I cannot go back to Bristol, I have expended all my money, and have nothing to subsist on." Mr. S. said, "Why should you come to Kingswood, it is only for preachers' children, or for such preachers as cannot read their Bible; and it appears from this information, that you have already been at a classical school, and that you have read both Greek and Latin authors." Adam said, "I am come to improve myself in various ways by the advantages which I understood Kingswood could afford." Mr. S. replied that, "It was not necessary; if you are already a preacher, you had better go out into the work at large, for there is no room for you in the school, and not one spare bed in the house." It was now with his poor heart :Hei mihi! quanta de spe decidi!

The rest I shall give in A. C.'s own words.

"At last it was agreed, that there was a spare room on the end of the chapel, where I might lodge till Mr. Wesley should come from Cornwall: and that I must stay in that room and not come into the house. I was accordingly shewn to the place, and was told, one of the maids should bring me my daily food at the due times. As soon as I was left alone, I kneeled down and poured out my soul to God with strong crying and tears. I was a stranger in a strange land, and alas! among strange people: utterly friendless and pennyless. I felt also that I was not at liberty, but only to run away:-this I believe would have been grateful to the unfeeling people into whose hands I had fallen. But I soon found why I was thus cooped up in my prison-house. Mr. S. that day took an opportunity to tell me that Mrs. S. suspected that I might have the itch, as many persons coming from my country had; [this was excellent from Scotch people, for such they both were ;] and that they could not let me mingle with the family. I immediately tore open my waistcoat and shirt, and shewed him a skin as white and as clean as ever had come across the Tweed; but all to no purpose,-'It might be cleaving somewhere to me, and they could not be satisfied till I had rubbed myself, from head to foot, with a box of Jackson's itch ointment, which should be procured for me next day!'

"It was only my strong hold of God, that kept me from distraction. But to whom could I make my complaint? Earthly refuge I had none. It is utterly impossible for me to describe the feelings, I may justly say the agony, of my mind. I surveyed my apartment; there was a wretched old bureau wainscot bedstead, not worth ten shillings, and a flock bed, and suitable bed-clothes, worth not much more: but the worst was, they were very scanty, and the weather was cold and wet. There was one rush bottomed chair in the place, and besides these, neither carpet on the floor, nor at the bedside, nor any other kind of furniture. There was no book, not even a Bible,

in the place; and my own box, with my clothes and a few books, was behind at the Lamb Inn, in Bristol; and I had not even a change of linen. Of this I informed them, and begged them to let the man, (as I found he went in with a horse and small cart three times a week,) bring out my box to me. To this request, often and earnestly repeated, I got no definite answer, but no box was brought.

"Jackson's Ointment was brought, it is true; and with this infernal unguent, I was obliged to anoint myself before a large fire, (the first and last I saw while I remained there,) which they had ordered to be lighted for the purpose. In this state, smelling worse than a polecat, I tumbled with a heavy heart and streaming eyes, into my worthless bed. The next morning the sheets had taken from my body, as far as they came in contact with it, the unabsorbed parts of this tartareous compound and the smell of them and myself was almost insupportable. The woman that brought my bread and milk for breakfast-for dinner-and for supper,-for generally I had nothing else, and not enough of that, I begged to let me have a pair of clean sheets. It was in vain: no clean clothes of any kind were afforded me; I was left to make my own bed, sweep my own room, and empty my own basin, &c. &c. as I pleased! For more than three weeks no soul performed any kind act for me. And as they did not give orders to the man to bring out my box, I was left without a change of any kind, till the Thursday of the second week; when I asked permission to go out of my prison-house to Bristol for my box; which being granted, I walked to Bristol and carried my box on my head, more than four miles, without any kind of assistance! It was then no loss, that my wardrobe was not extensive. As for books, I brought none with me but a small 18mo. Bible, a 12mo. edition of Young's Night Thoughts, Prideaux's Connected History of the Jews, &c., and Buck's 8vo. Greek Testament.

"As both the days and nights were very cold, the season then being unnaturally so, I begged to have a little fire. This was denied me, though coals were raised within a few roods of the house, and were very cheap; and had it been otherwise, they were not at their expense; they were paid for out of the public collections, made for that school; to which many of my friends made an annual liberal offering.

"One day, having seen Mr. S. walking in the garden, I went to him and told him I was starving with cold; and shewed him my fingers then bloodless through cold! He took me to the hall, shewed me a cord which hung from the roof, to the end of which was affixed a cross stick; and told me to jump up and catch a hold of the stick, and swing by my hands, and that would help to restore the circulation. I did so: and had been at the exercise only a few minutes, when Mrs. S.

came and drove both him and myself away, under pretence that we should dirty the floor! From this woman I received no kindness. A more unfeeling woman I had never met. She was probably very clever-all stood in awe of her-for my own part, I feared her more than I feared Satan himself. When nearly crippled with cold, and I had stolen into the kitchen to warm myself for a few moments, if I had heard her voice in the hall, I have run as a man would who is pursued in the jungles of Bengal by a royal tiger.

"This woman was equally saving of the candles, as of the coals: if my candle were not extinguished by nine o'clock, I was called to account for it. My bed not being comfortable, I did not like to lie much in it; and therefore kept out of it as late, and rose from it as early as possible. To prevent Mrs. S. from seeing the reflection of the light through my window, (for my prison-house was opposite the school, over the way,) I was accustomed to set my candle on the floor behind my bureau bed, take off my coat and hang it on my chair's back, bring that close on the other angle, and then sit down squat on the floor and read! To these miserable expedients was I driven in order to avoid my bed, and spend my time in the best manner I could for the cultivation of my mind, and to escape the prying eye of this woman, who seemed never to be in her element but when she was driving every thing before her.

"I asked and got permission to work in the garden. There, fine quickset hedges were all overgrown; these I reduced to order by the dubbing shears and I had done this so well, that my taste and industry were both applauded. I occasionally dug and dressed plots in the ground. This was of great service to me, as it gave me a sufficiency of exercise, and I had on the whole better health; and there was a sort of pond of rain water in the garden, where I occasionally bathed, scanty indeed of water, for there is none in the place but what falls from heaven; and for a temporary occupation of their premises, I was obliged to contend with frogs, askes, or evets, and vermin of different kinds.

"The preaching, and public band-meeting at the chapel, were often sources of spiritual refreshment to me; and gave me songs in the house of my pilgrimage.

"One Thursday evening, when Mr. Thos. Rankin, who was superintendent (then called assistant) of the circuit, had preached, the bands met: and as I made it a point never to attend band-meeting or love-feast, without delivering my testimony for God, I spoke: and without entering into trials, temptations, or difficulties of any kind, I simply stated my confidence in God, the clear sense I had of my acceptance with Him, and my earnest desire for complete purity of heart. When the meeting was ended, Mr. R. came to me, and asked

if I had ever led a class? I said, I had often, in my own country, but not since I came to England. 'Have you ever preached?" I answered, I had often exhorted in public, but had taken a text only a few times. He then told me I must 、go and meet a class at Mangotsfield the next day; and preach at Downend the next Wednesday. I met the class, and preached as appointed, and had great favour in the sight of the people.

"From that time Mr. Rankin was my steady friend. I had an intimate acquaintance with him for upwards of thirty years; and we never had the slightest misunderstanding. He was an authoritative man; and many complained of him on this account; he had not many friends, his manner being often apparently austere. But he was a man of unblemished character, truly devoted to God, and zealous in his work. I attended him on his death-bed in London: he died as a Christian and minister of Christ should die,-full of confidence in God, and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.

"The last time I saw him he desired his step-daughter, Mrs. Hovatt, to open a certain drawer, and bring to him a little shagreen box. She did so he took it, and said, 'My dear brother Clarke, this is a silver medal of the late Rev. George Whitfield: Mr. Wesley gave it to me, and in my will I have left it to you: but I now choose to give it to you with my own hands; and I shall use the same words in giving it which Mr. Wesley used when he gave it to me:

'Thus we scatter our playthings: and soon we'll scatter our dust.'

"It is a satisfaction to me that, having been superintendent of the London circuit three years before he died, I had it in my power to make his latter labours comparatively comfortable and easy; by appointing him to places to which he had little fatigue in going, and where he was affectionately entertained.— In this I only did my duty; but he received it as a very high obligation. Preachers who have borne the burden and heat of the day, should be favoured in their latter end, when their strength and spirits fail.

"Before I go farther in this relation, it will be necessary to describe, as briefly as possible, the family at Kingswood.

"The school at that time consisted of the sons of itinerant preachers, and parlour boarders. The latter were taken in, because the public collections were not sufficient to support the institution.

As a religious seminary, and under the direction of one of the greatest men in the world, Mr. J. Wesley, (though his multitudinous avocations prevented him from paying much attention to it,) the school had a great character, both over Europe and America, among religious people. Independently of several young gentlemen, the sons of opulent Methodists, there were

at that time in it several from the West Indies, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.

"The following was the domestic establishment:

"Mr. Thomas Simpson, M. A. was head master. Mrs. Simpson, housekeeper. Miss Simpson, assistant. The Rev. Cornelius Bayley, afterwards Dr. Bayley of Manchester, was English teacher; who had I believe at that time, only 121. per annum, and his board, &c. for his labor; Mr. Vincent de Boudry was occasional French teacher; and Mr. C. R. Bond was a sort of half boarder, and assistant English teacher.

"Mr. S. was a man of learning and piety; much of a gentleman, but too easy for his situation. Mr. Bayley was a man of the strictest morals and exemplary piety. Mr. De Boudry was a man of plain sense and true godliness. Mr. Bond was a young man of little experience, and shallow in talents, but affectionate: whose highest ambition seemed to be, to reach the exalted place and character of a clergyman.

"Mr. Simpson, on leaving Kingswood, which he did the year after I was there, set up a classical school at Keynsham; which he managed for many years with considerable credit; and died, leaving a son to fill his place, who afterwards became vicar of that place.

"Mr. Cornelius Bayley published a very good Hebrew grammar while he was at the school. He afterwards went to Manchester, where a church was built for him, called St. James'. There he earnestly laboured and did much good, though he knew not the people among whom he received his religion, and who were the principal instruments in building his church. He also is dead; highly respected for his piety, usefulness, and high Church principles.

"Mr. De Boudry married a pious sensible woman; and set up a Boarding School on Kingsdown, Bristol. He is dead; having long borne the character of a pious, steady, honest man. "No man can do justice to the life of Mr. Bond, but himself. It has been indeed various and checquered: he is probably still living; but I know not what is become of him.

"The scholars were none of them remarkable for piety or learning. The young gentlemen that were introduced had spoiled the discipline of the school; very few of its Rules and Regulations were observed; and it in no respect answered the end of its institution. This is evident from the judgment passed upon it in the following year by Mr. Wesley and the Bristol Conference. This document I transcribe.

'BRISTOL, Aug. 1783.

'Q. 15. Can any improvement be made in the management of Kingswood school?

'A. My design in building the house at Kingswood was to have therein a Christian family; every member whereof,