The death of Mr. Wesley, attracted the public notice beyond any former example, perhaps, of a Clergyman however dignified. It being generally

known, that he died as he had lived; and evinced in death, the uprightness and integrity of his life, the impression on the public mind in favour of his character and of Methodism, was almost universal; so that some persons said, Mr. Wesley will do more good by his death, than he did in his whole life. This, however, is certain, that a door of usefulness was now opened to the Methodist Preachers, unknown at any former period.

re

The following is a COPY of his LAST WILL and

TESTAMENT.

In the name of God, Amen!

"I JOHN WESLEY, Clerk, some time Fellow of Lincoln

College, Oxford, revoking all others, appoint this my last Will and Testament.

"I give all my Books now on sale, and the copies of them (only subject to a rent charge of 851. a year to the widow and children of my Brother) to my faithful friends, Jokn Horton, Merchant, George Wolff, Merchant, and William Marriott, Stock-Broker, all of London, in trust for the general Fund of the Methodist Conference in carrying on the work of God, by itinerant Preachers, on condition that they permit the following Committee, Thomas Coke, James Creighton, Peard Dickenson, Thomas Rankin, George Whitefield, and the London Assistant for the time being, still to super-intend the Printing-Press, and to employ Hannah Paramore and George Paramore, as heretofore, unless four of the Committee judge a change to be needful.

"I give the Books, Furniture, and whatever else belongs to me in the three houses at Kingswood, in trust to Thomas Coke, Alexander Mather, and Henry Moore, to be still employed in

teaching

teaching and maintaining the children of poor travelling Peachers.

I give to Thomas Coke, Doctor John Whitehead, and Henry Moore, all the Books which are in my Study and Bed-chamber at London, aud in my Studies elsewhere, in trust for the use of the Preachers who shall labour there from time to time. I give the Coins, and whatever else is found in the drawer of my Bureau at London, to my dear grand daughters Mary and Jane Smith.

"

"I give all my Manuscripts to Thomas Coke, Doctor Whitehead, and Henry Moore, to be burnt or published as they see good.

"I give whatever Money remains in my Bureau and Pockets to be equally divided between Thomas Briscoe, William Collins, John Easton, and Isaac Brown.

"I desire my Gowns, Cassocks, Sashes, and Bands may remain in the Chapel for the use of the Clergymen attending there.

I desire the London Assistant for the time being to di vide the rest of my wearing apparel among those four of the travelling Preachers that want it most; only my Pellise I give to the Rev. Mr. Creighton; my Watch to my friend Joseph Bradford; my Gold Seal to Elizabeth Ritchie.

"I give my Chaise and Horses to James Ward and Charles Wheeler, in trust, to be sold, and the Money to be divided between Hannah Abbott and the members of the Select Society.

"Out of the first money which arises from the sale of Books, I bequeath to my dear sister Martha Hall (ifalive) £40. to Mr. Creighton aforesaid, £40. and to the Rev. Mr. Heath £60.

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And whereas I am empowered by a late Deed to name the persons who are to preach in the New Chapel at London, (the Clergymen for a continuance,) and by another Deed to name a Committee for appointing Preachers in the New Chapel at Bath, I do hereby appoint John Richardson, Thomas Coke, James Creighton, Peard Dickenson, Clerks, Alexander

Mather,

Mather, William Thomson, Henry Moore, Andrew Blair, John Valton, Joseph Bradford, James Rogers and William Myles to preach in the New Chapel at London, and to be the Committee for appointing preachers in the New Chapel at Bath.

"I likewise appoint Henry Brooke, Painter, Arthur Keene, Gent. and William Whitestone, Stationer, all of Dublin, to receive the annuity of £5. (English) left to Kingswood-School by the late Roger Shiel, Esq.

I give £6. to be divided among the six poor men, named by the Assistant, who shall carry my body to the grave; for I particularly desire there may be no herse, no coach, no escutcheon, no pomp, except the tears of them that loved me, and are following me to Abraham's bosom. I solemnly adjure my Executors in the name of God, punctually to observe this. Lastly, I give to each of those travelling Preachers who shall remain in the connexion six months after my decease, as a small token of my love, the eight Volumes of Sermons.

"I appoint John Horton, George Wolff, and William Mar. riott, aforesaid, to be executors of this my last Will and Testament, for which trouble they will receive no recompence till the resurection of the Just.

"Witness my hand and seal the 20th day of February,

1789.

JOHN WESLEY. (Seal.) "Signed, Sealed, and delivered, by the said Testator as and for his last Will and Testament, in the presence of us,

WILLIAM CLULOW,

ELIZABETH CLULOW,

"Should there be any part of my personal estate undisposed of by this my last Will: I give the same unto my two Nieces E. Ellison and S. Collet, equally.

WILLIAM CLULOW.

ELIZABETH CLULOW.

JOHN WESLEY.

Feb. 25, 1789,

"I give my Types, Printing-Presses, and every thing pertaining thereto to Mr. Thomas Rankin, and Mr. George Whitefield, in trust for the use of the Conference.

JOHN WESLEY."

Above a year and a half after making this Will, Mr. Wesley executed a Deed, in which he appointed seven gentlemen, viz. Dr. Thomas Coke, Messrs. Alexander Mather, Peard Dickenson, John Valton, James Rogers, Joseph Taylor, and Adam Clarke, Trustees for all his Books, Pamphlets, and Copy-right, for carrying on the Work of God by Itinerant Preachers, according to the enrolled Deed, which we have already mentioned. But Dr. Coke being in America at the time of Mr. Wesley's death, the Deed was suffered to lie dormant till his return. The three Executors then took the advice of two of the most eminent Counsellors in the kingdom, who informed them that the Deed was of a testamentary nature, and therefore superseded the Will with respect to the Books, &c. The Deed was then presented to the Judge of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, who received it as the third Codicil of Mr. Wesley's Will; on which the three Executors delivered up their general Probate, and received a new one limited to those particulars which were not mentioned in the Deed. At the same time a Probate was granted by the Court to the seven Trustees, constituting them Executors for all the Books, Pamphlets, and Copy-right, of which Mr. Wesley died possessed; and empowering them to pay all his debts and legacies.

The

The State of the Connexion at the Conference preceding the Death of Mr. Wesley.

The first Preachers began to assist Mr. Wesley as Itinerants in the year 1740. Twenty-five years after, viz. in the year 1765, their names and stations were for the first time published in the Minutes of the Conference. All therefore who came into the connexion during that period may be considered as the first race of Methodist Preachers. The last Conference which Mr. Wesley presided at, was in the year 1790, exactly twenty-five years from the year 1765. The Preachers who were admitted into the cor.nexion during this period may be considered as the second race of Methodist Preachers. Those who have been admitted since Mr. Wesley's death, may be considered as the third race. For all their names, and the year when each began to travel, see the Appendix.