the Dissenters will have all our congregations, and our students also, and the various revolutions of the ministers settled.

"A bond might speedily secure to you my engagements, obliging me to execute, as soon as can be obtained, my deed of gift to you, contain ing my fullest authority for your present and future possession; and for the present your winter months either at Bath or London, as your calls might render you subject to; and you to have a right from the College for a student, or an ordained seceding minister, to supply your absence; and to oblige the people to continue such in case of your call upon any occasion from Tunbridge Wells. Let this remain with you and me till your answer fully is given. The congregations are to allow, as now, two guineas a-week and travelling charges. The more I see this matter the more I am satisfied that it is the best means to secure in future your wishes: but the Lord alone for ever instructs us what is best. Should you or should you not approve this, to ourselves will be best kept, but should you, Fisher might make the bond of obligations, and remit it for my execution, till he shall prepare the deed in the fullest and most legal manner.

"This is and must be your surest and safest road to Bath; as only universal concurrence so obtained can give that lasting love and peace which must abide with all. Should this be the case, we shall see the wisdom and love of the Lord in making the chapel quite ready for you. Farewell, my ever affectionate friend,

"S. HUNTINGDON."

CHAPTER XXXIV.

Lady Huntingdon's Connexion in Ireland—Mr. Whitefield the first who visited Ireland-Dr. Delany--Bishop of Limerick-Mr. Thomas Williams-Persecution of the Methodists-Mr. Charles Wesley-Speaker of the House of Commons Dr. Gifford Mr. Whitefield - Mr. Lunell- Mr. Whitefield's second visit to Ireland Methodist Society-Mr. John Edwards-Mr. Whitefield's third visit to Ireland-near being murdered-United Brethren-Mr. Piers-Mr. Shirley Mr. Wesley visits Ireland-Mr. Charles Wesley ceases to itinerate—Success of Mr. Shirley and Mr. Piers-Lord and Lady Clanricarde-Mr. De Courcy-Letter to Lady Huntingdon Mr. Townsend-Mr. Venn-Mr. Newton His first attempts at preaching-Irregulars and Itinerants.

"Poor wicked Ireland, I trust, shall yet have a Gospel day. I can't see how or when but it must be; and till I find that opportunity, my eye is only waiting darkly for its accomplishment.”—Lady Huntingdon.

As the venerable Countess was instrumental in establishing a very flourishing congregation in Dublin, and laying the foundation of others in more distant parts of Ireland; and as many of

those eminent clergymen who laboured with her in the blessed work of spreading the everlasting Gospel, with several of the students educated at her Ladyship's College in Wales, were the means, under God, of diffusing much of the light of evangelical truth through the kingdom in general, an account of the rise and progress of her benevolent and zealous exertions to spread the knowledge of the doctrine of her crucified Lord in that country, demands particular notice in the Life and Times of the Countess of Huntingdon. Since her Ladyship's death, the number of ministers in the Church of England, labouring in the strict pale of regularity, and contending for the true doctrine of the Articles in their literal and grammatical sense, has amazingly increased. The happy impulse given by the labours of her Ladyship's chaplains and ministers has left the most abundant tendency to accelerate the movement. Hundreds are now labouring in the like cause and with the like zeal-with true purpose of heart and signal blessings on their endeavours. May they be finally crowned with abundant success, till every city, every town, and every obscure village in the kingdom have the standard of the cross erected in each of them.

Ireland, unhappily sunk in darkness and the superstitions of Popery, and but little adorned with real evangelical knowledge, even in those who had assumed the name of Protestants, had long afforded matter of much sorrow to such as looked for the life and power of religion. Vital godliness had sunk to a very low standard; and only here and there an individual cleaved to the faith once delivered to the saints, and dared to be singular. The conduct of the clergy was indeed such as, with few exceptions, to merit the severest reprobation. Not one perhaps in a county was an active parish priest, suited to the state of the country and people, preaching the pure doctrines of the Gospel, visiting or catechising his flock, entering into the cabins of the poor to instruct them, to fortify their minds against the attempts of the Romish emissaries, and to reclaim those who had been led astray. Such, indeed, was the criminal sloth of the clergy, that it merits to be held up to the execration of all succeeding ages, as the grand cause of the deplorable state of religion in that country, and of the political calamities which have sprung from it, and have been so severely felt.

It was during this state of torpor-this departure from all godliness, that those distinguished advocates of evangelical truth, the Wesleys and Whitefield, with their zealous coadjutors in the blessed work, passed from England into that kingdom, since which time true religion has spread out its branches through many parts of that unhappy country. Mr. Whitefield was the

leader in that glorious enterprize; and his first visit to Ireland, in 1738-39, one hundred years ago, had a more beneficial result. Dr. Burscough, Bishop of Limerick, received him with the utmost kindness and cordiality. At his Lordship's request, he preached in the cathredral to a very numerous audience, who appeared universally affected. After service the mayor sent twice to invite him to dinner, but he was engaged to the bishop, who offered him the use of his palace as long as he remained. At parting, the venerable prelate embraced him, and said, "Mr. Whitefield, God bless you-I wish you success abroad. Had you staid in town, this house should have been your home." At Dublin he was kindly received by Dr. Delany,* Dean of St. Patrick's Cathredral, by whom he was introduced to Dr. Rundel, Bishop of Derry, and Dr. Boulter, Primate of all Ireland, both of whom gave him most polite and pressing invitations to their houses. He dined with the latter; "and (says Mr. Whitefield,) was most courteously received both by him and his clergy; having heard of me, the Bishop of Derry told me, from some friend at Gibraltar." He preached twice at St. Werburgh's and St. Andrew's to very crowded congregations. who seemed amazed at the novelty of the doctrines, and pleased with his eloquent and energetic style of delivery.

Mr. Thomas Williams+ was the first itinerant Methodist preacher who visited Ireland. He crossed the channel in 1747, and began to preach in Dublin. He was a man of extraordinary powers and great zeal. Multitudes flocked to hear him, and

Dr. Patrick Delany received his education in Trinity College, Dublin, of which he was a fellow. He was very intimate with Dean Swift, by whose interest he procured the Chancellorship of Christ's Church, and a Prebend in the Cathredral of St. Patrick. In 1744 he was made Dean of Down. He died at Bath in 1768. His widow, the celebrated Mrs. Delany, died in 1788. She was daughter of Colonel Bernard Granville, brother of George, Lord Lansdowne. This lady, so justly celebrated for her great literary acquirements, was much esteemed by George III. and Queen Charlotte, and resided constantly with their Majesties both at Kew and Windsor. Her most curious performance was the "Hortus Siccus," a botanical work in ten volumes folio, illustrated with admirable delineations on coloured paper of the genera plantarum. She became well acquainted with Lady Huntingdon, and was the intimate friend of Dr. Burney, the Duchess of Portland, Miss Seward, Swift, Horace Walpole, &c. + Mr. Williams had been excluded by Mr. Wesley from the Methodist Society, August 2, 1744, for some slight offence; but was re-admitted upon his repentance. He, however, finally quitted the Methodist body in 1755, having obtained more consistent views of divine truth. He occasionally itinerated for Mr. Whitefield, and in the course of his movements visited Londonderry, where he was instrumental in collecting a congregation. On his return to England he became known to Lady Huntingdon, who showed him many acts of friendship. Through her Ladyship's interest he afterwards obtained episcopal ordination, and resided in the neighbourhood of High Wycombe, in Buckinghamshire, where he continued for several years, and was extremely popular.

for some time he met with considerable opposition; but ultimately his labours were crowned with success. He soon formed a small society, several of whom God had given him as seals to his ministry, and they were made happy witnesses of the truths which he preached. Mr. Williams wrote an account of his success to Mr. Wesley, who soon hastened to the scene of action. The house they used for preaching was situated in Marlborough-street, and was originally designed for a Lutheran church. It contained about four hundred people; but four or five times that number might stand in the yard, which was very spacious.

Ireland had peculiar claims on Lady Huntingdon. Her Ladyship's grandfather was a baronet of that kingdom; her mother, the Countess Ferrers, was an Irish lady; many of her relatives were natives and residents of that country: and her eldest daughter, afterwards Countess of Moira, was, for half a century, an inhabitant of Ireland. It was no wonder, therefore, that the benevolent heart of the Countess should have been directed towards a country so dear to her from relative ties. About the latter part of the year 1749 we find the first manifestation of her intentions towards Ireland, and the ardent desire which always burned in her heart to make known the savour of that name which she loved. Mr. Charles Wesley, accompanied by several preachers, had succeeded his brother, and, after a short stay in the metropolis, proceeded to Cork, at which period a violent persecution raged against the Methodists in that city. Application was made to the Mayor, but redress could not be obtained; and the grand jury made that memorable presentment, which is worthy of being preserved in their records to all succeeding generations :-" We find and present CHARLES WESLEY to be a person of ill-fame, a vagabond, and a common disturber of his Majesty's peace, and we pray that he may be transported!" Similar presentments were made against eight Methodist preachers and some respectable citizens, who belonged to the Methodist Society. A statement of the indignities and hardships which they underwent was forwarded to Lady Huntingdon and Mr. Whitefield, by Mr. Lunell, a respectable banker in Dublin. Her Ladyship, being then at Donningtonpark, in Leicestershire, requested Mr. Whitefield to wait on the Speaker of the House of Commons, in her name, and demand redress.

"I have been with the Speaker (says he); Dr. Gifford* introduced

• Dr. Andrew Gifford, the respected minister of the Baptist meeting in Eagle-street, London. His intimacy with Sir Richard Ellys, the learned

me, and opened the matter well. His Honour expressed a great regard for your Ladyship, and great resentment at the indignities the poor sufferers underwent; but said, Lord Harrington or the Secretary of State were the most proper persons to be applied to: he did not doubt but that your Ladyship's application would get their grievances redressed. He treated me with great candour, and assured me no hurt was designed us by the state.'

A well-attested narrative of the whole affair was presented to Lord Harrington, the King's representative in Ireland; and through Lady Huntingdon's influence a memorial was likewise presented to his Majesty by the Countess of Chesterfield. The Duke of Newcastle, then Secretary of State, was likewise spoken to; he expressed great resentment at the proceedings of the magistrates and clergy of Cork, and great personal respect for Lady Huntingdon, with whom he was well acquainted, the Duchess of Newcastle, Lady Lucy Pelham, and Lady Susannah Booth having frequently attended the preaching at her Ladyship's house.

"Blessed be God (writes Mr. Whitefield) for putting it into your Ladyship's power to help the poor sufferers of Cork. Last night I received a letter from Mr. Lunell, and purpose this night or to-morrow to write to him about what your Ladyship desires. Mr. Charles Wesley, I believe, is at his house."

In the summer of 1751 Mr. Whitefield paid a second visit to Ireland, and was most hospitably received in Dublin by Mr. Lunell, who had been awakened under the preaching of the first Methodist itinerant preachers that had visited that city. He was a man of opulence and great respectablity; and, Mr.

author of "Fortuita Sacra," was of great service to him in life. Sir Richard appointed him his chaplain, and he was one of the heartiest friends Dr. Gifford ever had amongst the Protestant dissenters, retaining him in his office till his death. He continued to reside with Lady Ellys, and received an annual present of forty guineas from her till her marriage with Lord Le Despencer. Her ladyship and her sister, Lady Wheate, were on intimate terms with Lady Huntingdon, and often frequented her house to hear Mr. Whitefield and those eminent men who proclaimed the unsearchable riches of Christ in her drawingrooms. Lady Le Despencer died in 1769.

Dr. Gifford obtained his diploma from Aberdeen. He had a peculiar delight in antiquities; and it is said that his private collection of coins, which was one of the most curious in Great Britain, was purchased by George II., as an addition to his own cabinet. The doctor's superior abilities, and his being of the Antiquarian Society, together with the personal friendship of Lord Chancellor Hardwicke, Archbishop Herring, Sir Arthur Onslow, the Speaker, Lady Huntingdon, and his unshaken patron, Sir Richard Ellys, was the cause, under providence, of his being appointed Librarian to the British Museum, for which station he was remarkably suited. He died on the 19th of June, 1784, in the eighty-fourth year of his age. He left a handsome legacy to the church in Eagle-street, in whose service he ended his days. He published some sermons, and an edition of Folkes's "Tables of Coins,” two vols. quarto,—Seg Nichol's Bowyer and the Spiritual Magazine.