being formerly but a mean mechanic, never had any education; but although he is a great enthufiaft, yet he is one of the goodnatured inoffenfive fort, who will do no harm to any perfon, but on the contrary, all the good in his power. I am only forry, as he lately was an honeft ufeful tradesman, that he should have fo much fpiritual quixotifm in him, as at thirty years of age to shut up his fhop and turn preacher, without being able to read his primer; which I can affure is the cafe.

you

"What though his wits could ne'er difpenfe,
"One page of grammar, or of sense;
"What though his learning be fo flight,

"He fcarcely knows to fpell or write;
"What though his fkull be cudgel-proof,

"He's orthodox, and that's enough." TOM BRAINLESS.

But as these heavenly teachers only speak as the Spirit giveth utterance, of course all human learning is entirely fuperfluous.

"As he does not chufe to cull,
"His faith by any scripture rule;
"But by the vapours that torment
"His brains, from hypocondria fent,

"Which into dreams and vifions turn,
"And make his zeal fo fiercely burn,
"That reafon lofes the afcendant,
"And all within grows independant.
"He proves all fuch as do accord
"With him the chofen of the Lord;

"But that all others are accurft,

"Tis plain in Canticles the first."

BUTLER'S Pofth. Works.

The following very extraordinary fact took place about the time that I first came to live in Chifwell-Street: Mr. Ra furgeon, who lived many years near Moorfields, happening to have a methodistical lady (fome relation to him) that boarded in the houfe, and ferved as a companion to Mrs. R-; the Surgeon fome how or other got to bed to this holy woman, and after fome time Mrs. R- became acquainted with their illicit. amours; he took not the leaft notice of the affair, but kept in good humour with both until she had an opportunity of being revenged of her rival. One afternoon, her husband being from home, fhe took care to fend the fervants out of the way, and then ftairs to this boarder's bed room, and

went up

found her taking her afternoon nap on the bed, upon which the fecured her hands, by tying them, one to each of the posts at the head of the bed, in doing which the lady awaked and began to laugh, as thinking it was fome bit of humour; Mrs. R-laughed alfo, and proceeded to tie her legs, one to each of the posts at the foot of the bed, which the other permitted, ftill thinking it was fome harmlefs whim; but alas! fhe was foon convinced to the contrary, for as foon as Mrs. R- had made her fecure, the (horrid to relate) took a pen-knife, and cut off one half of the externals of the offending part. Now faid fhe, in favage triumph, let Mr. R- take half, or a whole one, which he likes the beft. She then fent for her hufband, and told him that Mrs. wanted

his immediate affiftance, which he found to be too true, as she was nearly dead with the lofs of blood; however, he with much care and attention at last healed the wound. She then was defired by Mrs. R to get herfelf another place to board at, left fhe fhould lofe the other half-the poor lady took her advice,

and

and after this dreadful misfortune gave herfelf up entirely to devotion, and was foon after admitted into the felect bands, among the entirely holy fifters, who are made perfect in grace.

A few years fince the methodist-preachers got footing in Wellington (the famous birthplace of your humble fervant) and established a fociety, foon after which one of their preachers (at Collompton, a neighbouring town) happened to like a young fervant girl, who was one of the holy fifters, (she having gone through the new birth) better than his wife, because he was an unenlightened, unconverted woman. And this fervant girl proving with child, the news foon reached Wellington; and a very wealthy gentleman, who entertained the preachers there, followed the preacher of Collompton's example, and got his own pious maid with

After this fome of the fociety in Wellington began to have all things in common, and several more of the holy fifters proved prolific; which fo alarmed the parish, that some of the heads of it infifted that the preachers should not be permitted to preach there any longer. "For, if (faid they) the methodistfociety continues, we fhall have the parish full of baftards."

A fimilar affair happened at a country town, ten or twelve miles from Oxford, about two years finçe, where a very handfome powerful preacher made converts of a great number of women, both married and fingle, who were wonderfully affected, and great numbers flocked to his ftandard.

"He had a roguish twinkle in his eye,
"And fhone all glittering with ungodly dew,
"If a tight damfel chanc'd to be tripping by
"Which when obferv'd, he shrunk into his mew,
"And ftrait would recollect his piety anew."

Çaftle of Indolence.

But he had not laboured there more than a year, before the churchwardens were made

acquainted