“After the strictest enquiry, I cannot find that any one _Dissenter_, of _any denomination_, was at all concerned in this riot. They were all of the _old stamp_, that have ever been known by the name of _church rabble_; though I cannot omit to notice, that the Methodists complain much against the Presbyterian clergy, who (they say), in their sermons and conversations, frequently represent them in a _false_ and _injurious_ light; and, thereby, lessen the affection, and raise the antipathy, of the people towards them.” The author concludes by saying, that his pamphlet was written “for his _own private amusement_, and without any design to _publish_ it;” and that its _publication_ was the result of what he saw and heard after the pamphlet was finished. “On a certain evening, he saw, with his own eyes, the wicked rioters collected and assembled together, by beat of drum, in the open streets, with sticks and bats, in order to disturb and abuse the poor Methodists, who were at their meeting-house, worshipping and serving God, in a manner perfectly innocent and inoffensive, without the least disturbance to the public peace. He saw the Methodists flee with great fear and trembling, and the rabble persecuting with rage and violence. And he heard, that, the very night before, this same riotous crew, to the number of many hundreds, attacked Mr. Adams, one of the Methodist ministers, with sticks, dirt, and mud; and that, in all probability, they would have murdered him in the open street, had not a good Samaritan, in Southgate Street, taken him into his house, and there rescued him from their violent and wicked hands.” At the risk of being prolix, Mr. Adams’s own account must be added to these statements of the “impartial” observer at Exeter. The _Christian History_ No. 3, vol. vii., 1745, contains two letters on the subject, one by “a gentleman in Exeter,”[107] dated June 16, 1745, and the other by Thomas Adams himself, dated Hampton, June 20, 1745. The latter writes:―― “On my way to the west, I heard of a cruel persecution at Exeter; but I had no freedom to omit going thither, though I expected much opposition. Our Saviour brought me there on Saturday evening, and I was kindly received by Mr. Kennedy and his wife. Many told me, we should be mobbed, if I preached in the play-house; but we thought it was right to try. Accordingly, I preached there, at six o’clock on Sunday morning, and we were not much disturbed. I preached again in the afternoon, and, though many of the mob came in, they did not disturb us.