The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-08 00:00:00

THE FIRST METHODIST

PREACHERS.

At the commencement of Methodism, they were chosen
by Mr. Wesley on sec,,unt of their knowiedge of Scrip-
ture, and powerful. though not often highly cultivated,
minds. Samuel Bradburn (a man whose life, were it pub-
lished, would be one of the most interesting, and eten
amusing of books) was remarkable for his strong mind and
his unticiaried labours. Is wit and humour, few men ex-
celled Lim ; and the early annals of Methodi,m are
brightened by the sparkling of his facetiousness. " See
(said he ou one occasion, to one of the first chosen
preachers), see the good that Methodism has dons'."
Yes (was the reply), it has done a great deal for us."
S ,mething in this displea ed Bradburn, for he immediately
said, pointing to a Mr. Ma;.s.den, " For us! Why, yes;
you were a cobbler and I was a aid it has made us
gentlemen; but brother Marsden was a gentleman before."
" You should not have called me a cobbler (said the
preacher in question); it would have been more civil to
have said, a boot and shoe maker."—" Yes (added Brad-
burn); but I did not call myself a tin plate worker, but
simply a tinker."
Such were the men whom Wesley mode his first itine-
rant preachers. The writer of this has seo and con-
versed with many of them ; among others, with the three
of whom the above story is told; and it must be acknow-
ledged that they were a class of men of great mental
power--rough sometimes, and perhaps a little uncouth, but
energetic, self-denying, indomitable. They were cft,m,
too, men of great personal strength ; and there is current
an anecdote of one who was much annoyed, on one occa.
sloe, by the profanity and impertinence of a gigantic
butcher. For some time be bore patiently with the man's
ribaldry ; but at 1 tit his feelings were too much outraged,
and, walking up to the fellow, he took him by the collar
and the waistband of his breeches, as though be had been
a little child, and bung him up by the latter to one of the
meat hocks of his own, shop, where he remained dangling
till the exhortation was concluded.—Church of E,ngland
Revise'.

TEST OF

POItTER

AND CO.'S

PATENT ANCHORS.

One of the most interesting experiment!, and one which
cannot fail to prove of immense advantage to the navy,
both in her Majesty's and the merchant service, took place
on Saturday in the presence of Captain Phipps Hornby,
B. C , Superintendent of her Majesty's Dockyard, Wool.
wich ; Captain Percy Grace, R.N., Captain Thomas, of
her Majesty's surveying vessel Maaiff; Captain Bowater,
R. N., Captain Denham, R. N. and F. R. S., Mr. Wells,
Master of the Mastiff, and a number of nautical gentle-
men. At half-past one o'clock one of Porter and Co.'a
patent anchors having bean previously placed on the test-
ing frame au immense power was applied by an hydraulic
machine invented by Bcamah and S )n, and the anchor,
weighing 5 cwt. 2 q's. 241b5., which would have been
considered ?rife, according to the adopted test of tit tons,
actaally sustained additional strains until it reached
2O tons before it gave way under the application
of that immense power—nearly 2i times greater than
would ever be required under ordinary circumstances. A
second anchor, weighing 5 cwt., was afterwards placed on
the testing frame, and the power having been applied, it
sustained a strain of 21i tons. given by jerks, before it
gave way, although it would have been considered perfectly
safe if it had stood 84 tone. There was another anchor by
the same patentee on the spot, of still larger dimensions,
but the experiments with the other two were so sati.,faa-
tory that it was not found necessary to prove its capabil -
ties. It appears strange, and yet it is evidently the fist,
that the more simple the construction of any article is,
there is the greater certainty of success. The principal
difference betwixt this anchor of Porter and Co. and
those at present in use, is a projection on the outside of
the fluke, which enables it to catch hold of the most diffi-
cult ground, and ensures its obtaining a firm hold and
double power by the upper fluke descending on the shank,
and acting as a fulcrum in the most effectual manner. By
the kindness of Captain Denham, cf the Marine Sur-
veyor's department, we have been enabled to give the fol-
lowing details of the advantages of this anchor ;—" It is
almost impossible to foul it. It bites quickly into the most
stubborn ground. It holds on the shove t stay-peak.
It cannot well lodge on its stock end. It presents no up-
per fluke to injure the vessel herself or others in shoal
water. It cannot injure vessels' bows when hanging cock-
bill, as merchants find a convenient practice. It is not so
likely to break off an arm or part in a shank as anchors
with fixed flukes do, because the construction of these arms
can be of continuous rod-iron, and the leverage is so
much nearer the ring, owing to the pea of the upper ring
closing upon the shank. It is a most convenient anchor
for stowing on board, on a voyage, as the flukes can be
easily separated, and passed into the held ; it can as easily
be transported by two boats, when one would be distressed
with the whole weight. Several of the officers who wit-
nessed the experiments stated their intention of applying
to the Admiralty for anchors on this construction, as they
were so satisfied of their advantages. The Marquis of
Chandos Sir Hesketh Fleetwood, Bart., M. P., and other
gentlemen were present, and appeared interested in what
was going on ; and amongst others we observed Mr. Oliver
Lang, Master of the Shipwri:hts, and other authorities
in the Dockyard, who appeared highly to approve of tLo
result of the experiments.