Isles." It is a very curious book, wrote with admirable
WESLEY'S JOURNAL
May 1776 He then taught himself to play upon it psalm-tunes, anthems, voluntaries, or anything which he heard.
I heard him play several tunes with great accuracy, and a complex voluntary:
I suppose all Europe can hardly produce such another instance.
His name is Joseph Strong.
But what is he the better for all this, if he is still "' without God in the world ?"
Fri. 17.—I reached Aberdeen in good time. Saturday, 18.
I read over Dr. Johnson's * Tour to the Western Isles."
It is a very curious book, wrote with admirable sense, and, I think, great fidelity ; although, in some respects, he is thought to bear hard on the nation, which I am satisfied he never intended.
Mon. 20.—I preached about eleven at Old-Meldrum, but could not reach Banff till near seven in the evening. I went directly to the Parade, and proclaimed to a listening multitude "the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ."
All behaved well but a few gentry, whom I rebuked openly, and they stood corrected.
Neat and Elegant Banff Banff is one of the neatest and most elegant towns that I have seen in Scotland.
It is pleasantly situated on the side of a hill, sloping from the sea, though close to it; so that it is sufficiently sheltered from the sharpest winds.
The streets are straight and broad. I believe it may be esteemed the fifth, if not the fourth, town in the kingdom. The county, quite from Banff to Keith, is the best peopled of any I have seen in Scotland.
This is chiefly, if not entirely, owing to the late Earl of Findlater.
He was indefatigable in doing good, took pains to procure industrious men from all parts, and to provide such little settlements for them as enabled them to live with comfort.
May 1776 WESLEY BUYS AN ESTATE
4.09
About noon I preached at the New-mills, nine miles from Banff, to a large congregation of plain, simple people.
As we rode in the afternoon the heat overcame me, so that I was weary and faint before we came to Keith; but I no sooner stood up in the market-place than I forgot my weariness; such were the seriousness and attention of the whole congregation, though as numerous as that at Banff. Mr. Gordon, the Minister of the parish, invited me to supper, and told me his kirk was at my service. A little society is formed here already ; and is in a fair way of increasing.
But they were just now in danger of losing their preaching-house, the owner being determined to sell it. I saw but one way to secure it for them, which was to buy it myself.
So (who would have thought it ?) I bought an estate, consisting of two houses, a yard, a garden, with three acres of good land.
But he told me flat, 'Sir, I will take no less for it than sixteen pounds ten shillings, to be paid, part now, part at Michaelmas, and the residue next May."
A Town of Beggars Here Mr. Gordon showed me a great curiosity.
Near the top of the opposite hill a new town is built, containing, I suppose, a hundred houses, which is a town of beggars.
This, he informed me, was the professed, regular occupation of all the inhabitants. Early in spring they all go out, and spread themselves over the kingdom; and in autumn they return, and do what is requisite for their wives and children.
Mon. 27.—I paid a visit to St. Andrews, once the largest city in the kingdom.
It was eight times as large as it is now, and a place of very great trade: but the sea rushing from the north-east, gradually destroyed the harbour and trade together: in consequence of which
WESLEY'S JOURNAL
Jone 1776 whole streets (that were) are now meadows and gardens.
Three broad, straight, handsome streets remain, all pointing at the old cathedral; which, by the ruins, appears to have been above three hundred feet long, and proportionately broad and high: so that it seems to have exceeded York Minster, and to have at least equalled any cathedral in England.
Another church, afterwards used in its stead, bears date 1124.
A steeple, standing near the cathedral, is thought to have stood thirteen hundred years.
Wesley Criticises the Scotch Universities What is left of St. Leonard's college is only a heap of ruins.
Two colleges remain, One of them has a tolerable square ; but all the windows are broke, like those of a brothel. We were informed, the students do this before they leave the college. Where are their blessed Governors in the mean time? Are they all fast asleep?
The other college is a mean building, but has a handsome library newly erected.
In the two colleges, we learned, were about seventy students; near the same number as at Old-Aberdeen.
Those at New-Aberdeen are not more numerous: neither those at Glasgow.
In Edinburgh, I suppose, there are a hundred.
So four Universities contain three hundred and ten students!
These all come to their several colleges in November, and return home in May!
So they may study five months in the year, and lounge all the rest!
O where was the common sense of those who instituted such colleges?
In the English colleges, every one may reside all the year, as all my pupils did; and I should have thought myself little better than a highwayman, if I had not lectured them every day in the year but Sundays.
Fri, June 28.—I am seventy-three years old, and far
Auc.1776 WESLEY AT SEVENTY-THREE
abler to preach than I was at three-and-twenty.
What natural means has God used to produce so wonderful an effect? x1. Continual exercise and change of air, by travelling above four thousand miles in a year: 2. Constant rising at four: 3. The ability, if ever I want, to sleep immediately: 4. The never losing a night's sleep in my life: 5. Two violent fevers and two deep consumptions.
These, it is true, were rough medicines: but they were of admirable service; causing my flesh to come again as the flesh of a little child.
May I add, lastly, evenness of temper? I feel and grieve ; but, by the grace of God, I fret at nothing. But still « the help that is done upon earth, He doeth it himself."
And this He doeth in answer to many prayers.
Smuggling in Cornwall Sat. Aug. 17.—We found Mr. Hoskins, at Cubert (Cornwall), alive ; but just tottering over the grave.
I preached in the evening, on 2 Cor. v. 1-4; probably the last sermon he will hear from me.
I was afterwards inquiring, if that scandal of Cornwall, the plundering of wrecked vessels, still subsisted.
He said, "As much as ever; only the Methodists will have nothing to do with it.
But three months since a vessel was wrecked on the south coast, and the tinners presently seized on all the goods; and even broke in pieces a new coach which was on board, and carried every scrap of it away."
But is there no way to prevent this shameful breach of all the laws both of religion and humanity:
Indeed there is.
The gentry of Cornwall may totally prevent it whenever they please.
Let them only see that the laws be strictly executed upon the next plunderers; and after an example is made of ten of these, the next wreck will be unmolested.
Nay, there is a