youthful companion, Robert Brown, to the knowledge of the truth; and several others were drawn to hear the word, and to feel its power, so that they had a good class, both of men and women, in the regiment. Of this class, Mr. Forster was the Leader; but in his absence the Quarter-master supplied his place. If they were stationed in any place where Methodism was not established, Mr. Burgess immediately wrote to the Preachers in the nearest Circuit, requesting a visit from them; and thus introduced the Gospel into some very dark and wicked neighbourhoods.

In January, 1785, Mr. Burgess entered into a matrimonial union, which proved an eminently happy one, and for which he ever afterwards considered he should have great cause to bless God in time and to all eternity. The object of his choice was the daughter and only child of Mr. William Penington, one of the first race of Methodist Preachers; a man highly esteemed by Mr. Wesley for the diligence, zeal, and fidelity, with which he discharged the duties of his office, but whose career of labour and usefulness was cut short at an early age. Mr. Wesley always felt an affectionate regard for Mr. Penington's widow and child; and he mentions them more than once in his Journal. Mrs. Penington, indeed, had, from her youth, been privileged with his friendship and correspondence.

In April, 1785, Mr. and Mrs. Burgess, then quartered at Tullamore, were favoured with Mr. Wesley's company to tea in the barracks; with the appearance and cleanliness of which he was much pleased. In the evening they heard him preach from, "Fear God. Honour the King."

In April, 1787, being then at Carlow, they had the honour of Mr. Wesley's company to dinner. One of the Commissioners of the Barrack-Board, the late David Courtney, Esq., of Dublin, being an acquaintance of the family, was invited to meet Mr. Wesley at dinner, and took occasion to mention a circumstance which had just occurred. The Commanding Officers used to send returns to the Barrack-Board of the prices at which they could contract for coals for the regiment. Mr. Courtney had complimented the Colonel of Mr. Burgess's regiment, (then called the "first regiment of horse," but afterwards known as the " Royal Irish dragoon guards,") on account of the advantageous bargain he had made; saying, it was the only instance he had met with, in which he could not purchase on better terms than the Commanding Officer. Sir," said Colonel L, "I got my own Quarter-master to transact that business. He is one of the people called Methodists;' and I believe he would not tell a falsehood, or do a dishonest action, to gain the world." Hereupon Mr. Wesley rubbed his hands, as he used to do when he was much pleased; his expressive countenance beaming with delight. He notices in his Journal the good done, about that time, at Kilkenny and Carlow, by means of the pious soldiers.

In May, 1789, Mr. and Mrs. Burgess, being then at Sligo, had their last interview with Mr. Wesley. As the carriage stopped at the barrack-gate, Mr. Burgess went out to meet him, and was saluted by the venerable patriarch with an affectionate kiss. There was a large party to meet him at dinner. While the meal was in progress, Mr. Wesley suddenly laid down his knife and fork, clasping his hands, and looking up, as in the attitude of praise and prayer. Instantly every one was still and silent. He then gave out, and sang with great animation, the following lines :

"And can we forget,

In tasting our meat,

The angelical food which ere long we shall cat ;
When enroll'd with the blest,

In glory we rest,

And for ever sit down at the heavenly feast?"

He then resumed his knife and fork; but a peculiar solemnity, and a hallowed feeling, rested on all. After preaching in the evening, Mr. Wesley returned to sleep at the barracks. He preached at five the next morning; and, after breakfast, Mr. and Mrs. Burgess and Mrs. Penington bade a last farewell to their venerable friend, being acutely sensible that they should see his face no more, and expecting "ne'er to look upon his like again."

Mr. Burgess persevered steadily in the path into which divine Providence had led him to walk, and in which he had been signally blessed. He often found ardent desires springing up in his heart to be wholly given up to God, and devoted to the service of the sanctuary. But it seemed impossible that he could break through his engagements in the army. One day, when he was at Tullamore, the bellman announced that a Quaker, from America, would hold a meeting in the markethouse at noon. He went, hoping to get some good; and found a congregation, consisting principally of a few gay young ladies, with several boys and children, the serious inhabitants being then engaged about their business. Some time having been spent in silence, the good Quaker arose; and, after some preliminary remarks, said, that he believed there was a person present, who had often felt desires to be wholly given up to the service of God; "but," said he, "thou art afraid to give way to them; thy path is hedged up, and it seems impossible that thou shouldest ever be free from thy present engagements. But cast aside thy fears; yield thyself to the divine drawings, and God will give thee the desires of thy heart." Mr. Burgess looked about to see if there was any one else present to whom this could be applicable; but, finding no one, and knowing it was his own case, he was constrained to receive the address as a message from God to him.

From that time his mind was often intensely exercised on this subject; but still he waited for divine direction. His friend having obtained a Captain's commission, resigned his office of Paymaster, and

Mr. Burgess was appointed to succeed him. He then thought he should make up his mind to continue where he was, as his way appeared to be opening to increasing influence and usefulness; but, still, whenever his heart was warmed with divine love, his desires to renounce the world revived again. At length he opened his mind to an excellent man, to whom he was much attached,-the Rev. Joseph Armstrong, one of the Itinerant Preachers,-who encouraged him to make a trial to speak in the name of the Lord. Accordingly he went, in company with a friend, to Enniskillen, where he preached his first sermon, August 18th, 1789, from Isaiah lv. 6, 7. After this trial he found his mind greatly relieved, and was emboldened to proceed. He soon preached in the Methodist chapel at Belturbet; which caused a great sensation, both in the town and in the regiment. Many flocked to hear; and it pleased God to give him several seals to his ministry in that place. One of the officers was deeply convinced of sin the first time he heard him preach. He had been a constant attendant at church and sacrament; and, on that account, thought himself a very good Christian. Mr. Burgess's text was Matthew vii. 21; and Lieutenant C― was then given to see and feel that he had only been saying, "Lord, Lord," and had never done the will of his Father in heaven. He joined the society, and there was reason to believe he became a truly converted man. Some years after, Mr. Burgess received a letter from the Lieutenant, in which he said, his health was declining; but he had an humble confidence in the divine mercy, and he trusted that he and his friend would meet in heaven; and," when I get there, next to my Saviour, I shall have to thank you, my dear Joseph, as the instrument of my salvation." One of the Itinerant Preachers, who attended the Lieutenant in his last illness, reported, that he witnessed a good confession, and made a peaceful end.

Among those in whose illumination and conversion Mr. Burgess was, about this time, instrumental, was the late Mr. Roger Lamb, who was formerly in the army, and had served in the American war; but afterwards settled in Dublin, where, for many years, he acted as master of the Methodist Free-school, and was a highly acceptable Class-Leader, and Visiter of the Stranger's Friend Society.

Mr. Burgess, having made up his mind to offer himself for the Methodist Itinerancy, corresponded on the subject with Mr. Wesley; who, from the accounts he received from others, as well as from his own knowledge of him, was induced readily to accept his proposal. But they were exceedingly unwilling to part with him from the regiment; and some months elapsed before he could extricate himself. In the mean time they removed to Dublin, where he met with great encouragement from the Rev. Thomas Rutherford; and also from Dr. Adam Clarke, who arrived soon after. He preached in the Whitefriar-street and Gravel-walk chapels, and attracted crowded congregations. It was the general opinion, that he ought not to think

of leaving the army, as it was not likely that he could be so useful or so popular in any other situation. The sphere of usefulness in which he now moved was indeed a highly interesting and important one. He was applied to on all occasions of sickness or distress of any kind, not only by the private soldiers and their wives, but also by some of the officers; and his advice, his prayers, and, when needful, his pecuniary aid, were freely imparted. This led the regimental Surgeon to remark," Mr. Burgess certainly ought to have the Chaplain's pay; for he is the real Chaplain to the regiment." There was, indeed, every worldly inducement for him to continue in the army. A connexion of more than twenty years had produced in him a strong attachment to the regiment; he was universally respected by the superior officers, for the fidelity and promptitude with which he discharged all his duties; and, in all probability, he might have had considerable promotion. But the more he came under the influence of divine grace, the more was his heart estranged from military scenes and engagements, as being scarcely compatible with the peaceful and lowly spirit of the Gospel. He also shrunk from the publicity and popularity attached to an officer preaching in his regimentals; and under these views and feelings, he sent in his resignation of the Paymaster's office, and entered into an agreement for selling his Quarter-master's warrant.

At the Bristol Conference of 1790, the last at which Mr. Wesley presided, Mr. Burgess was admitted on trial as an Itinerant Preacher; and he received a letter from Dr. Coke, as follows:- -" My very dear Brother, Mr. Wesley has appointed you for London. You had better not move till you hear further, lest there should be any alteration before the Conference concludes." But as he could not immediately liberate himself from his engagements at Dublin, his station was changed to Liverpool, where he would not be wanted till the Mount-Pleasant chapel was opened; and he reached that town in October, and entered on that career of labour and usefulness which terminated only with his death.

His departure from the regiment was greatly regretted; and all ranks, from the Colonel to the lowest soldier, concurred in their expressions of esteem, and of sorrow for losing him. But the wisdom and goodness of the divine dispensations towards him should be gratefully acknowledged. Though he was born and brought up in the army, and may be said to have been "a man of war from his youth;" yet he never was called to participate in scenes of blood and slaughter. He never did violence to any man. He was, in numerous instances, a messenger of mercy, a son of consolation, a helper of the distressed and destitute; and, just before the evil days came, when the regiment was called into active service, both in Ireland and on the Continent, he was sweetly and powerfully drawn out of it into the hallowed service of the Prince of Peace!

The morning of the day on which he left Dublin, a circumstance occurred, which is worthy of being recorded, as it was a kind of text on which the whole of his subsequent life was a practical comment. Having put on a plain dress, he laid his regimentals on a chair, with his sword and sash over them. He stood for some time silently looking at them; at length, turning to Mrs. Burgess, with an air of solemn satisfaction, he emphatically exclaimed, "I have now for ever done with the pomps and vanities of this world!" A more sincere and irrevocable renunciation was, perhaps, never made.

He was kindly received at Liverpool; and in his Superintendent, the Rev. William Myles, he found a friend indeed, whose kindness was never erased from his memory. His next station was Birmingham; to which he was appointed by the special request of the Rev. Joseph Cole; who, seeing him at the Manchester Conference in 1791, according to his own expression, “ fell in love with him, at first sight."

Though Mr. Burgess entered on the duties of a Methodist Preacher at a comparatively advanced period of life, being thirty-three years old when admitted on trial, he was enabled to persevere therein with great zeal and fidelity for forty-two years, till he had attained the age of seventy-five.

In his earlier years he was abundant in labours, and had his full share of those privations and difficulties which were then connected with the Methodist Itinerancy. He frequently preached twice on the week-days; generally thrice, and occasionally four times, on the Sabbath. In every Circuit he was esteemed and beloved, as a diligent labourer in the Lord's vineyard; and his services were very valuable, not only in the pulpit, but in meeting the classes, in visiting the sick, in seeking after lukewarm professors and backsliders, and in promoting, in every possible way, the spiritual interests of the people.

In 1804, there having been some agitation in the society at Redruth, in Cornwall, and a partial secession from its ranks, it was thought by the Conference, that a man of Mr. Burgess's mild and amiable spirit might heal the breach, and prevent further mischief. He was, accordingly, appointed to that Circuit; and during the remaining twentyeight years of his itinerancy, he always filled the office of Superintendent. Having the care of Circuits thus confided to him, he uniformly endeavoured to rectify what was wrong, to arrange what was in disorder, and to put the whole machinery of our connexional system into the most efficient state. In several Circuits he introduced a more regular and punctual attention to financial affairs, and an improved method of managing the concerns of the chapel-trusts. At the same time, he ever viewed these things as subordinate to the spiritual prosperity of the societies; and his ultimate object always was the promotion of pure and undefiled religion, and the eternal salvation of his fellow-creatures.