would open their hearts to assist this infant society, and contribute to the first preaching house, on the original Methodist plan in all America, (excepting Mr. Whitfield's orphan house in Georgia,) but I shall write no more on this subject.

"There is another point far more material, and in which I must importune your assistance, not only in my own name, but also in the name of the whole society. We want an able and experienced preacher; one who has both gifts and grace necessary for the work. God has not, indeed, despised the day of small things. There is a real work of grace begun in many hearts, by the preaching of Mr. Webb and Mr. Embury; but though they are both useful, and their hearts in the work, they want many qualifications for such an undertaking; and the progress of the gospel here depends much upon the qualifications of preachers.

"In regard to a preacher, if possible we must have a man of wisdom, of sound faith, and a good disciplinarian : one whose heart and soul are in the work; and I doubt not but by the goodness of God, such a flame would be soon kindled, as would never stop until it reached the great South sea. We may make many shifts to avoid temporal inconveniences; but we cannot purchase such a preacher as I have described. Dear sir, I entreat you for the good of thousands, to use your utmost endeavors to send one

I would advise him to take shipping at Boston, Liverpool, or Dublin, in the month of July or early in August; by embarking at this season he will have fine weather in his passage, and probably arrive here in the month of September. He will see before winter what progress the gospel has made.

"With respect to money for the payment of the preacher's passage over, if they could not procure it, we would sell our coats and shirts to procure it for them,

"I most earnestly beg an interest in your prayers, and trust you and many of our brethren, will not forget the church in this wilderness.

“I remain with sincere esteem, rev. and dear sir,

"Your very affectionate brother and servant,
"T. T."

In answer to the earnest request contained in this letter, Mr. Wesley sent over Messrs. Boardman and Pilmore, and £50 sterling, as a "token of brotherly love." They were cordially received by the people here, and soon much encouraged in their work, as the following letter from Mr. Pilmore will fully show:

Philadelphia, Oct. 31, 1769. "REV. SIR,-By the blessing of God we are safely arrived here, after a tedious passage of nine weeks. We were not a little surprised to find Capt. Webb in town, and a society of about one hundred members, who desire to be in close connexion with you. This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.'

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"I have preached several times, and the people flock to hear in multitudes. Sunday evening I went out upon the I had the stage appointed for the horse race for my pulpit, and I think between four and five thousand hearers, who heard with attention still as night. Blessed be God for field preaching. When I began to talk of preaching at five o'clock in the morning, the people thought it would not answer in America: however, I resolved to try, and I had a very good congregation.

"Here seems to be a great and effectual door opening in this country, and I hope many souls will be gathered in. The people in general like to hear the word, and seem to have ideas of salvation by grace."

After continuing a short time in Philadelphia, Mr. Pilmore made an excursion to Maryland, where he found Mr. Strawbridge, and preached with some success. He likewise visited some parts of Virginia and North Carolina; and witnessing the happy effects of his labors in the awakening of sinners, he formed some societies. In all places which he visited, he found people eager to hear the word, and kind to those who came to preach it. From hence he returned to Philadelphia, and soon came down to New York, while Mr. Boardman went to Philadelphia; thus commencing, in the early stage of their labors, a regular change from place to place. The society in New-York, under the labors of Mr. Embury and Captain Webb, was in a flourishing state on the arrival of Mr. Boardman, whose godly simplicity and evangelical preaching were made a peculiar blessing to many. In this prosperous state of society, Mr. Pilmore entered upon his charge over them. As he thought it prudent to make a fair trial before he transmitted his account of the state of things to Mr. Wesley, he deferred writing until April 24, 1770, on which day he wrote the following letter:

"Our house contains about seventeen hundred hearers. About a third part of those who attend get in; the rest are glad to hear without. There appears such a willingness in the Americans to hear the word, as I never saw before. They have no preaching in some of the back settlements. I doubt not but an effectual door will be opened among them! O! may the Most High now give his Son the heathen for his inheritance. The number of the blacks that attend the preaching affects me much."

From these representations of the state and disposition of the people in America, Mr. Wesley was induced to concert measures to send them over more laborers.、 Accordingly the next year, 1771, Mr. Francis Asbury and Mr. Richard Wright, who volunteered their services, were dis

missed under the blessing of God for the help of their brethren in America. They set sail from Bristol, Sept. 2, 1771, and landed in Philadelphia, the 24th of October following. They were received with great cordiality, "the people hardly knowing," says Mr. Asbury, "how to show their love sufficiently, bidding us welcome with fervent affection, and receiving us as the angels of God."

According to a notice in Mr. Asbury's Journal, vol. iii, p. 109, it appears that when he arrived in this country, he found three hundred Methodists in New-York, two hundred and fifty in Philadelphia, and a few in New-Jersey, probably in all about six hundred. Those in Maryland do not appear to be included in this number. On the arrival of Mr. Asbury, he very properly judged that they could not expect a general spread of the work of God, unless they extended themselves into the country towns and villages. He accordingly led the way, by which the prospects of usefulness opened before them in every direction.

By the faithful exertions of Mr. Asbury, and those who were associated with him, the work of God extended among the people, and it was soon perceived that more help was much needed to supply the calls of the people. Indeed the people in many places, particularly in the middle and southern provinces-for so these United States were then called, being a part of the British dominions-were but poorly supplied with the word and ordinances of Christ, and pure religion was generally at a very low ebb. A taste for experimental religion had, it is true, been created in some hearts, by the powerful preaching of the celebrated Whitefield, who, some time previously to the arrival of the Methodist missionaries, had travelled through the country, and preached with his usual zeal and success. The fields, however, at this time, "were ripe for the harvest ;" and a faithful account of the state of affairs here being transmitted to Mr. Wesley, in 1773, Messrs. Thomas Rankin and