who might otherwise have lived in comparative seclusion and ease. *

Than on this occasion, the biographer rarely ever saw Mr. Dawson to greater advantage; not so much for the extraordinary character of his materials, as for the deep tone of piety which he displayed, the sunshine he threw over the meeting,-the spirit which he enkindled in the breasts of those around-the tact which he displayed-and the ease with which he fell into, what afterwards constituted the work of the platform. A missionary spirit was soon excited through the whole Wesleyan Connexion, and invitations poured in upon him thenceforward, not only from newlyinstituted societies, but societies as they grew old, some of whose annual meetings he attended for a

*In 1785, the Wesleyans had only three foreign stations-Nova-Scotia, Newfoundland, and Antigua,—5 Missionaries, and 1408 members on those stations. In 1813-embracing a period of 28 years, when the Missionary Meetings commenced, they had only 4 Districts in the foreign field, including 22 circuits, upon which were 22 Missionaries, comprising-exclusive of France, Gibraltar, and Ireland, 16,838 members. Seven additional Missionaries were appointed at the Conference of 1813, for Asia and South Africa, but had not reached their several destinations. The principal Mission Stations at that period were Sierra-Leone, Nova-Scotia, Newfoundland, and the West Indies.

In 1841-a second period of 28 years, the following "Recapitulation" of a "Summary View," was published as a "Postscript" to the January "Missionary Notices :" "The Society occupies,

Principal Stations, about 256;

Missionaries, about 380;

Catechists and Salaried Schoolmasters, &c., 322;

Assistants and Teachers, not salaried, upwards of 5,600;

Printing Establishments, 7;

Members or Communicants, 78,504;

Attendants on the Ministry, more than 200,000;

In the Schools, Adults and Children, 55,078;

Upwards of 20 languages, used by the Missionaries; into several of which the translation of the Scriptures, and of other useful and instructive books, is in progress.

The Annual Income of the Society amounting to between NINETY and ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS! So much for Missionary Meetings!!

succession of years. From this period, he advanced in popularity and usefulness, beyond all precedent among his brethren. It was not that kind of reputation which depends upon mere accident, as when the mass of the people are guided by the opinions of their superiors; the few, in such cases, being the keepers of the elevation of others, upon whom the trumpet of applause is bound to attend, and give forth its notes, on a solitary display of talent, or an extra act of benevolence: it was that which arose from his native genius and ardent desire to promote the public good,sacrificing personal ease, profit, and all private considerations, to promote the grand object. Without this-the public good as a motive, a man is at best but an "inglorious neuter to mankind."

Notwithstanding the chairman's caution to the auditory, self-restraint, seemed next to impossible. Such assemblies are, to a certain extent, in the keeping of the speakers; and to the speakers, rather than the hearers, such cautions should be administered. His style and manner, from the effects produced by them, and which in himself were generally admissible, led the way to certain imitations, and produced a lighter spirit occasionally than what comported with the object of the meetings, and which, so far as others were concerned, it was found necessary to tone down and to check. The evil became the greater, from the circumstance of the imitators being destitute of the weight which he otherwise possessed, and which invariably counterbalanced the flights of fancy in which he was sometimes pleased to indulge.

What was rather extraordinary, on the present occasion, the chairman himself, who was a man of almost

M

stern gravity, was, if not carried away with the excitement, overpowered by the deeper feeling. He had not seen Mr. Dawson before, and remarked to a friend afterwards, that he was frequently drawn to observe him, while the speakers that preceded him were addressing the meeting, and was deeply impressed with his appearance, as being something more than an ordinary character, and especially with the expressions of his face, which every now and then manifested the strongest internal emotions. But when he began to speak, the chairman was apparently under as strong emotions as himself, and towards the close, wept under the affecting appeals which were made to himself and to the assembly.

CHAPTER X.

Conscience, —a singular Incident.-Tenderness in Preaching.— The Shepherd personified.—Indirect self-praise.-Revivalists.— Mistakes in Conversion corrected.-Early Gift in Prayer among young Converts.--Establishment of Missionary Societies at York and Wakefield.—Extracts from Speeches.-Mr. Edward Wade's death.-Selby Missionary Meeting.—Timidity.—Characteristic Remarks.-Conversational Meetings among the LocalPreachers. A spiritual Ministry.-Deputation from a distance. -Death of the Princess Charlotte.-Visit to the North.—A Dream.-Quarrels from trifling causes. ·Fault-finders.Prejudice. Chester and Liverpool meetings.—Dr. Adam Clarke. -Propriety of bringing acquired knowledge to bear on the cause of Truth.-Death of the Rev. William Bramwell.-The Backslider.-Tract Distribution.-Addresses to Children.Objections.-The Eternal Sonship.—Authors.

He was

His ministry, if possible, became more energetic than heretofore, and was increasingly effective in the conversion of sinners. Among many other extraordinary effects produced, as to the conviction it carried to the conscience, one may be here adduced. preaching in the neighbourhood of Leeds, on Daniel v. 27,—“Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting." A person who travelled the country in the character of a pedlar, and who was exceedingly partial to him as a preacher, was one of Mr. Dawson's auditors.

The person referred to, generally carried a stick with him, which answered the double purpose of a walkingstick and a “yard-wand ;" and having been employed pretty freely in the former capacity, it was worn down beyond the point of justice, and procured for him the appellation of "Short Measure." He stood before Mr. Dawson, and being rather noisy in his religious professions, as well as ready with his responses, he manifested signs of approbation, while the scales were being described and adjusted, and different classes of sinners were placed in them, and disposed of agreeably to the test of justice, truth, and mercy,-uttering in a somewhat subdued tone, yet loud enough for those around to hear, at the close of each particular,—“ Light weight"-"short again," &c. After taking up the separate characters of the flagrant transgressor of the law of God, the hypocrite, the formalist, &c., Mr. Dawson at length came to such persons as possessed religious light, but little hallowed feeling, and the semblance of much zeal, but who employed false weights and measures. Here, without having adverted in his mind to the case of his noisy auditor, he perceived the muscles of his face working, when the report of "short measure" occurred to him. Resolved, however, to soften no previous expression, and to proceed with an analysis and description of the character in question, he placed the delinquent, in his singularly striking way, in the scale, when instead of the usual response —the man, stricken before him, took his stick—the favourite measure, from under his arm,—raised one foot from the floor,-doubled his knee, and, taking hold of the offending instrument by both ends, snapped it into two halves, exclaiming, while dashing it