Wesley Corpus

To Mrs. Gallatin Date: DUBLIN, July 19, 1750. MADAM, I did not receive your favor of June 24 before last night. By what means it was delayed I know not. The reason why we refused for several years to license any of the places wherein we preached was this. Wesley was reluctant to license his meeting-places; but the action of his opponents compelled such a course in many cases. See Journal vii. 339; Large Minutes 1770 Works, viii. 331. We supposed it could not be done without styling ourselves Dissenters. But the Recorder of Chester showed us this was a mistake and procured a license for Thomas Sidebotham's house in that county, although he (then as well as at all other times) professes himself a member of the Established Church. Since then we have licensed the house at Leeds and some others. The manner of doing it is this. At the Quarter Sessions a note with these or the like words is presented to the Justices: 'A. B. desires his house in C. D. may be licensed for public worship.' By order of the Bench this is registered, and sixpence paid to the clerk. I cannot doubt but a blessing has attended Mr. Whitefield's ministry in Manchester. Whitefield wrote from Manchester on June 8 to Lady Gertrude Hotham: 'Thousands and thousands for some time past have flocked to hear the Word every day, and the power of God has attended it in a glorious manner.' It is necessary for me to visit the Societies in the West of England, unless my brother can exchange with me. He proposed going into the North himself. If he visits Cornwall, I can go northward; and if I do, I shall certainly do myself the pleasure to wait upon Mr. Gallatin and you.