the future; for to no great effort made, and persevered in, in this spirit, was success ever denied. When once the whole Church of Christ under its different names, and united in common zeal and love, is aroused to justify its original and proper character, as the light of the whole world, the great result to which all our wishes and exertions tend cannot be afar off. Girded by His might who hath given them the commission, the spiritual Israel will be able to go up and possess the whole land. Before communicated light the darkness must flee away; and before weapons of celestial temper, wielded by those whose hands are made strong by the hands of the God of Jacob, all opposition must be scattered. Mighty are they, through God, to pull down the strongest holds, and to abase every exalted and proud form of idolatry and superstition, which has defied our Saviour, and deluded, oppressed, and ravaged his redeemed creatures. In the name of the Lord, then, let us lift up our banners; and on this sacred day consecrate ourselves to efforts which shall never relax, and to a contest which, spurning all compromise, shall fix our steady eye upon complete and universal victory through the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of his testimony. To him be glory in the Church throughout all ages. Amen."

Early in the spring of this year, and about the time at which this report made its appearance, Mr. Watson published "A Catechism of the Evidences of Christianity, and the Truth of the Holy Scriptures," He had previously compiled two catechisms of Christian doctrine, and Scripture history; one for the use of children of tender years, and the other for children of seven years of age and upward. They had been prepared under the direction of the conference, and submitted to the careful examination of a committee appointed for the purpose; and, having been approved, the entire series was published under the sanction of the connection, as the authorized catechisms of the body, and designed for the use of Sunday schools and private families. In the first and second of these publications considerable use was made of the catechism of the Church of England, and that of the Westminster assembly of divines, as well as of Mr. Wesley's "Instructions for Children." They have been in very extensive requisition; tens of thousands of children, especially in Sunday schools, both at home and abroad, have by means of them received their religious training; and they are justly entitled to the distinction which they have acquired, as a plain and familiar exposition of the first principles of evangelical truth. A preference is given to them in some institutions with which the Methodists have no connection. The "Catechism of the Evidences of Christianity" is an original and very important work, well adapted to establish the minds of young persons in the belief of the truth, and to guard them againt the snares of skepticism and infidelity. In an age like the present, when principles subversive of all religion and morality are sedulously disseminated, in cheap and inviting publications, and are often artfully mixed up with popular and periodical literature, the guardians of youth are certainly guilty of a fearful dereliction of duty, if they neglect to fortify their charge against evils of this fearful magnitude. Skepticism in religion flatters the pride of the unrenewed heart, and justifies all its vices and depravity; but it is ruinous to the soul, and often prematurely drowns men in destruction and perdition.

The minds of young people, therefore, cannot be too early impressed with the Divine origin of Christianity, and its authoritative character; and in the attainment of this object valuable assistance may be derived from Mr. Watson's manual. It states, with great clearness and force, the leading evidences of revealed religion, and refutes the most plausible and popular objections. Christian parents should not only put it into the hands of their children, as they advance in life, and their intellect expands; but they should frequently endeavour to ascertain, by actual examination, what degree of acquaintance has been formed with its facts and arguments. The most beneficial results might be justly anticipated from this wise and pious course. The number of

young persons who have been preserved from infidelity by the blessing of God upon this excellent little work will only be known in "the day when God will judge the secrets of men's hearts by Jesus Christ."

In consequence of the delicacy of his health, Mr. Watson was com pelled to avoid travelling during the winter; but as the spring approached, he lent his assistance at a few missionary meetings in the country. Burslem, Bristol, and two or three minor places, were favoured with his help; but he was not able to repeat those labours to which a few years before he had been accustomed, and in which he had taken so much delight. He rendered, however, to the general society, at its anniversary in April and May, the most important service. This was an occasion of unusual interest, on account of the peculiar state of the West India mission. The question of negro emancipation had begun to excite attention, and in some quarters was warmly agitated; and the house of commons had passed several resolutions, pledging the legislature to introduce certain measures of amelioration in regard to the negro, with a reference to the ultimate extinction of slavery. The death of the missionary, Smith, in the prison at Demerara, and the riot in Barbadoes, by which the Methodist chapel was demolished, and the missionary driven from the island under circumstances of peculiar atrocity, caused a feverish anxiety among the friends of the mission cause. Many of the planters assumed an attitude of determined hostility, not only to the religious instruction of the slave population, and to all missionary operations, but to the government itself; and either believed, or affected to believe, that the missionaries were the agents of the abolitionists in England. As Mr. Watson had a thorough knowledge of West Indian society, and perfectly understood the nature and bearing of the mission to the negro slaves, as well as the peculiar state of public feeling, he was requested by the committee to preach one of the annual sermons before the society; to confine his attention to the society's labours in the West Indies; and to prepare his discourse with a reference to publication. With this request he complied, and preached at the City-Road chapel, on Thursday evening, April 29th. The task assigned to him was one of great delicacy, and in many respects was exceedingly difficult; but it was one of the peculiarities of his character, that his mind always rose with the occasion; and he never disappointed the expectation of his friends in any emergency.

The text selected was most appropriate. It was, " Honour all men," 1 Peter ii, 17; enjoining upon Christians the duty of honouring human

nature in all its forms. The sermon was addressed to a large and very respectable congregation. It was delivered with fluency and power; and was heard with the most profound and breathless attention. The delivery of it occupied two hours within a few minutes; and a member of the senate, who had accompanied Mr. Butterworth to the chapel, said, when returning from the service, "The sermon was the greatest display of intellectual strength in a public speaker I ever heard. I have perhaps sometimes witnessed an equal degree of power for a short period; but an extemporary address, of two hours' length, delivered with such unabated energy of thought and feeling, never before came under my observation." As the sermon had been prepared with a view to the press, it was soon published, under the title of, "The Religious Instruction of the Slaves in the West India Colonies advocated and defended." It is the most elaborate of all Mr. Watson's printed discourses, and is, without exception, one of the noblest compositions of the kind in the English language. There are passages in it which, for sublimity of thought, richness of illustration, and strength and beauty of expression, would not suffer from a comparison with the most admired productions of our best prose writers; but its great excellence consists in the pure and elevated principles which it maintains, and the spirit of Christian benevolence and justice with which it is so thoroughly imbued. It quickly passed to a second, a third, and a fourth edition.

Had Mr. Watson never written any thing beside this admirable discourse, it would have been sufficient to establish his reputation as a man of superior genius and talent, and a Christian philanthropist. But while his intellectual powers appeared daily to acquire new vigour, and his mental resources seemed to be all but inexhaustible, he was a subject of disease, and often of great personal suffering; and his general aspect, and the frequent prostration of his strength, excited the sympathies of his friends, and awakened in their minds many painful anxieties as to the result.

About a fortnight after the delivery of his powerful discourse before the missionary society, Mr. Watson addressed the following letters to his daughter, then at school in Paris. They show the tender yearnings of a father's heart; and present, with some others which will be given in the course of this narrative, an interesting view of his spirit in the domestic relations.

May 13th, 1824.

MY DEAREST CHILD,-Yours, dated April 29th, did not arrive at Wellington-street till yesterday; so that we were long kept in anxiety and suspense. It was ill judged in you not to write by post, especially your first letter; and the consequence is, you have been kept so much longer from hearing of home.

Your mother is much better than when you left; and I, through mercy, am able to go through my exercises in a tolerable degree of health. I am not surprised that you felt lonely and uncomfortable at first, never having been from home at all; but in such situations your object is to be kept in view; and the constancy of application, and the occupancy of your time, together with increased familiarity with new scenes and new faces, will remove all uneasy impressions. To this, VOL. I.

19

you must recollect that you are in the way of duty; and must look up to God for his presence with you, and his blessing upon your endeavours. Thus you may be happy every where; though you cannot forget, nor do we wish you to forget, that you are not at home.

I am glad to hear that you find your French master so competent. In addition to what you are required to do in French, read as much in it as you can; and if you choose such standard historical works as are within your reach, you will get information, while you improve in the language. Converse as much as you can. Be determined to talk ; and by asking the names of things, you will acquire a copia verborum. Resolutely also attempt to think in French, which will greatly facilitate your progress. It is satisfactory that your pronunciation is pretty near the standard; but you must remember that accent is as important as pronunciation; though you must take care of affectation in this particular. Attend patiently to music. Take particular care of your fingering, which you know is essential to a good execution. When you are pretty much at ease in French, it will be time enough for you to begin Italian.

Amidst your application, take care of your health; and in order to promote it, walk much in the garden. As for acquaintance among the ladies, they come in course; and the more general they are, the better. You must lean on nothing as a source of happiness, but on God, on your daily duty, and your hope of seeing home; the last not to be indulged so as to make you unquiet.

We have had a very good anniversary. The collections were £1,300 and upward. My sermon I have been requested to publish; and shall send you a copy or two. The Magazines I will send as you request.

So

The two sick S- s are, I hear, at the point of death. Mr. Mawer, of Lincoln, died suddenly, at supper table; and Miss C. is dead. we are in a dying world. Let us live then, my dearest girl, to God and for eternity. Let the Bible and a throne of grace be increasingly precious to us.

I shall, Deo volente, visit you in September. Write immediately.— Keep up your spirits. Your mother sends her love and blessing.

May 24th, 1824.

MY DEAREST GIRL,-I write by return of post, in answer to yours, to say, that whatever your own judgment thinks necessary for your improvement, I wish you to attend to; and I shall not mind the expense. As I am going into Devonshire, I shall not be able soon again to write to you, and must leave your mother and you to exchange letters.

The way to avoid as much as possible the English accent in speaking French, is to be very attentive to the native French you hear spoken; and by comparing the difference in your own mind, you may get a tact for discriminating, and this effort will produce a delicacy of ear. The ear acquires its distinguishing delicacy in language, as in music, by long and close application.

Above all, my dear Mary, give your heart fully to God, and live entirely to him. You have entered on the Christian course, and nothing could have given so much pleasure to your father. Read the Scrip

tures. Observe your times of private prayer; and watch your heart; so shall you grow in grace, and become a steady and honourable mem

ber of the Church of Christ.

God bless you.

Keep up your spirits.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Mr. Watson visits Oxford-Conference of 1824-Letters to his DaughterFirst Report of the Anti-Slavery Society-Agitations in the West Indies-Letter to the Right Hon. Wilmot Horton-Letter to the Rev. Elijah Hoole-Letter to the Rev. Frederick England-Missionary Report of 1824-Anniversary of the Missionary Society in 1825-Letter to Mr. Garbutt-Debate in the House of Commons on the Riot in Barbadoes-Sir R. W. Horton-Singular ImpressionConference of 1825-Address to the Societies-Letter to the Rev. Robert Young -Mr. Watson publishes the third Part of his Theological Institutes-Notices concerning it.

In the early part of the summer of 1824 Mr. Watson visited Oxford, and spent some days in that interesting city and neighbourhood, where the friends were delighted with his spirit and conversation. His cheer. fulness, his sanctified wit and humour, his intelligence, and his communicative habits, were to them a source of the highest gratification. It was the time of the commemoration, when the members of the university assemble in the vast theatre, erected by Archbishop Sheldon ; degrees are conferred; prize poems, and other compositions, are recited; and the undergraduates claim the right of expressing their opi nion of the highest authorities in that learned body, either by plaudits, or by groans and hisses. As a spectator, Mr. Watson enjoyed these proceedings; for his powerful and well-disciplined mind drew practical instruction from almost every object that was presented to his attention. Before his return to London he accompanied Mr. Cubitt, who was then stationed in the Oxford circuit, and some other friends, to Nuneham, the seat of Lord Harcourt, to refresh his spirits by a change of air and scenery; and to survey those beauties of art and nature of which, through life, he was a passionate admirer. One of the party was a medical gentleman, of considerable experience and skill. While leaning upon the branch of a tree in the estate of the nobleman just mentioned, Mr. Watson, in a manner perfectly frank and unconstrained, began to speak concerning himself. "I know not," said he, "what change is taking place in my constitution; but I am apprehensive that disease, in a somewhat new form, is beginning to develope itself. I believe that I am not naturally an ill-tempered man; at least my friends have not been in the habit of charging me with ill nature; but of late I have found myself snappish, without being able to assign any particular reason for it. There is also another symptom which leads me to form this opinion concerning myself. Up to a late period my spirit has been sanguine and cheerful; my horizon has been generally bright and distinct; but latterly I have caught myself gloomy and beclouded, and yet I could not tell why." The medical gentleman stated his persuasion to be that Mr. Watson's liver was seriously dis eased; but expressed a hope that by prudent management his life might be prolonged, and his services to the Church continued for many years;