wish and plan; though it was not at this time destined to bear fruit.  But early in 1750 she exerted herself, and with success, to bring about a renewal of thoroughly friendly relations between the two great leaders.  On January 19 and 26, 1750, Whitefield and Wesley took part in combined services; Wesley reading prayers and Whitefield preaching on the former, these respective functions being reversed on the latter date.  Until Whitefield’s death this harmony was never again broken.

At this period Whitefield paid several visits to Ashby.  Here and in London he had fellowship with Dr. Doddridge, whose MS., “from Corinthians to Ephesians,” of The Family Expositor, was nearly consumed by fire at Ashby; Hervey, the author of that well-known book of which so many have heard but so few have read, Meditations among the Tombs; Madan, a lawyer who, going to hear John Wesley, in order that he might mimic him before his companions, listened to a sermon on the text, “Prepare to meet thy God,” was converted by it, and upon his return, said in reply to the question, “Have you taken off the old Methodist?” “No, gentlemen, but he has taken me off!” and from that day devoted himself to the service of God; Moses Browne, afterwards Vicar of Olney, and many others.

“Good Lady Huntingdon,” he wrote from Ashby, “goes on acting the part of ‘a mother in Israel’ more and more.  For a day or two she has had five clergymen under her roof, which makes her Ladyship look like a good archbishop with his chaplains around him.  Her house is a Bethel; to us in the ministry it looks like a college.  We have the sacrament every morning, heavenly conversation all day, and preach at night:  this is to live at Court indeed.”

Lady Huntingdon’s London house continued for very many years to be a centre of evangelistic effort on behalf of many of the highest rank and social status in the capital.  In addition to Whitefield, John and Charles Wesley, Romaine, Madan, Venn, and others preached.  Among those who were converted by these sermons were the wife and sister of Lord Chesterfield; the latter, Lady Gertrude Hotham, opening her house for the preaching of the Gospel.  Lady Huntingdon was no recluse.  Uncompromising as she was in every matter where religious principle was involved, she was always ready to avail herself of the true privileges of pleasure which her rank and position enabled her to enjoy.  In this way she cultivated the acquaintance of many of the distinguished personages of her time.  She was fond of music, and in early life had become acquainted with Handel.  In the closing years of the great composer, the intimacy was renewed, and not long before his death she paid him a visit, of which she has left this account:  “I have had a most pleasing interview with Handel, an interview which I shall not soon forget.  He is now old, and at the close of his long career; yet he is not dismayed at the prospect before him.  Blessed be God for the comforts and consolations which the Gospel