Samuel Annesley, LL.D., and His Children

Dr. Samuel Annesley is too nearly connected with the Wesley family, us being the father of Susanna, wife to the Rector of Epworth, to be passed by without notice, in any Memoirs of this family.

Dr. Samuel Annesley was born at Kenilworth, near Warwick, in the year 1620. He was descended of a good family; for his father, and the then Earl of Anglesey, were brother’s children.* He was

* The family of Annesley, or Ann’esly, or as it is in Domesday Book Aneslei, is of great antiquity; deriving its name from the wapentake of Oswardebec or Broxton, in the county of Nottingham, of which the family was possessed before the Conquest; and Richard de Aneslei was proprietor of mr. wesley’s ancestors*

the only child of his parents, and had a considerable paternal estate-His father dying when he was but four years of age. his education devolved on his pious mother, who brought him up in the fear of the Lord; and as he was inclined from his earliest youth to the Work of the Ministry, she took care to procure him a suitable education.

His grandmother, who was a very pious woman, dying before he was born, requested that the child, if a boy, should be called Samuel; for, said she, “I can say, I have asked him of the Lord.” He was piously disposed from his earliest years, and his heart set on being a Preacher of the Gospel; and to qualify himself for that Sacred Work, he began when he was only five or six years old seriously to read the Bible; and so ardent was he in this study that

of it in 1086, when the Domesday Survey was taken by command of the Conqueror.

To him succeeded Ralph de Aneslei, called Brito de Bret; who gave to St. Mary, and the House of Felly, in the county of Nottingham, and to the Brethren thereof, the domain and sole right of the Patronage of the Church of Aneslei, in pure Alms for the Salvation of himself, his wife, and heirs, and for the relief of his departed friends: which donation was confirmed to the Canons by Geoffry, Archbishop of York.

I must pass by the splendid marriages and heraldic honours of this family, continued from the Conquest down to the 17th century; and briefly note, that

Francis Annesley, created Baron Mount Norris, and Viscount Valentia, was Secretary of State, and Vice-Treasurer of Ireland, in the reign of Charles I.

Arthur Annesley, first Earl of Anglesea, was his eldest son by his first wife, and succeeded his father in his Irish honours. He was distinguished for his loyalty to Charles II., to whom he strictly adhered during his exile; and advanced his interest at the hazard of his life and property; for which, after the Restoration, this Baron Annesley, of Newport Pagnel, and Earl of the Isle of Anglesea, was appointed one of the Commissioners for settling the affairs of Ireland, where he was then Vice-Treasurer, and Receiver-General. In 1673, he was made Lord Privy Seal, and one of the Privy Council in both kingdoms. He died in 1686, leaving seven sons, and six daughters Dr. Samuel Annesley was brother’s son to this first Earl of Anglesea.

The aforesaid Francis Viscount Valentia had by his second wife, who was daughter to Sir John Stanhope, brother to the first Earl of Chesterfield, seven sons, and two daughters. Francis, George, and Samuel lived; the other sons died young. George was drowned in the Thames, stepping into a packet boat with despatches for Charles II. Samuel married, and died without issue. Francis Annesley was attainted by King James’s Parliament, for opposing the arbitrary measures of that Prince, by raising some horse and foot in the north of Ireland. He married the daughter of the Bishop of Meath, by whom he had Francis his heir, and Arthur and Henry, who died without issue. he bound himself to read twenty chapters every day, a practice which he continued to the end of his life. This made him a good Textuary; and, consequently, an able Divine. Though a child when he formed the resolution to be a Minister of the Gospel, it is said he never varied from his purpose; nor was he discouraged by a singular Dream, in which “he thought he was a Minister, and was sent for by the Bishop of London to be burnt as a Martyr.”

When he was fifteen years of age he went to the University of Oxford, and entered of Queen’s College; where he took his degrees at the usual times; and in 1644 was ordained as Chaplain of His Majesty’s ship Globe, under the command of the Earl of Warwick then Lord High Admiral; who procured him his diploma of LL. D., having had an honourable certificate of his ordination signed by Mr, Gouge, and six other respectable ministers.

Francis was appointed by act of Parliament of King William one of the Trustees for the Sale of forfeited Estates in Ireland; and in the 9th of Queen Anne, one of the Commissioners for Public Accounts. He was elected Member of Parliament for Preston in 1705, and for Westbury in six succeeding Parliaments. He was the first promoter in the House of Commons for building fifty new Churches in the city of London; and one of the Commissioners for that purpose.

He married first in 1695 the daughter of Sir John Martin, of London, by whom he had seven sons, and tw o daughters. The eldest son was Francis, L.L. D. Rector of Winwick, in Lancashire. John, the fourth Earl of Anglesea, was in the Privy Council of Queen Anne. Arthur, his brother, was in three Parliaments during her reign; and was one of the Privy Council to George L

On the death of the sixth Earl of Anglesea, who was created Lord Altham, and died without issue, the title devolved on Richard Annesley, D. D. Prebend of Westminster, and Dean of Exeter.

Dr. Francis Annesley, Rector of Winwick, married the daughter of Robert Gager, of Stoke Paget, Bucks, by the Lady Anne, daughter of James the Second Earl of Anglesea, his cousin.

Francis Annesley, Esq. D.C.L. Master of Downing College, Cambridge, who sat in six Parliaments, and was in 1805 Member for Reading, since dead, was a descendent from Dr. Samuel Annesley. He was one of the Trustees of the British Museum, representing the family of Sir Robert Cotton.

We see that the family of Annesley was among the most ancient and respectable in the kingdom, and existed previously to the Norman Conquest,

The connection of the present Wesley family with the Annesleys stands thus: — John Wesley, late Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford, was son to Samuel and Susanna Wesley. Susanna was daughter to Dr. Samuel Annesley.

Dr. Annesley was son to Annesley, who was brother to Arthur, first

Earl of Anglesea.

In some of the original Letters of Mrs. Wesley, I find that she sealed with the Annesley Arms, which are paly of six pieces, argent and azure; a bend •gules; crest a Blackamoore’s head sidefaced, proper, wreathed about the temples, argent and azure.

He spent some time in the feet, and kept a Journal of the Voyage; and is very particular as to what passed when the Earl of Warwick went to Holland in pursuit of the ships that had gone over to the Prince. But not liking a seafaring life, he left the navy, and settled at Cliff, in Kent, in the place of a minister who had been sequestered for scandalous conduct, attending public meetings of the people for dancing, drinking, and merriment on the Lord’s-day. But it was like pastor like people; for the inhabitants of the place were so attached to their sinful leader, that when his successor came they assailed him with spits, forks, and stones, threatening to take away his life. He told them that “Let them use him as they would, he was determined to stay with them till God should fit them by his ministry to profit by one better, who might succeed him; and solemnly declared, that when they became so prepared, he would leave the place.”

In a few years his labours had surprising success, so that the people became greatly reformed. However he kept his word, and left them; lest any seeming inconsistency of his might prove a stumbling block to his young converts; for though he had 400/. per annum there, it was no temptation to him to induce him to break the promise he had made.

A very signal providence, it is said, directed him to a settlement in London, in 1652, by the unanimous choice of the inhabitants of St. John the Apostle. Soon after he was made Lecturer of St. Paul’s, and in 1608 became Vicar of St. Giles’ Cripplegate; two of the largest congregations in the city.

On the Restoration, he was confirmed in the above vicarage by the King, who presented the living to him Aug. 23, 1660.

But this did not screen him from the oppressive operation of the Act of Uniformity, by which he was ejected from this vicarage in 1662. After this he met with many troubles for conscience sake, and many signal deliverances. God was not pleased with his persecutors; — one magistrate, while signing a warrant to apprehend him, dropped down dead! Might not the hand of God have been seen in this? and yet the living laid it not to heart.

Among the Nonconformists, Dr. Annesley was particularly and deservedly eminent. He had in effect the care of all those churches; and was the chief, often the sole, instrument in the education and subsistence of several ministers, of whose useful labours the Church had otherwise been deprived.

Of all gifts, salaries, and income, he always laid aside the tenths for charity, before any part was spent. By this means he had always a fund at hand for charitable uses, besides what he was furnished with by others, for the same purposes.

He was the main support of the Morning Lecture, for which so many have cause to be thankful to God. And after the death of old Mr. Case, of St. Mary Magdalene, Milk-street, who was the first that set up the Morning Exercises, Dr. Annesley took the care of this Institution upon himself. This Morning Lecture or Exercise, originated in the following way. Most of the citizens in London having some friend or relation in the army of the Earl of Essex, so many bills were sent up to the pulpit every Lord’s-day for their preservation, that the Ministers had not time to notice them in prayer, or even to read them. It was therefore agreed to set apart an hour every morning at seven o’clock; half of it to be spent in prayer for the welfare of the Public, as well as particular cases; and the other half to be spent in exhortations to the people. Mr. Case began it in his Church in Milk-street; from which it was removed to other remote Churches in rotation, a month at each Church. A number of the most eminent ministers conducted this service in turn; and it was attended by great crowds of people. After the heat of the war was over, it became what was called a Casuistical Lecture, and continued till the Restoration. The Sermons delivered at these Lectures were collected and published in six vols, quarto.

It is worthy of remark that the Sermon on the question, “Wherein lies that exact righteousness which is required between man and man?” Matt. vii. 12. Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, &c. was preached by Mr. Tillotson, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, who then ranked w ith the Nonconformists! See NeaVs History of the Puritans, Vol. 1. p. 797, quarto, and Nonconf. Memorial, Vol. I. p. 125, &c.

In speaking of Dr. Annesleyh character, Dr. Calamy. says, “He was an Israelite indeed; one that might be said to be sanctified from the womb, for he was early under serious impressions; so that himself said, he knew not the time when he was unconverted.”

He was a most sincere, godly, and humble man; had a large soul, flaming zeal, and was remarkably successful in his ministry.

He had great courage, as may be seen at his first settlement at Cliff, in Kent. He never feared the utmost malice of any of his enemies; and nothing that he met with ever abated his cheerfulness. He had uninterrupted peace in his soul, and assurance of God’s favour for thirty years before his death; though for some time before that he had passed through severe mental exercises.

In his last illness he was full of comfort, and could say, “Blessed be God! I have been faithful in the work of the ministry, for more than Jifty-Jive yearsP Some of his last words were the following. Just before his departure he often said,” Come, my dearest Jesus! the nearer the more precious, the more welcome.” Another time his joy was so great, that in an ecstacy he cried out, u I cannot contain it! What manner of love is this to a poor worm! I cannot express the thousandth part of what praise is due to Thee! It is but little I can give Thee: but, Lord, help me to give Thee my all! I will die praising Thee, and rejoice that others can praise Thee better. I shall be satisfied with Thy likeness. Satisfied! Satisfied! O my dearest Jesus! I come!”

See the funeral sermon preached for him by Dr. Williams.

During seventeen weeks pain, though he had before enjoyed an uninterrupted course of health, he never discovered the least degree of impatience; and quietly resigned his soul to God, Dec. 31, 1696, aged 77 years.

Dr. Annesley’s figure was fine; his countenance dignified, highly expressive, and amiable. His constitution, naturally strong and robust, was capable of any kind of fatigue. He was seldom indisposed; and could endure the coldest weather without hat, gloves, or fire. For many years he scarcely ever drank any thing but water; and even to his last sickness his sight continued so strong that he could read the smallest print without spectacles. His piety, diligence, and zeal, caused him to be highly esteemed, not only by the Dissenters, but by all who knew him.

A curious anecdote is entered by his grandson, Mr. J. Wesley, in his Journal: — “Monday, Feb. 6, 1769, I spent an hour with a venerable woman, nearly ninety years of age, who retains her health, her senses, her understanding, and even her memory to a good degree. In the last century she belonged to my grandfather Annesley’s congregation, at whose house her father and she used to dine every Thursday; and whom she remembers to have seen frequently, in his study at the top of the house, with his window open, and without any fire winter or summer. He lived seventy-seven years; and would probably have lived longer had he not begun water drinking at seventy.”

His last will and testament is too singular to be omitted.” In the name of God! Amen.

“I, Doctor Samuel Annesley, of the Liberty of Norton Falgate, in the county of Middlesex, an unworthy Minister of Jesus Christ, being, through mercy, in health of body and mind, do make this my last Will and Testament, concerning my earthly pittance.

“For my soul, I dare humbly say, it is through grace devoted unto God (otherwise than by legacy) when it may live here no longer. I do believe that my body, after its sleeping awhile in Jesus, shall be reunited to my soul, that they may both be for ever with the Lord.

“Of what I shall leave behind me, I make this short disposal, —” My just debts being paid, I give to each of my children, one

shilling, and all the rest to be equally divided between my son Benjamin Annesley, my daughter Judith Annesley, and my daughter

Ann Annesley, whom I make my Executors of this my last Will and

Testament; revoking all former, and confirming this with my hand

and seal this 29th of March, 1693.

Samuel Annesley.”

Among his Works, which are neither numerous nor large are — 1. A Funeral Sermon for the Rev. W. Whitaker; — 2. A Funeral Sermon on the Death of the Rev. T. Brand, with an Account of his Life ;- — 3. A Fast Sermon before the House of Commons, 1648; — - 4. Two Sermons at St. Paid’s on Communion with God; — 5. A Sermon at Lawrence Jury, to the Gentlemen of Wilts; — 6. Five Sermons in the Morning Exercises; — J. He edited four of the Volumes of those Exercises, to each of which he wrote a Preface. His grandson Mr. John Wesley, has inserted a Sermon in Volume XXXVI. of the Christian Library, on 1 Tim. v. 22. “How must we reprove, that we may not partake of other men’s sins?” which he attributes to Dr. Annesley: but this is a mistake, as it appears the Sermon in question was delivered by Mr. Kitchen, of St. Mary, Abchurch. And in Volume XXXVIII. he attributes two others to him,- — 1. On Universal Conscientiousness, Acts xxiv. 16, And herein do I exercise myself, &c. — 2. On “how Ministers or Christian Friends may apply themselves to sick persons for their good,” &c. Job xxxiii. 23, 24, If there be a messenger with him, &c. But both these were written by Mr. Mattheio Pool, Author of the Synopsis Criticorum. But those in Volume XLIV. — -1. On “God’s Sovereignty our Support in all worldly Distractions,” Psalm xcvii. 1, 2. The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice, &c. — 2. “The Hindrances and Helps to a Good Memory in Spiritual Things,” 1 Cor. xv. 2., By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory, &c. were written by Dr. Annesley. — See Palmer’s Nonco?iformists’ Memorial Vol. I. p. 127.

The Meeting-IIouse in which Dr. Annesley prearhed was in Little op mr. wesley’s ancestors

St. Helen’s, Bishopsgate-Street, where Mr. Woodhouse succeeded him. It was in this place that the first public ordination service among the Dissenters was performed. Dr. Calamy was one of the ministers then ordained.

Dr. Annesley was a lively and emphatic writer; and must have been a very useful preacher. The following Extracts, taken at random from his Sermon On a Good Memory in Spiritual Things, will prove this: —

“Violent passions spoil the memory; such as anger, grief, love, fear. Passions we must have: but constitution and education allay them in some; reason moderates them in others; and grace regulates them in all. Where these bridles are wanting, they shake all the faculties as an earthquake doth a country. For example, anger, when it rages, manifestly inflames the blood, and consequently the spirits, and melts off the impression in the brain just as the fire melts the wax and the impressions that were fixed upon it.

“A multitude of undigested notions hurt the memory. If a man have a stock of methodical and digested knowledge, it is admirable how much the memory will contain; as you know how many images may be discerned at once in a glass. But when these notions are heaped incoherently in the memory, without order or dependence, they confound and overthrow the memory. Thus many hear or read much, too much perhaps for their capacities: they have not stowage for it; and so they are ever learning, and never come to the knowledge of the Truth. Therefore look that you understand and digest things by meditation; run not on too fast: he that rides post can never draw maps of the country.

“Custom, or using your memories, is an excellent way of improving them. Thus many wise persons charge their memories at the present, and thereby strengthen them, and then commit what they have remembered to writing, when they come home, that no time may wear it away. We say, use legs, and have legs; and so use the memory, and have a memory.

“If you oblige your children and your servants to bring you away an account of a sermon, you will see that use and custom will make it easy. I have seen an old man’s girdle, who could not read a word, yet by the only help of the girdle which he wore, and which was hung about with some knotted points, he could bring home every particular of a sermon.

“Due estimation is a help to the memory; the more we love and admire any thing, the better we remember it. This is the reason given of children remembering things so well, because they admire every thing as being new to them. And of old people the saying is known, that they remember all such things as they care for: for when we esteem any thing, the affections work upon the spirits, which are the instruments of the memory, and so seal things upon it. Why is it that a woman cannot forget her sucking child? Because she doth vehemently love it, and the like affection in us to good things would keep us from forgetting themP

To this I shall add the first paragraph of his Sermon on God’s Sovereignty, from Psa. xcvii. 1, 2. The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice, &c.

“The state of affairs is often so involved and confused, that we need not wonder if we see men of wisdom greatly perplexed in their spirits, and almost sunk into discouragement. The best of men, whose hearts are most fortified with grace, would be of all others most subject to discomposure, were it not that they feel peace and comfort flowing into them from the remembrance and sweet consideration of a God above. What good man could have any tolerable enjoyment of himself, or possess his soul in patience, while he observes the irregular motions of things below; the restlessness, tumblings, and tossings of the world; desirable comforts and delights blasted in a moment; afflictions and troubles breaking in with a sudden surprise; order quite subverted; laws violated, and the edge of them turned against those that are faithful and peaceable in the land; and all things indeed turned upside down, wickedness rampant, and religion oppressed! These things would soon break his heart, did he not see Him who is invisible, and firmly believe a wheel within a wheel; an unseen Hand which steadily and prudently guides and directs all things, keeping up a beautiful order, where reason car* discern nothing but confusion.”

SOME ACCOUNT OF DR. ANNESLEY 5 CHILDREN.

Dr. Annesley had several children: no less than twenty-five,’ Dr. Menton baptizing one of them, and being asked how many children Dr. Annesley had? He answered, he” believed it was two dozen or a quarter of a hundred?3 The reckoning children by dozens is a singular circumstance, — an honour to which few persons ever arrive. But of this numerous family, I have met with the names of Samuel, Benjamin f Judith, Sarah, Elizabeth, and Susarnia on! v.

SAMUEL ANNESLEY, JUN.

Samuel went abroad in the service of the East India Company, He there accumulated a considerable fortune, and made frequent remittances to his family at home. He had borne strong testimony against the mismanagement and peculations of certain persons in the Company’s service, which probably created him mortal enemies. Intending to return home, he wrote to his brother-in-law, Mr. Samuel Wesley, to purchase for him an estate of 200/. or 3001. per annum somewhere between London and Oxford. But it seems he suddenly disappeared, and no account was ever received either of his person or property! The very time of his coming home, and the ship by which he was to come, were announced; and his sister Mrs. Susanna Wesley came to London, expecting to meet him: but no brother appeared when the ship arrived! And all the information that was ever received was to this effect: — that he had gone up into the country, and was never heard of more! (When the noises were heard in the Parsonage-house at Epworth, Mrs. Wesley supposed they betokened the death of her brother in India: but it is certain that he was alive several years after those noises ceased at Epworth.) There is most certainly a mystery in this transaction, which it is possible a future day may explain. Mr. John Wesley used to say to his nephews, — “You are heirs to a large property in India, if you can find it out; for my uncle is said to have been very prosperous.”

I possess an original Letter of this gentleman to his brother-in-law the Rector of Epworth; which I shall here faithfully transcribe, and add a fac simile of his signature among those of the Wesleyan Family, hoping that even this may be a means of casting some light on this dark affair. The Letter refers to transactions then in India, which those conversant with India affairs may easily comprehend.

“Brother Wesley,

“Via Grand Caire, und cover of Monsr. Pelavoine, the Directore here for the French Company, (as in Feb. last) I wrote you; which I can’t copy, but extract.

“I have been told ’twas the practice of Sr. N. W aite to bribe some of the Committee, thereby stifling all complaints against him. If you suspect that, declare to the Company themselves what I have wrote, being of such vast importance at their Convention in April to chuse new Directors. Let them keep my salary, and the wreck’s money (some thousands of pounds) till I prove what I write is true, or a great part of it; if they will give me, as proposed, the power to d«3 it. If you can get 2s. 9d. or 3s. the rupee to be received in England, or interest of 5 per cent, (as usual in bills drawn here on the Company) from the time I pay it, to payment to you and Mr. Eaton, I will give from 10 to 15,000 Rupees to their order in Suratt; if they’l let me invest it for ’em in diamonds, I will faithfully serve ’em. — Thus Sr. S. Evance and the Jew Alvaro de Costa did to Capt”. Owen for his son’s money.

“I desired you to let out to commanders, &c, responsible persons, bound hither, 500Z. on each ship, and (if you can) to be invested by me, advising overland how much; as in what goods. To procure what consignment you can to me, that I may have the laying out of most or part, if not all money brought hither; which I think I can do cheaper and better than any one on the place. I write not so out of vanity or opinativeness.

“Sr. S. Evance has a large packet enclosing Mr. Pennyng’s account by the fleet, which pray desire of Sr. Ceasar Child. If I am in the Company’s Service, pray desire Sr. Ceasar Child to let me, alone, have the adjustment of his accts. with the Parracks, provided they are not to this time’finisht. Mr. Aislabie is most unaccountably slow, remiss, and negligent of such an advantage, so deserves to have it slip his hands, as I have wrote him, I believe it wil. Besides, he never did, nor can do any thing to conclude it; it has and will lye upon me.

a If a good purchase offers between London and Oxford of 2 to 300if. a year, I desire you to secure it for me against I come home, if God pleases, I would have it a healthy air, near a market town and river; somewhat woody; no religious lands. I wil take care to send effects or bils to pay for it.

“Mr. Wyche’s broker told me it was concerted between his master and Rustum not to take my Nunsasee and Broach goods, that disposing of them other ways, I might lose and meddle no more to interrupt ’em in his roguerys. A faithful servant of the Company. He tels me he has received a commission to be cherif broker, gave 2600 rupees to the governor to let Mr. Wyche go to Bombay to shew himself obedient to the Company’s orders, but will speedily return with a general. Letter that ’tis necessary to do so. He says the Gen is for paying the old Company’s debts, and Mr. Wyche has a mind to pay ’em here, both desiring to squeeze something from the creditors, and to ingratiate themselves with the Company to make them take single (not compound) interest. But that won’t do; for then the Company must take single interest on their demands on the brokers, which wil be a great loss. In the interim, who must pay the Company the interest of their money that lyes dead, — a vast sum when it shall be made up! They owe me about thirty-Jive hundred pounds, besides my salary and the wreck’s money: but I cannot get a groat of it til brought about said dishonourable intentions: therefore, pray address the Court of Directors for their order to pay off my accts. I have saved the old Company 36,200 rupees in Viltul Parrak’s demands on ’em, on which 5 per cent, is due to me: but I can’t get it paid: the reason is plain, that getting nothing for my trouble, I may leave off. I was nine months contending with him. Pray get an order for it. Said broker says the English credit in these parts daily declines; and his master by little and little wil venture f as the Dutch) take a part of al goods he buys or sels for the Company, but in a private manner. As, suppose he sels Copper at 14 rupees per md. he’l credit ’em perhaps 1y, and so in other merchandize. Already, (as before hinted) they have no regard to the Company’s fraiglits; provided the commanders will let ’em buy their goods, for which they have 5 per cent, commission, they may as usual, (as among the Dutch) bring or carry what they please, fraight free.

“I could fil more than a quire of paper with these matters.: but ?twil be in vain, if what I have wrote be not considered. I hinted to you, Mr. Samuel Sheppard was displeased with Mr. Proby for writing him of the great cheat in sale of the English broadcloth; concerning which Mr. Proby may be subpcena’d in, and the Company’s Registry may be examin’d. Some matters may be erroneously inform’d, but I am satisfied as to the main ’tis true. I have heard Capt” Beawes gave 500 to command the Albermarle; and scarce any thing is done without money, and every thing almost with it.

“About Abdul Guffere’s dispute with the Company, (who seized their goods by a former governor, for those the pirates plundered from him, and restored ’em to the Gen1) is, according to the best ace* (as yet I have got) as follows. I be sent to Sellimongee (a Moor, one of the greatest merchants in Town) to mediate with Mr. Wyche’s broker, between the Gen (who had seized his ships for payment) and him. He at first offered to pay 450,000 rupees, and Sellimongee sent Mr. Wyche word he’d bring it to rupees 500,000: but he would not hearken to him, nor Rustum tell him or the Gen of it, (as he sent me word) he’l at any time tel him to his face. But they applyed themselves to the Governor, gave him of it, as they pretend, 120,000 rupees, the fourth of 480,000, Rustum says, Abdul Guffere gave, (tho’ he affirms he gave 482,000) and 63,950 to the officers, which in the end I presume will be proved he, &c. shared among ’em; so that for the 500,000 rupees, the company might have had insfuntly paid down, they have by that villian, and &c.’s means recd but 296,950, with large charges besides. I have often wrote the Gen for the ace*, that there is a great cheat in’t, but can get no answer. Pray does he not give sufficient grounds to suspect he has had a part of it? I have a hundred times, to no purpose, desired the same of Mr. Wyche.

Sam. Annesley.”

Suratt, March 13, 1712-3.

Endorsed. “Sam1. Annesley, to the Revd. Sam1. Wesley, March 13, 1712-3.”

In the hands of a good investigator, this Letter might lead to some discovery relative to the end of Mr. Annesley; and where his property has been left, and who has possessed it. That there were nefarious transactions in the management of the Company’s concerns at that time the above Letter sufficiently states; and that Mr. Annesley’s honesty might have led to his ruin is a possible case. That he should disappear, and never more be heard of, and that his pro= perty should all have been lost, are mysteries which probably at this distance of time cannot entirely be cleared up: but some discovery may yet be made.

From the preceding Letter we find that Mr. Annesley wished to employ his brother-in-law, the Rector of Epworth, to transact some business in his behalf with the East India Company; and Mr. Wesky appears to have undertaken the office: but owing to his natural easiness, and too great confidence in the promises of men, the business was neglected, and had no favourable issue; at which Mr. Annesley was greatly offended; transferred the agency into another hand; and wrote a severe letter to his sister, Mrs. Wesley, in which he most liberally blamed the conduct of his brother-in-law. A part, only of Mrs. Wesley’s Answer to her angry brother is preserved. This fragment, which, from the emendations in various places, appears to be the rough copy of her Letter, is worthy of insertion; as it shews her good sense, great modesty, and faithful attachment to her husband. Having stated that in all transactions her husband had acted with a clear conscience, both before God and man, she proceeds to notice the blame cast upon him by her brother, and adds: —

“These things are unkind, very unkind. Add not misery to affliction: — if you will not reach out a friendly hand to support, yet I beseech you forbear to throw water on a people already sinking.

a But I shall go on with your Letter to me, You proceed, i Whe&L 106 I come home* — (Oh, would to God that might ever be!) — 1 should any of your daughters want me,7 — (as I think they will not) — (I shall do as God enables meP — I must answer this with a sigh from the bottom of my heart. Sir, you know the proverb, ‘While the grass grows, the steed starves.’

“That passage relating to Ansley, I have formerly replied to; therefore I’ll pass it over, together with some hints I am not willing to understand.

“‘My brother has one invincible obstacle to my business, his distance from London.7 — Sir, you may please to remember, I put you in mind of this long since. — 1 Another hindrance, I think he is too zealous for the party he fancies in the right; and has unluckily to do with the opposite faction.’’* — Whether those you employ are factious or no, I’ll not determine: but very sure I am, Mr. W esley is not so; he is zealous in a good cause, as every one ought to be; but the farthest from being a party man, of any man in the world. — ‘Another remora is, these matters are out of his way.7 — That is a remora indeed, and ought to have been considered on both sides before he entered on your business: for I am verily persuaded that that, and that alone, has been the cause of any mistakes or inadvertency he has been guilty of; and the true reason why God has not blessed him with desired success. — 1 Tie is apt to rest upon deceitful promises7 — Would to Heaven that neither he, nor 7, nor any of our children, had ever trusted to deceitful promises. But it is a right hand error, and I hope God will forgive us all. — 1 He wants Mr. Eaton’s thrift7 — This I can readily believe. — ( He is not ft for worldly business7 — This I likewise assent to; and must own I was mistaken when I did think him fit for it: my own experience hath since convinced me that he is one of those whom our Saviour saith is not so wise in their generation as the children of this icorld. And did I not know that Almighty Wisdom hath views and ends in fixing the bounds of our habitation, which are out of our ken, I should think it a thousand pities that a man of his brightness, and rare endowments of learning and useful knowledge in relation to the Church of God, should be confined to an obscure corner of the country, where his Talents are buried; and he, determined to a way of life for which he is not so well qualified as I could wish; and it is with pleasure that I behold in my Eldest Son .in aversion from accepting a small Country Cure; since, blessed be God! he has a fair reputation for learning and piety, preaches well, and is capable of doing more good where he is. You conclude, — . 1 My wife will make my cousin Emily.7 — It was a small and insignincant present, to my sister indeed: but, poor girl, it was her whole estate; and if it had been received as kindly as it was meant, she would have been highly pleased.

<( T shall not detain you any longer, not so much as to apologize for the tedious length of this Letter.

“I should be glad if my service could be made acceptable to my sister; to whom, with yourself, the children tender their humblest duty. We all join in wishing you a happy new year, and very many of them.

I am,

Your obliged and most obedient
servant and sister,

Susanna Wesley.”

Epworth, Jan. 20th, 1721-2.
My Birth Day.

From the above Letter we find that Mr. Samuel Annesley was alive at Surat in 1722, seven years after the noises had ceased at the Parsonage-house at Epworth; which Mrs. Wesley had supposed portended his death. In the year 1724 it was reported that Mr. Annesley was coming home in one of the Company’s ships. Mrs. Wesley, hearing the news, came up from Epworth to London, to meet him: but the report was incorrect. This is the last mention I find of Mr. Samuel Annesley in any of the family papers which have come under my notice. Nor is there any certainty when he died. We know he was alive in 1712, and possibly in 1720 or 1721. Mrs. Wesley’s Letter to him is dated Jan. 20, 1722; his, to which it is an answer, was most probably written in 1720. It is likely that his wife died before him, and that there were no children: hence the Wesley family always supposed they were his heirs.

Of Benjamin Annesley I have not been able to collect any particulars. He was supposed by the remains of the Wesley family to have been the person who went to the East Indies: but the preceding Letter shews it was Samuel

Of Miss Sarah Annesley I find nothing on record.

Of Miss Judith there is a painting in the family of Mr. Charles Wesley, probablv painted by Sir Peter Lely7 where she is represented as a very beautiful woman. A gentleman of splendid fortune paid his addresses to her; and the attachment was mutual: but of me. wesley’s ancestors.

when she perceived that he was addicted to much wine, she utterly refused to marry him, and died single.

Of Miss Judith Annesley, Mr. Dunton, her brother-in-law, gives the following character: — “She is a virgin of eminent piety. Good books, (above all, the Book of Books,) are her sweetest entertainment; and she finds more comfort there than others do in their wardrobe. In a word, she keeps a constant watch over the frame of her soul and the course of her actions by daily and strict examination of both.”

Of Miss Ann Annesley, Mr. Dunton, her brother-in-law, gives the following character: — u To drop her pious character would be ungrateful. She is a wit for certain; and however Time may have dealt by her, Art never feigned, nor Nature formed, a finer woman.7’

We have already seen that Miss Elizabeth Annesley was married to Mr. John Dunton, the eccentric book-seller. She appears to have been very eminent, both for piety and good sense. Dunton lias shewn his attachment to her by the account he published of her death, and some extracts which he gives from her papers found after her death.

That Elizabeth Dunton was the daughter of Dr. Samuel Annesley was not less her honour than her happiness; and of this care of Providence she discovers in her private papers a very grateful sense.

Religion had made early impressions on her mind. The new life had sprung up by such insensible degrees, that, like her noble and reverend father, she knew not the time of her being turned to the wisdom of the just.

Her Bible was the great companion and pleasure of her life; and she was so well acquainted with it that no portion of it could be mentioned which she could not refer to the Book, Chapter, and Verse, in which it might be found.

She had an amiable disposition, and a heart full of charity to all who differed from her in their religious opinions. She was a considerable proficient even in Polemical Divinity, and had acquainted herself well with the controversy on Oiiginal Sin, and the effects of it on the faculties of the soul: on Free-will, Foreknowledge, Grace, the revealed and secret Will of God, &c. Upon this last subject she writes, — “I will obey God’s revealed will, and adore His secret will; rest upon His promises, and cast myself at the feet of Christ, attentive to my present duty. The belief of God’s Foreknowledge, or His decreeing whatsoever comes to pass, should not hinder me from duty, but render me diligent in it. I ought to do more for my soul than my body; and respecting the latter, though I know not what food may nourish it, or what medicines relieve, I will not neglect the means.”

She owned that repentance is the gift of God, and that sin cannot be pardoned but through the blood, the merits, and intercession of Christ Jesus; and that no spiritual act can be performed without Divine assistance.

She had kept a Diary for twenty years, in which the gracious state of her mind was particularly pointed out: but so far was she from vain glory, that in her last illness she entreated her husband to burn those large collections; and it was with difficulty he obtained her permission for Mr. Rogers, who preached her funeral Sermon* to extract those Passages which he has inserted in the Discourse intituled” TJie Character of a Good W oman, preached on the Death of Mrs. Elizabeth DuntonP Her Reflections on a bed of sickness her husband published in the Post Angel, for Feb. 1701, which I have not seen.

She was a great lover of solitude, because it gave her the opportunity of conversing with God and her own heart. But this did not extend to the public means of grace, nor to public duties. Public worship, Sermons, Sabbaths, and Sacraments, were her refreshments on her way to glory. On one of these occasions she wrote, — “O how should the thought of free unmerited grace fill us with love to God! I am filled with joy inexpressible, and with hope full of glory! What amazing love, that God should give His Son to die for sinners! That He should become Man, and not have ichere to lay His head, when He came to enrich the world! Blessed God! at this Sacrament I cannot take a denial of Thy presence: I come to meet my God; I cannot be comforted without Him.”

Her husband observes, — “Her conjugal affection was as remarkable as the rest of her character. Her happiness seemed wrapped up in mine; our interest and our inclinations were the same. When affairs were perplexing, she never discovered uneasiness; she made use of means, and left the issue to Providence. When I happened to be ill, she was much concerned; and would impair her own health rather than permit any one else to wait on me. I never went home, and found her out of temper. But Heaven had a greater interest in her than I could have: she was my better half; but I knew my property in her was not absolute.

“In her last illness, which continued seven months, she never uttered one repining word; and was always willing to depart and to be with God. Through the whole of her sickness she declared she had no doubt upon her mind as to her eternal happiness. S near death she said to one who stood by, ‘Heaven will make amendfor all. In a short time I shall be happy. I have good ground to hope that when I die, I shall, through Christ, be blessed, for I dedicated my youth to God.’

“When I saw her departing, and was overwhelmed with sorrow, she said with sweetness, ‘Do not be so concerned at parting, for 1 trust we shall meet where we shall part no more. Yet it is a solemn thing to die; whatever men may think of it. O this eternity! There is no time for preparing for heaven like the time of youth. Though Death be near, I can look back with joy on some of the early years I sweetly spent in my father’s house; and think how comfortably I lived there. What a mercy to be dedicated to God betimes?

u When her soul was just fluttering on her lips, she exclaimed. ‘Lord, pardon my sins, and perfect me in holiness! Accept of praises for the mercies I have received, and fit me for whatsoever Thou wilt do with me, for Christ’s sake!’

“A little after this she fell asleep in Jesus, on the 26th Mav 1697.”

In all the Annesley family of which we have any particulars, we .see the truth of that word,” Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.’J A pious education is next in efficiency to the all-powerful aracc ol Christ.

The Annesley and Wesley families are striking proofs of this How many thousands perish for want of a pious example and religious instruction in the house of their parents!