insuccessful; and the candidate supported by the Church interest, was elected by a considerable majority.

Though the Methodists lost the day, the result of the contest proved, that their strength was formidable; and it is believed, that this was the first time they had an opportunity of ascertaining their influence in the parish, for notwithstanding their failure on this occasion, the effect of their exertions was far from discouraging.-Notwithstanding in this trial of strength, the Churchmen gained the better of the Methodists, the Methodists saw, that, by closer concert, and more systematic co-operation, there was a prospect of their getting the advantage over the Churchmen; and they accordingly soon afterwards formed a society under the title of the Associated Friends of the Parish. Their ostensible object was to exert themselves in the appointment of proper persons to parochial offices; and in order to defray such expences as might be incurred by them at elections, in printing, &c. an accumulating fund was established, which arose from a small monthly subscription of the members, and which of course soon amounted to a considerable sum, and was placed in the public funds till it should be wanted.

The proper persons who were to be supported by this association, to superintend the concerns of the parish, were staunch Methodists, and such only have ever been regarded by this confederate union. On almost every public question in the parish, whether of election to church offices, or to the parochial boards, they have seldom failed to succeed in obtaining the appointment of their own friends, and in carrying things as they pleased. It is unnecessary to describe the deeply concerted plans on which they acted on these occasions. It is enough to say, that since the establishment of the Associated Friends of the parish, the Methodistical Interest has almost in every instance prevailed. It is natural to suppose, that a society consisting of men of this description, thus active and enterprizing, did not lose sight of so im portant a contingency as that of the living becoming vacant;-For this event, they were prepared several years before the decease of the late incumbent; they had, as one of their late members has expressed it, "a fund ready to carry their man through the business ;" and it is well known, that some of the Associated Friends, engaged the votes of parishioners for the Gospel Minister whom they

might start, nearly twelve months before the vacancy happened. That the appointment of a Gospel Minister had long been in their contemplation, before the decease of Mr. Davies, and that their efforts at parochial elections had, for several years previously, been rendered subservient to that object, appears, Mr. Editor, from an article in the first volume of your Magazine, for 1801, under the head of " Parochial Intrigues of the Methodists." It is there stated, " that the views of these sectaries in these parochial factions may no longer be doubted, we see the charge perhaps unintentionally confessed in the last Number of the Evangelical Magazine. Reviewing the Evangelical Clergyman, or a vindication of the religious principles and conduct of a Gospel Minister in Clerkenwell parish, they say, this pamphlet originated in a struggle for the election of Guardians of the poor in the parish of Clerkenwell, in which the writer avows that his friends in polling for the successful candidates, had an immediate view to the choice of men of integrity to that office, and an ultimate design in the event of the vacancy of the pulpits of that extensive parish, to se-, cure the influence of men friendly to the introduction of the Gospel," (or in plain English, Methodism.) Their

*The Board of Guardians of the Poor must antecedently to the election above referred to, have had a tolerably large proportion of the leaven of Methodism among them, as will appear from the following circumstance; that for a considerable time before that election, which took place in April 1801, the most ignorant and illiterate of the preachers of Lady Huntingdon's connection, were suffered to hold forth every Sunday evening at the workhouse. In a pamphlet entitled, The Rise and Dissolution of the Infidel Societies. &c. by W. H. Reid, the fact is noticed as follows, "At some of the Workhouses, according to the disposition of the Governors, the visiting preachers receive small gratifications for their labours; for instance, a poor creature now in the habit of attending Clerkenwell workhouse, generally receives a glass of gin as the reward of his visit, and is further allowed the privilege of trucking with his humble auditors for the house allowances of pudding, cheese, &c. with which he fills his pockets upon his return home, from what he calls his Sermon; this (adds the writer) is the same person mentioned in page 19, in the double capacity of bird-catcher and field preacher."

A lady and gentleman ahout six years ago, on returning home one Sunday evening, from St. John's Church, as they passed the workhouse, hearing the vehement tones of the preacher's voice, went in, and listened to him for some minutes. As they entered, he was uttering those sentiments, "You are taxed for every thing, and I dont know how long you may not be taxed, even for the very air you breathe; even the water you drink, you are obliged to pay for; but thank God the pool of the Gospel is open to us all it is a fountain where we may drink till we are Vol. VII. Churchm. Mag. Dec. 1804. Hhh pro

progress in the pursuit of these views, has been marked with no inconsiderable success; and they have long had it in their power to command a majority, at the board of Guardians of the Poor, as well as at that of the Trustees of the Church. Whenever a question is to be agitated, at either of these Boards, the carrying or the negativing of which can in any way affect their objects, they are sure to attend in full strength; and have the shew of hands in their favour. Their influence at these parochial trusts, has been rendered still more decisive by the circumstance of many of the more respectable and independent of the parishioners having become so completely disgusted with the proceedings of this artful faction, as hardly ever to attend either of these Boards. When the living therefore was vacated about five months ago, the Methodistical Interest lost no time in proposing for the choice of the parishioners, the same candidate on whose behalf their exertions on a former occasion, had proved unavailing. They now came better prepared for the contest: their plans of operation were more matured; they were knit into a close and compact body; the most intimate correspondence and communication existed among the individuals composing this interest; their zeal and activity too, were correspondent to the contrivance of their plans; and they possessed another advantage of no inconsiderable kind; the parish and church officers* (I believe to a man) were on their side, besides having

no intired, without paying for it." Whether this was the Rev. bird-catcher I have not been able to ascertain: but who ever he was, a Guardian of the Poor, afterwards Churchwarden, was demurely sitting under his rostrum. I can further assert, without fear of contradiction, that the son of another Guardian of the Poor, who was one of Mr. Foster's committee, has preached to the above mentioned congregation; and a third Guardian of the Poor can also boast of having a son who is a Methodist preacher by profession; that Sermons are preached at the same place regularly every Thursday and Sunday evenings, and that it is the present established practice to allow the Teachers who are supplied from Northampton Chapel and Hoxton, a glass of gin before, and another after the sermon. A gown is kept at the workhouse for the preacher.

* Mr. Foster was in the first instance (as appears by the hand bill) recommended by the Sidesmen, 5 Overseers, and 23 Trustees and Guar dians of the Poor, who described themselves as such. By some accident, it should seem, the Churchwardens did not sign this recommenda tion; but they afterwards signed the Electioneering Squibs on the side of Mr. Foster.

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considerable portion of foreignt influence, exerted on the same side with themselves.* Under these circumstances, you will readily believe that no stone was left unturned to obtain the election of their Evangelical Minister, who rather than that the Gospel should not be preached in the populous parish of Clerkenwell, did not hesitate, though,

The exertions that were made by persons who resided out of the parish, and even in distant parts of London, in procuring votes for Mr. Foster, are hardly credible. Non-parishioners attended his committees, as well as inhabitants, and even the interference of a Bank and an East India Director, was not wanting during the canvass in favour of that Gentleman!!

* This seems a fit occasion to relate a circumstance which, in a striking degree manifests that the rancorous maliguity and violence exercised by the Methodists against Mr. Lendon, on account of the orthodoxy of his principles, was, (like their influence employed on behalf of Mr. Foster," their man of God,") not confined to those of their body resident in Clerkenwell. A poor, quiet and inoffensive man, who desirous to earn honestly a few shillings, thought it no sin to engage himself as a messenger to Mr. Lendon's committee, was during the election called upon by the managers of a fanatical society called the good Samaritan "School Society," established in Shoe Lane, of which he was a member, solemnly to answer before their tribunal for his conduct; but his explanation not proving satisfactory, he was expelled from all concern in the management of the school in question, of which he received the following official notification:

DEAR FRIEND,

Your letter of the 17th inst. was received on Friday evening: am sorry to say has occasioned very painful anxiety to the whole of the friends present. To attempt to convey the feelings of my own mind on so trying an occasion, is impossible with pen and ink: but, however, the matter must for the present rest with your own conscience, till it has pleased the good spirit of the unerring Jehovah to convince you of your error.

I am desired to convey you the unanimous Resolution of the friends present,

I subscribe myself with pain of mind,

Your troubled and much affected friend and brother. (Signed) SAMUEL TALBY.

(Copy of Resolution.) 66 Resolved, that it is the opinion of this Committee, that the conduct of our brother C in the late election for Minister in the раrish of Clerkenwell, is highly unbecoming the Christian character, and totally incompatible with a profession of religion, as it clearly appears to us that he has espoused the cause of the enemies of Christ; by his active exertions on the behalf and in conjunction with those, who from a violent enmity to the Gospel, have used, and are using their utmost endeavours to prevent its introduction into the parish of Clerkenwell. Under these circumstances we conceive it a duty incumbent upon us for the honour of the Gospel, and the credit of real religion, to disown all further connec tion with our Brother C. . . . either as a visitor of the school or member of the committee, and request that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to him by the Secretary."-This will be allowed by all who know what Methodism really is, to be a fair and true sample of it. It is

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in the decline of life" (as he has since told the inhabi tants from the St. James's pulpit), in independent circumstances, and having as many clerical engagements as he could well discharge, to adventure another struggle for the living, at the expence of the peace and quiet of the parish; for he must well have known, from past experience in his own case, that a contest could not be carried on, of such a nature in this parish, without a revival of that disquietude, turbulence and contention which accompanied the proceedings of the former election. By the persevering efforts of his friends, by the influence of office, employed in various ways to obtain votes; and by the use of measures, the justice and legality of which will shortly come under the cognizance of a court of law, Mr. Foster has been returned, as the elected minister. The Methodists conceive they have gained a triumph; but it will, at all events, prove only a temporary one; for there cannot be a doubt that the election will either be pronounced illegal, or that the scrutiny will take place, which was so unjustly refused by the churchwardens, after it had on both sides been formally demanded and as formally granted: And in the latter event, I will venture confidently to assert, it will be found that Mr. Lendon has a majority of legal votes in his favour.-A description of the unfair proceedings of the Methodists during this sharply contested election, would I am convinced throw much light on the temper, principles and character of these people, who seemed to stick at nothing to effect their object" Si non modo rem, quocunque modo rem." Any means were lawful to accomplish the pious work in which they were engaged. Their electioneering publications, declaredly printed under the authority of Mr. Foster's Committee, teemed with abuse and calumnies of the most inflammatory kind, directed not only against the friends of Mr. Len

here exhibited without disguise or art.-The resolution of these "good Samaritans" was not intended for the public eye, and is on that account, the more to be regarded. Is it not lamentable that men of such principles and sentiments should have under their direction, a Seminary, in which there are at this time, not less than 170 young persons?

The transaction above related, speaks the fact so strongly, that it is hardly necessary to report it, that some of Mr. Foster's most active friends at the late election, are to be found in the Committee of the "Good Samaritan School Society." Whether this be a honour or a dishonour to that Gentleman as a Minister of the Church of England, I Leave you and your readers to judge.

don,