eminence in anything, unless he had an enthusiasm for it." We again adverted to religious subjects, and I expressed my hope that his lordship would fix his attention on them more than he had ever done, as they concerned him more deeply than the fame of poetry, or the still more noble object he had in view-the assistance he was about to give to an oppressed nation. "I have endeavoured," I said, "to do my duty. I have spoken plainly and sincerely, because I felt for your situation, a feeling increased by the honour you have conferred on me, and your desire to hear me, and the patience you have exhibited. If I have failed in the respect due to you, forgive it. I have, perhaps, pressed the matter too eagerly, but this proceeded from my desire for your welfare; from the impression of not having other opportunities, and from the fear that these are subjects which, situated as you are, you will not be often annoyed with." : Lord B. said, "he considered himself obliged to me for what I had done; for the sincerity with which I had spoken, and for the evident interest I had shewn for what I considered his danger. I am satisfied," he said, "that you are not animated by the desire merely of making a noble convert. I have had too much reason to distrust the motives of those who wished to convert me, nor am I inclined to rely much on the sincerity of flaming professors, whose zeal might well enough be ascribed to popular ambition or applause, and the delight they have in becoming the leaders of the fanatic or the vulgar, such as Wesley or Whitfield, -whose motives may, in some degree at least, be justly suspected." I said, "While I am grateful to your lordship for this good opinion of me, it is proper to say, that in neither case do you reason fairly. For aught that you know, I am but waiting a proper opportunity of playing what you call the same part as Wesley or Whitfield, and either circumstances, or want of ability, may prevent me. It cannot, surely, be a proof against piety and virtue, that good arises to those who practise both,-or that, when these are displayed in an eminent degree, the admiration of others follows them, and a just celebrity attends them. This is a connexion as strict and certain, as that pain or punishment invariably follows sin and guilt." " It may be so," replied Lord B., " but I judge you to be sincere, and not actuated by ambitious motives, while I see you contented, and happy, and using no means which others in your situation would have done, to raise yourself into public notice, from motives of ambition, and vainglory." "Has your lordship seen the life of Wesley, by Southey?" "No, I have not; have you?" "No, but I should like to see how he represents the character of Wesley. Though Southey is a man who believes in Christianity, and is what the world calls a good man, I doubt whether he is able to comprehend some parts of Wesley's conduct, which to a mere scholar must appear fanatical. I understand from some, who have seen the work, that it is much better than was to have been expected, which is highly creditable to Southey, though still I do not believe that he is capable of doing justice to the Methodists. I am not a Methodist myself, nor have I been in their chapels, but I have a high respect for this zealous body, and though they are the most despised of all the Christian denominations, yet there is reason to believe that they are the best Christians, since they have been the means of doing so much good. I think Wesley one of the worst divines, in many doctrinal points, though he was certainly a man of ability; but that he was substantially a sound Christian, must be willingly granted; and what is extraordinary, his zeal for God, his unexampled industry, labour, self-denial, and charity, have raised him to a higher rank, which he will maintain, than any bishop, or indeed any divine, that England has ever produced. "I believe that the Methodists erred in their relations of too wonderful conversions, nor was the distinction made between the effects of the powerful preaching of the Gospel on the bodily frame, and the real and permanent affection of the hearer by the power of God; but these circumstances no longer attend the preaching of this body of Christians, whose labours extend to all corners of the globe, and to people whom other Christians had overlooked. Wesley, I think, was much inferior to Whitfield, though he has been more fortunate in obtaining a higher fame. "I was once dining with a gentleman, who after dinner rather unexpectedly asked, 'What are the grounds on which you 'New Lights' believe that you are influenced by the Holy Spirit, and what is the evidence by which you convince others, who have never felt such an influence, that you are possessed of it?' " "Well," said Lord Byron, "this was a sensible and pertinent question; what answer did you make?" "We had a long conversation on the subject, and many things were said on both sides, which I do not now recollect." "But did you convince him?" "No," I replied, "it is not so easy to convince people on such points." "I should, however, like to know what answers you could make to such a question." "To one who knows the Scriptures, and has felt their power, the answer would be easy and satisfactory; but to those who do not believe, no answer, however demonstrative, can be satisfactory. It is as though one were to talk of colours to a man born blind; or to expect that a man who has no musical ear should derive pleasure from a succession of sweet sounds. A sober friend of mine one day gave me his opinion of religious people. ' In my opinion,' he sad, 'religion is like any other thing. Some are attached to it, because they have a taste for it; others care nothing about it, merely because they have no taste for it; as one man has a taste for music and another has not; therefore, let everybody follow his own taste, and not trouble those that have no sympathy with it.' Another gentelman gave it as his opinion, that the serious |