouse! 5 tea, conversed, prayer; 6 2 Tim. iii. 5! society; 8 on business, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

to hunger and thirst after righteousness, after the whole image of God, without which they will still remain­- 

 

 Cold, languid, weary, heartless, dead.[14]

 

After morning service I met the stewards and leaders, and inquired into the rise of the late misunderstanding. I found the matter itself was nothing, but want of patience on both sides had swelled the mole-hill into a mountain. Oh how patient, how meek, how gentle toward all men ought a preacher, especially a Methodist, to be!

 

In the afternoon I walked through all the parts of the workhouse, called, in Ireland, the House of Industry. It is pleasantly situated on a rising ground near the river; and, I believe, would contain about three hundred persons. (That at Dublin contains six hundred.) At present there are about eighty persons there, the contributions falling short. The apartments are large, airy, and sweet; and the poor (most of whom are employed) seem contented.

 

Every time I preached I found more and more hope that God will revive His work in this city. I know He will, if the prayer-meetings are restored; these are never without fruit.

 

Fri. 18.-I set out early in the morning, and reached Castleboy about four in the afternoon. I had much conversa­tion with Mrs. Persse,[15] a woman of many sorrows. But when she has been tried, she shall come forth as gold.

 

In the evening I preached at Kilchreest, about four miles from Castle boy. The number of the people constrained me to stand in the open air, though the wind was high and cold. They were all attentive and serious, except one young gentle­ and, who would fain have laughed, if he could. But his sport

 

Friday 18

 

4 Prayed, tea, prayer; 5 chaise; 7.30 tea; 8.30 chaise; 11.30 dinner; 1 chaise, Mrs. Persse, within; 4 Castleboy, dinner, within, on business; 6 tea, chaise, Killchrist; 7 Mark i. 16! chaise; 9 supper; 10.

 

was quickly spoiled; and, before the sermon was half over he was as serious as his neighbours.  

 

Sat. 19.-In two hours and a half we came to Athenry,[16] the rival of Kilmallock, once a flourishing city, now a heap of ruins. But even these are now covered with earth. It was built by King John, as well as the other, and seems, by its walls, to have been one of the largest cities in the kingdom.[17] Being wrong directed when we left this, we got almost to Galway, going about six miles out of our way to Cahermorris. However, I reached Ballinrobe in time to preach to a large and well-behaved (although genteel) congregation. I preached again at eight in the morning, Sunday the 20th, and then hastened on to Castlebar. We went straight to church. I preached at five in our new house;[18] I think, larger than that at Limerick, and thoroughly filled with as attentive a congregation, as any I have seen in the kingdom.

 

Mon. 21.-Little misunderstandings between themselves have continually hindered the work of God in this society. This morning I heard the contending parties face to face, and once more made them friends. A numerous congre­gation listened with all attention, in the evening, to that important word of our Lord, ‘Whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is My brother, and My sister, and mother.

 

Saturday 19

 

4 Prayed, tea; 5.30 chaise; 8 Athenry, tea; 9 chaise, lost; 1 Cahlr Morress; 2.30 chaise; 4.45 Ballinrobe, dinner, on business, tea; 7.30 Rev. xx. 12, on business; 9 supper, conversed, prayer; 10 on business; 10.30.

 

Sunday 20

 

4 Prayed, writ narrative, tea; 8 Matt. vii. 24, chaise; 12.15 Castlebar, prayers; 1.30 letters; 3 dinner, conversed, prayed; 4.30 tea, conversed; 5 I Pet. iv. 7, society, letters; 8 supper, together, prayer;

 

9.30.

 

Monday 21

 

4 Prayed, I Pet. iv. 10, 11, within, walk; 7.30 tea, conversed, prayer; 9 sermon; 1.15 chaise; 2.30 dinner, within; 4.30 at home, prayed; 6.30 Mark iii. 35! society; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

­

 

Tues. 22.-0ne of the men confined for murder earnestly importuned me to visit him. I did so, but he seemed as dead as a stone. And I did not wonder; for such an action, performed in cool blood, I never heard of before. Mr. M’Donnel, who had his leg wounded by one shot, and both his arms broke by another, was sitting on the ground, when this wretch came and presented a blunderbuss. He begged only five minutes to say his prayers. Andrew swore, ‘No, not one’; and instantly shot him through the heart! This whole transaction, from the beginning to the end, containing such a series of[19]  calm, deliberate murder, perpetrated with so shocking circumstances, is hardly to be paralleled in history. Some time since a shrewd man said, ‘This country will never be in quiet till one of these men has murdered the other, and then is hanged for it.’

 

Wed. 23.-Leaving our little society in peace and love, we went by Swineford to Sligo. At six I preached in the new court-house, a very spacious and commodious building, to a more numerous and more attentive congregation than I have seen here for many years. A large congregation was present again at five in the morning, Thursday the 24th; so that I am not without hope the work of God may at length revive here also. I had purposed going straight from hence to Annadale;

 

Tuesday 22

 

4 Prayed, Isa. lvii. I, 2, sermon; 7.30 tea, conversed, prayer, visited some, sermon; 1.30 walk; 2 dinner, writ narrative; 4.45 tea, within, prayed; 6.30 Rom. xiii. I I, etc., communion; 8 within, supper, prayer; 9.45.

 

Wednesday 23

 

3.30 Prayed, on business, tea, prayer; 5 chaise; 8 Swineford, tea, con­versed; 8-45 chaise; 11 Tobercurry, dinner; 12.45 chaise; 4.30 Sligo, dinner, within, prayed; 6.30 Matt. xxv. 31, etc., walk, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Thursday 24

 

4 Prayed, Matt. xxv. 31, tea; 6.30 chaise; 9.15 tea, Acts xvi. 30; 10.45 chaise; 12.45 Drumkearn [Drumkeeran]; 2 chaise; 5.45 Annadale; 6 dinner, conversed, prayers; 7 2 Cor. viii. 9! tea, conversed, supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

but notice had been given of my preaching at Manorhamilton. It is true this was five or six miles out of my way, and abundantly worse road; however, I would not disappoint the poor people, although by this means Mr. Slack’s[20] dinner was delayed till near six o’clock. I preached at seven to a very serious congregation, and passed a comfortable evening.

 

Fri: 25.-I had a day of rest in this lively[21]  family, only preaching morning and evening.

 

Sat. 26.-I preached at Ballyconnell about eleven. In the afternoon I took a walk in the Bishop of Kilmore’s garden. The house is finely situated, has two fronts, and is fit for a nobleman. We then went into the churchyard and saw the venerable tomb, a plain, flat stone, inscribed, Depositum Gulielmi Bedel, quondam Episcopi Kilmorensis[22]; over whom even the 

 

Friday 25

 

4 Prayed, Journal; 7 Rom. xii. I, Journal, within to many; 1 communion, walk; 2.30 dinner, together; 3.30 letter, prayed; 5 conversed, letter, Lu. xvi. 31, tea, conversed; 8 conversed, supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Saturday 26

 

4 Prayed, tea, prayer; 5.45 chaise, with sister Slack! Ballinamore, tea; 8.30 chaise; 10.30 Balliconnel; 11 Isa. lix. 1, 2, chaise; 3.30 Kilmore, dinner, walk, tea; 6 2 Jo. 8, supper, prayer, on business, 9.30.

 

rebel army sung, Requiescat in pace ultimus Anglorum- ‘Let the last of the Englishmen rest in peace.’ At seven I preached to a large congregation. It blew a storm, but most of the congregation were covered by a kind of shed raised for the purpose, and not a few were greatly comforted.

 

Sun. 27.[23]-I preached in Cavan at seven, and, then hastened forward to Clones, leaving Mr. Broadbent to preach at Bally­haise; which he did with good effect. But I needed not to have been in such haste, for the church service did not begin till twelve. Such a number of communicants, I suppose, was never seen at this church before. The service ended about half-past three. The question then was, where I should preach. The furious wind and violent rain made it impracticable to preach (where I intended) at the head of the market-place; but I made shift to stand on one side of it in a doorway, where I was pretty well sheltered. Although the poor people were exposed to heavy rain during the whole sermon, none of them seemed to regard it; and God did indeed send a gracious rain upon their souls, so that many rejoiced with joy unspeakable.

 

Mon. 28:-Having all the parties together, I inquired into an odd affair which occurred here a few months ago. F. B., leader of the class of single women, and always hitherto of an unblemished character, was accused of immodesty by Mr. A-, in whose house she had lived for several years. I found this accusation to be totally groundless. John Carr,[24] one of our oldest members, with a few others, spent an hour in reading and prayer, while a local preacher was reading a sermon at the room; this was represented to the Assistant[25] as done in a spirit

 

Sunday 27                               

 

 4 Prayed, chaise, Cavan, tea; 7 Acts ii. 4; 8 chaise; 11 Clones, on business, prayed; 12 prayers,   

 

         communion; 3.30 dinner, sleep, prayed; 5 Jo. vii. 37, prayed, within, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Monday 28

 

4 Prayed, Jo. xiv. 21, within! 8 tea within; 9 letters, within to many; 2.30 dinner; 3.30 within to many; 5 

 

         tea, conversed, prayed; 6 Gal. v. 22! communion! 8 supper, together; 9 prayer; 9.30.

 

­

 

of opposition, and as an intention of leaving the society (a thing which never entered into their thoughts); and he was urged to read them out of the society. Accordingly, he read out fourteen at once. I could not find, upon the strictest inquiry, that they had been guilty of any fault but meeting together that evening; so I willingly received them all again, requiring only one condition of the contenders on both sides, to say not one word of anything that was past. The spirit of peace and love gloriously descended on them all at the evening preaching, while I was explaining the ‘fruit of the Spirit.’ They were again filled with consolation at the Lord’s Supper; and again in the morning, while Mr. Broadbent applied ‘Comfort ye, comfort ye My people, saith the Lord.’

 

Tues. 29. - The old murderer is restrained from hurting me; but, it seems, he has power over my horses. One of them I was obliged to leave in Dublin, and afterwards another, having bought two to supply their places; the third soon got an ugly swelling in his shoulder, so that we doubted whether we could go on; and a boy at Clones, riding (I suppose galloping) the fourth over stones, the horse fell and nearly lamed himself. However, we went on softly to Aghalun,[26] and found such a con­gregation as I had not seen before in the kingdom. The tent, that is, a covered pulpit, was placed at the foot of a green, sloping mountain, on the side of which the huge multitude sat (as their manner is) row above row. While I was explaining, ‘God has given unto us His Holy Spirit,’ He was indeed poured out in a wonderful manner. Tears of joy and cries were heard on every side, only so far suppressed as not to drown my voice. I cannot but hope that many will have cause to bless God for that hour to all eternity.

 

I preached at Lisbellaw,[27] another little village, about six in the evening.

 

Tuesday 29

 

4 Prayed, on business, tea, conversed, prayer; 7.15 chaise; 11 Aghalun. I Thes. iv. 7; 12.45 chaise; 2.30 Lisbelaw, writ Journal; 3.45 dinner, conversed, Journal, prayed, tea; 6 Isai. lxvi. 8, society, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

The small rain continued all the time; but that did not hinder the people from mightily rejoicing in Him who causes ‘the earth to bring forth at once,’ and ‘a nation’ to be ‘born in a day.’

 

Wed. 30.[28] -A large room, designed for an assembly-room, was filled in the morning; and the poor people appeared to be quite ripe for the highest doctrine of the gospel; so I exhorted them, leaving the first principles, to ‘go on unto perfection.’ About eleven I preached in the market-house at Enniskillen, formerly a den of lions; but the lions are become lambs.[29] They flocked together from every part, and were all attention. Before I had half done God made bare His arm, and the mountains flowed down at His presence. Many were cut to the heart, and many rejoiced with joy unspeakable. Surely the last shall be first; and poor Enniskillen shall lift up its head above many of the places where the gospel has been long preached.

 

In the evening I preached to another numerous congrega­tion at Sidaire,[30] a large house at the foot of the mountains. One would wonder whence all the people came: they seemed to spring out of the earth. Here also there were once many bitter persecutors; but they are vanished away like smoke. Several of them, indeed, came to a fearful end, and their neighbours took warning by them.

 

Thur. 3.-We travelled through a pleasant, well-cultivated

 

Wednesday 30

 

4.45 Prayed, letters, tea; 7 Heb. vi. I, etc., letter; 9.30 chaise, Iniskellen,        I Cor. i. 23! chaise; 2 Sidaire, 

 

            dinner, conversed; 3.30 read, prayed, tea; 5.30 Mat. viii. 2, society, supper, conversed, prayer;     

 

            9.30. 

 

Thursday 31

 

4 Prayed, letter; 6 Acts xxii. 16, tea; 8 prayer, chaise; 12 Omagh, Heb. ix. 27; 1 chaise; 3 Kerlish lodge, writ narrative; 4.30 dinner, conversed, prayed; 5.30 Jo. xvii. 3; 6.30 tea, love feast, supper, conversed, prayer; 10.

 

­country to Omagh, the shire town of Tyrone. It being market day, a multitude of people presently flocked together to a tent as they call it, on the side of the Green. At first they were innocently noisy (this being a new thing at Omagh); but they were soon still as night. I suited my subject to their experience preaching on ‘It is appointed unto men once to die.’ God applied it to their hearts. Not a smile was to be seen; but all seemed to feel the solemn truth.

 

Thence we went over mountains and dales to Kirlish Lodge, where we met with a hearty welcome, both from Alexander Boyle and his amiable wife, who are patterns to all the country.

 

Although we were at a lone house ten miles from any town, and although the weather was both rainy and stormy, we had a large congregation in the evening, and afterwards a com­fortable lovefeast. I do not wonder the work of God spreads in these parts; the spirit and behaviour of Mr. Boyle and his wife, continually employed in doing good, have an amazing influence on all their neighbourhood. Some time ago she went to his uncle’s at Kilrail,[31] who has four daughters grown up. They began conversing in the evening; they prayed, and sung, and talked and prayed again, till about seven in the morning. By that time all four of them found a clear sense of pardon; and two believed they were saved from all sin.

 

Mr. Boyle had spoke to Dr. Wilson, the rector of a neighbouring town,[32] concerning my preaching in the church; who wrote to the Bishop,[33] and received a letter in answer, giving a full and free consent. The doctor desired me to breakfast with him. Meantime one of his parishioners, a warm Seceder, took away the key of the church. So I preached in a neighbouring orchard, I believe not in vain. The rector and his wife were in the front of the congregation.

 

Afterward we took a view of Lord Abercorn’s place.[34] The house has a lonely situation; and the front of it is as elegant as any I have Seen either in Great Britain or Ireland. The grounds are delightful indeed, perhaps equal to any in the kingdom.

  

---

 

[1] On May 2 he wrote from Waterford to Arthur Keene respecting a vacancy in the Widows’ House, and his appoint­ments to preach (W.H.S. vol. viii. p. 44).

 

[2] With Mr. Andrew Laffan, of whom, as a trustee, Wesley had a high opinion. See Works, vol. xiii. p. 14. Wesley lodged with him at Cork during his visit to Ireland this year.

 

[3]See Arm. Mag. 1791, p. 641, where Wesley publishes a series of resolutions passed by a committee in Cork, appointed by the Court of D’Oyer Hundred. The resolutions, which had been passed on Jan. 10 of this year, related to the crea­tion of a charity for the relief of the poor in Cork. 

 

[4] See above, vol. v. p. 375, and W.H.S. vol. vii. p. 38.

 

[5] He wrote from Cork to the Rev. Peard Dickinson, in the City Road, Moorfields

 

(see new ed. Wesley Letters).

 

[6] Mr. [James] Bernard, father of the first Earl of Bandon (W. H.S. vol. ii. p. 141).

 

[7] Caen Wood House, the seat of the Earl of Mansfield at Hampstead. This building had two fronts, facing north and south. For a good description see Old and New London, vol. v. PP.441-3. Cf. Dickens’s Barnaby Rudge, chap. Ixvi.

 

[8] i.e. Wentworth Woodhouse, the seat of the Marquis of Rockingham. See above, pp. 181,183. 

 

[9] See above, p. 76.

 

[10] Mr. Haddock Chudleigh. Amongst the soldiers then quartered in Kinsale was a sergeant who soon afterward, with his regiment, was removed to Barbadoes. There he and his comrades united in Christian fellowship and work. Thus a hearty welcome and a prepared field were found by Dr. Coke and the mis­sionaries when they first landed on the island. See Drew’s Life of Coke, pp. 193, 194; and W.H.S. vol. ii. p. 141.

 

[11] This Irish priest was noted for his humour and readiness of retort, and as a pamphleteer of great vigour. He asserted the claim of his co-religionists to toleration. Wesley’s reply to him is found in the Arm. Mag. 1781, pp. 296ff. O’Leary’s six articles appeared in the Freeman’s Journal. Boswell says ‘the Capuchin gave Wesley a drubbing. But see above, vol. vi. p. 267n.

 

[12] Sir Samuel Rowland.

 

[13] The Minutes for 1786 give Daniel Jackson and Thomas Seaward as the preachers.

 

[14] From a poem entitled, ‘In Desertion or Temptation,’ Hymns and Sacred poems, 1739, See Osborn’s Poetical Works of J. and C. Wesley, vol. i. p. 131 (Verse 7).

 

[15] A Mr. Persse was his host in Dublin, when the Rev. Adam Averell met him for the first time. See above, vol. Vi P.172.

 

­

 

[16]See above, p. 80. 

 

[17] See Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquarians of Ireland, Sept. 30,1913

 

[18] Where during this same year a second chapel had been built. (Crookshank’s Meth. in Ireland, vol. i. p. 400.)

 

[19] The omission from the text of the words ‘a series of’ has been suggested, on the ground that whilst there appears a have been a series of outrages there was only one actual murder. Further light might, however, justify the text in its present form.

 

[20] The house was about five miles south­east from Drumshambo, Leitrim, and was a beautiful residence. Mr. Slack was a descendant of Captain William Slack, who pulled down the old monastery to erect Kiltinbride House, a former name of Annadale. The new name [Anna] Dale was Mrs. Slack’s Christian name. Dr. Coke called her ‘the Queen of the Dale.’ (Meth. Mag., 1798, p. 557.)

 

[21] Benson’s edition (1810) reads ‘lovely.’

 

[22] ‘Here are deposited the remains of William Bedell, formerly Bishop of Kilmore.’ William Bedell, born in 1570 at Black Notley in Essex, was educated at Emanuel College, Cambridge, where he obtained a fellowship. He received the Jiving of Bury St. Edmunds. In 1604 he went to Venice as chaplain to Sir Henry Wotton. There, he contracted a friendship with eminent ecclesiastics, from one of whom he received in manu­script a history of the Council of Trent, which he afterwards printed in London. He was appointed to the headship of Trinity College, Dublin, and in 1629 was created Bishop of Kilmore. At Kilmore his good works were so many, and his conduct towards the Romanists so conciliatory that the quiet beauty of his holy life won their friendship. When the rebellion broke out and many thousands of the Protestants were massacred, the Bishop was unmolested; and when, later, he and his family were arrested, they were afterwards set at liberty. He died in 1641, and the Irish Romanists uttered the words at his funeral which Wesley saw upon his grave. He had the Bible translated into the Irish language. See Life of Bishop Bedell, condensed by Wesley in the Arm. Mag. 1778, pp. 459 ff.; also, below, P. 500. George Lewis Jones was Bishop of Kilmore at this time (1774-1790)

 

[23] He wrote from Clones to Adam Clarke (Wesleyan Times, 1866, and Dunn’s Life of Adam Clarke). 

 

[24] Or Kerr.

 

[25] This was William Green.

 

[26] Now Brookeborough. 

 

[27] Here Wesley was the guest of James Copeland. A good woman brought her child to be baptized. When Wesley heard that the child’s name was John Nelson, he prayed that he might become like his English namesake; and such he became. He lived until 1877, having fulfilled a fruitful and honourable ministry of sixty-eight years (Min. of Conf. 1877). ­

 

[28]             From Lisbellaw he wrote to Zechariah Yewdall (Works, vol. xiii. p. 16).

 

[29] The reference probably is to the attack described above, vol. v. pp. 507-9; cf. Dr. Coke’s Journal (Arm. Mag. 1798, pp. 556-7).

 

       [30] See above, vol. v. p. 416. It is at the foot of low hills rather than mountains. The population is now greater. William Keys, who afterwards entered the ministry, was present. Wesley, laying his hand on the lad’s head, prayed God to bless him. He travelled 1806-1861.

 

[31] The home of Mr. McKay.

 

[32] Newtown Stewart, Ardstraw parish. 

 

[33] i.e. of Derry, of whom see below, June 4.

 

[34] Barons Court, near Newtown Stewart. At that time the Abercorn peerage was an earldom.