the knowledge of the truth. This little band remained united, and were occasionally favoured with a visit from the ministers and students sent over by her Ladyship. On the formation of the General Evangelical Society, Sligo engaged its early attention; a chapel was built by the aid of gentlemen in the town and of friends at Dublin.

Mr. Ball remained but a short time in Dublin, and only supplied the congregation till the arrival of the Rev. James Garie, on the 12th of September, 1789. The amiable and exemplary conduct of this gentleman recommended him to the patronage of Lady Henrietta Hope, and after her death, Lady Glenorchy, apprised of Mr. Garie's worth, received him into her house, and considered it no small acquisition 10 have him so near her. Mr. Garie was employed as chaplain in the family, her ladyship generally assisting in exercises of devotion herself, by reading the Word of God. But the career of this eminently devout lady's usefulness closed about a year and a half after he went into her family; and she drew her last breath while this honoured servant of God was by her bedside addressing the throne of grace in her behalf.

But her ladyship, fully satisfied of the propriety of encouraging Mr. Garie's views towards the ministry, bequeathed to him in her will a sum sufficient to prosecute his pious intention. And it deserves to be mentioned, to the honour of her executrix, the late Lady Maxwell, that though the will happened not to be signed, she gave Mr. Garie to the full amount of what his dear deceased friend and noble patroness intended.

On his first setting out in the ministry, Mr. Garie preached occasionally for the Rev. Thomas Grove, who was then situated at Rotherham, and also for the Rev. Jonathan Scott in Staffordshire, where he remained till invited by the congregation in Plunket-street, where his labours were continued about five years; during which time he also preached occasionally in the neighbourhood of the metropolis. About two months after his arrival in Dublin he made a preaching excursion to Sligo and other places; and on his return to Dublin, in compliance with the wishes of his congregation, he proceeded to England, and on the 10th of December, of the same year, was solemnly set apart to the work of the ministry over the people at Dublin and Sligo, at Newcastle-under-line, by the Rev. Jonathan Scott, W. Boden of Hanley, and others."

Mr. Ball continued to labour at Sligo with considerable success. On the 2nd, of January, 1791, the new chapel was opened by Mr. Garie.

"From the first coming of the ministers of the Evangelical Society

VOL. II.-P

to this town (he writes), God, in various ways, seemed to favour the undertaking. Great numbers attended-their behaviour was decent and serious the congregation was seldom or never disturbed-many more, deeply impressed with the great truths they heard, became thoughtful and circumspect. The Protestants, in general, seemed to give the things they heard a candid reception; and even some of the Papists attended with seriousness, and spoke favourably of what they heard. Thus it continued for a considerable time. While the house was building, some threats were thrown out, but disregarded, and to the great joy of the people, it was opened on Sunday, the 2nd of January, 1791. The congregation was numerous and attentive. On the evening of the next day the windows were broken open, and three large branches, which were designed for lighting the house, stolen. This distressed, but did not discourage the people. The public spoke of the action with marked disdain; and we soon supplied the want of sconces with small white iron sockets affixed to each of the pews. The congregation continued to increase, so that the house was quite thronged, and a divine influence seemed to attend the word. Great seriousness appeared during divine worship; many became thoughtful; an anxious spirit of enquiry was discovered in some, formerly careless; and such as had through grace believed were comforted and established, and very happy in the prospect of good being done. We now had preaching twice on the Sabbath, a weekly lecture on Wednesday evening, and prayer-meetings every other evening, except Saturday. Our happiness was great; our hopes many; our comfortable house, our sweet meetings, our attentive audiences, and above all, our enjoying sensibly the Divine presence, made us think that the time to favour God's cause in this distant corner of the world was come. In conversation we spoke of, and at the throne of grace we prayed for, primitive Christianity, real religion, in its native power and extensive influence. Little did we think that God was about to satisfy our desires and answer our prayers in a way so trying to human nature."

But now the enemy began to rage furiously, threatening destruction to this infant cause of God. After the Wednesday evening Lecture was over, and the congregation had quietly retired to their respective dwellings, the persecutors violently forced open the strong iron bars that were placed across the windows, broke the glass, tore the sashes, and endeavoured otherwise to destroy the building. Next day, the perpetrators of the outrage avowed what they had done, and that it was their fixed determination to burn the house and level it with the ground. These persons, insanely wicked, powerful in their connexions, and pushed on by secret hellish Popish malice, disregarded the laws both of God and man. The people were reviled and distressed; the chapel was exposed to the inclemency of the weather, and it became necessary to suspend the evening services. The final destruction of the place of worship

was determined to be effected a few nights after this outrage, and it was thought prudent to set men to watch, in order to defeat the attempt. These were in the chapel when lighted candles were put to the shutters, which were soon on fire. Mr. Albert Blest, a gentleman greatly devoted to God, and much honoured as an instrument for propagating and maintaining the cause of God in Sligo, was applied to, and at the request of Mr. Blest, took his pistols with him. Desirous of preserving the place of worship, he reasoned with the gentleman who was the leader of their gang, and would probably have prevailed on him to give up so black a design, had not some of his accomplices interposed, and with imprecations, threats, and blows, provoked Mr. Blest to fire the pistol, which hurt no one. Mr. Blest retreated from them, and being a stout man, kept them at bay, but they followed hard after him, and happening to stumble at his own door, he fell, when they got above him, and most likely would have murdered him, had he not been rescued from their hands by one of his Roman Catholic servants. Mrs. Blest, who was then in a way to become a mother, was the distracted spectator of this outrageous attack upon her husband. Their house was threatened, their windows broken, and their children, twelve in number, exposed. Mr. Blest, being threatened in his person and property, left his house next morning to avoid their rage, and continued away for some time. After he returned, he, with his brother-in-law and two servants, lay in prison for some time; and were, together with his father and two of his servants, tried for their lives, but were honourably acquitted. Mr. Blest's counsel having got the hint that the prosecutors had obtained a jury that were resolved to criminate his client, cast every one of them, and others were appointed in their stead. Divine Providence, by this circumstance, delivered a good man from the determinate malice of his enemies.

Mr. Garie left Sligo immediately after the trial, having been there between three and four months; during a considerable part of which time he was frequently in imminent danger of his life, and had to change his resting place every night. At one time, the gentleman mentioned above came in quest of Mr. Blest's brother-in-law, with fire arms, and, after searching the house from room to room, came into that in which Mr. Garie

Upon his entering the room, with a pistol in his hand, Mr. Garie arose from his seat, and holding a small Bible in his hand, with a smiling countenance, looked his rude visitor in the face. The man, struck and confounded with Mr. Garie's amiable and innocent appearance, immediately retired.

It may excite astonishment that the executive power was in

effectual to afford protection to loyal subjects, while quietly attending to the things that concern their everlasting peace! But so it was; and the most daring atrocities were too frequently committed with impunity. But amidst all the storm which for some time raged at Sligo, He who ruleth over by his power, though he was pleased, for the trial of his servants, to permit "men to ride over their heads," and to answer their prayers" by terrible things in righteousness," was still present with them, accompanying the ministration of the word with his divine blessing, to the everlasting benefit of many, who were plucked as brands from the burning. Some who came to hear for the purpose of ridicule and derision, were compelled, by the powerful efficacy attending the declaration of divine truth, to retire to meditate and pray. One of these, Mr. William Henry, afterwards became a preacher of the faith he once attempted to destroy. Having devoted himself to the service of the heathen, with twenty-eight other missionaries, he was solemnly designated to the work, in Lady Huntingdon's chapel (Sion), London, July 28th, 1796, and embarked on board the ship Duff, destined to convey them to the Island of the South Seas.

Mr. Ball resumed his labours at Sligo on Mr. Garie's return to Dublin; but how long he continued with the people we have not been able to learn. He afterwards settled with a congregation at Westbury, in Wiltshire; from whence, after a few years, he removed to London, to succeed the Rev. Dr. Povah, at Jewrystreet Chapel. Being recommended to that congregation by the Rev. Matthew Wilks, of the Tabernacle, he was requested, in the month of July, 1801, to pay them a visit for a few weeks upon trial; and his ministry being approved, he was invited, in October following, to take upon him the pastoral office. Mr. Ball died in London, April 3, 1811, in the 43rd year of his age, leaving a widow and six children. In 1807 he published a defence of the Rev. Rowland Hill, in a pamphlet, entitled "Animadversions on An Admonitory Epistle to the Rev. Rowland Hill, occasioned by the republication of his Spiritual Characteristics, or Most Curious Sale of Curates.'"

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Mr. Edward Smyth and Mr. Mann-Mr. Walker-Mr. Maturin-Mr. KellyMr. Walter Shirley Miss Maturin - Letter from Mr. Walker - Mr. Matthias Dr. Thorpe-Anecdote of the Stewart family-Mr. Horne-Mr. Pearce visits Ireland-Mr. Rowland Hill's visit to Ireland-Miss JohnsonMr. Alderman Hutton opens his House for preaching—General Evangelical Society-Mr. Cooper invited to Ireland Mr. Shaw-Mr. Roe-United Brethren Prosecutions-New Caapel in Dublin-Reflections on Lady Huntingdon's Labours to spread the light of the Divine Truth.

THE Rev. Edward Smyth, after some years preaching in Bethesda Chapel, in conjunction with the Rev. William Mann, A.M., resigned his situation and removed to Manchester, where he afterwards became minister of St. Clement's and St. Luke's Churches. Mr. Smyth had been a member of Mr. Wesley's Connexion, but had withdrawn. Mr. Mann was a Calvinist in sentiment, consequently there was a difference in their sermons, which led to party feelings and discussions, that ended in a separation. Mr. Smyth published the Book of Common Prayer, with some few alterations, and a very large collection of Hymns for the use of the congregation. This was followed, in 1791, by a very admirable collection compiled by Mr. Mann, with a well-written preface. Mr. Mann, who remained some time after Mr. Smyth resigned, removed to London, where he became evening preacher at Ely Chapel. In 1804 he was chosen by a great majority, (300 to 25,) one of the Chaplains of St. Saviour's, Southwark, to succeed the Rev. William Winkworth, who had been one of Lady Huntingdon's ministers, and educated at her College, at Trevecca.

To Mr. Smyth and Mr. Mann succeeded the Rev. John Walker, one of the Senior Fellows of the University, a man of extraordinary abilities and great learning, and the Rev. Henry Maturin, also a Senior Fellow of the University, and afterwards rector of Fanet, a living in the gift of the College. They were of the five ministers prohibited by the Archbishop of Dublin from preaching in the churches of his diocese, and who betook themselves to Bethesda Chapel. The Rev. Thomas Kelly,*

Mr. Kelly is well known for a volume of very beautiful Hymns, most of which he has set to music of his own composing. He married Miss Tighe, of Rosanna, in the county of Wicklow. Her mother, Mrs. Tighe, was the only child of Sir William and Lady Betty Fownes, and inherited their large fortune and estates. When resident in Dublin she was an occasional attendant at Lady Huntingdon's Chapel, where she was awakened to a sense of divine