by saying that they were, spiritually troubled with consumption and apparently with diabetes!—­were continually devouring good things, constantly wasting away, and doing no particular good amongst it at all.  We felt the force of this; but we didn’t ejaculate; quietness, except on very excited occasions, being the rule here.  His discourse lasted about 30 minutes, and it was well and forcibly delivered.  At the conclusion two or three of the Brethren came out of their circle—­they were all round a table before the parson—­and shook hands with us.

We shortly afterwards retired, leaving our “musical” friend engaged in a hot discussion with the parson as to the propriety of certain observations he had made in his sermon.  How the matter was fought out we cannot tell.  The Brethren assemble every Sunday morning and evening in the building; sometimes they have a Bible class meeting on a Sunday afternoon; and occasionally a week night service.  They are a calm, devout, forlorn-looking class; are distinctly sincere; have strong liberal notions of Christianity; seem to love one another considerably, and may at times greet each other with a holy kiss; but they don’t thrive much in Preston.  In time they may become a “great people,” but at present their status is small.  Ten Christian Brethren up 14 steps may grow potent eventually; but they may, figuratively speaking, fall down the steps in the meantime, and so injure the cause as to defy the influence of theraputics.

A few words now as to Brook-street Primitive Methodist Chapel, which we visited the same day.  This is a tiny building, and appears to stand in a dangerous region.  On one side all the windows are continually shuttered, so as to prevent the mischievous action of stones, and in front the door is railed in closely so as to frustrate the efforts of those who might be inclined to kick it.  The chapel, which is also used for Sunday school purposes, was built in 1856.  It is a very humble, plain-looking edifice externally; and internally it is equally unassuming.  You get to it collaterally, through a pair of narrow doors, which bang about very much in stormy weather.  The roof is supported by two iron pillars, with which a tall stove pipe keeps company.  In the centre there are 16 pews, each capable of holding three persons, and a large pew which will accommodate six.  Rows of small forms run down each side.  Those on the left are used by men and boys; those on the other side are principally patronised by women and little children, some of whom are too young to engage in anything but lactary pursuits.  Green is a favourite colour here.  The inside of the pews are green; portions of the walls are green; some of the windows are similarly coloured at the base; the music stands in the orchestra are green; and there is a fine semi-circular display of green at the back of the pulpit.  At the south-eastern corner there are sundry pieces of old timber piled up; at the opposite side there is a cupboard; and over the entrance numerous forms, colour poles, and a ladder are placed.  These constitute all the loose ornaments in the chapel.  About 150 persons can be accommodated in the place.  When we visited it—­the time was rather unfavourable, owing to the roughness of the weather—­sixty-six persons, exclusive of the choir and the parson, were in it.