Mr. Gordon's curious garden at Mile-end, the like of
WESLEY'S JOURNAL
Fes. 1778 a large barn.
At six o'clock it was well filled; and it seemed as if God sent a message to every soul.
Fri. 25.—I set out between eight and nine in a onehorse chaise, the wind being high and cold enough.
Much snow lay on the ground, and much fell as we crept along over the fen-banks.
Honest Mr. Tubbs would needs walk and lead the horse through water and mud up to his mid-leg, smiling and saying, "We fen-men do not mind a little dirt."
When we had gone about four miles, the road would not admit of a chaise.
So I borrowed a horse, and rode forward ; but not far, for all the grounds were under water.
Here therefore I procured a boat, full twice as large as a kneading-trough.
I was at one end, and a boy at the other, who paddled me safe to Erith.
There Miss L waited for me with another chaise, which brought me to It. Ives.
No Methodist, I was told, had preached in this town: so I thought it high time to begin; and about one I preached to a very well-dressed, and yet well-behaved congregation.
Thence my new friend (how long will she be such?) carried me to Godmanchester, near Huntingdon. A large barn was ready, in which Mr. Berridge and Mr. Venn used to preach. And though the weather was still severe, it was well filled with deeply attentive people.
Sat. 26.—I set out early, and in the evening reached London.
1775. Wed. Feb. 22.—I had an opportunity of seeing Mr. Gordon's curious garden at Mile-end, the like of which I suppose is hardly to be found in England, if in Europe.
One thing in particular I learned here, the real nature of the tea-tree.
I was informed, 1. That the green and the bohea are of quite different species.
Nov.1775
WESLEY AND THE TEA-TREE
That the bohea is much tenderer than the green.
That the green is an evergreen; and bears, not only in the open air, but in the frost, perfectly well.
4. That the herb of Paraguay likewise bears the frost, and is a species of tea.
5. And I observed that they are all species of bay or laurel.
The leaf of green tea is both of the colour, shape, and size of a bay leaf: that of bohea is smaller, softer, and of a darker colour.
So is the herb of Paraguay; which is of a dirty green, and no larger than our common red sage.
Wesley's Coach Upset Sun. Aug. 6.—At one I proclaimed the glorious Gospel to the usual congregation at Birstal, and in the evening at Leeds.
Then, judging it needful to pay a short visit to our brethren at London, I took the stagecoach, with five of my friends, about eight o'clock.
Before nine, a gentleman in a single-horse chaise struck his wheel against one of ours.
Instantly the weight of the men at top overset the coach; otherwise, ten times the shock would not have moved it; but neither the coachman, nor the men at top, nor any within, were hurt at all.
On Tuesday, in the afternoon, we were met at Hatfield by many of our friends, who conducted us safe to London.
Monday, October 30, and the following days, I visited the little societies in the neighbourhood of London.
Saturday, November 11. I made some additions to the 'Calm Address to our American Colonies."
Need any one ask from what motive this was wrote?
Let him look round: England is in a flame! a flame of malice and rage against the King, and almost all that are in authority under him.
I labour to put out this flame Ought not every true patriot to do the same?
WESLEY'S JOURNAL
Nov. 1775 hireling writers on either side judge of me by themselves, that I cannot help.
Sun. 12.—I was desired to preach, in Bethnal-green church, a charity sermon for the widows and orphans of the soldiers that were killed in America.
Knowing how many would seek occasion of offence, I wrote down my sermon. I dined with Sir John Hawkins and three other gentlemen that are in commission for the peace ; and was agreeably surprised at a very serious conversation, kept up during the whole time I stayed.
Wesley and the American War Mon. 27.—I set out for Norwich.
That evening I preached at Colchester; Tuesday,at Norwich; Wednesday, at Yarmouth.
About this time I published the following letter in Lloyd's '' Evening Post :"— «"S1r,—I have been seriously asked, 'From what motive did you publish your Calm Address to the American
Colonies ?'
"IT seriously answer, Not to get money.
Had that been my motive, I should have swelled it into a shilling pamphlet, and have entered it at Stationers' Hall.
" Not to get preferment for myself, or my brother's children.
I am a little too old to gape after it for myself: and if my brother or I sought it for them, we have only to show them to the world.
'"' Not to please any man living, high or low.
I know mankind too well.
I know they that love you for political service, love you less than their dinner; and they that hate you, hate you worse than the devil.
"Least of all did I write with a view to inflame any; just the contrary.
I contributed my mite toward putting out the flame which rages all over the land.
ThisI have
Nov. 1775 WESLEY DEFENDS THE KING
more opportunity of observing than any other man in England. I see with pain to what an height this already rises, in every part of the nation.
And I see many pouring oil into the flame, by crying out, ' How unjustly, how cruelly, the King is using the poor Americans ; who are only contending for their liberty, and for their legal privileges !'
"Now there is no possible way to put out this flame, or hinder its rising higher and higher, but to show that the Americans are not used either cruelly or unjustly ; that they are not injured at all, seeing they are not contending for liberty (this they had, even in its full extent, both civil and religious); neither for any legal privileges ; for they enjoy all that their charters grant.
But what they contend for is, the illegal privilege of being exempt from parliamentary taxation. A privilege this, which no charter ever gave to any American colony yet; which no charter can give, unless it be confirmed both by King, Lords, and Commons; which, in fact, our colonies never had; which they never claimed till the present reign: and probably they would not have claimed it now, had they not been incited thereto by letters from England.
One of these was read, according to the desire of the writer, not only at the continental
Congress, but likewise in many congregations throughout the Combined Provinces.
It advised them to seize upon all the King's officers; and exhorted them, 'Stand valiantly, only for six months, and in that time there will be such commotions in England that you may have your own terms,'
"This being the real state of the question, without any colouring or aggravation, what impartial man can either blame the King, or commend the Americans ?
''With this view, to quench the fire, by laying the