Wesley Corpus

1775. “Now there is no possible way to put out this flame, or hinder its rising higher and higher, but to show that the Ame ricans are not used either cruelly or unjustly; that they are not injured at all, seeing they are not contending for liberty; (this they had, even in its full extent, both civil and religious;) neither for any legal privileges; for they enjoy all that their charters grant. But what they contend for, is, the illegal pri vilege of being exempt from parliamentary taxation. A pri vilege this, which no charter ever gave to any American colony yet; which no charter can give, unless it be confirmed both by King, Lords, and Commons; which, in fact, our colonies never had ; which they never claimed till the present reign : And pro bably they would not have claimed it now, had they not been incited thereto by letters from England. One of these was read, according to the desire of the writer, not only at the con tinental Congress, but likewise in many congregations through out the Combined Provinces. It advised them to seize upon all the King's Officers; and exhorted them, ‘Stand valiantly, only for six months, and in that time there will be such commotions in England that you may have your own terms.’ “This being the real state of the question, without any colouring or aggravation, what impartial man can either blame the King, or commend the Americans? “With this view, to quench the fire, by laying the blame where it was due, the ‘Calm Address’ was written. I am, Sir, “Your humble servant, “JoHN WESLEY. “As to reviewers, newswriters, London Magazines, and all that kind of gentlemen, they behave just as I expected they would. And let them lick up Mr. Toplady’s spittle still: A champion worthy of their cause.” Thur. 30.-I preached at Lowestoft at noon, and Yarmouth in the evening. Here a gentleman, who came with me from London, was taken ill (he informed me) of the bloody flux. This being stopped, I thought his head was disordered; and would fain have sent him back without delay, offering him my chaise and my servant to attend him; though I could ill spare either one or the other. But he could not in anywise be prevailed on to accept of the proposal.