accent, that I am sure he has often uttered it, for it was like a lesson.  There were parts and eloquence in it; but towards the end he exalted his voice, and acted very ugly enthusiasm; decried learning, and told stories, like Latimer, of the fool of his college, who said, “I thanks God for every thing.”  Except a few from curiosity, and some honourable women, the congregation was very mean.  There was a Scotch Countess Of Buchan,(971) who is carrying a pure rosy vulgar face to heaven, and who asked Miss Rich, if that was the author of the poets.  I believe she meant me and the Noble Authors.

The Bedfords came last night.  Lord Chatham was with me yesterday two hours; looks and walks well, and is in excellent political spirits.  Yours ever.

(970) The idea of adapting the psalms of the church to secular tunes had been put in practice long before Wesley’s day.  The celebrated Clement Marot wrote a number of psalms to sing to the popular airs of his time, for the accommodation of the ladies of the French court who were devoutly inclined; but he left it to Wesley to assign as a reason for doing so, that there were no just grounds for letting the devil have all the best tunes himself.-E.

(971) Agnes, second daughter of Sir James Stewart of Goodtrees; married, in January 1739, to Henry David, fifth Earl of Buchan.  She was the mother of the celebrated Lord Erskine.-E.

Letter 317 To George Montagu, Esq.  Bath, Oct. 18, 1766. (page 490)

Well, I went last night to see Lady Lucy and Mrs. Trevor, was let in, and received with great kindness.  I found them little altered; Lady Lucy was much undressed, but looks better than when I saw her last, and as well as one could expect; no shyness nor singularity, but very easy and conversable.  They have a very pretty house, with two excellent rooms on a floor, and extremely well furnished.  You may be sure your name was much in request.  If I had not been engaged, I could have staved much longer with satisfaction; and if I am doomed, as probably I shall be, to come hither again, they would be a great resource to me; for I find much more pleasure now in renewing old acquaintances than in forming new.

The waters do not benefit me so much as at firs,; the pains in my stomach return almost every morning, but do not seem the least allied to the gout.  This decrease of their virtue is not near so great a disappointment to me as you might imagine; for I am so childish as not to think health itself a compensation for passing my time very disagreeably.  I can bear the loss of youth heroically, provided I am comfortable, and can amuse myself as I like.  But health does not give one the sort of spirits that make one like diversions, public places, and mixed company.  Living here is being a shopkeeper, who is glad of all kinds of customers; but does not suit me, who am leaving Off trade.  I shall depart on Wednesday,