Wesley Corpus

much celebrity by his poetical talents, and lived in habits of intimacy with Lord Oxford, Pope, and Swift; and the Dean, though him self a Whig, was a steady friend to his family. In this circle his wit and literature were held iu high estimation. But genius was his lowest excellence ; he was a man of inflexible inte grity and active benevolence. The infirmary for the sick and poor at Westminster was first projected byhim, andhis strenuousendeavours eminently promoted its success. He was inde fatigable in the cause of morals and religion; and if his notions of church government were carried to excess, his public adherence to a friend in disgrace, when he foresaw it must preclude his own advancement, was me ritorious. On quitting Westminster he re sided at Tiverton, and was head master of the grammar school, where he ended his days, muchhonoured and lamented, andwhere his memory is still cherished with respect. John Wesley, the second son, was educated at the Charter House, and became Fellow ofLin viii coinCollegeOxford, atthe ageoftwenty-three. His reputation as a polite scholar, an excellent critic, and a sound logician, was soon establish ed : he was chosen Greek lecturer and modera tor of the classics ; and had he pursued riches and honours in any ofthe learned professions, there is little doubt he would have obtained them. Previous to his ordination he wrote in a letter to his mother " I once wished to make a fair show in learning and philosophy ; but it is past. There is a more excellent way yet a little while and we shall all be equal in knowledge, if we are equal in virtue." , " ntim It was by the perusal of the writings of the Rev. William Law that he entered upon that strictness of deportment which distinguished • The Rev. William Law was a non-juring clergyman of the church of England. The late learned Dr. Johnson has left upon record that " Lavas Serious Call to a Religious Life " was the best book on the subject in the English language, and from which he derived his serious principles. Edward Gibbon, Esq. (withwhom there was some family