generally found in some retired spot, reading his book, and under the influence of powerful religious impressions; and on account of his refusing to join his schoolmates in play, they gave him the nickname of "Wesley." Subsequently to his leaving school, and also his father's house, and when no longer under the eye of his parents, no longer favoured with their daily advices and admonitions, and becoming associated with those who had no fear of God before their eyes, his serious impressions began rapidly to decline; and to his parents it was matter of extreme sorrow when they heard that he had begun to play at cards, &c.; but God, by the rod of affliction, prevented him from running on to any great lengths in the downward road to ruin. Having lost his health, he returned to his father's house; conviction of sin revived; he saw himself on the brink of ruin, he saw his need of a Saviour; the anguish of his spirit was great; he strove to enter in at the strait gate, but for a season the heavens were as brass; there was vouchsafed no answer to prayer, no deliverance, till he was almost driven to the verge of despair. One day he said to his mother that he thought he must give up praying, as there was no prospect of any relief. She encouraged him to pray on, and believe; and said to him that she would risk her life on the success of his pleading; and assured him that deliverance was nigh at hand: and so it proved; for the Lord, by his outstretched arm, soon raised him out of the horrible pit, the mire, and the clay, and put a new song into his mouth. He received the Spirit of adoption, by which he was assured of his acceptance with God through Christ. He was, I believe, then in the eighteenth year of his age; and, as he knew the Scriptures from a child, and had read most of Mr. Wesley's works prior to his conversion, he was in some degree prepared to preach the Gospel as soon as he had tasted the good word of life, and felt the powers of the world to come; and not long after that period he made his first attempt to publish the glad tidings of salvation to perishing sinners. A pious family in the parish of Lezayre, between three and four miles from his father's house, to whom he was known only by report, invited him to preach in their house. To this invitation he consented, though with much hesitation and fear; the time was fixed, and preaching announced; and he went to the place in company with Richard Radcliffe, an aged disciple, and a distant relation. His stripling-like appearance prevented any suspicion that he was the expected Preacher; and his old friend thought proper to prolong the suspense and the anxiety of the crowd, who, concluding at last that the Preacher was not likely to come, were about to disperse. Then his old friend introduced him by saying, "There is a youth here who can pray a little." So the hymn-book was handed to him, and he not only prayed, but, to the great surprise of the audience, preached also; and, if I mistake not, his text was, "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearance of the great God and our Saviour."

January 1st, 1795, his name was put on the Local Preachers' plan. As a Local Preacher he was greatly beloved, on account of his piety and fervent zeal. From a boy he was a book-glutton, and was rarely ever seen without a book in hand, when he had a moment to spare; so that he acquired, at an early period of life, that portion of useful knowledge by which he secured the respect of those who knew him, and by which his occasional services as a Local Preacher were rendered very acceptable and beneficial.

For some time he had the charge of a school in the parish of Couchan, near Douglas, having gone through a course of mathematical studies under the tuition of Mr. Corkhill, of Maughold, a very eminent practical mathematician; and his indefatigable student he treated with as much kindness as if he had been his own son. From Couchan he removed to Douglas, and became associated with the late Rev. Hugh Stowell, who was then Master of the Douglas Grammar-school. My brother, as his assistant, had the charge of the mathematical department. I find in his pocket-book, during the last year of his life, and written in a hand scarcely legible, a hand palsied by disease,―a most affectionate acknowledgment of the great kindness of Mr. Stowell during the time that he was with him. Mr. Stowell was a most amiable man, and deeply pious. He also is gone to his reward.

In the year 1801 my brother offered himself as a candidate for the itinerant work in the Methodist Connexion, under a conviction that it was the will of God he should devote himself wholly to the duties of the Christian ministry. Having passed through the usual examinations, his offer was accepted. Some time previous to this he had been very affectionately and pressingly invited to go to the West Indies, to take the charge of a large school at Spanish-town, in Jamaica, in the place of the Rev. John Allen, who had been promoted to the Rectory of Havannah, in that island. Mr. Allen was a native of the Isle of Man. One of his ancestors was the first Protestant Clergyman who preached in the island. He fled from the city of Norwich during the persecution of Queen Mary, and settled at Castletown, where he kept a school; and in the family there has been a regular succession of Clergymen from the time of the Reformation to the commencement of the nineteenth century. The Rev. John Allen died in the prime of life, September 30th, 1803.

My brother's first Circuit was Carlisle. He left his native isle, Saturday, August 22d, 1801, landed at Whitehaven on Sunday morning, and on Tuesday reached Carlisle, the allotted scene of his labours for that year, met Mr. Braithwaite, his Superintendent, and spent the evening in visiting the society: "a loving, affectionate people," says he, "among whom I found my soul remarkably happy. I preached on Wednesday evening; Mr. Braithwaite exhorted, and then held a prayer-meeting; and the Lord made his power known to many precious souls." On his first visit to Brampton, he remarks, "Blessed be God,

though the enemy has buffeted me, insinuating that God would not own my labours, I found the Lord present to strengthen and comfort my soul. While praying with a few simple-hearted people, I felt my mind so overpowered with the love of Jesus, that my fears vanished away like the morning cloud. Through unfaithfulness and unwatchfulness, I had lost in a great measure my evidence of entire sanctification; but, glory be to God in the highest, I was enabled to venture again on Jesus Christ, and my faith was not in vain.

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'Sunday, October 12th.-I held a love-feast at Carlisle. Glory be to God! it was a blessed time to my soul. The Lord was present in a remarkable manner. Seriousness sat on every countenance, and all seemed engaged with God for a blessing. Many were enabled to declare, with great freedom, what God had done for their souls." On the following day, he remarks :-" I had a heaven upon earth. As I was at prayer the Lord made every doubt and fear to fly away; and now I had a stronger evidence than ever of God's astonishing goodness in sanctifying my soul, while these words were particularly applied,

him.

'Behold the wounds of Jesus!'"

In the beginning of December he gives an affecting account of the exercises of his mind respecting his unprofitableness, and that his labours were not owned of God. He soon after heard of two persons who had been awakened under his ministry. This circumstance encouraged "On Monday, December 14th, I came to Farlam-Hall. Praised be the name of the Lord! I found him to refresh my soul in secret in a most comfortable and transporting manner. I saw myself the vilest of the vile; I saw my short-comings, and how much I fell short of the spotless purity which God's holy law requires. I looked to my Saviour, and beheld the value of that atonement which he had made for me, even for me. My soul was humbled in the dust before God. O God, when shall I be wholly devoted unto thee? I am a miracle of mercy! a miracle of providence! In the evening I felt extraordinary power while speaking in the name of the Lord.

"Christmas-day.-A love-feast at Carlisle, the best I ever attended. A few souls were set at liberty; and at the prayer-meeting, after preaching in the evening, several more found peace with God.

"December 31st.-How shall I sufficiently praise thee for the mercies of the past year! How many wanderings from thee! Shame and confusion belong to me! But, O, how many mercies bestowed upon me! I have not been one day ill or sick all the year. How many friends has God raised up for me! How many gracious visits from his presence! How wonderful his providence towards me! "November 3d, 1802.-I preached in Carlisle. At a prayer-meeting, held at the close of the service, three persons found peace with God. "Wednesday. I dined with a wedding-party at Brampton, and spent the time, I trust, in a profitable manner in singing and praying.

Why should not this be the method of spending the time at every marriage?

"Sunday, 31st.-At Upperby God was pleased to manifest his saving power in a wonderful manner. At the prayer-meeting, held after the preaching, one person was sanctified, two others were justified; another appeared very earnest for salvation, but did not obtain liberty. “Sunday, February 21st.-After preaching in the evening at Carlisle, from Isaiah x. 3, four persons found peace with God."

On Thursday evening he finished his Sunday night's discourse, and three others found liberty.

"Saturday, February 27th.-I visited Alston, and preached that evening. Many were much affected, and one found peace with God. I preached at Nenthead on Sunday morning, at Garrigill in the afternoon, and at Alston at night. The prayer-meeting continued till halfpast eleven o'clock. Eight or nine found peace with God.

"Sunday, March 28th.-We had a love-feast at Carlisle, and a remarkable outpouring of the Spirit of the Lord. Many souls were set at liberty that day. I preached in the evening, and one person found peace with God, a Mrs. B., from the neighbourhood of Carlisle, who related the following remarkable dream :-She had been very ill, and during her illness she dreamed that she saw a stranger stand by her bedside. After she had been restored to health she came to Carlisle to hear the word of God, and her surprise was great when she saw the Preacher ascend the pulpit,-the identical person she had seen in her dream! That evening the Lord spake peace to her soul."

In the month of May he visited Dumfries. He observes that religion was then in a low state in that town and neighbourhood.

"Saturday, May 26th.-I preached at Brampton. O Lord, help me to examine myself! How have I spent the week? In prayer? In devoting every talent to thy glory? In embracing every opportunity to do good? I come short, indeed. O arm me with jealous care. Prepare me for thine own day; above all, for that day which is emphatically called thy day.

"July 18th.-I preached at Carlisle on 1 John iv. 17. A few obtained the blessing of perfect love."

At the Conference of 1802 he was appointed to the Skipton Circuit.

“August 29th.-I preached at Skipton." He remarks, “The Lord was with us indeed. At the prayer-meeting after the evening preaching, eight persons found peace with God; and after the preaching on the Monday evening, three more found peace.

"September 17th.-At our love-feast at Eastby, we had a glorious time. Several persons declared that the Lord had fully cleansed their hearts from all sin. Others declared that they had received the blessing of perfect love during the preceding week.

January 1st, 1803, he expresses the deep conviction he had of his

own unworthiness.

"Another year is gone; but O my soul, what small improvement have I made! Surely, I am the most unprofitable of all thy servants.

"Thursday 27th.-I spent most of the day in private before the Lord. O what a blessing it is to be in close union with the Lord!"

February 19th being his birth-day, he observes, "This day I am twenty-eight years of age. O what a faithless creature! The Lord has mercifully preserved me without being one day confined to my bed during the past year. Lord, help me to praise thee! O may I live to God! Before the end of another year I may be in eternity.

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"March 5th. The past fortnight I have gone through many trials; but the Lord has kept my soul in peace. O may I always praise him! 'April 24th. We had a love-feast at Gargrave. I do not recollect ever to have witnessed such a glorious season, or to have felt so much of the power of God to my soul before. One-half of the congregation were in tears; and it was with difficulty that any could speak for weeping and rejoicing. I hope many will have cause to bless God for this love-feast.

"June 5th.-We had a love-feast at Addingham. The power of God was among us in an extraordinary degree. I never heard people speak with more liberty and simplicity. One or two found peace with. God."

In a letter to me, bearing date December 11th, 1802, he says, "I am among a kind and loving people, some of whom have been Methodists above fifty years. The sight of such pious veterans does my soul. good. We have had a revival in this Circuit. At present we seem at a stand; but those who have been already added to the society maintain their confidence." In a letter to his brother Thomas, dated April, 1803, he remarks, "I bless the Lord, I find him good to me.. He leadeth me into green pastures. I do not know what employment is like calling sinners to Jesus; but it would be hard work if a man had no religion himself."

At the Conference of 1803 he was removed from the Skipton to the Dewsbury Circuit, to labour with his venerable friend Mr. John Crook. I find no entry made in his diary from the time he entered upon his labours in the Dewsbury Circuit until New Year's day 1804, when he remarks :- "Blessed be God for his sparing mercy. I preached at Dewsbury in the morning on the nature of the Christian covenant. It was a refreshing season to many. At night Mr. Crook renewed the covenant. Solemnity sat on every countenance. O may it never be forgotten!" In a letter, dated March 4th, he says, "I have great reason to bless God for his mercy to my soul. My desire is that the Lord would use me as an instrument of good to my fellowcreatures. We have at present peace and harmony among us. I hope the Lord will keep us in peace evermore.

January 1st, 1805.-O what a mercy! I am brought to see the