Wesley Corpus

MANCHESTER, April 4, 1790. DEAR TOMMY, -- I did not approve of Dr. Coke's making collections either in yours or any other circuit. I told him so, and I am not well pleased with his doing it. It was very ill done. It is exceeding probable that sea-bathing will be of use to Brother Simpson; especially if he be temperate in all things, particularly in that which one hardly knows how to name. [William Simpson was Taylor's colleague in Hull.] I do not know what you mean concerning talking 'about the Church.' I advise all our brethren that have been brought up in the Church to continue there; and there I leave the matter. The Methodists are to spread life among all denominations; which they will do till they form a separate sect. -- I am, with love to Sister Taylor, dear Tommy, Your affectionate friend and brother. To the Printer LIVERPOOL, April 8, 1790. SIR, -- It is a melancholy consideration that there is no country in Europe, or perhaps in the habitable world, where the horrid crime of self-murder is so common as it is in England! One reason of this may be that the English in general are more ungodly and more impatient than other nations. Indeed, we have laws against it, and officers with juries are appointed to inquire into every fact of the kind. And these are to give in their verdict upon oath whether the self-murderer was sane or insane. If he is brought in insane, he is excused, and the law does not affect him. By this means it is totally eluded; for the juries constantly bring him in insane. So the law is not of the least effect, though the farce of a trial still continues. This morning I asked a coroner, 'Sir, did you ever know a jury bring in the deceased felo-de-se' He answered, 'No, sir; and it is a pity they should.' What, then, is the law good for If all self-murderers are mad, what need of any trial concerning them