its possibility, he always disclaimed having attained himself. In 1738 he visited, at Hernhuth in Germany, Count Zinzendorff, the chief of the Moravians. In the following year we find him again in England, and, with his brother Charles, at the head of the Methodists. He preached his first field sermon at Bristol, on the 2d of April 1738, from which time his disciples have continued to increase. In 1741 a serious altercation took place between him and Mr. Whitefield. In 1744, attempting to preach at a public inn at Taunton, he was regularly silenced by the magistrates*. Though he remained the rest of his days nearer home, he travelled through every part of England, Scotland, and Ireland, establishing congregations in each kingdom. In 1750 he married a lady, from whom he afterwards parted, and she died in 1781; by her he had no children. This separation, from whatever motives it originated, we have heard some of his followers say, was the only blot in his character. Others have observed on this head, that nothing could be more effectually disappointed than ambition or avarice in an union with John Wesley. In 1755 he published "Serious Thoughts on the Earthquake at Lisbon;" and in 1771 seems first to have commenced politician, by publishing "Thoughts on Public Affairs; "which was followed by "Thoughts

*See Gent. Mag. vol. XIV. p. 51.

† Archbishop Herring, in a letter to Mr. Duncombe, dated Jan. 25, 1756, says, "Your judgment is right. Whitefield is Daniel Burgess redivivus; and, to be sure, he finds his account in his joco-serious addresses. The other author [Mr. Wesley], in my opinion, with good parts and learning, is a more dark and saturnine creature. His pictures may frighten weak people, who, at the same time, are wicked; but, I fear, he will make few converts, except for a day. I have read his "Serious Thoughts;" but, for my own part, I think the rising and setting of the sun is a more durable argument for Religion, than all the extraordinary convulsions of Nature put together. Let a man be good on right principles; and then, impavidum ferient ruina; so far Horace was as good a preacher as any of us. For myself, I own I i ave no constitution for these frights and fervors." See more on thus subject in Gent. Mag. vol. XLVII. p. 134.

pen;

on Slavery, 1774;" "An Address to the Colonies *, 1775;"" Observations on Liberty, 1776." His other writings it is not very easy to enumerate. Few men have written so voluminously; divinity, devotional and controversial, history, philosophy, medicine+, politicks, poetry, &c. &c. were all, at different times, the subjects of his and whatever may be the opinions held of his divinity, it is impossible to deny him the merit of having done infinite good to the lower class of people. Abilities he unquestionably possessed, and a fluency which was highly acceptable, and well accommodated to his hearers. He had been gradually declining for about three years: yet he still rose at four o'clock, and preached, travelled, and wrote, as usual. He preached at Leatherhead Feb. 23, 1791. On the 28th the first symptoms of his approaching dissolution appeared. The four succeeding days he spent in praising the God of his mercies; and departed on the morning of March 2, to receive the reward of a life spent in bringing "glory to God in the highest, and peace and good-will to men."

His remains, after lying in his Tabernacle in a kind of state, dressed in the gown and cassock, band, &c. which he usually wore, and on his head the old clerical cap, a Bible in one hand, and a white handkerchief in the other, were, agreeably to his own directions, and after the manner of the interment of the late Mr. Whitefield. deposited in a piece of ground near his chapel at the Foundery,

* See a long letter to him in Gent. Mag. vol. XLV. p. 561.

† A considerable portion of his Poems, Hymns, and Sermons §, may be traced in the General Index of Books Reviewed in the Gentleman's Magazine; where also his controversy with Gill may be seen, vol. XXIV. p. 581; with Thompson, vol XXX. p. 145; with Hill, vol. XLII. p. 532; vol. XLVII. p. 540.

A subject on which he totally failed, see Dr. Hawes's "Examination of the Rev. John Wesley's Primitive Physic."

§ Among his early Sermons that were published, was one in 1735, on the "Pleasures of a Religious Life;" a Funeral Sermon in the same year; and one in 1740, "On Free Grace." Several were collected into three volumes, 1746, 1748, 1750; but "The Preacher's Assistant" notices only three other single Sermons, though many were printed by him; 1. At Bethnal Green, 1775; 2. At a Collection for the Humane Society, 1757; 3. On laying the Foundation of the new Chapel near the City Road, 1777. To which may be added, one on the Death of Mr. Whitefield, preached Nov. 18, 1770. Moor

Moorfields, on the morning of the 9th of March, in the plainest manner consistent with decency, amidst the tears and sighs of an innumerable company of his friends and admirers, who all appeared in deep mourning on the occasion. A sermon, previously to the funeral, was preached by Thomas Whitehead. M. D. (one of the physicians to the London hospital), accompanied with suitable Hymns, &c. And on the 13th, the different chapels in his connexion in London were hung with black.

Where much good is done, we should not mark every little excess. The great point in which Mr. Wesley's name and mission will be honoured is this: he directed his labours towards those who had no instructor; to the highways and hedges; to the mines in Cornwall, and to the colliers in Kingswood. These unhappy creatures married and buried among themselves, and often committed murders with impunity, before the Methodists sprang up. By the humane and active endeavours of him and his brother Charles, a sense of decency, morals, and religion, was introduced into the lowest classes of mankind; the ignorant were instructed, the wretched relieved; and the abandoned reclaimed. He met with great opposition from many of the Clergy; and unhandsome treatment from the Magistrates, who frequently would refuse to check or punish a lawless mob, that often assembled to insult or abuse him. He was, however, one of the few characters who outlived enmity and prejudice; and received, in his latter years, every mark of respect from every denomination. The political sentiments of popular men are of importance to the State. John Wesley was a strenuous advocate for Monarchy; and all his followers in America were firmly Royal. Those of Mr. Whitefield declared in favour of Independence. His personal influence was greater than, perhaps, that of any other private gentleman in any country. It was computed that in 1791 there were in the three kingdoms 80,000 members of this society. He visited thein alternately; travelled 8000 miles

every year; preached three or four times constantly in one day; rose at four, and employed all his time in reading, writing, attending the sick, and arranging the various parts of this numerous body of people.-Amongst his virtues, forgiveness to his enemies, and liberality to the poor, were most remarkable: he has been known to receive into even his confidence those who have basely injured him; they have not only subsisted again on his bounty, but shared in his affection.-All the profit of his literary labours, all that he received, or could collect (and it amounted to an immense sum, for he was his own printer and bookseller), was devoted to charitable purposes. Yet, with such opportunities of enriching himself, it was doubtful whether the sale of the books would pay all his debts. His travelling expences were defrayed by the societies which he visited.

The superintendency of his various chapels and societies he committed, about the year 1784, by a deed enrolled in Chancery (in trust for support of his preachers and their poor families), to an hundred travelling preachers, then in various parts of these kingdoms; and among the number was the Rev. Dr. Coke*. at that time in America, whose mission was supposed to have increased the converts in the West India Islands, and other parts of America, to near 50,000, after the conclusion of the war, and founder, in 1789, of a college in South Carolina, called Wesley college. On a review of the character of this extraordinary man, it appears that, though he was endowed with eminent talents, he was more distinguished by their use than even by their possession. Though his taste was classic, and his manners elegant, he sacrificed that society in which he was particularly calculated to shine; gave up those preferments which his abilities must have obtained, and devoted a long life in practising and enforcing the plainest duties. Instead of being "an ornament to literature," he was a blessing to his fellow creatures; instead of "the genius. of the age," he was the servant of God!

* Who is now (1809) the Arch-Prasul of the very numerous sect of Methodists in Mr. Wesley's connexion.

No. X.

EMINENT ANTIQUARIES,

THE FRIENDS AND PATRONS OF MR. BOWYER,

(See vol. II. p. 90.)

ROBERT AINSWORTH, born at Woodyale, in the parish of Eccles, in Lancashire, four miles from Manchester, in September 1660, was educated at Bolton in that county; and taught school in the same town. On coming to London, he opened a considerable boarding-school at Bethnal Green, where in 1698 he wrote and published a short treatise of Grammatical Institution, inscribed to Sir William Hustler, and reprinted in 1736, 8vo, under the title of "The most natural and easy Way of Institution, by making a domestic Education less chargeable to Parents, and more easy and beneficial to Children. By which Method, Youth may not only make a very considerable Progress in Languages, but also in Arts and Sciences, in two Years." Mr. Ainsworth soon after removed to Hackney, and successively to other villages near London, where he taught with good reputation many years; when, having acquired a moderate fortune, he left off, and lived privately.

About the year 1714, it having been suggested to some principal booksellers, that a new compendious English and Latin Dictionary, upon a plan somewhat similar to Faber's Thesaurus, was much wanted, Mr. Ainsworth was thought of as a proper person to undertake so long and troublesome a work; and how well he executed it, has been sufficiently shewn by the rapid sale of several large impressions.

Mr. Ainsworth was elected F. A. S. in 1724; and, besides the Grammatical Treatise above mentioned,

he