Wesley Corpus

Hence we hasted to Richmond, where I preached in a kind of Square. All the Yorkshire Militia were there; and so were their Officers, who kept them in awe, so that they behaved with decency. At six I preached at the end of our House in Barnard-Castle. I was faint and feverish when I began; but the staying an hour in a cold bath (for the wind was very high and sharp) quite refreshed me; so that all my faintness was gone, and I was perfectly well when I concluded. Wed. 15.--I went on by Durham to Sunderland. Saturday, 18. I preached at Biddick. It was fair while I was preaching, but rained very hard both before and after. Sunday, 19. I preached at the east end of the town, I think, to the largest congregation I ever saw at Sunderland. The rain did not begin till I had concluded. At two I preached at the Fell, at five in the Orphan-House. Mon. 20.-About nine I set out for Horsley, with Mr. Hopper and Mr. Smith. I took Mrs. Smith and her two little girls, in the chaise with me. About two miles from the town just on the brow of the hill, on a sudden both the horses set 20 REv. J. WESLEY’s [June, 1774. out, without any visible cause, and flew down the hill, like an arrow out of a bow. In a minute John fell off the coach-box. The horses then went on full speed, sometimes to the edge of the ditch on the right, sometimes on the left. A cart came up against them: They avoided it as exactly as if the man had been on the box. A narrow bridge was at the foot of the hill. They went directly over the middle of it. They ran up the next hill with the same speed; many persons meeting us, but getting out of the way. Near the top of the hill was a gate, which led into a farmer's yard. It stood open. They turned short, and run through it, without touching the gate on one side, or the post on the other. I thought, “However, the gate which is on the other side of the yard, and is shut, will stop them:” But they rushed through it as if it had been a cobweb, and galloped on through the corn-field.