“A man of no great parts or learning, and whose preaching was in the _extemporaneous_ way, with much noise, and little connection. Under his preaching, scores cried out, fell down, swooned away, and were like persons in fits. Visions became common, and trances also. _Laughing, loud, hearty laughing_, was one of the ways in which the _new converts_ almost everywhere expressed their joy at the conversion of others. Houses of worship were scarce emptied night or day for a week together, and unheard-of instances of supposed religion were carried on in them. In the same house, and at the same time, some would be _praying_, some _exhorting_, some _singing_, some _clapping their hands_, some _laughing_, some _crying_, some _shrieking_, and some _roaring out_.” The gentleman in Boston concludes thus:―― “I am among those who are clearly of opinion, that, there never was such a spirit of _superstition_ and _enthusiasm_ reigning in the land before; never such _gross disorders_, and _bare-faced affronts to common decency_; never _such scandalous reproaches_ on the blessed Spirit, making Him the author of the _greatest irregularities and confusions_. Yet, I am of opinion also, that the appearances among us have been the means of awakening the attention of many; and a good number, I hope, have settled into a truly Christian temper.” The “Letter” was written with seeming candour, but there can be little doubt that its publication in Edinburgh added to the difficulties which Whitefield had to encounter among the precise Presbyterians of the kingdom of Scotland. Almost contemporaneously with this, there was published in Glasgow, a small 12mo. book, of 130 pages, entitled, “The State of Religion in New England, since the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield’s arrival there, in a Letter, from a Gentleman in New England, to his Friend in Glasgow: with an Appendix containing Proofs of the principal Facts, and further Accounts of the Disorders in matters of Religion lately introduced into various parts of New England and Carolina.” The gentleman’s letter is dated “May 24, 1742.” The preface to this publication contains the following:―― “Mr. Whitefield asks nothing, indeed, for his preaching, but he has a brother Syms to suggest, wherever he goes, what it is decent to give so great a man; and, by these means, he has, these four months past, made as much gain as several of the bishops in England, or any six ministers in Scotland, for the same time; and that partly by getting from some poor parishes, for a day’s _holding forth_, nearly as much as they collect for their own poor in a whole year.” This was a baseless slander; but let it pass. The “Gentleman in New England” asks:――