tion, the most powerful military state in this hemisphere. As an instance of his unrivalled diplomatic astuteness, we have only to refer to the famous Draft Treaty, first published by the Times. Though it happens to be in M. Benedetti's handwriting, yet the history of the affair shows who must be largely credited with its origin.

To what must the unexpected collapse of the French arms be attributed? Partly to the defects in internal organization already mentioned; but mainly, we believe, to the undoubted numerical superiority of the Germans, to their intellectual and professional discipline, to their intense enthusiasm, and, not least, to the wonderful strategical skill of their generals. In addition to Von Moltke devising the plan of the campaign, (as he did so successfully in 1866), and, behind the scenes, arranging not only the general movements to be made by the different armies, but suggesting steps contingent on almost all possible action of the enemy, there have been commanders capable of appreciating that plan, and, with readiness and bravery, of carrying out its various parts in attack or march, now striking at and breaking the French centre, and then successively fighting or surrounding the wings thus separated. The campaign so far has shown unrivalled wisdom in conception, unrivalled energy in execution, and unrivalled success in results. It bids fair to be the military wonder in the history of the latter half of this century. But let us also give the due mead of praise to French pluck and heroism. The soldiers of the Army of the Rhine have fought, sometimes in disadvantageous circumstances, and often against fearful odds, with a valour, an energy, and a perseverance which remind one of their famous deeds of old. But they have been deficient in able generalship; and that has been a principal cause of their defeat. Without depreciating the military qualities of Marshals Bazaine and MacMahon, but rather acknowledging their great abilities, still we believe that the Germans far excel them, and to this fact must be referred much of the German success. Other features of the campaign, very interesting and suggestive, might be noticed, but our space forbids.

England is properly neutral in this great war. She strove, in an honourable and friendly manner, to prevent hostilities, but neither side was willing to listen to her pacific counsels. Now that the struggle is proceeding she endeavours to preserve an impartial neutrality towards France and Prussia, but is waiting for the first favourable opportunity to tender her mediation. Lord Lyons, our ambassador at Paris, is using all his influence to bring about a satisfactory solution. When the

proper time comes, we doubt not that the service England will render in the interests of European peace will be greater than any she has previously performed. She has neither need nor motive to mix up otherwise in the present strife; nor has she any cause of fear from attack on her colonies or invasion of her shores. In behalf of Belgium she has honourably and generously, as we think, again guaranteed its independence in treaty with other powers. For the rest she has to wait and watch; maintaining the utmost efficiency of her whole army at home, but without foolishly attempting to raise it to a Continental standard; her navy, never stronger than now, and equal, in every respect, to the combined fleets of France and Prussia, will be able to protect her coasts, and give a warm reception to any enemy assaulting her honour or her homes.

And yet England has another duty to perform, viz., to succour, irrespective of nationality, with a wise and liberal contribution of linen and money, the thousands of wounded, lying in agony of pain and thirst, on battle fields and in hospitals. That Christian duty we believe she will fairly discharge; nay, she is already doing so. London, as is fitting, is taking the lead; and in many towns in the provinces societies are organized for the relief of the sufferers from the scourge of war. Much of the misery cannot be touched by our help; but if we do what we can promptly for both sides, we shall exhibit our neutrality in a way which cannot be challenged, while the rich reward of lessening the world's sorrows will be

ours.

All our readers, we trust, will be ambitious to aid in this divine work; but we beg them to remember that he gives twice, who gives quickly.

ART. VII. THE METHODIST DEMOSTHENES.

The Life of Samuel Bradburn, the Methodist Demosthenes. By THOMAS W. BLANSHARD. London: Elliot Stock. 1870. SAMUEL BRADBURN is a name which should not be allowed to pass into oblivion, or be kept in memory only by vague tradition, and incidental reference on the page of history. The part he took in the early controversies of Methodism, and his fame as an eloquent preacher, forbid that he should be treated

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with such neglect. True, the name is not altogether stainless; he who bore it was a man of like passions with others, and in some instances failed to keep his body under, and exercise himself unto godliness. But if only faultless characters are to be preserved in remembrance, memoirs and biographies will have to be greatly diminished in number. We therefore think that Mr. Blanshard has done well to give permanent record to all authentic information respecting him now attainable.

The volume will be of considerable interest to Methodist readers, to whatever section of Methodism they may belong. Still we cannot say that Bradburn's personal life has great charms for us. His diary is mostly a commonplace affair, and we wonder his biographer has used so much of it. Neither in expression nor sentiment does it contain much that is quickening or edifying; while many of the entries are trivial, and only try the patience of the reader, without supplying any information respecting the character and circumstances of the writer which one cares to have. The incidents connected with his two marriages may be deemed by some amusing and romantic, but they plainly indicate where Bradburn's great weakness lay. In the habit of self-restraint it is questionable whether he ever fully possessed the qualification for a bishop laid down in the Pastoral Epistles. The moment he sees the lady who became his first wife, then a "sweet girl" of nineteen, he is distracted with her charms, and his very existence seems ready to dissolve when he has to leave her. In this blissful wretchedness he spends nearly two years, when they are married, and for eight years she was the joy and pride of his life. She then dies, leaving him the most wretched of men, and suffering horrible grief when she is laid in her grave. But in less than six weeks from this time he is passionately in love with a young lady he meets with at Gloucester, and would then and there have married her had she not been less impulsive than himself. God, he believes, had given her as a helpmate for him; so he writes in his journal, but the customs of the world forbid him making her his wife for several months, and being so much alone he is often truly wretched. All this betokens a character one can neither revere nor admire, especially when it belongs to a minister of the Gospel. Mr. Wesley, too, figures as a match-maker in Bradburn's marriages in rather a singular way. His first wife he got by his interference, an interference given not in a very candid and straightforward way; and the biographer adds, "Wesley, more than once, took up cudgels for his preachers when in difficulties of this kind; but not in such a summary manner.

Bradburn carried off his prize in triumph, and chuckled over Mrs. Karr's discomfiture with irrepressible glee." respect to his second marriage he also writes:

With

"It was through Wesley's kindly interference that Bradburn secured the wife whose loss he so deeply mourned. Whether the kind-hearted and considerate old man thought that the best cure for his young friend's excessive grief would be to get another wife, and with this design had brought him to Gloucester to introduce him to Miss Cooke, we cannot say. Any how, they were introduced to each other, and as soon as ever I saw you together,' says Wesley, 'I believed you would be more nearly united.'

These words are quoted from a letter, afterwards given entire, which we transfer to our pages, for the glimpse it affords of early Methodist life, and of the relation Mr. Wesley held with his helpers and members generally. From the letter we infer that Miss Cooke, to religious excellence, added a spice of necessary worldly prudence, for it was evidently written in reply to inquiries as to what would be her temporal condition as a preacher's wife :

"Crowle, June 20th, 1786.

Surely you never can have need to use any ceremony with me. You may think aloud, and tell me all that is in your heart. As soon as ever I saw Mr. Bradburn and you together, I believed that you would be more nearly united. His former wife never wanted anything; neither need any of our preachers' wives. They neither want nor abound. They have all things needful for life and godliness. But I am not a fair judge; I am partial. I long so much to have you under my own roof, that I cannot divest myself of prejudice in the matter. I can only say, 'Give yourself to prayer; and then act, in the name and in the fear of God, as you are fully persuaded in your own mind.'

To Miss Sophia Cooke."

I am, yours affectionately,

JOHN WESLEY.

The latter part of the letter is explained by remembering that Bradburn was then living under the same roof with Wesley, as his financial secretary.

The entries in Bradburn's diary lead us to qualify a little Wesley's statement, that his first wife never wanted anything. If she did not, her wants were very easily supplied, for the allowance to the preachers often amounted to no more than a mere pittance. Here are the items as entered in the Bradford circuit book for 1770:

"The preacher's board, thirteen weeks, at 3s. 6d.

The preacher's quarterage

Ditto

ditto

Allowed for servant.

Allowed for turnpikes

for the wife

The whole of a preacher's yearly income was therefore less than £33! The financial state of the Circuit was not much improved when Bradburn was stationed there in 1781-2. He says:- -'I have not above £50 per annum, to maintain myself, wife, child, and

servant.'

The fact is, Bradburn, in his diary, is continually referring to his straitened circumstances, sometimes with devout submission, at other times with great dejection. "O God!" he asks, "can I be in the call of Thy providence, and be thus straitened?" His reply is the true one, "Yes, for temporal things are no sufficient rule to judge by. Help me, then, my Maker, to trust Thee, without tormenting fear." Few are the Methodist preachers, even now, having no income but their ministerial one, who have not at one time or other passed through Bradburn's experience. An amusing incident is connected with Bradburn's impecuniosity on one occasion. Wesley had told him not to be afraid of applying to him when in financial difficulties.

"An opportunity soon presented itself, and he wrote to Wesley an ingenuous account of his distressed state; and received the following laconic reply, with an enclosure of five pound notes:

'DEAR SAMMY, --Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

Bradburn replied :—

Yours affectionately,

JOHN WESLEY.'

'REV. AND DEAR SIR,-I have often been struck with the beauty of the passage of Scripture quoted in your letter, but I must confess that I never saw such useful expository notes upon it before. rev, and dear sir, your obedient and grateful servant,

I am,

S. BRADBURN.'”

Mr. Wesley's biographers or eulogists often make astounding statements respecting his liberality, so that we wonder how he managed it. The following will help us to understand :

"This year, Bradburn tells us in his Sketch of Mr. Wesley's character, that he travelled with Wesley through several circuits, by