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appears to have been the last interview between these eminent men, both of whom were evidently under considerable alarm because of the judgments of the Almighty.

On his return to London Mr. Watson began to prepare for his removal from the City-Road to his former residence in Myddleton-square. He resigned his pastoral charge with strong and deep emotions; for his attachment to the friends in the circuit generally, and especially to the society at the City-Road, was very great; and he knew that for the manner in which he had discharged the duties of his superintendency he must render a strict account to the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls. In the latter years of Mr. Wesley's life the City-Road chapel appears to have had a larger share of his ministry than any other place; he paid a special regard to the regulation and interests of the society; in the house connected with the chapel he breathed his last; and in the burying ground belonging to it his remains are deposited. The influence of that great man's example and labours appears to have remained with the society to the present time; and to be especially manifest in the piety and order of the people, and the entire absence of every thing approaching to faction and insubordination. During his residence at the City-Road the local preachers had regularly breakfasted with Mr. Watson on the Sunday morning, according to immemorial usage; when the plan of labour for the day was read over, and the vacant places were supplied. On these occasions he always introduced some question of Christian theology, upon which he used to elicit their remarks and inquiries, and then expatiate upon it in a manner calculated to promote their piety, and increase their knowledge. In consequence of these interesting and affectionate interviews, their attachment to him was unbounded; and his regard for them was very cordial and sincere. He often spoke of them with great esteem and love.

Several of the friends in the circuit had sympathized with him in his afflictions, and done every thing in their power to alleviate his sufferings. He owed much to the professional skill and Christian friendship of James Hunter, Esq., of Islington, having been for many years under the care of that eminent surgeon. Mr. and Mrs. Buttress, of Homerton, had frequently invited him to spend a few days in their kind family, for the benefit of relaxation and country air; and many other friends had shown him marks of affection and respect, all of which had made a deep impression upon his generous mind, and rendered the dissolution of his pastoral relation to them solemn and affecting.

Before his removal Mr. Watson met the society in the City-Road chapel on a Sunday evening, when he delivered his parting admonitions to the people of whom he had had the charge for the last three years. He dwelt upon the nature, benefits, and obligations of religious fellowship; the signs which indicate a Church's prosperous or declining state; intermixed with many solemn, tender, and faithful exhortations to a steady perseverance in the course of public and private duty. He stated, that the three years which were then closed had been the happiest of his life; and that the daily attendance of the members of society upon their several class meetings, and the other means of grace, which he had been accustomed to witness in his house adjoining the chapel, had conveyed to his mind the most pleasing

thoughts and emotions. Recollecting the uncertainty of his own life, and the multitudes of devout people who had formerly worshipped in that chapel, and whose spirits were then in the paradise of God,many of whom he had known, he called upon the friends then present to unite with him in singing the fine hymn of Mr. Charles Wesley, beginning,

"Come, let us join our friends above,

That have obtain❜d the prize;
And on the eagle wings of love
To joys celestial rise.

Let all the saints terrestrial sing,
With those to glory gone;
For all the servants of our King
In earth and heaven are one.

"One family we dwell in him,

One Church above, beneath,
Though now divided by the stream,

The narrow stream of death.

One army of the living God,

To his command we bow;

Part of his host have cross'd the flood,

And part are crossing now."

A prayer, remarkable for its power and importunity, closed this memorable and most affecting service, and with it Mr. Watson's ministry in that favoured place. He never entered the pulpit of the City-Road chapel again.

CHAPTER XXIV.

Letters to Mr. William Shaw-Circular Letter addressed to the MissionariesDeath of Dr. Adam Clarke-Death of the Rev. Thomas Stanley-Literary Project -Letter to Mr. Benjamin Blaine-Mr. Watson's last Sermon-Death of the Rev. John James-Mr. Watson's Exposition-Rapid Decline of Mr. Watson's Health -State of the Anti-Slavery Question-Letter to Mr. Buxton, on Negro Emanci pation-Notices of Mr. Watson's last Sickness, by Mrs. Bulmer, Mr. Beecham, Mr. Marsden, Mr. Ince, Mr. Dixon, and Mrs. Dixon-His Death-Resolutions of the Missionary Committee-Mr. Watson's Funeral-Mr. Bunting's Sermon on his Death-Tribute to his Memory in the Missionary Report-His Character by the Conference-Publication of his Exposition.

WITHIN a few days of his return from the conference, Mr. Watson entered upon the duties of his secretaryship with feelings of holy zeal and delight. The two following letters, which he wrote at this time, will serve to illustrate the spirit by which he was actuated. They were addressed to a man whom he justly esteemed, as one of the most judicious and useful missionaries of modern times. The piety and wisdom of these admirable letters rendered them every way worthy of the writer, and of the man for whose guidance and encouragement they were intended.

To the Rev. William Shaw, Graham's-Town.

Hatton-Garden, London, August 20th, 1832. MY DEAR BROTHER,-I rejoice to observe in the report of your station that you have so much to encourage you in the Graham's

Town circuit. To keep up the spirit of ardent Methodistical piety and simplicity there, is of great importance to the work beyond; and it is cheering that you have been visited by a revival which appears to be solid and genuine. You mention it as having chiefly influenced the young people. This is of great importance; and the special care of the young will amply repay you. We too much neglect them every where but if the children of our people were oftener catechised, and if sermons were preached to the young, and the young people of the society met separately, according to our old practice, much good would, by the Divine blessing, be the result. They are the hope of our Churches.

I am much delighted with the account you give of the native congregation; and as in the class you have individuals of the "five different nations," I hope some native agents are in preparation among you for the interior. If you have any promising young men among them, pious, inquiring, and of vigorous intellect, would it not be well to give them some advantages, by taking charge of them, lending them useful books, if they can read English, and look among them for those schoolmasters for the Caffer stations which you mention in your minutes? We wish you to have an habitual regard to the raising up of native agents, praying for them, and reporting to us any plan which you may think conducive to render them useful. A little would qualify them to act as Caffer schoolmasters; and they would still improve under the missionary at each station. What think you of this? Is it practicable now? Can it be made so in a few months, or years? Graham'sTown station, I think, ought to be a sort of religious and educational seminary, and mechanical, too, for the interior. Here your Sunday schools are very important. You report the zeal of the Sunday school teachers. Say to them that it gives the committee pleasure to hear of this; and that we pray for their success. Our catechisms are taught in your Sunday schools, I trust.

Give my love to Mrs. Shaw and the brethren.

To the Same, as Chairman of the Albany District.

London, August 20th, 1832. Dear Brother,—In reply to your minutes, I transmit to you the views and decisions of the committee, premising that I am informed that your former communications have been regularly answered. As you appear to have been so long without hearing from the secretaries, these letters must have been delayed. Several were taken by the last brethren who were sent out. We are thankful, indeed, to our common Master, that you are generally preserved in health; and that your blessed work continues to prosper in your hands. May you enjoy the richest personal communion with your Saviour; and prove the truth of the gracious promise, in all your labours, “ And, lo, I am with you alway."

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Already you have been informed that the expedition to Port-Natal is not advised by the committee, on account of the expense. We can not, at present, do more for the enlargement of the work in Caffraria satisfied as we are of the great value of what has been achieved. Some time must now be occupied in watering, watching, and maturing what, by God's blessing, has been done. Is it not likely that a com

mercial establishment will be made at Natal? And, if so, will not one man, and he a single man, be sufficient to commence the mission? In that case, the expense might not be so formidable. On this point you will be good enough to write to us; and take no step involving any considerable expense.

The stations will show that we have sanctioned the union of Graham's-Town and Salem. We approve, too, of the removal of our excellent and laborious brother Archbell; and think Mr. Haddy a very proper person to succeed him, provided his knowledge of Caffer is not thrown away. This is a point you have, no doubt, thought of. The language of Plaatberg, I presume, is entirely a different dialect; and in all changes it is most desirable that the advantages acquired by the attainment of a language should not even be suspended. The period of our usefulness on earth is short at the longest; and ought in all its branches to be well husbanded.

Should the answer to the last minutes have miscarried, it may be necessary to inform you again, that the committee allow the force of the reasons for giving up Somerset; and that, of course, the premises should be disposed of as soon as possible, to prevent the accumulation of debt, which no doubt you have done. At the same time, this is an additional reason why the selection of a station should be well advised and deliberate, since these changes have an air of fickleness, and always involve great expense.

We approve of your arrangement as to the translation of the Scriptures; but at the same time suggest that so sacred a work ought to be done as well as possible, and the mutual knowledge of all be brought to bear upon it. It appears to us, therefore, most advisable that a committee of two or three of those who, both by long residence in the country, and previous knowledge of language, in its grammatical principles, are the best qualified to judge of the merits of any portion of the translation, should be formed; and that the whole should have their careful revision. It will be kindly taken by the brethren, if we also suggest that the translation should not follow any of the versions or assumed "improvements" of modern translations and commentators. These may be innocent or objectionable; and are sometimes plausible when not very sound. You cannot have a better guide to the sense of the original generally, almost universally, than our own authorized version, compared with the Dutch version, which I understand is very excellent; and as for simplicity of words, I suppose that the Caffer tongue does not afford much temptation to depart from that. Mr. Wesley's Testament ought also to be before you, as he alters little, but judiciously.

The project of substituting schoolmasters for assistants, and discontinuing the latter except in new stations, appears to be well conceived. Certainly a good schoolmaster, if devoted to the work of God, would be a great acquisition; and especially if he could be employed as a Scripture reader, or something of that kind, when you get your translation ready. In many other ways might such a man be made useful; and in proportion as he makes himself so, might you advance the allowance you propose to make to such agents. Whether you can get suitable men of this class, I suppose you have well considered.

The financial accounts of the district will come before the financial

committee, as usual; and their resolutions will be transmitted in due

course.

I do not note any thing more of particular importance in your minutes, on which it is necessary to express our judgment. It is highly satisfactory to us, and calls forth our gratitude to God, that under your culture so many signs of healthy moral vegetation are springing up in the wilderness. Faith, hope, and charity are all called into special exercise, and will each aid your great work, by connecting it with the blessing of God. You are founders of a new order of things in whole nations; and have need of special wisdom and all-influencing holiness. Let your work be more than ever wrought in God; and in order to this, let both you and us remember, and keep it between "the frontlets of our eyes," that we are men of one business. Be very frank with each other, in perfect brotherly affection, that you may be helps meet for each other in a work, the effect of which future ages will develope.

Present our affectionate regards to all the brethren.

For many years the secretaries of the Wesleyan Missionary Society have drawn up a circular letter, immediately after the conference, addressed to the foreign stations, informing the brethren of any new regulations that have been adopted, and the general state of the connection at home, accompanied by such advices as might be deemed necessary. The circular for the year 1832 was written by Mr. Watson, and the following extract from this document will show the pious spirit in which he resumed the duties of his secretaryship, soon, alas, to terminate :

"We wish you to promote and improve the edifying practice of singing, in the congregations; but to be most careful to preserve its simplicity; to prefer the old psalmody, and to discourage entirely the use of light and especially song tunes, which, through a very bad taste, have, we regret to learn, been not only permitted, but encouraged by the brethren on some of our stations. Christian psalmody,' says a great authority, and a man of the finest taste, ought to be simple, and noble withal.' If there were no other reason against the use of airs composed for songs, in a congregation, the association with their original words would be sufficient. A few of them may be sung without any improper tendency, in private, by a few friends, at a social meeting; but none of them are to be tolerated in acts of public worship.

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"As to the general state of the connection at home and abroad, a few observations may be acceptable to many of the brethren, who are far from the usual sources of information.

"The addition of upward of 8,000 members at home and abroad, during the past year, is a proof that the labours of the brethren have not been in vain in the Lord; and that it has pleased God, by an instrumentality, insufficient in itself, to give efficacy to the word of his grace. But the mere increase in numbers is not the sole ground of our rejoicing. The religious state of the societies at home is generally satisfactory. They form a people who know the grace of God in truth, and adorn the Gospel of God our Saviour. The doctrines of eternal truth, as taught among us, were never better understood, and never more firmly held; and of that salutary discipline which, while it holds forth assistance and encouragement to the sincere inquirer, and

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