Cicero, and Fabricius, and the American War, together with the next Magazines, to York. I expect to be ten or twelve days in and near Edinburgh, and about the 17th of June at Newcastle. Peace be with you all! Adieu!

LXXXVIII.-To the Same.

DEAR BROTHER,

Dublin, May 2, 1783.

IN three or four days we hope to embark: When we land, you may hear further: But at a venture you may direct to Chester: And do not forget the verses.

I marvel Miss F. does not answer my letter. Surely she is not affronted at anything. We parted in much friendship. I think verily you will keep out of debt while I live, if you will give me a hint now and then.

intention of the real founders," by giving the Conference a conditionate power with the Trustees, they will protest against it with both their hands.

:

You add "As long as the Conference appoints Preachers with candid impartiality, we doubt not their appointments will be acquiesced in by the Trustees and Class-Leaders." But, according to this Deed, the Conference has no more business than the Parliament to appoint Preachers at all.

From the beginning of Methodism till now, (to touch on one more point,) the Assistants appointed the Stewards in all societies: But this Deed gives the Trustees and Leaders this power; which they think is "necessary to insure the repayment of the three hundred and fifty pounds to be advanced for the building."

Necessary! Not at all. How many thousand pounds, advanced for buildings, have been paid within these forty years, though all the Stewards in England, Scotland, and Ireland, have been hitherto appointed by my brother or the Assistants! You conclude your letter with a very just observation :-" The civil and religious rights of mankind have seldom been promoted by the assemblies of Ecclesiastics of any denomination: And they never will be, unless they are composed of men devoted to God, and dead to all the allurements of ease, and avarice, and ambition." This is undoubtedly true; and this, we humbly hope, is the real character of most (at least) of those persons that meet in our assemblies. We hope, likewise, that "their consultations will always be moderated by some wise and truly religious man;" otherwise, that God will sweep away the very name of

Methodist from the earth.

Upon the whole, I cannot, I dare not, sign that Deed. I can have nothing to

do with it.

If the house should nevertheless be built, and settled upon that plan, I apprehend the consequence would be this: 1. No Methodist Preacher would ever preach in it. If any did, the whole body would disclaim him.

2. My brother would immediately set a subscription on foot for buying ground and building another house. The Trustees then might do what they pleased with

theirs.

I am, Sir, your humble servant.

We must positively let Mr. Abraham drop. Let his relations win him and wear him. I am in hopes T. M. will satisfy Dr. Coke. I suppose she loses her annuity if she owns her marriage. I have not seen Mr. Barnard. We had an exceeding happy Conference, which concluded this morning. I wish all our English Preachers were of the same spirit with the Irish, among whom is no jarring string. I never saw such simplicity and teachableness run through a body of Preachers before.

Tell me all you know of the good Congress, the Loyalists, and the Colonies. Peace be with you and yours! Adieu!

DEAR BROTHER,

LXXXIX.-To the Same.

Killeman, near Armagh, June 2, 1785.

So the good man will know pain no more! But I suppose he died without disclosing what his son Vincent charged him not to reveal till he came to die! If it had been of any consequence to the cause of God, he could not have died without disclosing it.

Pray talk with, as well as inquire concerning, the Clergyman you mention. Many times you see farther into men than I do.

I suppose you have before now received my Journal, as well as preceding letter. Probably the first ship that sails after the 6th of July will bring me to Holyhead. I hope to see Dr. Coke in London before the end of it.

About once a quarter I hear from Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher. I grudge his sitting still: But who can help it? I love ease as well as he does; but I dare not take it while I believe there is another world.

The patriots here are nobody. They are quite scattered, and have no design, bad or good. All is still in Ireland; only the work of God flourishes, spreading and deepening on every side. Peace be with all your spirits! Adieu!

DEAR BROTHER,

XC.-To the Same.

Dublin, April 11, 1785. I JUST write a line to let you know that we came to Holyhead on Saturday afternoon, and went on board about ten at night: But we had a dead calm till between ten and eleven in

the morning, at which time I began the public service. After sermon I prayed that God would give us a moderate wind, with a safe, easy, and speedy passage. While I was speaking the wind sprung up, and carried us on at an average five miles an hour; so that we sailed from Holywell Bay to Dublin Bay in exactly twelve hours. The sea, meantime, was as smooth as a lookingglass; so that no creature in the ship was sick a moment. Does not God hear the prayer? All is quiet here. Love to all. Adieu!

DEAR BROTHER,

XCI.-To the Same.

Dublin, June 19, 1785.

I CAME hither (as I proposed when I set out) yesterday. This week I am to meet the classes. Next week we have our little Conference. The week following I hope to cross the Channel. The work of God, almost in every part of the kingdom, is in a prosperous state. Here is a set of excellent young Preachers. Nine in ten of them are much devoted to God. think, number for number, they exceed their fellow-labourers in England. These in Dublin particularly are burning and shining lights.

I

I am glad you have paid them one more visit at Shoreham. What the poor people will do now, I know not: But the Great Shepherd knows, and will order all things well. But what becomes of Betsy Briggs?

The letter from Rome is curious enough. Fine words! And you know the Italians are famous for sincerity.

I should be sorry indeed if Sammy Tooth were a sufferer: But surely he knows his own business. Many here know and love you well. My love to all. Adieu!

XCII.-To the Same.

Manchester, April 6, 1786.

DEAR BROTHER,

I AM glad you are again able to officiate at the chapels. Let us "manage wisely the last stake!" It is enough that John Davis finished his course well; and we are sure Nancy Sharland did so.

But

Sammy Bradburn thought of going farther with me. the frost and snow drove him back. I believe, the loss of his

wife will be one of the greatest blessings which he has ever met with in his life.

Mrs. Fletcher will not be in haste to remove from Madeley, though her light is there almost hid under a bushel. Mr. Ireland will give me no help with regard to writing Mr. Fletcher's Life, "because he intends to publish it himself!" Let him do it, and I will follow him. Where is your Elegy? You may say, as my father in his verses on Mr. Nelson,

"Let friendship's sacred name excuse

The last effort of an expiring muse."

Can you or I ever have such another subject? Melville Horne hopes to be ordained on Trinity Sunday.

Indeed I love the Church as sincerely as ever I did; and I tell our societies everywhere, "The Methodists will not leave the Church, at least while I live." I doubt I shall not half agree with our friends in Scotland: But I shall know more, and you will hear more, when I see them.

While I live, Dr. Coke and I shall go through Ireland by turns. He will have work enough this year with Edward Smyth. I doubt Edward "needs a bridle:" But who can put the bit into his mouth? I am not sorry your Concerts are come to an end. Remember your dream concerning Sammy! "The damsel is not dead, but sleepeth!"

Mr. Pennant's I know, and Dr. Johnson's I know; but I know nothing of Mr. Boswell's Tour to the Hebrides. I should imagine it was worth reading. Peace be with all your spirits! Adieu!

XCIII-To the Reverend George Whitefield.

MY DEAR BROTHER,

March 20, 1739.

WOULD you have me speak to you freely? without any softening or reserve at all? I know you would. And may our loving Saviour speak to your heart, so my labour shall not be in vain. I do not commend you with regard to our brothers S

and C. But let me speak tenderly; for I am but a little child. I know our Lord has brought good out of their going to you: Good to you, and good to them: Very much good; and may he increase it a thousand-fold, how much soever it be! But is

everything good, my brother, out of which He brings good? I think that does not follow. O my brother, is it well for you or me to give the least hint of setting up our will or judgment against that of our whole society? Was it well for you once to mention a desire which they had all solemnly declared they thought unreasonable? Was not this abundant cause to drop any design which was not manifestly grounded on a clear command of our Lord? Indeed, my brother, in this I commend you not. If our brother R, or P, desired anything, and our other brethren disapproved of it, I cannot but think he ought immediately to let it drop. How much more ought you or I? They are upon a level with the rest of their brethren. But I trust you and I are not; we are the servants of all. Thus far have I spoken with fear and much trembling, and with many tears. O may our Lord speak the rest! For what shall such an one as I say to a beloved servant of my Lord? O pray that I may see myself a worm and no man! I wish to be Your brother in Jesus Christ.

WOULD you have me deal plainly with you, my brother?

I believe you would: Then, by the grace of God, I will. Of many things I find you are not rightly informed; of others you speak what you have not well weighed.

How?

The society-room at Bristol, you say, is adorned. Why, with a piece of green cloth nailed to the desk; two sconces for eight candles each in the middle; and-nay, I know no more. Now, which of these can be spared I know not; nor would I desire either more adorning or less.

But "lodgings are made for me or my brother." That is, in plain English, there is a little room by the school, where I speak to the persons who come to me; and a garret, in which a bed is placed for me. And do you grudge me this? Is this the voice of my brother, my son, Whitefield?

You say further, "that the children at Bristol are clothed as well as taught." I am sorry for it; for the cloth is not paid for yet, and was bought without my consent or knowledge. "But those of Kingswood have been neglected." This is not so, notwithstanding the heavy debt which lay upon it. One master and one mistress have been in the house ever since it was capa