and wherever he was announced, multitudes flocked from all quarters to attend him. The reputation of his great abilities drew together persons of every description; and it was truly refreshing, says an intimate friend of Mr. Fletcher, who was present upon these occasions, to behold the powerful effects of the Gospel among those, who, be-fore that time, had seldom or never heard it proclaimed in its purity. Many despisers of revelation were over-awed and confounded; many formal professors were touched with the power of true religion; and many careless lovers of pleasure were impressed with a solemn sense of eternal things.

One young man, in particular, was so deeply affected by the discourses of this powerful preacher, that he immediately resolved to consecrate himself to the service of God in the work of the holy ministry. Accordingly he betook himself from that time to studies of a sacred nature, and is at this day minister of the protestant church at Lyons. Among others, a good old minister, who was more than seventy years of age, heard him gladly; and earnestly entreated him to lengthen out his visit at Nyon, though it should be but for a single week beyond the time proposed for his departure. He urged his request with much importunity; and when he found that his desire could not conveniently be complied with, the old man wept, and turning to Mr. Fletcher's fellow-traveller, affectingly exclaimed, "O Sir, how unfortunate for this country; during my day it has produced but one angel of a man, and it is our lot to be deprived of him!" The benefit of his public labours in this place was significantly attested by the numerous applications he received in private, for religious instruction. And the grateful sense his countrymen entertained of those labours was fully expressed, in their affectionate concern. at his departure from among them. Weeping multitudes 'crowded round his carriage, anxious to receive a last word

or look: and not a few followed his chariot above two miles from the town, before they had resolution to tear themselves entirely away from the company of this venerable man.

For Nyon to be deprived of the ministry of this illustrious divine was truly unfortunate; but it was equally happy for that favoured village, which was appointed to be the scene of his exemplary labours. There his strength and his arms were chiefly exercised, and there his most important victories over sin were obtained. There his name will long continue to be had in honour; and from thence many a goodly jewel will be collected, to form for him a crown of rejoicing in the day of the Lord.

About the middle of summer, as far as I recollect, (says Mr. Benson) in that year, he and his friend returned to England. Soon after their return, I had the happiness of being frequently in company with Mr. Ireland, first at Trevecka, in Wales, and afterwards at his own house at Bristol, and of hearing many pleasing and edifying anecdotes concerning Mr. Fletcher, and the circumstances of their journey. I lament that length of time and the multitude of affairs Providence has called me to be engaged in, have erased these so far from my memory, that I am not able to give a clear or consistent account of them. One thing, however, I well remember, and shall never forget, and that is, the very high esteem and veneration in which Mr. Fletcher was held by his friend and fellow-traveller, who, during the five months spent together on their tour, had seen such proofs, from day to day, of his exalted piety, fortitude, and wisdom, that he was perfectly enraptured with him. If Mr. Fletcher had been an angel in human flesh, his friend could not well have held him in higher estimation, nor have been more lavish and incessant in his praise. He was careful, however, to ascribe the glory of all the excellencies that were in him to the grace of God,

My personal acquaintance with Mr. Fletcher was then but slight*. I had, I think, only had two or three interviews with him, which, as far as I can recollect, were in the year 1768, when I was classical master at Kingswood School. As he occasionally made an excursion from Madely to Bristol and Bath, in one of those excursions we invited him to preach a Kingswood. He was peculiarly assisted while he was applying those encouraging words, Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out. The people were exceedingly affected; indeed quite melted 'down. The tears streamed so fast from the eyes of the poor colliers, that their black faces were washed by them, and almost universally streaked with white. And as to himself, his zealous soul had been carried out so far beyond his strength, that when he concluded, he put off a shirt which was as wet as if it had been dipt in water. But this was nothing strange: wherever he preached, it was generally the case. From this time I conceived a particular esteem for him, chiefly on account of his piety; and wished much for a further acquaintance with him: a blessing which I soon after obtained.

The personal acquaintance between the Rev. Mr. Fletcher and the Rev. Joseph Benson, begun in the year 1768, and continued, to their mutual joy and satisfaction, as long as Mr. Fletcher lived. Mr. Benson now resides in London, principal manager of the extensive book concern belonging to the Methodist Conference in Great Britain. Mr. B. was educated at Oxford University, is now (1814) about sixty seven years old, and one of the most apostolic preachers and writers in that or any other country. See his volume of Evangelical Sermons and his Commentary on the Holy Scriptures. J. K.

OF HIS DECLINING STATE OF HEALTH, THE PROGRESS OF HIS DISORDER, AND HIS BEHAVIOUR UNDER IT.

THE frequent journeys which Mr. Fletcher took to and from Trevecka,* while he presided over the College, in all weathers, and at all seasons of the year, greatly impaired the firmness of his constitution. And in some of those journies, he had not only difficulties, but dangers likewise to encounter. One day, as he was riding over a wooden bridge, just as he got to the middle thereof, it broke in. The mare's fore-legs sunk into the river, but her breast and hinder parts were kept up by the bridge. In that position she lay, as still as if she had been dead, till he gǝt over her neck, and took off his bags, in which were several manuscripts, the spoiling of which would have occasioned him much trouble. He then endeavoured to raise her up ; but she would not stir, till he went over the other part of the bridge. But no sooner did he set his foot upon the ground, than she began to plunge. Immediately the remaining part of the bridge broke down, and sunk with her into the river. But presently she rose up again, swam out, and came to him.

About this time,† Mr. Pilmoor being desirous to see the inside of a coalpit, Mr. Fletcher went with him to the bottom of a sloping pit, which was supposed to be near a mile under the ground. They returned out of it without any inconvenience. But the next day, while several colliers were there, a damp took fire, which went off with a vast explosion, and killed all the men that were in it.

In February, 1773, Mr. Wesley received from him the following letter:

In the principality of Wales, where the late excellent Countess of Huntington had a college erected for the education (gratis) of pious young men for the ministry.

Now (1814) the Rev. Dr. J. Pilmoor, one of the Episcopalian clergy men at Philadelphia.

"Rev. and dear Sir,

"I hope the Lord, who has so wonderfully stood by you hitherto, will preserve you to see many of your sheep, and me among them, enter into rest. Should Providence call you first, I shall do my best, by the Lord's assistance, to help your brother to gather the wreck, and keep together those who are not absolutely bent to throw away the Methodist doctrines and discipline, as soon as he that now letteth is removed out of the way. Every help will then be necessary, and I shall not be backward to throw in my mite. In the meantime you sometimes need an assistant to serve tables, and occasionally fill up a gap. Providence visibly appointed me to that office many years ago. And though it no less evidently called me hither, yet I have not been without doubts, especially for some years past, whether it would not be expedient, that I should resume my office as your deacon; not with any view of presiding over the Methodists after you; but to ease you a little in your old age, and to be in the way of receiving, perhaps doing, more good. I have sometimes thought, how shameful it was, that no clergyman should join you, to keep in the church the work God has enabled you to carry on therein. And as the little estate I have in my own country is sufficient for my maintenance, I have thought I would one day or other offer you and the Methodists my free service. While my love of retirement made me linger, I was providentially led to do something on Lady Huntingdon's plan. But being shut out there, it appears to me, I am again called to my first work. Nevertheless, I would not leave this place, without a fuller persuasion shat the time is quite Not that God uses me much here, but I have not yet sufficiently cleared my conscience from the blood of all men. Meantime I beg the Lord to guide me by his counsel, and make me willing to go any where or no where, to be any thing or nothing. Help by your prayers, till you

come.