WELLWOOD-WESLEY.

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seventy-eighth year of his age, and fifty-sixth of his ministry. As an author, Sir Henry was well known, and highly esteemed. The works which gave him a claim to this title, are, 'A Life of Dr John Erskines three volumes of sermons, and a small work on the constitution of the church of Scotland, which, as well as one of the volumes of sermons, was published posthumously.

WESLEY, John, born June the 17th, 1703, at Epworth, in Lincolnshire, of which his father was rector, and having received education at the Charter-house, removed to Oxford. After taking his first degree, he was, in 1724, elect

welfare and efficiency of the establishment. And, therefore, he embraced every opportunity of inculcating and upholding them; resisted all the attempts that were made to discredit them in theory, or to violate them in practice; rejoiced when they obtained even a partial triumph over the opposition they had to encounter; and elung to them, and struggled for them, long after they were borne down by a system of force and oppression. Sir Henry made a more successful opposition, especially towards the end of his life, to the dominant faction in the church, than had been made for upwards of half a century before; and to his efforts is to be ascribed fellow of Lincoln college, ed, in a great measure, that decided preporderaney which evangelical doctrines have obtained in many places of the country, where they were, for several ages, unknown. Pious young men were always sure of his protection; and he left nothing unessayed to promote their improvement and their success in life. In the management of the Scottish ministers' widows' fund, Sir Henry took a deep interest, and was also one of the original members of the society of the sons of the clergy, and, by his influence and his exertions, contributed largely to its success. He died in 1827, after an illness of considerable duration, in the

In

appointed Greek lecturer, and
ordained by bishop Potter.
For some time after his resi-
dence at Oxford, he was only
distinguished as a grave, se-
date young man; but after a
while, the perusal of some
devotional tracts induced him
to adopt what he deemed the
essentials of a holy life.
1729, he associated with some
friends of similar disposition,
who met and read together the
classics on week days, and di-
vinity on Sundays; but shortly
after, their meetings became
exclusively religious. This so-
eiety consisted of fifteen mem-
bers, who, from the strictness
of their manners and deport-
ment, were variously designat

the

ed by the other students, but more especially obtained the name of Methodists, which appellation they themselves sanetioned and retained. In 1735, he accepted the invitation of doctor Burton, one of the trustees for Georgia, to go over and preach to the Indians. He accordingly embarked same year, in company with his brother Charles, two other missionaries, and several German Moravians. The disturbed state of the colony prevented all preaching to the Indians; and, although the colonists of Savannah were at first attentive to the ministry of Mr Wesley, his notions were too high church for his hearers. He refused the Lord's supper to dissenters, unless they would be rebaptized, insisted upon immersion in the rite of baptism, and, by a variety of ascetical praetices, excited an unfavourable opinion of his judgment. What most injured his reputation, however, was his conduct towards a young lady, whom it was expected he would marry, and whom he refused to admit to communion after her marriage with another person, without deigning to assign any reason. Legal proceedings were in consequence commenced against him, previous to the conclusion of which, after ...consultation with his friends, he became convinced that

"God called him to return to England," on which he gave public notice of his intention to depart, and left Georgia after an abode of a year and nine months. On his arrival from America, he discovered that he who had been voyaging to convert others, had never been converted himself; and he felt, as he observed, "a want of the victorious faith of more experienced Christians." A sudden conversion occurred, by his own account, and, in 1738, he commenced those systematie labours which made him the founder of the great religious body of Methodists. He soon after accepted the invitation of Whitfield, who had some time before commenced the practice of field-preaching. to join him at Bristol. It is thought that his original plan. was to form a union of clergymen, in order to further his scheme of conversion by their joint efforts; but the dislike of ministers of the establishment to join in it, reduced him to the necessity of appointing lay preachers, and employing them as itinerants among the different societies of the persuasion. At the same time, he assumed the power of nominating those preachers, and thus, as the societies increased, his authority received indefinite augmentation. The opinions of Wesley, being derived from the Arminian theology, differ

preached two sermons every day, and not unfrequently four or five, all which he was ena

ing and the strictest punctuality. His great labours were continued to within a week of his death, which took place, March the 2nd, 1791, in the eighty-eighth year of his age.

ed materially from those of Whitfield on the points of unconditional election, irresistible grace, and final persever-bled to effect by very early risance; in consequence of which a coldness grew up between them, and a lasting separation between the societies over which they presided. On the breaking out of the American disputes, he wrote a pamphlet John Wesley had a counte. on the side of government, en-nance wherein mildness and titled a Calm Address to the gravity were very pleasingly American Colonies,' which pro- blended, and which, in old duced a considerable effect age, appeared extremely venamong his own followers. erable. In manners, he was When the contest terminated social, polite, and conversible, in separation, he took a step without any gloom of austewhich appeared a renuncia- rity. tion of the principles of the episcopal church, by ordaining preachers for America, by imposition of hands, and consecrating a bishop for the Methodist episcopal church. By this step he offended many of the society, and especially his brother Charles; and it is asserted that he himself repented it, as likely to further that separation from the church, which, after his death, virtually took place. The approach of old age did not in the least abate the zeal and diligence of this extraordinary person, who was almost perpetually travelling, and whose religious services, setting aside his literary and controversial labours, were almost beyond calculation. Besides his numerous exhortations, he generally

In the pulpit, he was fluent, clear, and argumentative; often amusing, but never aiming at or reaching, like Whitfield, the eloquence of passion. His style in writing was of a similar description, and he seldom appeared heated, even in controversy. His works on various subjects of divinity, ecclesiastical history, sermons, biography, &c... amounted, even in 1774, to thirty-two volumes, octavo.

WEST, Gilbert, born in the year 1706, studied at Oxford, and afterwards obtained a com mission in a cavalry regiment. He did not however, long remain inthe service, having obtained, in 1751, the situation of clerk to the privy council, to which the treasurership ofChel sea college was afterwards added. On the death of an only son

in 1755 his grief induced a pa- | every morning, absenting him

self entirely from school, until the inquiries of his master caused a search and discovery to be made. A deliberation was accordingly held, and, though the Quakers refuse to recognise the utility of painting to mankind, they allowed the youth to follow the vocation for which he was so plain

year, he removed to Philadelphia, where he established him.

success was considerable; and, after painting the heads of all who desired it in that city, he repaired to New York, where his profits were, also, not insignificant. In 1760, by the

ralytic affection, which carried him off in the following year. He wrote, Observations on the Resurrection, and translated some of the Odes of Pindar.' WEST, Benjamin, descended from a respectable English family, belonging to the denomination of Quakers, who had emigrated to America, was born at Springfield, in Penn-ly destined. In his eighteenth sylvania, on Oct. the 10th, 1738. In his seventh year, he gave indications of his propen-self as a portrait painter. His sity for the pencil, but the circumstances in which he was placed, afforded him little aid for their development. There were neither professors, paintings, nor prints, among the primitive settlers of Pennsylva-kindness of some friends, he For some time, he pur- was enabled to proceed to Italy, sued his favourite employment reached Rome, and made with red and yellow colours himself known by a portrait of (which he learned to prepare lord Grantham, which was atfrom some Indians who had tributed, for a time, to Mengs. roamed to Springfield), and In 1763, he came to London, indigo, given to him by his intending to proceed to his namother, together with brushes tive country; but, finding that made of the hair of a cat. At there was a great probability length, a merchant named of his success as an historical Pennington, who was his cous painter in this metropolis, he in, having seen his sketches, established himself here. His sent him a box of paints and rise was rapid. He was intropencils, with canvass prepared duced to the king, George III., for the easel, and six engrav- whom he ever found a steady ings. friend and munificent patron, and continued to be the king's painter until the monarch be came superannuated. On the death of Sir Joshua Reynolds, he was elected president of the

The possession of this treasure almost prevented him from sleeping. He made all the necessary arrangements in the garret, where he commenc ed his labours with the dawn

WHARTON-WHISTON.

315

royal academy, and (March | he made his appearance in the

English parliament, distinguishing himself as the warm defender of bishop Atterbury, impeached as an adherent to the house of Stuart. He also

1792) delivered an address on the occasion, which was much applauded. In his sixty-fifth year, he painted the celebrated picture of Christ healing the sick, for the quakers of Phila-published a virulent opposition delphia, to aid them in the paper, called the True Briton." erection of an hospital in that Having impoverished himself town. It was exhibited in by extravagance, his estates London, where the rush to see were, by a decree in chancery, it was very great, and the opin- vested in the hands of trustees; ion of its excellence so high, and, retiring to the continent, that he was offered 3000 guineas he visited Vienna and Madrid. for it by the British institution. After practising numberless As he was far from being rich, intrigues, and rendering himhe accepted the offer, but on self contemptible alike to all condition that he should be al-parties, he died at a small lowed to make a copy, with Spanish village, in 1731. alterations, for Philadelphia. He did so; and the work is still exhibited in that city, where the profits arising from it have enabled the committee of the hospital to enlarge the building and receive more patients. He died, March the 11th, 1820, in the eighty-second year of his age, and was buried beside Reynolds, Opie, and Barry, in St Paul's cathedral.

WHEELER, Sir George, born during 1650, travelled into Greece and Asia, with doctor Spon of Lyons, their primary object being to copy inseriptions and describe antiquities. On his return, he presented to the university of Oxford valuable collection of Greek and Latin manuscripts, took orders, was created doctor of divinity, and died in February, WHARTON, Philip, duke of, 1724. His 'Journey into Greece, born in 1699, displayed, when in six books, folio, 1682, is highquite young, talents which at-ly valued for its authenticity tracted notice; and, having and information, by the medalbeen educated under domestic list, antiquary, and student of tutors, at the age of fourteen natural history. he married clandestinely, to the great disappointment of his father, whose death shortly after left him at liberty to follow his own inclinations. On attaining the age of majority,tions.

WHISTON, William, born in 1667, studied at Clare hall, Cambridge, where he applied himself particularly to mathematics, and religious medita

He was chosen a fel.