It was in the midst of such a state of things, that Wesley wrote the pamphlet already mentioned. He admits that, though “cobblers, tinkers, porters, and hackney coachmen” think themselves wise enough “to instruct both the king and his council,” he himself is “not so deeply learned. Politics were beyond his province; but he would use the privilege of an Englishman to speak his naked thoughts.” “I have,” he writes, “no bias, one way or the other. I have no interest depending. I want no man’s favour, having no hopes, no fears, from any man.” He then proceeds to defend the character of the king; and maintains that, as an outlaw, Wilkes was incapacitated to take a seat in the House of Commons. “Encumbered with no religion, and disappointed in his application for place and power, Wilkes had set up for patriot, vehemently inveighed against evil counsellors and grievances, and was paid in French _louis d’or_ for his agitative services.” Wesley then expresses the opinion that, “supposing things to take their natural course, they must go from bad to worse; the land will become a field of blood; and many thousands of poor Englishmen will sheathe their swords in each other’s bowels, for the diversion of their good neighbours. Then, either a commonwealth will ensue, or else a second Cromwell. One must be; but it cannot be determined which,--King Wilkes, or King Mob.” FOOTNOTES: [1] C. Wesley’s Life, vol. ii., p. 242. [2] _Methodist Magazine_, 1783, p. 684. [3] _Methodist Magazine_, 1857, p. 616. [4] “Life and Times of Countess of Huntingdon,” vol. i., p. 17. [5] Ibid. vol. ii., p. 427. [6] _Methodist Magazine_, 1857, p. 693. [7] Manuscript letter. [8] The meaning of this is, that, at least, £500 of what the Methodists have always technically designated “The Yearly Collection,” was, at this period, employed in paying chapel debts. Except that for Kingswood school, this was the only connexional collection that Wesley had; and he strongly insisted that _every_ Methodist should render it support. In an _unpublished_ letter, addressed to Matthew Lowes, and dated March 11, 1762, Wesley writes: “In the enclosed papers, (which you may read in every society, just before you meet the classes,) you will see the design of the general yearly collection, to which _every_ Methodist in England is to contribute something. If there is any who cannot give a halfpenny a year, another will give it for him.” [9] Wesley’s Works, vol. xii., p. 126. [10] _Gentleman’s Magazine_, 1751, p. 179. [11] Myles’s History. [12] _Methodist Magazine_, 1825, p. 122; and 1829, p. 585. [13] _Gentleman’s Magazine_, 1763, p. 463. [14] Burslem old circuit book. [15] Manuscript. [16] _Methodist Magazine_, 1812, p. 534; and 1843, p. 89.