Page images
PDF
EPUB

:

especially females, were required to discover to to him their secret actions, and the subjects of their dreams. He had preserved a great intimacy with Causton the chief bailiff, and had said some tender things to his niece-she rejected his proposals, having been engaged to a gentleman, whom she married soon after this produced chagrin and gave umbrage to Wesley, who under some frivolous pretexts repelled her from the holy communion-her husband thought himself well founded in an action of damages; and Causton, who was nettled at the affront offered to his niece, encouraged him in prosecuting the suit: accordingly thirteen indictments were found against Wesley, one of which was at the instance of this lady-the others were founded on the improper exercise of his ecclesiastical functions: these indictments, found by forty-four freeholders, were forwarded by the bailiffs to the trustees, accompanied by an abstract of other matters, by which they considered themselves oppressed. It will be but just to extract a few observations from Wesley's own journal, as the record has been preserved by his biographers Doct. Coke and Mr. Moore, and then leave the reader to draw his own conclusions." Mr. Causton, the storekeeper and chief magistrate of Savannah, had a young lady in his house, his niece, of an improv ed understanding, and elegant person and manners. The general (meaning Oglethorpe) thought he found in her a proper bait for this soaring re

ligionist. This young lady was introduced to him as a person who had severely felt the anguish of a wounded spirit, and now was a sincere enquirer after the way of eternal life. After some time he observed that she took every possible opportunity of being in his company. She also desired a greater intimacy; but modestly veiled her real motives, under a request that he would assist her in attaining a perfect knowledge of the French tongue.

"Mr. Delamotte (a friend of Mr. Wesley's) had not learned to defy suspicion. He thought he saw in her, semblance of worth, not substance. He therefore embraced an opportunity of expostulating with Mr. Wesley, and asked him if he designed to marry Miss Sophia? at the same time set forth in a strong light, her art and his simplicity. Though pleased with the attention of his fair friend, Mr. Wesley had not allowed himself to determine upon marriage. Mr. Delamotte's question not a little puzzled him. He waved an answer at that time; and perceiving the prejudice of Mr. Delamotte's mind against the young lady, he called on bishop Nitscham, and consulted him his answer was short; marriage said he, you know, is not unlawful. Whether it is now expedient for you, and whether this lady is a proper match for you, ought to be maturely weighed. Finding his perplexity increase, he determined to propose his doubts to the elders of the Moravian church. When he entered the

house where they met together, he found Mr. Delamotte sitting amongst them. On his proposing the business, the bishop replied-we have considered your case-will you abide by our decision? he answered, I will then said the bishop, we advise you to proceed no farther in this business. He replied, the will of the Lord be done.

From this time he cautiously avoided every thing that tended to continue the intimacy. Soon after this a young gentlewoman,

who had been some time before married to the surgeon of the colony, and had sailed with the general from Europe, sent for him, and related to him under a promise of secrecy, what we shall now declare concerning the hitherto mysterious part of this circumstance, adding these words: I had no rest till I resolved to tell you the whole affair: I have myself been urged to that behaviour towards you which I am now ashamed to mention-both Miss Sophia and myself were ordered, if we could not succeed, even to deny you nothing." Some would be ill-natured enough to doubt the truth of this assertion: to say the best ofit, Mr. Wesley violated the laws of fidelity and confidence, in recording it in his journal.

Mr. Wesley proceeds and admits that ten bills of indictment were found against him, and that he was required to give security to appear at court for trial, which he refused." In the afternoon the magistrates published an order, requiring all the officers and centinels to prevent his

going out of the province; and forbidding any person to assist him so to do. Being now a prisoner at large, in the place where he knew by experience, every day would give fresh opportunity to procure evidences of words he never said, and actions he never did; he saw clearly the hour was come for leaving that place; and as soon as evening prayers were over, about eight o'clock, the tide then serving, he shook the dust off his feet and left Georgia."

I have discussed this subject at more length than I intended, because Mr. Wesley has been spoken of by some of his followers as the superior of St. Paul, in point of religious zeal; and his efforts for the conversion of the aboriginies of America, have been produced as evidences of the assertion. In Mr. Wesley's journal, he dates his conversion after he was forty years of age, and seven years after he left Georgia; therefore he could not have been fully qualified to heal the wounded spirit of Miss Sophia.

Having portrayed the morning of Mr. Wesley's character, it is but just to give the evening. After the period of life at which he dates his conversion, he appears to have been a warm and zealous advocate for the christian religion, in which it is believed he was eminently favored amongst the saints of God, and as distinguished for his holy walk, as for his great abilities, indefatigable labor and singular usefulness--the foibles of his early life were used by his enemies to stain his

character, and if possible to rob him of the laurels which he acquired in advanced age: he seems to have imagined that the glorious head of the church was pleased to furnish special interposition in his behalf, which he was sometimes ready to construe as miraculous. He is gone to give an account of himself to his proper judge, by whom I doubt not, all his iniquities are pardoned.

The return of Oglethorpe in February 1736, contributed greatly to the settlement and preservation of the colony, which had already become considerable enough, not only to draw the at tention, but to excite the jealousy of the Span. iards; who, without all question, would have been glad to have overpowered and driven out of it their unwelcome neighbors, if it had been in their power. The Spanish governor was apprehensive of the consequences which must have at. tended an open war between the two nations, on account of the disputes between their frontier provinces; which circumstances were so well improved by Oglethorpe, and the Indians who had entered into friendship with the new settlement, and were so strongly attached to the English interest, that the governor of St. Augustine, upon mature deliberation, found it more expedi ent to enter into a negociation with the English colony; which Oglethorpe also knowing to be advisable for the security of Georgia, negociated and concluded a treaty, upon very just and reasonable, as well as safe and advantageous terms;

« PreviousContinue »