OF THE

WESLEY FAMILY:

COLLECTED PRINCIPALLY

FROM ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.

BY ADAM CLARKE, LL.D., F.A.S.

SECOND EDITION;

REVISED, CORRECTED, AND CONSIDERABLY ENLARGED.

GEORGE PECK, EDITOR.

New-York:

PUBLISHED BY LANE & TIPPETT,

FOR THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 200 MULBERRY-STREET.

JOSEPH LONGKING, PRINTER.

12.5.41

ADVERTISEMENT,

BY THE EDITOR OF THE LONDON EDITION.

AMONG the persons that have contributed to the pages of this portion of the Series of Dr. Adam Clarke's Miscellaneous Works, the Rev. William Beal may be named with respect, whose volume, entitled “The Fathers of the Wesley Family," is noticed pp. 44, 59, but who is here otherwise acknowledged for important aid. It may be further re- * marked, as anxious solicitude is experienced to present the whole Series as correct as possible to the public, that Dr. Clarke commenced preparations for a second edition of this work as far back as the latter end of 1823. This having been the case, a change of circumstances has rendered, in two or three instances, a change of dates necessary. The reader, therefore, will have to substitute 1824 for 1835, in a foot note, p. 40; for that which was strictly correct at the former period, had become less so at the latter, the party relieved having died in the interim, and a change of circumstances having been experienced by some of the living. The same remark will apply to Mr. Cropp, noticed p. 66, who, since the period of the entry was made, has removed from Vincent-square to the neighborhood of Monmouth.

It has been suggested too, by one who is well acquainted with the geography of the neighborhood, that John Wesley can scarcely be supposed to have taken up his residence at Preston as stated, p. 63, with a view to avoid the Five Mile Act. The reason assigned is, that Weymouth, which is only about three miles from Preston, is a "corporation

town." It is therefore urged, and with some plausibility, that Preston was the only refuge for the family, while Mr. Wesley, its head, lay generally concealed in some place between Preston and Poole, being more than five miles distant from any corporation town, when he appeared in public, occasionally visiting the home of his partner and of his children by stealth.

A doubt has been expressed, whether Whitchurch was actually the place of Samuel Wesley's birth, noticed p. 81. Dr. Clarke himself does not speak with perfect confidence as to the fact; nor, indeed, could he, as the family are said to have removed to Preston, p. 60, in May, 1663, as a kind of permanent residence, during the father's life. Admitting him, according to the general opinion entertained on the subject, to have been born at Whitchurch, it must have been during some visit or temporary residence of the family at the place. Preston has been assigned as the probable place of his birth; and the arguments in favor of that opinion are to be found in the "Fathers of the Wesley Family," p. 116.

The seizure and imprisonment of John Wesley, of Whitchurch, is adverted to p. 55. Attention, however, has been directed to another seizure in 1662; the year succeeding, mentioned in the second edition of Dr. Calamy's work. Thus was this good man hunted from place to place, like a partridge upon the mountains. Praise God for better days! for the house of Brunswick!

The entry at Exeter College, p. 67, must be made to conform with the year 1684, pp. 15, 90.

THE EDITOR.