Wesley Corpus

We rode in the afternoon to Waterford, where our friends had procured a commodious place, inclosed on all sides. I preached thcare three evenings, with great hope of doing good. Our large Room was full every morning. O why should we despair of any souls whom God hath made? I looked over that well-wrote book, Mr. Smith's "State of the County and City of Waterford." He plainly shows, that twelve hundred years ago Ireland was a flourishing kingdom. It seems to have been declining almost ever since; especially after it was torn into several independent kingdoms. Thenceforward it grew more and more wild and barbarous, for several hundred years. In Queen Elizabeth's time it began to revive; and it increased greatly both in trade and inhabitants, till the deadly blow which commenced on October 23, 1641. Three hundred thousand Protestants, by a moderate computation, were then destroyed in less than a year; and more than twice as many Papists, within a few years following: Most of these were adults; and this was a loss which the nation has not recovered yet. Nay, it will probably require another century, to restore the number of inhabitants it had before. I preached once more near the barracks in Clonmell, and the next morning took horse at four. About eleven the sun was scorching hot, till a little cloud rose and covered us till we were near Rathcormuck. Here we rested two hours, and then rode on (mostly shaded by flying clouds) to Cork. The House was well filled; but I expect small increase of the work of God till we preach abroad. Thursday, 31. I rode to Bandon; but my good old friend, Mrs. Jones, 12 REv. J. weslEY's Aug. 1760. did not stay for my coming. She was released out of life some weeks ago, in the seventy-second year of her age. I preached, as usual, in the main street, to a large and attentive congregation. And they were nearly doubled the next evening; yet all behaved with the utmost decency. The market obliged me to preach in the House on Saturday in the afternoon; a very neat and lightsome building. Having spent the time proposed here, with much satisfaction, in the evening I returned to Cork.