And seen the wonders of a chine of beef.
Here chimneys smoke, which never smoked before,
And we have dined, where we shall dine no more.”
Which last line was immediately confirmed by the mean-spirited host, who said, “No, gentlemen; it is too expensive.”
Dr Clarke relates another story, which was somewhat severely criticised in the Methodist Magazine for 1824; was corrected by Mr Watson in his Life of Wesley, in 1831; and has been sharply handled by Mr Kirk, in his graphic biography of 1864. Because the story has excited so much attention, I feel bound to give it. Dr Clarke says he has related the story, as nearly as possible, in the very words used by John Wesley to himself, when they last met in Bristol.
Samuel Wesley had a clerk, who was well-meaning and honest, but, at the same time, weak and vain. Of this, an instance is given somewhat ludicrous. It is said, that on the return of King William from one of his martial expeditions, this self-conceited official rose up, in the midst of divine service, in Epworth church, and, with the nasal twang usual among such functionaries, and to the unfortunate amusement of the congregation, said—“Let us sing, to the praise and glory of God, a hymn of my own composing:—
“King William is come home, come home,
King William home is come;
Therefore let us together sing,
The hymn that is called ‘Te D’um.’”