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what kind of a thing Methodism at Chester was。
I found about two thousand people gathered together in a field near
the railroad station； a waggon stood under some green elms at one
end of the field； in which were ten or a dozen men with the look of
Methodist preachers； one of these was holding forth to the
multitude when I arrived； but he presently sat down； I having； as I
suppose； only come in time to hear the fag…end of his sermon。
Another succeeded him； who； after speaking for about half an hour；
was succeeded by another。 All the discourses were vulgar and
fanatical； and in some instances unintelligible at least to my
ears。 There was plenty of vociferation； but not one single burst
of eloquence。 Some of the assembly appeared to take considerable
interest in what was said； and every now and then showed they did
by devout hums and groans； but the generality evidently took little
or none； staring about listlessly； or talking to one another。
Sometimes； when anything particularly low escaped from the mouth of
the speaker； I heard exclamations of 〃how low！ well； I think I
could preach better than that；〃 and the like。 At length a man of
about fifty； pock…broken and somewhat bald； began to speak： unlike
the others who screamed； shouted； and seemed in earnest； he spoke
in a dry； waggish style； which had all the coarseness and nothing
of the cleverness of that of old Rowland Hill； whom I once heard。
After a great many jokes； some of them very poor； and others
exceedingly thread…bare； on the folly of those who sell themselves
to the Devil for a little temporary enjoyment； he introduced the
subject of drunkenness； or rather drinking fermented liquors； which
he seemed to consider the same thing； and many a sorry joke on the
folly of drinking them did he crack； which some half…dozen amidst
the concourse applauded。 At length he said：…
〃After all； brethren； such drinking is no joking matter； for it is
the root of all evil。 Now； brethren； if you would all get to
heaven； and cheat the enemy of your souls； never go into a public…
house to drink； and never fetch any drink from a public…house。 Let
nothing pass your lips； in the shape of drink； stronger than water
or tea。 Brethren； if you would cheat the Devil； take the pledge
and become teetotalers。 I am a teetotaller myself； thank God …
though once I was a regular lushington。〃
Here ensued a burst of laughter in which I joined； though not at
the wretched joke； but at the absurdity of the argument； for；
according to that argument； I thought my old friends the Spaniards
and Portuguese must be the most moral people in the world； being
almost all water…drinkers。 As the speaker was proceeding with his
nonsense； I heard some one say behind me … 〃a pretty fellow that；
to speak against drinking and public…houses： he pretends to be
reformed； but he is still as fond of the lush as ever。 It was only
the other day I saw him reeling out of a gin…shop。〃
Now that speech I did not like； for I saw at once that it could not
be true； so I turned quickly round and said … 〃Old chap； I can
scarcely credit that！〃
The man； whom I addressed； a rough…and…ready…looking fellow of the
lower class； seemed half disposed to return me a savage answer； but
an Englishman of the lower class； though you call his word in
question； is never savage with you； provided you call him old chap；
and he considers you by your dress to be his superior in station。
Now I； who had called the word of this man in question； had called
him old chap； and was considerably better dressed than himself； so；
after a little hesitation； he became quite gentle； and something
more； for he said in a half…apologetic tone … 〃Well； sir； I did not
exactly see him myself； but a particular friend of mine heer'd a
man say； that he heer'd another man say； that he was told that a
man heer'd that that fellow … 〃
〃Come； come！〃 said I； 〃a man must not be convicted on evidence like
that； no man has more contempt for the doctrine which that man
endeavours to inculcate than myself； for I consider it to have been
got up partly for fanatical； partly for political purposes； but I
will never believe that he was lately seen coming out of a gin…
shop； he is too wise； or rather too cunning； for that。〃
I stayed listening to these people till evening was at hand。 I
then left them； and without returning to the inn strolled over the
bridge to the green； where the tents stood。 I went up to them：
two women sat at the entrance of one； a man stood by them； and the
children； whom I had before seen； were gambolling near at hand。
One of the women was about forty； the other some twenty years
younger； both were ugly。 The younger was a rude； stupid…looking
creature； with red cheeks and redder hair； but there was a dash of
intelligence and likewise of wildness in the countenance of the
elder female； whose complexion and hair were rather dark。 The man
was about the same age as the elder woman； he had rather a sharp
look； and was dressed in hat； white frock…coat； corduroy breeches；
long stockings and shoes。 I gave them the seal of the evening。
〃Good evening to your haner；〃 said the man … 〃Good evening to you；
sir；〃 said the woman； whilst the younger mumbled something；
probably to the same effect； but which I did not catch。
〃Fine weather；〃 said I。
〃Very； sir；〃 said the elder female。 〃Won't you please to sit
down？〃 and reaching back into the tent； she pulled out a stool
which she placed near me。
I sat down on the stool。 〃You are not from these parts？〃 said I；
addressing myself to the man。
〃We are not； your haner；〃 said the man； 〃we are from Ireland。〃
〃And this lady；〃 said I； motioning with my head to the elder
female； 〃is； I suppose； your wife。〃
〃She is； your haner； and the children which your haner sees are my
children。〃
〃And who is this young lady？〃 said I； motioning to the uncouth…
looking girl。
〃The young lady； as your haner is pleased to call her； is a
daughter of a sister of mine who is now dead； along with her
husband。 We have her with us； your haner； because if we did not
she would be alone in the world。〃
〃And what trade or profession do you follow？〃 said I。
〃We do a bit in the tinkering line； your haner。〃
〃Do you find tinkering a very profitable profession？〃 said I。
〃Not very； your haner； but we contrive to get a crust and a drink
by it。〃
〃That's more than I ever could；〃 said I。
〃Has your haner then ever followed tinkering？〃 said the man。
〃Yes；〃 said I； 〃but I soon left off。〃
〃And became a minister；〃 said the elder female； 〃Well； your honour
is not the first indifferent tinker that's turned out a shining
minister。〃
〃Why do you think me a minister？〃
〃Because your honour has the very look and voice of one。 Oh； it
was kind in your honour to come to us here in the Sabbath evening；
in order that you might bring us God。〃
〃What do you mean by bringing you God？〃 said I。
〃Talking to us about good things； sir； and instructing us out of
the Holy Book。〃
〃I am no minister；〃 said I。
〃Then you are a priest； I am sure you a