had no means of knowing, but by examining the papers which Dr. Coke had left; and to all of these they could not have access, until the ships reached the place of their destination. In addition to this, the passengers belonging to the Lady Melville were instantly to repair on board of that ship, without the most distant prospect of conversing again with those on board the Cabalva, until they should cast anchor in Bombay. Such was the state of suspense in which they took leave of each other, and in which they remained until the 21st of May, when they reached their destined port in safety.

On meeting together at Bombay, they were fully convinced from searching Dr. Coke's papers, that no provision had been made for their support in case of his decease. This appeared at first to be a melancholy discovery. But God, whose overruling providence frequently makes painful dispensations subservient to his gracious designs, caused their distress to become the basis of their support. Instead of giving way to universal sorrow, they drew up a plain statement of their case, and presented it to Captain Birch, from whose benevolent conduct they had already received every mark of attention which dignified friendship could bestow.

Being ready to espouse their cause, Captain Birch introduced them to Thomas Money, Esq. a gentleman in Bombay, who on hearing from him a statement of their case, generously offered to advance them money on the credit of the Methodist connexion. This was a favorable circumstance. They had also in their possession a letter of recommendation which Dr. Coke had procured from some friend in England, addressed to this same gentleman. On reading this letter he declared himself their friend, and would have accompanied them to the governor, if his health would have permitted.

The task of introducing them to the governor, Sir Evan Nepean, was undertaken by Captain Birch, who stated their

case with the same degree of friendship which he had invariably manifested. To his Excellency the Governor they had several letters of recommendation from some gentlemen of the highest respectability in England. Pleased with these recommendations, and sympathizing with them in their distress, he ordered a house to be prepared for their accommodation in the fort. But on finding this to be already occupied, he generously offered them suitable accommodations about five miles in the country. Of this they gladly availed themselves, during their residence in Bombay. But on finding a ship about to sail for Ceylon, five were obliged to hold themselves in readiness for their departure.

The attention, however, which they received from his Excellency the Governor, from Captain Birch, and from Thomas Money, Esq. raised them to a degree of credit and respectability, far above what they could have expected among entire strangers; and perhaps even superior to what they would have experienced if Dr. Coke had lived to conduct them without the aid of these providential friends. From Captain Birch they received £400, which Dr. Coke had lodged in his hands before they left England. This sum they deposited with Mr. Money in Bombay, taking with them letters of credit on his agents in Ceylon, and with these the favor of several gentlemen, who appeared to compassionate their case, and to interest themselves in their welfare, and in the prosperity of the mission.

Of their arrival at Ceylon, and their subsequent proceedings, detailed accounts have been given in the numerous letters they have sent to England. Many of these letters have been published in the Methodist Magazines, and they are probably in the hands of most persons who will read this volume. The prospect of their success became pleasing, as soon as they had entered on their labors; and from the most recent accounts that have been received, the favor

able aspect of things had not been in the least diminished. Among the heathen, several had espoused the cause of Christianity, in defiance of the dangers to which their lives were exposed, in departing from the idolatry of their ancestors. A learned priest, of high respectability and great authority, had openly acknowledged himself their friend, and became an assistant in their labors. On the hearts of many a work of grace was discoverable; and the children, who had attended the schools they had established, promised fair to make a considerable proficiency in European learning. Several English gentlemen also, holding official situations in India, had invariably showed themselves friendly to the cause in which they were engaged, and had promised to protect them, so long as they rendered themselves deserving of protection; and beyond this, favor would be a

vice.

20

BOOK II.

CHAPTER I.

From the formation of the first Methodist Society in America, 1766, to the organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the United States, 1784; period of eighteen years.

EVENTS of the greatest importance often take their rise from the most trivial circumstances. Actions of persons who have been, through the hand of providence, the means of first propagating the truths of salvation over an extensive portion of the globe, though they may seem in other respects altogether insignificant, yet have in them an interest, which induces posterity to cherish in their bosoms a desire of holding them in grateful and everlasting remembrance. Hence the lives, the sentiments, and even the personal qualities of those apostles, who disseminated the doctrines of our Divine Master through the world, are displayed in the brightest characters to the present day, whilst many of the proud heroes of antiquity are left obscured in deserved oblivion.

In America, Methodism, which has so rapidly spread. abroad, arose from causes apparently accidental and unimportant. The REV. JOHN WESLEY, the founder of Methodism, had long before its commencement been in this country, and formed a society in Savannah. This was in the years 1736 and 1737, when he re-embarked for Europe; and the society, not being sufficiently organized, was dissolved.

Nearly thirty years elapsed after this occurrence took place, and Methodism was still unknown among the inhabitants of America.

Meanwhile numbers in Great Britain and Ireland had embraced its tenets, and conformed their lives to the principles of true piety and holiness which it peculiarly enforces. The current of emigration from those countries into this, of course bore along with it, some members of the original society. They were here scattered in parts widely remote from each other, where the total absence of a proper understanding between them, caused them, thus unsupported by mutual example, to neglect their former rules of piety; or impelled them to unite with persuasions of a different character, and of less correct principles.

A few thus isolated from the main body, were residing in the city of New-York; and among them an elderly lady that had lately been a member in Ireland. Having learnt the arrival of a few more of her society, whom she had known in that country, she called at their residence in the way of friendship, and was mortified as well as surprised, to discover them engaged in a game of cards. She reproached them by taking up the cards, and throwing them indignantly away; then proceeded instantly to the house of Philip Embury, who was her countryman and a zealous advocate of the tenets of Mr. Wesley. With eloquence becoming a cause so praiseworthy, she portrayed to him the fallen condition of their friends, exhorted him to use all his efforts to reclaim them from their careless and erroneous ways; and reminded him that God demanded this necessary exertion on his part, who would otherwise charge their sins in a measure to his neglect. Less argument would have prevailed upon this man; whom we must consider as the real founder of Methodism in America. agreed to hold a meeting in an apartment of his house, which was situated in Augustus-street, [then called Barrack-street,] whilst the lady should collect as many persons together as were willing to attend. The task was arduous : not only the scoffs of the ignorant, the sarcasms of the

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