Wesley Corpus

All this time God gave us great peace at Bandon, notwithstanding the unwearied labours, both public and private, of good Dr. B , to stir up the people. But, Saturday, 26, many were under great apprehensions of what was to be done in the evening. I began preaching in the main street at the usual hour, but to more than twice the usual congregation. After I had spoke about a quarter of an hour, a clergyman, who had planted himself near me, with a very large stick in his hand, according to agreement, opened the scene. (Indeed his friends assured me he was in drink, or he would not have done it.) But, before he had uttered many words, two or three resolute women, by main strength, pulled him into a house; and, after expostulating a little, sent him away through the garden. But here he fell violently on her that conducted him, not in anger, but love; (such as it was ;) so that she was constrained to repel force by force, and cuff him soundly before he would let her go. The next champion that appeared was one Mr. M » @ young gentleman of the town. He was attended by two others, with pistols in their hands. But his triumph too was but short; some of the people quickly bore him away, though with much gentleness and civility. The third came on with greater fury ; but he was encountered by a butcher of the town, (not one of the Methodists,) who used him as he would an ox, bestowing one or two hearty blows upon his head. This cooled his courage, especially as none took his part. So I quietly finished my discourse. Sun. 277.--I wrote to the mayor of Cork, as follows :-- ““ Mr. Mayor,--An hour ago I received ‘ A letter to Mr. Butler,’ just reprinted at Cork. The publishers assert, ‘it was brought down from Dublin to be distributed among the society; but Mr. Wesley called in as many as he could.’ Both these assertions are absolutely false. I read some lines of that letter when I was in Dublin; but never read it over before this morning. Who the author of it is I know not; but this I know, I never calleu in one, neither concerned myself about it; much less brought any down to distribute among the society.