works; and it is for the sake of these that all who fear God and work righteousness are accepted of him."*

tain.

How long Mr. Hawkesworth continued at Waterford is uncerHe was succeeded by Mr. Jones and other ministers in the Connexion. They likewise visited many other places, and were instrumental in laying the foundations of congregations at Cork and Sligo, which were afterwards in conuexion with Lady Huntingdon. In 1796, when the late Rev. Samuel Pearce, of Birmingham, was in her band, he addressed a letter to the late Dr. Carey of India, in which he says:-"Lady Huntingdon's Connexion has one society here, the only one in the kingdom perhaps, except Sligo, where there is another.' The congregation in Cork has long ranked with the Independent denomination.

As the congregation in Dublin continued to increase, the people became desirous of having the Lord's Supper dispensed to them, conceiving it peculiarly calculated to bind them all together in the bonds of Christian love, and inflame their zeal for the Redeemer's cause. Mr. Hawkesworth was also desirous of obtaining ordination, and with this view solicited her Ladyship's permission. The reply of his noble patroness is worthy of preservation:

"My dear Hawkesworth,-Last night, and not before, I received your letter, dated October 2nd, which was exceedingly sweet to me. Such a spirit of simplicity and godly sincerity breathed through the whole, that revived my heart abundantly, and caused me to bless our adorahle Immanuel, that he had given me such a companion in tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus, to labour with us in the mighty work appointed for us upon earth by him. O! it is great indeed, and is extending far and wide; and from the number of young men I have received into the College (devoted souls!) it looks as if the Lord seemed resolved to cover the earth with the knowledge of his truth by their means. I shall write to-night to the College, and lay before them the call for Ireland, and your removal from thence; and I hope for two, and also for Mr. Peckwell, to be with that work this winter. This last I am not sure of; but two students will certainly be sent to change in the country, and one of them to be residing in Dublin, that the work there may be well carried on. Indeed, dear Hawkesworth, my heart is much with you, and ever since I have known you you have been as a dearly beloved son to me in the Gospel. Your faithfulness and great disinterestedness in the Lord's labours have so much united my heart to you, that it has been matter of self-denial I have so long parted from you. But till I found your heart first free to remove, I feared I might call you before the Lord's time from a people you were so owned of God and blessed to. I have

* Letters and Correspondence of Mrs, Eliza Bennis, p. 71,

often wanted you for plans where the greatest trust must be reposed; and, therefore, I am most abundantly thankful the Lord has given you the liberty I have been waiting for.

"As to your ordination, it shall be just as you find your own heart disposed. You know I am only the Lord's poor servant for you all; and as he has given me a maternal heart for you, so the tenderness for all your usefulness, health, happiness, and, above all, increase of grace and knowledge in Christ Jesus, I can truly say is not only matter of my prayers and tears, but also of my greatest earthly happiness and joy. To have you not only to walk in the truth, but to become an eminent servant of that dear Lamb of God, this is my only portion and joy.

Kent

"The present state of the work is as follows:-Two new students are in the west; Mr. Glascott occasionally there. Nuben* and Aldridge in the Wiltshire work, the latter just removed to Dover. White is in London serving a very large congregationt I have been called to supply with the College services. Smith I have taken into connexion, and who is much alive; he and another student supply Woolwich, Dartford, and another place we are called to serve. promises great things. Sussex is supplied by Mr. Peckwell, and two students you don't know, with other local helps. Ellis, Harris, and Crole, a new student, are serving a new work which promises to spread in the city of Lincoln and other parts of Lincolnshire. Poor, dear, and precious souls are walking miles to London, hearing I am there, to beg our help in different parts where the Gospel has never yet been preached. Wales is blossoming like a rose in all the English parts, as well great blessings on our Welsh labours. The chapel at Worcester, which is an exceedingly handsome one, is to be opened by Mr. Shirley, the 31st of this month. The long round in the various counties spreads in a most amazing manner. I keep to my old rule of going no where but from the call of the people first. The Lord knows only well how to employ us.

"I have as clearly and exactly informed you of the state of the work as possible, and the College has much of the power of God, and overflows at present with numbers. Twenty-four are there at present, and lively honest souls, with the greatest harmony and love that ever subsisted in such a place; and this, I trust, owing to their all having but one thing in view.

"My desire on your return for you would be the west, should you find freedom after a little stay to see how your brethren do at the Čollege. There shall not be the loss of a day to inform you of the setting out of those students the Lord shall appoint in your room, as I shall now long to have you as soon as possible with us in England. Write to the person that has informed you of our calls into these counties,

*This gentleman's name is variously spelled. In the Annual Reports of Cheshunt College the name is Newborn, and in the life of Mr. Wills it is Newburn. He was for many years the minister of her Ladyship's chapel at Watchet, in Somersetshire, and died several years ago.

Princess-street Chapel, near Moorfields, then occupied by the Rev. Thomas

Maxfield.

and let him know that I hope to be enabled to send them a proper student for that purpose, and enquire well if they call upon the people's hearts for help. We are sure and safe when that is the case.

"I am treating about ground to build a very large chapel at Wapping, in London. Mr. Peckwell was in Sussex when the account came of my great temporal loss in America; and out of great love came to speak a word of comfort, but that was not the Lord's meaning, though it was his; and instead of three or four days for this purpose, he has been here nine weeks; and I suppose by the multitudes he preached to in the fields, Tower-hill, the churches, &c., that a hundred thousand people have heard the Gospel at least that never heard a word before. He is amazingly popular, and much owned in the conversion and comforting of the people. I was rejoiced that the house had been burnt down, as this was the cause, the sole cause, of bringing him or me to London, where the fields are now every where white to the harvest.

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

"Could I have thought my letters would have been of any comfort, I should have written, though having the whole transaction of this work on my own hands, I am prevented from following my heart in many things; and I think my poor self such a hewer of wood and drawer of water, that I despair of being the least use or comfort to any. But my soul is in the dust, prostrate at the cross, hoping for all there; and after my poor little vile labours of the day, I go to rest, having finished the day's work as well I can, and waiting for that voice each night that shall say- Come up higher!' Thus I feel as

void of care as a little child, knowing my dear Master cannot want me, and that his eye will be for a better, a more faithful and living servant, in my place, when my work is done. I am filled with shame when a weary day of trials makes my heart in secret feel it for a moment hard; and often understand what my dear brother Paul meant when he said- without was fightings and within was fears.'

"Make my Christian love most acceptable by your recommendation of it to our dear friends belonging to or in connexion with us; and assure them my heart and eye are for them with the Lord. This grain of mustard seed shall become a great tree in time.

"Dear Hawkesworth, believe me ever what I have been, and must ever remain, your faithful and most affectionate friend, "Trevecca, Oct. 13, 1773.

But

S. HUNTINGDON." Mr. Hawkesworth continued in Ireland during the winter, and Lady Huntingdon sent him Mr. Jones, "who (she says) begs much not to be confined to one congregation. while he spreads the Gospel elsewhere, let the people unite in prayer meetings. Preaching they may hear long, and yet be miserably ignorant; whereas prayer meetings must bring them on in the examination of the heart."

CHAPTER XXXVI.

Mr. Eccles returns from Georgia-Mr. Jones-Letter from Mrs. Paul-Lady Huntingdon's Relations-Bishop of Raphoe-Anecdote of Mr. SkeltonLetters from Lady Huntingdon-Mr. Hawkesworth ordained-Mr. AdamsMr. Kinsman-Letters to Mr. Hawkesworth-Mr. Mollar-Mr. Davies-Mr. Winkworth-Colonel Despard-Mr. White-Illness and death-Letter from Lady Huntingdon-Opposition to Mr. Shirley-Remarkable Letters from Mr. Shirley to his Bishop-Anecdote of the Archbishop of ArmaghMr. Hawkesworth visits Cork and Waterword-Mr. Osborn-Letter from Lady Huntingdon-Mr. Wesley's Ministers-Magdalen Chapel-Mr. Shirley's Sermons give great offence-Letter from Mrs. Paul-the Dean of Cashel Mr. Thompson-Mr. Coghlan-Several of the Bishops and Clergy attend Mr. Shirley's preaching-Letters from Mrs. Paul-Letters from Lady Huntingdon Mr. Hawkesworth joins the Moravians.

IN 1774 the Rev. Charles Stewart Eccles returned from Georgia, bringing letters from the students who went out in 1772. He remained some time with the Countess of Huntingdon, preaching at Mulberry-gardens and elsewhere, and then passed into Ireland. Whilst a student in the University of Dublin, the occasional preaching of Mr. Shirley excited his attention, and Mr. Eccles determined to hear and judge for himself. He accordingly went, and the ministry of Mr. Townsend, and the sermon preached by Mr. De Courcy on a tomb-stone in St. Andrew's church-yard, confirmed him in the great truths of the Gospel, and excited in his mind an ardent desire to proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ.

Whilst Mr. Hawkesworth was making excursions in the country, Mr. Eccles and Mr. Jones supplied the chapel in Dublin. Mr. Eccles also occasionally obtained admission into some of the churches, through the interest of his relation, Dr. Newcomb, then Bishop of Dromore, afterwards Primate of Ireland, who at the same time strongly censured his doctrine and manner of preaching. He was an extremely popular preacher, for his was the eloquence which steals silently into the heart and softly as flakes of falling snow. His subjects were well chosen, and he brought down the most sublime truths to the level of his hearers; for, though his language was chaste and correct, it was simple and lucid, peculiarly instructive to the young, the poor, and illiterate. Free from all that could be called cant, he might have been understood by those who never before heard the language of any religious party: while he preashed the doctrines of the

Gospel so fully, that it was evident he loved them, and with such fervour, that it was manifest he deemed them essential to the eternal safety of his hearers. Amidst the opprobrium which he endured for his ardent and faithful testimony to the doctrines of the Gospel, he maintained a humbling sense of his own deficiencies, and this stamps the highest value on his personal religion. His influence was powerful among the higher classes, and many, who were unfriendly to the principles of evangelical truth, deemed themselves honoured by his friendship, which he ever considered a talent entrusted to him for the Redeemer's service. Vast numbers of the higher orders who were induced to hear him in the churches, afterwards followed him to Lady Huntingdon's chapels, where they brought others, to some of whom there is reason to believe the word which he proclaimed was made the power of God to their salvation:

"Shortly after my last letter to your Ladyship (writes Mrs. Paul), I was at Straffen for a few days. There were many kind enquiries made after you, and much conversation about Mr. Eccles, Mr. Townsend, and the preachers sent over by your Ladyship. From what I was enabled to say much prejudice was removed, and Mr. and Mrs. Henry were induced to hear Mr. Eccles and Mr. Jones. Lady Mountcashel accompanied them. Mrs. Henry was much pleased with Mr. Jones's manner of delivery, but there were many things to which she objected. Pharisaical pride is a great stumbling-block in her way,

Lady Mountcashel and Mrs. Henry were daughters of Sir John Rawdon, Bart., afterwards Earl of Moira, by his first marriage with Lady Helena Perceval, daughter of John, first Earl of Egmont, and consequently near relations of Lady Huntingdon. Mrs., afterwards Lady Catherine Henry, was the wife of Joseph Henry, Esq., a banker of eminence and reputation in Dublin, by Anne, sister of Joseph, first Earl of Miltown. In 1772 Lady Catherine accidentally broke her leg while on a visit to her friend, Mrs. Vesey, the foundress of the Blue Stocking Club, and one of the early patronesses and correspondents of the late Mrs. Hannah More. During the many months she was confined by this afflicting event, her mind was led to reflect on the mercy of God and his great goodness to her through the various scenes of life. It was during this season of affliction that Lady Huntingdon first opened a correspondence with her, but no fragments of her letters or Lady Catherine's answers have been preserved. Lady Catherine died in October, 1780, leaving three daughters. She was the friend and correspondent of Mrs. Elizabeth Carter, Mrs. Montague, and several literary characters of that period. Lady Helena married the Earl of Mountcashel, and was grandmother to the present Earl, and mother of the Countess of Kingston, sister-in-law of the present Viscount Lorton. The Earl of Moira, their father, was first cousin to Lady Huntingdon, and afterwards became her Ladyship's son-in-law, by his marriage with Lady Elizabeth Hastings in 1752. Lady Helena Rawdon, their mother, died at the Hot Wells, Bristol, June 11, 1746. She was attended in her last illness by Lady Huntingdon, who was then at Clifton, with Lord Huntingdon, who died a few months after, and their daughters, Lady Elizabeth and Lady Selina, with his Lordship's excellent sisters, the Lady Anne Jacqueline and Lady Francis Hastings.