Cottle's the Son who used to be an admirer of my late servant's, speaking of the conduct of the Singers, said he had understood they had gone from the Church immediately to the Red Post Public House and had determined to sing in future at the Meeting-House, where the gallery was to be enlarged for their accommodation. I had heard that Mrs. Jarrett had been applied to by Isaac Green—a staunch Methodist to contribute to this enlargement, but had not yet done so. White's wife told me she had been to fetch her husband from the Red Post in the evening and saw the Singers all there, and old Rogers, Father-in-Law of Dawson, who was buried Thursday, so drunk, the road seemed not wide enough to hold him or words to that effect.

I mentioned to her, that a Bill had passed Parliament which would regulate the Ale Houses better than they had been for years back, as they were the principal causes of all the evil we had to complain of. She said in truth they were Devil's Houses, and she could say none had more reason to lament them than she had.

I received a book from Barratt's to-day which I think will be of great use to me in my Hebrew Studies: it is called Glossarium-Universale-Hebraicum,' published at Paris

1697.

Tuesday, July 16th.-I was occupied for the most part of the morning in my Study, tinting the drawings of my last Journals in order to have them bound. The boys drove into Bath but returned to dinner, young William Boodle joined the party. I afterwards visited West's wife, and found Isaac Green the Methodist with her, which I am sorry for, as I am sure he will not render her latter end more calm or comfortable. I read the prayers, and afterwards took an opportunity during my conversation with her, to mention the fallacy of those ideas which led people to say they were certain of going to Heaven :-that there was no part of the Scripture that authorized such presumption: if it were indeed so, there could be no use in a day of Judgment, since persons would be beforehand convinced of their acceptance or rejection: we might humbly hope through the merits and mediation of a crucified Redeemer

that the promises proclaimed in the Gospel to penitent sinners would be completed: but to say we were sure of acceptance, was a most dangerous error: to this Green replied nothing, but I perceived he by no means approved of the doctrine I used. I know he is one of the Calvinistic Methodists and of course retains very different ideas on the subject. On my leaving the house he followed me downstairs, and said how much obliged he was for my kind attention to the poor woman. I replied, there could be no possible obligation, since I only did my duty : I was happy to find her in a proper frame of mind and only hoped they would not disturb it.

I afterwards sat a quarter of an hour with Cottle's daughter who told me that her next door neighbour, Rose, wished to see me as he was declining very fast. I accordingly went, and found him in a very low state, exclaiming, after the Methodist manner, how great a sinner he had been, but hoped through the Blessed Jesus he should work out his salvation. I said the work must depend a great deal on his own exertions, that he must not only repent of what he had done amiss, but make every reparation in his power if he had injured anybody by word or deed, he should instantly make all the atonement possible, it was a dangerous error to rely solely on the sacrifice of Christ unless he was disposed to make some sacrifice himself: that the Gospel informed us that many should at the last day boast that they had called upon the name of Christ and in His name have cast out devils but would receive this appalling rebuke 'I know you not whence ye are, go from me all ye workers of iniquity.' I further said that the heathens understood the subject of self examination better than many who called themselves Christians and that we retain a very applicable fable on the necessity of applying one's own shoulder to the wheel, which I related to him.

The man I find is a strong Methodist and his reason for sending to me to attend him I cannot exactly comprehend, though as he mentioned his pecuniary distresses probably this may have some weight. It was nearly dusk when I got home.

Wednesday, July 17th.-This, being a rainy morning I was engaged in my study till dinner time drawing. (The man) Rose expressed himself very thankful for a half-acrown I had sent him by Owen and found a little meat (also) very strengthening.

From the observation I have made of these Methodists they have great benevolence in their expressions towards each other but I do not observe they are ready to part with their money fully exemplifying their conduct of the lip serving Christians alluded to by S. James, who are ready enough to say be ye warmed or clothed but give them not wherewith to warm or clothe them. I am sure I am not uncharitable in these surmises, since daily experience convinces me of their truth. As Owen, who has of late accompanied me to these sick houses seems to feel too acutely, I shall not in future take him with me.

Thursday, July 18th.-I was engaged the greater part of the morning in my study and in the Glebe field overlooking the Carpenters who have nearly finished their work at the new house: I afterwards called on Mr. and Mrs. Gooch. Mr. Barter called before dinner and asked me to dine with him on Sunday to meet Archdeacon Moysey; he afterwards called on the Gooch's. Henry Hoare came over from Southfield and dined and slept at Camerton; his Father he informed me was gone to Stourhead to meet Sir John Ackland.

Cottle's daughter still continues tranquil and composed, White still getting weaker and weaker. As I returned home I called at the Manor House to request Mrs. Gooch to send some Currant Jelly to her, as what my housekeeper sent was not good and she wished to take the bad taste from her mouth.

Friday, July 19th.-Collins of the mill looked at the corn I had to dispose of and declined giving £30 for the ricks of Wheat and Barley: last year Parker paid me £40 when there were only forty acres of wheat tithed, instead of fifty last year, he said that wheat was now 20s. a sack, and would still be lower that Lambs were 12s. apiece, but I clearly perceived that his object was to depreciate the value of the tithe.

This man is a Miller who has been keeping up the price of bread in a very different proportion to what he talks of, thus it seems I can depend on no purchases in this immediate neighbourhood and if I can get it [the wheat and barley] thrashed out there will be a great risque in having a large part of it stolen by the Thrasher.

Returning from the glebe, Stephens, the under gardener to Mrs. Jarrett came to me in the field facing my house saying he had a favour to ask me which was to let the ringers give a peal it being the King's Coronation day and that the people at Paulton and Norton had been ringing the whole of the morning. I said I was as much attached to the King as any man in the Country, yet could not see how His Majesty derived any good from people leaving their work on the present occasion to make a noise with the bells; with respect to the ringers they certainly did themselves much injury by frequenting the Ale houses in the manner they had done last week and then returning home and beating their wives to a jelly. I said as the Parish seemed so desirous of having them rung (Mr. Gooch had given them a guinea and Weeks the Churchwarden 5s. for the purpose) I would not oppose it, but recommended their not going to the Public House spending the money they had gained in folly, which might be much better spent on their families. They accordingly commenced their ringing and I walked in the village to avoid the jingling of the Bells.

The boys having gone to Radstock in my car returned in good time and informed me they had engaged in a Cricket Match with Mr. Boodle and Mr. Flower: that the servants were admitted in the set, which may be usual in regular matches, but I do not so much approve of my children keeping such company. Therefore, I shall be more careful in future not to send them, without I can myself be of the party.

Saturday, July 20th.-Began writing a sermon for the ensuing day in order to make one more effort for the distressed Irish as I find that Rossiter was not successful in his application at the Manor House.

Sunday, July 21st.-I was up before six to finish my

sermon on the Gospel for the day: the text—' He commanded the people to sit down on the ground and he took the 7 loaves and gave thanks and brake and gave to his disciples to set before them and they did set them before the people.'

After breakfast my Sermon being completed I walked to church. Mr. and Mrs. Gooch the bride and bridegroom attended and afterwards subscribed £5 to the Churchwardens plate in all he collected £6 11. 5. I gave notice I should preach again in the evening and make another collectionthe girls sang both morning and evening and much more to my satisfaction than the great Bulls of Basan in the Gallery used to do, who though never in tune or time were so highly conceited of their own abilities they thought of nothing else the whole time of service, if they chuse to withdraw themselves, we shall do better without them. The Churchwarden collected 8s. 6d. in the evening.

Returning from Church I rode to Timsbury where I dined and spent the evening. Dr. Moysey is a pleasant, well-informed man, and seems to have a taste for antiquities. He has engaged to breakfast with me at Camerton next Wednesday in order to visit the Sepulchre at Stoney Littleton etc.

Monday, July 22nd.-On speaking to Heal who works in my garden to ascertain the reason why he did not come to Church yesterday, he had no other excuse to offer than that his sister had come from Bath and there was a christening of his child. I said that I should not admit those excuses, I was fearful he was joined with the misguided among my parishioners who always made a point of setting my servants against me, that he would gain little by working their work I said that no man could serve two masters, he would love the one and hate the other, and there was but one choice to make.

He listened without saying anything but it was with a look of obstinacy rather than feeling. I am convinced nothing can be done with this people.

I called before dinner on Mrs. Lippiat of Cridlingcot and found her in a very weak state. I read prayers to her which

VOL. XCVI.-NO. CXCII.

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