Wesley Corpus

dred books more than I had then, andmay know a little more History, or Natural Philosophy, than I did , but I am not sensible that this has made any essential addition to my know- ledge inDivinity. Fortyyears ago I knew and preached every Christian doctrine which I preach now. Thur. 3.-About noon I preached at Cathanger, abouteight miles from Taunton. It was an exceeding large house, built (as the inscription over the gate testifies) in the year 1555, by Serjeant Walsh, who had then eight thousand pounds a year ; perhaps more than equal to twenty thousand now. Butthe once famous family is now forgotten ; the estate is mouldered almost into nothing; and three quarters of the magnificent buildings lie level with the dust. I preached in the great hall, like that of Lincoln College, to a very serious congregation. In the evening I preached at South-Petherton, once a place of renown, and the capital of a Saxon kingdom ; as is vouched by a palace of King Ina still remaining, and a very large and 136 REV. J WESLEY'S [Sept. 1778. ancient church. I suppose the last blow given to it was by Judge Jefferies, who, after Monmouth's rebellion, hanged so many of the inhabitants, and drove so many away, that it is never likely to lift up its head again. Fri. 4. I spent some time in the evening, and an hour in themorning, with the lovely children at Publow. Such another company ofthem I never saw, since Miss Bosanquet removed from Leytonstone. Sat. 5.-I returned to Bristol. Sunday, 6. At eight I preached near the Drawbridge ; at two near Kingswood school, under the tree which I planted for the use of the next genera- tion; and at five, near King's square, to a very numerous and exceeding serious congregation. Mon. 7.-In myway to Bath I read a pamphlet which sur- prised me exceedingly. For many years I had heard the King severely blamed for giving allplaces oftrust and profit to Scotch- men : And this was so positively and continually affirined, that Ihad no doubt ofit. To put the matter beyond all possible dispute, the writer appeals to the Court Kalendar of the present year, which contains the names of all those that hold places under the King. And hereby it appears, that of four hundred