ONCE more, sweet stream! with slow foot wand'ring near,

I bless thy milky waters cold and clear. Escaped the flashing of the noontide hours, With one fresh garland of Pierian flowers (Ere from thy zephyr-haunted brink I turn) My languid hand shall wreath thy mossy urn. For not through pathless grove, with murmur rude,

Thou soothest the sad wood-nymph-Solitude:

For thine unseen in cavern depths to well,
The hermit-fountain of some dripping cell!

Pride of the vale! thy useful streams supply The scatter'd cots and peaceful hamlet nigh. The elfin tribe, around thy friendly banks, With infant uproar and soul-soothing pranks, Released from school, their little hearts at rest,

Launch paper navies on thy waveless breast. The rustic here, at eve, with pensive look, Whistling lorn ditties, leans upon his crook; Or startling, pauses with hope-mingled dread, To list the much-loved maid's accustom'd tread: She, vainly mindful of her dame's command, Loiters, the long-fill'd pitcher in her hand.

The faded form of past delight recalls,
What time the morning sun of hope arose,
And all was joy, save when another's woes
A transient gloom upon my soul imprest,
Like passing clouds impictured on thy breast.
Life's current then ran sparkling to the noon,
Or silv'ry, stole beneath the pensive moon;
Ah! now it works rude brakes and thorns
among,

Or o'er the rough rock bursts and foams along!
Coleridge.

[For the National Magazine.]

JOHN-STREET CHURCH-THE CRADLE OF AMERICAN METHODISM.

FEW

NEW periods of modern history are marked with greater interest than the early part of the eighteenth century. It was the brilliant era when Sir Isaac Newton astonished the world by his discoveries-the day of Swift, Pope, Steele, and Addison. Although it was styled the Augustan age of English literature, still it was a time of general impiety and infidelity. The pernicious writings of Bolingbroke, Hobbes, and Shaftesbury, were then in full circulation.

At this moment John Wesley appeared, and became, with his brother Charles, and Whitefield, the principal instrument of reviving CHRISTIANITY in its true spirituality and power. Wesley may properly be called the Luther of his age, and, like the great Saxon reformer, he commenced a work beyond his control, until it is now identified with the advancement of evangelical Christianity in our world.

Thirty years before Mr. Wesley's death several members of his religious societies had emigrated to America from Great Britain and Ireland. Of this number a few resided in the city of New-York, and the little pious band met in a private house for religious services. This was a room in the residence of Philip Embury, who had heard Wesley in Ireland, and was also a local preacher in the "Connection." Mr. Embury was a carpenter by trade, and resided in Barrack-street, near where the present City-Hall stands. Six pergons only attended his first sermon, which was preached in his workshop, and during 1766 this little flock formed the first Methodist Society in America.

A larger congregation followed this commencement, until the place could not contain the increasing number of hearers. So it ever has been when the truth is re

company of comparatively unknown, but pious individuals, the Son of God himself once said: "Ye are the light of the world." The congregation still growing larger, a more commodious place was soon obtained in the same neighborhood for their meetings.

Upon one of these occasions, while singing, an officer in full military uniform entered the place. He wore the dress of the royal-American troops. This was Lieutenant, or, as he was generally called, Captain Thomas Webb. He was a pious officer of the British army, then stationed at Albany, and he shares the glory of being one of the founders of Methodism upon this continent. On this occasion, he knelt with them in prayer, and introduced himself as a preacher of righteousness, and soon became a zealous and successful advocate of the new sect. The memory of this excellent man should be preserved and honored; for his character and exertions, with those of Mr. Embury, form some most important recollections of earliest Methodism in the United States.

In the campaign of 1758 and before his conversion, Captain Webb served under General Wolfe. He was present at the memorable battle on the Plains of Abraham, when his gallant leader lost his life, and he himself received two woundsone in his right arm, and another which deprived him of his right eye. Afterward, he returned to England, professed religion, and became a follower of Mr. Wesley. He was soon appointed barrack-master of Albany, and came again to America. When he heard of the newlyformed Wesleyan Society in New-York, he hastened to their assistance.

In his personal appearance Captain Webb united a portly figure with a fine commanding countenance, wearing over his forehead a strip of black ribbon and a blind to conceal his wounded eye. This description is in perfect keeping with a finely engraved portrait of him published in London in 1797, a copy of which is in possession of the writer, and is the original of that which accompanies this sketch. In the engraving his right hand is placed on his breast, whilst the left points to a Bible, from which he appears to be discoursing, as it lies with his sword and cap before him. At the bottom of the likeness is the coat-of-arms of his family,

with this motto: "I have fought a good fight."

In our youthful days we saw some who heard Captain Webb preach, and from all accounts he was a plain and very energetic speaker, performing his religious duties without the fear of

man.

Nor were his pious labors with those of Mr. Embury unsuccessful. The people attended in crowds to hear them, until the Wesleyans were compelled a second time to look out for a larger place of worship. They succeeded in obtaining a more commodious building, about sixty feet long and eighteen broad which had been erected for a rigging-house. It was situated on William-st., at that period called Horse and Cart-street, from an inn there having such a sign.

In the alterations and changes to which the city of New-York is proverbially subject, it is quite a singular fact, that the old rigginghouse is still standing. It stands near Johnstreet, with its gable end toward the street, and is at present occupied as a factory. Hallowed spot! The little band of Wesleyans who early worshiped in this humble place have long since passed away to

A.KINNERSLEY

the spirit-land, but hundreds of thousands have succeeded them in the blessings and enjoyment of a "like precious faith."

Equally humble was the first place occupied by Mr. Wesley for a Methodist chapel in England. It was a large foundery in Moorfields, London, which had long continued in a dilapidated condition from a fatal explosion that happened during the casting of some cannon for the government. In 1739 Mr. Wesley obtained a lease of the edifice for £115, and after suitable alterations, he commenced public worship there on the 23d of July, 1740. At that period he had only seventy members in his "Societies." What myriads since in both worlds!

Great numbers now attended divine service at the rigging-house, and it could not contain half the people who frequented the place. Desirous of giving a character of greater permanency to their religious services, the congregation resolved at length to erect a church. This was a great and momentous undertaking for a people who, at that period, had but little resources of their own, with still less worldly influence. They invoked, however, the divine bless

ings upon their contemplated undertaking by fasting and solemn prayer for three days. At first, it was proposed to lease a small lot of ground for twenty-one years, and here erect a chapel of wood. At this moment, however, a lady offered two lots of ground for £600 ($2,666 66) on credit and security, and these were purchased by eight members of the society. Besides the purchase money, it was estimated that the new building would cost £400 ($1,777 77).

The spot was situated upon Golden Hill, a rising ground then in the suburbs of the

THE OLD RIGGING-HOUSE.

city, but now, John-street. It took its name from a farm, celebrated for growing fine wheat, where John-street now enters into Pearl-street at Burling-slip. We have known some venerable persons who have seen the golden grain waving upon this now crowded section of our great metropolis.

To honor the name of a man who, by learning, piety, and unwearied Christian labors, has been an instrument of greater good to mankind than probably any other individual of modern times, the new edifice was called WESLEY CHAPEL. It was dedicated to the service of the ALMIGHTY on

the 30th of October, 1768, Mr. Embury preaching a discourse on the occasion from the pulpit which he had finished with his own hands.

The cut is a very correct exterior view of the old chapel. Its length was sixty feet, its breadth forty-two, and the walls were built of stone, the face covered over with a blue plaster, exhibiting an appearance of durability, simplicity, and plainness. Entrances to the galleries were subsequently added on each side of the door. The interior was equally plain, and remained many years in an unfinished state. There were at first no stairs or breastwork to the galleries, and the hearers ascended by a ladder and listened to the preacher from the platform. For a long while, even the seats on the lower floor had no backs. At that period in our colonial history, no public religious services could be performed in churches, except such as were established by law. Dissenters were therefore compelled to accommodate their places of worship in some way to meet this legal obstruction. This difficulty was avoided by attaching a fireplace and chimney to the internal arrangements of Wesley Chapel, as it was thus considered a private dwelling.

A small building of the antique Dutch style stood partly in front of the church, and became after a while the parsonage. The sextons used to reside in its basement. Peter Williams, a colored man, and one of the oldest members of the Church, served in this office. Whilst a slave, for slavery then existed in New-York, he purchased his freedom by his own in

dustry, and then amassed a respectable property by diligent labor. He lived to see his children well educated, and one son was, for years, a useful pastor of a Protestant Episcopal Church in this city. The old door-keeper in the house of the Lord has long since left his post, and entered into that holy temple not made with hands, to go in and out no more forever. What a company in heaven, and how many thousands upon earth, have praised God for directing them to the "bread of life," that was freely distributed in this humble church!

Very numerous audiences soon were attracted to Wesley Chapel to "hear the

word." In two years after its dedication, the congregation which had commenced three years before with only six hearers, had increased to a thousand and over, at times filling the area in front of the church. Such was the progress of the society, that Mr. Wesley was strongly solicited to send an able and experienced preacher to their assistance. In the letter sent to England with the request, the members used the following strong and remarkable language: "With respect to the payment of the preachers' passage over, if they could not procure it, we would sell our coats and shirts to procure it for them." In answer to these earnest desires Messrs. Boardman and Pilmoor volunteered to be the first Methodist missionaries to this country. They arrived in 1769, and were the earliest itinerant Wesleyan preachers in America. They brought with them £50 ($222 22), "as a token of brotherly love," to the new Church.

In addition to these two missionaries, the Rev. Messrs. Asbury and Wright came over in 1771. Captain Webb returned in the meantime to England, and settled at Bristol, where he died at the age of seventy-two years, leaving this last and delightful testimony,-"I know I am happy in the Lord, and shall be with him, and that is sufficient." Thus true faith has her crown as well as her cross.

His fellow-laborer in the early field of American Methodism, Mr. Embury, retired into the interior, where he closed his useful life in the spring of 1775, without

Born in IRELAND-an emigrant to NEW-YORK-Embury was the first to gather a little class in that city, and to set in motion a train of measures, which resulted in the founding of the John-street Church, the cradle of American Methodism, and the introduction of a system which has beautified the earth with sal

vation, and increased the joys of heaven."

During the war of the American Revlution, most of the churches in this city were occupied as military prisons or hospitals. The Middle Dutch Church, now the Post-Office, was a prison and charnelhouse to thousands. No less than three thousand Americans were confined in that ancient temple of the Almighty. Six and eight dead bodies might be seen of a morning conveyed from this sorrowful abode. Its pews were consumed for fuel, and the place finally was occupied as a ridingschool for the British cavalry. Two thousand rebel prisoners, so called, were incarcerated in the North Dutch Church, William-street. The Quaker meeting-house, formerly on Pearl-street, was converted into a hospital. Wesley Chapel shared a similar fate, a regiment of Americans be