proceeded, the preacher fully maintained the high ground he had taken. His critical hearer was quite perplexed to make out who or what he could be; when, recollecting that he had heard of the Cornish metaphysician's being in town, he felt convinced that this must be the man. He now listened with intense interest, and his prejudices were exchanged for admiration. The gentleman afterward obtained an introduction to Mr. Drew, and told him all that had passed through his mind.

In compliance with an oft-repeated invitation, Mr. Drew, while in London, took up his residence at Dr. Clarke's, and, through him, was introduced to many distinguished individuals. Among others with whom he spent an evening in conversation was the late Dr. Mason, of New-York. To Dr. Clarke's kindness he was at this time indebted for an introduction to the Royal Society and the Society of Antiquarians. Here also commenced an intimacy between Mr. Drew and his friend's accomplished daughters, with whom he continued a friendly correspondence.

Having made the necessary arrangements respecting the biography of Dr. Coke, he returned to Cornwall in April, and commenced the work. At the close of the ensuing Conference, the resolution of that body, confirmatory of the engagement with him, was thus intimated :

"Mr. Roberts, who is now with us, on his return from Manchester to Bath, has communicated to me the following resolution of Conference, August 17, 1815, which he has requested me to transcribe and forward to you, being unable to do it himself from the increased failure of his sight.

"The resolution is, That the Book Committee shall have authority to conclude, in conjunction with the executors of the late Rev. Dr. Coke, an agreement, on such terms as they may think fit, respecting a life of Dr. Coke, to be written by Mr. Drew, of St. Austell ; and that, if such agreement be concluded, the life so written shall have the sanction and support of the Methodist connection.'

"Mr. Roberts has also requested me to observe, that you stand on the very same footing with us, Dr. Coke's executors, as you did when we conversed together on the subject at Bath, viz. that we are the only responsible persons to you for the remuneration of your services.

"R. C. BRACKENBURY.

"That you may be divinely strengthened and comforted in the prosecution of your most laudable undertaking, is the sincere prayer of your very affectionate friends,

"R. C. BRACKENBURY,
"J. HOLLOWAY,
"T. ROBERts.

"To Mr. Samuel Drew, St. Austell.”

Much time being occupied in the examination and arrangement of documents for the Memoir, and the County History being now in regular progress through the press, the execution of the Life was less rapid than might have been wished. About Lady-day (25th March), 1816, the manuscript was completed, and despatched for the inspection of the executors and committee.

In this undertaking Mr. Drew experienced the difficulty of serving many masters. On the 5th of November, when writing to a member of his family, he observes, "Two days since I had the MS. of Dr. Coke's life returned to me, to undergo alterations. I wish it had been returned sooner, as the long delay will prove injurious to the sale. It has now been in the hands of the executors, I believe, five or six months, for examination; and all the animadversions that are made might have been made within a fortnight. But it has been in London, with Mr. Holloway; in Lincolnshire, with Mr. Brackenbury; and in Bath, with Mr. Roberts. I have now to drive hard on the History of Cornwall, and to finish this MS."

To please the executors alone would not have been difficult. But the biographer had also to please the Book Committee, and then to satisfy himself and the public, as to the faithfulness of the narrative, and the correct delineation of character. In February, 1817, the Memoir was again forwarded for inspection. By a memorandum given to Mr. Drew, Dr. Coke had constituted him sole judge in this matter; yet the revision and re-revision by the various parties occupied more time than the original composition, and called him once more to London. In relation to the

bulk of the volume, his remuneration was ample; yet for the harassing repetitions of his labour he was scarcely compensated.

The work was published by the Wesleyan Book Committee, in 1817.

About this time Mr. D. writes, "Although, during the last winter, my application was more intense than, on the score of

prudence, I could wish, my health remains unimpaired. My sight, however, begins to fail; so that without glasses I can scarcely see to write. The man who invented spectacles did more to benefit mankind than all the heroes that ever existed, and his name is more worthy of being immortalized than that of Cæsar."

In 1816 the situation of postmaster at St. Austell became vacant. Mr. Drew offered his services, and through the recommendation of Charles Rashleigh, Esq., who warmly interested himself in his behalf, he was appointed to the office. To the same gentleman's kind intervention he was subsequently indebted for the transfer of the office to one of his sons. The circumstance merits notice in these pages, because this gentleman being a strict churchman, while Mr. Drew, as a Methodist, was reckoned a dissenter, it was a tacit admission of his moral worth. To record the kindness is a tribute due to a generous and departed friend.

SECTION XXI.

Mr. Drew contemplates a philosophical investigation of the tenets of Wesleyan Methodism-His Essay on the Being and Perfections of God published-He is urged to write on the Eternal Sonship of Christ-His sentiments on that subject.

HOWEVER competent Mr. Drew was to discharge faithfully the duties of the historian and biographer, we think that in these departments of literature he was out of his congenial elementthat element in which he might be said to "live, and move, and have his intellectual being.' Of this he was conscious; and, even while laboriously occupied with the works described, his thoughts dwelt upon loftier undertakings.

Those who take an interest in the determination of the great question upon which philosophers and theologians have been divided from the earliest ages,-whether man be a free or a necessary agent, will scarcely peruse the following letters without a feeling of regret that the contemplated investigation was never accomplished.

"DEAR SIR,

"Sheffield, Methodist Chapel-house, "Sept. 10, 1816.

"Permit one who is a stranger to your person, but an admirer of your talents, to address to you a few lines, on a subject in which he feels a deep and a lively interest. I have heard, with no small degree of pleasure, that you have expressed a willingness to publish a refutation of the new modification of Calvinism, as given to the world by the late Dr. Williams, in his Essay upon the Equity of Divine Government, provided you could meet with sufficient encouragement. Respecting this, I am concerned that you entertain any doubts. The subject proposed for discussion is of considerable interest,—your talents are well known, and I hope the Methodists are still alive to the importance of those doctrines which they profess to regard as divine truths.

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If you will undertake this very desirable work, and publish a volume upon the subject, I will gladly subscribe for at least fifty copies; and I think I can procure the sale of a still greater number.

"The Rev. Messrs. Wesley and Fletcher did much to check the progress of the Calvinian doctrine by proving that Jesus Christ had tasted death for every man, and that the decrees of God, according to which the eternal states of men will be appointed, are not absolute and unconditional in their application to individuals, but are respective of character. Modern Calvinists, in effect, acknowledge the force of the arguments contained in the writings of those venerable men, by giving up a part of their old system. It seems, therefore, desirable that the noble effors of W. and F. should be ably seconded, and the errors of Calvin, in their various modifications, exposed.

"Dr. Adam Clarke, in his commentary, is promoting the honour of God his Saviour, by demonstrating the Universality of the Divine Philanthropy; and nothing seems wanting but the efforts of an acute metaphysician to expose the speculations of Dr. W. and the divines of his school, respecting 'negative causation,' &c. Every one observes that these are subjects suited to your talents, and that, by the investigation of them, you would promote the honour of the adorable God, and the interests of genuine Christianity.

"Should you deem these lines an impertinent intrusion upon your time and attention, I hope you will forgive the writer, whose only motives in thus addressing you are, an admiration

of your talents, and a regard for what he considers the pure

gospel of Jesus Christ.

"I am, dear sir,
"Yours truly,

"THOMAS JACKSON.

"Mr. Samuel Drew, St. Austell.”

"DEAR SIR,

"St. Austell, Cornwall, Sept. 25, 1816.

"In reply to your letter of the 10th instant, I cannot but say that I have long wished to see the great and fundamental doctrines of Methodism fairly examined, and permanently established, on the ground of philosophy and rational argument. The Church of England has its Hooker, the Quakers have their Barclay, and the Calvinists have their Edwards; but Methodism, though it has produced a Wesley and a Fletcher, has yet to seek this philosophical ground.

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Conversing, some time since, with Dr. A. Clarke, on this subject, I expressed my wish that such a work might be undertaken, and intimated my willingness to assist in its composition. But my wish was, that it might be made a permanent work of Methodism, in which its doctrines might be defended on rational principles; and that, passing through the ordeal of such as were competent to judge, it might be considered as a standard work among the body. Dr. C. most heartily approved of the design, but plainly informed me, that if this work were the production of the present day, I must undertake it, and navigate the ocean nearly alone. He would readily render me such personal assistance as his time would allow; but the work must be my own. I intimated the improbability that Conference would officially sanction such a work, unless submitted to their criticisms (to which, while the work remained my own, I might not implicitly bow), and the difficulty of obtaining a proper circulation unless I could procure some sanction; that a deep metaphysical work, which, in its details, must pursue the windings of Destiny, and pass through all the diversified terms of Liberty, Necessity, Freedom, Power, and Responsibility, could not be expected to find a great number of readers, especially among the Methodists, to whom it would be most particularly interesting; and, finally, that I should be involved in a controversy with those whose opinions I must necessarily oppose. To this his reply was, ' Produce the work, and you need not fear of finding support.' Here the affair terminated, and here it now rests.