Editor's Introductory Notes: 1761

[1] This letter, dated January 12, was also published in the London Chronicle, with the preface, sir, be pleased to insert in your paper what follows It is an answer to a letter published in the Westminster Journal and the Gazetteer, and begins, "Sir, there is gone abroad."'

[2] Sarah Crosby left London for Derby at the beginning of 1761, She met classes, and on February 8 found two hundred present. She could not speak particularly to each, and therefore told them of what God had done for her and exhorted them to flee from sin. This she did to a similar company on the following Friday, and found all her scruples removed as to the propriety of her acting thus publicly. John Hampson was the preacher. See Methodist Magazine, 1806, p. 518; and letter of September 8 to Grace Walton.

[3] The Caveat against the Methodists, published anonymously, was written by Richard Challoner (1691-1781), titular Bishop of Debra and Coadjutor in London 1741, Bishop in charge of the Roman Catholic London district 1758-81. See Green's Anti-Methodist Publications, No. 311; and letter of November 22, 1760.

[4] Wesley had not been at Barnard Castle since 1752. Rowell had a wide Round, which included Teesdale, Weardale, with other dales, and extended to Hexham, North Tyne, and Alston. His wife had to keep a small shop to earn a living. When Rowell died in 1784, Wesley described him as 'a faithful old soldier, fairly worn out in his Master's service.' Wesley visited Barnard Castle on June 10, and found the people who had been roaring lions as quiet as lambs. See letter of February 8, 1766, to George Merryweather

[5] James Rouquet was grandson of a French Protestant refugee who was condemned to the galleys. His father came to England, and James was educated at the Merchant Taylors' School, when he was converted under Whitefield's ministry. He graduated at St. John's College, Oxford, and was a master at Kingswood for three years. He became Vicar of West Harptree; and then Curate of St. Werburgh's, Bristol, and lecturer of St. Nicholas's and chaplain to St. Peter's Hospital there. On September II, 1756, he married Sarah Fenwicke, sister to the Dowager-Countess of Deloraine. She had five children, and died on April 28, 1768. In 1773 he married the widow of John Cannon, of Greenwich. In his will of 1768 Wesley left him 'all my manuscripts'; but he died in 1776. See W.H.S. ix. 11-14, 123 - 5; and letter of April 19, 1764.

[6] John Green was Dean of Lincoln, and became Bishop in 1761. See heading to letter of November 22, 1760.

[7] George Downing was chaplain to the Earl of Dartmouth, and Rector of Ovington, Essex, where the Wesleys visited him. Charles Wesley describes him as 'humble, loving, zealous Mr. Downing.' See Journal, v. 61, 105; Life and Times of the Countess of Huntingdon, i. 4-9; the next letter, and that of April 19, 1764.

[8] This letter was first directed by Wesley to 'Mr. T. Olivers, at Mr. John Hall's, in Newgate Street, York'; then, in another hand, to 'Mr. T. Olivers, at the Orphan House, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.'

Wesley had a high opinion of Thomas Olivers's judgement and skill as a controversialist, and these questions were probably intended to guide his thought and study. See letters of March 24, 1761, and January 18, 1762.

[9] Elizabeth Booth was the wife of Jonathan Booth, of Woodseats, whose daughter's illness is described in the Journal, iv. 70. The daughter married John Oliver, one of the preachers. On July 29 Wesley preached 'in Woodseats at two, and in the evening at the end of the house in Sheffield to thrice as many people as it would have contained.'

[10] John Hosmer, one of the first converts at Darlington, became an itinerant preacher. When his health failed, he settled as a surgeon in Sunderland. He died at York in 1780. See Atmore's Memorial, p, 200.

[11] Alexander Coates, a Scotsman, became Wesley's oldest itinerant. He had great abilities as a preacher, and was very popular. He died in perfect peace in October 1765 at the Orphan House, Newcastle. See Journal, v. 149; Atmore's Memorial, pp. 75-7; Wesley's Veterans, i. 146.

James Relly, a Welshman, was converted under Whitefield's ministry. He became a minister among the Calvinistic Methodists, and afterwards took the meeting-house in Bartholomew Close. He published a hymn-book which was widely used and a treatise on the Union of Christ and His Church. Thomas Taylor says: 'By him I was much blinded, and for a time all seemed right which he advanced.' He saw afterwards that Relly had sadly perverted the truth. See Journal, iv. 178; Life and Times of the Countess of Huntingdon, ii. 371n Wesley's Veterans, vii. 24; and letter of September 21, 1760

[12] Furly had formed a friendship with Henry Venn at Cambridge. Venn was now Vicar of Huddersfield; and Furly seems to have been afraid of his influence, which was not altogether friendly to Wesley The care taken to prevent hasty and unwise publications by the preachers shows how necessary it was to be watchful in these times of controversy. See letter of July 16.